After three years of back breaking work, murderous conditioning and deadly combat training, the time had come at last for Spirit Tiger to undergo the first stage of his rebirth.

The steel table Spirit Tiger was placed upon was cold, like the suits of armor displayed in the Hall of Legends. Spirit Tiger looked around the room and saw the many various needles, saws and other surgical instruments that were to be used on him. At first he was scared, but his faith in the Emperor calmed him down. He was glad when Chief Apothecary Makaz finally arrived, flanked by two junior Apothecaries.

"Ahh, Spirit Tiger, has it already been three years since you joined us? I remember when your father was inducted into our legion. A strong warrior, extremely intelligent. He shall be our Alpha Tiger before too long, I dare say."

Spirit Tiger had no idea what Makaz was talking about. He and his brother were both orphans, raised by the village after their mother had died during childbirth. Spirit Tiger was beginning to think Makaz was crazy.

Makaz smiled and the device on his wrist clicked and whirred, revealing a needle as long as the fang of a Lootera cub.

"Would you like something to dull the pain?"

Spirit Tiger shook his head and replied, "No. I will endure the pain of the transformation. I only need my faith."

"A wise answer, young Spirit Tiger. Varuun, prepare for implant phases one through three. Da'lon, cleanse the instruments. May the Emperor watch over us."

Ardo winced as the first incision was cut into the flesh over his ribs. He moaned as the flesh was peeled back from the bones, exposing his chest cavity.

"Now inserting secondary heart. Breathe deeply Spirit Tiger. Your primary heart has to regulate the other until you learn to control it."

Spirit Tiger calmed himself as he felt the cold steel gauntlet of Makaz's armor come into contact with his lungs. Something was pulsating in his hand, and Spirit Tiger knew it had to be the secondary heart.

"Varuun, connect the phase one implant and ready the Ossmodula."

Spirit Tiger screamed as Varuun attached the secondary heart, connecting it to the blood vessels and then cauterizing the open areas. Spirit Tiger thought he would pass out, but he knew he had to stay awake. He breathed deeply and went into a meditative trance as Makaz inserted the Ossmodula, and later the Biscopea. When Spirit Tiger came out of his trance, he was in a whitewashed room, lying in a warm bed. Makaz was standing in a corner, as still and lifeless as a stone sentinel. When he saw Spirit Tiger was awake, he approached the bed.

"Ahh, recruit, it is good to see you finally among the living once more. I've wanted to talk to you for the past five days, but you wouldn't wake up."

Spirit tiger tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his chest stopped him.

"Five days? Chief Apothecary, how is that possible?"

"You were in such a deep state of meditation, there was no way to wake you. So, we waited."

Spirit Tiger nodded and winced again, which brought a chuckle from someone he hadn't noticed yet. The man was clad in the Navy blue and orange armor of the Imperial Tigers, but strapped to his back was a massive hammer, with a Lootera's fang protruding from one end. The man stepped up to the side of Spirit Tiger's bed and grasped the recruit's hand.

"Son, it is time to know your past, so that you may move on to your future."