On his 20th birthday, Ed Bellamy makes a startling discovery: As part of a secret government project, scientists implanted microchips in his brain when he was a baby, boosting his intelligence level. Unfortunately, those microchips trigger intense, madness-inducing dreams as they break down, and none of the microchip recipients survives past the age of 21. Compounding his problems, Ed has been framed for murder by a corrupt agent, forcing him to flee with his friend Maria in a desperate bid to clear his name and find a cure for his condition.