Returning from The Game, the group finds a former classmate, Rich, waiting outside their apartment. Rich, who was working as a psychiatrist-in-training under his father’s supervision, is now unemployed after a robot replaced his job. The Government tells him to report to the address where Lisse and her friends live.

The group tells Rich about The Game. They recall how the Manager said there was supposed to be a person with medical training in their group, guessing that the Manager meant Rich. Rich hypothesizes that The Game is some sort of virtual reality. Scylla asserts that a sticky green substance she finds in her hair is proof The Game is real, but Rich points out the substance is probably “electrolytic jelly” which is used “to make a good contact between diagnostic electrodes and human skin” (92). This seems to confirm Rich’s theory. Lisse refuses to believe Rich because she views The Game as the only meaningful part of their lives, asking, “If it isn’t real, what have we got?” (93).

The others try to convince Rich to join their exercise routine in preparation for The Game, but he rebuffs them and sulks.