Glowbug

When a bacteria created in a lab to produce electricity as a byproduct accidentally feeds on electricity, it mutates and infects human beings, making them ultra-smart by creating more connections between synapses in the brain. It strikes New York City, spreading through the electrical grid, and gives the infected super-intelligence. They use their new abilities to stop its spread and keep the Glowbug virus to themselves. This turtle-like protectionism in NYC results in massive changes, turning the city into "The Grid", a walled in technocracy teeming with the infected, ultra-smart Glowers. The uninfected Outsiders must now live without electricity which Glowbug moves through, though the Glowers are allowed to travel to designated "Tourist Centers" in the blacked out USA.

Paul works in the hinterland at a Tourist Center in the suburbs, where Glowers visit to see what life used to be like before Dr Marris accidentally created Glowbug. Though strict security measures are in place to prevent the infected from contacting the uninfected, an unhinged Glower breaches, and approaches Paul. He informs Paul he will be integral to the Future Conflicts already brewing within the Grid and to be played out across the nation. Paul finds his life turned upside down, realizing everything he's been told about Glowbug is not as it seems.