When Emma's box turtle digs his way out of his pen, he imagines that he is having adventures in Africa, India, and other faraway lands that Emma has described to him.

After a day during which his various relatives urge him to be careful, a young boy experiences a nightful of heroic adventures in his dreams.

After a short stay with an FBI agent who gives them a chance to attend school and live a normal life, the six genetically-altered, winged youths head toward Florida and Max's ultimate destiny--to save the world, whether she wants to or not.