Yuito POV:

I could see nothing but darkness. I felt something heavy and surrounding me. It's as if I was sinking into an ocean. Soon I look and see someone in the distance. I can't quite make out their appearance, but I know that they're looking at me.

???: So, even though we seriously screwed things up, everything didn't come to an end.

What are you saying? Who are you?

Suddenly, everything started turning red and I felt immense pain.

Yuito: AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I let out a scream from the agony of it and I open my eyes for what I think is the first time. the pain stops for a bit and I pant, trying to catch my breath. I look up and see a dark, metallic humanoid with a menacing gaze.

Interrogator: Dammit! How?! There's not a single memory about Project Gestalt! AARRRGGHH!!! I guess I'll have to rip you open and see what makes you tick. Maybe it's hidden deep withing your genetic coding.

Yuito: What?

The interrogator lifts his hand and reveals a knife hidden in his wrist. He then gets closer and points it at my face.

Interrogator: I'm going to savor every moment of agony I inflict onto you.

Suddenly, something loud goes off in the background. Then the room begins to shake. the door then opens and reveals another metallic humanoid with some kind of wrench. He charges and swings it at the interrogator, knocking him down. The man then comes toward me and sets me free.

???: Yuito?! Yuito, are you okay?

Yuito: Yuito? Is that my name? Who are you?

???: What? Yuito, it's me, Romer. Romer Shoal.

Yuito: Romer?

Romer: God damn it. I'm too late, they took your memories. Look, you can trust me, I'm a friend. I'm getting you off of this Iron Cloud.

Yuito: Iron Cloud? What's that?

Romer: The damn thing that we're on. Just follow me.

Yuito: O-okay.

We leave the cell and see multiple areas exploding. There are several humanoids fighting against the ones in the black color scheme as the Interrogator. Soon we end up in areas with gunfire and dodge as much as we can before escaping. We then end up in an area with an opening and see that we're high up in the sky.

Yuito: Oh, crap. That's a big drop.

Romer: Yeah.

???: I wouldn't go that way. It's a long way down.

I look to see a large machine in a yellow color scheme.

Yuito: Who are you?

Doyle: The name's Doyle.

Soon a ship comes closer and opens it's door and reveals more humanoids inside it. Romer and Doyle jump before I follow them. I nearly slip, but Doyle grabbed my arm.

Doyle: I gotcha, kid.

Yuito: Thanks.

I feel something grab my shoulder and look to see a strange humanoid wearing a scarf and necklace speaking to me.

Woman: Yuito? What the fuck are you doing with us.

Yuito: Who are you?

Romer: Black Shuck ripped the memories out of him.

Woman: Fuck.

Then a humanoid with a jacket, horned helmet comes toward me to talk.

Coqui: Hello, I'm Coqui. And don't worry, kid. We're getting the hell out of that hellhole.

Another humanoid with a jacket and welding mask talks to me.

Rezek: It's already bad enough for us integrated.

The ship begins to descend, but a piece of debris hits us and we begin to fall. I hold onto whatever I can and brace for impact. The ship crash lands and we all end up surviving it. We all get up and start moving away from the wreckage.

We end up traveling across a land that is covered in night, but still filled with plants and wildlife. Meanwhile, I get introduced to two other escapees: Agnes and Rezek. The group explains to me that they are "Integrated", people who have had their brains transferred into mechanical bodies to help contribute to decreasing the need for resources long ago. However, a militant organization called the Rayonne then began to force every human they see to conform to the Integration process. Now these guys are considered "Outlaws" and are just trying to get by. After traveling for what feels like hours, we arrive at a cliff.

Coqui: So I gotta ask, how'd we pick up the celebrities?

Yuito: Celebrities?

Doyle: Busted out same time we did. Pilot seems useful. And so does an OSF member in case we run into the damn Others.

Yuito: OSF? Others?

Romer: I'll bring you up to speed later.

Agnes: they locked you both up in the same Iron Cloud as this riff-raff?

Romer: I'm no different. And Black Shuck has clearly gotten more insane cause he was demanding answers from Yuito. Stuff no different from conspiracies.

Coqui: I remember thinking you both where cool. You know, I integrated because of Roamer. then I decided to support New Himuka because of the kid. Kinda regret it now.

Yuito: New Himuka?

Romer: We all live with our choices.

Doyle: You gonna stand around reminiscing, or are we gonna find that weapons cache you promised?

Coqui: Relax, big man. You're looking at it.

Coqui points to a valley below us and reveals a large ship that is in the ground. We begin walking and heading for it. I have so many questions, but now doesn't seem like the time to be asking them. Especially since we need a place to hide out for a little while.

Doyle: It's not a "secret hideout" if you can see it from space.

Coqui: Hidden in plain sight, baby. Rayonne don't see what they already shot down. The Savage Jackals operated out of here for years, before their luck ran out. Word is they left quite an arsenal. Their loss, or gain.

Man: You're losses may come sooner than you think. Not one step further!

Yuito: I'm sorry, are we trespassing? Cause we can go somewhere else.

Coqui: Um, we're without weapons or supplies. We need this.

Doyle: Hey! We're friendly toward Naturals, even ugly ones. But you... you need to move aside.

Man: I'll do no such thing. And if you can't find the civility to use an honorific, you can at least use my name. Waggoner!

Agnes: Hah. Somebody might want to tell him how mismatched he is.

Waggoner: Let's see what we've got... One human Psionic user. Five integrated Outlaws. Four standard Armatures. One Striker Class, right here. Recently escaped the Iron Cloud and now intending to raid my claim. Bu you'll do no such thing.

Doyle: Love your tricks, old timer, but you gotta move. For your own good.

Doyle tries to bluff and aim his arm cannon at Waggoner, but he seems to notice that it's empty.

Waggoner: Now that's as dangerous as these pesky gnats. I've been in the field long enough to know an unarmed cannon. Put it away, and we'll talk.

Romer: Waggoner, Sir. have you got weapons and shelter in there? Maybe you could give us a chance to rest and regroup at least.

Waggoner: Ah, much better. A reasonable Outlaw. we may have more interest to you than guns.

Romer: Gravcycles? A working Gravcycle?

Waggoner: So, you're a pilot. What's your name, son?

Romer: Romer.

Waggoner: Well, Romer, perhaps we can arrange for you and your team to earn your share. I'm putting together a crew. My latest crew, I should say.

Coqui: Well... we're together, but we ain't exactly together-

Yuito: We have a better chance of surviving if we just do so.

Romer: We're your crew, Waggoner.

Waggoner: I thought you might be. Follow me.

We begin walking and follow Waggoner.

Waggoner: By the way, what's your name, boy?

Yuito: Oh, me? Uh, Yuito.

Waggoner: Well, Yuito. I also have some equipment that may suit your abilites.

Yuito What abilities? I don't have any-

I swing my arm and suddenly a boulder ends up flying in the distance. I look in shock and silence at what I did.

Waggoner: Those abilities.

I keep walking with Romer and the others as we head for the downed ship. After more walking, we arrived at it and we entered through the hangar.

Yuito: What time is it?

Waggoner: 7 AM. Although it's nearly impossible to tell since the sun hasn't came up on this part of Earth for the lasts thousands of years.

Yuito: Holy.

Doyle: Yeah, no matter how many years I lived it, it's still a pain in the ass.

Waggoner: Yuito, seeing as you're the only other Natural here and you seem like you need to power down, you can take the room on the deck above. No one else is using it at the moment.

Yuito: Thanks. But is that okay?

Agnes: Don't worry, Yuito. Just get some rest. That strength of that Psionic of yours depends on the state of your mental health.

Rezek: Yeah. During my time in New Himuka, I learned that it's important to take care yourself and your overall health. Otherwise, it can lead to unpredictable and potentially hazardous results.

Yuito: Okay. Wake me up if something happens.

Romer: Hey don't worry. Just rest up and we'll see about helping you get your memories back.

I nod and go to the room Waggoner told me about. It had a bunch of boxes and it was dusty as hell. Tired as I was, it bothered me. Luckily there was a duster nearby, so I used that to thoroughly clean the dust off of what I can. It took some time but I eventually got the room to be cleaner, and there was even a mirror in here. I take off the jacket I had and saw a photo fall out. It was one of what appeared to be a child version of me. I was with 7 people. A man with grey hair, a woman with short pink-ish hair, three people with white hair and black clothing, and two girls with red hair.

Yuito: Are they... my family?

I slide the photo in the corner of the mirror's frame. I then lie down on the bed and don't bother with putting a blanket or cover on. I feel exhausted after everything. Black Shuck's torture and me walking nonstop for like 5 hours. Right now, I'm glad I could get some rest. I close my eyes and fall asleep.