Sometimes I want to write movie scripts. I always visualize my stories in my head like a movie, with dramatic camera shots and lighting, but putting it down in narrative is most frustrating, because it's up to the reader how they see it in their head, and I'm afraid I can't get down everything I want to, or else the description would begin to drag. Oh well...
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Repeated incorrect password attempts. The ARKHOS security program running on that computer--hidden under a firewall--sensed the external hacking. ARKHOS set a secondary passlock in place and alerted its physical twin still sitting in Icard's pocket.
For Icard, "hastening" down the hall was actually just a snail's pace, one foot barely in front of the other. Small dots peppered his vision, and his right foot refused to land properly, jabbing sharply when weighted. He had not gone far when a soft chirping and movement began in his pocket.
"What is it?" he murmured, and reached for his phone, only to realize his phone was fried and thoroughly silent. In the other pocket, ARKHOS had self-activated. When Icard extracted the cylindrical ARKHOS, the top had already swiveled open to reveal camera-like lens. The lens adjusted to the darkness and focused on Icard's face.
"Unauthorized attempted access at your personal terminal," the mini-computer reported. Icard was oddly pleased that ARKHOS had remembered the intonation program.
"Who is it? Can you see him?"
"I am avoiding internet access to maintain firewall protection, so I am unable to identify. It is a man, possibly not older than thirty, brown hair, brown eyes, wearing black, unable to judge height or weight."
"I trust you've put in extra measures?"
"Yes. I have installed a second passlock, and am sending data to your backup terminal, concurrently erasing the files on this terminal. He has deactivated the primary passlock. I will not be able to protect all files at his rate of decoding. I suggest intervention."
"Damn it all." Certainly his staff upstairs would have alerted the police or fire department, but the authorities would not be here in time to stop the intruder from accessing his jealously guarded files. Icard retracted his few steps and searched Coulton, placing ARKHOS on the ground. A second handgun, although Icard couldn't tell if it was loaded or damaged. It would have to do for visual effect, as he had never used one before, and didn't know if he could. It felt awkward in his hands that were meant for keypads and buttons.
"Allow me." From the sides of the container, spindly limbs extended, each with three clasps as fingers. Lens trained on the weapon, the clasps deftly checked the magazine and held it up for barrel inspection. "It is in working condition and loaded. Please keep the hammer cocked."
The pair thus made their way through the scorched corridor, ARKHOS sitting on Icard's shoulder like a parrot, finger clasps hooked onto his lab coat, eye lens scoping ahead.
429 words.
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Haha, so far avoiding man to man conflict. Stay tuned for next week's episode :P.
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