THE HIMALAYAS, 5000 BC: Commissioner Daiho is dead, but there’s no question of foul play. The murder of a Home Timer is about as likely as unauthorized interference with the work of a Correspondent. . . . Isfahan, Arabia, 1029: Abu Ali was startled. He hadn’t heard the stranger enter. The Correspondent was even more alarmed—his enhanced senses would have picked up the arrival of any normal human. Then the stranger spoke, and it was the language of the Home Time. Seconds later, Correspondent RC/1029’s world went dark. The Home Time, 2000 Years Later: Field Operative Rico Garron is about to have a very bad day.