The Mendoza family has just received a research grant from UCLA to study what exactly went wrong in this alternate. Los Angeles native Liz Mendoza travels with her parents to the medievalized remains of Los Angeles as a member of Westwood in the area of Westside, surrounding the ruined university. She attracts the unrequited affection of Dan, an archer in King Zev's army from The Valley after Westwood is attacked and occupied by the Valley men.