Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Angelo works for Virtual Space Industries (VSI) conducting experiments to increase the intelligence of chimpanzees through the use drugs and virtual reality. When one of the chimpanzees escapes using the warfare techniques in which he was trained, the chimp is killed. Larry is angry that five years of his research has been destroyed. Larry’s boss, Sebastian Timms, suggests he take some time to regroup before resuming his research, known as “Project Five.” Larry is obsessed with his research, saying that virtual reality holds the key to the next step in human evolution. He starts drinking heavily to combat his depression over not being able to continue his research. When Larry refuses to carry on a normal life during his hiatus, his wife, Caroline, leaves him. Before the chimp was killed, Larry was ready to begin experiments on human subjects and decides to continue them in his home laboratory. He notices simple-minded Jobe Smith, the gardener’s assistant, and befriends him. Larry teaches Jobe how to play video games. When Jobe begins to master them, Larry moves him up to virtual reality (VR) games. Soon, Jobe and Peter Parkette, the boy who lives next door with his parents, Carla and Harold Parkette, are playing VR games together, under Larry’s supervision. Larry begins injecting Jobe with neurotropic drugs to stimulate brain activity. Jobe responds better than any of Larry’s animal subjects ever did, and within a month his synaptic activity increases 400 percent. The increased brain activity effects Jobe’s personality and behavior. Although he previously lacked self-awareness and had unkempt hair and clothes, Jobe gets a stylish haircut and fashionable new clothes. He also stands up for himself, refusing to any longer allow Father Francis McKeen, the priest who owns the garden shed where he lives, to whip him with a belt as punishment for his perceived sins. Jobe becomes attracted to women, and notices Marnie Burke, a rich, young, flirtatious widow, who takes him to bed. Larry shows his research to his boss, Sebastian Timms, who gives permission to continue the work with Jobe at the VSI laboratory. After witnessing Jobe’s phenomenal progress, including learning Latin in just two hours, Timms reports to the VSI director, who demands they begin injecting Jobe with the original Project Five neurotropic drug. The substance contains chemicals which stimulate aggression, a trait needed to train subjects for warfare. Knowing Larry is a pacifist, Timms substitutes the drug without his knowledge. After a VR experiment, Jobe reports that he “touched God.” Soon, Jobe develops psychic abilities and is able to read people’s minds. Shortly after, Jobe develops telekinetic abilities and is able to move objects with his mind. However, he also begins hallucinating. Jobe reports he has surpassed Larry’s intelligence and demonstrates his telekinetic abilities. Larry is frightened by what he sees and warns that Jobe’s progress must be balanced with wisdom. In time, Jobe takes Marnie Burke to the VSI lab and straps her into the VR equipment, intending to make love to her in cyberspace. However, while in virtual reality, the aggression drug kicks in and Jobe rapes Marnie. As a result, she has a nervous breakdown. At a debriefing in Washington, D.C., Larry has a fit upon learning Sebastian Timms substituted the original Project Five drug. Larry reminds him how aggressive the chimps became who received the drug: two of them killing each other. When Larry returns to the lab to shut down the experiment, VSI security tries to stop him, but Larry eludes them. Meanwhile, Jobe breaks into the VSI lab and injects himself with multiple doses of the neurotropic formula. As Jobe’s abilities increase, he seeks revenge against those who taunted and teased him when they believed he was “dumb.” Jobe uses his mind to set Father McKeen on fire and sends a lawnmower to attack and kill Harold Parkette, Peter's abusive father. Police begin an investigation, but after Jobe controls their minds, they dismiss the killings as bizarre accidents. Upon his return, Larry finds Jobe at his house using his virtual reality equipment. Jobe plans to transfer his consciousness into the mainframe of the VSI computer and then connect to every other computer in the world, until he exists everywhere and is a “Cyber Christ.” Larry tries to stop him, but Jobe ties him up. When the director of VSI sends two men to capture him, Jobe turns them into molecules and destroys them. After Peter Parkette finds Larry and unties him, Larry remotely accesses the VSI computer and infects it with a virus, cutting off access to all other computers. Jobe goes to VSI, transfers his consciousness into the mainframe computer, and his physical body dies. Meanwhile, Larry sets explosives to go off all around the VSI building. Jobe tries to prevent the bomb from detonating, but he lost his power over the physical world when he transferred into the computer mainframe. Jobe desperately tries to transfer onto another computer system, but is denied access. However, just before the explosives destroy the VSI computer, Jobe gains access to another computer system and transfers out. Fearing his research will fall into the wrong hands, Larry announces he is going underground until he can perfect it. Larry intends to form a family with Carla Parkette and her son, Peter. However, just before they embark on their new life, telephones around the world ring simultaneously, indicating that Jobe is alive and firmly in control.