Madame Maxine and the Last Hold Out

It wasn't the edge of anything. Certainly Maxine's place was the end of self respect, decency, that sort of thing. If his brother wanted him to go back there it was going to be Luke's dying wish, at the very least. The last time his older brother talked him into "the excursion" was at Luke's bachelor party. The satellite was rented out completely, that's what happens when you win the galactic lottery, shiftless, shameless spending. He could have given clean water to every child in the forgotten desert below him. Funny how things don't change.

Marty returned from the shower dripping across the tile. Crauley vented quietly to himself. It wasn't as if they hadn't had this conversation a hundred times. Why couldn't the dumb bastard use a towel? He stared hopelessly at the slippery floor. It would be one way, he thought to himself, to keep Marty from jetting off, leaving him desperate and alone again. He told him all about it and before he knew what hit him they were on the internet inviting themselves and three others to the party of the century.

When the day came, Crauley medicated himself thoroughly and wore his best jump suit. The anti gravity shield was closed and the gentle puffs of air propelled them up into the stratosphere. It was a long damn ride since they stopped using fossil fuels, but the ride was gentle and they glided easily through the elongated clouds. Soon all the passengers were donning their sleep masks. The air turned soupy with green vapes. The sticky candies in the arm rest of every seat made a chorus of tongue slapping that nearly sent him through the roof. Finally the massager began lulling him into his Vikaden and three good hours of sleep. He woke up to two assholes doing karaoke at the top of their lungs. Apparently the party was already starting. It took an eternity , but he finally saw the docking station out of his window.

Luke was on the platform. How he managed to get the gold cape to billow behind him in zero gravity was a mystery. He had a crystal studded flag in his hand and posed statuesquely for the new arrivals. Crauley instantly regretted his decision to come, especially since Marty hadn't even spoken to him, let alone sat by him. He was hopeful, but when the other gentleman seemed in earnest to compliment him on his singing skills, saying he could get him on "The Voice" he never even looked back at him.

Crauley held his breath, stood up and went like a solider into the trenches for the longest tour of duty he could imagine. Luke was unsympathetic and told him to try and have a good time or he'd send him off in a pod into outer Mongolia, which is where he wanted to be, honestly. He finally decided he could be miserable at home or be the highest, sloppiest jilted lover in the cosmos. Two days short he was sent back alone. Even Satan has his limits.