Derek 100771 lives in a far future world where the human population has long exceeded the ability of the Earth to support it. Derek is a person who needs human contact and communication in a world where human interaction is controlled by computers and even sex is virtual. But Derek is a rebel. He is willing to risk correction and attitude adjustment, even recycling in order to maintain a little human contact. He is even willing to risk the fear and animosity of his virtual female companion in order to dream.

In Derek's time disease and unexpected death have been eradicated and births must be supported one to one by deaths; life is lived exclusively to support the lives of the whole. And then an accident occurs that changes everything!