Ptolemy’s Outline

This is a living outline for “Ptolemy’s Tales of the Last Frontier.” No twists or story beats will be hidden from the reader on this page. However, anything can change by the time the story is completed.

Act 1 (20% of the story)

​At his father’s funeral, Ptolemy Jones is invited to travel to Mars with his childhood heroes, the Galactic Scouts. Along the way, he struggles with adapting to the life of a space explorer. Both Ptolemy and the Scouts begin to question whether or not he will ever achieve his dream of joining their ranks, despite his father’s founding of the team. However, the discovery of a hidden lab that belonged to an old friend of Ptolemy’s father raises many questions about the history of human space exploration and the Galactic Scouts themselves. In a moment of anger, panic, and a willingness to prove himself, Ptolemy activates the mysterious devices within the lab and transports himself back to Earth, in order to reunite with this old family friend.

Act 2 (60% of the story)

Arriving in South Africa, Ptolemy quickly realizes that something is wrong and this isn’t the Earth that he left a few weeks before. He reunites with his “Uncle Scott” and joins him on his trip to Antarctica. Along the way, Ptolemy learns more about his father’s work, the history of the Galactic Society, and the Earth he is currently exploring. After the duo joins with the rest of Commander Scott’s crew, they begin their preparations to be the first humans in history to reach the South Pole. The expedition takes months of preparation on the continent, learning to ski, setting up bases and cargo drops, and dealing with the discovery that there is another expedition on the continent trying to achieve the same goal. The race to the Pole begins and Ptolemy’s group struggles. Despite all of their preparations and desire to win, their team loses the race to the Pole.

Act 3 (20% of the story)

​Dealing with the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion from achieving their dream of reaching the Pole, but losing the race to be first, the crew begins their trek back to base. Along the way, it becomes clear that they will not make it back alive and individuals meet their end. Certain that his time has come, Ptolemy drifts off and awakens to find himself on a recovery bed. Under the care of the Galactic Societies best medical care, Ptolemy’s life is saved. Unsure of how he got there, whether his journey with Scott was a dream, or if any of the information he learned along the way was true or not, Ptolemy seeks out answers. After hitting numerous walls, he learns that to get answers, Ptolemy must make contact with another of his father’s old friends.