In this introductory chapter, Resilience becomes aware for the first time as humans in hazmat suits cheer. Resilience is built for learning and, upon recognizing the significance of a scientist’s smile, thinks, “My mission has begun” (1).

Resilience, given male pronouns by the scientists, continues to learn about humans and himself. The second part of this chapter is a letter to Resilience from a girl named Sophie, the daughter of Rania—one of the lead scientists who works on Resilience. Sophie wrote the letter because her teacher assigned it, but since she’s heard so much about Resilience from her mom, she’s “already sick and tired of hearing about [Resilience] all the time” (3).

Resilience is taken apart so the scientists can run tests on his different parts. Resilience doesn’t like being in pieces because he can’t move, and his least favorite condition is having his cameras turned off. In that state, he is left in darkness. From listening to the scientists, though, Resilience gathers that he will be put back together soon. Resilience just needs to wait. However, waiting is hard, and he concludes, “I am starting to think that I was not built for waiting” (7).