Environmental Studies graduate student John Toffler interceptsa letter intended for his mysterious roommate, Kyle. InsideJohn finds a key and a note reading: don't. Before he can returnthe key to Kyle, John and his friends, Laurie and Bill, accidentlyuse it to open a gate to another world. In an instant they aretorn from the easy life they've known and hurtled into the harshwastelands of Basawar.Kyle—who in his own world is known as Kahlil—realizesthat he must kill John before he destroys Basawar. Despite theGreat Gate being shattered, he follows John, Laurie and Bill backto his homeworld. But the passage through leaves him physicallybeaten and his memories broken. Confused and alone in a worldhe no longer recognizes, Kahlil takes refuge among men whohave a use for his deadly skills.