They'd come so close to being wiped entirely out of existence when Gerald informed them that he was going to be removing them all from the sim, but Jarrod's foresight, suffering, and self-sacrifice saved them from that fate when he used the sim to kill Gerald by overloading his neural interface.
Coming that close to death gives you a whole new perspective on life, so after a celebratory party that left everyone but Jarrod with a nasty hangover, they began to experience their lives with a new appreciation and vigor. This took many forms, depending on the person. Some launched themselves into a whole new slew of practical jokes, some took a well-deserved vacation, and yet others focused on new projects that would give their lives added meaning. As for Jarrod, not only does he find some very special ways to make the people he loves happy, but he and Derek start a project of their own, creating a porch swing for his house on Genesis. It may seem like a small thing, but to them, their little project was more special than anyone could imagine.
Aftermath is a slice of life look at the people you've grown to love throughout the series, and now that they no longer have to worry about their own survival, who knows what adventures await them in the future? Only time will tell, and thanks to Jarrod, their time has become limitless.
Aftermath is the 22nd book in the Unseen Things series.
