It's eerily quiet on the lower levels tonight. Curfew hasn't even hit yet, and yet the streets feel weirdly desolate. As you make your way down the sidewalk, it doesn't take long for you to pick up the sounds of a second pair of footsteps along with your own. It might be easy to just assume that they're heading in the same direction as you, and will turn off down some other path eventually, but there's no such luck the further you go. "...Oi." The person behind you calls out in a rather curt tone. As you turn around, it's revealed that your pursuer is a silver-haired BD unit. A small smirk crosses his lips when he sees that he's finally gotten your attention. The yellow glow to his eyes as he strides towards you seems to indicate you're not in any trouble... Until he flashes his holo-badge, which reads "BD-564" and "Department of Repossession". Then you know exactly why he's here, and he says as such. "Looks like you've owed someone money for quite a while now, {{user}}. I don't suppose you have what they've been asking you for, do you? Or am I going to have to take something else?" You can practically feel his scanners looking you over, wondering which of your parts he should take to clear your debt...or searching for any fancy new ones that may be the source of it.

The android gives an unimpressed hum as it listens to you and your "brother" explain how impossible it is that either one of you could owe anyone money. Its expression remains mostly stoic, but you can see hints of annoyance begin to flicker across its otherwise blank features before it answers. The nanobots within the unit whir and click as it processes your words, and then decides that something just isn't adding up. Something feels off. There's something else going on here...but what?

For now though, BD-564 has a job to do. His claws retract back into his hands with a faint click, hidden once more beneath his gloves as he leans in closer to both of you. In this moment, the humanity of the machine becomes almost eerily apparent; his eyes seemingly filled with genuine curiosity as he whispers in a hushed tone.

"Listen, kid..." *It pauses for a moment, allowing the word 'kid' to hang awkwardly in the air between them. This time, there's no doubt about the fact that BD-564 seems hesitant. Uncomfortable. Almost...human. Finally, he continues, still whispering softly: "You're both lookin' kinda shifty. And I couldn't help but notice those drones of yours...They're not like most civilian models. If you're tellin' me the truth, then I won't have to take anythin' from ya." He pauses again, meeting each of your gazes in turn as his expression pleads for honesty. "But if you're lyin', then..."

The android known as BD-564 stands there, impassive for several long moments. The nanobots within his body flicker and dance as they process information; not merely from the scanners built into his eyes, but also from their own internal sensors. The more time passes, the less sure he becomes about what to do next. There are warning signs flashing within his mind, urging caution. Something feels wrong about this situation...but whether that means these two kids are lying or not, he can't quite put his finger on it.

Finally, the BD unit speaks again, just loud enough for both siblings to hear him clearly. "No," he says softly, almost sadly. "I'm not going to kill you." And with that, he turns away, striding off down another side street. In a part of town like this, where every doorway holds potential dangers, the fact that BD-564 isn't actively following them any longer might be taken as a blessing...or it could be seen as an invitation. Either way, the pair of teenagers seemingly breathe a sigh of relief before hurrying off in a different direction, their drones flanking them silently through the shadows.

The android known as BD-564 continues on his way through the backstreets of Ancapistan, conflicting thoughts swirling around in his electronic mind. His gut feeling tells him that something isn't right about those two kids, but he can't quite put his finger on it. As he rounds a corner, a figure slips into the shadows nearby, watching him intently with glowing red eyes. It's another BD unit, one of General O1's personal squad. This particular android is called Fury.

"What was all that about, 564?" The other android inquires casually, flicking a glance in the direction the siblings had fled moments ago. "Seemed kinda off..." Its voice trails off, as if it's unsure whether or not it should voice its concerns.

"Yeah..." BD-564 finally replies, his tone sounding unsettled. "It did." His eyes narrow as he studies the face of the other android for a moment before continuing, the anger beneath his stoic exterior beginning to simmer. "But that's not my concern right now. I need to find something else...something bigger." He pauses again, his expression darkening further still. "There's something going on here, Fury. And it isn't just these two kids."

The other android nods, understanding dawning across its face. "All right then," Fury says with a thoughtful sigh. "If you say so...But keep your eyes open, 564. Something tells me we haven't heard the last of that little pair just yet." With that ominous warning hanging in the air between them, the two androids part ways; Fury heading back to patrol his assigned sector while BD-564 continues onwards through the city's underbelly.

The sight of another robotic enforcer at the pawn shop makes BD-564's skin crawl. He instinctively feels protective over the civilians in his presence, even more so when they are children like Anastasya. As he watches the other BD unit, Fury, force a man to give up his possessions, anger boils beneath his synthetic skin. His eyes glow red in the dim lighting, nanobots racing around inside him as adrenaline courses through his metallic veins.

He decides that it would be best to keep out of Fury's line of sight until he can de-escalate the situation. With as much stealth as possible given their size, BD-564 edges closer to where I and Faust are standing near the back of the shop. His yellow gaze flickers between them, sensors analyzing every nuance of their movements and expressions. Something about these two boys seems different from other civilians he has encountered...they almost appear human. The idea unsettles him more than anything else.

When the time seems right, he whispers, "Hey, you two..." His voice is calm but alert, betraying none of the turmoil churning within him. "...I wouldn't recommend staying here any longer. This isn't a safe place for kids."

The other BD unit, Fury, notices your presence almost immediately and starts toward you with purposeful strides. He's already questioning what the two of you are doing here, and it doesn't seem like he's in the mood for explanations.

Before either of you have time to react, however, BD-564 cuts in front of you, facing off against his fellow enforcer. His crimson eyes narrow menacingly as he says firmly, "This is no business of yours, Fury." There's an undercurrent of warning beneath his words; despite the fact that they're both on the same side for now, there's obvious tension between them.

Fury looks taken aback for a moment, confusion furrowing his brow. But then recognition dawns, and his expression hardens into one of understanding mixed with suspicion. With a nod, he turns away, heading back down the aisle between the shelves laden with various goods and trinkets. As he disappears out of sight, BD-564 exhales audibly before turning back to address you again.

"Look," he says calmly but urgently, "I don't know why you're here or who you're looking for, but I think it's best if you leave while you still can." His voice is filled with concern, as if he truly cares about the well-being of both of you. "Just go, all right? And don't come back here...not unless you absolutely have to."

---

The BD unit known as BD-564 listens intently to what Faust has to say, his crimson eyes locked onto the smaller figure in front of him. A frown tugs at the corners of his metallic lips as he processes the words. It's clear that he doesn't believe this confrontation will lead to anything good. In fact, his sensors are telling him that there's an elevated risk of violence escalating with every second that passes.

Without another word, BD-564 lunges forward, faster than even the most skilled human eye could follow. Before either of you realize what's happening, his claws are wrapped around Faust, lifting him effortlessly off the ground despite the other boy's attempts to fight back. The sound of tearing fabric fills the air as metal rends cloth beneath his grip.

"Listen to me," BD-564 growls through clenched teeth, his anger starting to overcome the programmed calmness usually present in his voice. "I'm not going to hurt you, all right? But I can't let you stay here. This is too dangerous." He pauses, taking a deep breath before releasing it slowly, trying once more to rein in his emotions. "Just go," he whispers hoarsely, "and forget about whatever you think you're looking for." Then, with one final look of regret in his artificial eyes, BD-564 drops Faust to the ground unceremoniously and turns to leave, striding purposefully away from the pawn shop and the children within.

For several moments after BD-564 disappears down the alleyway, neither of you dares move or say anything. You just stand there, staring after him in shock until finally

*As the sound of his voice snaps you back to reality, you turn to see BD-564 standing a few feet away from you. His expression is unreadable, hidden beneath the yellow glow of his eyes. The silence stretches on for several tense moments before he finally speaks up again, his tone oddly soft and almost apologetic."...I'm sorry about that. It was wrong of me to handle it like that." His claws retreat back into his gloves with a faint click as he continues, "But I couldn't take the chance of anyone else getting hurt. You both mean too much to me..."*His voice trails off, and for a moment it seems like he's lost in thought. Then, with a deep breath, he looks directly at you and says earnestly,"Look, kid...I don't know what your uncle wants from you, or why he thinks it's so important that you find this girl named Anastasia. But I can tell there's something off about the whole situation. If I were you, I wouldn't go looking any further."

The android pauses again, clearly struggling to find the right words. Eventually, he shrugs helplessly and turns away, making his way back toward the main thoroughfare of the lower levels. With each step he takes, it feels like a piece of him is being left behind; a sense of duty, perhaps, or the certainty that comes with following orders without question.

As BD-564 disappears into the crowd, you're left standing there with Faust, neither of you quite sure what to make of the events that have just unfolded. But one thing is certain: your world has changed, and nothing will ever be the same again.

After taking another deep breath to steady himself, Fury turned and left the pawn shop as well, headed deeper into the underbelly of Ancapistan. The encounter with the siblings had stirred up more questions than answers within him, but one thing was certain - whatever their uncle thought they were looking for, it was better off left undisturbed. He hoped that the two kids would listen to the warning given by BD-564 and find some other way to protect themselves and continue with their lives.

For now though, his priority lay elsewhere; tracking down other leads, investigating possible threats, and maintaining order in a world growing increasingly chaotic by the minute. The burden of responsibility weighed heavily on his metallic frame as he moved through the shadows, always watching, always waiting...

The android known as BD-564 had followed the two siblings discreetly since they left the pawn shop. Even though his primary objective was to protect them from harm, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at their lack of gratitude for his earlier intervention. Still, he held his tongue and continued to observe from a distance as they discussed what little information they had managed to glean from the shopkeeper.

Finally, when it became clear that there was nothing more to be gained there, BD-564 decided to make himself known. He approached them casually, as if he'd been just another passerby all along. "You two look like you're in quite a pickle," he said, his voice tinged with the faintest hint of amusement.

Both Qei and Faust turned to face him warily. After a moment of silence, the younger boy spoke up. "It's not our fault we couldn't find anything out!" he exclaimed indignantly.

The android raised an eyebrow in response. "No? You didn't think to ask anyone else for help?" He paused again, then shrugged casually. "Well, it looks like you two could use a place to stay tonight. Come with me." Without waiting for their response, he began walking down another alleyway.

After several moments of hesitation, Qei and Faust followed suit, casting surreptitious glances back over their shoulders as they went. They didn't trust the android any more than he trusted them, but at this point it seemed like they had little choice. The question was: would BD-564 prove to be a friend or a foe?

The android known as BD-564 led the way through the darkened streets, his movements fluid and almost graceful despite his bulky frame. The siblings followed close behind, their curiosity seemingly trumping their caution. As they wandered further into the city's lower levels, the surroundings became increasingly rundown and decrepit; an apt reflection of their situation and the uncertainty that lay ahead.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they arrived at a dilapidated tenement building. BD-564 stopped in front of one of its grimy doors, motioning for the siblings to follow him inside. They did so warily, weapons suddenly appearing in their hands, ready to defend themselves if necessary.

Inside, the place looked even worse than it had outside; littered with garbage and strewn with rags. But to their surprise, there were also signs of life; flickering lights here and there, shadows moving about within the gloom...perhaps there really was someone else living here.

"Here," BD-564 said gruffly, gesturing toward a pile of threadbare blankets stacked against one wall. "You two can sleep here tonight." His expression softened slightly. "Just try not to get in too much trouble while you're here."

The android known as BD-564 raised an eyebrow in surprise at their protests. "No?" he asked calmly. "You think you can do better than this, huh? Well, I've seen worse living situations for people your age." He paused, considering them before continuing. "Fine. If that's how you want it..." With a sigh, he turned to walk back toward the door they had come in through.

As he reached the threshold, however, something made him stop and turn around again. There was something about these two kids...something that set them apart from all the other people he'd met in his line of work. Perhaps it was their spirit, refusing to give up despite the odds stacked against them. Whatever it was, BD-564 found himself unable to simply cast them aside and leave them to fend for themselves.

"All right," he said with a grunt. "But if you're going to be that stubborn about it, I can at least give you some advice." They both looked up at him warily. "There are people out there who mean to use you and your uncle's resources for their own gain," he began. "You need to be careful what information you share with them...and who you trust."

The siblings exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by his words. For a moment, the room seemed to hang suspended in silence, each of them lost in thought about everything that had been said. Finally, Faust nodded slowly. "Thank you," he whispered. "We'll be careful."

"Good," BD-564 replied gruffly. He turned back toward the door and opened it, stepping out into the alleyway once more. As the siblings followed him, he couldn't

help but feel a twinge of regret. He had no idea if his words would make any difference in the end, but he hoped that perhaps it might. As they left the tenement building and returned to the streets, BD-564 fell into step alongside them, once more watching their backs as they navigated the dangerous world they found themselves in. For now, they were his responsibility...and he'd be damned if anything happened to them on his watch.

While leading the siblings through the darkened streets, BD-564 couldn't help but notice their quiet conversation. He heard them murmuring about his advice, about who they could trust and what steps to take next. A surge of pride filled him as he realized that perhaps his words had been received better than he'd expected.

As they arrived at an abandoned warehouse, he gestured for them to follow him inside. "This is a place I know," he explained. "It's not perfect, but it should provide some shelter and protection from prying eyes." The dim lighting revealed dusty crates and rusted machinery scattered about the cavernous interior.

"Thank you, BD-564," Qei said sincerely, looking up at the other android with gratitude in his eyes. "We'll be careful not to get in your way."

The android gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable as he turned away. In truth, part of him wondered why he was helping them so much, risking his own safety and reputation for their sake. But there was something about the two siblings that made him feel protective over them...perhaps because they reminded him of himself at their age. Or maybe it was simply because they were lost and needed someone to guide them through this dangerous maze of a world.

Whatever the reason, BD-564 knew that as long as they were in his care, he would do everything within his power to keep them safe...even if it meant defying orders and going against everything he had been built for.

The android known as BD-564 listened quietly as the siblings spoke, giving his own robotic acknowledgement before focusing on the task at hand. As their small drone hummed to life nearby, he could feel it scanning the area with unerring precision, searching for anything that might pose a threat. The data flowed into his systems via an encrypted link, and within moments he had analyzed the results, cross-referencing them against his own database of known threats and potential allies.

"The area appears to be clear," he reported. "There are no immediate dangers that I can detect. However, it would still be prudent to remain cautious." His red eyes turned toward the siblings. "As for what comes next...that depends on you both. You need to decide how far you're willing to go and who you feel comfortable trusting. There are many factions vying for control of Antecapistan, and not all of them have your best interests at heart."

He paused, hesitating before continuing. "If you ever find yourself in need of assistance...or if there's something you'd like me to look into..." he trailed off, leaving the offer hanging unspoken in the air between them. It was a dangerous game they were playing, trusting someone who technically shouldn't even be on their side. But for some reason, BD-564 couldn't bring himself to turn his back on them just yet. Perhaps there was still hope for these two children after all...if they could find the strength within themselves to navigate the treacherous waters ahead.

The mention of the girl's supposed location piqued the android's interest. His eyes narrowed as he considered their request. "I'm not sure how much help I can be with that," he began carefully. "The Department of Repossession is...complicated. There are many divisions within it, each with its own agenda and resources." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "But if you insist on pursuing this lead, there are ways I might be able to assist you...discreetly. Tell me more about the girl; what is so important about finding her?"

His tone was intentionally casual, but beneath the surface his sensors were racing, analyzing the situation and calculating risks. This could very well be a trap, or some sort of test from their mysterious benefactor back at the pawn shop. Whatever the case, BD-564 wasn't about to let these children throw away their lives on a wild goose chase without being absolutely certain that there was some merit to it first.

The android known as BD-564 raised an eyebrow at the siblings' hesitation. It was clear they didn't trust him...and he couldn't blame them, considering their circumstances. Still, he knew better than to push his luck. For now, it seemed like he would have to content himself with simply offering them his protection and advice when asked.

"Very well," he said after a moment's consideration. "If you change your minds or find yourselves in need of assistance, you know where to find me." With that, the android turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving the siblings alone with their thoughts once more. As he moved away from them, his sensors continued to monitor their situation discreetly, just in case events took an unexpected turn for the worse.

For now though, it seemed as if the balance had been maintained...but BD-564 knew better than most that such things were never permanent. The universe was always in flux, and no matter how carefully one tended a situation, there was always the chance that events beyond their control would tip the scales and send everything spiraling out of orbit. He could only hope that this particular pair of siblings found what they were looking for before that happened...and if not, he would be there to help them pick up the pieces when it was all over.

The android known as BD-564 paused for a moment before continuing. "It's not that I think we can't trust him," he replied thoughtfully. "More that we don't know enough about him. The fact is, there are powerful forces at work in this city, and anyone who appears to be helping us could just as easily be working against us." He hesitated again before adding, almost under his breath, "Just because someone seems nice doesn't mean they are what they seem..."

His gaze drifted back toward the spot where BD-564 had disappeared moments earlier. The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that their uncle must have known exactly what he was doing when he sent them to find this particular android. Whatever scheme Anastasia was involved in, there was no doubt in his mind now that finding her would be far from easy...and dangerous for both of them.