Simon's latest prank in a series played between him and his friend Evan goes too far when Evan is late for school but he seems to have forgiven him. He even lets Simon have the first chance to try out a new virtual-reality program both have been waiting to try. But instead of experiencing fencing Simon finds himself trapped in a world where he must outwit an intelligent computer-virus. The virus has reprogrammed the system so that if Simon doesn't get out of the life-like setting where nothing works in his favor it will take over his brain to wreak havoc outside the computer.