In a futuristic narrative set in London, 2099, the story unfolds with a man named Wilf and a girl named Aelita, who reveals her intention to save the world, but not this one. The timeline shifts to 2032, where a young girl, Flynn Fisher, cares for her sick mother and struggles with her brother, Burton, over stolen medication. As a skilled gamer, Flynn reluctantly helps Burton with a virtual reality game, which connects them to Wilf and Aelita.

Flynn soon discovers that the VR game is far more immersive than she thought, blurring the lines between reality and simulation. After a harrowing experience involving surgery in the game, Flynn learns she's in a "peripheral," a robotic body in the future, while her mind is linked to her past.

With her mother's health deteriorating, Flynn accepts a deal with Wilf, who offers medication that could cure her mother, but under the condition that she helps find Aelita. As Flynn navigates this dangerous new world, she uncovers plots against her family by mercenaries working for a drug kingpin, Corbell. 

Despite the threats, Flynn successfully retrieves the medicine, leading to her mother regaining her eyesight. Tensions rise as Burton confronts Corbell, and Flynn continues to delve into the mysteries surrounding Aelita's disappearance and the sinister motives of the Research Institute.

As they search for Aelita, they encounter dangers, including Daniel, a mercenary for Cherise, the head of the Institute, who is determined to eliminate them. The stakes rise as Flynn and her family are caught in a web of betrayal, high-stakes gaming, and a fight for survival.