Earth is a toxic, abandoned world and humanity has spread into the outer solar system to survive. Time travel holds the key to maintaining a fragile existence among the other planets and their moons. James Griffin-Mars is a chronman-- a convicted criminal recruited for his unique psychological makeup to undertake the most dangerous job there is: missions into Earth's past to recover resources and treasure without altering the timeline. On the mission that is meant to secure his retirement James meets scientist Elise Kim, who is fated to die during the destruction of an oceanic rig. Against his training, James brings her back to the future with him-- turning them both into fugitives.