1. Standard Studio
The man threwhisill fithat overhistrenchon the coat rack, loosenedhischokingleash,floppedonhis
back and turnedonthe holi projectedfromthe ceilingabove hisbed.Itwasaverycomfortable bedand
a rather bigone for a single ClassificationDMale.It wasenormousinhisstandard5x8m ClassificationD
Studio.Mostmen usedthe loftspace above the kitchenasthe bedroom.Butthe Lieutenantpreferred
to fill the highceilinginwhat would be the livingspace withthe holi sohe couldlie onhisback on his
comfortable bedlookingup.
EveryStandardStudioinhiscomplex had a sweepingview outthe grand5x5 StandardShieldWindow.
The Lieutenantswindowhadanespeciallywonderful view of the sunsetoverBlackBay.Fromhislucky
vantage at the 58th floorhe couldsee above several otherolderStandardHousingProjectsandthe
aestheticcacophonyof the Industriesthatfedthe BlackBay.On the clearestof dayshe couldsee white
crestsof the PacificOcean.
But mostdays he foundlittle reasontoevenglance ata sunset.Mostdays foundheavyblue shades
drawnovera StandardShieldwindowtuned'OPAQUE".Tuned'OPAQUE',the window letinnoexternal
light.The heavyblue shadesonlyexistedtohide the blackenedwindow fromstaringbackat himlike the
lidoveran ominouseye.
But on the clearestof daysthe Lieutenantwouldtune hiswindow to'MAXLUX', pull the heavyshades
back and stare out intosea,stare out as far as he couldstrain to see,asfar awayas he couldfathom,as
far awayas hismindcouldcarry. Onthe clearestof dayshe wouldpull backthe lidon that ominouseye
and fly.Flyfarfar away fromhis5x8 StandardStudio,above the streetsandthe Beat,and the filththat
obscuredeverything;the filththatobscuredeverything -evenonthe clearestof days.
Today wasfar fromclear on the 58th floorof the SunsetStandard LivingComplex.The Lieutenantwas
alreadyflyingbutinstinctstillhadhimfumblingthroughthe terrible tripe thatStandardOpticfedthe
massesinthe guise of entertainment.InstinctalsotunedinThe VegasSport.Itwas hisfavorite channel
and one of the fewthatwas alsoa Big CitiesCircuitmulticast.He usedto gamblethere quite abitbut
had beenreducedto anAccessibilityStatusof 'stranger'.Whichallowedhimnointeractionswith
anyone duringorbefore a live multicast,nogambling,noabilitytosuggesttoanyone where theyshould
place theirwagers.NotonlydidthisstatusapplywithThe VegasSportand affiliatesbuttoevery
gamblingmulticastnetworkavailable viaStandardOpticHoli.
The Lieutenanthadalsobeendeprivedof enoughwinningstobuyhisownClassificationCandenough
for the deedtwoa condowithmore than 2 metersof visibilityonanightlike this. Hiswinningsearned
hima massive investigation,whichprovednothing,yetendedwithhimbeingassignedhisBeatasan
efforttopoliticallyputhiminhisplace.

2. His betsandhisadvice had (orwouldhave) costa major gamblingconglomerate100s of millions. He
had caught the earmarksof a fixedbetandtippedoff half the people inhisnetwork.Everyone of them
a bustedbroke ClassificationDwithfewtonoprivileges. Beforethe bigtiphe hadalreadyskimmeda
couple millionwithwell timed,well placed betsthatwere,tohim, easymoney.He evenhadtothrow a
fewfromtime to time tokeepupthe statistical guise of luckandprobability.The gambling
conglomeratesaren'tintentuponpayingoutona sure thing.Unlessitstheirsure thing.Andeventhen
theydon’twantto pay you for the sure thing.