In the city-state of New Eden in 2145, humanity has used “consciousness immersion” technology to store and transfer minds in the cloud. Society has split into the “Pure,” who reject having their minds invaded; the “Symbiotes,” who willingly become vessels for memories; and the elite “Immortals,” whose consciousness exists in the cloud. Ellie Thorne, a girl from the lower-class Pure, is forced to become a “vessel” after contracting a terminal illness. Her body is immersed with fragments of the consciousness of a mysterious scientist named Kayla, giving Ellie uncanny talents and painful memories that are not her own. Marcus Ward, leader of the Immortals, appears to maintain the balance between the groups, but is secretly planning to erase individuality and create an “absolute unity of consciousness.” Ellie’s sister Lena, undergoing mechanized modifications, and Dr. Howard, who is secretly researching immune rejection, form the heart of this cyberpunk story about consciousness, identity, and the nature of humanity.
