The enigmatic, simplistic Jo Machine is in an extreme quandary! Well, that is, for her. She is suddenly trapped in a conspiracy that threatens the national security of the United States and she can't reveal what she knows to those upon whom she trusts and relies. If that isn't enough, Machine encounters some very different characters, two to whom she can easily relate, and another two whose origins are far beyond her comprehension. And if that isn't enough, Machine is getting a strange, one word signal in her Core, "companion," from an unknown entity. This isn't good! In the words of those characters to whom she can relate, "Oolikomic jalla goo!"