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Rob returns home after a week-long adventure and recounts his experiences to his family, who are skeptical. The Demon, a powerful and wise figure, appears and expresses anger at Rob's misuse of the scientific gifts he was entrusted with, criticizing him for demonstrating them to uncivilized natives rather than to advanced societies. After Rob promises to use the gifts more wisely, the Demon offers to replace his damaged traveling machine and to grant him three more valuable gifts.

Virgil Samms is telepathically summoned by Mentor, a vast disembodied Arisian intelligence, and receives the powerful and selective Lens of Arisia, which amplifies inherent mental abilities but imposes a heavy ethical and mental burden. Mentor explains the responsibilities of wearing the Lens, emphasizing the promotion of freedom compatible with public welfare rather than absolute good versus evil, and demonstrates cosmic visualization by predicting future events. Upon returning, Samms and his colleagues discuss the readiness of candidates for the Galactic Patrol, including the gender-based challenges related to Lens eligibility, while reflecting on the mysterious figure of Mentor and the uncertain futures of the young Lensmen.