Adding short stories directory to practice

Baseline.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Working Title: *The Difference Between an Idiot and a Moron*
 Step I -- the 'Big Idea':
 
 'Adir's spectacularly mediocre lifestyle is unsurprisingly jeopardized
-when he's drafted into *nature's dumbest animal --* the military'
+when he's drafted into *nature's dumbest animal -- *the military'
 
 Step II -- Plot Outline:
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Defense (DFACP)**
 \- a place of great hopes from young soldiers who will never reach the
 greatness they are led to believe they deserve. (False Hope)
 
-\* **Hutspace Base Complex-** And old place reeking of despair, and the
+\* **Hutspace Base Complex- **And old place reeking of despair, and the
 endgame of all hopes from previous training. (Apathy)
 
 \* The Boroughs, Airforce HQ -- A proud place full of false substance,
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Tech School. These are satellites to their main locations.
 
 \* Small glimpses of pre-draft life.
 
-***1. Defense Force Academy of Computer Professions and Cyberspace
+***1****. Defense Force Academy of Computer Professions and Cyberspace
 Defense***
 
 The Naivete
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ agonizes over.
 
 (False Hope)
 
-***2. Hutspace Base Complex Base 108***
+***2****. Hutspace Base Complex Base 108***
 
-**Big Things** ***Are*** **Coming, Right?**
+**Big Things *****Are *****Coming, Right?**
 
 Adir is stationed in a reality unlike what he had believed, and
 desperately clings to hope of his great role, despite all signs
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ suggesting otherwise.
 
 (Apathy)
 
-***3. The Boroughs, Air Force Headquarters***
+***3****. The Boroughs, Air Force Headquarters***
 
 Of Course I Have A Say!
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ Adir is restationed again, this time aware of the faults in his new
 station -- but powerless to prevent or face them, he grows proud and
 distant -- a facade that comes crashing down and leads to depression.
 
-***4. University***
+***4****. University***
 
 It's So Nice To Feel Human Again
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ service and regains his self worth and dignity -- which leads to a
 painful loss, and the conversion of depression to rage on his next
 stationing.
 
-***5. 15***^***th***^ ***AFB -Job Field Airbase***
+***5. 15***^***th***^*** AFB -Job Field Airbase***
 
 Nature's Dumbest Animal
 
@@ -169,8 +169,8 @@ it now, but it's okay, because afterwards he's scheduled himself to go
 forth, earn lots of money, fund his Biotech degree and go about saving
 the world.
 
-Here comes the Sacred Cow, and that *'Meaningful Service'* everyone's on
+Here comes the Sacred Cow, and that* 'Meaningful Service'* everyone's on
-about. What could go wrong?
+about. What could go wrong?* *
 
 V. Point Of View:
 

Basics.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ I.  Distill the 'Big Idea' -- a single sentence. ('Elevator Pitch').
 
 II. Create a one page outline of the plot:
 
-IV\. Grow the plot, and decide its' general type
+IV. Grow the plot, and decide its' general type
 (Adventure/Change/Mistake/Lure/Race\...)
 
 I.  Decide on a schedule. \[300 words a day\]

General Chapters.md

@@ -1,130 +0,0 @@
-***Chapter ****\[****\]****-- Corporal Adir Levin***
-
-"Says here you're a, uhm, corporal?" said the NCO sitting across from
-Adir.
-
-"Yeah, I-" Adir began answering before being rudely interrupted by a
-takeoff. They were sitting in the Technical Division part of Air Base
-10, in the far north of the country. The building was absolutely
-disgusting, and unfortunately situated a spitting distance from the
-massive runway.
-
-Both sat there stupidly waiting for the plane to take off. Adir assumed
-it was big because it took much longer than usual. The NCO motioned him
-to continue with the booming sound of the engine still hung back, but
-Adir waited a bit longer. At last, the last wisps of the jet faded out.
-
-"Yeah, I've long lost track of whatever's written there. I have no idea
-what it says -- only that it's wildly inaccurate at this point."
-
-"That doesn't sound right to me. We air force guys, we keep track of
-things, don't we? Now, it says here you're from the headquarters."
-
-"I haven't been in months."
-
-The NCO cast a doubtful look at first, but seeing how Adir did not
-flinch he continued.
-
-"Before that, you were in, uh... Hm. Air base 30. You've gone around,
-haven't you?"
-
-"I've been there a grand total of six hours. Never stationed there."
-
-"Look, it says right here in your file..."
-
-"It also says I'm a first sergeant at that station, doesn't it?"
-
-The NCO chuckled. "Now, don't be -- What? How did you know?"
-
-"I told you so."
-
-"You've been serving just under 18 months at that point. That doesn't
-make any sense. No promotion could get you in this early."
-
-Adir eyed him smugly.
-
-"Where did you get this?" the NCO demanded, waving Adir's Ground
-Personnel file.
-
-"Where did *you* get *this*?"
-
-"What??"
-
-"I left mine in Hutspace. Well over a year ago. Whatever it is *you're
-*holding I've never seen in my life."
-
-The NCO sighed deeply.
-
-"This is some mess of paperwork for your commanders. Never mind. I'll
-send you back with the documents and your commanders can sort it out. HQ
-loves this stuff."
-
-Adir began to protest but was cut short. "But wait, you're not HQ now,
-you said?"
-
-"Nope. 15^th^ wing."
-
-"Fine. You'll give them the papers."
-
-The room fell silent.
-
-"Anyways, you're here for a Computer Network Manager course -- but I was
-told you came over from a computer profession already, something from
-the greens. Is that right?"
-
-"Yes. I'm a Computer Systems Infrastructure Manager."
-
-"Never heard of it."
-
-"It's from Communication Corps"
-
-"That explains it. Is that it's brooch pin?", he asked, pointing to the
-insignia on Adir's left breast pocket.
-
-"Yeah."
-
-"What's going on there? What is it?"
-
-"It's a computer in the middle. Around it is the radioactive sign, for
-some reason. All Computer Academy courses have it for some reason. And
-it's split in three for the three arms of the army we get assigned in --
-the green part for ground forces, the blue for navy and white for air
-force. And there's a square root, for some reason."
-
-"It's too busy."
-
-"It is."
-
-"So basically, you have to go through the whole course again. It's two
-months in here, Air base 10, and you'd be assigned alongside the
-privates. However, seeing as you're already familiar, we decided to
-offer you the same test they get at the end of the course -- if you know
-your stuff, it could save us all the trouble. How does that sound?"
-
-"Sounds great. I wouldn't have come up here otherwise."
-
-"Up to the building?"
-
-"No, up north."
-
-"You're a handful, aren't you?" the NCO remarked fondly. "But that's
-someone else's problem. Look, I've asked Idan -- my most senior course
-instructor, to swing by and ask you a few questions. If you're
-reasonably familiar, you can take the test. He should be here any
-moment."
-
-"Sure."
-
-"Would you like anything to drink in the meantime? Cold water? It's a
-hot day"
-
-"No, thank you kindly. I'm all good."
-
-"There's some disgusting coffee too, if that's your thing"
-
-"Not many other options in the military, are there? But thank you, I'm
-all fixed. Nice of you to offer."
-
-"Of course. It's common courtesy. Ah, that must be Idan! Come in!"
-
-**

Short Stories/The Server

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+The Server
+
+
+It was a warm spring's late morning when Adir decided to hunker down in the lab, pile up the many carcasses of failed computers around the workbench and bring them all back to life.
+
+The air conditioner was still broken, and he had both windows open, soft motes drifting in the breeze and sunlight they brought in. Adir sat down on the good chair, set the least disgusting chassis in front of him, and set on about his work.
+
+Prying apart the rusty, salted metal bits and pieces proved physically exhausting, and soon Adir shed the uniform's torso piece and was left in his worn, sweat stained white T-shirt. He was alone, after all - might as well make use of it.
+
+He had a strict procedure: First, he tears off everything than can be teared off, sets the remains on the largest window's sill, and runs it over with the blower, mindful of anyone who might approach the passage on the other side. Since the window lay behind an iron curtain, even commanders were often surprised to find it there - before Adir, it had not been opened in years.
+Once blown away, he gently lays the bare computer next to the screen, and connects two brand new cables - one to the outlet, the other to the small, beat-up screen. After powering it, depending on the noise the computer makes or fails to make, he disconnects it, discharges it, and swap out one of the parts with a somewhat newer equivalent from the box he'd fetch earlier from the storage room across the hall. Finally, he tries booting again, repeating the cycle with a new part until the computer lives, or until he runs out of parts.
+
+This was dirty, low work; so despised it was, in fact, even the command staff preffered to perform merely a weak facade of effort before deeming a computer broken, and requisitioning a new one. Adir found it thearaputic - every hunk of junk he could make usable again was a small victory against the culture of ignorance and waste. He did it better than anyone here, and not by virtue of excessive skill.
+
+Between last evening and even a small excursion early this morning, Adir had managed to amass just over a dozen computers - even pausing his usually distant demeanor to gather them from reluctant users. As soon as they were piled neatly, he set aside the small box of compoments from the storage room, made himself a cup of scalding hot black coffee, and began his work.
+
+He himself had trouble rationalising his actions ("If we don't know what we're doing, our enemies sure as hell don't either", he mused to himself), only just managing to raise feeble excuses - it was to acquire experience, to create goodwill from key personnel around the base, to appear busy enough to avoid some other, demeaning task to be dropped on him. He liked the latter of explanations best.
+He could not know what any of the others plan for him, and the computers at least were predictable. Though most questioned his actions, Adir decided himself wise - he only sheds the false hope of avoiding some other unpleasant task, and by doing so manages to regain some feeble measure of control. The rest didn't seem to see it.
+
+One by one, Adir tested them rigoursly, systematically - swapping out parts in order until they finally boot. Each booting computers then gets connected to a different outlet, to run the same set commands on the operating system to help restore it to good condition - much like a patient recovering after a medical operation.
+
+By the time Ronen burst into the room the coffee was long gone. Adir had but three computers in the pile and one set neatly in front of him, strewn on it's side and much of its' part on the table.
+"What's this?" Ronen asked.
+"I'm working."
+"Adir? Hello? Could you look at me when I'm talking to you?" 
+"Give me a second. I'm in the middle of something."
+"Adir."
+Adir begrudginly set aside a part and turned towards Ronen.
+"What are all these computers doing here?"
+"In the computer lab?"
+"There's, what - one, two, three... Eight computers in here! what for?"
+"I'm fixing them."
+"Well, drop it now. We're going to the Safety Meeting."
+"I'll be there in a moment."
+"Adir, I said we're going now."
+Adir sighed deeply.
+"Give a minute - I've been here all morning. I need to use the restroom."
+"I'm waiting."
+Adir stood up, and eyed Ronen with a skeptical look.
+"Fine. David will be here in a moment. You can go with him."
+"I can find my way just as well."
+"You go with David. Now go use the restroom."
+
+Adir neatly set the compoments aside, swept up his cup into the bin and wiped down the spot where he'd set it. He didn't like leaving his workspace dirty - even here.
+David appeared perhaps a minute after Ronen, already in a full-blown panic.
+"Adir! we have to go. Come on. I know you're busy, but let's just get this over with, please - It's very important to Gilad."
+"Sure it is. Let me just use the restroom. You can go, if you're in a hurry."
+"You hadn't gone yet?! Oh, Adir, Ronen told me to go with you, and now we're both in a hurry! could you ple-"
+Adir shut both doors behind him, for once thankfull for the restroom's bizzare design.
+
+"When we come back, there's that NCO in Medical, Guy - he -"
+"I'm sorry, David. I'm busy."
+"Oh, but I've no one else! eveyone is busy. What are you doing?"
+"There's been a range of hardware malfunctions. I've been working on them all morning."
+"Well, if that's all, we'll just order new ones! that's good, great. I'll see you a-"
+"These are all really urgent, David. Otherwise, do you think I'd have bothered on these old husks of salt? Give me a few more hours, and I'll take care of it."
+"I... I don't know, I... Well, there we are. Come on inside."
+
+
+ 

The_Difference_Between_an_Idiot_and_a_Moron.md

@@ -595,8 +595,8 @@ The officer considered this gravely.
 
 "You mean to say you're absent in service?"
 
-"In December, I was an absent in service. By now, I'm well into defector
+"In December, I was an absent in service. By now, I'm well into
-territory."
+defection territory."
 
 "I'm sorry, but I just don't believe you."
 
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ heart. A decision was made, and he will stick to it.
 
 He got out.
 
-***Chapter I --** **Private Adir Levin***
+***Chapter I -- ****Security Service Candidate Adir Levin***
 
 Private Adir Levin was just shy of 19 years of age when he was drafted.
 
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ Now he was here.
 
 The Computer Science School was nothing like he had envisioned a
 military base to be -- not that he had done much envisioning at all.
-Spring Buds, where he went through boot camp, had been *exactly* like
+Spring Buds, where he went through boot camp, had been* exactly* like
 what little he had envisioned -- it was stuck in the middle of nowhere,
 it was full of big, ugly green tents and ancient structures torn
 straight out of the 1920's. It had guard posts and lots of dirty empty
@@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ kept and had lots of emblems and flags protruding from the upper floors,
 with a million passages to and from it -- as if it was the beating heart
 of the base, and the soldiers flowing into it its lifeblood.
 
-The base was, however, *ridiculously* small -- Adir could circle it
+The base was, however,* ridiculously* small -- Adir could circle it
 leisurely in just under eight minutes. Also unlike Spring Buds -- which
 was huge -- was the fact that it lay right in the middle of the city,
 perhaps a 15 minute bus ride from his house. The base was elevated from
@@ -936,4 +936,111 @@ it. He and his peers may have waltzed in from the city each morning,
 sure, but after coming in through the old-school guard post, it was army
 alright.
 
-**
+Chapter II -- Rookie Adir Levin
+
+It wasn't a direct transition to the Academy. However glamorous Adir's
+station, he and those whom he would later study with must of course go
+through the standard ordeal of having their souls crushed by the army,
+so that the pulp can be remodeled.
+
+There are many special facilities to do so, and Adir had had the great
+privilege of enjoying one of the oldest and finest of them -- the Spring
+Buds Rookie base, in the desert 15km off the border.
+
+Adir adapted quickly, but it was a forced, animal adaptation, and he
+often didn't quite register what exactly was happening - and least of
+all why. He did figure it out at some point, which he remembers
+especially well.
+
+It was a fiercely cold night -- a cold Adir had yet to know,
+nonchalantly seeping into your bones and joints and draining you. Sharp,
+slanted rain smashed bitterly against the hard, worn fabric of the tent.
+Adir, in his arrogance had hardly come prepared and was shivering
+peacefully in his team's tent.
+
+Everyone else was getting ready to sleep, and Adir knew he had no point
+trying to rest himself before they all arrive and sat in idle misery,
+which rapidly became a familiar pastime of his. He so enjoyed it that he
+always hurried off and got ready much faster than everyone in order to
+*really* take it all in.
+
+His usual solitude was broken this time by Regev. Regev was a
+fascinating person -- he was quiet, but not of shyness like himself --
+but of silent, poigant sarcasm. Under the right circumstances, Regev
+could stun the entire brigade with a few words of wisdom, uttered
+clearly and without hesitations, unsullied by so much as a twitch of
+facial muscles to convey his deep and rich misgivings. The commanders
+despised him - even their own team's unengaged, apathic commanders
+coming to real fury with him. Naturally, the soldiers greatly admired
+him as a result.
+
+Adir was greatly in awe as well and so avoided him with great
+determination, and the extremely passive Regev made no real note of it.
+This time, however, as he slumped on his sleeping bag, he immediately
+turned to Adir.
+
+'You mark my words, Adir', he told him with his clear, ringing voice
+utterly devoid of emotion. 'Within three months or less, I will be a
+civilian'.
+
+Now, many proud fools make similar claims -- and Spring Buds is ripe
+ground for it. They come like flies to the mush of rotting vegetables
+behind the dining hall, and the military swats them accordingly.
+
+Adir had already heard dozens (that day!) make similar claims - but from
+a person such as Regev, however, it was worthy of consideration.
+
+"\...But, we've only been here a week!" he squeaked back.
+
+"A week too long, and I will not stand many more like it. I have made up
+my mind."
+
+Even in the dark, Adir could see Regev's severe face looking him
+straight in the eyes.
+
+"You mark my words -- should I still be in uniform 90 days from now, I
+am a stupid, spineless whoreson."
+
+"I mean, you could give it a try, sure, but 90 days - "
+
+"A s*tupid, spineless whoreson*."
+
+Adir let that sink for a bit in his feeble faculties.
+
+"What will you do outside?" he prompted eventually.
+
+"Whatever the hell I want", Regev shot back quickly.
+
+Adir was shaken to his core.
+
+"Should I still be your coursemate in 90 days," Adir replied
+respectfully after a time, "I will put you in your place as the stupid,
+spineless whoreson you are"
+
+Regev smiled widely, the first time Adir had ever seen him do so.
+"That's all I wanted to hear," he said, and quickly rolled up and fell
+asleep.
+
+The next month or so was supremely strange. Adir found himself woken up
+to a starry sky by hail smacking his face, or running for shelter from
+hostile mortars (which were 'thunder', according to Adir's commander,
+'But what does thunder have anything to do with it?' He asked her,
+stunned - 'None of your business, soldier' she'd replied), rolling over
+the sand dunes simulating combat ('It was great, but when you rolled
+just now, you were completely exposed, and you would've been shot, and
+killed', she'd told him then, 'but great otherwise'), and shooting on
+the range twice on each round ('I've never seen anyone without a
+dominant shooting hand in my life', the stunned Company Commander had
+said, 'Do it all over again until you figure it out'), and even going up
+on guard duty for thirty minutes at the middle of the night ('You have
+to get used to it,' said their Commander, to which Regev replied 'I
+won't, but you do you' and lost a weekend at home), and many other
+bizarre scenarios, forced on him at random, the consequences of which
+often registered many days later.
+
+Throughout all that madness, Regev's words rang often in Adir's fragile
+psyche.
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"Whatever the hell I want".