There was a Skyavok-shaped patch in Teekay’s garden that hadn’t been there when he’d left that morning. The Skyavok-shaped patch had left drag marks across Teekay’s otherwise immaculate lawn, then left muddy skids across his immaculate marble patio, before somehow managing to open the back door, lock the back door behind it then collapsed in a heap in the main living space.
Teekay’s first thought was to call the astynom, but he wasn’t exactly friends with them. The downside to being in control of the K-Class, the Skyavok military, was that very few people believed Teekay whenever something happened to him. Teekay did his best to live as average a life as possible, rather than the powerful, luxurious life he apparently deserved and apparently the Skyavok population had taken issues with that. In fact, everything Teekay did, everyone judged him for it. Every action scrutinized.
That weekend was supposed to be different. He was supposed to spend his Saturday and Sunday relaxing in his own home, but now there was a half-dead Skyavok in the way.
As Teekay inched closer to the body, he realised two things. Firstly, the weird yellow armour on that Skyavok looked strangely familiar. Secondly, it was breathing, but breathing very erratically. There was a wound on its stomach and it had a little bit of blood coming from its wing holsters, but they otherwise looked like they were in good shape.
There was a third thing though.
One of the Skyavok’s arms was stretched out. Teekay followed where the arm was pointing to, only to realise that the Skyavok had basically collapsed in front of Teekay’s little shrine.
Unlike most Skyavok, Teekay… had a thing about worshipping deities. He did more than offer trinkets to the Voidborn. He actively worshipped the Thantophor. He only did so in the privacy of his own home, but it was Teekay’s little secret. None of it was illegal, just… different. And funnily enough, the Skyavok lying in front of the Thantophor’s shrine looked… exactly like the Thantophor.
“Please don’t make me have to call the Astynom…” Teekay sighed.
Surprisingly, the Skyavok reacted to Teekay’s voice. They grunted and turned themselves over, glancing at Teekay.
“Ow.”
“You’re alive.”
“Not really…” The Skyavok’s eyes blinked open. They stared at Teekay, then at the mess they’d made. “Why are you worshipping me?”
Teekay tutted. “So you are the Thantophor.”
“You can call me Arkay. And right now… technically I’m not… any more…”
“Why?”
Arkay sat up, then laid back down, curling into a ball and being careful not to mess with the wound on his side. “It’s… not good…”
“Do you need me to get you to a hospital? Or get you some bandages or something?” Teekay asked. He was getting more and more concerned. If this was really the Thantophor, he was acting very much like he was injured and needed help.
“No…” Arkay murmured. “Kairos can handle it… Don’t need me any more. Just need somewhere to sleep…”
“Does it have to be in the middle of my living space?” Teekay asked.
“Sorry…” Arkay rolled over, closer to the shrine in the corner. “I promise I won’t be here for long…”
After a few moments, he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.