
The thought that he could be the monstrous Shadowmaster tortures Noah as he waits anxiously for the results of his father's tests on vaccine. When Becky produces the disk she took from Tao detailing apocalyptic future events, Noah calls for an Open Forum in which the citizens of North Col can decide on this evidence for themselves. If he can convince them to listen, he may be able to save them. Tao feels they are near the source of the Thunderstone — the motherlode! He will not be hindered by anyone or anything. As he prepares to fire on some horses, the Silverwing swoops through the air, disarms his masergun and returns to Sundance. The beautiful animals are safe. An enraged Tao orders his troops to move in. Faced with the Protectors' new weapons, the Nomads are surrounded. Noah has failed and he and his family are placed under house arrest. With Becky's help he eludes the holocops escaping to Dr. Pretorius retreat only to be confronted by the Shadowmaster. This time the nightmare is real.
2020 is the year in which Noah Daniels lives with his family. Back in 2002 a comet Nemesis destroyed the Earth's surface along with humans and animals. The few that survived live underground in a place called North Col. Noah is gifted in ways, but it is his fascination with the holodeck with proves to be costly. The holodeck with was once used is now left to gather dust, until Noah starts it up and lands in Haven.
After being captured by a group of Nomads, Noah is still trying to figure out how far back into the past he is. The Nomads are a small band of children who are pursued by another older group of youths called the Protectors who runs a mine. In this time, the most powerful substance is Thunderstone and this is what Tao of the Protectors is currently mining. A sensing device, provided by a mysterious man in a cloak is a new weapon for tracking down the Nomads. Back in North Col, Noah has been noticed as being missing.