Birth of a Story in an Hour or Less

Part 1: The Voice

Aaron: Hey, uh... Thomas, you're going to wanna look at this

Thomas: Seems like your computer crashed? It's just a bunch of numbers

Aaron: No, no, look, right there. You see that those aren't just numbers, those are IP addresses

Thomas: Ok, what does that mean for us, you know I'm not a computer whiz

Aaron: Well, to be honest, its not much, but we have some tracks to follow now

Thomas: There's got to be something else hidden in all of that, the numbers keep changing around

Aaron: Ah, hmmm... Wait, that IP address, it's... it's...

Thomas: What, Hello? What is it?

Aaron: It's ours...

Thomas: What? What do you mean?! Do they know it's us or what? Talk to me Aaron

Aaron: We need to go, I think we need to go now. I have no idea, what they know

Thomas: What do you mean, Aaron, go where you're the one that told us to hide?

Aaron: I don't know where, but we have to leave now, we can't drag anyone else into this

Thomas: Ok, but where are we going to go?

Aaron: Again I don't know, but we're going to need these.

Thomas: What is this?

Aaron: It'll block our signal when we're on the move, or at least make it much harder for them to track us down. And remember, Thomas, we need to stay low, we can't trust anyone

Thomas: Yea, no one…

Part 2: Your Character's Place in the World

The two characters would be at Aaron's house, which would only have Aaron and Thomas. The house is old, pretty much empty, and slightly messy. Nearly all of the windows would be cover by either curtains or newspapers, trying to hide both of the characters from the public. Aside from all the worn and older furniture and decor, the hallways, walls, and rooms are littered in various computer wires, going from room to room, up and down the stairs. Furthermore, the home contains many different electronic tools and gadgets. Some of the electronics are commercial, others are industrial and some are even homemade. Most of the home For the scene specifically, it would take place in Aaron's room which would an attic bedroom. The two characters would be in the late teens early 20s, so the room that they are in would be sort of stereotypical, with posters, junk food, pizza containers and etc, that would make the room messy 

Part 3: Who are You?

Aaron

Describe your character physically, from head to toe.

In his late teens and early twenties. He is about 5'11 and has a skinnier build, he also has scruffy black, medium length hair comes down to about under his eyebrow. He wears a baggier black hoodie and slim, darker blue jeans and converse-like sneakers. Additionally, Aaron also has lighter skin, from being inside with technology and electronics for most of his time, is clean-shaven, and has dark brown eyes. 

What relationships are important to your character?  Why?

Thomas is one of the most important relationships with Aaron. Aaron mostly secluded himself from the outside world, both by choice and by being seen as an outcast. Thomas and Aaron are childhood friends and have stayed since, even though they have a good deal of different interests and hobbies. During high school, their friendship did have some periods of emptiness, but they have still kept in touch. Now after high school, the two have decided to go through college together. 

What does your character do?  Profession?  Pleasure?

Aaron is attending college for computer science. Aaron has a natural talent for technology and electronics. He enjoys being able to create new gadgets and devices. He also likes to create and build gadgets that can directly help him in his day to day life or for specific situations, leading to him "teching" out his home. Aaron has been on his own for most of his late teen years, his mother had passed away when he was young and his father hasn't been there for him for the past years, essentially abandoning him. His relationship between his father and himself was atrocious. After being abandoned by his father, Thomas and his family took in Aaron, taking care of him as much as they could, but Aaron still chose to live in his house. 

What is your character most afraid of?

To ever having to interact with his father again, Aaron completely cut ties off with him. He hopes he never has to speak to him, not forgiving him for what he has done to Aaron

What does your character want?

He wants to find a purpose in life, leading to him going to college to explore and find hobbies or activities that he might enjoy.

To payback Thomas' family for taking care of him

Part IV:  Making a Scene

Scene 1 - Before the Conversation

On the last day of their first year of college, Aaron and Thomas were heading towards a gas station to refuel their car before heading back home for the summer. While Aaron was refueling the car, Thomas went inside to gather some snacks and ice for the trip back. Thomas then went back to the car with bags of water bottles, chips, and candy, storing them in the back seats before going to the side of the gas station to grab a bag of ice. After grabbing a bag of ice, Thomas notices a metal box-shaped device, a bit smaller than a brick. The device was slightly blinking, seemingly to hidden on side of the ice fridge. Knowing, Aaron’s liking for technology, Thomas took the unknown device, to maybe see what the device is. Following a light argument between the two, about whether or not to take the device, Thomas persuaded Aaron enough to keep and figure out what the device is. Thomas placing the object in Aaron’s backpack, before the two get ready for their trip home. After hours of driving, the two switch spots, Thomas now driving, who insists Aaron to inspect the device now that he isn’t driving and has plenty of free time. After a couple of minutes of inspecting the device, Aaronconfused by the purpose and origin of it, eventually figures that the device can be connected to the computer via a USB port, he does so. At first, the device seemingly does nothing, before suddenly his laptop has a quick electrical surge and shuts down. The two are both confused by what happened, but Aaron suspects that his laptop was low battery and they could try again at home. Aaron again inspects the device over and over, his curiosity about what the object could do. 

Scene 2 - During the Conversation 

  

The conversation takes place, days later in Aaron’s room at home. The two now knowing the device came from somewhere much higher than them, they suspect it could be from the military or black market. This leads them to visually barricade his home, covering all the windows and keeping themselves on the low, still not knowing the severity of the device. Wires and electronics are scattered around the house and Aaron’s acts a the mainframe of the home, computer screens, electronics, tech, and gadgets spread throughout his room and house. After the two find that their IP address is on the device, Aaron is in shock at first, Thomas confused by what has just happened. Aaron lost with words explains that they must leave, and stay completely under the radar, while they try to solve the puzzle of the mysterious device. 

Scene 3 - After the Conversation

Your character decides that this problem is going to with them for a while and so they must learn to deal with it.

The two gather their most important items, before temporarily deserting the home. Without any clear plan of what to do, Aaron decides to secretly contact a friend that could potentially help them. They travel back to the city of their college, knowing that they could be caught at any moment. Aaron tells and informs Thomas of the potential severity of the problem they have. Thomas reluctantly accepts that they have no more options, and continues with Aaron to trek back into the city.