“How far does this surveillance system go?”
“That I cannot divulge,” said Kalakia.
“And there we have it. What gives you the right to monitor us? Who are you? What’s your history, or your track record for that matter? What qualification do you hold for your position?”
“Corruption comes in many guises. It thrives by acting in duplicitous ways, through illusion, manipulation and propaganda. It is never justified. I believe that power must justify its authority at all times. When it can no longer offer a valid reason for its existence, it must be dismantled. I do not claim my position from God. I have no divine right. The leadership is entrusted to me by my people because I have proven myself worthy of it time and again. The results speak for themselves. The minute I falter, the second I cease to be the most capable person for my position, I will gladly stand down. Yet as long as I hold the goodwill of the people, and as long as greed and corruption remain, I will give my life for the cause.”
“Don’t you think transparency is necessary for power to justify itself, as you put it? Secrecy breeds corruption.”
“You are not wrong. Keep in mind that our strength has been in our obscurity. Our enemies could not strike out against a foe they could not see. The shadow is a fertile source of power.”
“And now you have stepped out of the shadow because…?”
“Our enemy struck from within, not from without.”
“I see. That brings me to the next question, one which has been on everyone’s lips since a video of him in a fistfight in London went viral. Who is this young man?”
The television screen displayed a photo of Frederich on a backdrop of a screaming crowd, his flying fist suspended in the air as the colossal Dikka’s head flew back in a bloody mess. The grim determination on Frederich’s face along with his fluttering brown locks looked iconic.
When Kalakia had first seen the picture, he immediately recalled the story of David and Goliath. The reality was not so clear cut, but that was not important. The photo would tell whatever tale the people needed to hear. In their state of fear they would relate to the small and vulnerable ‘David,’ with Frederich’s Goliath-like opponent representing the shadow of destruction hanging over them. Kalakia and Mechtkempf had discussed the matter of Frederich before going on air, and she had wanted to confirm if Kalakia was fine with her mentioning the talented Estonian in the segment. Kalakia thought long and hard, and decided that the risk was worth it. To win over the populace, he would need to present them their hero. In much the same way that Fidel Castro had ridden into Havana on the back of Che Guevara’s revolutionary fervour, Kalakia knew that Frederich’s zeal and savagery would provide him the upper-hand in the upcoming propaganda battle.
“His name is Frederich Abel,” said Kalakia. “And he is an orphan. He has no family and no fear. His life has one purpose and one alone; justice for the people.”
“Footage was released only hours ago by the Polish authorities revealing him to be the person who killed the Berlin Bomber,” said Mechtkempf. “Can you confirm this to be true?”
“Yes,” said Kalakia. “He witnessed the carnage of the bombing with his own eyes, and took it upon himself to bring retribution upon the terrorists.”
“The authorities and witnesses said they were sickened by what they saw. How can you approve of such brutal methods?”
“It is easy to judge his acts from a distance. The demonic forces of this world do not compromise or negotiate. Evil bows only to fear, and it has a reason to fear this man. He is a force of nature never before seen. He does what needs to be done. However, the people can rest assured knowing that he is on their side. He fights for you.”
“Why?” said Mechtkempf.
“He knows no other way. His past made him savage, but his suffering has made him sympathetic to the pain of the people. He understands their plight.”
“Thank you,” said Mechtkempf with the slightest of smiles. “Those are all the questions I had. I believe you would now like to address our audience directly?”
The cameraman moved around to face Kalakia head-on, and Kalakia turned away from Mechtkempf and looked into the lens. After a moment, the cameraman signalled with his finger that Kalakia could begin.
“Fellow citizens,” said Kalakia. “I come to you today representing the organisation responsible for the equality you have enjoyed for decades. Since our inception, our mission has been to bring justice to those disparaged by the corrupt. We have indeed achieved this end by acting with impunity, and in the process, have committed many violent acts. Our success lies not in our brutality, however, but in our principles. Not once have we pursued recognition or glory, not once have we targeted the civilian population except with due cause. During our reign, inequality has been reduced to levels never before seen in history. You know this because you have reaped the benefits. Where economic hardship has reared its ugly head, we have worked with your governments to ensure ongoing prosperity for the disenfranchised, without bowing to your wealthy elites. It is no secret that once a certain amount of wealth is achieved, a person ceases to identify with the common man. They become
