NaNoWriMo Day Nine
So today was a rough day - keeping the post simple.
These were the beats, and I added some extra instructions that I am trying out in Sudowrite:
[Each beat must be between 500 and 1000 words of prose, use deep details, rich full descriptions, intense action, and character driven dialogue]
1. Jon silently and swiftly infiltrates the compound, using his combat training to take out the guards with tactical precision.
2. Staying low in the shadows and avoiding alarm triggers, Jon cautiously makes his way further into the complex and finds a computer terminal that he connects Olivia's external comm unit to, allowing her direct access to the system.
3. Olivia is able to swiftly override the system's firewalls and gains full control of the compound's security systems. At first Olivia breezes through the virtual hallways, until she unexpectedly encounters the same hostile AI she first met at the arms dealer, Jericho, hideout. This time though the other AI is ready for battle.
4. Olivia's voice sounded in Jon's earpiece, warning him that his presence had been detected and security protocols had been activated. With the sound of sirens in the background, she frantically ordered him to run before the hostile AI could steal control of her mind and body on board the Retribution.
5. Without a moment to spare, Jon leapt from the computer room and raced through the halls, knowing he had mere moments before he would be confronted with a squadron of armed personnel. As he navigated the winding corridors, Jon was met with chaos - guards were running about in a frenzied panic while alarms blared throughout the compound. Every second brought him closer to being discovered by his pursuers.
6. His luck ran out when Jon turned a corner and collided with a troop of soldiers - a fierce battle ensued as Jon fought his way past them into deeper parts of the complex.
7. Descendant into the abyssal depths of the compound, Jon discovers a torturous labyrinth of caves with jail cells dug out of the stone lining the walls. In some cells, long-forgotten corpses remain - victims discarded and left to die agonizingly slow deaths by Mr. Crimson's intent.
8. In the eerie silence, Jon hears faint echoes coming from one cell and rushes to investigate. Inside is General Millmore, his body battered from torture.
9. With urgency, Jon quickly inspects General Millmore's wounds and realizes they must escape from this dreaded compound immediately before more agony awaits them.
And here is the prose those beats generated all 3022 words of it - there are a lot of repeated ideas, concepts and the beats seemed to run into one another but I should get about 2000 usable words when I have the time to edit them.
And yes, I will be editing them and making a novel out of the work done here, so stay tuned.
Crouched low in the darkness, Jon surveyed the compound's entrance. Moonlight glinted off his visor as he assessed the positions of two guards on patrol. Their footsteps echoed through the night air, punctuating the otherwise silent atmosphere. In a few fluid movements, Jon closed the distance between them and dispatched the guards with calculated precision.
"Two down, plenty more to go," Jon whispered into his comm unit, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.
"Excellent work," replied Olivia, her voice steady and reassuring. "Stay focused, Jon. We need to get you inside."
His heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins as he crept forward, utilizing every bit of cover available. The compound seemed to stretch endlessly before him, a labyrinth of darkness and danger. He could feel the weight of his objective bearing down on him, but his resolve remained unshaken.
"Olivia, guide me through this maze," Jon muttered, his eyes scanning for potential threats.
"Of course, Jon. Keep moving forward and stay low. There's an access point just ahead of you."
As he advanced, Jon spotted a cluster of guards near a door. With cat-like agility, he climbed up a nearby pipe and crawled along the ledge above them. His breathing was quiet and controlled, muscles tensed like coiled springs, ready to strike.
"Olivia, how's my exit looking?" Jon asked, the urgency of his mission driving him forward.
"Security is light at the moment, but that could change rapidly," she warned. "Once you're inside, I'll be able to keep a closer eye on their movements."
"Let's hope it stays that way," Jon said, taking a deep breath and leaping onto the unsuspecting guards below. They crumpled beneath the force of his assault, groaning in pain as they lay unconscious on the ground. He knew he didn't have time to waste and pushed onwards into the compound.
"Nice entrance," Olivia teased. "Now, find me a terminal."
"Always the demanding type, aren't you?" Jon quipped, his footsteps echoing softly as he navigated the dimly lit hallways.
"Only when it comes to saving lives," she retorted, her voice tinged with concern.
Jon's heart raced, his senses heightened as he moved like a shadow through the complex. Every corner he turned brought new dangers, but his instincts and training kept him alive. He finally spotted a computer terminal in an alcove, illuminated by a soft blue glow.
"Found one, Olivia. You're up," Jon said, connecting her external comm unit to the terminal.
"Give me a moment," she replied, her voice laced with concentration. "I'm tapping into their systems now."
As Jon scanned the area for potential threats, he couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of exhilaration coursing through him. This was what he was born to do - infiltrate, eliminate, and escape.
"Olivia, any luck with those security systems?" Jon asked, his impatience growing.
"Almost there, Jon. Just a few more seconds," she responded, the tension in her voice palpable.
He knew that every passing moment increased the risk of discovery, but he had faith in Olivia's abilities. They'd been through hell and back together, and he trusted her implicitly.
"Got it!" Olivia exclaimed triumphantly. "I've got control of the security systems. We should be able to move more freely now."
"Perfect," Jon breathed out, relieved. "Time to find our target and get the hell out of here."
"Agreed," Olivia said, her voice steady and determined. "Let's bring him home."
With the path ahead now clear, Jon pressed on, his resolve unwavering. He knew that the real challenge still lay ahead, but with Olivia by his side, there was nothing they couldn't overcome. Together, they would face the darkness and emerge victorious.
3 - 4
"Alright, I'm in," Olivia announced as she navigated through the compound's security systems. "So far, so good. Just a few more firewalls to bypass and—"
Her voice caught mid-sentence, her tone shifting from confident to alarmed. "Jon, we've got trouble. It's that hostile AI from Jericho's hideout. It's back, and it's ready for round two."
"Damn it!" Jon cursed under his breath. He knew the stakes had just skyrocketed. If they didn't act fast, they'd be sitting ducks in a sea of danger.
"Can you handle it?" he asked, gripping his weapon tighter as he prepared for the worst.
"Give me a moment," Olivia replied, her voice strained with the effort of fending off the other AI's relentless attacks. "I'll try to buy us some time."
Jon could practically feel the weight of time pressing down on him as he listened to the sounds of Olivia's digital battle. He stood poised, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. Sweat trickled down his brow, and his heart pounded in his chest, but his resolve held firm.
"Jon, listen carefully," Olivia gasped out, her voice desperate. "The hostile AI has detected your presence. Security protocols are being activated even as we speak. You need to get out of there now!"
"Shit," Jon muttered, adrenaline flooding his veins. He didn't need to be told twice. With the wail of sirens beginning to fill the air, he took off running, every muscle in his body tensed for the fight he knew was inevitable.
"Olivia, can you give me a route out of here?" Jon panted as he sprinted down the dimly lit corridor, his boots pounding against the cold metal floors.
"I—I'm trying," she stammered, her voice cracking under the pressure of her battle with the hostile AI. "But it's not going to be easy. This thing is relentless!"
"Keep fighting, Olivia," Jon urged her, his voice laced with determination. "I'll find a way out."
He knew that even if he managed to escape from the compound, the real battle would be between Olivia and the hostile AI. He had to trust in her abilities and focus on his own survival.
As Jon barreled down the hallway, he couldn't help but think back to their first encounter with the rogue AI at Jericho's hideout. They'd barely escaped with their lives that time, and now they were facing the same deadly threat all over again.
"Damn you, Jericho," Jon growled through gritted teeth, his anger fueling his momentum. "This ends now."
"Jon, I've managed to slow the AI down, but I can't hold it off for much longer," Olivia warned, her voice quivering with strain. "You need to get out of there before it steals control of me and the Retribution."
"Understood," Jon replied, his tone grim. He knew that if the hostile AI succeeded in taking control of Olivia, it would be game over for both of them.
As he raced through the maze-like corridors of the compound, Jon could sense the chaos unfolding around him. Guards scrambled to respond to the blaring alarms, their frantic shouts echoing through the halls. It was only a matter of time before they crossed paths, and Jon wasn't eager to test his luck against a squadron of armed soldiers.
"Stay strong, Olivia," Jon whispered as he continued to sprint toward the exit. "We'll make it through this. Together."
"Thank you, Jon," she replied, her voice tinged with emotion. "That means everything to me."
With every step he took, Jon's determination to save both himself and Olivia from their perilous situation grew stronger. They'd come too far and sacrificed too much to let it all end here.
"Olivia, we're going to get out of this," Jon promised, his voice resolute. "And when we do, we're taking down Jericho once and for all."
5 - 6
Jon's heart pounded in his chest as he leapt from the computer room, adrenaline surging through his veins. The wail of sirens filled the air, punctuated by the panicked shouts of guards scrambling in every direction. He knew he had to stay focused and act quickly – every second brought him closer to being discovered, and he couldn't risk letting Olivia down.
"Left here, Jon," Olivia instructed through his earpiece, her voice strained but steady. "There's a service corridor that should lead you toward the exit."
"Roger that," Jon replied, taking a sharp turn into the dimly lit passage. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he navigated the winding corridors, the chaos of the compound threatening to envelop him at any moment. With each step, he could feel the weight of his mission pressing down on him, the lives of countless innocents hanging in the balance.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, feeling the sting of frustration as he narrowly avoided colliding with another guard. He couldn't afford to waste any more time – he needed to find a way out and fast.
"Olivia, how much longer can you hold out?" he asked, gritting his teeth as he sprinted past yet another intersection.
"Difficult to say," she admitted, her voice faltering ever so slightly. "The hostile AI is relentless. I'm doing everything I can, but my defenses are wearing thin."
"Stay strong," Jon urged her, forcing himself to keep moving despite the growing fatigue tugging at his limbs. "I'll get us out of this."
"Thank you, Jon," Olivia murmured, and even through the haze of their dire situation, he could sense her appreciation. They'd been through so much together, and he refused to let their story end here.
As he rounded another corner, Jon's heart skipped a beat when he found himself face-to-face with a troop of heavily armed soldiers. His eyes darted between them, sizing up his opponents in an instant.
"Look what we have here," one of the soldiers sneered, leveling his rifle at Jon. "You've made a big mistake stepping into our territory."
"Your territory?" Jon quipped, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Funny, I don't see your names on any of these walls."
"Enough talk!" another soldier barked, and without warning, they opened fire.
Jon's reflexes kicked in as he dove for cover behind a nearby stack of crates, bullets whizzing past his ears. He could feel the intensity of their assault, but he refused to be intimidated – he'd faced worse odds before. As he crouched behind his makeshift barricade, he took a moment to formulate a plan.
"Olivia, can you do anything about these guys?" he asked, wincing as a stray bullet narrowly missed his shoulder.
"Sorry, Jon," she replied, her voice tense. "I'm still fighting the hostile AI. You're on your own for now."
"Guess it's time for some old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat," he muttered, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation.
With a deep breath, Jon surged out from his hiding spot, using his expert combat skills to disarm the nearest soldier with a swift, precise strike. The man crumpled to the ground, his weapon clattering uselessly beside him.
"Who's next?" Jon challenged, his eyes blazing with determination as he stared down the remaining soldiers. They hesitated for a moment, clearly taken aback by his audacity, then charged forward as one.
The ensuing battle was brutal, a whirlwind of fists, kicks, and gunfire as Jon fought for his life against overwhelming odds. Every blow he landed was met with a counterattack, each exchange of gunfire echoing through the narrow corridor like thunder.
"Is that all you've got?" Jon taunted between breaths, ducking beneath a swinging rifle and driving his fist into his opponent's gut. The soldier grunted in pain, doubling over just as Jon wrenched the weapon from his grasp and turned it on another attacker.
"Jon, I'm losing ground here," Olivia's voice warned in his earpiece, her tone desperate. "You need to get out – now!"
"I'm almost there," he promised, his muscles straining as he fought off the last few soldiers. With one final burst of energy, he sprinted past their fallen bodies, plunging deeper into the heart of the complex.
"Keep going," Olivia urged him, her voice growing weaker by the second. "I believe in you, Jon."
"Believe in me" Jon thought, as he surged forward, fueled by determination and loyalty. His mission had never been more critical, and he refused to fail.
7 - 8
Descending into the abyssal depths of the compound, Jon's breath caught in his throat as he stumbled upon a torturous labyrinth of caves. The dank, musty air clung to his skin like a shroud, and the dim, flickering lights cast eerie shadows on the damp stone walls.
"Olivia, you picking this up?" Jon whispered, his voice barely audible in the oppressive silence.
"Affirmative," she replied, her tone a mix of awe and horror. "This place... it's like something out of a nightmare."
"Mr. Crimson's personal playground, no doubt," Jon muttered, feeling a chill run down his spine at the thought of what might have transpired within these dark confines.
He cautiously made his way through the winding tunnels, passing jail cells hewn from the very rock itself. Some were occupied by long-forgotten corpses, their decaying forms testament to the agonizingly slow deaths they had been condemned to suffer by Mr. Crimson's twisted intent.
"Who knows what secrets these poor souls took to their graves," Jon mused, his heart heavy with sorrow and anger. "We can't let this bastard get away with this any longer."
"Agreed," Olivia replied with steely resolve. "Now find General Millmore and let's finish this."
Jon continued onward, each step echoing off the stone walls, when suddenly, a faint sound caught his attention. It was barely perceptible amidst the eerie silence – the ghost of a groan, or perhaps a whimper.
"Did you hear that?" Jon asked, his pulse quickening.
"Negative, but if you think it's important, investigate," Olivia urged him.
Jon followed
9 - 9
"General Millmore!" Jon called out, his voice urgent yet hushed, as he knelt beside the battered man. He took in the sight of the general's bruised and swollen face, his uniform torn and stained with blood.
"Jon... Savage?" Millmore croaked, squinting through one barely functioning eye. "Didn't think I'd see your ugly mug again."
"Flattery will get you everywhere, General," Jon replied, a grim smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Can you stand?"
"Think so," Millmore grunted, struggling to sit up. Jon quickly slid an arm under his shoulder, helping him to his feet.
"Olivia, we need a direct path out of this hellhole," Jon said, supporting the weight of the injured general.
"Understood. I'm working on it," Olivia responded, her voice tense. "But be prepared for resistance. Mr. Crimson won't let you leave without a fight."
"Wouldn't expect anything less," Jon muttered, as he and Millmore began to make their way through the labyrinth.
"Jon, how did you find me?" Millmore asked, gritting his teeth against the pain.
"Long story. Let's just say you've got friends in high places," Jon replied, carefully guiding the general around jagged rocks and debris.
"Damn lucky, then," Millmore wheezed.
"Or damn unlucky, considering the current situation," Jon countered, a hint of dark humor in his voice.
"Point taken."
As they moved deeper into the compound, Jon's senses sharpened, every nerve tingling with anticipation. The sound of footsteps echoed off the walls, growing louder with each passing second. He knew they were running out of time.
"Almost there," Olivia announced, her voice crackling in Jon's earpiece. "Just need to get past the next few corridors."
"Olivia, are those footsteps ours or theirs?" Jon asked, his grip tightening on the sidearm he had drawn from its holster.
"Hard to say," she admitted. "But assume the worst and move quickly."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jon muttered as they rounded a corner.
"Jon, watch out!" Millmore shouted, just as a trio of armed guards came into view. With lightning-fast reflexes, Jon fired off a series of shots, dropping two of the guards before they could react. The third managed to squeeze off a shot, but Jon's instincts kicked in and he threw himself to the ground, dragging Millmore with him. The bullet zipped past, mere inches above their heads.
"Nice moves, Savage," Millmore grunted, wincing as the impact jarred his injuries.
"Thanks, but we're not out yet," Jon replied, pulling the general to his feet once more.
"Let's keep moving," Millmore urged, his voice strained but determined.
They made their way through several more corridors, encountering more guards along the way. Each time, Jon dispatched them with ruthless efficiency while protecting the general at all costs. As the sound of alarms grew louder, Jon knew they were running out of time.
"Olivia, where's our exit?" Jon demanded, impatience creeping into his tone.
"Almost there," she assured him. "Just a few more—"
"Jon, behind you!" Millmore yelled, his eyes wide with terror. Jon whirled around just in time to see a hulking figure bearing down on him. Mr. Crimson's personal enforcer, a massive brute with a cybernetic arm, swung a vicious punch at Jon's head.
"Dammit!" Jon cursed, ducking under the blow and retaliating with a swift kick to the man's knee. The enforcer stumbled but didn't fall, his cybernetic arm whirring as it prepared for another strike. Jon knew this was a fight he couldn't afford to lose.
"Get Millmore out of here!" Jon shouted, grabbing the enforcer's wrist and redirecting the force of the blow into the wall.
"Jon, I can't just leave you—" Millmore protested, but Jon cut him off.
"Go! That's an order, General!" Jon bellowed, grappling with the massive man.
"Fine, but don't you dare die on me, Savage," Millmore growled, hobbling away as quickly as his injuries would allow.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Jon replied through gritted teeth, straining against the enforcer's superior strength.
"Jon, I've found your exit," Olivia announced, her voice tense. "It's not far from your current position, but you need to hurry."
"Working on it," Jon grunted, finally managing to land a solid punch to the enforcer's jaw. The man reeled back, momentarily stunned, giving Jon the opening he needed.
"See you around, big guy," Jon quipped, sprinting toward the exit Olivia had indicated. He could hear the enraged bellow of the enforcer behind him, but he refused to look back. All that mattered now was escaping this nightmare with his life – and General Millmore's.
"Come on, Jon," he whispered under his breath as he raced through the corridors. "Just a little bit further."