Snake-like metal cables whirred as they uncoiled from somewhere in the creature's chest. Its metallic feet rose from the ground as it the cables dug into the ground below it. It took an asymmetric stride towards me and covered a third of the distance across the wide plain I had seen it from. I was aware of all this, but all I could see was the bright red light of its eyes piercing into the center of my forehead, feeling around for something. Searing pain shot through my spine and out to my limbs for minutes or hours or days in malicious bursts. The now-familiar void of unconsciousness enveloped me.

Ulden awoke with the dim light of dawn in the strange world. For a moment his heart leapt as he saw the horrific creature looming above him. He realized that the creature was frozen in place; or at least it seemed that way at first. Upon closer inspection sparks of electricity jolted across the exposed metal wiring under its chest plate at frequent intervals. There was a faint whirring coming from the thing, and it was posed in an advancing position. With fascination his hand wandered towards the nearest reaching cable-leg.

"I wouldn't touch that. Well, I would, but you shouldn't."

Startled as he was, the voice behind him was so calm that it pacified him before he had turned around. A few yards behind him was a man made of what looked like pure silver. He had huge shoulderpads that bent up to partially cover the sides of his head, and his chest seemed to be made of platemail. Ulden knew of artifice, but there was no artifact built so... perfectly. He quickly concluded what stood before him was a man in a suit powered by magic.

"How do you produce a voice with metal? That's the only part I can't figure out."

The being smiled a sad smile. "Interested in artifice? Or perhaps just an inquisitive mind. In either case wouldn't you sooner know where you are or anything else about your situation? I've invested a significant amount of time making sure I'd know when you woke up."

Ulden rubbed his eyes for a second. "Yes, of course, please explain. I'm sorry I'm having trouble staying... here. In time. I'm myself but I'm not quite in my body. Don't be afraid to tell me I sound mad, I'm used to it... I think..."

The metal man looked upon Ulden with disarmingly apparent empathy. His face was only partially articulated, yet his eyes were full of wistfulness and suffering.

"First of all, I am called Karn."

"Ulden," He replied. He wasn't sure what else to say.

"There is much to explain to you. The best place to start would be to deal with the nature of the multiverse. The planet on which you grew up exists on one material plane among countless others."

"And we're on a different one."

"Intuitive," Karn remarked. "You and are among a precious few beings in the multiverse that can travel between the planes. I have the same capabilities."

The notion hadn't exactly sunk in when Karn asked his next question.

"Do you remember the liberation of Sea Gate?"

Ulden thought for a moment. "I don't, no. But I know I was there."

"That confirms a theory I had. Ulamog and Kozilek were defeated nearly 20 Zendikar-years ago. From what I gather you've been unconscious for most of that time. I found you several months ago." The metal man reached out and with surprising grace and gentleness plucked a single hair from Ulden's head. The strand shone silver like Karn himself. "You've aged a few years, but not 20. There's something special about your spark; the thing thing that enables you to walk between the planes. I have something to ask of you for that reason."

Ulden had no response.

"I ask that you travel with me to the edge of time, to the plane of Equilor, where I hope to find aid against an indescribable enemy," he said. He motioned to the metal creature nearly frozen in time behind Ulden. "I'm not one to explain things away with luck, but while I was monitoring outposts of the enemy I happened upon you and was able to intervene. I left that beast here to make a point. It is one cog of a massive and nigh-unstoppable machine that threatens all life in the multiverse."

It meant nothing to him, but the next word made him shiver.

"Phyrexia."