Leah, who once assisted Omnira Anderson, now works for United People’s Alliance, the authoritarian government which has taken power in Canada. The nation’s capital has moved from Ottawa to Waterloo Ontario, now a walled city. In 2038, shortly after Grace’s arrest, Oliver must secretly enter the walled city so that he can negotiate with Leah on behalf of the Black Rose Network. He offers the end of blockades and bombings in return for the release of prisoners, including Grace and Seth. As they talk, Leah tells him the real story behind the coup that toppled the Anderson government.

Grace and Oliver, using false identities, become farmworkers at the McCann Estates Winery in Prince Edward County. During the eight years they live in hiding, they are involved in a migrant workers strike, become lovers, and have a child together. Meanwhile, as predicted, climate crisis decimates much of the world. Millions die in countries near the equator. The US collapses into warring factions. The underground resistance group Black Rose Network, which Oliver and Grace are part of, discovers a government informer in its midst. Soon after, Grace is arrested.

In 2023 Oliver takes the bus to Toronto to visit his friends. He finds out Grace and Seth are student activists with many tales of blockades and hunger strikes. Grace convinces Oliver to start a climate activist group in Kingston called Rapid Response. Over the years that follow, a remarkable, climate-sincere government wins power in Ottawa under Prime Minister Omnira Anderson. Anderson’s personal assistant is Maker and Shaker Leah Zhang, Oliver’s high school love. Politics in Canada start looking better until severe political backlash and a series of scandals topples the Anderson regime. The result is an abrupt switch to a police state under the United People’s Alliance. Seth is arrested and Grace suddenly has to go into hiding. She asks Oliver to join her.