In the days following Altman's death, his dark labyrinthine facility was completely destroyed by the remaining Shadows. None of them had truly known Altman's intentions, and all were more than eager to make sure his misguided dream of mass murder did not live on.

The missile complex was the first to be destroyed, Ray and Matthew demolishing the launch control computers soon after Elias crumbled into nothingness. Adriana used a colossal pocket of accelerated time to destroy the five warheads and their evil cargo. In a matter of seconds, the huge weapons crumbled into heaps of rust, while the toxin carried within destroyed itself. Ray and Ford returned to the silo the next day, completely devastating the complex with a bomb large enough to vaporize any remaining poison.

Altman's laboratories were next. All paper records of the toxin harvested from Zeno's blood were burned; all of the computers were purged. Another bomb was set in this part of the complex, reducing the subterranean compound to nothingness. All entrances from the surface were sealed.

The occupants of the mansion were never informed of the situation beneath their feet. Only the Shadows knew what had happened, and everyone regarded the tremors from the subterranean explosions as mild earthquakes, nothing more.

Publicly, Elias Altman, Avery, and Johnny Johnson had been lost at sea, the result of a terrible storm hitting Altman's yacht while the three were on an outing off the coast of Mexico. A ceremony for them was held at the mansion with Jack delivering the eulogy.

In truth, Avery was still alive, or at least presumed to be. He had escaped the missile complex, apparently leaving his mentor to die of the wounds April had given him. But Altman was strong, and even as Paula transferred the toxin from her body to his and he began to waste away, he still attempted to start the missile launch sequence. He died only keystrokes away from killing countless billions.

In Altman's will, controlling interest in his business empire had been left to Paula. She quickly sold most of it, investing half of the profits in charities, while the other half went to the continued funding of the Altman Institute for a Better Tomorrow.

Jack returned April to her family. She barely objected as he left, knowing why he was doing it. He didn't want to get her into any more trouble. After all, in the time that they had known each other, they both were drawn into the lair of a madman, and April had almost gotten killed. She didn't blame Jack, but she knew that he blamed himself. They said their goodbyes and parted with a kiss.


Darkness was the only thing Jack saw as he slowly opened his eyes. He knew where he was just by the smells and sounds around him. He took a blind step forward, and a cool breeze swirled around him, enveloping him in the aroma of cedars and honeysuckle. The chirps of the birds' early morning calls soothed him. He slowly allowed his eyes to adjust until he could see his surroundings with utmost clarity, and he smiled. He began running, running to nowhere. His pace quickened, and as he darted between the trees, he began running on all fours. Almost immediately his body transformed into his animal form, into Primal. He was home.