City That Never Opens Its Gates

In this archaeological thriller set in Uzbekistan's desert, satellite archaeologist Elias Brandt discovers a mysterious walled city that appears and disappears in satellite imagery. Seeking redemption from a past expedition disaster, Elias enlists his former guide Niloofar, who recalls legends of the "e;Closed Ones"e; - a people whose cities exist between moments. When they investigate the phenomenon, they discover the city exists across multiple time periods simultaneously, maintained by an ancient astronomical mirror buried beneath it. This "e;Chronos Mirror"e; stabilizes a natural temporal fracture, creating a bubble where different time periods coexist in a city called Zaman-Shahr. After initially breaking the mirror in an attempt to prevent its weaponization by military contractor Madsen, Elias and Niloofar learn they've only made things worse. They're transported into the city by Nasser, the mirror's keeper, who reveals they must learn the mirror's secrets to build an improved version in their time.