The Light Blue Jumper Read online

  “Well, nothing really, but if you must know, this list is incomplete,” I told her.

  “How so?” Madam pounced on my words.

  “There is one very significant name, probably the most important name, missing from this list,” I explained.

  “Aha! Say no more! I knew it!” Madam seemed jubilant.

  I, on the other hand, was seething with rage. After all I had accomplished for them, the times I had placed my life on the line, how could they leave out my name from the list of super spies?

  All the usual names were there; I even noticed a few new ones from the kingdoms that I had not been informed of. Obviously the IPF were using them to keep my family in line. I would have to arrange for a few accidents back home soon.

  The feeling of being slighted continued for most of that day. I still couldn’t understand why Madam had made it a point to show me the list, unless she wanted me to notice the missing name. In fact, as I recalled, she was positively ecstatic about the omission. I finally figured it out. Madam was using the list as a ploy to turn me against the IPF! My guess was that she had tampered with the list. She had deleted my name to provoke a reaction, hoping to turn me with her tricks. If only she knew that that could never happen, not while my family remained dependant on the IPF military might for the survival of their rule.

  53. Meanwhile Back at IPF Headquarters – IPF Rapid-Response Team Survivor

  “What is the meaning of this?” the General asked, deceptively calm.

  “General, I can explain. We tried our level best to retrieve the list from the rebels, but they mowed us down. It was the evil blimp with them, he was unstoppable; he crushed us to a pulp.”

  “You utterly incapable, tremendously incompetent, sad excuse for an officer. We wanted them to have the list,” she said absently, while staring at her notes.

  “But Dinaara got shot trying to get it back! You could have told her at least.” We spies had to look out for each other.

  “She knew what she was doing, unlike you buffoons. That brings me to my next question: What is the name of The Good Doctor doing on that list?” the General asked, her voice falling to a whisper.

  “I must apologise for that, General. It was a clerical error. Administration was using a rebel template for the list and didn’t get a chance to proofread it before it was sent to storage. What do you suggest? Should I send an amended version to them? It reflects badly on us if they think we can’t even get our lists right. In fact, they may be laughing at us as we speak.” I felt my childhood stammer coming back, the General had been known to execute people and carry on working on her notes.

  “It is not our image in rebel circles that is of concern to me, you imbecile,” she said as she toyed with her pen, “Your stupidity has put our deepest cover agent at risk.” Her voice had dropped so low I had to strain to hear it, while also simultaneously leaning away from her. I had heard she could do awful things with that pen.

  “The Good Doctor is ours? Are you sure, General? You may be confusing him with Lethalwulf; they’re both tall fellows. Lethalwulf was our man; that is, until he became their man. If the Doctor is our plant, you may want to check his current status before counting him in our ranks. My guess is he defected years ago, which is why he has been instrumental in sabotaging all our plans,” I tried to appear intelligent and of further use.

  “He is our man. He simply has not been activated by the code word as yet.” I saluted as the General stood up to leave, putting her notes in her backpack. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking. It was impossible to predict anything about her. She had risen quickly in the ranks since she joined the Secret Service some years ago, yet no one knew who she was or where she had come from.

  I wondered, as she came towards me, why the pen was still in her hand.

  54. Madam X

  I had the confirmation I required. I had omitted The Good Doctor’s name from the list on purpose, to test Dinaara’s reaction. Her surprise at his name not being there was enough proof of his complicity. Her reaction had been so genuine that there could be no doubt about it.

  I wondered whether I should share my shocking news with Salaar and Lethal. Perhaps it was better to mull over it for a bit first. Just then, I was beeped by Central Command.

  “Madam, may I present the latest reports?” she enquired.

  “Yes. Go ahead.” I said, settling back into my station in the control room. I liked being at the heart of the ship at all times. I was glad we Ulroneese had evolved beyond the need for sleep in the traditional sense and had no need for sleeping quarters. My brains simply took turns to switch off periodically for short intervals of time.

  “Report generated by The Good Doctor: accusations of treachery at the highest levels,” she informed me.

  Stars above! Was he reporting on himself?

  “Elaborate,” I said as calmly as I could.

  “He accused you of being a double agent, and withdrew the accusation when asked for proof.”

  “Me? He dared to point his deceitful, up-to-no good finger at me?”

  “Yes. Even though he withdrew the accusation it has been recorded in the ship log.”

  “Do you think I care what that weasely old Doctor thinks? I know for a fact no one ever reads the log unless a ship crashes,” I said dismissively.

  “Maybe you should. He is the highest-ranking officer on this ship; his accusation, even if withdrawn, cannot be ignored.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He will have to conduct a trial before we dock at the rebel base on Helion,” Central Command said.

  “That is just about the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! I am not a spy, if there is anyone on board who is a spy and an IPF agent, it is The Good Doctor himself!” I was fuming.

  “Do you have any proof regarding your accusation, Madam?”

  “The decrypted IPF list of deep cover operatives.” I waved the list in front of the video console. I owed him nothing!

  “I don’t see The Good Doctor’s name on this list.”

  “Well, of course you wouldn’t! I had to delete it.”

  “So The Good Doctor was named on this list and instead of reporting this fact with immediate effect, you chose to delete the proof of his involvement with the IPF?” Central Command asked dispassionately.

  “I had to do it in order to gauge the Princess’ reaction, so I could confirm the list wasn’t a hoax,” I clarified.

  “You suspect the list you are relying on to be a hoax?” she asked.

  “No! No! I am now certain that it is a genuine list and The Good Doctor’s name was rightly placed there,” I told her succinctly.

  “How exactly have you come to this conclusion, Madam?”

  “Well, Princess Dinaara confirmed everything.”

  “Am I correct in noting that you have based your allegations against the highest-ranking officer on board this ship on corroboration by an active IPF Black Ops agent?”

  “She had no reason to lie,” I countered defensively.

  “Please answer with a simple yes or a no,” she insisted

  “Yes, but…” I was about to continue, when she interrupted.

  “Report generation complete: Madam has confessed to destruction of evidence of possible IPF deep cover agent. Forwarding to The Good Doctor for appropriate action,” she announced.

  “You have failed to mention that The Good Doctor himself is the one accused! Whom is he going to take action against?” I asked. The bureaucratic red tape on the ship was going to strangle us all one day.

  “As you have confirmed, there is no hard evidence implicating The Good Doctor, and your accusation is based on information from an active IPF Black Ops officer, hence that evidence is unreliable and cannot be made part of the record. So, in answer to your original question, that, I am afraid, would most likely be you. The Good Doctor is the first in command on the Second Light, so he is the final authority in this matter until we dock. I will also add, for your information, that
the charges against you of being an IPF agent will probably remain unsubstantiated. However, the admitted wanton destruction of evidence will carry with it a severe penalty. My calculated projection is that you will be grounded indefinitely. Have a good day,” she said as she signed off.

  55. Zaaro Nian

  I walked into the control room to be greeted with, “Go away whoever you are!” as Madam sat facing a screen with her back towards me.

  “I would like to stay here please, which is why I walked this way. Going away is something that isn’t on my agenda, thanks.”

  “What is it, Zaaro?” she asked, swivelling around.

  “May I sit down and explain? It’s a rather long story.”

  “Yes. Take a seat. Now tell me.” Madam smiled. I had approached determined to forcefully make my case, but I couldn’t possibly stay annoyed at her. I decided to simply let her know that I wanted to keep my job if she didn’t mind; as it was the only job I had at present. Having accidentally killed off some of my employers would, I believed, prove to be a hindrance in the renewal of my earlier contract. Just the thought of being unemployed made my toes curl. I didn’t want to end up like Uncle Nian the Blaggard, blight on the Nian family name. He had been working in the IPF Biological Weapons Department but was sacked after he developed a weapon that was organic, affordable, biodegradable and had miraculous healing properties. It was a well-known story, handed down as a warning for generations at the Nian family gatherings. You don’t want to end up like Uncle Nian. He never found productive employment again and slipped out of the G-Sectors to go backpacking around the Universe trying to find himself. Some say he is still out there, looking.

  “Madam, I would like to keep my job.”

  “I’m very happy to hear that Zaaro, you must realise your job is secure with us,” she said kindly.

  “That is what I had thought too, but then The Good Doctor said that…”

  Madam jumped up from her seat and interrupted me mid-sentence, “Just what did that ungrateful wretch have to say to you?”

  “He said that you were going to replace me on the ship and that you had special powers,” I said in a single breath; Madam’s ire was making me very nervous.

  “Why that scoundrel!” Her voice rose to an ungainly pitch. “Come with me. We are going to see him together! How dare he go around spreading rumours and filing reports against me to save his own skin?”

  “Why don’t I wait for you in my room Madam, perhaps you would need some privacy in talking to The Good Doctor?” I suggested hopefully.

  “Nonsense. We will have this out, once and for all, and I want you to witness it for me,” she said with finality. No closer to a resolution of my valid employment concerns, I found myself being dragged along the corridor at top speed, to corner The Good Doctor.

  56. Madam X

  What mayhem was he planning? He had gone on record to say that I was a double agent, now he was saying I had special powers. He had accused Dinaara too, of having special powers, and according to him, both of us had it in for poor Zaaro!

  I was beginning to understand his game plan. He was going to eliminate Zaaro and had already laid the groundwork to place the blame squarely on mine or Dinaara’s shoulders, or perhaps both. He knew that getting rid of me would leave the Rebel Movement rudderless and at the mercy of the IPF. They could then pick off each one of the rebel leaders at their leisure. Once I was gone, Lethal and Salaar would be next. Zaaro would have already been taken care of. I didn’t understand why he was trying to kill Dinaara though. Maybe there was a power struggle within the IPF, and The Good Doctor wanted to ensure his position once he made his way back to them.

  I had successfully unravelled the Doctor’s master plan by the time we reached his room. I knocked sharply. In response ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ flashed on the door. I remembered he had diverted a significant chunk of his last research grant to experimenting with customised entrances and exits. I knocked again, louder this time. ‘I SAID, DO NOT DISTURB’ now flashed at me. “Open up Doctor!” I shouted. ‘I AM CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE’, read the door. “You are right there, do not lie to me!” I shouted. ‘I AM AT THE SPA; IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY PLEASE CONTACT CENTRAL COMMAND. HAVE A NICE DAY’ said the flashing in response. “I know you’re in there! Open up or I’ll shoot the bloody door and then I’ll shoot you!” I yelled. ‘THE DOCTOR HAS JUST RETURNED. WELCOME’. It was programmed for self –preservation, obviously a design flaw which hadn’t been seen to.

  I walked in to see the Doctor in his bathrobe, sitting on the brown faux-leather sofa he had picked up from a dodgy relics dealer in the asteroid belt. “What a pleasant surprise! I just got back from the ship’s spa. Such a nice break! And how have you been? Looking lovely I must say,” he said in rapid succession.

  “Don’t even try to sweet talk your way out of this one! I was just fine until you started making false reports about me to Central Command!” I said, my voice hoarse from all the shouting.

  “I didn’t make any reports. I wasn’t even here,” he said earnestly, pointing at his spa attire.

  “That does not fool me for one second, pulling on a bathrobe over your uniform isn’t going to save you Doctor!” I yanked his dressing gown to reveal a bare, hairy shoulder. “Ugghh, I apologise, you needn’t have been so thorough in your disguise.” I shuddered.

  “Madam, please, maintain decorum at all times.”

  “You told Central Command that you suspected I was a double agent! Then you told Zaaro that I had special powers and I was gunning for him!”

  “I did no such thing! There must be some misunderstanding. I have always said you were special. Zaaro back me up on this,” he pleaded.

  “Yes, of course. Madam, he said you were a queen,” Zaaro said.

  “Oh, really?” That was unexpected.

  “Of treachery and deceit,” he continued.

  I narrowed my eyes at The Good Doctor. “Do not for one moment assume that I don’t know what you’re up to, Good Doctor. Do you think you are the only one who makes reports to Central Command?”

  Just then Central Command beeped in with the latest reports.

  “Good day, Doctor. Report generated by Madam at 0800 hours. Alleges The Good Doctor’s name is on list of IPF spies, but she deleted it,” she announced.

  “You did that for me?” His eyes welled up. “I am truly touched by your show of loyalty to your leader, Madam.” Then he lowered his voice and whispered, “I will do the same for you. We will never mention the IPF spy thing again.”

  “I am not an agent!” I whispered back fiercely.

  “No need to say anything. I understand perfectly, Madam. Your secret is safe with me,” he said, tapping the side of his long thin nose.

  Central Command continued with the rest of the report. “Princess Dinaara confirmed Doctor’s IPF spy status. However, that has been struck from the report due to her own confirmed status as IPF spy and Black Ops officer.”

  “We must be wary of Dinaara. She is here to make trouble and nothing else,” The Good Doctor said.

  “I like her. She is a very nice but frequently misunderstood person.” Zaaro’s sudden contribution surprised both of us. I looked over at The Good Doctor with concern. He raised his eyebrows in query.

  “Have you been spending time with the Princess, Zaaro?” I asked.

  “Yes. She is my friend,” he said shyly.

  “Lovely!” I cooed insincerely. “Zaaro, why don’t you start your training practice with Salaar? The Doctor and I have some more catching up to do.”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll go find Salaar,” he said, then stopped and turned back. “Since we’re all being candid here, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask for the longest time.”

  “Yes?” The Good Doctor and I spoke in unison.

  “Why was there highly flammable material stored on the last ship in boxes marked miscellaneous in storage area five, if I remember correctly?” he asked.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I sa
id, with a nervous giggle. The Good Doctor was tapping his nose again. He better not wink, this was the maximum camaraderie I could stand.

  “Hadn’t you better find Salaar?” I reminded Zaaro gently, watching him till he wandered out. Hopefully he wouldn’t get lost and end up where he shouldn’t be, this time. I had moved the explosives to a closet on the First Light after Zaaro’s little foray into the storage area, and then finally into a hidden storage hatch on one of our escape shuttles, thinking that no one would nose around there. Unfortunately, it seemed we had escaped from the latest IPF attack in that very shuttle.

  57. Zaaro Nian

  I finally found Salaar at the drill station. He was throwing punches at a very battered punching bag. I waved at him from afar, not wanting to get too close to his fists.

  “Why don’t you join me, Zaaro?” he asked cordially.

  Because I don’t want to, I thought. “Yes, of course, if you could just set up something for me over here,” I said, pointing at my general vicinity, “I wouldn’t want to get in your way.”

  “No worries Zaaro, grab a pair of gloves and spar with me. It’s good training.”

  “I would never say no to helping you, Salaar, it’s that boxing just isn’t my area of expertise. I don’t even think boxing skills will be of much use against the IPF. Not once did I see a boxing ring or a pair of gloves on any IPF ship. I can teach you the finer points of wrestling if you’d like.”

  “Let’s stick with boxing for now. It’s really useful in hand-to-hand combat.”

  He was insistent, so I donned a pair of gloves and stepped into the ring. I wondered whether I should discuss the rift between Madam and the Doctor. I doubted he knew that there was a chance at least one, or perhaps both of them, were not IPF agents. I didn’t see any need to burden him with that information. I wanted to talk about the Princess, though. After all, she had trusted me with an important charge.