A global disaster, known as The Great Devastation, had drastically changed life on earth. Layla, a Kidgen, or Kid-Genius, was living and working at the Complex, where the Insiders had everything provided for them. She was aware of the Outsiders who were just scraping by without the use of technology, but she didn't have any reason to think much about them - until Kenrick, one of her friends who was also a Comgen (Computer-Genius), secretly arranged for four friends to travel. Suddenly Layla became curious. What was life Outside really like? Where would they go? Would they be able to get back safely and unpunished? Kenrick had a few surprises in store for them - and especially for Layla, whose life would never be the same after journeying Outside the Complex.