Tao offers Noah a share of the rabies vaccine and power to return to him to North Col. With Noah gone and the maserguns to rid Haven of the animals, Tao is now free to find more Thunderstone.

Noah and Becky return to North Col, but where is everyone? What is happening? Was Tao right? They find Dr. Pretorius who confirms Noah's fears, rats have been sighted in North Col. Producing the vials of vaccine given to him by Tao, Noah tells Dr. Pretorius everything. Until the vaccine can be tested Dr. Pretorius advises them they must hide, there's nothing he could do if the Triumvirate found them.

In Haven, Tao has the breakthrough he needs, a lead to a strong concentration of Thunderstone in the mountains. But the Sandtriber presence there must be eliminated. Marshalling his Protector forces, they move out in convoy. Nothing can stop him now!