Chapter 28
Three Years Later
During the next three years Paul and Jessica were adopted into the Fremen community led by Stilgar. Jessica underwent the Water of Life rite and became a Reverend Mother, a Sayyadina. This also made her unborn daughter, Alia, a Reverend Mother too. Paul began a relationship with Chani resulting later in the birth of his son Leto II.
Paul and his mother also began the training of the Fremen in the Weirding Way, the Prana Bindu method of fighting that the Bene Gesseret employ. Using their new training Paul led the Fremen against the Harkonnen occupiers. The flow of Spice from Arrakis slowed to a trickle. This forced Baron Vladimir Harkonnen to pressure his nephew, Rabban, to become more tyrannical in his effort to control Arrakis. This of course drove the rest of the people of Arrakis into the hands of the Fremen. Paul's guerilla campaign was on the verge of wresting control of Arrakis away from the Harkonnens.
Ship Time: 27 April 2268 AD – Mission Day 1643
Local Time: 18 April 10195 AG
Lady Jessica stood alone on the observation post high above the Cave of Birds and looked up at the night sky. It was three weeks since she found Paul in a coma. She did not know what had caused him to fall into this state. For two weeks she had watched over him trying to determine what had caused him to be in this state. She had tried various treatments the following week in an attempt to revive him. All of her Bene Gesseret knowledge was of no use. Nor were the Fremen around her able to help. Paul remained in his coma.
Jessica had a hard time understanding why this had to happen now. Just three weeks ago he had conducted his first solo sandworm ride. The next day he had cemented his authority to rule Arrakis as the heir to Duke Leto. Stilgar and the rest of the Fremen leadership had given him their oaths of fealty.
There is nothing else I can do, she thought. She quickly looked around to make sure she was alone. Then she pulled a small black box out of a pocket of her still suit; the Starfleet communicator. She turned on the power, opened the antenna cover, and began to speak.
"This is Lady Jessica calling the Marco Polo. I hope you will quickly respond to this message. Much has happened to us here on Arrakis, but that can be discussed later after you come here. My son, Paul Atreides, is now the ruling Duke. He has recently fallen into a coma and cannot be awakened. I have tried all that I could to understand and treat his condition, but nothing I do works. So, please come here as fast as you can. His life depends on it."
Ship Time: 1 May 2268 AD – Mission Day 1647
Local Time: 22 April 10195 AG
An increasingly desperate Jessica sat on a small chair next to Paul's bed. Paul remained in his coma. The curtains closing off the alcove from the rest of the sietch warren whispered as they were pushed aside.
"Greetings Sayyadina," Stilgar said as he joined her and stood next to Paul's bed.
"Welcome Stilgar," she replied. After looking down at her comatose son she returned her gaze to her guest. "Usul remains as he has been for the last few weeks."
"Is there anything that can be done," Stilgar asked.
"I have tried all that I know," she replied. She did not tell him of her call to the Marco Polo. Only Gurney Halleck, who only a month ago was reunited with Paul and Jessica, knew of the short visit by the Outsiders to Caladan. Over the last three years she had asked Paul why he does not call them. He would only reply that it was not the time to do so, but that the time would come soon. Arrakis was his home and fief and that he would not give it up to live an uncertain life among people he didn't know and in a society completely at odds with his own.
"Very well," Stilgar said. "Please let me know if his condition changes." He pulled the curtains aside to leave the chamber.
"Stilgar," Jessica began quickly. "Please call for Chani."
Finally, Stilgar thought. "I will send a 'thopter for her. It will still take a few days for her to travel here."
Jessica bowed her head to him in thanks. Stilgar nodded in return and departed. The curtains swung on their rod after his passage. A moment later a muted beep, beep came from Jessica's pocket. She pulled the communicator out of her pock and raised the antenna.
"Hello, this is Jessica."
"This is the Marco Polo communications officer. We came as fast as we could in response to your request. Please let us know how we can help you. Our Chief Medical Officer is prepared to beam down."
The curtains were quickly swept aside as Stilgar reentered the alcove.
"Just what have you done," he demanded angrily. Jessica turned off the communicator and sat it next to Paul on his cot.
"Last week I called for help to save Paul's life," she replied with just as much force. "Please call for Gurney Halleck. We have some explaining to do."
For the next half hour Jessica and Gurney told Stilgar of the visit by the Marco Polo to Caladan, beginning with the initial radio call to the confrontation with the Emperor and Guild in space above the planet.
"You should have told me that you had contacted the Outsiders," Stilgar chastised. "I would have had time to prepare our people to meet them."
"If I had told you what I had intended to do you would not have let me," Jessica said. "I had to think of Usul first."
"Well, now that they are here, I will allow them access to the sietch, but I will isolate this wing from the rest. They may come and do what they can for Usul, but they are not to be allowed to talk to or be seen by anyone but you, me, or the Fedaykin I set as guards here."
"It will be as you say," Jessica replied. Stilgar then left to set the guard.
An Hour Later
Stilgar, Jessica and several Fedaykin stood watching along one wall of a cleared space adjacent to the chamber where Paul lay in his coma. Six pillars of light began to shine before them accompanied by a soft whistling sound. Five men and a woman in a scandalously short skirt appeared before them.
By the Great Maker, Stilgar thought. It is just as Jessica said. The two Fedaykin beside him began to mutter about mala'ikah, angels coming to the aid of their servant. Then they both took a second glance at Sotar, noting his pointed ears and the slight green tint to his skin. Great Maker, he is one of the aliens Jessica mentioned, Stilgar added. He looked over the visitors. He saw that they were well watered. Their flesh was soft with easy duty. He noticed that the men and the woman wearing blue carried small satchels. He also saw that they carried lasguns and other equipment on their belts.
One of the men stepped forward and announced, "Hello, I am Captain Raymondo Garibaldi," Garibaldi began in fair Galach. All of the crew of the Polo had learned the language during the last three years. He took a second glance at Jessica and the other Fremen and noted their blue within blue eyes. "With me are Dr. Maxwell, Corpsman Stewart, Lieutenant Sotar, and security specialists Parker and Wilson."
Jessica looked over to Stilgar and nodded urgently at him. Stilgar caught her motion in his peripheral vision. He took one step forward towards Garibaldi. "I am Stilgar, Clan Chief of Sietch Tabr."
"It is good to see you again, Captain," Jessica interjected quickly.
"Captain, you and your people have my countenance as the Sayyadina Jessica has spoken to me on your behalf. This I grant to you despite your violation of the ban on thinking machines. I ask that you do not openly display such devices among the general population of the sietch, only in this area, when you are trying to help Paul Muad'dib, may you to use them. This particular area of the cave has been isolated from the rest for this purpose."
"I appreciate your understanding and generosity," Garibaldi replied. "We will not violate that trust. To that end we offer you our surety for our good behavior. Lieutenant Sotar," Garibaldi said pointedly.
Sotar raised his right hand in the typical Vulcan salute. "Live long and prosper, Stilgar," he began. "The people of Vulcan are from a world much like Arrakis. We have seen the great effort you are making to change your world in your southern hemisphere. On behalf of the planet Vulcan and the other members of the United Federation of Planets we offer you this gift."
Garibaldi took out his communicator. "Garibaldi to Polo; beam down the package." Again a shape materialized within the chamber, this time it was of a shipping pallet which filled most of the chamber. On the pallet was a stack of five liter drums.
"What is this," Stilgar asked.
"The drums contain a total of one thousand liters of water," Garibaldi replied. "Your solar system, like many others, has a region in its far reaches where many comets can be found. On our way here we stopped at one and obtained its water."
Stilgar stood there aghast at the extremely generous gift. Finally he regained his composure. "Never before has such a gift been bestowed to us. We thank you for your generosity." He paused to again consider the magnitude of the gift the starship's crew had so freely given. "Now, if you will follow me I'll take you to Paul Muad'Dib."
Stilgar turned to the two Fedaykin guards. "Organize a work party to take this water to be counted and stored within the reservoir." He then led the way to a curtain, pulled it aside and led the Federation crew to the next chamber wherein laid Paul. Doctor Maxwell immediately kneeled down next to Paul's cot, reached for his tricorder and medical scanner, and scanned Paul's vital signs. Corpsman Stewart stood next to him in case he needed her assistance.
"Temperature 31, heart rate 10; respiration 1; metabolic rate 10 percent, there are no ketones building up in the blood." He scanned Paul a moment longer and looked up at Garibaldi. "He is in as perfect a state of hibernation as I have ever seen. There appears to be nothing else wrong with him." Maxwell then turned towards Jessica and Stilgar. "Do either of you know how he entered this state," he asked.
Stilgar shook his head. "I have reviewed all the medical knowledge available to me and I can only suspect that he was poisoned," Jessica explained.
Maxwell reviewed the data on his tricorder again. "There are no poisons in his system, other that the Spice. There must be some other agent involved that would affect both his metabolism and his brain function. Before we assume hostile intent can you tell me what other psychoactive poisons are available in this area?"
"Psychoactive poisons," Jessica asked herself out loud. "There is only the Spice…" Her mind raced to consider the other poisons available. Would he have dared to take the Water? It is something he might have tried. She turned to Stilgar. "Can you have someone bring a sample of the unchanged Water of Life?"
"At once," he replied and left the chamber.
"What is the Water of Life," Maxwell asked.
"It is a spectrum narcotic poison," Jessica replied. "This is hard to explain." Jessica paused to consider revealing the secrets of her order so openly. The Fremen were well aware of her ability, it was no secret to them. "When a Bene Gesseret wishes to become a Reverend Mother," she went on, "she uses the poison to 'pass within.' The woman achieves a heightened sense of awareness and can actually change the chemistry of the poison to something harmless."
Garibaldi and Maxwell silently shook their heads at Jessica's statement. "Fascinating," Sotar quietly stated. Presently a Fedaykin entered the room with a literjon. He presented the flexible container to Jessica who then sat it down on a table next to Paul's cot. Dr. Maxwell immediately scanned it with his tricorder and began muttering.
"What a witches' brew," he finally exclaimed. "Captain, you don't want to know what is in this." He turned to Jessica. "Do you suppose Paul might have taken some of this? It would kill anyone just as fast as cyanide would."
"He might have," Jessica replied. "He still lives so he must have been able to change the 'water' successfully." He really is the Kwisatz Haderach, she thought.
"Before I begin any kind of treatment I will need to take some blood samples and a sample of the 'water' back to the Polo for detailed analysis," Maxwell announced.
After Jessica's quick nod Maxwell used a hypo to take a five milliliter blood sample. Corpsman Stewart then passed over a small flask for the 'water' sample. Jessica opened the literjon and the stench of corruption began to fill the chamber. She then poured some of the 'water' into the flask.
While the transfer was taking place Stewart was looking at Paul and noticed his nose twitching slightly. "Doctor," she said a little excitedly. "I think I saw his nose move a little."
Maxwell reactivated his tricorder and scanned the young man again. "Metabolic rate is picking up as well as his brain wave activity." He looked down at the flask of Water of Life. "Could he smell the 'water,'" he asked.
"He apparently is," Jessica replied. She dipped a finger in the doctor's flask and held it up under Paul's nose. Paul inhaled a long breath and his eyes fluttered open.
Paul remained laying on his cot. His eyes quickly took in the faces of those at his bedside. A slight bewilderment passed over his face as he saw Dr. Maxwell kneeling beside his cot while passing his medical scanner over him. Jessica watched him for a moment and then realized that he was completely awake.
"All body functions are within normal ranges," Dr. Maxwell announced.
Paul, still a bit puzzled, looked again at Dr. Maxwell, "Why are you here," he asked a little hoarsely.
"Your mother called to ask for our help," Dr. Maxwell replied. "It will take a while for you to recover from your hibernation."
"Why did you drink the sacred water," Jessica interrupted.
"I only took a little sip, one small drop," he told her.
"How could you do something so stupid," she asked.
"When I had the drop in my mouth, when I could taste it and feel what it was doing to me, then I knew that I could do what you could do. Your Bene Gesseret proctors speak of the Kwisatz Haderach, but they cannot begin to guess the many places I have been…" He tried to raise himself up onto his elbows. Dr. Maxwell and Jessica pushed him back down.
"I feel so weak," Paul said as his eyes darted around the room seeing all the visitors. "How long have I been here?"
"You've been in a coma three weeks," Jessica replied.
"But just a moment ago I took a sip of the Water of Life," he said again bewildered.
"A moment for you, three weeks of fear for me," Jessica said.
"It was only one drop, but I converted it," Paul said as he snatched the container of the Water from Jessica and swallowed a large mouthful.
"Paul," Jessica screamed. Dr. Maxwell simply ordered, "Cordrazine." Corpsman Stewart quickly passed him a hypo already loaded with the drug. Paul grabbed his mother's hand and sent his awareness surging into her. Maxwell then realized that Paul was not entering another coma and did not inject Paul with the drug. He passed his scanner over Paul again. "Metabolic functions have increased," he announced.
"Show me the place you cannot face," he said aloud to Jessica.
Jessica shook her head terrified at the thought of seeing that part of herself.
"Show me," Paul commanded, his awareness crashing through her defenses.
"No," she yelled back.
Paul's awareness forced its way through and around her into the place she could not face, a place of darkness, flashing lights, and blowing wind. She trembled at what she saw there and shied away from it in terror. She then opened her eyes and tried to stand. Paul released her hand. She staggered to her feet and would have fallen backwards if Dr. Maxwell and Corpsman Stewart had not caught her. They helped her to sit at the foot of Paul's cot. Jessica slumped as she sat on the cot.
"Are you alright," Maxwell asked as he passed the scanner over her. He looked over his shoulder towards the rest of the landing party and shook his head. He had no idea what had just happened.
"So…tired," she finally said. "He has seen the Water of Life." Again the realization that her son was the Kwisatz Haderach washed over her causing her to tremble once again.
"Fascinating," Sotar commented. "A drug induced telepathy."
Captain Garibaldi stepped forward. "What is going on here," he asked.
"In each of us there is an ancient force that takes or gives," Paul began. "A man finds little difficulty facing the taking force within him. It is impossible for him to face the giving force without changing into something other than a man. For a woman the reverse is true." Paul looked again at his mother. "Do you understand?"
"And you, son," Jessica asked, "are you the one that gives or takes?"
"I'm at a fulcrum," he replied. "I cannot give without taking and I cannot take without…" He stopped and looked inward again. Jessica knew what that inward gaze meant. Paul was again seeing the future.
"You have seen the future," Jessica said after Paul ended his prophetic gaze. "Will you tell us what you saw?"
"The Emperor is coming. Space above Arrakis will be filled with the ships of the Guild. He will come with his favorite Truthsayer and five legions of Sardaukar. Barron Vladimir Harkonnen will be with him along with Thufir Hawat. The Barron will bring every conscript he can muster. Every other great house will send ships and soldiers, but they will remain in space waiting…"
Garibaldi whipped out his communicator. "Garibaldi to Polo," he called.
"Polo here, go ahead Captain," Palmer replied.
"Ships status report," he requested.
"Situation normal, Captain," Palmer replied.
"Very well, inform me immediately if anything happens. Garibaldi out," the captain said as he shut off his communicator. He stepped forward to address Paul. He did not put much faith in Paul's prediction, yet he knew of Argeliun Seers and Vulcan and Medusan telepaths. Indeed, the ability of the Organians to put an end to the latest Federation-Klingon war was known to all. So paranormal abilities were no surprise to him. "Why is the Emperor coming to Arrakis and why will most of the troops and ships remain on board the Guild's Heighliners?"
Paul looked up at and recognized Captain Garibaldi. "They will be waiting for the Guild's permission to land. They are searching for me, but they cannot see me. They have reduced troop transport costs to almost nothing so now even the poorest House is waiting to attack us."
Garibaldi recalled three years of signal intercepts, the fact that House Atreides is a guerrilla house on Arrakis, and that overwhelming force was being brought to bear against Arrakis.
"You have stopped the flow of Spice," he announced, "and they are now here to restore it by force."
"Yes," Paul replied impressed that Garibaldi could figure it out so fast, "and I will destroy the Spice forever if needed."
