Hashing out those plot spots...

[Sahariel]

Here is some information on an idea that is currently on my mind:

It is 2032. Humanity has developed commercial quantum computers, human bio-mechanical augmentations that can feel, and highly advanced robotics. The President of the United States has been assassinated by a man with pure white wings, dubbed "Samael", despite current technology by the Secret Service which can pick up cloaked individuals by reading fluctuations of energy and the body heat of the individual, seemingly appeared out of nowhere to the President working late at night, and threw him out the window of the Waldorf-Astoria and Towers Presidential Suite and "flew" away before the Secret Service could enter the room. No DNA evidence was found on the body and the FBI is unable to identify the perpetrator.

The assassination of the President of the United States leads Nathaniel "Nate" Saenz, an FBI detective with unnatural pinkish red irises and pupils hidden by specially made contacts on the investigation team, to a chance encounter with a succubus named Meridiana who agrees to help him unlock his powers as an Unsealed Ion Child, an illegal offspring of an angel with powers to topple even Archangel as Ion Children are organic with free will while angels are inorganic who surrendered their free will for power and status, to solve the case in exchange for his soul and "abundant energy".

He learns his necklace given to him at birth actually has been masking his existence from the world, saving him from being hunted by angel and demon alike and not only masks his existence, but those within a ten foot radius. It, however, has the side effect of preventing any sort of Astral Energy, or power used by both angel and demon, to be used.

I need help developing the technology of the world, specifically how quantum computing, bio-mechanical augmentations, and robotics would shape the socio-political landscape of not only industrialized nations but the third world as well. Ideas for modern commercial technology, military technology, future forensics and science for use of criminal justice, weaponry, etc. Also, how to make it more prominent in the main plot. Considering having Nate have a daughter who, due to a motorcycle accident, had her arm amputated and then given augmentation, but no idea what role she would play in the story.

Second, I am having trouble deciding how Nate and Meridiana meet. The original idea is that Nate sees Meridiana chased by a group of blind white-robed men (angels) who can sense her presence. Nate comes within ten feet and her presence is masked, rendering them completely blind and easily killed by her Astral Energy. Any other ideas for consideration would be lovely.

Third, Nate and the rest of the Ion Children's powers. Originally considered ability to manipulate all electronics and electromagnetism which enables him to cancel out Astral Energy, a characteristic of Unsealed Ion Children. How he awakens his power is the acknowledgement of the existence of his power. Meridiana helps him awaken it but refuses to allow him to realize his full potential out of fear that he would kill her to free himself from the contract.

Finally, rules for Astral Energy as well as an explanation of how and why it can be cancelled by EMP. Angels are inorganic yet able to reproduce and Ion Children are required to be sealed out of fear of their powers (remember, all Ion Children have the possibility of controlling electromagnetism, but they are sealed at birth and the process is irreversible.)

PS: Would you read something like this? Just curious.

[Ravariel]

At 11/30/11 09:05 AM, Sahariel wrote: I need help developing the technology of the world, specifically how quantum computing, bio-mechanical augmentations, and robotics would shape the socio-political landscape of not only industrialized nations but the third world as well. Ideas for modern commercial technology, military technology, future forensics and science for use of criminal justice, weaponry, etc. Also, how to make it more prominent in the main plot. Considering having Nate have a daughter who, due to a motorcycle accident, had her arm amputated and then given augmentation, but no idea what role she would play in the story.

Take a gander at Ghost in the Shell, the movies and the TV show. They give a pretty good rundown of what might constitute new avenues of detection, crime, and political power made by augmentation. I would also bump your story back about 10 years to 2040-ish. Just before the singularity is supposed to hit.

Second, I am having trouble deciding how Nate and Meridiana meet. The original idea is that Nate sees Meridiana chased by a group of blind white-robed men (angels) who can sense her presence. Nate comes within ten feet and her presence is masked, rendering them completely blind and easily killed by her Astral Energy. Any other ideas for consideration would be lovely.

It's obvious that you want to ground a lot of this world in understandable, but advanced, technology. However, you also have this "Astral Energy" thing going throughout, via these angels and demons. That is going to be a difficult juxtaposition to pull off. I might suggest that these angels and demons might just be the people who have already reached the singularity and have simply co-opted the more advanced technology (which, via Clarke's 3rd Law, would be indistinguishable from magic) in order to create this mystical separation. Anyway, the question about how your characters meet should be answered by what purpose their meeting serves in the story. If you wish it to be a "destiny" thing, then a few unlikely coincidences will be fine, but the actual event could be anything. If you need it to be a "hero" moment for your main character, then saving her from one of these beings, and thus perhaps discovering the power of his amulet, might suffice. What their relationship eventually becomes and how it shapes the story should dictate how they meet, and vice-versa, to be honest.

Third, Nate and the rest of the Ion Children's powers. Originally considered ability to manipulate all electronics and electromagnetism which enables him to cancel out Astral Energy, a characteristic of Unsealed Ion Children. How he awakens his power is the acknowledgement of the existence of his power. Meridiana helps him awaken it but refuses to allow him to realize his full potential out of fear that he would kill her to free himself from the contract.

Fairly common trope of most MC/Supernatural fiction.

Finally, rules for Astral Energy as well as an explanation of how and why it can be cancelled by EMP. Angels are inorganic yet able to reproduce and Ion Children are required to be sealed out of fear of their powers (remember, all Ion Children have the possibility of controlling electromagnetism, but they are sealed at birth and the process is irreversible.)

Well, as long as you ground "Astral Energy" in technology, it could be as simple as how EM fields currently disrupt electronics.

PS: Would you read something like this? Just curious.

Certainly. However, you will need to choose between writing this as Science Fiction (See: Deus Ex: HR, Ghost in the Shell), or as Future Fantasy (eg. Star Wars). Basically, you can hand-wave all of the various powers of your protagonist and his adversaries with a basic "very advanced technology" explanation, and then go crazy with what they can actually do (see: the X-Men) or you can ground their abilities in actual (fictional) science. This is especially necessary if the actual augments and their effect on the social world your protagonist lives in is an important part of the story. If that's the case, you'll probably need to explain nearly ALL of the fantastical abilities, and how they came about. That puts limits on your potential abilities, but if the class clash that such technologies generally come with is important, then you might want to go in this direction. If you just want a superhero story set in a technological future, then abandon the detailed descriptions of new tech and how it works with a big hand-wave and go nuts.

Best of luck!