The Devil You Know.

by

D.A.Cairns

     Robert Keating awoke to face the new day, blinking furiously as if trying to force the sun back down again, and with it all the troubles and pressures awaiting him.  Had he known what was to take place that day he might have stayed in bed.  But Keating was an habitual early riser, who slept as little as possible.

    He looked around at the hard sterile lines of his modern apartment and thought that although it looked like a hospital, it was fashionable and functional.

    ‘Activate Remote Home Systems,’ ordered Keating as he sat up in bed and ruffled his thick brown hair.  ‘Shades open half.  Television on.’

    The TV came on immediately but the shades stayed closed.  Keating groaned at the inefficiencies of RHS forgetting that a service call had been arranged for that morning.

He yawned as the early news came on.

     ‘March 15, 2034.  It’s six a.m. I’m Abigail Stanton. Good morning.  Association of Southeast Asian Nations President,  Li Kwon Yo announced last night at the conclusion to the seventh ASEAN forum that the powerful Asian economic bloc would leave the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group officially on June 22, 2034.

  Australian President Robert Keating who has been involved in intense negotiations over the past several months mediating between Yo and United States President Cain McMurtry, is expected to issue a statement this morning.’

    ‘Dammit!’ cursed Keating springing out of bed and storming to the kitchenette.

    ‘Coffee black.  Videophone on.  Calling Damien Chen in KL.’

    After a brief pause Damien’s face appeared on the screen.  He did not seem surprised.

    ‘Yes Robert?’ said Damien flatly.

    ‘I just saw the news.  What the hell is going on, Damien? Did you know that Yo was going to make that announcement?’

    Damien did not answer immediately which was unlike him.

    ‘Damien?’

    ‘Are you running jammers?’

    ‘Of course. AIC approved Series 6. What’s wrong?’ asked Robert.

    Damien hesitated again and when he finally spoke it was in a hushed tone.  ‘Robert I’m in trouble.  I head an anti Yo group called  Group 9. We’re all in serious trouble.  Yo has surrounded himself with yes men; Asian ultra nationalists. 

    They agree to whatever he says and encourage him in his  stupidity.  Anyway we were barred from last night’s meeting.  I had my suspicions but I didn’t know for sure.’

    Robert stared hard at his friend’s face. They first met on assignment for their respective governments at a trade and industry conference in Bangkok in 2014.  He had never seen the slightest hint of fear or doubt on Damien’s face until now.

    ‘Damien how can I help?’ asked Robert urgently.

    ‘It’s too late, my friend.  I don’t know what will happen.  I’m sorry.  It’s been a pleasure working with you but  I’m going to lose my job at best and at worst-’

    ‘Your connection has been terminated at KL,’ said the videophone.  ‘Attempts to reconnect have been unsuccessful.’

    Robert raced off to the shower frantically searching his mind for logical explanations for the sudden end to their conversation.  He called his secretary Denise and told her to cancel all the day’s appointments and try to contact Damien Chen or anyone at the office of ASEAN’s Chief Secretary.  Denise dutifully objected, restated his itenary and insisted that he fulfill his obligations.  Robert thanked her for the reminder but told her that she should do as she was told.

    ‘By the way I need my driver downstairs in five minutes.’

    ‘Yes sir,’ she said and disconnected.

    Robert dried off hurriedly and dressed himself.  What had happened to Damien?  The obvious answer was too painful to contemplate.  The announcement by Yo had really come as a surprise. What could he do?

    Fiddling with his tie in the mirror, the Australian President purposefully calmed himself then looked with some satisfaction at his reflection.  Older than he looked he was pleased to be often described as youthful, handsome and confident.  Confident?  He was expected to give a statement but what could he say?  He didn’t know anything yet but as the public were well acquainted with politicians feeding them platefuls of empty rhetoric, he would think of something.

    ‘Door open,’ he said to the RHS and walked out into the hallway.  ‘Door close.  Deactivate Remote Home Systems.  Activate security.’

    He stepped into the lift and was on the ground floor in ten seconds. The driver was waiting for him as requested and he opened the door for Robert.

    ‘To the office sir?’

    ‘Yes,’ replied Robert as he climbed into the spacious interior of his 2010 Cadillac limousine.  ‘Videophone on.  Calling Cain McMurtry in Washington.’

    McMurtry’s face appeared.  He looked every day of his ninety years but his eyes were focused and serious; his mind as sharp as ever.  An intelligent and determined man.

    ‘Hey Rob you’ve got some trouble done there,’ said McMurtry with typical directness.

    ‘Trouble every bloody where Cain.’

    ‘Did you know?’

    ‘No I didn’t,’ answered Robert abruptly.

    The US president looked suspicious and with good reason thought Robert.  He had placed an enormous amount of faith in Robert to convince Yo that ASEAN should remain in APEC.  Both men knew how important the huge Asian markets were to the continued bouyancy of their respective economies.  Both also suspected that more than just plain economics was at stake.

    ‘What are you going to do?’

    ‘I’m seeking an urgent face to face meeting with Yo.’

    ‘Will he go for that?’ asked McMurtry doubtfully, knowing Yo’s distaste for personal meetings.

    ‘He bloody well better.  I’ll get back to you later Cain.’

    Robert felt a bump and the Cadillac shook slightly as the driver deactivated autodrive and left the freeway. He heard the RTA announcement interupt the radio news warning that any vehicle exceeding the non freeway speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour would be turned off and the driver fined. Aware he was running out of time, Robert wished he had never approved the ammendments to non freeway traffic laws. In 2034 you could not speed and road accidents had been eradicated.

     Leaving the Cadillac and striding up the stairs, Robert wished he could also eradicate Li Kwon Yo.  The man was a pain in the arse with no respect for the protocols of 21st century diplomacy.  He was aggressive and a proud racist.

   Yo was a relic who had risen to the presidency of the world’s largest and most powerful trading bloc.

    Inside his sparsely furnished office Denise was waiting for him.  She looked fantastic as always.  Tall and curvaceous she was wrapped in a red body stocking with her long auburn hair flowing over bare shoulders.  Denise not only looked like she had just stepped out of Playboy, but she performed her duties consistently and faultlessly around the clock.  She was perfect and so she should be.  Robert had paid over a hundred thousand dollars for her and that was without the optional sexual functions programming.

    Denise smiled warmly and asked Robert if he wanted a coffee.

    ‘Yes.  Did you get through to Damien?’

    ‘There was no answer at that number.  I called the Vice President’s office and was told that the Chief Secretary’s department was no longer functional.  When I asked what that meant, the line was disconnected.’

    ‘I have to go to KL.  ASAP.’

    ‘Sir,’ said Denise reverting to reminder mode, ‘You have a  meeting with a Council Of Religious Experiences representative at eight thirty and an appointment with the Prime Minister at eleven.’

    ‘He’s a pain in the arse too,’ barked Robert, speaking his thoughts out loud.

    ‘Sir?’ asked Denise with a look something like puzzlement on her face.

    ‘Cancel the bloody meetings.  Tell CORE that I have bigger fish to fry and ask the Prime Minister to stop bothering me.’

    ‘Sir, may I remind you of the proper constitutional relationship between the President and the Prime-?’

    ‘No Denise.  Cancel reminder mode and get me- actually get us both on a plane to KL.’

    ‘Yes sir,’ said Denise cheerfully.

    Denise’s diplomatic skills would ensure that neither of the two men he was supposed to meet with that morning would be overly upset.  She was continually proving her value.

    ‘Call a press conference for eight o’clock.’

    Denise left the office as Keating plonked down into his thought chair, an antique red leather recliner.

    ‘Music on.  Volume low.’

    What could he say to Yo to make him change his mind?  It seemed impossible now.  Through the months of negotiations he remained open minded and non committal.  Listening carefully to the US point of view as relayed by Robert and the opinions of other senior diplomats.

   He appeared to be a rational man who was coming to a rational conclusion about the value of ASEAN continuing to belong in APEC, then suddenly Yo says no, we’re leaving. Why?

    ‘Videophone on.  Calling Cameron Ford, Intelligence Corp.’

    If anyone had more information about Yo than Robert it was the IC.  Perhaps Ford could give him some insight, some way to get through to Yo. Maybe some information to use against him.

   ‘Yes Mr.President?’ said Ford shortly.

   ‘You’ve heard the news Cam.  What’re we going to do?’

   Ford stared straight ahead, and said in a cool detached voice, ‘If the President is asking for my professional opinion on how best to deal with ASEAN’s defection from APEC...then  Li Kwon Yo should be removed from the equation, sir.’

    Robert had no need to ask what that meant. He felt instantly uncomfortable.  A political assination.  A common weapon of  terrorists in the twentieth century but unheard of nowadays.  How could such a thing be done?  And by who?

    Ford interupted Keating’s thoughts.  ‘Mr.President?  Did you hear me?’

    ‘I want you in my office at eight fifteen.’

    ‘Yes sir.’

    Robert wanted to go down in history as a President who really made a difference but  murder was going too far. But Yo in having made the announcement had apparently made up his mind so maybe there was no other way. What else could be said?

    Were there any benefits to ASEAN’s exit from APEC?  Military and political analysts had been flooding cyberspace with dire warnings about the expansionist nature of Li Kwon Yo’s government.  Experts claimed that secession from APEC was only the first stage in ASEAN’s master plan to invade Australia.

    Even with a substantial and well armed fleet including ten aircraft carriers, and a sophisticated satellite coastal surveilance system, a full scale invasion from the north would be impossible for Australia’s Defence Forces to repel.

    The Australian public believed the threat was real. So did all the national leaders of APEC including Cain McMurtry and Keating himself.  He would go down in history,  infamous as the man who presided over the invasion and occupation of Australia.  Ford was right.  Yo had to be killed and Robert would have to give the order.

    Keating blustered through the press conference saying that he believed Yo’s announcement was somewhat premature and that he was on his way to KL to talk with the ASEAN President and as he enjoyed a good relationship with him, was confident of a satisfactory outcome.

    Fifteen minutes later he returned to his office to find Cameron Ford waiting for him.

    They discussed the operation in general terms.  Ford asserted that there was no alternative.  He insisted Keating had to go and meet with Yo but would have no direct involvement with his assination and the less Keating knew about the operation the better.  Finally he asked his permission to make some programmming alterations to Denise who he assumed would be accompanying the President on the trip.

     Denise had got them on an eleven thirty flight to KL.  Although unable to contact Damien or find out what may have happened to him, she had talked to Yo’s cy-sec and arranged a  meeting.  Keating was silent the whole trip. His stomach churned at the thought of what he given his consent to.  What if he was implicated?  What if it failed?

It would fail he told himself.  Yo was untouchable. He would be surrounded by bodyguards and would more than likely not even leave his office unless absolutely neccessary.

    Yo was a hedonist.  Although married he openly kept several mistresses and often visited KL’s gentlemen’s clubs to use the services of their first rate cy-pros.  Occaisonally he would even have sex with human prostitutes.  He was a heavy drinker preferring cheap local whiskey and a chain smoker.  Famed for his arrogance.

   As Keating considered all the information about Yo’s dark side furnished to him by IC, he began to feel better.  It occurred to him that he might be doing ASEAN a favour by disposing of such a detestable and immoral man.

    Walking through customs surrounded by his team of cyber-minders, Keating focused on his job.  The initial meeting would have to be superficial and cordial.  Next, as Ford had suggested, Keating would have to invite Yo to dinner at Yo’s favourite restaurant, Three Coins. After dinner, where again no business would have been discussed, Keating would express his interest in some cy-pro company and according to the plan, Yo would happily take him to The Golden Lounge.  At that point Ford had ceased his briefing.  What was it he had said as he left?  You just enjoy yourself Mr.President.

    A swarm of media representatives buzzed around Keating and his men as they moved briskly through the airport and out into a waiting limousine.  From there they went directly to Yo’s office. Yo had ignored protocol again by failing to send his deputy to officially receive him at the airport.  Keating tried to ignore the breach as he smiled warmly and extended his large hand towards Yo who stood as he approached.

    Despite telling himself otherwise, Keating could not relax and was so nervous he felt sick. 

    Ford had warned him to play it cool.  To show no signs there was anything wrong.  To make Yo feel as if maybe he had come to congratulate the ASEAN president on his boldness rather than berate him for his arrogance and stupidity.

Keating tried hard to play the game but the more he thought about it, the sicker he became. Wasn’t it wrong?  His conscience was ripping his heart out and vexing his mind.  Several times during dinner at the Three Coins, Yo asked if Robert was all right.

    ‘You look a little pale my friend?’ said Yo with paternal concern in his voice.

    Pull yourself together Robert, he told himself.  You are going to blow the whole thing. He’s already suspicious.

    ‘I’m fine.  Just a bit tired that’s all.  It’s been a busy day.  I wouldn’t mind a nice relaxing massage actually,’ replied Keating, still managing to play the game and lead Yo further into the web where he would become trapped and die.

     Yo’s eyes twinkled.  He was hooked but he did not know it.  Flushed with the success and the power of self aggrandizement he was blind.

     At the Golden Lounge Keating perused  the menu and found a cy-pro to his liking.  She was identical to Denise and he had no intention of having sex with her either.

  He was still married and would be faithful to his estranged wife until he died.  That’s what he had said in his vows.  They called him old fashioned and quaint but secretly admired a man of such unswerving principles.  The same man who was now participating in a murder.

    Keating laughed at the irony as they went to seperate rooms, and nodded as Yo wished him all the best in his quest for relaxation while laughing like a schoolboy.

    As his Denise look-a-like cy-pro began to undress, Keating excused himself and went into the ensuite to have a shower. He suspected that Denise would be substituted for Yo’s cy-pro and kill him during sex. His head was pounding with tension.  During his very long shower he heard an explosion and  knew it was finished.

    Media reports called it an assassination.  The incendiary bomb used  presumably by the cy-pro had turned both bodies into charcoal in a few minutes.  There was no evidence.  A long list of suspects but not a shred of evidence.  It was a perfectly executed murder.  There were several reports focusing on the coincidental  presence of Keating and the fact that he was unharmed, but nobody believed that the Australian President would do such a thing.  It was inconceivable.

    Keating slouched in his thought chair unsure of how he felt.  He would definately win re-election for his second and final term, and he had certainly stopped  the invasion-

at least temporarily, but did the end justify the means? He sighed as he realised he had no answer and if he tried hard enough he would convince himself he did not care.  He had done his job and served his country well.