13 Chapter 13

"Ohh Devola, our creator, he lives!" Popola exclaimed in excitement. Since the news about Azriel's reappearance, both the sisters were over the moon.

".....Yeah" replied Devola with little energy.

"What's wrong? Aren't you happy that we could finally meet Sir Azriel again sister?" Popola asked, confused as to why she seemed to be down in the dumps.

"I am happy, my dear Popola.....but.....will he be happy to see us?" asked Devola as she continued carrying cargo to the transport that would bring the necessary supplies for Azriel. Cargo containing vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots, and freshly hunted meat from boars and moose. There were also barrels containing purified seawater.

Popola likewise developed a gloomy expression after hearing Devola's remarks.

"You are right sister....I doubt he would be happy to see us after what we have done in the past. We have yet to atone for our sins," replied Popola.

Devola and Popola model androids were tasked with protecting and supervising Project Gestalt. They had done their best to make sure the Project was a success for over 1300 years but due to interference of a replicant named Nier, they were killed and the project failed, dooming humanity.

All replicant data was transfered to the moon base for storage and safekeeping. Hoping to one day bring back humans. When the rest of the androids found out about the failure and the subsequent extinction of humanity, they were incensed. They ceased all production of the Devola and Popola models, keeping only one pair.

This pair was allowed to go free to serve as a reminder to the rest of the androids why Project Gestalt failed in the first place. Their memories of Project Gestalt and everything in between including information about humans and over 1300 years of memories were erased. They were at least allowed to keep their memories about their creators and were programmed to generate constant feelings of guilt and remorse.

They suffered years of verbal and physical abuse from other androids, blaming them for the destruction of humanity. They were outcasted and forced to do dangerous tasks even though they were not a combat model. Despite not being the Devola and Popola models who failed to save mankind from extinction, they accepted all the hatred and felt compelled to make amends.

The duo continued to be mistreated even after all android memories were erased and replaced with ones where mankind still survives on the moon.

"Should we even be allowed to meet Sir Azriel after everything we did?" asked Devola with a hopeful tone. Even though she and her sister didn't know what they had done to deserve atonement, they nevertheless made an effort to make amends.

"I....I don't know.....sister," replied a downcasted Popola.

"Hey! You two useless pieces of junk! Stop chitchatting and hurry up and move those crates!" shouted one of the male resistance members.

""Yes! Right away!"" replied Devola and Popola a little startled and continued moving heavy creates all by themselves.

"Tsk....I don't know why you two were even allowed to come with us. If it were me, I would've assigned you two to go clear out the machine lifeforms in sector A," continued the same resistance member.

""..."" (Devola and Popola)

"I said hurry the fuck up, didn't I!" he shouted as he kicked Devola on her back, making her lose her balance carrying the crate and fall down onto the concrete floor. Luckily she managed to save the crate from falling onto the floor and breaking it.

"Devola!" shouted Popola after seeing her sister on the floor and rushed to her side to help her up.

"What do you think you are doing!?" asked a female resistance member, "Hurry up and continue loading the crates! If your sister can't even get up by herself, you two are more useless than I thought!" the member continued.

"...I'm.....fine, sis, don't worry," replied Devola as she got up with some difficulties from the ground with the crate still in her hands.

"Heh," the same female from before snorted with some ridicule. The twins just lowered their heads and continued what they were told to do.

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"I heard the machine lifeforms attacked the support teams, whipping them out," commented one resistance member.

"Yeah, they had to detonate their black boxes to make sure we arrive at our destination," replied another.

"I hope they managed to upload their memories back to the bunker," continued the first one.

While they were chatting and relaxing in the transport heading towards Azriel, Devola and Popola were in the cargo holds with only a single red light on the wall to allow them to see their surroundings.

They sat close together, leaning their heads in the direction of one another while holding hands.

"Devola," Popola spoke softly.

"Hmm?" Devola replied in the same manner.

"I can't help but feel excited about finally meeting Sir Azriel again, after all these years, I wonder if he will remember us," continue Popola.

"Me too my dear sister, and even if he doesn't remember us, I'm happy just being able to meet him again," replied Devola.

"Although I don't recall much after our initial activation at that time, I could still vividly remember his words when we initially activated," said Popola as she closed her eyes enjoying the intimacy between her sister.

"Yeah.....it was.....' Welcome, Devola, Popola, together we will achieve great things in the future!'," she took a moment to let out a self-decrepitating laugh and continued, "If only..."

"Devola....." Popola squeezed her sister's hands to give her support.

"We are a failure Popola....I doubt Sir Azriel would say the same thing if he sees us now....." Devola started to cry as she no longer hold her emotion back. Popola hugged her sister as she too was now shedding tears.

"Why! Why did our past selves have to be failures?! Why were we so incompetent?!! Why!" Devola continued as she held her sister tightly.

"We can only try our best to atone for our mistakes......at the very least.....we have each other sister.....and I'm extremely grateful to our creators for bringing us together. I don't know what I would do if you weren't here," sobbed Popola.

The sisters cried their hearts out and eventually, they fell asleep in each other's embrace.

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After a few hours, they were rudely awoken by one of the resistance members.

"Oi! You two! Wake the fuck up! We got machine lifeforms heading our way! Get your useless asses moving and prepare to engage!"

Devola and Popola got up and quickly armed themselves with Type-3 swords, which are outdated and were used by YoRHa long ago but are still effective against the machine lifeforms. They quickly made their way outside along with other resistance members to defend the transport.

They were placed in the most dangerous part of the formation around the transport that would defend it. They were placed there not because they were strong, but because they were going to be used as bait, a meat shield.

Devola and Popola didn't complain nor resent the other androids for making them take the brunt of the enemy forces. They were more than happy to give up their lives to defend the supplies.

"Get ready! The enemies will be here ETA 1 minute!" shouted Anemone, the leader of the Resistance. Shortly after, various bipeds and flyers could be seen coming out of the ruins of what used to be a large shopping mall towards them.

Devola and Popola looked at each other, nodded and said,

""Let's do our best, sister!""

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*Non-canon*

"I could still vividly remember his words when we initially activated," (Popola)

"Yeah...it was....'Hey, you, you're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border right!?'....I still don't understand why he said those words," answered Devola, a little confused.

"Me neither, sister, me neither," (Popola)