Cinder’s biochemistry is a product of an intricate DNA synthesis procedure, derived from the remains of an individual buried in the catacombs of Paris. Her DNA is fused with the DNA of skeletal remains, so this synthesis causes her to take on memories of the deceased. (There is actual science behind this concept surprisingly, although it’s not something that appears to be ethical, or even in development or in practice. But I did find scientific journals that discussed it hypothetically.) This causes her to think human thoughts, so she wishes to be human. She meets a hacker who offers to reprogram her artificial intelligence driven anatomy. But there’s a price… there’s always a price.