The medieval fortifications of Terlaka Gabez rose up behind him, the cries of the disenfranchised and desperate, Gideon often thought how close this nation was to becoming another name thrown across international newspapers, an example of another unstable African country, he didn't have to guess, he knew this was the exact reason President Katlego had agreed to these unfortunate circumstances.
A plume of dust appeared between the valley road, Gideon knew these were the representatives of the Toopoxican Organisation, the men he'd come to greet. It was hard for Gideon to think of these men as the salvation of Athkawa, they were, in his mind, vultures, watching for the death of a State and waiting for their opportunity, maybe they would bring enlightenment to Athkawa, but any advancement Athkawa made would be for the pockets of the Organisation. Gideon dipped his head in brief prayer.
Who was Gideon to contemplate and theorise so on the plight of the Athkawans, his office, the Department of the Toopxican Commonwealth Liasons, had little practical application in this state shaking itself apart. He had been here from the beginning, the 1987 Drought which had Athkawa pleading for aid, the somewhat desperate entry into the Commonwealth and the very apathetic attention the Commonwealth had invested back into the Athkawans. Gideon began to recite the articles and criticisms of this controversial move, maybe they were right, the Commonwealth could have done more to aid the Athkawans, the Commonwealth infact denied the Athkawans aid in a conspiracy to overthrow its government.
Gideon smiled suddenly, the convoy was within sight, he put on his Toopoxican face and proudly shot forwards his chest. The dusty olive vans pulled up ahead of Gideon, before he had time to adjust he was greeted by a tall snide man standing at his side. "Officer Gideon, I am surprised to see you without appropriate Guard." The vans were quickly disembarking soldiers and officials, it made Gideon and his department look shameful and a rather fitting analogy for the state of Athkawa.
"I've found it terribly difficult to employ a Bodyguard I can trust." Gideon bit his tongue before disrespecting the Commonwealth, he had tried to employ Guardsmen from the Commonwealth itself, but they seemed less interested in the safety of a Liason Officer in a country they couldn't give a damn about.
"Very well." The man took out a notebook and began reading. "Selim! Volya!" He shouted out to two passing Soldiers. "This is Mr Gideon, Mr Gideon these are your new bodyguards." Gideon couldn't help but feel both relieved and happy with the haste of the Orginsation, despite his ill feelings towards the Organisation as a whole.
"Thank you sir." Gideon saluted. "Can I ask, how did the Organisation accquire these forces?" It was rare, if not impossible that the Organisation would have formed its own army, indeed, Selim and Volya both had the markings of a Regular Infantryman.
The snide Corporate Representative smiled and nodded. "Very astute Mr Gideon, they are the 11th Engineers, on loan until such a time as a proper Security Force can be formed." He, and several of the Engineers were advancing upon the forboding orange walls of the darkened Medieval City, Gideon followed, still nervous about the recent accquisition by the Organisation.
----
President Katlego sat, nervous, at the very end of a long, regency corridor, he had considered himself a fair ruler, a proud man maybe, but no less a ruler who had the best interests of his nation at heart. The walls were bare, the paintings, the statues, even the carpet had been removed and sold, instead Katlego sat in a cold, dusty and miserable marble coffin, watching with anticipation and trepidation as the blank, nameless Corporate Executive walked down the long, bare corridor.
Finally the man stood, over the seated Katlego, his briefcase rested softly on the makeshift desk, a single sheet placed before Katlego's eyes. "I have already agreed to give my Country, my Dignity and my Name for future generations to hear, now you humiliate me by presenting me the same contract I have already agreed to." He looked at the sheet. "You want to humiliate me aswell?" It was hard for Katlego to hide the contempt and he was honest when he rattled off the luxuries he had been made to part with.
"The Organisation wants to make official the purchase of Athkawa to the Toopoxican Organisation." The Corporate man also bore the signs of a badly hidden emotion, his was a sneering smile that suggested a rotten superiority. "We wish to make this transition as lawful and as painless as possible." He slid the paper over the rough surface. "Please, sign the document." Katlego shot a look of anger, he took his only lasting luxury, a finely crafted Parker Pen, and spat out his signature on the sheet.
With a sudden expression of disgust Katlego forced himself out of his seat, it sent even the expressionless Corporate Representative into a cold intimidated moment, even if only for a moment. "Bare witness Toopoxican. I shall remain an Athkawan, an Athkawan who feels for this nation, for its people, and for its identity. I will be there, at the front of rally, should the Toopoxicans do ANYTHING to screw Athkawa over!" With a grim look of utter disgust and an expression on his face which cemented the notion of truth, he left.
Gideon watched the spirit of a broken man leave, about five minutes before his body arrived, a man so broken, he could not be expecting they won't watch him. It won't stop them though, the seditionists, the disenfranchised and desperate, clamouring for an identity. Katlego was right, he'll be at the front of the rallies, as a martyr, as the sign of an exploited man. Gideon leaned in to view the Presidential Office, and just for a moment, only for a moment, the Corporate Man knew he would have to struggle.