The Red Night

It was supposed to be a marvelous night. A lounge electronic music with a constant deep bass drum could be heard thumping slowly from one beat to another. One could hear the melody and the singing when inside the gallery, but from the patio, only the beat that was still could be felt. The architecture of the building was impressive since Felicia didn't see how the deep frequency thumping even shook the glass windows. She could see the vehicles arrived, all of them were expensive it would seem. The bodies of those vehicles looked more rigid and the noises that came from them were like humming whispers rather than the growling noises that came from more affordable vehicles.

She hoped that she looked presentable. She especially fond of her borrowed long-sleeved loose black gown, dotted about with tiny white flowers. Very classical and understated, with her knot earing, also borrowed. Only the soles of her heels were red, despite its black leather body. All of them were not hers, but she thought she could rock this.

The air outside was humid and it was almost eight, she walked back confidently into the gallery. Passing the foyer which already full of well-dressed people. Secretly, she felt ecstatic. She never once being part of the beautiful people before. She should enjoy this while it lasts. The press nametag hung in front of her chest gave her credentials, a seal of approval that she was more than just a visitor. That reminded her of her work here. She needed to be hurry to the private viewing room, where the most important works of Ogrario were exhibited.

She was told by the weird voice that those plates would be exhibited tonight here, after almost a century being hidden away as Domaney's private collection.

She was told by the weird voice that something was brewing, and she needed to immediately secure those plates and bring them to the Mayor's Office.

She still wondered the same question she asked the voice: why her?

The voice never answered her that particular question, but everything it said to her came true, that she would be tasked to report the exhibition, that she would be provided with that particular dress, heels, and earring. The only thing that the voice asked of her was to steal away the plates. This shouldn't be hard.

She tried to asked whether or not there will be security guarding her exit., which again, was met with silence.

"Miss Armstrong?" a female voice jolted her back into reality. She turned around and saw two stunning ladies. They were twins. Both of them wore the same bias-cut red dress which design mirrored each other. Their hairs were also dropped to a different part of their shoulders: one to the left and one to the right. Both of their eyes were yellow.

"We're glad that the dress fits you properly," one of them said while visibly eyed her from head to toe.

"T-thank you," Felicia stuttered, "I'm afraid we're haven't properly introduced ourselves."

"Oh, no need. Androids aren't people for you…" one of them said before the other grabbed her wrist.

"Now, A-13, let me talk," the one who grabbed the other's wrist talked, "I'm A-12, and this is A-13."

"And…you are?"

"We're going to help you," A-13 said, "you can see us as the Mayor's … helper."

So they were androids. Sent by also the mayor.

They continued to walk to the room at the back of the main gallery room. The music detail was now more pronounced, as she could hear the lyrics and the delicate changes of the melody. It wasn't too loud as it was still drowned by the chatter of the exhibition visitors. They were discussing the merit, the value, and the concepts of the late Ogrario's work.

"We have intel that said that there would be another party who will be interested in the pieces," A-12 said, leaned her head towards her ear in the effort to not be easily heard by other people except the three of them, "and they will use airborne weaponry."

"Airborne weaponry?"

"Shh! Not too loud," A-13 warned her, "this is only a rumor. Under normal circumstances, you may take the plates when the opening performance is performed."

"But if the rumor is true," A-12 said, "if there would be airborne weaponry, it would not be safe for you."

"So … what? Should I just stop now to save myself and let you guys finish the work?" Felicia asked.

"No. We still need your help," A-12 answered her, "if the rumor false, our taking of the plates would be easily detected. We need you for plan A when there is no weapon involved."

"And the plan B?"

"When it happened, we would ask you to immediately run through the back corridor of the gallery and wait for us outside the emergency exit," A-13 said, then gestured her head to the double door in front of them, positioned perpendicularly with the entrance to the private viewing room, "that should be easy for you."

"We will then take the plates and hand it over to you outside," A-12 continued, "but we can only help you so far."

"Why?"

"The only one group to have access to the airborne weaponry is Callisto," A-13 answered, "if that's the case, all of the androids here would be easily taken over by them. We're sure we can run fast enough to hand you the plates, but we don't think we will be hijacked by them."

"Callisto has that kind of technology?" Felicia asked, "they are just separatists… terrorists…"

"That's what they want us to believe…" A-12 said.

"Long story," A-13 said, "the performance will start in a few minutes. Let's go."

They entered the room and Felicia could immediately see the five plates of Ogrario being displayed at the front of the stage. That would be easy to take. The room would be left dark after the performance, gave her enough window to snatch the damn things. Before they were separated, Y-12 gave her suggestion, "you're a reporter. You can do your own research on Callisto after this. You should start with the Captain of the APD. I've heard that he is in their control."

Chief captain of the Angkara Police Department. This is interesting.

"Wait," she stopped A-12 who was starting to walk in the other direction, finding its own seat. A-12 turned around again, "I still don't know exactly who is giving me these… orders. Were you also heard … voices?"

"Voices? What voices?"

She paused, thinking of what should she asked after, but the room was getting dimmed. The performance was soon started, "ah… never mind. Thank you for the info."

"No problem," A-12 left her. She sat on the chair and waited. The performance started. There was light play. Strobing. There was weird electronic music. The performers danced weirdly. She was sure that it was an artistic way to communicate some concept. The room's main light was getting darker, she prepared her bags.

A man with a suitcase entered the stage. He put his suitcase at the top of the display stand for the plates. She wondered if this was a part of the performance, but if it was so, why he was dressed differently? He looked like just an ordinary man with a black leather jacket.

Then she could hear one of the android twins yelled, "FELICIA RUN!!!"