Blackness was all around. There was a distant feeling of floating. Drifting among the cosmos almost. It was soft and soothing. There was no rush, no pain, no pleasure - just existance. Something could be felt moving.

Then a beat. It wasn't something beating against, or around.

But inside. Listening carefully, trying to find what it was.

It was strange and familiar all at once.

What seemed like ages finally was answered with another beat. Then a new sensation ravaged through. It was electrical in its nature, and suddenly the beat became faster, harder. Another shock, and the beating became a rhythm . There was still no feeling, no pain in this beyond the simple floating. A pinch was felt, then another. Something cold was pushed through the pinch.

The beating inside became faster and faster. Feeling began to restore, and something was locked around his mouth, as his chest began to heave up and down. Air was being taken in, but something was down his throat. Something cold circulated around him, and then he could feel a pull down ward. At the same time, the pinches were pulled away from him, and the contraption around his face and down his throat began to pull away, forcing his head upwards.

There was a loud hiss, the breaking of a seal, then a splash. Light invaded his vision as he was thrown forward, landing on all fours in a puddle of transparent gel that had held his body in place. He coughed violently, clearing his mouth and lungs from the gel. He shook his head, opening his dark auburn eyes and looking up. He stood up, taking a deeper breath. The metalic floor felt warm against his chilled flesh.

He closed his eyes once more, then opened them taking his final deep breath.

"I live." were the words that hissed out of his mouth before he squared his shoulders.

It was some time to clean off all of the gel. What made it worse that every time he lifted his hands to wash his face, he saw the smaller form. He closed his eyes fiercly, washing his face once more. The gel finally free from his body after an hour of washing.

Before he had gotten into the water, he ordered one of his girls to tailor a uniform to his new build. As he sat in a chair before a mirror, another girl approached, her eyes down cast as she picked up shears and began to trim back his hair, cutting and styling it into the appropriate form. Though, the dark auburn eyes burned even through the reflection of the mirror.

The resized uniform was complete by the time he was ready for it. Another girl was given orders to fire up the shuttle, and make ready the flight to the planet. The silver underwear was pulled on, the youthful appearance still there. Every time he saw it, it caused the rage to build even hotter. He pulled on his slacks and tunic, then pulled on his boots.

His utility belt and weapons should be with his corpse, either at the morgue or at the tower, depending on who picked it up. As the shuttle was prepareing launch, he walked into a small room. On one table was scattered various tools and utillties. He pulled a box from a shelf and opened it. The dark metal bands reflected the light back at him. He pulled out the first one and rolled up his sleeve to expose his naked wirst and forearm. He opened the band and tested it against his wrist, growling that it no longer fit.

He slammed it down on the table and grabbed up a tool to adjust several items, causing it to shrink down somewhat. After the adjustments and a few more test fittings, the final adjustment was made and the second band pulled from the box and the same work began again. When both were sized correctly, the bands were slammed down harshly against his flesh, biting into the muscle, causing a small out pour of blood.

The sleeves were tucked back down over the metalic bands as he folded his arms behind him. He walked out of the stock room and headed for the flight bay. The shuttle repulsors were test firing, and the engines were in pre-flight status. He gave his final orders to the base girl, and then boarded the shuttle. The door closed behind him.

The bay doors opened, and the shuttle launched into space.

Its destination: Rhy'Din.