I then fell onto a hard metallic floor. I pushed myself up, and was horrified to find a good quarter of my body covered in metal, and then I still had my metal arm. Specifically, my shoulders, my chest, and my hip bone.

I felt strange, as if I was awakening from a dream, except the dream was real. All of that stuff I wrote back there, it was all a dream. But it did happen. I know it.

I wasn't sure then, but I wanted to at least see sunlight one more time, but of course, I was resisted. Soldiers…gunfire…my blade. They were all involved in the laboratory massacre.

After I had dispatched them, I headed to the surface. There I was greeted by darkness. There was no sunlight, even past the plate. I was confused by the strangely horrific sight.

Soon the police showed up. They asked me questions, somehow not knowing who I was. They put a blanket around my shoulders to cover myself up with. I didn't answer them, I didn't know how, and they "escorted" me to their station. I would say more they ordered me to go there.

Then they asked more questions. I was so confused about everything back then. I couldn't think about anything, except a vague recollection of pain as the metal was plastered and welded into my skin.

I was scared, alone, and defenseless, mentally at least.

When they told me they were done, they let go, and then I wandered around, looking for something familiar. I found nothing. Soon enough, people starting going inside one by one, signaling night time.

But I wanted to keep searching. I didn't want to stop. I wanted to find a friend, or anyone to keep me company. Company…why does the word sound so familiar and evil in my head?

And back then, I wasn't even sure what the word meant, I only knew it when I saw it. But I didn't see it, at least not for me, not for the homeless girl with no memory.

Soon, I started getting tired. I went to a nearby tree, the only one in sight. I didn't realize this. The only thought I had was how grateful I was that it was big enough to support me on its branches, despite my metal exterior.

When I woke up, I found a snake staring me in the face. I was terrified. I didn't want to hurt it, because it was just looking for food. But I probably deserved to die, if they did this to me in that lab.

"Do not feeeaaar, little one." It said, though I heard it more in my head than my ears. "No haaarrrm with come to you."

"Do you know me?" I thought.

"Ssssorry, I feeeaaar I do not. But ssstay ssstrong and you will find what you are ssssearching for."

"Is it okay if I pet you?"

It nodded, and I pet it gently. It almost sounded like it was purring.

"Ah! A snake! Get it away!"

I looked down, and saw a little boy ready to throw a stone. The snake recoiled, and started to lower its body to the boy, though I raised it back up.

"Pleasssse let my body go. A sssssnake musssst eat ssssomehow." I shook my head and wiggled my finger back and forth to say no. Then the snake looked straight into my eyes. "If you want company, you know where to find me."

Then it slithered into the tree. I hopped down to greet the boy. He was now perplexed with my body. "Wow…you look really weird, and cool."

I smiled. "Jack! Get away from that…that thing this instant!" his parents said as my smile faded.

"But-"

"Now!"

The boy sighed. "I'm sorry about my parents, but I have to listen to them. I'll see you around, okay?" I nodded before the boy turned tail and ran back to his house, and slammed the door.

I could tell…he was terrified of me.

I continued walking. Now I started to think of how pitiful it was to be a girl looking like this, and having no recollection of how I got this way, or if I'm real, and not just some machine made to look like a girl.

But…I had to be real, because I was happy when I was talking to the snake. It was the only one so far that was nice to me and I was comforted by it. My feelings couldn't be fake too, could they, like my half metal body?

I didn't know, but I kept walking…out of the big metal city, and into the wild. I went somewhere, but I couldn't remember where. I didn't know if I had been to this place or not.

"Well I'll be!" I turned to the voice, and I saw an old man with yellow hair, and blue shirt, and white pants, and I think I got that right. "What are you doing here?"

I continued walking along, thinking that it wasn't me that they were talking to, until they put their hand on my shoulder. "Come on kid, if an old man can remember a friend, can't you?"

A friend. I don't remember any, but then again, I don't remember anything, except how to kill.

"You seriously don't remember me?" I shook my head. "Well, that's easily remedied. The name's Cid Highwind, pilot and engineer, at your service."

I didn't know if I could trust this "Cid", but I didn't really have a choice.