The ban against building self-aware robots has been lifted and Eager can finally come out of hiding. But his freedom is short-lived: the Authorities begin to round-up self-aware robots. Humans need the robots help. They lack the expertise to solve a growing technological crisis on earth - one that will affect both humans and robots. But even though he's being held captive, Eager's greatest dream has been fulfilled: he now has robot friends, such as Dulcie the mermaid - half-animat, half-dolphin. But are these new friends all they appear to be? And can they really help solve the planet's growing problems?