After having activated a machine that, in effect, causes earthquakes, Michael Holt begins to realize that someone is controlling his actions. He had attempted to murder a senator with his machine, and now his Conscientia Institute is coming down around them. Desperately, Michael's assistant Aleeka tries to evacuate the building before an extinction level earthquake hits with them at the epicentre. Meanwhile, she orders Karen Starr to try to talk Michael out of whatever is making him do this. Karen complies, but can't help but note the undertone of jealousy in Aleeka's words. Fortunately, Michael manages to use his T-Spheres to perform a synaptic reboot of his own brain, essentially overriding the outside control over his mind. He drags Karen down to the device's processing room to flood th