Due to the unusual workings of the science fiction magazine publishing industry, "The Imaginary" appeared a month after the third story in the Homo Sol Trilogy, "The Hazing".

His formula relies on the use of imaginary numbers in its intermediate steps, which cancel out at the end and provide real answers matching the squid's observed behavior.

While Porus is on leave at home, two of his students read about a series of experiments using magnetic fields and radiation to induce reactions in invertebrate animals.

The creature starts to emit a 'death field' of radiation of an unknown type that expands uncontrollably and can potentially kill all animal and plant life.

Porus is urgently recalled from his home planet and devises a method that should theoretically stop the expansion; by changing the pH level of the water in the squid's tank beyond 3.0.