Avangard: Avangard

A black portal suddenly appears out of nowhere. It swirls in circle while distorting the scinery around it. Dima who is at front of it curiously reached her hand towards it. Upon contact, the air she felt from the tip of her finger felt different from where she currently is. “Looks like this is a portal that leads to another place.” She thought as a rough deduction because it felt different at the other side. After thinking for a moment, she decided to enter the gate to a new world.

 

The luster green she used to see is now gone as she opens her eyes. The place she is at now is filled with machinery like a manifestation of a sci-fi story. No natural life form is found, but the place is not empty. Everyone around here is made of metal or something that is not organic. As she moves around, she saw some small ball-shaped robots made of intricately interlocking gears and at the sky are some unmanned ships with massive energy wings that prevent lightning from striking the aircities. What a wonderful view, one might actually think, but for Edelweiss, its boring. The air is filled with monotonous sound of ether striking of iron from the building or the marching metal that strikes the ground. Edelweiss sighs without trying to hide her disappointment when suddenly, a mechanical attendant confronts her.

 

“Welcome to Avangard traveler, how can I help you”, a mechanical attendant said as it bows down and reach its artificial hand towards her.

 

“I’m looking for a place to stay for a few days.” She replied normally without showing any emotion, not even being shocked of the sudden encounter.

 

“As you wish my lady.” It said and bowed down again before leading the way.

 

The two walked around as the attendant talk about the historical value of each place they pass through. Edelweiss, doesn’t mind the carefree attitude of the attendant. It’s not like it will have any difference at all against a robot, she thought. After a few minutes of walk, they finally arrived. At front is a big metal door that automatically opened when it detected the two. A mechanical voice started to come from the door, “Welcome to the inn. How can we help you?”

 

Upon entering the inn, a robot in a butler attire behind the counter greeted her the same way as the door. “Welcome to the inn. How can we help you?”

 

The attendant that guided her butt in before Edelweiss can reply, “My job here is done traveler. Good luck with your stay here.” It then walked away facing backward while waving its hand from you then twist its waist to face the direction its walking through.

 

When the guide can no longer be seen, Edelweiss then replied to the butler like robot, “How much does it cost for staying here”?

 

“Ten grams of gold per night”, it replied.

 

Edelweiss thought for a bit and decided that she will need at least two days to tour the whole place and replied, “Two nights then”. She then reaches out a big coin of gold.

The butler like robot received the coin and analyzed it and replied, “Payment received confirmed. Analyzing payment value, twenty-two grams. Preparing laser to cut for exchange.” The left pointer finger of the robot turned into a laser and cut a chunk of the coin. It then gave it to Dima, “Transaction complete, here is the key to your room. It will be at floor eleven.”

 

She takes the key and walks towards the elevator. Inside the elevator, the other side of the wall is made of glass so anyone who ride it can enjoy the view. But then again, it’s a useless feature if everyone who live here are artificial life form.

 

“Ting” the elevator sounded as it reached the destinated floor. Edelweiss walked out and started looking for her room. While strolling on the floor, another robot greeted and asked for her key. She gave her the key and the robot started to analyze it. After a few seconds, the robot started to move with its little wheels while saying this way as it now knows where the room is. The small wheels are designed to be gentle with the majestic red carpet below, so it won’t be damaged. After a few turns, they are now in front of the room that matches the numbers on the key.

 

“We are now here. Please excuse me.” The robot said as it bowed and moved away.

 

The door does not have any keyhole but when Edelweiss moved the key closer, it automatically opened. White smoke scaped from the door as a gentle breeze pushed it out. It gave the guest an excite factor while slowly showing the luxurious interior. But then again, Edelweiss is indifferent. She already saw a lot of things from the past for such a thing to excite her. Like the elevator, one of the walls of the room is made of mirror. She stood near it to make a clear view of Avangard. As she thought, everything is artificial. There is no natural beauty inside it. To here, the place is almost useless if it can’t serve the living, makes her wonder what the creator is thinking when he made this place. Did he eradicate all living things to make a space for his machines, or this place does not have any living things on it in the first place? Edelweiss shakes her hade while deeming its not important. She then opened the case of her guitar and asked, “Can you sense something here?” A brief silence, then a sinister melody started to play inside. Dima closed the case as if she understands what it means with just a few beats. She gets out of her room and out of the inn. She now meets the metallic noise she heard when she just got here. She then pulls her hood on and take a step towards the direction that is the center of Avangard.