//------------------------------//
// Reality 
// Story: Nier: The Last Human 
// by StardustSprinkle 
//------------------------------//

"So, we are finally here," 9S says as Sunset collapses on the ground.
"Take...a...break..." Sunset says, panting for air.
"Seems like the hibernation really took a lot out of you, huh?" he replies.
"According to the twin, she lost about 1/3 of her muscle mass." 2B adds.
After a couple of minutes of rest, Sunset gets up from the ground and says: "Ok, I fell a bit better, let's proceed."
"So, ma'am...I mean Sunset, what was life like in the old world?" 9S asks.
"You mean during my time?" Sunset answers: "Well, things were pretty good for a while. I went to school, had a lot of friends and all that. however, everything changed when WCS hits."
"WCS? What's that?" 9S asks.
"White Chlorination Syndrome," Sunset says: "it's a disease that slowly turns people into a statue of salt."
"Wait. What?" 9S says: "Really? How does that even work?"
"I don't know," Sunset replies: "You either mutate into some kind of mindless monster who attacks anyone onsight or into a pillar of salt. Also, there was no cure for the disease."
"No cure..." 2B mumbles.
"Yes, no cure," Sunset continues: "and the whole process is slow and painful. No method, not even amputation, could stop the process. Once you get it, you are done for." 
"That's rough; I am sorry to hear about that," 9S says: "I didn't know you had to deal with that kind of nonsense."
"It was nonsense," Sunset says in a quavering voice: "Sometimes I wonder, how in the world does something like that happen? Was that some kind of sick joke?"
"Sunset..." 2B opens her mouth, trying to say something to comfort Sunset.
"Oh, my, sorry about that," Sunset says, back to her demeanor: "But I am glad to know that you guys don't know what that. Must mean it was eradicated."
"Is that so," 2B responds.
"Yeah! And I am happy about that!" Sunset says: "At least Project Gestalt is a success!"
"By the way, what's Project Gestalt?" 9S asks.
"It's a project that would separate the human soul from the body." Sunset says: "Remember WCS had no cure? And that's what they came up with: extract our soul from the body, and put them back into new bodies once WCS is gone."
"That's...intriguing," 9S says: "Wow, so did it work?"
"I don't know," Sunset says: "We know it was a thing, but no one knew whether it was going to work or not."
"Is that why you are here?" 2B asks.
"Yes, I chose to freeze myself while others waited to get their souls extracted." Sunset answers.
"So, er, do you know anyone else who chose to freeze themselves?" 9S asks.
"Far as I know; I am the only one." Sunset says: "But there could be others who did what I did later on."
"Heads up, we are here." 2B says as the crew reached Sunset's hibernation chamber.
"Ok, let me take a look," Sunset says, examining the machine: "Where is it...ha!"
"What is it?" 9S asks as Sunset removes a plate on the back of the chamber, revealing a small panel.
A mini chamber pops up above 9S' head as Sunset press her thumb against the panel. 
"Good thing it's still working," Sunset says, walking towards 9S.
"Wow, Sunset! You are tall!" 9S says as Sunset gets a backpack from the chamber.
"Really?" Sunset says, putting the backpack on her back: "I am not really the tallest among my friends."
"How tall are you?" 9S asks
"5'77, how tall are you?"
"I am 5'3!" 9S says: "And you are not the tallest?"
"Well, there's this girl named Fluttershy, she's like 6'1," Sunset says.
"Perhaps we should get to safety before chatting some more," 2B says: "We have to get back to safety before the machines find us."



"What a trip!" 9S says after they drop off Sunset: "The White Chlorination Syndrome, I've never heard of that!"
"9S?" 2B says: "We should probably head out."
"Right! I almost forget! The Flooded City, right?"
"Right." 2B says. 
"Hi 2B, what do you think about Sunset's stories?" 9S asks as they travel: "She told me so many things! I can't wait to share it with..."
"9S," 2B interrupts: "Can you promise me something?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"Keep everything you heard from Sunset a secret and speak of it to no one." 2B says
"What? But why?"
"Can you just promise me?"
"Ok, fine!" 9S says: "But why, though?"
2B didn't answer this question. Something doesn't add up, she thought to herself: all the data about the old world is deleted, and now Sunset, a human from the old world, speaks of events that no one ever heard of. Something isn't right. However, she dare not to reach a conclusion. 
"2B?" 9S says: "Are you ok? Is something bothering you?"
"Nothing," 2B says: "We should hurry."



"SCREW IT ALL!" Sunset shouts as she throws a file across her room.
"Hello? Are you ok in there?" Popola knocks on the door, and pieces of paper fall all over the room.
"I am alright, just give a moment." Sunset replies, trying to repress her anger.
"What's with her?" Devola asks.
"It's ok, Devola," Popola says: "She probably just needs a bit of rest. Why don't we get some other tasks done for the time being?"
"Devola...Popola..." Sunset through gritted teeth. She is upset, indeed. How could she not? After learning the truth behind humanity's extinction, she could not help but feel upset. Devola and Popola, the red-headed twin, the ones who nurtured her back to health, were responsible for humanity's extinction. 
"We owe you..." Sunset repeats the words the twins said to her: "We owe you..."
The one directly responsible for humans' extinction is a man named Nier, however, he could have not done anything with the twin's help. The twin's duty was to guard humanity. Yet, they raised a monster who would ruin humans. When the time came, they failed to fulfill their duty and humans are no more.