BY YOUR SIDE

---

Pharaoh wasn’t too sure, from the look of them. But he had seen smaller bots do some decent damage before, so he shouldn’t assume. If they wanted to stay and fight, then he wouldn’t chase them off.

Their pursuer caught up to them, and the robot master noted that they didn’t seem to be struggling for breath at all. A quick scan confirmed it, this was a robot. His eyes narrowed above his mask.

“You are rather determined to get an audience with me, stranger. What is it that you need of me?”

“Heh. Need?” Their voice was cocky. They took an offensive stance, a ring of light starting around their waist and splitting upwards and downwards. As the light moved, armor was revealed, and their true nature as a Maverick.

“Let’s start with those fancy parts you’ve got installed. That’s some old tech…hard to come by. I could fetch a pretty zenny for it.”

Pharaoh didn’t move. Didn’t even react, really. He just stared at the Maverick in front of them with a deadpan expression.

“…you don’t want to do this, stranger. I am not the one to pick a fight with. This is your only chance to turn around and leave in one piece.”

They were persistent, Roro would give them that.  That said, the pursuer - likely soon to be assailant - seemed to be looking for trouble.  They went on about older tech and how valuable it’d be.  So was Pharaoh in the same age range as her?  Of course, her own hardware had been kept up-to-date so she certainly wouldn’t look the part, but Roro couldn’t deny she wasn’t a bit of a relic herself.

Pharaohman nodded, and started his route to shake this pursuer. Picking up his pace, he made multiple sharp turns, weaving through crowds, even stopping in a shop or two to test how determined this person was.

Out of the corner of his eye, through everything, he could still see the figure not far behind. This person was far more keen than a simple curious civilian..it looked like they were in for a confrontation.

“We’re moving. Stay close.”

He picked up his pace again, darting down side streets and a couple alleys to lead them all away from the crowded city and dense crowds of civilians. It took some time, but he found his way to a less populated part of town, not too far from some large storage facility of some kind. Hopefully they could just scare the stranger off, and not have escalate any further.

“If I cannot get them to leave, I may need to to hide or get help. Do you think you can handle that?”

Each sharp turn, each duck and weave, all of it was something Roro followed with skill.  She certainly didn’t lack maneuverability, that was for sure.  The whole time, she kept up well and stuck as close as was asked of her - not once letting herself fall behind more than a foot.  

“...Something’s off.”  Tension, pressure, malaise.  It didn’t seem to be affecting anyone that wasn’t a machine or mechanical in nature, from what she was able to observe.  And just like all the others robots, she could feel it.

Pharohman weighed his options in his processor. On the chance that this was someone friendly, they could just be curious or shy. Trying to figure out a way to get their attention, or approach him. He was an imposing figure, even in his civilian attire, so he was used to it.

But on the chance that this was a foe, there were a couple more ways things could go. Pharoh could try and confront the figure, maybe scare them off. But if things escalated, it put the surrounding civilians and reploids at risk. He couldn’t take that chance.

“…Let us try and lose them, then. If they continue to pursue us, I will get us somewhere away from the civilians before confronting them. Can you keep up?”

Roro hardly found the one she’d spoken to even remotely imposing.  Perhaps it was due to her history, or perhaps it was due to her function - either one could be why she was seemingly undeterred by what most could deem intimidating figures.  Maybe simple kindness was the reason she was so willing to approach a tall stranger and let him know just what was going on.  

---

A swerve has allowed her to avoid the glitter itself, but now it's all over the floor... that's a mess someone's going to have to clean up.