The narrative goes back in time to the period 15 months after Brady’s brain injury. He has regained consciousness and is gradually restoring his cognition along with new mental powers. He is aware that his body is too damaged to be of much use to him in the future. He begins experimenting with the nurse with the seizure condition. Soon, he can control her mind at will whenever she enters her room, and he enjoys manipulating her toward ending her own life. At around the same time, the hospital receives a shipment of Zappit game consoles. Library Al Brooks gives one of the Zappits to Brady. When he leaves Brady’s room, he is already under Brady’s control, and afterward, Brady is able to leap in and out of Al’s body at will. He thereafter calls Al “Z-Boy.” He tries to use the Zappit console to get into other people, but most people aren’t triggered the same way by the game.

Brady remembers that some electronic devices have been known to cause seizures or hypnosis with flashing lights. He thinks he could modify the Zappit to do something of that kind if only he had a working body.