In a Topside blizzard the bewildered Nomads make their way into North Col where Geneva guides them to the holodeck. Through a combination of deduction and good luck the Nomads propel themselves forward in time to Haven where their reappearance is monitored by Sutch. Sutch, who is under instructions from Dr. Pretorius to take Noah and Becky to a place they can never return from, instead reunites them with the Nomads. He too will now join them in their battle to defeat the Protectors and Dr. Pretorius. Together they formulate a plan to destroy the Thunderstone. Noah and the Nomads move on the unprotected Thunderstone motherlode. As Sutch and Sundance hijack the Beast and liberate the enslaved work force, Noah, Becky and the other Nomads spread salt out at the motherlode base. The showdown has begun! Tao and Dr. Pretorius move to protect their Thunderstone, their future. Tao, now revealed to be a hologram himself has targeted Noah but Becky's quick thinking saves him. Tao flickers wildly and disappears! Dr. Pretorius, his life's work destroyed pleads with Noah who, raising a Masergun, ignites the salt and with it the motherlode. The war over, Noah throws down the Masergun. Behind him Dr. Pretorius is left engulfed by the flames. Tranquillity in Haven, the Nomads and animals are free. Noah, his family and the citizens return to North Col — there must be a past so there will be a future. As Noah hangs up the PH-Ts he smiles with the memories he will hold on to. In Haven Arushka rides proudly on Moshi. Before her the landscape is filed with the animals of the world. They will live free once more.