“Amasso has gone to collect Mick’N and Dax is on his way.” She informed him. He nodded in acknowledgement.
~*~*~*~*~
The Reverend Mother Zelron's buzzer sounded. "Yes!"
The Acolyte's voice came through "Reverend Mother I have the Mother Superior Sasha on the line."
"Put her though."
The Mother Superior's raspy voice came though. "Zelron, you've seen the horror on the AVU?"
"Yes, and I have been in contact with various people and the picture looks grim indeed." Zelron acknowledged.
"Your services will be required. As soon as you appoint someone to continue to monitor the exodus I want you to report to my office."
"Yes, Sasha." Zelron cut the communication and considered the candidates to replace her.
~*~*~*~*~
Ali Ben Knesset the Tleilaxu Governor of Caladan tightened the screw again. He was tired of this constant appealing to the Atreides for assistance. He would break this resistance once and for all.
~*~*~*~*~
Arista read the communiqué for a third time - just to be sure.
In true Tleilaxu form it was simple and straight to the point – “All persons of Caladanian or Budislamic extract arriving on Caladan will be taken aside, questioned, have their image taken and will be fingerprinted.”
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The public howl had been instant: A'khil El Vikram of The Budislamics Minority Rights Association stated that this latest action must be seen as a new form of racial discrimination and contrary to the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty.
Now Arista was receiving reports that even before the new regulations were in place, that some ten thousand had been detained for questioning.
With the silent consent of the Landsraad, Atreides rulers, had for carefully considered reasons, tolerated the situation on Caladan, and had done so for generations. Maybe Amasso had been right - It was time that this generation dealt with the state of affairs on the Ancestral Home of House Atreides.
Now the Tleilaxu no longer seemed content to rule but were now tightening the screws of oppression. After analyzing the situation and weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Arista made her decision. She now had to decide just how to achieved the decision.
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hapter 20
C
Que Sera Sera
What ever will be will be.
The future’s not ours to see.
Que Sera Sera
What will be will be.
Favourite Lullaby of Grand Dame Atreides
Grand Mother to the Emperor Dax
Dax stood on the outcrop and said simply. “Shai-Hulud – It is I, Dax. I need you. Come to me –
your humble servant.” There were no thumping, no regular noises just his voice on the wind.
Silence descended as Dax and Alexi waited.
He was about to test a theory. If he was right … IF HE WAS RIGHT! Then he was about to drag humanity into an era to challenge that of Maud'Dib and the Tyrant.
He contemplated his place in the Universe. He was either about to make history or a fool of himself in front of Alexi no less. Alexi, his thoughts drifted to her again. There was no doubt that she had been brought to Dune to be the consort of the Emperor – him. With every passing day he realized the wisdom in having the right partner. The role was a weighty one – the right partner could make it easier. His mother had his father and he wanted that. If he were to survive the future – he NEEDED that.
Dax confessed softly "Alexi, I dream of you and call your name for one reason only."
"I know."
He turned "You do?"
She nodded. "You hit your head when the elevator malfunctioned."
He chuckled. "You have no idea."
"It is nice for friends to appreciate each other." She baited him.
"No! No! No!" He wasn't getting through to her.
“Why?” She wanted to make sure that she had not misunderstood this conversation.
He watched her closely as he uttered the prophetic vision, “As I am to be father to a new epoch and you are to be mother.”
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“Is that all?” She taunted. “Parents to a new epoch? Oh well why didn’t you say so from the beginning?” Then she got serious. “This is a serious commission, M’Lord – are you sure?”
“When my mother sat Amasso and I down for THAT conversation, you know the one – the one that explained the differences between the sexes. She told us that, regardless of the age it happens, we would only become men when we know the woman that we wanted. Till then we would remain mere boys. I have come to realize that to become the man I desire to be I will need you.”
A tear rolled down Alexi’s cheek at the honesty of his statement. He would never understand women. What was wrong now! He wiped her cheek with a caress. "I'm sorry, Alexi. The last few months have been a revelation to me. Being locked up in the elevator I had time to review aspects of my life and the results were life changing to say the least."
"I have wondered about that day." She revealed. “I would be honoured. M’Lord.”
“Dax.” He corrected. “My name is Dax.”
She tried out the name. “Dax.” Then she sort clarification, just to be sure. “… and what exactly will this new role entail?”
He nodded as he realized that he had to clarify his position a bit more. “In one word ‘Consort’ I am offering nothing less than for you to become my partner.” He was about to hold her and seal the shift in the relationship with a kiss when the ground rumbled.
He fell to his knees weak from the implications of what was about to unfold.
~*~*~*~*~
A somber Baron Vladimir arrived at the site of the disaster as he made his first trip to view the crumpled remains of The Tower of Strength. He arrived in the morning not wanting to be caught in the midday sun.
The Baron donned a personal shield configured for construction sites and toured the disaster location. Actually seeing the devastation wrought on the statue was too much; he was inconsolable - not for the loss of the lives of the citizens of Giedi Prime, but for the loss of the tribute to his ancestor.
He vowed to his ancestor and not coincidentally the press corps following him. "We will rebuild this tribute...“ Deep within his heart he completed the vow [ …and then the rest of the Universe will hear from House Harkonnen. ]
~*~*~*~*~
“Daaaax!” Alexi screamed. She’d never seen a wild worm before and certainly never been this close to one. She struggled to regain control by repeating the litany against fear…
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I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear. I will allow my fear to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
And where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Lost in the unfolding events Dax didn’t respond to her call. Remaining on his knees he felt the fast approach of the Goliath. Racing towards the man as if with no intension of stopping the worm zoomed along displacing mountains of sand as it approached. Finally with two meters to spare the Leviathan stopped before the man who had summoned it.
The sand worm reared up slightly and paused before the genuflecting man.
Alexi stared in amazement at the tableau of the kneeling man before the giant.
Realizing that first, the worm had no intension of devouring him or his Consort and second that it seemed to be waiting. Dax ventured to continue the test.
He stood “Oh, Great One. I am in need of assistance. I need to get to Arakkis City as we approach the brink of genocide. Will you consent to let me and my Consort ride the sands with you as our guide?” A double dose of presumption he knew, Alexi had not answered and the worm may yet devour him.
In response the worm lay down.
There was the proof. The Great Sand Worms of Dune responded to him! He was right! He was about to drag humanity into an era to challenge that of Maud'Dib and the Tyrant!
As he and Alexi mounted the waiting worm he said to her. “You must now decide where your loyalties lie. You cannot serve two masters.”
On that note the worm rose and headed for Arakkis City.
~*~*~*~*~
PETITION
TO: CHIEF JUSTICE - ICJ
FROM: THE BUDISLAMICS MINORITY RIGHTS ASSOCIATION OF KAITIAN
WE HEREBY FILE A PETITION TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE
TLEILAXU MARRIAGE SEPARATIST ACT.
95
A'KHIL EL VIKRAM
CHIEF LITIGATOR
96
hapter 21
C A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.
"Manual of Muad'Dib" by the Princess Irulan
Wife of Emperor Paul Muad'Dib
Across the Planet special services were held by families to mourn the dead and pray for the missing. Vlad's visit had finished an Official Day of mourning and prayer on Giedi Prime, a mood that tended to lightened considerably when people returned to the relative privacy of their homes, as "The Give Me Strength" was no more.
Out on the site, however, the mood tended to be grim as the difficult weather of Giedi Prime combined with the occasional heavy rain slowed efforts to find survivors in the wreckage.
~*~*~*~*~
Duncan continued to coordinate the responses from his Arakkis base. “The Guild has grounded all flights both intra and inter planetary. Nothing is to move for the next twenty six hours that includes military.”
“Dax arrive yet?” Amasso walked in with Mick’N.
“No.” Arista replied. “I will need to address the Empire.”
“You will need to visit the sites.” Mick’N added.
“If the Guild maintains the grounding then we are going no where.” Arista replied. “Amasso, Your father is mobilizing the Military I need you to coordinate with him with the Emergency Services. I need an investigation stared. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!”
She turned to Mick’N, “Mick’N, I need you – I need to compose my thoughts and what to say.
Not to mention the formation of a policy on this – there is bout to be significant fall out.”
“I can just hear Vladimir.” Amasso snorted.
Mick’N followed Arista and added. “We will need to convene the Landsraad.” He paused long enough to grab Amasso and growl “And no spice wine for you.”
~*~*~*~*~
The buzzer sounded. "Yes!"
97
The Acolyte's voice came through "Excuse me, Mother Superior Sasha, but I have Ambassador Olaf of Caladan requesting an audience."
Zelron glanced at Sasha. “You were expecting him?”
“No. But he is not unexpected.” She then instructed the Acolyte, “Send him in.”
The tall lean man walked into the room with great confidence. “Mother Superior.” He greeted her.
“Ambassador…” She replied, this is Reverend Mother Zelron.” The man bowed to Zelron.
“How may the Sisterhood be of assistance to you?”
“I shall be blunt. The Empress has again refused you permission to evacuate your sisterhood from Caladan. Caladan remains in the grip of the Tleilaxu yet. Fremen have landed on Selusa Secundus, attacks are now launched against Kiatian and Giedi Prime. I suggest Superior that the Bene Gesserit leaves en mass. While we use the opportunity with a combined force of Buddislam and Bene Gesserit to send the Tleilaxu back to whence they came.”
There was silence.
Sasha’s next words surprised the Ambassador. “How did you get here? There is an embargo on all flights.”
The man blinked at the change of topic. As she scratched an itch he answered. “What goes up must come down and as we were near our destination we were allowed to land. The flight will not continue; so many are stranded here.”
Zelron answered Sasha’s inquiry via the same hand signal language. “Though we may want to examine this proposed alliance with the Buddislamics he is, however correct the opportunity presented by this present chaos cannot be allowed to pass.”
Sasha replied to the Ambassador. “This is an offer that must be discussed. As you are stranded here for an unknown period of time we shall have a chance again to speak of this.”
Taking the cue he stood to leave. “Of course. I look forward to meeting with you again.”
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hapter 22
C
Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
Fremen Lesson
With the inspection tour cut short, and a Sand Worm at his command, a ride that would have taken Dax three days, now took three hours.
Alexi took the time to reflect on Dax’s words. [ You must now decide where your loyalties lie.
You cannot serve two masters. ] She hid her smile [ But I *can* I am Bene Gesserit. ]
No sooner had the journey began than Dax had made himself comfortable on the surface of the worm confident that he would come to no harm. He then opened his arms to her inviting her to lean against him and she did.
Her reason for being on Arakkis had been to mate with this man. The Reverend Mother Farrah was impatient that time was wasting and they were no closer to that aim -- Then suddenly this.
She felt his strong arms around her, keeping her safe and secure. There was really no choice, she loved him and she now understood the Atreides ability to bind people to them. The voices within urged caution but not flight and so she placed her foot on the path to follow that of her predecessor The Lady Jessica Atreides.
Her decision made she relaxed against Dax and she prepared to enjoy the ride.
Feeling the moment that her decision was made Dax tighten his arms around the woman he considered his Consort.
His reference to her earlier seeped in. “Consort?” she asked.
“Consort.” He confirmed.
~*~*~*~*~
OFFICIAL MEMO
THE CABINET HAS INSTRUCTED ALL PLANETS TO OBSERVE THREE MINUTES OF
SILENCE IN HONOUR OF THE VICTIMS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON KAITAN
AND GIEDI PRIME.
THE HONOUR IS TO TAKE PLACE THE 15TH DAY OF THE MONTH OF MAUD'DIB IN
THIS THE YEAR 39,176 AT THE HOUR OF LUD.
99
THE EMPRESS HAS ALSO DIRECTED THAT ALL FLAGS ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS BE
FLOWN AT HALF-MAST THAT DAY.
~*~*~*~*~
Tho'Ma Kyens finally got his window of opportunity to present his theory when he was invited to be a key note speaker at " The Universal Summit on Sustainable Development and Climate Change: From Kaitian to Salusa Secundus. - A Lost Decade", to be hosted by the Climate Change Secretariat and sponsored by the Humanitarian Assistance Program of the Military.
The Conference was being held at the Climate Change Secretariat Headquarters on Salusa Secundus and by all accounts it was a resounding success and it was not even completed yet.
Then the attacks had occurred. Now, understandably every thing was in the air and running late.
It was agreed by the delegates that the conference would continue. What else could be done? But all were warned that there would be mass disruptions to flight schedules as the Spacing Guild had locked down all travel for the first time ever.
Kynes had presented the paper; dealt with questions and all in all had defended his theory flawlessly and successfully. A draft resolution was passed by a majority of only sixty percent based on his findings, but he had his proviso and that was what mattered. Measures needed to be taken to mitigate the problem and this was a first step.
The draft resolution also made a call for Giedi Prime to reconsider their position of noncompliance. The resolution would eventually be delivered to Empress Arista, when the document was finalized.
As a true Kynes, fanatical in his crusade, Tho’Ma had all intension in speaking with the Empress, finished document or not. For now though he was stuck on Salusa Secundus.
He walked into the Command and Control room. "Major!" he addressed the Soldier.
"Sir."
"Where is Colonel Clarke?"
"Not here, Sir, I'm in charge may I assist?"
"I seriously doubt that you are in charge, Major. Where - is - Colonel Clarke!"
The Major regarded her "Mr. Kynes... " He said placatingly.
He pulled out his ID. "Dr. Kynes, Imperial Planetologist."
The Major read the card and handed it back.
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"Now, Major, I say again. Where - is - Colonel Clarke!"
"Packing, Sir. The Guild has conceded to exception for Military only. He has orders to return ASAP to the Kaitina. Transport is on its way as we speak to collect the Colonel."
"Book me on that transport Major. For I have to reach the Empress in quick time."
"No can do, Sir. This is for Military only. All civilians have to remain put." The Major would not be budged and so Kynes was stranded on Kaitian.
~*~*~*~*~
The rhythm of the worm as it glided along was hypnotic and it wasn’t long before Alexi had dropped off to sleep.
Dax himself found the whole experience electrifying. He had summoned a worm at will and it was complying with his request! He had mounted and now rode the Giant with no need of tools and to top it all he had Alexi with him for the ride – literally. As these thoughts and feelings coursed through him his eyes looked at everything and he drank in the sights. Instinctively his hold on Alexi tightened, she adjusted herself in response.
As the ride continued he noticed the growth on the worm. Trying not to awaken Alexi he reached out and gently touched what looked like a tumor. The worm reacted violently and almost threw them off.
“What!” Alexi awoke.
“Nothing…” Dax assured her as he filed the information away in his mind. “My fault.
Nothing.” He lightly kissed the top of her head to reassure her.
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hapter 23
C
Quod Erat Demonstrandum
“Where is Dax!” Amasso looked out the window in frustration for the millionth time. This time he saw something that required witnesses. “Mother! Father!”
The squeal that they had not heard from their son since he was six brought them running. All he could do was point.
Before their eyes and that of Arakkis City, Dax Atreides lowered the shield and rode the worm up to the doorstep of the Palace. The worm was obviously under his control and when he and Alexi stepped down and he spoke to the worm, it nodded, turned and left – there was no doubt.
“Great Maker. He controls the worms!” Arista shuddered.
~*~*~*~*~
The Lady Alexi reported to the Reverend Mother Farrah as ordered. It would be the last time.
She had just ridden a sand worm and lived to tell the tale, she was the Cabinet Secretary but most important she was Consort to the NaEmperor.
Farrah sensed the change. “What was the result of that walkabout in the desert?”
“He has named me Consort.” Alexi reported.
“Indeed?” This was beyond Farrah’s expectations. “Then we expect the female offspring soon.”
She noted Alexi’s hesitancy and probed. “Alexi?”
“I have reason to suspect that the breeding program may face a set back.” She replied.
“Explain.” Farrah ordered.
“He may be the Kwisatz Haderach.”
“Dax?” Farrah stated the obvious to be sure. “Great Mother.”
Alexi nodded. “Be warned Moth…”
“Warned!” Farrah cut across her.
“Warned.” Alexi confirmed. “It is not the modus opperdani for an Atreides male to marry his Consort. I expect the same here, but as the bound concubine of the NaEmperor it is my duty to ensure to best of my ability, his safety.”
102
She turned to leave but not before adding. “In future you will come to me.”
~*~*~*~*~
Alexi entered her quarters; she rounded her desk and there it was.
A single long stemmed red rose.
She involuntarily looked up to see if anyone was observing her. They were not. She picked up the rose to sniff. There was something about the scent of a rose. She smiled to herself; apparently Dax was wasting no time. She was convinced it was him who else could it be? She spotted the card and read it.
My mother will have my water for raiding the arboretum,
but only the best for the best.
Love Dax.
She went in search of a vase before heading for the latest Cabinet Meeting.
~*~*~*~*~
Dr. Thalmas Sanchez was the physician to House Atreides. As with all Doctors to the Royal Houses he was trained in the Suk way, guaranteeing his conditioning for not being capable of harming the clients he was assigned to. That promise being manifest by the diamond tattoo that all Suk graduates carried on their forehead.
The Suk Medical Society had taken a thousand years to recover from the treachery shown by Dr.
Wellington Yueh who had been assigned to House Atreides in the time of Maud'Dib. The Harkonnens had broken Yueh’s conditioning and the fact that a Suk Doctor's training could be broken had been a shock to the Suk Medical Society and the entire Landsraad.
With five years of service to House Atreides, Thalmas still thought of as the new Physician, the previous one having died of Spice Addiction. He was a tall man with spider-black eyes and full, pouting lips. At certain angles he called to mind Al Samoud Harkonnen, but a background check had cleared him for service. He carried his long, black hair in a "Suk School" silver ring down the center of his back.
Having been quickly briefed by Lord Dax, the Doctor was now in search of the Lady Alexi. He finally caught up with the Cabinet Secretary. “My Lady!”
Alexi turned vase still in hand. “Yes, Dr. Sanchez?”
“May I speak with you privately?”
“Of course this way.” She led him into her office. “Now, how may I assist?”
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“My lady, Lord Dax has informed me of your change in designation and before the household move you into his quarters I must conduct a physical.” He wasn’t the least uncomfortable with the topic. Seemed that Suk training prepared one for anything, well Bene Gesserit training was good as any, if not better.
“Will now suit you, Doctor?” She prepared to strip.
~*~*~*~*~
As Giedi Prime sought to resume its normal pace, the Guild reopened the Spaceports.
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hapter 24
C
"The single biggest problem in communication
…is the illusion that it has taken place"
George Bernard Shaw – Ancient Terran Philosopher
FROM: BARON VLADIMIR HARKONNEN IV
TO: EMPRESS ARISTA ATREIDES V
MESSAGE:
NOW THAT THE GUILD IS ALLOWING INTER AND INTRA PLANETARY
MOVEMENT,