Ione visits from Gonogah, bringing with him some information from the Ebene archive that was recently uncovered.
Among the items is a cracked holocrystal from a realm that reportedly managed to repel the Ebene. Adriana and Aden are
at a loss for what to do with the crystal, but it turns out that back in his homeland, Tugs specialized in capturing images
with holocrystals. He manages to repair the damage done, allowing Aden and Adriana to view the message. When activated,
a hologram of a woman reports how the Ebene were repelled using special weapons. Eager to get their hands on these weapons,
Adriana orders Lex and Tugs to research a kingdom called Hulta.
Lex, although distracted by the flirtations of Tugs, manages to find enough information on Hulta for Casey to locate
and create a portal going there. Adriana asks Lex and Tugs to go investigate since Lex has the research skills and Tugs
seems to understand their technology. Casey informs them that she'll keep the portal to Hulta open for three days, but
after that, they must return. Lex and Tugs step through the portal and quickly find themselves in an idyllic world.
At the city gate, each of them is assigned a number, as some sort of processing measure and they are allowed inside.
Soon after settling in, they are visited by a senator named Ironel. She kindly makes the public records about the
Ebene defeat available to Lex and Tugs, but when they ask about the weapons used to destroy the Ebene, she demures slightly.
After some pleading, she promises to make inquery after the Law is cast for the day. When Lex asks what that means,
Ironel explains that every day, twelve dice are cast and the results, incorporated with the phase of the moon, are interpreted
to explain the law and who must do what.
The next day, Lex and Tugs go to a library and attempt to do research into the Ebene invasion. Their success is
limited at first, until Tugs discovers a holocrystal with a picture archive of several weapons. Before they can make
a thorough investigation, however, Ironel joins them. She checks Lex's number assignment and then informs her that messengers
are on their way. The dice have declared that Lex must fight a duel to the death. Despite their objections, Ironel
insists that the law cannot be changed.
Determined to save Lex's life, Tugs goes on a mad shopping spree, purchasing all the equipment necessary to make an interactive
hologram of Lex to take her place in the fight. His abilities very much in doubt as he's never made anything so complicated
before, Lex reconciles her affairs. The next morning, the fight is called. Lex faces off against a woman twice
her size and takes a bit of a beating before the lights suddenly go out. Tugs drags Lex out of the arena, replacing
her with the hologram which Lex's opponent quickly kills.
In a fit of hysterics, Tugs drives the onlookers out of the arena. Alone, he and Lex deactivate the hologram and
use it to distract the guard at the gate. They escape back to the Phoenix House just in time before the portal closes.
Although the mission initially seems a failure, Tugs produces a copy of the historical records which he has stolen.
Casey sets to work analyzing the weapons that were used against the Ebene, but offers Tugs a job on her staff.
