SYNOPSIS:

When Manning meets GAYLE, a hybrid hard drive consisting of the bacteria Treponema pallidum and nanomites, he is enthralled by the potential of the new technology. His girlfriend Boa is skeptical of Gayle and of Lionel, the avid gamer who created GAYLE. Lionel hires Manning for his algorithm expertise to help perfect GAYLE'S programming.Manning receives a distressed phone call from Lionel. He arrives at Lionel's apartment to discover that GAYLE is sentient. Lionel confides in Manning, admitting that his partner was involved in illegal pulse ray technology to help finance GAYLE. Lionel fears for GAYLE and requests Manning's assistance in temporarily hiding her. Manning believes Lionel and agrees to help him protect GAYLE. Lionel is arrested the next day.Three months later, things have returned to normal and Lionel is released. Manning continues working on GAYLE, despite his girlfriend's increasing concerns and objections after a mutual friend is traumatized playing one of GAYLE'S games. Manning's behavior begins to dramatically change, as he immerses himself into Lionel's world. He ostracizes himself from his girlfriend and abandons his thesis, opting to work more on GAYLE'S new gaming system.Manning's girlfriend's suspicions grow as she begins to suspect GAYLE'S influence is more than psychological. Manning makes amends with Boa - they attend one of Lionel's gaming parties together. At the party, Manning discovers GAYLE'S true agenda and must fight her diabolical grip on his own mind to save Boa from a fate worse than death.