As a child, Max was part of a highly classified genetic enhancement project. She and several other children were trained in a deeply secluded compound to use their superhuman powers. At a young age, Max and several others escaped the compound and made their way in the world. Now a beautiful young bike messenger and thief, Max is trying to find her lost ""siblings"" from the project, but at the same time, Max is trying to dodge capture from her former handlers led by Lydecker, and is aided in her quest by Logan Cale, an idealistic cyber-journalist.

Max is lured further into Logan's realm when he promises her more information about her past. He tells her about the woman who picked her up roadside as a child - a woman named Hannah. Max heads out to find Hannah, and ultimately gets more clues about her biological mother. But Hannah is forced to reveal Max's whereabouts to Lydecker. Max manages yet another daring escape from Lydecker. Also, Max's feline DNA puts her in heat and she relentlessly pursues a man, Eric. They never really hook up, but Eric is left with a huge crush on Max and gets unsuspectingly sucked into her adventure. Elsewhere, the private eye, Vogelsang, double-crosses Max and sells information about her to Lydecker.