text: Prologue: The year 2756, mankind had far exceeded the upper limits of what we ever thought possible. Plague, disease, hunger, mental and physical medical conditions all gone. With the touch of a single button, anything was possible...but at what cost? When had we given it up? When had man forsaken his soul... Chapter 1: It was late, very late, Mark sat at his table poring over his notes from the last two months. The papers were dimly illuminated by his grandfathers lamp nestled precariously in the corner of his small apartment. Mark's eyes were heavy as he looked at the ancient symbols and texts, trying to pull meaning out of the strange lines. He knew he was close to a breakthrough, but his eyes continued to fall shut, slowly pulling him deeper into sleep. Finally his head fell to the table and Mark drifted deep into the land of dreams...upon waking everything changed. Chapter 2: Mark awoke suddenly to the shouts of men and the clatter of hooves. Jostled he sat up suddenly, noticing that nothing around him was familiar. There was a desk here but not his desk. It was old and roughly hewn. Mark stared and ran his fingers over the grainy texture before remarking "...is that thing made of WOOD?! REAL FREAKING WOOD??" "It must have cost a fortune" he quipped. Then noticing for the first time, the candle with a live flame next to the stack of papers. Now more awake, the dawning realization coming upon him, he jumped out of the chair in fright. Knocking the table as he did, the candle fell, hot wax running began running down the length of the table as the flame licked at the edges of the paper. They quickly lit and took to the flame. The paper was thick and fibrous burning fast and hot. Mark shouted "FIRE FIRE!!". The automatic fire suppression system built into every home did not engage as he knew it should. "I don't know what to do!!" he panicked. Nobody had ever prepared him for this!! Where were the automatic systems? How do you put out a fire without them?? Suddenly Mark was pulled from his reverie as he inhaled a lung full of thick black smoke. "Ack eugh eugh" he choked on the acrid smoke, he quickly began backing away. Running backwards he spun, suddenly tripping, sprawling out he smashed into a hard wooden bookcase. Everything faded, his head spun, his pulse pounded in his ears, his arms and legs felt weak. All he could see was the thick black smoke filling the room around him. He slipped into unconsciousness knowing this was the end. Chapter 3: Mark awoke, thinking to himself as he layed there..."that was most crazy realistic nightmare." And then he noticed what felt like stone beneath his face and hands...was that cobble stone? He was laying in a street, it was wet and seeping into his clothes, something stunk most foul, and he was sore all over. Groggily, he sat up, looking around blinking, he noticed the throng of people and behind them the charred hull of the building he had been in. They all stared and pointed, expressions of amazement, shock, and horror written across their faces. Not only that, but what were they wearing...he recognized it from his studies, were those clothes from the 14th century?? He pointed to the man closest to him, still struggling to see straight. "Hey man, can you help me out here?" he moaned. They all gasped, taking a step back, except for one man. He stepped forward shouting and pointing he yelled "DEMON!!" It was then that Mark remembered in terror that last Christmas his mom had bought him the latest version of the cellular modification system. It enabled his body to automatically regenerate in the event of an accident. Not only that, but it had built in life saving technology that would pull him out of any hazardous situation. In that moment Mark realized, that these ancient people had just witnessed mechanical spider like arms sprout from his back and carry him into the street. From where he sat now they were also watching as his body healed every wound, every burn, bump, scratch, or bruise was now rippling and pulsing as his body remade itself into his perfect form... Chapter 4: The mob quickly descended on him, they were out to rid themselves of this horror, this beast in their midst. With daunting fear and adrenaline, Mark rose and ran. With his mechanically enhanced legs and synthetic lungs he made a quick escape. Running far into the countryside, he found an abandoned barn. Entering, he noticed a strange smell, he looked around and saw hay and horse stalls. "Strange...I never thought I would see such marvels in my lifetime" he mused to himself. His body exhausted, from the process of healing and having to run so long and hard. He laid down into a pile of hay and quickly fell to sleep. In his dream, he saw these people and how they looked at him again, such anger and terror. Then in a flash the scene changed and he stood atop a small hill. People below him listening reverently as he spoke, in one hand he held fire and in the other a strange mist rose from his hand. Upon waking he knew what he had to do in order to survive. He had to become a God, a messiah, a savior.