
The Daniels family are blamed for the rabies virus and the North Col community will not listen as Noah tells them the rats weren't real but holograms. Matters worsen when it is discovered the vaccine held as evidence has been stolen. Simon's subsequent collapse causes everyone to panic… he has a virus! Liz finds that the disk given to Noah by Tao is nothing but a series of sophisticated computer generation images. Who is responsible for this dangerous hoax? Noah returns to Haven to collect more vaccine to save his father. But the Mine has been abandoned. Tao has moved everyone to the Mountains of the Moon in search of the Motherlode. Noah makes his way across the Red Desert. He must save his friends and get the vaccine before it is too late! Inadvertently a Kestrel gives Tao the answer he has been searching for. Now the Shadowmaster and Tao stand, transfixed — before them is the secret of life, youth, and absolute power… it is the core of the Nemesis Comet… the pure Thunderstone Motherlode!
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.