The room was dim, its only source of light being a small globe which
hung from the ceiling.  The walls all about were off-white and bore no
windows.  A large steel door was the only exit from the room, and it was
locked from the outside.  Strange and bizarre machinery lined the walls of
the chamber, lights blinking, fluids flowing, and beeps beeping.  In the
center of the room, a large table bore a sleeping man.
        A loud click, and the door opened.  In walked two men.  Looking at
the sleeping form, they grinned to one another.
        "You do fine work, Doctor," the robed man said, "I'm sure our
patient will be pleased with the results."
        The doctor nodded.  "I'm sure he'll understand that it was the only
way... I hope he won't be too disappointed."
        The man stirred.
        "We had best leave him to heal, then."  The robed figure turned to
the door and left.  Pausing, he spoke over his shoulder, "See that he isn't
disturbed."
        "Of course."  The doctor began to examine the machinery as the
robed man continued through the exit and closed the door behind him.
Smiling, he marched down the hall and faded into nothingness.

        "Cranial activity has increased, Doctor.  He appears to be coming
around."  A nurse examined the machinery.
        "Excellent.  Go and fetch the family that brought him here.  I'll
continue to monitor him."  The doctor changed from his medical robes into
something more casual.
        "Right."  The nurse unlocked the door and left.
        "Urmmm..." the form uttered.  Rolling over on its side, it nearly
fell off the table.  It rolled back onto its back, then slowly opened
its eyes.
        "Welcome back," the doctor said.
        "W...Who are you?"
        "My name is Doctor Adam Tingley.  You are currently in the
hospital here in Thamasa."
        "T...Thamasa?"  The man looked confused.
        "Sir, it pains me to inform you that you have been in a coma for
two weeks.  You suffered critical injuries from a three-storey fall from
your inn room."
        "Where is Timon?"
        The doctor raised an eyebrow at the mention of Timon's name.
"Please, just relax.  I will explain everything, but there is someone I wish
you to meet first."  Dr. Tingley heard a soft chime as the door opened
beside him.  Three people walked into the room.
        "Sir, this is the family who found your unconscious form and brought
it here.  This is Roger Oaktree, his wife Margaret, and their son... Timon."
        The form suddenly sprang upright and onto the floor.  He looked upon
the little boy with amazement.
        "Timon!  It IS you!  Did you figure out the Secret of Mana?"
        Timon looked up at the man with a certain awe, unable to speak.
        Roger stepped forth.  "You know my son?"
        The man nodded.  "Of course!  I helped him defeat the PyroMantis at
Gaia's Navel!  He's destined to be a hero!"
        Margaret gasped softly, beaming.  "Our little Timon?"
        Dr. Tingley said, "Sir, you are still suffering ill effects from the
operation.  Please lie back down and calm yourself."
        "Don't have time, don't have time!  C'mon, kid, we got a job to
do!"  Grabbing Timon, the man bolted for the door.  The nurse there tried to
stop him.
        "Please, sir, you must rest!"
        "Outta my way, miss... there's HERO work to be done!"  Picking up
the nurse by her waist, the man gingerly moved her out of his path and set
her dwon beside him.  Dragging Timon in tow, the man tried to open the
door.  It was locked.
        "What's this, then?"  the man turned back to the doctor.  "Open this
up, please... it's urgent."
        "I cannot do that, sir, until you are fully healed."  The doctor was
slowly edging his way to the machinery that lined the wall.
        "Well, then, if THAT's the way you're going to be about it..."  Edge
began feeling about the sides of the door, searching.  Several seconds
later, he grinned.  "Aha!  Is that all it is?"  Edge cocked his fist, ready
to strike.
        "Sir, I insist that you lie down."  The doctor continued, angrily
but patiently.  "Do not make me use force."
        "What are you going to do with Timon?"  Roger asked, more curious
than angry.  "You'd better not hurt him..."
        "Wouldn't dream of it, Roger!  I'm going to teach him how to be a
HERO!  That's all..."  Edge shouted a loud kiai and drove his fist into the
side of the door.  A loud crack and a spark, and the door opened.  The man
stared at his fist in disbelief.
        "W... WHAT?!"  Looking at his hand, he realized that it was a dark
metallic colour.  Small wires protruded from its side.  Edge put both his
hands in front of his face, and found that his left hand matched his right.
As he examined his body, the doctor spoke.
        "Sir, I'm afraid there was little we could do to save your life.
Fortunately, a scientist from the Empire was working on an experimental
biological project that involved the use of Magitek.  Desperate, we allowed
him to perform his experiment on you.  It was the only recourse."  Dr.
Tingley lowered his head.
        Edge staggered back, shocked at what he had become.  "Get me a
mirror..." he said, angrily.
        "I do not believe that would be wise..."
        "DO IT!"  Edge growled, clenching his metallic fists.
        Dr. Tingley turned to Roger.  "I think it would be best if you left,
sir..."
        Roger nodded.  "Come on, Margaret, Timon... Doctor, if he calms
down, please tell him where we live.  We would like to speak with him."
Roger took his wife in his arms and took Timon by the hand.  Slowly, he
walked past Edge and slid out the door.  "Get well soon, sir," he added
as he left.
        The nurse ran out after the family, then returned shortly with a
full-length mirror.  She held it in front of Edge, trembling.
        Edge's body was mostly covered with a black metal; his chest,
most of his legs, most of his arms and half of his face had been replaced
by the substance.  Over his right eye, a glistening crimson lens shone.  The
man appeared to have no body hair save for his eyebrows.  The parts of his
body that were flesh were severly blackened and scarred, as though they had
been burned by fire.
        "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Edge yelled, shaking with rage.  "I AM A
MONSTER!"
        The doctor dived for the machinery as Edge weaved his fingers and
chanted, "BLITZ!"
        Small streaks of gold suddenly appeared all over Edge's metallic
body, glowing softly.  Sparks of light covered his hands and gathered
there.  Almost instantly, the room was filled with crackling bolts of
electricity, striking the machinery, rendering it useless.  Dr. Tingley and
the nurse could be heard screaming as the lightning slammed into their
bodies, throwing them to the floor.  They lay still as the man looked about
the room, a wild look in his eyes.
        "HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME!"  Edge shouted as he scrambled
through the door and down the hall.  Two men wearing lab coats walked toward
the crazed Magitek warrior, chatting to themselves.  They turned to face
Edge, who charged them, yelling, "YOU!  YOU DID THIS TO ME!"
        The men could only gasp in horror, eyes wide, as Edge leapt in
the air and delivered a powerful drop kick to one of the scientists,
crushing his jaw.  As he landed, he spun upon the other scientist.  "YOU
WILL ALL PAY!"  Thrusing his hands forward, the crazed man chopped the
scientist on either side of his neck, then delivered an elbow smash to his
face, and finished with a spinning back fist across the jaw.  Both men
dropped to the ground, unconscious.  The whole incident passed in two breaths.
        "GRRR-AHHH!"  the crazed Edge shouted as he bolted up a flight of
stairs to the main floor of the building.
        A loud voice could be heard throughout the building.  "Emergency!
Emergency!  Patient X has escaped!  Repeat, Patient X has escaped!  Secure
all exits and avoid contact at all costs!"
        The crazed Edge tore down the main hall of the building.  People all
about scattered, not wishing to stand in his way.  As he bore down on the
exit, a large steel door was sliding to block it.  Standing in front of the
exit was twelved armed Thamasian soldiers.
        Edge grinned evilly.  "It will take more than a dozen of you to stop
me!"  He poured on the speed, running full tilt towards the armed guards.
The guards braced their polearms, awaiting the charge.
        Edge leapt suddenly, tucking into a ball and flying over the
heads of the surprised guards.  Landing behind them, he weaved his fingers
and chanted, "FLOOD!"
        Edge's torso began to glow with small streaks of blue.  Waves of
water sprung from the pipes that ran between floors of the building,
throwing the guards further down the hall, away from Edge.  The large
steel door slammed shut with a loud clang, blocking the exit.
        The crazed Edge stared at the steel door, amused.  Clasping his hands
together, he touched his index fingers together and closed his eyes.
The guards lay scattered all about the main floor, dazed and confused and
very wet.  Several more guards tore around the corner at the other end of
the hall.  "Stop," one of them called, "or we'll shoot!"  They aimed their
crossbows at Edge.
        Edge grinned, and casually stepped through the steel door.