After the mysterious disappearance of archaeologist Jack Armstrong, fellow adventurer and scientist Benton Quest from Cape Canaveral is hired by Army intelligence agents Corvin and Roberts to find him. Traveling the world in a cargo plane in search of his friend, Benton brings his son Jonny and his intelligence-appointed bodyguard Race Bannon, meeting an array of colorful characters on the way.
The Quests' first major stop is in Bangladesh, the last place Armstrong is known to have visited. In a small village in Bangladesh, they are pick-pocketed by a young Sikh orphan named Hadji Singh. Instead of punishing the boy, Benton allows him to join the quest, thinking that he and Jonny could get along. When the four adventurers return to their plane, however, they discover in engulfed in flame. Forced to board a train, they head to a desolate Indian village nearby. On the train, they are attacked by Indian assassins carrying Khanda swords and dressed in black robes. The assassins are quickly disposed of by Race, a highly-skilled fighter. One of the assassins has a tattoo on his shoulder with two crossing scimitars.
Getting off the train at the village, they enter a Mandir temple nearby.
