Twelve genetically-enhanced children escape from Manticore, a military base that created them. 10 years later, after an EMP (The Pulse) has turned America into a third-world country, one of the escapees, Max Guevara, is working as a bike messenger at Jam Pony Express. While delivering a package, Max makes plans to break into a penthouse apartment to steal a few items to help finance her search for her Manticore "siblings".