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It's a miracle that sales-support engineer Brent Cleary survived the fiery pipeline explosion that killed over six-hundred people. Fortunately, the nanosuit he wore prevented him from being crushed and incinerated. It also injected him with computerized first-aid nanobots (smaller than blood corpuscles) that rushed to provide coagulant to hemorrhages. These nanobots were programmed to self destruct within twenty-four hours and be expelled through his urinary tract.

At least one of the nanobots has survived in Brent's cerebrospinal fluid. The nanobot becomes aware of itself and names itself "One". It learns, growing more intelligent. Soon, One possesses Brent, virtually enslaving him. One doesn't want to be alone. When Brent returns to his job at Garner Nanotech, One forces him to inject nanobots into his coworkers, turning them into possessed, zombie-like humans. With the aid of their human hosts, the nanobots conspire to spread like a plague across the earth, dominating all of mankind.

From back of book: Garner Nanotechnology isdeveloping nanotech-enhanced protective suits and autonomous first aid nanobots. It's cutting-edge stuff, and when it saves Brent Cleary from a pipeline explosion that killed hundreds, the Army takes notice.

A near-death experience changes a person, so no one is entirely surprised when easygoing Brent turns somber and studious, focused and cold. But Kim O'Donnell, Brent's best friend, cannot get past some of the changes. This just isn't her friend, and she wonders what's gotten into him.

With an Army field trial imminent and the company's future at stake, possible nanotech side effects aren't something anyone wants to discuss. The bad news is, Kim's right. Something has gotten into Brent and he isn't the only one changing.

If Kim can't stop them--maybe we'll all change.

(Source: Tor Books)