Exhaustion
All Iakovos ever felt was exhaustion. He bent forward, using his nail gun to secure a piece of lumber in place.
"Yo, Jake, can you come here for a sec?"
Breaking from his introspection, Iakovos looked up and saw his boss wave him over.
"Yeah, sure thing Mike." He sluggishly jogged over. "What's up brother?"
"Hey man, I just need to talk to you about something real quick. You mind steppin this way with me real quick?"
Iakovos sighed, he knew where this was going. After a brief walk over towards the lot, Mike looked up with an apologetic look on his face.
"Hey Jake, you know I love ya man, you being my nephew and all but, with the state the economy is in right now and with less work coming through everyday, I gotta let someone go."
"Yeah man - I get it, I can see where you're coming from. We both know I don't really need to work, I have enough money to last me three lifetimes over, so it's probably better if you let me go over someone who really needs this job."
Mike looked sorrowful, "Yeah, I'm sorry dude, I really am. I know you don't like staying cooped up in that house anymore but, if Joe or Levi lost this job they'd be screwed. They have families man."
That last quip stung but, Iakovos knew he was right. "Yeah man, I'll get my belt and tools and get goin. Just, keep me in mind if things pick back up."
Mike gave him a pat on the shoulder "sure thing big-guy, take it easier. Text me if you need anything. See you on Sunday?"
"Yeah man, see you."
Exhaustion
That's all he ever felt, this whole situation is tiresome. Iakovos collected his belt, explained what was going on to the crew, they looked apologetic yet thankful at the same time. A few moments later he was sitting in his truck.
'Might as well order some groceries I guess, I'll cook up something nice tonight I think.' Iakovos thought to himself as he opened up the Amazon app to place a grocery order at Whole Foods.
Iakovos began his drive home in silence, he hated music.
The auspex was alight with movement in all directions, alert klaxons blaring continuously.
"Brother-Sergeant we have movement, west by northwest, approximately ten klicks."
The grizzled Primaris mouthed a silent prayer to the God Emperor and delicately hoisted his flamer to his shoulder.
"Brothers, we are in unfamiliar terrain, on an unfamiliar world. Be vigilant, Captain Bellerophon will tolerate no mistakes."
"Aye Brother Pavlos, the Emperor protects."
"The Emperor protects."
Commissar Oksana took a long draw from her cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke with her next breath. Where in the Emperor's name was she? Why was General Nikolas so insistent she leave the command tent and lead a scouting expedition herself? This situation was irksome, she did not like being on unfamiliar ground.
"Listen up you dogs, the general want's a clean op - no mistakes, or I will send you to meet the Emperor myself. Sergeant Evgeny, get the men ready, we leave in two minutes."
"By your will Commissar!" The Sergeant turned and shouted "Alright lads, check your packs, safeties off. No mistakes, we don't want to anger the General. The Emperor protects!"
"The Emperor protects!"
A lone watcher, adorned in black robes, scanned the mon-keigh forces as they readied their gear. She wasn't sure where she was, or how she and brethren had arrived here. The unfamiliar terrain made her uneasy, she sat atop a wooden cliff, on a world filled with giant structures. But, she felt nothing. No life, other than her brethren, and the mon-keigh before her.
"Farseer, we are awaiting your orders."
"Swift of foot my sisters but, keep to the shadows. Until we know exactly where we are we can ill afford an engagement with the humans."
"Understood Farseer, with the guile of Cegorach we will remain unseen."
With a familiar hum, their stealth generators activated. They had left their settlement well protected, the Guardians would keep the Bonesingers safe while they played their songs but, Ilftuda could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Just where was she, and why did nothing look familiar? Ilftuda took one last look at the humans below her, and then silently stepped away from her wooden perch.
With groceries in hand, Iakovos stepped away from his truck and walked towards the door of his fairly large home. He had bought this house with his fiance, Merwinna, just a year ago. Iakovos took a deep breath, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
Iakovos scanned the interior of his home. It was dark but he could tell everything was as he had left it this morning. He and Merwinna had designed the house themselves, they both detested the modern-chic, instead of drywall and linoleum floors, they had decided on traditional hardwood floors and stone walls adorned with a pine green wallpaper with gold accents. To his left was his study, and to his right was the great room. Standing silently in the foyer he looked at the hardwood staircase, that he had made himself. Importing the ash from Ireland had been expensive, but it was worth it. Merwinna had loved that staircase.
"I'm home." Iakovos whispered to himself as he began his silent trek to the kitchen. As he walked he caught sight of his old grand piano in the great room, now unused. He used to love music, and his playing always brought a smile to his mothers face.
Iakovos entered the kitchen, flicked on the lights, and opened the fridge. It was mostly empty, aside from a few cans of La Croix and some left overs from the night before. Iakovos preferred to shop on a weekly basis, this prevented anything from going to waste. After putting away his groceries, he slid off his boots, and removed his sweatshirt, quickly placing them in the laundry room.
'I need a nap, just a quick little fifteen minutes to recharge the batteries. Then I will cook dinner.' With a silent nod to himself, Iakovos walked over to his living room, passing by his bookshelf, and Merwinna's old icon corner. Iakovos stopped, and inspected the icons that hung on the wall like he always did, looking at images of Saints he didn't know. He sighed to himself, and he picked up a beeswax candle, and lit it. Placing it gently in the small trough filled with sand that sat on the antique table in front of the icons. In a practiced motion, Iakovos made a small triangle with his thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Bringing to his forehead, down to his feet, up to his right shoulder, and over to his left shoulder. Then he kissed the icon Merwinna always kissed, she called it the Panagia Platytera, and said the quick little prayer she always said.
"Lord, through the intercessions of your holy mother, bless my labors."
With a sigh, Iakovos turned away, leaving the candle burning, the only light in his darkened living room, and sat on the couch. Exhaustion, that's all he ever felt. Life, and everything that came with it, is exhausting.
It was dark now Pavlos could tell, luckily he could see as if the sun still shone in the sky. His blessed armor made sure of that. As he and his brothers continued their exploration, they heard a loud crashing noise, and the ground beneath his feet began to shake, as if a quake had begun.
Quickly activating his vox, Pavlos contacted his squad. "Brothers, be on alert. The earth shakes beneath us. Stand firm."
"Yes Brother-Sergeant!"
The movement ceased as quickly as it had begun, but now the auspex was picking up movement, and it was heading right towards them. Pavlos scanned the terrain, and saw what looked to be a cave in the brown mountain they had been following for the last hour. "Brothers, on me, take shelter in that cave!"
Pavlos and his fellow Primaris quickly, but carefully, stepped foot into the cave. The auspex still registered a life form near them, but it was no longer moving. Pavlos peered into the illuminated darkness, scanning for any movement. He saw none.
"Brother-Sergeant this cave, it's not made of stone or rock. The material is far too soft and pliable, what is this?"
Pavlos inspected the material of the cave, like his brothers he did not recognize the material, it certainly wasn't made of biomass, or stone. He grew cautious, an eerie feeling surrounded him. "Brothers, regroup, we are exiting this cave. Prepare for a possible engagement."
As the Primaris stepped out of the cave, they saw what could only be described as a Titan sitting upon the mountain. Its legs resting on the earth below.
"Brother Pavlos, what in the Emperor's holy name is that?"
"I am not sure brother, prepare the melta charges. We will create an entrance into this machine, and explore it from the inside. While you do so, I will attempt to reach Brother-Captain Bellerophon."
Iakovos took a deep breath, he could feel sleep coming to him quickly. As he rested his eyes, and fell to his relaxation, he felt a sudden burning sensation on his ankle.
"Ah! What was that?!" Quickly picking up his iPhone he turned on the flashlight and pointed it at his ankle, spotting what looked like little toys dressed in armor next to his ankle. He quickly bent down and scooped one of them up and brought it up to his face.
"Sergeant Pavlos!"
Pavlos felt all the wind leave his body as he was suddenly brought up into the sky, when his sight finally came to him, he saw a creature staring at him.
Iakovos stared at the little toy, that was… moving? That didn't make any sense? Toy's don't move.
"Unhand me alien filth, if you wish to kill me, do so quickly!"
"Uh, what?"
Exhaustion
That's all this was, he was seeing things. He had to be.