Blog Post #12

My assignment idea needed to be specific for Secondary English/Language Arts. I’m sure I have said many times now that I love group activities. This was a major deciding factor for me, but I also love the creative aspect of writing. My decision for this assignment was based off an activity that an English teacher had our class do in middle school. Tandem Stories. So. Much. Fun. I have put a technological spin on the idea to create this assignment, and enlisted a friend of mine to help me complete it. So, here’s the assignment (given that pairs have already been chosen, and I have already addressed how to use Google Docs):

You and your partner will collaborate to write a tandem story. You will use a Google Doc to complete this simple process. Choose amongst yourselves who will start; this person will begin by writing one paragraph. Then, the next person will continue the story with another paragraph and so on until you have reached a conclusion. Be sure to share your Google Doc with me as well.

You have no assigned topics and have the freedom to take the story anywhere you see fit. Use your creativity and have fun. Be sure to read through the story as you continue taking turns with paragraphs. The story needs to make sense! Beware of contradictions. You will have to work together if you want something good to come of it. Please limit any vulgar language and do not direct it at each other.

With that being said and done, here is what my friend Andre and I came up with when we completed the assignment:

(Me)

A weary man wanders in the pouring rain. He is tall, broad,  and wears an expensive gray suit now drenched from tonight’s sudden storm. His footsteps splash against the cold ground as he swaggers down the center yellow line of the seemingly endless street. Although tall glass-encased buildings filled the city and reflected the brilliance of the solar-powered streetlights, the city is lifeless. No cars. No people occupying the sprawling downtown area. There are only two living beings here; this man and the rain. His eyes are wide with determination despite the diabolical downpour. A flash of lightening and a clash of thunder echo through the overwhelming structures, but he does not flinch. He is a man on a mission.

(Andre)

“Where are you going, Darius?”

“We’ve been over this already. I’m going to the top of the Moontower, now could you please stop talking?”

Darius opened the map on his Pepboy3000 wrist computer. His destination was three miles away and he didn’t have a lot of time.

“You’re not going to make it, Darius.”

“Shut up, Rain. You’re not helping. I really should have worn better shoes.”

(Me)

It had been 10 years since his discharge from the military. His career choice wasn’t a surprise to anyone that knew him. Darius Barrow was a strong, handsome man ripened to the age of 35. His years spent in the military provided him with all the experience and recommendation he needed to pursue a career in private security. A man with his merits and knowledge was handsomely paid in such an industry. Pscilla Corp, a globally dominating company, recruited him specifically and they paid triple for his services.

Over the last 8 years, he has undertaken a variety of jobs assigned to him. Each progressed in difficulty and always required a higher security clearance. This mission, however, would be the one that tested all of his skills. This was the first time that details were not explicitly laid out for him. He had no idea what to expect when he reached his destination. Why were the leaders of Pscilla suddenly being so secretive with him? As hard as he tried to fight it, Darius couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that had settled into the pit of his stomach.

(Andre)

The rain continued to pour down as the Moontower came into view. Lightning struck and Darius could nearly see every detail on the massive tower. The Moontower was by far the tallest and most extravagant building in the world. It was a spire shaped building that towered over the Earth below and seemed to nearly reach the Moon. Normally the building would illuminate the night sky, but tonight was unlike other nights.

“You had better hurry, Darius.”

“Be quiet! I’m trying to think!”

“I’m sure all your questions will be answered when you learn the details of your mission.”

“Whatever.”

(Me)

The tower loomed over him intensifying the eerie sensation he had felt earlier. His checkpoint was a room located at the very top of the tower. He was told further instruction would be found there. Would this finally explain why everyone was evacuated from the metropolis?

Darius scanned the building looking for an optimal point of entry. After running up a short, but extravagant set of steps, he was greeted by a magnificently overly-sized glass door, tempered so that you can see out of it, but not into the building. “The MoonTower” was simply, yet elegantly carved into the building just above the entrance. Darius took a breath, anxious, but ready to be relieved of the unforgiving weather, and walked towards the automatic doors.

(Andre)

The automatic glass door swung open as he approached the building and a grand lobby could be seen inside. Marble tiles and columns stretched across the floor and to the ceiling where magnificent crystal chandeliers hung and would normally be radiating light throughout the room. Darius stepped inside and was finally free of the rain. He cracked a smile and shook off the cold. Continuing on, he could see an attendant at a desk near the center of the lobby. He was a chubby, balding, sad mistake of a man.

“Hello there! You must be Mr. Barrow. We’ve been expecting you. Make your way to the elevator on the right. There’s no time to waste.”

Once inside the elevator, Darius input data concerning the building into his Pepboy. The information could potentially be of value during his mission. He looked at the display on the elevator console and then sat on the floor.

“Its times like these, when you’re on an elevator ride to the moon, when you really appreciate the video games on a Pepboy.”

(Me)

The seemingly normal, professional tone of the attendant did little to ease Darius. He continued to absent-mindedly toy with his Pepboy as the elevator rose higher and higher up the tower. The games did little to distract him from the task at hand, but this had long since been a calming technique. Many of the games he played, provided him with a way to practice strategic actions that he could use later during missions with a better understanding of how his targets may react. He thoroughly appreciated the many benefits of technology; it had saved his life on more than one occasion.

The elevator began to chime signaling that his floor was approaching. He stood preparing himself to finally be briefed.

The elevator suddenly instructed, “You have now arrived at floor 323, Research and Experimentation. Waiting for confirmation to open doors.”

Darius braced himself as the hydraulic doors hissed and then slid open.

(Andre)

A very well dressed man greeted Darius as he left the elevator, “Hello, Mr. Barrow. Its a pleasure to finally receive you. I’m sure you’re eager to learn the details of your assignment.”

“I am. Lets get right down to it, Mr?”

“You may address me as Commissioner.”

The Commissioner led Darius through a series of laboratories where various experiments were being conducted. Everyone worked diligently and seemed to be either unaffected or unaware of the emptiness of the city surrounding them.

“How is it that this building has power right now, Commissioner?”

He smiled and responded, “Well, we have an arc reactor in the base level of the facility.”

“You guy’s really do think of everything.”

“Yes, I suppose we do.”

After some time the two men finally arrive at a very ornate set of wooden double doors with an inscription reading “THE OVERSEER”. The Commissioner opened one side and ushered Darius inside. The room was dimly lit and a man could be seen standing behind a desk with his back facing his new guests.

(Me)

The Commissioner instructed Darius to wait just by the doors as he crossed the lavish office. Darius eyed the men as he took in his surroundings and prepared a mental escape route, just in case; he was a cautious man. What did they want with him? And how was Pscilla Corp, his main employer, involved with them? He knew that Pscilla Corp invested in a wide and stunning array of industries all over the world. Pscilla Corp owned practically everything, including the government. From the quick and urgent whispers, he could tell this was a serious matter.

“Come join us Mr. Barrow,” requested the Overseer as he took his seat, gesturing for Darius to take one of the overstuffed chairs in front of his mahogany desk. Darius thanked him as he sat, glad to finally rest his aching legs and feet.

The Overseer was an aging man, but fit and healthy with a warm smile. His voice was deep and smooth considerably reducing Darius’ anxiousness.

“If you don’t mind,” continued the Overseer, “I would like to skip small talk and tell you why you have been sent to me. We are both aware that something very serious is happening. I am sure you will have other questions, but all I can tell you is that I have been assigned to you. I do not know what lies in the future of your mission after you leave here.”

Darius took a breath disappointed that he was no closer to finding out what his actual mission was. “Ok,” he said, “I understand. Why have I been sent to you then?”

The Commissioner and the Overseer exchanged glances, and with a very serious and low tone, the Overseer explained, “To put it simply Mr. Barrow, you are here for Battle Augmentation.”

(Andre)

“Excuse me sir, what do you mean by Battle Augmentation?”

“Battle Augmentation, Mr. Barrow, is what we call the product of our super-soldier program. It is a series of body modifications that will increase your mental and physical abilities exponentially. To be blunt, the procedure is very dangerous and the only reason you were considered for the trial is because of your outstanding military record.”

“I don’t suppose I have much of a say in this.”

“No you don’t. This procedure is critical for the success of your mission. I do apologize though because it will be extremely painful. Now, if you don’t mind, we need to proceed.”

Darius hung his head and let out a sigh. The three men then proceeded to a nearby laboratory where Darius would be prepared for surgery. A group of doctors took the liberty of removing his clothing and restrained him for the procedure.

One of the doctors spoke to Darius, “Unfortunately, we will not be able to administer any anesthetics during the procedure. You see, the side effects of doing so would certainly lead to your death. On the other hand, you could possibly live through the operation.” The doctor smiled and got back to his work.

A few minutes passed by and nothing unusual had happened. Suddenly, a group of men walked in the room followed by a series of very large robotic medical instruments. They all advanced toward Darius and immediately began the procedure. Darius’ flesh was torn into and body parts were replaced with synthetic augmentations. His screams echoed through the halls of the 323rd floor. Hours passed by before the operation was complete.

(Me)

It wasn’t long before the effects of the procedure made themselves clear to Darius. He regained consciousness and began to scan his surroundings. He had been moved to a cozy recovery room. As he glanced around the warm beige walls and took in the sparse, but comfortable furniture, he realized even his eyesight was sharper than before. His mind was thinking much more quickly, and he felt healthier than he had in his 20s. Darius swung his legs off the bed and let his feet meet the cold, tiled floor. He sighed, stretched, and thought to himself, “What now? Where is everyone?”

Almost immediately, as if in reply to his thoughts, he heard, “Can you hear me now Darius?”

The sultry tone of the voice startled and intrigued him as he looked around and realized that it was only within his mind that he had heard it.

Darius replied in his thoughts, “What? Yes. What’s happening? Who are you?”

“I am Ariana, your Navigator. Part of the procedure was designed to augment certain brain structures that allow a soldier to connect with his Navigator telepathically.”

“Will you always be inside my head?”

“Until one of us is no longer alive.”

Darius tried to relax as he thought about what could make something like this necessary. Had he finally dug a hole that he couldn’t get out of? And how was this sensuous sounding woman supposed to help him with anything?

“I can always hear your thoughts Darius.” communicated Ariana, “You need me to complete this mission or you will die trying.”

Her certainty was a tangible thing. Despite his grim mood, she reached him with her quiet words.

***To Be Continued?

Sadly, we didn’t have time to continue the story further as it pertains to this post. We may have gotten a little too into the assignment, and I can only hope the same would happen with my students. This assignment teaches a variety of essential skills, and puts a fun and freer spin on what could have been a boring writing assignment.