The O'Neal Saboteur Page 5

  Cryslis hung up her phone.

  “Before you say anything,” Cryslis said, “Let's grab a package bag each and a scooter. We need to get out of the building.”

  Des was only employed by Courier One for a half hour before he made an enemy of the boss. Captain Kusheeno wasn’t going to be happy with him.

  Chapter 6

  Des and Cryslis sat on a pair of Courier One scooters in the middle of the Yellow Sector. The standard electrical powered hover-scooters hovered in the air due to some technology Des didn’t quite understand. Something to do with powered air vectors and transmagnetic currents. His brother explained it to him once, but he didn’t understand it.

  The scooters were painted red and had a metal container for their package bags. It had been stuffed full of letters and small parcels to be delivered.

  Des and Cryslis sat quietly on the scooters. Des looked down at his watch. It said it was almost six PM. He would have to get home soon if he wanted to get his homework done for school the next day.

  “I’m causing too much of a commotion here,” Des said.

  “It’s not your fault,” Cryslis said, “You have no training.”

  “Your job could be in jeopardy.”

  “Something I wouldn’t cry over. I just want to get high school done and over with, not worrying about a job too.”

  “You’re still in high school?” Des asked.

  “Final year,” Cryslis said, “But pay attention.”

  “But, you’ve a rank though?” Des said.

  Cryslis was silent for a moment.

  “In Courier One,” Des said, “Doesn’t a rank mean you’ve been working for them for a while?”

  “I’ve been in the company since I was thirteen. I choose to earn ranks to solidify my cover.”

  “And the talking back to Mr. Anderson?”

  “Mr. Anderson is soft on his kid. He lets him get away with anything he wants. Luckily Courier One is a multi-station corporation, and he’s only in charge of this location. He’ll try to get rid of me, but it’s not like he hasn’t tried before.”

  “How do we keep him from sacking you?” Des asked.

  “That’s not your problem,” Cryslis said, “I’m your handler, that’s my problem.”

  “What’s my problem then?”

  “You need to keep your head down. Listen to your surroundings and make observations on people.”

  “That’s it?”

  “I’ve read your file. You’re eager, but I need you to get smart. I know you were conscripted into this by Captain Kusheeno. Most of us were.”

  “Most…” Des said, then thought about her statement for a moment, “That means there are more of us?”

  “Yes. But things aren’t good for us secret agents in the Jovian System.”

  “The war?”

  “Yes. The war,” Cryslis said, “The truth is we’re loosing and badly. It causes casualties in our ranks. I know of a half dozen agents getting drafted into the Jovian National Intelligence Service. For now, we need to concentrate on the defense of this station.”

  “I agree, but what can I do?”

  “I’m enrolling you in a basics class. It’ll be at the Jov 1-H Military Academy.”

  “Won’t that defeat the purpose of being a spy if other people know who you are?” Des asked.

  “Kinda,” Cryslis said, “but you’ll be using some facial differentiating technology, and an assumed name.”

  “Will that be enough?” Des asked.

  “All the students will be,” Cryslis said.

  Des thought about it for a moment.

  “Listen,” Cryslis said, “There is three hundred thousand people are living on this station spread out among twelve sectors. They’ll have a hard time figuring out who you are.”

  “When will the class be?” Des said, “Cause I have a busy schedule already.”

  “Every day at 5AM at the academy,” Cryslis said, “I’ll contact you later to get you information on where to go. You’ll have a uniform and everything.”

  “Great,” Des said.

  Des was unimpressed, this deal was getting worse by the moment.

  “I go to the academy as well. As a regular student though,” Cryslis said, “Don’t try to talk to me under any circumstances. Distance is our best protection at this point.”

  “How are you going to contact me?” Des asked.

  “Right,” Cryslis said as she handed him a small chip, “Put that in your ear. It’s waterproof and has an active camouflage. No will notice it. It doesn’t like electric shocks, however.”

  The chip was dark colored, and it was smaller than Des’s fingernail. He put it in his ear.

  “Can you hear me now?” Cryslis asked, her voice echoed in his head.

  “How do I use this thing?” Des said.

  “Please don’t shout. I heard you loud and clear. You need to speak softly.”

  “How’s this?” Des said.

  “Good,” Cryslis said, “Get a wireless earpiece for your phone and keep it in your ear. So it isn’t obvious you’re essentially talking to yourself. That way if someone notices you acting funny, just tell them you’re on the phone.”

  “That’s helpful,” Des said, “How do I not talk to you? I mean… when I don’t want… I mean.”

  “Shush and stop stammering. I know what you mean. The chip is activated by thought. Think of anyone but me and you won’t talk to me.”

  “Okay,” Des said, “Good.”

  “I’ll contact you later,” Cryslis said.

  Along a distant road, a tractor rolled by the edge of a field. The farmer who drove it stared at them, then stopped the tractor.

  Des saw Cryslis freeze as she saw the man out of the corner of her eye.

  “Shoot,” Cryslis said, “Don’t look, but we’re being watched.”

  “What do we do?” Des asked as panic spread across his face.

  “Calm,” Cryslis said, “Kiss me.”

  “What?” Des said.

  “Keep your voice down,” Cryslis said, “Become good at acting and kiss me.”

  Des gulped slightly and leaned into a kiss. He felt awkward and silly. He aimed for her cheek.

  “On the lips you fool,” Cryslis’s voice echoed in his head.

  Des blushed and leaned in to kiss her on the lips. Her lips felt soft and lush and wet. He blushed fiercely and then stopped.

  “Sorry,” Des said.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Cryslis said, as she looked subtly at the man.

  The tractor started up and turned around. It rolled away down the road the way it had come.

  “Now ride away on your scooter, and go the opposite way of me,” Cryslis’s voice said, “I’ll talk to you on the way back to the office.”

  Des nodded and started his scooter. It made a soft whine as he the electric engine sprang to life. He drove away down the dirt road. He looked over at the farmers in the tractor. Des could see them point at him as he drove by.

  “Why did I have to kiss you?” Des asked Cryslis softly.

  “Cause we’re wearing very recognizable clothing. Now they’ll most likely forget who they saw as they will only have seen the uniform,” Cryslis said, “He’ll reject it as unimportant information.”

  “I see,” Des said, “Blend into the environment.”

  “Exactly. Now get the scooter back to the office and get some sleep. I’ll make the arrangements later tonight. You’ll be starting your training tomorrow morning,” Cryslis said.

  ***

  Des arrived at his uncle's house. A single light was on in the kitchen. It was too late for it to be Susan, she would have gone home by now. So he knew it was probably his older brother, Sheemo, at the table. Yesterday, he had gotten lucky with Sheemo out working on some school project until late. Today, luck wasn’t on his side. In that moment, Des had the sudden urge to run as he had no intention of talking to him.

  He took off his shoes and his jacket and hung them in the closet. Des knew
he was delaying the inevitable, but maybe if he waited until Sheemo was done, then he could avoid him.

  He pulled out his phone and went through the various menus. He went to the messenger application and opened a chat to Elsie.

  You busy? Des typed.

  A moment went by before Elsie responded.

  No. But I can’t talk right now. Mom saw the rip in my jacket, Elsie typed, and commented on why we missed getting to a shelter.

  I forgot to ask if you got in trouble for all of that? Des typed.

  That’s why I can’t talk right now, Elsie typed.

  Des looked closed the menu and stared for a moment. He took a deep breath summoned his courage. He knew he could take on people like Diplin, Mr. Anderson and Captain Kusheeno. However, his brother was another story. The palms of his hands started to sweat as he took a second deep breath. The dreadful conversation Des knew would come was about to begin.

  He summoned his strength and walked into the kitchen to meet his fate.

  The kitchen was small in size, no bigger than a hallway. The cabinets were painted a pale blue color, the appliances were built out of shiny steel. On the other side of the kitchen was a small dining room.

  Sitting at the table, with books strewn about, was his older brother. He was two years older than Des but looked like he was at more like three or four years older than Des. He was built like a tank, with broad shoulders and muscles from continually working out.

  Des, however, was tall for his age and resembled a twig in comparison.

  “Sit, dear brother,” Sheemo said not looking up from his books.

  “I need to get something to eat,” Des said, “I’m starving.”

  Des walked over to the fridge.

  “I need to talk to you,” Sheemo said.

  Des grabbed a small container of week-old leftovers, “I thought so when I saw you on the train station, but I was late, so I had no time to talk.”

  He threw his food in the heater. After a few seconds, the container was heated up.

  With his food in his hands, Des walked over and sat at the table.

  “What’s up?” Des asked as he ate his food.

  “Why did you get called to the Captain’s office?” Sheemo asked.

  “Misunderstanding,” Des said.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Listen,” Des said, “I was goofing off with Elsie, and we got caught too far away from an empty emergency shelter.”

  “Goofing off?” Sheemo said, “Right. Fillip said you took Elsie into the Undercroft again.”

  “I would’ve taken him too, but he was too chicken to go in,” Des said.

  “Really Des. Did you get caught?” Sheemo asked.

  “No,” Des lied, “He questioned me on our failure to make it to a station, and that was that.”

  “And why didn’t you go to work today?” Sheemo asked.

  “Cause he punished me by transferring me to a different company.”

  “What company?” Sheemo asked.

  “Courier one,” Des said as he finished his food.

  “You got to be fucking kidding me,” Sheemo said, “That’s not a punishment.”

  “Yes, it is,” Des said, “It gets me farther from getting into doing something with meaning. I’m a mindless grunt walking back and forth across the station delivering people’s love letters.”

  “I won’t tell uncle about your punishment if you apply to the Military Academy,” Sheemo said.

  “Not this argument again,” Des said.

  “Yes, this argument again,” Sheemo said, “Just think. If you keep your grades up, not only will you not have to work, you’ll be exempt, but you can become the Astrogator like dad wanted. Like I know you want.”

  “I’m sixteen,” Des said, “Why do I’ve got to choose what I want to be now? Why can’t I wait till I’m older?”

  “Cause there’s a war on.”

  “Cause there’s a war on,” Des said, “That’s been everyone’s excuse for the last five years.”

  Des picked up his bowl and put it in the dishwasher.

  “I’m not done talking,” Sheemo said.

  “I am,” Des said, “I have homework to do.”

  ***

  Des shut his door a touch too hard than he had intended. The echo from the slam rang around the small townhouse. He was sure the neighbors had heard the slam of his door in their unit. Not that he cared too much about what anyone thought about him.

  He shuffled into his room over top of the piles of dirty laundry and onto his computer chair. Des was still hungry, but he had no intention on going back to get yelled at by Sheemo.

  Des knew he needed to join the academy. It would keep him out of the war for another three or four years and would allow him to become whatever he wanted. He had the grades for it and would do well in the entrance exam. If he even had to take it.

  But Des was unsure what he wanted. To him, it seemed like everyone else knew what they were going to do for the rest of their lives. However, he still floundered along playing at being a spy. If that’s what he was doing.

  Son-of-a, Des thought.

  He then realized he would have to either make a decision on his own, or someone somewhere will make his decision for him. Like his brother was doing to him, but he would have no ability to say no. He knew Sheemo was correct and he would have to take the plunge sooner rather than later. He also understood all too well that his brother would never let him hear the end of it.

  “Damn it,” Des said as he made his decision.

  Des pulled out his tablet. It was an older model M43a model he had taken apart and removed the wireless hardware. It survived the operation and functioned offline. He used it to record and document things he didn’t want anyone else look at. It was where he had recorded his thoughts of his trips into the Undercroft.

  He flipped through the different menus and applications. A moment later, he opened the recording he took yesterday. He examined its contents, looking for signs of where he had gotten so lost in the undercroft. He had never gotten lost before, and that worried him.

  Des plugged the different data points into another program and waited while it compiled. Des had collected interesting facts he saw during his incursions. He thought it would give him some type of picture, but so far, it was for nothing. The program finished, and he still saw no patterns besides the few areas which he knew were maintained by station employees.

  Then the messenger program buzzed on his personal phone. He pressed a few buttons, and the tablet switched off and secured itself.

  Des pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the message. It was a message from Cryslis on where to go in the morning. Beside it, there was an older message from Elsie he had missed.

  He opened the message, and it flashed on the screen.

  Sorry, Elsie’s message said, I only got talked to. No real trouble. My mom hates you though…

  No worries, Des replied, I’m your friend. Not hers.

  Des looked at the time. He knew he needed to open his homework and start on it.

  A message came back from her, it was an automated response.

  This user is away from the phone due to the need for uninterrupted study time. She’ll contact you later.

  Chapter 7

  The night had passed slowly as Des puzzled through his data looking for patterns and events. He figured if he could find the culprit in a day or two, then his life could go back to some semblance of normal. If he could figure out what normal was.

  It was very early when a loud screech echoed in his ear.

  “Get up,” Cryslis said through his earpiece, “You’re going to be late.”

  Des looked at the time, he had gone to bed just after midnight, it was now three-thirty in the morning.

  “II don’t have to be there until four,” Des muttered.

  “You’ve to get to the safehouse to get your uniform, and you disguise,” Cryslis said.

  “Son-of-a…” Des muttered.
>
  “I’m up,” Des said.

  “I’m on my way to pick you up,” Cryslis said, “Get to the street corner in ten minutes.”

  “Yes, ma'am.”

  Des pried himself out of bed, took a quick shower and was out the door in five minutes.

  The trip to the safehouse was uneventful, there was no one up at this hour. Des dressed into his uniform, and Cryslis made sure he understood how to wear it in the right manner. She also gave him a quick lesson on how to carry himself as cadets walked and acted in their own distinct style.

  “If you see your brother,” Cryslis said, “You can’t let him know it’s you. Do you understand?”

  Des nodded.

  The walk through the streets at four in the morning was as dead as the streets at three-thirty in the morning. The air had a crispness to it which made Des feel refreshed and alive, even though he only had a short three hours of sleep.

  A short while later, Des looked into the mirror in the boy's washroom of the Military Academy. The bright lights illuminated himself as he stood in front of the mirror. He was dressed in the standard issue, Jovian armed forces cadet uniform for the Jov 1-H Military Academy. Des was dressed in a pair of white pants with red stripes down the legs. He also had a white button-up shirt with a simple red tie. A red jacket was flung over his shoulder. A simple brown backpack sat at his feet. The white star glistened on the front of his red box-style hat. Its visor sat low above his eyes.

  Except, the hat wasn’t on his head. The uniform was worn by a different boy who just happened to be standing in the exact same place. Des wore a small device in the form of a necklace which caused him to appear to have a different face. His new face had a long hawkish nose and large overgrown eyebrows. His smaller chin made his face look slightly comical.

  He wore the face of Ryder Fly. An imaginary boy Cryslis had constructed just for him. Des knew the boy had a background, and a history built to fool any curious searchers.