After mysterious ships nearly destroy a human colony, scientists recruit 3 orphan girls (Alice, Jayna, and Selene) to take turns monitoring the galaxy for potential threats. But in order for the girls' minds to be enhanced, they must give up their sight, hearing, and speech, and instead be permanently strapped to chairs, wearing metal masks. They can communicate only by using their tongues to type, and the girls rely on the scientists to feed them, bathe them, and control the visual and audio input connected to their brains. About ten years into the program, 19-year-old Alice is motivated by just two things: her sense of patriotic duty to monitor the galaxy and her intense love for her primary caretaker, Marika. Even though Alice can't see Marika, Marika insists that Alice is beautiful and loved. They lament the fact that they are always watched by other scientists and never have a moment alone. Over time, Selene goes insane. The government finds out the truth about the program, and the President shuts them down. The girls are replaced by machines that can monitor the galaxy for threats. Alice is taken to a hospital, where doctors restore her hearing, vision, and voice box. Alice is thrilled that she and Marika can finally be together, but Marika leaves her, fearing that their relationship would not be the same. Alice begs the doctors to put her back in captivity so that Marika will love her again. Alice refuses to open her eyes or speak, until she is offered the job of analyzing data from the galaxy monitoring machines. Feeling a possible sense of purpose again, Alice agrees and her recovery progresses. Eventually, she moves in to her own apartment with Jayna. Still longing for Marika, Alice arranges a meeting where both women wear masks. Marika repeats her fear that their relationship won't work in the real world. Desperate to win her back, Alice offers to replicate her former conditions whenever they are together. They develop a routine. Whenever Marika spends the night, Alice wears a hospital gown, gets strapped back into the chair, wears the metal mask, puts ear plugs in, and attaches a breathing tube.