Concerned over Mia's recent mood swings, Jesse asks Casey to scan her to see if something's wrong. Still without
her precious white crystal, Casey is forced to rely on outdated equipment. After running a series of tests, she announces
that Mia is pregnant, shocking both Mia and Aden. Casey admits, however, that there's a chance her readings were incorrect
and that the only way to be certain would be to find a replacement for her white crystal. The value of the crystal in
helping the House, aside from this incident, makes it clear that a new one must be found.
Aden askes for volunteers to go on a quest for a new crystal without giving them the reason why. Tranns and Lucien
both volunteer and soon set off, bickering the entire way. Facing wild animals and Ebene hordes, they make their way
to Calatia. Lucien admits the reason he volunteered, however, was primarily to sleep with Tranns in privacy. She
asks him the reason why he's even a part of the Phoenix Fighters and Lucien shrugs off the question. Tranns calls him
out, claiming he has never had a cause. Meanwhile, back the House, Sic complains to Casey that the writing is beginning
to cause her great pain, so Casey arranges for Ariadne to teach Sic and Jesse sign language.
That night, Adriana confesses to Sito that she's been nursing a small crush on him. He admits that he too has been
feeling things for her. Before anything can come of it, a stranger named Pfalz arrives in the House. She
demonstrates a unique ability to phase through solid matter and is asked to join the Phoenix Fighters. She agrees, but
refuses to tell them what species she is. At the same time, Ariadne visits with Mia and they discuss the impact a baby
would have on the Phoenix House. In the process of the conversation, Ariadne shares the fact that she is unhappy as
of late, because people seem to be underestimating her. Mia encourages her to speak to Aden about it. Aden immediately
arranges for Ariadne to be put on a special night patrol, fighting off Ebene in the darkness, so no villagers will see her
and fear her demonic visage.
Adriana and Sito meet for an awkward first date, meanwhile Tranns and Lucien arrive in Calatia and follow Casey's instructions
to meet with Cruxis, the guardian of the crystals in Calatia. Cruxis tells them that in order to gain a crystal,
they must prove their worth by passing a series of tests. For their first trial, they're forced to kill a swarm of living
hamburgers. Next, they are required to build a sandcastle. For the final trial, they are each forced to wrestle
with a big blue bear. They pass all the trials and win the crystal.
Cruxis sends Tranns and Lucien back to Shaldani, warning Tranns that for the crystal, they will be forced to "pay the
price." He doesn't tell her what that price is, leaving her very uneasy. They return to the House and give Casey
the crystal. She rescans Mia and discovers her initial readings were wrong. Mia is not pregnant. Angered
over the trouble they were put through, Tranns pushes Casey into the pool. This startes a chain reaction in which everyone
ends up soaking wet.
