BACKGROUND: The year was 2029 and martial law now covered what was previously considered to be the civilized world. This started with Emperor Stump suspending the US Constitution a couple of months before the 2026 mid-terms - elections he knew he'd lose heavily if they went ahead.
It was Stump's intention to take advantage of worldwide chaos that arose from illegal wars raging across Europe and West Asia. Those wars were started on behalf of a species of degenerate parasites called the Apestein Class. That species, aliens who'd become the ruling class on Earth, had been considered contrary to all mankind almost since the dawn of time.
CURRENT: A report received by the Edinburgh station, a hub of New Scotland Enforcement, said that grid surveillance had detected a possible anomaly in the system. That anomaly was a person of interest, a man who needed investigation and, if necessary, dealt with - a subject of the New Imperial society who wasn't conforming.
Agents Jared Bolton and Esther Bernstein were tasked with resolving the matter.
~
"Not had one of these in a while," said Agent Bernstein. "This'll make a welcome change from the usual shtick."
"Yeah, but let's be careful," said Agent Bolton. "These anomalies can sometimes bite."
They pored together over the ten-page report, making notes and devising an appropriate strategy.
"Raymond Cameron is in his seventies. Has some mild bone disability and is of wiry build," said Bernstein, brushing peroxide strands from her face. "Should be a cinch."
"Due diligence, remember. No assumptions, Agent Bernstein" said Bolton.
"Of course, sir," answered Bernstein, adopting her most girlish voice.
~
An hour later Bernstein brought in two coffees. It was early afternoon and the morning patrol had just returned to base from what had been a quiet tour of the city.
"So, let's summarize," she said.
"Cameron's a ghost on social media," said Bolton. "No online accounts we can associate with his name or through email credentials. His actual emails themselves seem pretty innocuous. Just sundry exchanges with his bank, utilities companies, landlord, stuff like that."
"Yeah, I looked at those. Did you spot that contact three years ago with one Ronnie Christian?" said Bernstein. "Christian is based in Prague and is, would you believe, an agent with our friends at Six."
"I wonder what Six was doing with him, what their interest was? Cameron was in Prague about ten years ago, yes?"
"Yep. And he managed to sneak back out of the Czech Republic and return to England, right under Six's nose."
"And now he's on our radar, here in New Scotland. Those useless bastards should've seen the threat when they had him," said Bolton, his head shaking with disbelief. "We should really contact Six, even if they will just spin us a line."
"Protocol, I suppose. But Ronnie Christian was a legend, not a real person. I suggest we concentrate on Cameron's lifestyle profiling." said Bernstein.
"Well, that's what brought him to us in the first place, isn't it. He's got no criminal record, not yet anyway. This is really a pre-crime case, an opportunity for a prevention rather than a cure."
"Rundown, sir?", said Bernstein, all girly again. She fancied Bolton, an unhappily married man.
"OK, cut the crap," said Bolton, "First off, electronic surveillance. It's clear that he uses Linux operating system on an old laptop. He was also an Apple fanboy from 2010 to 2016 but has primarily used Linux since around 2008. He hasn't touched Microsoft since early 2009."
"That means there's no keystroke logs?" said Bernstein.
"None useful, just some tame porn stuff from his Mac days that was logged by his I.P.," said Bolton. "But remember that this guy goes way back before the nineties with his computing. Maybe he just considers open source as being more reliable."
"Not a crime in itself then, given his age."
"No," agreed Bolton, "But it is a factor we need to keep in mind. He'll have become aware of security issues, particularly regarding surveillance software on Windows and macOS."
"His smart meter data shows he runs no television, radio, Wi-Fi, cooker or refrigerator," said Bernstein.
"This is some guy."
"And no smart meter on his gas supply, only analogue."
"He doesn't use a smart phone either. Just an old Nokia dumb phone."
"That's another factor against him. More telling than the operating system."
"Agreed," said Bolton, "but it's all still circumstantial."
"How does he do it? He's barely in the twentieth century let alone the new world order!" said Bernstein, genuine admiration in her voice.
"He cooks with a two-ring hob and uses a washing machine."
"And the smart meter suggests he uses incandescent bulbs."
"Those were banned in 2016. Can't we pull him in on that alone?"
"Yep, and then we can pile on the circumstantial stuff to build a stronger case."
"No CCTV or surveillance drone footage that's useful, so that's out."
"Don't worry about that. Our guys at the video unit are absolute artists," said Bernstein. "They'll concoct something."
The agents mapped out a route. Although a clear candidate for a grilling remotely by armed drone, both agents preferred to make a personal visit to his small flat situated in a village on Scotland's east coast. They liked their fun, especially when it meant getting out of the office.
~
Taking a self-drive from the pool fleet, both swallowed an upper each and set off. They carried Tasers, a set of cuffs and a Glock 19 pistol each. Standard street kit.
"He doesn't spend much of his measly pension," said Bolton, still profiling Cameron.
"Everyone's pension is cratered since they sequestered retirement funds for the data centres," laughed Bernstein, barely able to hide fully her bitterness.
"Careful," warned Bolton. "Remember these cars have ears."
"I was only joking," said Bernstein, hoping to avoid a social-scoring strike or, even worse, a carpeting at Head Office.
"His only extravagance, if one can call it that, is that he buys books, paper ones at that, almost obsessively from local charity shops and online."
"He doesn't drive either. Always takes public transport - and even then, he rarely goes outside his fifteen-minute zone."
"This guy's a f*cking loon. We need to take him in for reorientation," said Bolton.
"You did spot that he's a Christian, claims to believe the Bible?"
"Well, that'll soon be washed out of his twisted brain."
~
It was overcast but dry in the East Lothian coastal town where the agents cruised Cameron's street and discreetly scanned his home. Parking several doors down from his door, they got out of their vehicle.
They knocked gently on his screen door. No reply. They knocked again, only louder this time.
"Gimme a minute, I'm on the bog," shouted Raymond Cameron, enemy of the state.
Bernstein, using her girly voice again, called out, "Mister Cameron? Federal agents here. We just want to make sure you're alright."
Bolton chuckled.
Twenty seconds later the door opened slowly ...
... At which point Agent Bolton kicked the door wide open.
"What do you really want?" asked Raymond Cameron. He'd anticipated the violent intrusion and had already taken a few steps back from the door.
"You're coming with us Cameron," said Bernstein as she reached for her Taser.
Cameron sprang forward and hit her with a blunt object pulled from behind his back.
Bernstein went down hard. Her skull cracked under the heavy blow and her subsequent fall onto concrete made sure she was out for the count. From that moment she became a candidate for early retirement on health grounds.
Bolton, who'd stayed back out of reach, drew his pistol and unloaded a double-tap into Cameron's gut and head - terminating the life of the last sane man on Earth.
Bolton dragged both bodies right inside before dialling it in.
Revelation 13 - KJV