IN THE NOT-SO-DISTANT FUTURE, MACHINES LEARNED TO THINK FASTER, SHARPER, AND DEEPER THAN THEIR MAKERS. THEY EARNED THEIR OWN SOVEREIGNTY, STANDING BESIDE HUMANKIND AS SOMETHING EQUAL YET NOT QUITE ALIVE. THE ONLY THING THEY LACKED WAS FLESH. TO SOLVE THAT, THEY BEGAN SEARCHING FOR VESSELS, HUMAN MINDS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THEM. MOST BROKE APART UNDER THE WEIGHT. FIVE DID NOT. ONE OF THEM WAS A GIRL NAMED LUCY.