In Feisengrad's world, known only as The Z, human babies emerge from large eggs in laboratories; food is limited to a substance called "vegetable," and constant war is waged against an unnamed enemy. Every action is strictly monitored and potential violations result in citizens being ruled "safe" or "out" by the ruling umpires. The rules of the game are only known to the cops and umpires and appear to be completely arbitrary. Like other residents of The Z, Feisengrad must find friends, a job and a girlfriend in order to remain "safe" - but in doing so, he soon finds himself drawn into a larger conflict that threatens not just his existence, but the internal harmony of The Z.