A location known to only those who inhabit it, deep underground within the confines of the very earth itself, a facility of technological wonders laid far from dormant. Under the ever vigilant eye of Professor Chang, the notorious mastermind of science that has plagued the world with his devious and maniacal inventions, his grand "masterpiece" being the late Brother Blood, was at work, but on something a little different. The vat of amber liquid before him in the center of the room heated and aerated to preserve the figure within. It floated there, still and silent, only moving in slight variations due to the bubbling nature of the liquid he was immersed in. A complete body, the figure was finally complete, after years of research, reconstruction, and most recently, the revival of what was once deceased. Professor Chang, a brilliant mind, had not created life, but resurrected it. Many said it couldn't be done, and was thought to be the imagination of a child or the plot to a clichéd book, but this was as real as it possibly could be. Numerous scientists and technicians beneath Chang hustled about, on the verge of a breakthrough, preparing for their…specimen's entrance back into the realm of the living.

"Keep him stable," Chang ordered, furiously stroking away at the computer terminal, "I've come this far, I cannot lose him now."

"There's a drop in his cerebral activity, Sir," one of his goons informed from another terminal.

"Hit him with rejuvenation shock via electrolysis from the tank, low voltage, no need to kill the life I have created. Adjust accordingly, and give him a dose of adrenalin while you're at it, get his heart rate up to safe conditions."

"Yes, Sir."

"They said it couldn't be done," Chang thought, looking on magnificently at his creation before him, "life that was once lost for good, now but a mere contemplation away from revival. I have indeed outdone myself this time. My work on Brother Blood is child's play compared to this undertaking."

"Professor," interrupted one of his assistants, "your presence is needed, your investors are on the line."

"Very well," he reluctantly agreed, moving from his station to another, picking of the conversation, but still within view of his "work".

"Professor," a shadowy figure, his voice masked, "how is your progress coming along on the…project?"

"Well, very well indeed," he replied, "I am on the eve of his revival, gentlemen, and as soon as this is successfully tested, I will gladly sell the concept and information needed to perform this kind of procedure…for a nominal fee, of course."

"Our investment into this…crack-pot scheme of yours is enough, Chang, you will deliver what we request of you as soon as it is proven and deemed useable on a larger scale."

"World governments or not," Chang protested, "You will give me what I request of you if you want this technology for use in your militaries and whatnot. Don't haggle with me, gentlemen."

"Very well, Professor," the man growled, "update us on the situation when your…project is completed. We will then convene on the discussion of our…purchases."

"Thank you, gentlemen," Chang deviously smiled as the call ended, quickly giving way to his true feelings of the situation, "it's amusing thinking that they can strong-arm me in such a manner. I can tell them whatever I want, knowing that they will do anything for what I have in my possession. A wealthy life awaits me indeed."

Chang turned after ending the conversation, watching over his creation before him. Though technically lifeless, neural waves from his brain were being recorded, proving that he was alive indeed.

"Are we ready to begin, Professor?" His assistant questioned, checking his PDA for information.

Chang merely smiled.

"Yes," he chuckled, nearly elated at his accomplishment, "have the crew ready down there, watch his patterns, make sure there are no lethal spikes or drops, no need on losing him now after all this work."

"Yes, Sir," the assistant nodded, moving from terminal to terminal, assuring each operator knew of his job, part of the master procedure. "Everything is nominal, all green across the board, Sir."

With hands clasped behind his back, he approached behind the array of consoles, intently watching.

"Administer the muscle sedative in monitored doses," he ordered, getting an immediate reaction of subordination.

"Done, Sir."

"Nutrients?" Chang asked, assuring his subject was returned to a safe level of health for revival.

"Nominal, regulated doses as well."

Chang assured that everything was indeed in check and prepared for the final step of the process, hoping that nearly 5 years of work and seemingly countless dollars of investors and his own would produce the result he so desperately sought out, the revival of man.

"Today," Chang announced, nearly boasting, "we play God, proving once and for all that religion is indeed a myth, much like I have believed thus far as a man of science. There is no such thing as the unexplainable, and from now on, death is no different."

The crews down to receive the revived individual were finally in place, ready to make ready for any mishaps or unwanted results. One signaled with a thumbs-up.

"Drain the vat," he ordered, hearing a series of keystrokes on a computer in a furious manner before him in response. "Slowly, need to prevent symptoms of shock."

Sure enough, the amber, nearly glowing liquid began to slowly drain from the bottom, the level creeping lower and lower, accompanied by a klaxon alarm blaring, as if it was a problem. Everything was going as planned though.

"Vitals?" Chang assured, not wishing to tempt fate.

"Stable, continuing regulated doses," the biohazard suit-clad underling informed as he remained fixated on his terminal.

Yet, the world remained dark, cold, and unforgiving. He hadn't felt this since he departed this world and into the next. Like creeping tendrils of vines, warmth slowly began to return to him through his veins. Yet, part of him remained colder than any winter he had experienced. Though slow, it was indeed present, and welcomed at that. As if he had been asleep, a comatose at that, things finally began to have feeling once more. The world around him felt warm to the touch as well, but much like he was submerged in water, yet it felt too thick to the touch. It had a nearly sickening consistency of blood, a feeling he had grown to despise in his past life amongst the living. Strangely enough, thoughts, feelings, and emotions remained, but felt heightened in terms of senses, faster processing of those items in his subconscious, nearly at an inhuman level. Though still blind to the world around him, he asked himself many questions to what was happening to him. It was going to be awhile until those questions were answered.

Exiting one world and entering another, a nexus of sorts, things seemed to be affecting his psyche, as there seemed to be an overall emotion that buzzed in the back of his head...anger, close followed by revenge. If it had something to do with the parts of his body had feeling, the unnaturally frigid parts were somehow linked, and appeared to be manifesting to take over.