Teekay rolled his eyes as someone knocked on the door behind him. He’d been moving boxes around on behalf of the Vice General all evening and wasn’t in the mood to speak to anyone.
“Yes? What do you want? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“Do you have a moment to talk, Teekay?”
Immediately, Teekay realised who this someone was. He quickly dropped the box he was carrying and spun round to speak to them.
“Ioar, I did not know you were coming today!” Teekay blurted, feeling awkward about being caught unaware. “Is it the 28th already?”
Ioar, one of the lower members of the R-Class Ksa, tutted. He started jotting things down in his notepad. “You should be aware of the date, Teekay. Anything else you are unaware of?”
Teekay stuttered, not sure what he should say. He’d had these monthly meetings with Ioar for the last three months. Not out of want or need, but because some idiot decided to falsely accuse Teekay of being mentally ill. Of course, the second anyone suggested a Ksa was not well in the head, the R-Class Ksa would swoop down and make sure everything was fine.
In Teekay’s case, everything wasn’t 100% fine. A medical overview revealed that Teekay was stressed out and it was affecting how he worked. For some reason, that meant he had to be put on the R-Class’s Watchlist, and have monthly checks to make sure he didn’t kill anyone.
“I… No. I’ve been fine. I’m just running behind on this damn organization and the fact that the Vice General changed his damn plans. Thought I was accompanying him to Ethra today. Turns out I’m not.”
“Are you angry about that?” Ioar asked, in his cold, dull voice. Out of all the R-Class they could have assigned to Teekay’s case, they chose Ioar, the most boring of all the Ksa. Strict, by the book, not at all lenient in any way what so ever.
“Disappointed. I fancied a small break from my standard work.”
Ioar continued to note things down. “How have you been feeling, physically?”
“Normal. No different, really.”
“How have you been feeling, emotionally?”
Teekay sighed. It was like listening to a machine. “I am not the happiest Ksa around but my life could easily be worse. Ioar, is this going to take long? I have to get everything cleared out before we bring in the new documents to be organized tomorrow.”
“This takes as long as it takes!” Ioar snapped. “Have you been taking any medication?”
“No, I am not on any medication currently.”
“Have you taken any substances that are banned for Ksa usage?”
“No, of course not. Don’t go near anything like that!”
Ioar looked up at Teekay. He always did this, always thought Teekay was lying. He wasn’t. Teekay hated any mind-altering substance. Most Ksa were at least tempted, Teekay just didn’t care.
“How do you feel about your Guard Target currently?”
That question was unexpected. Teekay thought for a moment. He considered lying and saying everything was fine, but he didn’t want the R-Class extending these stupid visits.
“Teekay?”
“I’m not exactly happy with the Vice General right now. We have been forbidden from talking to Arkay and I feel the Vice General has completely ignored our concerns. I know General Elkay does his best to do right by us, but we are still his servants. I should be out there looking after him, not shifting boxes like a cheap Cassid labourer. He doesn’t even need looking after. I feel like a damn slave at times. At least you get to actually go places! I’m stuck following General Elkay around ‘til the day I die!”
Ioar didn’t seem to change the expression on his face and continued writing. Teekay suddenly realised what he’d just said and how awful it all sounded.
“I said the wrong thing, didn’t I?”
Finally, Ioar looked up. “I will see you next month. 28th October. Understood?”
Teekay nodded and silently cursed as Ioar left, closing the door behind him. With a long sigh, the Ksa went back to work, knowing that his little outburst was going to come back to haunt him.