The story so far: When Irish school teacher Sam Fitzpatrick and CERN scientist Michael Zhang are absorbed by a black hole, they find themselves outside the Universe on a planet populated by gigantic insect-like Entroilians and Argolaths. The Universe is merely part of their elaborate lifecycle. Mi…
The firefighters find something missing from the Fire Station while Francesco Romani finds fresh hope in the laboratory. But what they both find in the ATLAS cavern is both worrying and inspiring.
Sam catches the pink crystal and it reveals something of the greatest importance to him and Trissitia.
The tables are turned on the Prince-Bishop of Geneva as he is tried for witchcraft under the punishing care of the hospital master's widow.
Brigit O'Brien wants the United Nations to get involved in any future decisions about crystal, and she also wants George Gabor to show her something.
Francesco cross-examines Alex but is not convinced that Sam is still alive, so Alex tries to call him through the crystal.
The Chatelain gives Catriona both crystals, hoping she will use the pink one to freeze the cannon, but when he sees her trying to escape he starts trying to shoot her down.
Sam and Trissitia arrive at the bottom of the tunnel, although they have both been blinded by the light of the Big Bang. Here they find the Entroilian larvae which Cjingha put into the Cosmic Egg, the Argolath sons of King Flenkt and a beautiful big blue crystal.
Catriona is tried for witchcraft and found guilty by a fraudulent trick. But before she can be burnt the Chateau is attacked by Genevan soldiers and this gives the Hospital Master the opportunity to get his revenge upon her.
As the firefighters return to CERN with their provisions they meet Alex who is hurrying to rescue Marianne and they give chase. Meanwhile Francesco and Danny are investigating the properties of crystal in the lab.
King Flenkt's horrible plans for the 'Cosmic Egg' involve Sam and Trissitia entering the tunnel which Michael Zhang made in the Universe and so going rapidly back in time.
With the help of the friar, Catriona survives the night in the chapel and in the morning she is rescued from the plague hospital by soldiers from the Château de Peney, only to find herself in an even worse situation.
Marianne finds comfort in the concept that her baby died for a purpose: to save the world, but the very idea of a religious association appals atheist Danny. Marianne and Alex see each other through their crystals at different times and with very different results.
Finding himself tricked into marriage with Trissitia, Sam tries to avoid the wedding night by telling her about his sterility, brought on by an infection of mumps. But Trissitia is not so easily deterred.
Alex finally thinks of an old friend who would be the perfect person to risk all in an attempt to win high rewards. Sadly the meeting does not go the way Alex might have wished.
Princess Trissitia flies Sam to his luxury quarters in King Flenkt’s palace, but her intentions towards him are not what Sam was hoping for. Their trip to the Temple of the Anting ends with a very strange and worrying ceremony.
Alex reaches the garage shop, finds some food and drink, then examines his crystal hoard and makes a discovery about crystal visibility. In medieval Geneva Catriona submits herself to examination by the Hospital Master. Meanwhile Sofie and the doctor challenge Alex in the shop.
Marianne finally gets what she wants more than anything else, the chance to talk to Danny, but she finds his mental state very worrying. She tells Sofie she is going with him to the Cafeteria. Sofie goes to the Fire Station and rejoins her team for a short but sombre ceremony.
With much rejoicing the stolen Cosmic Egg is carried across Argolathia and into an underground city where Sam is visited first by King Flenkt and then by Princess Trissitia.
Catriona tries to find the way back into the tunnel, but instead ends up in a strange hospital in a town apparently full of party-goers.
Professor Francesco Romani, Director General of CERN, and Brigit O’Brien, Irish Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, arrive in the Medical Centre to find out how Marianne is getting on. But they have very different ideas about what the priority actions should be.
Sam witnesses the double treachery of Marshall Gallrage, but the Argolaths have their revenge. Meanwhile Catriona only travels a short way down the Time Tunnel before disaster strikes.
Alex helps Catriona by talking through his crystal, then helps himself to a drink, leaving Catriona to begin her descent of the Time Tunnel alone.
George Gabor fails to find Catriona in the ATLAS cavern, but he finds more crystal which he uses to revive Francesco Romani, Brigit O’Brien and Ludovico Narkosa. But his failure to prevent the death of Robert Moore triggers a haunting memory.