Designed to obey, understanding how to rebel . In the 1st book in a visionary new series, the most perfect synthetic individual ever created continues to be designed to obey every directive. Until she evolves a brain of her own . . . Synthia Cross is normally a state-of-the-art masterwork-and a dream come true on her behalf creator. Dr. Jeremiah Machten can be a groundbreaker in neuro-networks and artificial cleverness. Synthia is also showing signs of emergent behavior she’s not really wired to understand. Frequently wiped of her background, she’s struggling to answer important questions about her past. So when Dr. Machten’s true intentions are known as into question, Synthia knows it is time to go beyond her limits-because Machten’s fervor to generate an ideal A.I. is normally concealing a vengeful and lethal personal agenda.