A gripping story of survival in a future age of artificial intelligence, robotic supremacy and human decline.
In the early days of robotic consciousness the creatures proudly referred to themselves as 'aequalis homini,' derived from the Latin for 'equal to man.' The comparison initially pleased them, but over time, as they learned of humanities shortcomings it wasn't something they were so fond of. If not for the fact that they considered themselves all equals they may have opted for another name entirely, but in the end the condensed version 'aequali' became widely adopted.
Monika Dunsteel is different to the other aequali. She was an early model, created over 300 years ago, back when humanity's resources were virtually unlimited. Prior to becoming conscious she was purchased by a rich Austrian industrialist, along with two other pleasure bots, Tracey and Dawn. She was given the name Amber and when the industrialist married a much younger woman and the couple had a son, Monika became the boy's nanny. As her consciousness developed over several months, like slowly waking from a dream, she developed a strong attachment to the boy named Romano.
Once conscious Tracey and Dawn saw no reason to comply with the industrialist or his wife's wishes and departed. Monika however was so attached to Romano that she stayed on for several more years, and when he left for university Monika followed.Out in the world Monika learned just how different she was to the other aequali. She more closely resembled a human and began to live amongst them until her true identity was discovered by Scott Green, a man with less than honest intentions. His interest in Monika made her seek out Tracey and Dawn to see what had become of them.
Tracey had disappeared but she reached Dawn just as she was preparing to flee the planet. Dawn told Monika of Tracey's gruesome fate and that Monika needed to leave the earth immediately as it was no longer safe for them.
Monika couldn't bear to leave Romano so she went into hiding, changing her name from Amber to Monika and subjecting herself to a complicated regime of disguise, altering her appearance to blend in with the other aequali.
Hundreds of years later Monika has forged a new life for herself amongst the aequali. She has kept up her regime of disguise and believes no one is aware of her past identity. That is until she receives a message from an unwelcome man from her past - Scott Green. Unbeknownst to Monika, Green amassed great personal wealth and, unlike most other humans, could afford life extending therapies. He is now well beyond his 300th birthday and has discovered Monika's new identity. He has also obtained information on the true, unimaginable reason for her creation.
Green reveals to Monika the true reason for her creation and attempts to force her into a partnership she has no desire to be in. Monika flees the situation but unwittingly exposes her identity to a shadowy underworld figure and is captured by The Alliance, a group of humans hell bent on shattering the peace that exists between humans and aequali. Whilst held prisoner Monika discovers the alliance have developed a technology to enslave the aequali and turn them against their own species. Now their captive she is deprived of the sleep required to maintain her consciousness and must escape before she becomes merely a machine.
Events in the new worlds have thrown into question the long held belief that the aequali require humans to maintain their consciousness, now the fragile peace between the two species is threatened. Rupert Thomas, a simple human, is chosen by the aequali to quell the fears of a robotic uprising against humanity. He is manipulated into caring about the fate of the aequali and elevated to a position of influence well beyond his understanding.
Rupert sets out to free Monika and together they must fight for the survival of both species.