Disturbance 0.2 October 18, 2008

Anna bustled into the room when she saw an abnormality in the room. It was a person she assumed, looking out the window, completely lost in thought. Perhaps another one of her master’s models?

“Hello, are you a friend of Master Grey?”

The figure spun around, her unsual skin colour startling the android, as she tried to process and come up with an answer, but she could not.

“Who is this Master Grey? And where is this?” the woman asked. “It is a most lovely place your master has.”

Anna calculated the most reasonable action to take and the first one was to throw the intruder out of the house. What baffled her was that, if this woman was a fan, it was unnerving how far she had penetrated into the house, and how she found its isolated location.

“I must ask to leave immediately miss, you are trespassing on private property and I prefer to not have to use force.”

The woman glided past her, not even paying attention to what she was saying.

“This rock, it is the remnants of something not from this world.” she remarked studying the block of stone in the middle of the room.

“Yes, Master Grey found it in a huge crater not far from here.”

“Interesting,” the woman replied.

“Miss, I implore you to leave now before I am forced to inform Master Grey and he will not be pleased.”

She spun around, a look of happiness on her face, once again ignoring Anna.

“Your master, he recovered this artifact no? Can I meet him?”

“That is up for the master to decide.”

“Oh please, it would be of the utmost pleasure to meet him!”

Anna sighed. This was the most uncooperative woman she had ever met. Her choices were to either remove the intruder by force which would cause a ruckus, or placate the woman.

Using force might anger the woman, which might lead to the destruction of the valuable art in the house. Placating the woman would be unheard of, as Master Grey disliked strangers, but she had no choice but to inform him of the situation.

“Very well,” she said as she crooked a finger at the woman, indicating her to follow. “But I cannot guarantee that the master will grant your request.”

–

Anna walked over to where her master was sitting. He was on his second helping of pancakes as she approached.

“What’s the matter Anna? Are the chores finished?”

Anna hesitated. “No, there has been a disturbance in my routine.”

“A disturbance? Surely nothing to do with your programming. I cannot afford to have you missing for a week while I send you back to Andrew’s for a check up.”

“No Master Grey, there is a visitor, and she will not leave.”

“A visitor? But nobody has rang the door bell.”

“I found her in your bedroom. I asked her to leave immediately but she refused to do so until she has met with you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “My bedroom? How did she get in there?”

“I do not know Master Grey.”

He sighed and got up from his chair.

“Where is she?”

“Master Grey?”

“What?”

Anna was confused by this action. Usually he would tell her to turn them away, and if they refused to, call the police. But to question his actions was unthinkable. Her programming did not allow her to displease her owner. He was her master, and she, his servant. But her master’s health was of utmost importance as well so despite the chance he might become displeased, she decided to voice her concerns.

“This is abnormal behaviour Master Grey, are you sure you are alright?”

“I am fine Anna. I just want to see who this woman is, to have made it into my bedroom and how she did it so I can make sure it never happens again.” he replied curtly.

“Understood, I apologize for my insubordination.”

“Now where is she?”

“If you will, follow me Master Grey.”

She led him to where the strange woman was waiting. The woman was sitting in an armchair near the door, and the first thing he noticed was her strange appearance.

“So this is her Anna?”

“Yes Master Grey.”

“Now you have met Master Grey miss, please leave this residence immediately.”

“But I haven’t even gotten to talk to him,” the woman protested.

“Miss if you will please-”

“Wait.”

Both Anna and the woman stopped talking to glance at him.

“Master?” Anna inquired.

“I would like to speak to her. Go and finish the morning chores.”

Anna nodded in affirmation and left the two alone.

“Well, what is your name and what do you want?” he began impatiently.

“My name? Astrea , the fourth princess of the planet Raea. I am honoured to meet you. What is your name?”

He blew his hair out of his eyes in annoyance. Great, she was a freak.

“I think you know who I am, let’s not play games shall we? How did you get into my house and more importantly my bedroom?”

She blinked in confusion. “I was exploring, I am sorry if I have offended you.”

He held the bridge of his nose almost as if to fend off an incoming headache. This was why he didn’t like human company. They didn’t understand his brilliance, and this one was just a complete nutjob. She obviously wasn’t going to tell him how she entered his house and he wasn’t sure it was worth the headache. He’d just pack up and move again. No big deal.

“Look Astrea, princess of wherever, you are trespassing on the private property of the well renowned artist Paul Grey.”

At the mention of his name she got up from her chair.

“Your name is Paul Grey! Such a lovely name!” she exclaimed.

“Yes, now if you may please leave before I call the police.”

She faltered at this statement. “But I have nowhere to go. I only arrived on this planet recently. I am not familiar with the surroundings.”

“Miss, you seem to be around my age, and yet you are still playing dress-up and make-believe. Go home, get a job and get on with the rest of your life. I don’t have the time to play little silly games with you.”

“But I don’t have anywhere to go…” Astrea whispered. “I’m not playing a game Mr. Grey”

“Grey, please do not add a mister in front of it. I am old enough as it is.” Paul interrupted.

“I’m sorry, Grey. I am truly not decieving you. I cannot go back to my home, and even if I wanted to I can’t. My home planet is dead, there is no more life on it. We cannot grow food, or anything, I was sent here to escape from the cruelties of it all, to carry on the bloodline. To return there, is to die.”

Paul sighed in annoyance. This woman really did belong in a mental institute. “Look, I can’t help you. There are institutes with people who can help you in the city. Look, I’ll even drive you there myself. Will that satisfy you?”

Astrea panicked. He didn’t understand her situation at all! There must be something she coudl do to convince him she really wasn’t from this world.

“The asteroid! The asteroid in your bedroom!” she exclaimed suddenly.

He paused and turned around. “How do you know about that?”

“Because, that asteroid as you call it, was one of our projects to try and find another planet to inhabit. That rock contains very magnetic and traceable elements in it, so we were able to track it. If I am correct by the time it reached the Earth’s land it had become almost obsolete in size, which is what you have in your bedroom.”

“Oh? And when did it land if you know so much about it?” Paul probed, his curiosity slightly aroused.

“The 24th of December in the year of 2000, 11:59 PM. I believe the inhabitants here call it Christmas Eve?”

Paul digested her explanation. It was almost scary how she had it down to the minute. Yes, it was true, every word. The asteroid was deemed of too little importance by the space agency so they hadn’t bothered to release information about it to the public. He, however had witnessed it land, and he remembered it very clearly, the day before Christmas and the same day that he suffered his largest loss.

Paul didn’t believe in coincidences, and even if he did, this was too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence.

“So, who is the other woman?

“Anna?”

“Yes, is she one of your family? Or perhaps you are courting her?”

“No. She is an android constructed by me for a friend. She does my chores and menial tasks to alllow me to pursue other more worthwhile things.”

“Wouldn’t she be mad she has to do all the tasks you don’t want to do?”

“No, she is programmed to do them.”

“I see.”

Paul thought over the possibility of letting her stay. Sending her out would be bad, both for him and her. People would assume that he allowed visitors, and he’d be forced to move again. As well, she carried answers, and if she was a so called being from the unknown, he’d be forcing her out into the harsh world. If anything happened to her out there, he would undoubtedly hear about it, and have another death on his conscience.

He wasn’t sure he could handle another.

“Anna!” he called out.

“You called Master Grey?”

“Change her clothing and hair to something more suitable. She stands out like and eyesore right now. Have her change into one of the many outfits I have for you, and cut her hair as well.”

Anna lowered her eyes to show respect as she questioned her master’s orders for a second time that day. “If I may to be so bold Master Grey, but why do you allow her to stay compared to all the others you have me send away?”

Paul’s face turned to stone as he addressed Anna. “Are you questioning my orders Anna? I have no reason to tell you.”

“Apologies Master Grey, I was programmed to place your well-being at the top of my priorities.” Anna replied as she bowed slightly at the waist.

“I understand, but I would prefer if you would not question me as much as you have today.”

“Understood.” she replied as she straightened herself. “Come, I will help prepare you.”

“Will I really have to cut my hair?” Astrea asked as they headed towards Paul’s closet.

“If Master Grey wishes so, yes.”

“I’d prefer to keep my hair…” she said as she played with a strand of it.

“There are very few people on this planet with hair that long, and with your strangely coloured skin, you will stick out and cause more trouble for Master Grey.”

Astrea lowered her eyes in defeat. Her hair was one of the things she treasured the most. It reminded her of her mother, and her poor dying planet. Dropped into a new world, with strange inhabitants, she had no choice but to comply.

“Here, try this on.” Anna said as she selected a dress for her.

Astrea took the dress and went to the bathroom to change. The fabric was foreign to her, and it was very tightfitting compared to her loose dress. She handed Anna her own dress and stepped in front of the mirror.

“I look… different.” she said as she glanced at her reflection. Anna placed the dress into the closet and inspected Astrea.

“It will do for now. Now I will have to do your hair if you will please, sit here.” Anna indicated to a chair beside the sink.

Astrea glanced at herself in the mirror one last time as she tucked a strand of her silvery hair behind her ear. It would be a shame to cut all this, but what coudl she do? It was either her hair that would go, or her.

Anna noticed her hesitation and tried to reassure her. “I will not cut that much if that’s what you’re worried about. I will try to keep it as long as I can taking into account Master Grey’s wishes.”

“Yes, I-I’m just being silly, cut as much as you want.” Astrea replied as she sat down.

Anna drew a pair of scissors from the drawer and approached Astrea.

“I will begin now.” Anna said as she lifted a strand of Astrea’s hair and proceeded to cut it.

*snip snip*

Astrea watched as her hair fall to the ground. With each strand that fell, she felt a part of he died a little as well. Now she had nothing to remind her of her home.

—

“I’m finished, you can go look at your new hairstyle in the mirror.”

Astrea lifted a hand to her much much shorter hair and tucked a stray strand behind her ear. Her body was almost foreign to her now.

She glanced at herself, she was completley transformed. If it weren’t for her skin and her necklace that she was allowed to keep, she would’ve been a completely different person.

“This.. this is me?” she asked self conciously, raising a hand to her face.

“Yes, this will allow you to at least be inconspicuous around the neighboorhood.Are you ready? We will go show Master Grey your new look.”

Astrea glanced at herself one last time and swallowed nervously.

“Okay. I’m ready.”

Paul was painting again. He just couldn’t paint something out of the blue anymore, he needed a subject, or a goal in mind. He couldn’t paint abstractedly anymore, and this frustrated him.The paintings he turned out when wealthy families and businessmen comissioned him were excellent that was sure, but he was told that his more recent paintings lacked that spark of life.

It frustrated him that he couldn’t find that “life” factor in him to bring out.

“Master Grey, ” Anna’s voice sliced through his thoughts.

“Yes?” he replied without looking up from his painting.

The miss has been cleaned up hopefully towards your liking.”Astrea fidgeted nervously as she shifted from foot to foot.

Paul glanced up briefly at her and turned his attention back to his painting.

“It’ll do for now. We’ll find a way to cover-up her skin and go buy some wigs to cover up her hair later.” he replied.

“As you wish Master Grey. Shall I resume my usual duties?”

“Yes.”

Anna immediately went to start cleaning the amount of coffee cups that were littered throughout the house, leaving Astrea feeling very out of place as she didnt’ know what to do. Getting no other reaction from Paul, she went into the den and sat there.

Anna had gone to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and Astrea could hear the rhythmic chop-chop-chop of the knife. It was quite the different life here, these people led.

Astrea thought of her own planet, how people were starving, and how their last attempt to save their dying race was to send a few of their own to other planets, in hopes that they would find food, and send it back to the home planet. If not, then at least some of their species would survive into the future. She was certain that she wasn’t the only one sent to the planet earth, but how could she find them in such a big world?

As Astrea dwelled on these thoughts, she slowly drifted off into a peaceful slumber, thinking of the other potential people from her planet that might’ve landed here.

Maybe this planet full of life will be our answer.