A strange message beckons six strangers to Striving, an expansive megaplex city on Aballon, the planet of Machines. There, they gather in a neon-lit cafe, surrounded by androids and robots, to meet an old friend. The bartender brings them refreshments—and a holographic recording from their mutual acquaintance.
"Greetings, friends! If you’re watching this, it’s because I’ve experienced an unexpected shutdown—in organic terms, I’m dead."
The discovery of their friend’s unexpected murder turns these strangers into a crew of unlikely investigators. To find the killer, they’ll need to outrun murderous robots, outwit clever foes, and analyze perplexing clues—all while wondering if they’re hunting the murderer, or if the murderer is hunting them! The streets of Striving can be an unforgiving place, and the investigators will need all their skills, resources—and no small amount of luck—to come out ahead, solve the murder, find the killer’s hideout, and bring them to justice!