Faced with the prospect of a new mage, one who might potentially go mad like Abbey Johnson did, Colt recommends sending John Marion to the Guardians for training. He also talks to Roach in private, advising that the Guardians keep an extra close watch on this recruit.
Later, Athaliah approaches Colt about being a Sentinel for the Consilium. It seems the Council is unhappy with Pythia as their representative and the Silver Ladder favors him to replace her. She also asks him why he has not sought this position himself. She seems to think that he is holding himself back. Colt expresses his own concern that he would feel obligated to serve the city first and not the Council. Athaliah explains that is alright and that the Council is aware of such difficulties which is why they maintain several Sentinels, to avoid conflicts of interest. As for herself, she currently only trusts Quick as Sentinel. Bourdelle is a Libertine and Pythia is mad. After some discussion she advises him to go to the Astral and confront his fears. Colt however is worried about what he might find there. Athaliah agrees to watch over him and anyone he brings with him. Colt thanks her for believing in him.
Colt gathers Adele and Valkyrie to discuss his plans. Adele asks what is holding him back. He speculates it has to do with his childhood and less to do with his military experiences. Both of his cabal mates agree to join him in his astral journey. Under Athaliah’s watchful eye, they meditate and soon arrive at his dream vestibule, which takes the form of an army camp in Somalia. Colt instantly seems happier, at home amid the discipline and implied danger. Valkyrie however finds the location threatening. Adele meanwhile takes everything in while Colt thinks about his father and the last time he was here. After some discussion they take the path out of the camp and into town.
They find the area to be a strange mix of an old west town and war torn Somalia. Walking past the saloon while keeping an eye on the youths with AK-47’s they encounter the town sheriff. He is a friendly old man with the same steely blue eyes as Colt. He greets them and seems to have been expecting Colt’s arrival. As Colt looks surprised, he explains that lots of people in town are looking forward to talking to him. Colt is uncomfortable about being the center of attention but the sheriff seems to be sure Colt will be okay. When his cabalmates ask why he is so worried, Colt explains he does not think he is very good in social situations. Adele and Valkyrie think he is quite able to handle them though.
They decide to look around town to see what they can find. Colt leads them into the general store. Inside they find themselves transported to a mall in the midst of Christmas season. Two women are fighting over a Furby and, as he did before, Colt breaks up the fight peacefully. Valkyrie double checks that one of the woman and the Furby are possessed as Adele remarks that the events occurred just as before.
They navigate their way out of mall finding a choice between returning to Colt’s apartment or going outside. Colt chooses to go right and they head outside, finding themselves on the St. Clare ranch. Near the farmhouses they find some strangely silent ranch hands who seem to be worried and waiting to hear word about something or someone. Colt sees his father, as he was when Colt was a boy. The vibrant ranch owner is talking to the lead hand. Colt turns to one of the other ranch workers and asks what is going on. The man explains that they are worried about Tio, the old indian man who works on the ranch. Tio has fallen ill. Colt goes and talks to his father, who explains that Tio went home to Mexico which would be much better for his health. Colt blows off his father, disdaining lies. He explains to the others what he did in the original event: fleeing the ranch and nearly dying in a storm. His father had to save him. Colt decides to search for Tio. They head to the bunkhouse but find Tio gone and his stuff left behind. No one knows where Tio’s family is. Stymied Colt looks for help to find Tio. Valkyrie asks who could he trust on the ranch but Colt explains that he was kept out of loop in most matters.
They decide to look for Tio in Colt’s past and head to his private hideaway, a small group of birch trees near a pond overlooking a ridge. While looking around there they see a little girl approach. Colt identifies the eight year old as his sister Julia. The young girls asks Colt why he is moping up here. She asks if it is about the girl with red hair. Colt admits it is about Melanie. As an aside to his friends he explains he was not serious about her and tells them he has a wanderlust about him. He tickles his sister and they all race back to the ranch.
At the ranch they find an elderly Tio taking a siesta. He gestures to Colt to sit with him in the shade. Colt explains to his old friend that he is on a spirit journey. Tio seems to think Colt is only a small child, but Colt decides to break the fourth wall, explaining it is his future self. Tio seems to take it in stride and Colt explains what he sees as his failings and how he is trying to overcome them. Tio laughs at Colt’s talk of social awkwardness, saying that he has two lovely ladies beside him. He gives him and his friends something special to smoke. Upon taking it they can see a glittering path. Giggling Adele joins the others and they head down the path with Tio asking the Great Spirit to bless their journey.
Along the path they see scenes of Colt excelling at the social situations he believes he is bad at. They see Colt convincing a docent to let them retrieve the hidden urn for Ellsworth, Colt disguised as Mike Pilat, trying to get at the strongbox with the other half of Chicago Workings, Colt conning his way into Judy Lyden's office, and Colt hiding his involvement from Detective Green. Finally Colt is confronted by his brother James as a small child. James complains that Colt always claims to be bad at things but then it turns out that Colt does them better than him. Colt protests but James states that Colt lies to himself. The cabal discusses this and Adele and Valkyrie agree with James’s assessment.
With Colt having realized the truth, they return to town. The sheriff meets them and hands the reigns over to Colt as the new sheriff. He takes them to a huge party where the still high mages engage in some practice of social skills.
With his internal issues at rest, it is planned for Colt to be formally recognized as Sentinel at next Concilium meeting. He also receives less happy news about John Marion. Roach explains he is becoming erratic and powerful, the Guardians may have to kill him.
A week or so later, while at the library, Adele notices an odd man using a book she needs. Studying him magically, she determines he is a vampire and texts the cabal. The vampire, becoming aware of her scrutiny walks over to talk to her, trying to smooth over any ruffled feathers. The vampire seems to realize what she is and explains he is not with the other groups she has encountered. Adele tries to hold back her hostility and soon the cabal arrives. With numbers seemingly on her side, the vampire leaves intimidated. Adele uses space magic to follow him, watching as he returns to his lair, guarded by a Russian ghoul and makes a series of phone calls. One of the calls seems to be to Diana Coal, who he asks for help making peace with the mages. Meanwhile Valkyrie is upset at the wasted time and effort that Adele caused and that she drove off a vampire for no particularly good reason. Adele ignores her and continues to scrutinize the vampire. She watches as he does research, copying some of his notes (in Russian) as well as watching him do a ritual for a rat spirit.
The next day, Roach calls the cabal. John has escaped, teleporting away, likely to destroy himself and others in demented attempt to reach the Supernal. The Guardian leaders have issued orders to kill him on sight. The cabal determines John probably headed back to the school and drive over. School is already in session and a magically cloaked hearse is in parking lot. Determining the Guardians are already involved they enter the school.
The mad mage has used his mastery of the Space Arcanum to turn the school into a labyrinth. Roach calls, explaining he and a team are already inside. The mysterious mage thinks they might be able to use the windows to get out, an idea Colt confirms. Leaving Roach to convince the principal to direct the teachers and students to safety, they move to the hallway outside John’s “office”. There they meet up with the strike force, Alpha and Zulu.