The year is 2023, and the world stands on the precipice of a new technological era. Superpowers and corporate giants are locked in a ruthless race for quantum supremacy, where the first to harness the true power of quantum computing will gain unmatched dominance over cybersecurity, finance, and something much more sinister.
Amid this high-stakes battle, Sarah Mackay, a brilliant PhD candidate at St Andrews University, is finalizing her thesis on the emergence of reality at the intersection of chaos theory and quantum mechanics. But when her research unexpectedly draws the attention of global intelligence agencies, rogue scientists, and cybercriminal syndicates, Sarah finds herself thrust into a dangerous game she never intended to play.
As encrypted messages, unexplained disappearances, and shadowy figures close in on her, Sarah must unravel the hidden connections between her own work and a quantum experiment that could tip the balance of power. Alongside her close friend Tomasz and a network of fellow researchers, she is forced to navigate a web of espionage, betrayal, and scientific breakthroughs that blur the line between genius and madness.
With time running out, Sarah must decide: Will the AI enabled through quantum computers be an illuminating power or will it supplant our very nature as human beings?