A subtle shadow, the Time Probe had returned when no one was looking.
  Still wearing their gaudy but historically authentic infiltration costumes, the team members were escorted to the debriefing chamber.

  One month later, the project leader read his preliminary report to the waiting media, over the objections of the world's religious leaders.

  "At last we know the truth about the historical individual known as Jesus Christ. Following approved approach protocols, we entered and explored 731 timelines identical to ours up to that point, attempting to avoid changes to the divergent flow. We ultimately found three men matching the general description of the Subject, all active in Judea between A.D. 15 and 45. The best candidate had no permanent apostles but many infighting disciples. Heavy turnover at the periphery spread his group's message. He was a legendary storyteller."
  The screen showed an unfamiliar face, dark eyes staring back suspiciously.
  "Jesus of Madaba was not crucified, but strangled by a deranged follower, and secretly buried in a shallow desert grave. Legends immediately sprang up about his resurrection. His followers kept the movement going, improvising all the major parables within ten years of his death. Spun out of whole cloth, only about a quarter of the tales ended up in the New Testament or the apocryphal gospels. Paul of Tarsus belonged to a fringe group which revitalized the early church after it had splintered."
  In the explosive silence, the project leader looked almost apologetic. At least it was less controversial than the truth about Muhammad.
  "And that's all there is to it."

  The questions would keep coming for three years.