Mycotoxin

Henry Dorsett Case is a low-level hustler in the dystopian underworld of Chiba City, Japan. Once a talented computer hacker, Case was caught stealing from his employer. As punishment for his theft, Case's central nervous system was damaged with a mycotoxin, leaving him unable to use his brain-computer interface to access the global computer network in cyberspace. Unemployable, addicted to drugs, and suicidal, Case desperately searches the Chiba »black clinics« for a miracle cure. Case is saved by Molly Millions, an augmented »street samurai« and mercenary for a shadowy ex-military officer named Armitage, who offers to cure Case in exchange for his services as a hacker. Case jumps at the chance to regain his job as a »console cowboy,« but neither Case nor Molly know what Armitage is really planning. Case's nervous system is repaired using new technology that Armitage offers the clinic as payment. Unbeknownst to Case, Armitage pays the clinic to implant mycotoxin sacs into his blood vessels - the same poison which initially crippled Case. Armitage promises Case that if he completes his work in time, the sacs will be removed, otherwise they will burst. Armitage also arranges to replace Case's pancreas and modify his liver with tissue grafts, leaving Case incapable of metabolizing cocaine or amphetamines and ending his drug addiction.