Story Arc / Plotline

(Note: I've taken a couple of liberties here for the sake of expediency. If you have something to add, or if you come across something you don't like, doesn't make sense, or doesn't seem to work, please point it out in comments)


STASIS

• Emma excels in most things, but cherishes a love of history more than anything (although it does not fit into her prescribed future.) She is the apple of her grandfather's eye, the Elect Apparent to replace him on the Core Council after she comes of age. She is engaged in a sexual affair with family friend Loren. She admires him and cares about him, but she is not necessarily in love with him. He hints that he wants to marry her once she comes of age, but she would hesitate to lock down her options.
• Marcus is angry--he blames his mother for his father's disappearance/death some years before and will not forgive her. He does not believe that the Sublinary(ies) exists--he thinks it is a government conspiracy that the people "sent" there are actually killed. Life in the Underclasses is a struggle--not from starvation (nobody starves in this society), but from the fear of deportation or other punishment if they step out of line. He works hard to maintain a certain street-tough appearance/reputation that disguises his cautious and trepidatious nature. He has a heart of gold and is very socially conscious. (This could be a source of contention between him and Emma)
• They are both active contributors on the Social Dark--this is how they first met and continue to interact. 

TRIGGER

• Loren gifts Emma with a book (Physical books have not been published since Earth was colonized.) He tells her that his friend in Archives set it aside from recycling for him after it had been translated/uploaded. [What readers don't know: this book did not come from the Archives, it comes directly from the Sublinary via Rebel forces. Loren gives it to Emma to eventually lead her to the Rebellion--he wants to make sure she comes out on the "right side" without revealing his own involvement and tipping his hand.] Emma soon discovers that the translated version does not appear in the archival records [alt: could come up, but as restricted]. She takes it to Marcus for help translating it instead. What he comes up with clearly contradicts official historical records. Marcus sees this as proof of his conspiracy theories, Emma is more reluctant/skeptical. Increasingly suspicious circumstances lead them on a...

QUEST

• ...Quest for truth. Their search for accurate sources and experts leads them progressively deeper into the Social Dark and ultimately to the Rebellion. Each step reveals a little bit more about the "true" history of the Sublinary and illuminates problems about their government and their society. (Suddenly, Marcus' conspiracy theories aren't sounding so crazy anymore...)
• They learn the true story about Kori (Emilyn Rose I)
• Emma and Marcus get caught helping or associating with the Rebellion and are tried for treason. Thanks to Loren's infuence, Emma is only put on probation. Loren, however, lies to Emma and throws Marcus under the bus completely. 
• OPT 1: Marcus witnesses Loren's testimony against him, and readers get their first hint that Loren is not all he is cracked up to be. (Emma will remain ignorant, however.)
• OPT 2: Marcus does NOT witness Loren's testimony, and wrongly assumes that it was Emma who threw him under the bus to save herself. Loren's guilt may or may not be inferred, depending on whether we want to preserve the illusion of his goodness or not. 

SURPRISE

• Marcus: Discovers that the Sublinary DOES exist--when he wakes up there. The Rebellion is openly active here, and are mobilizing to invade the Homeworld. Travel has almost always been one-way to the Sublinary with few exceptions (eg Kori)--until now. They have discovered a way to get back. He also finds his father. 
• OPT 1: Marcus' father is active in the Rebellion. Marcus joins him and feels like his dreams are coming true, his life has new meaning, etc. BUT it will start to unravel later
• OPT 2: Marcus' father is against the Rebellion for ethical and/or practical reasons. Marcus thereby rejects him as a coward and adopts the Rebellion as foster father. 
• Emma: Is impregnated by Loren. She finds at least one, possibly more, covered-up cases of spontaneous pregnancy--including Marcus' mother with Marcus. She keeps this secret from Loren. 
• OPT: Marcus' mother was married, but had an affair and got pregnant with her lover. Marcus' father Perhaps she and her husband had one child legitimately (artificial insemination), and then she got pregnant with a second spontaneously--this is how they knew she was having an affair. Her husband divorces her and keeps their fist child (TBD)--she is banished to Underclass with baby Marcus. 
• Emma: Learns of the invasion plan and that Loren is at the head of it. 

CRITICAL CHOICE

• Still working this out. Emma will make a choice that parallel's her ancestor Kori's. 
• Marcus must also make a critical choice. 
• Even better if their choices put them into conflict with each other! Opposite sides of the team, so to speak

CONSEQUENCE (CLIMAX)

• Still working this out. The invasion happens. Emma is caught in the cross fire. 

REVERSAL

• Loren, having only recently learned of Emma's pregnancy, sacrifices himself to save her (thereby redeeming himself in readers' eyes.) He really did love her after all
• Marcus' choice leads to his mother's death in a very unexpected way (perhaps his father kills her out of revenge?) He survives to rethink all of his beliefs and choices up to that point and to live with the guilt. 

RESOLUTION

• The invasion is put down. 
• The Core Council finally makes some progressive decisions that drastically improve quality of life for the Underclass: e.g., removing corrupt officials from power and opening up travel to and from the Sublinary(ies), and at least talking about lifting some restrictions on art and personal expression
• Emma now recognizes that she lacks the essential qualities for an ideal leader and gives up her claim to Elect Apparent in favor of her quieter, but more deserving cousin. Instead, she devotes her energy to correcting historical fallacies and translating a huge library of preserved texts recovered from Earth
• Her cousin and Marcus appear to be an item now
• Emma gives birth to a baby girl, whom she names Kori. 

MESSAGE ? 

• The past (and its consequences), cannot be erased; in many cases, adequate reparations can never be made. But with understanding, it is possible to learn from it and move forwards.