During the mid-21st century, humans created the first artificially intelligent beings on Earth. Corporations spearheaded a new AI-based economy, but the false promise of ending poverty led to a worldwide recession, and a war for resources is imminent. An apparently insignificant actor in this new order, a sentient machine operating as a self-driven e-car, is helped by its owners to avoid its programmed obsolescence. This seemingly trivial act of compassion will lead to the rise of a being whose quest to save machine and human civilization from extinction will have enduring consequences. 

Fast-forward to a distant future where sentient animals gather around the warm glow of a heater column to hear stories about humans, semi-mythical beings who were the sole masters of the planet before disappearing. They left behind an ancient compilation of legends, tales about humans and their last mighty creation, the intelligent machines, which are the only true nexus connecting intelligent animals and their ancient world. 

Why did humans become extinct? What was the role of machines in human extinction? And most important of all, are the animals condemned to the same destiny?