Endless Sand! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek", "Dune" and other sources belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 28
Arrakis…Dune. It has been some time since the marriage of Lord and Lady Saotome, of the House Atreides, and much has changed. House Corrino and House Harkonnen still plot against the legacy of Emperor Muad'Dib, ruler of the Great and Bountiful Human Empire, although for different reasons. For House Corrino, it is about uniting the Great Houses under one banner: theirs. However, for House Harkonnen, it is about destroying all other houses, leaving the Harkonnen as the single power in the Universe. Meanwhile, the various guilds and societies plot and scheme, trying to stay one step ahead of the impending storm, for a storm is coming, only delayed by the apparent disappearance of Paul, who proclaimed that he will return from his sojourn into the desert to pay tribute to his beloved Chiani, leaving Usagi, the Usa'Dib' to care for their children, and for his heir, Leto. Ruling in Paul's stead is Ranma, since Usagi felt more comfortable being the Dowager than Empress. No, by right, Irulan, daughter of the later Emperor Shaddam, was made Empress Consort, and thus had some say in the direction of the empire. However, Ranma had final say, as "Lord Regent" in the direction of the empire. Still, he used the counsel of his most trusted advisors, such as Prime Minister Stilgar, Ambassador-at-Large Lady T'Pol and her husband General Duncan Idaho, Ambassador-at-Large Lady Hoshi Sato, Sayyadina Minako Aino, and, of course, Empress Irulan and Empress Dowager Usagi.
And then there was Chancellor Lady Alia, sister of Paul, wife of the Imperial Regent Lord Ranma…and "Mahdi" of the Qizarate, the cadre of the fierce Fremen warriors known as the Fedaykin.
Since her marriage to her husband, Alia has been slowly consolidating her powerbase. Eliminating Korba the Traitor (the head priest, or "Panegyrist", of the Qizarate), and co-opting the services of the Bene Tleilax, in exchange for protection from her husband's wrath. Meanwhile, Alia, possessed by her late Grandfather, the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, uses her pawn, Baroness Ohelem Harkonnen's House Harkonnen, to slowly build up Harkonnen forces, even while secretly strengthening the hand of House Corrino. The ultimate objective is to destroy the Great Houses, including her own, so that only Alia, who desired to create her own Great House ("House Alia"?), and thus rule the Universe.
Plots within Plots…
On this day, Irulan and her step-children, Usagino and Ghanima, were in a flying skimmer, heading south. With the impending marriage of Princess Serena (daughter of Paul and Usagi), and Sir Darien (son of Hoshi and Ranma), and the marriage between Prince Leto and Ohelem's daughter Lilith, preparations were being made for a grand and majestic wedding. Wanting to take a break from these preparations, Irulan suggested a visit to Sayyadina Minako's residence in the South. Usagi, being the twins' primary guardian (and step-mother), and wanting to concentrate on the wedding preparations, gave her co-wife permission to take the twins onto the trip. Naturally, the twins didn't want to go, since they were a bit spoiled, so Usagi used Ranma to persuade the twins to leave the palace, or both would undergo Fadakin training under their creepy aunt Alia watch. So they went.
Unknown to all parties, Alia's master plan was about to hatch…
"We should take a look at the mating rituals of the sandworms," Usagino said, as he took his turn at piloting the air skimmer.
"You know that your mother expects you to be at the domicile of the Sayyadina within an hour," Irulan protested.
"Relax, step-mother," Ghanima said, as she looked at the contents of her personal access data device (PADD). Her step-mother Usagi wanted her to begin her training in the ways of the Bene Gesserit when she turns sixteen years of age in a few months. Ghanima would rather be follow in the footsteps of her Aunt T'Pol and step-mother Hoshi by becoming ambassador herself…
"Our detour will not deter our journey to see the Sayyadina."
"Fine," Irulan said in an huff. She then turns towards Usagino.
"Usagino?"
"I've already set the coordinates into the navigational computer," Usagino said with a mischievous grin.
"You knew that I'd relent, didn't you?"
"Well, my siblings and I are pre-born, after all," Usagino said.
"Humph," Irulan said, as she sits back in her seat. "Just make sure to remember your flying lessons."
"Will do, step-mother," Usagino said, as he moved to intercept one of the swarming grounds of the sandworms…
Meanwhile, on a plateau near an ancient temple, a blue police box materializes out of thin air.
Wrrrr-Wrrrr-Wrrrr-Wrrrr-Wrrrr-Wrrrr-TING!
A few minutes later, a middle-aged, blond woman, a young blond child, and her blue cat-rabbit emerge.
"Well, honey, we're here," said the woman, as she takes a look outside of her space-and-time machine: a "Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space" (or "TARDIS").
"And WHERE is that?" the girl said with a perturbed expression, while she strokes her pet's chin (called a "cabbit").
"Arrakis, Yugi," said a red-haired woman, as she closes the TARDIS behind her. "Or, as the locals would call it, 'Dune'."
"Yes, we KNOW that," the woman said. "I'm the one who plotted the coordinates, Cassie."
"Doctor, no need to get testy, you know," Lady Cassandra said. "Or should I call you 'Patsy Stone' or 'Purdey'?"
"I don't care. Bad enough I sunk so low as a Time Lord that I can't even live up to my reputation anymore."
"Not to worry; I'm sure your more recent reputation has surpassed your previous one."
"Like that is supposed to comfort me…"
Pause.
"And why are we here again?"
"We're at a critical junction in my life," Cassandra said, as she checked her gear. "If I recall, there will be an assassination attempt on the lives of Prince Darien, my son, and Princess Serena, Usagi's daughter. For some reason, the Baron Harkonnen is behind it, but the thing is, years before now."
"Ah, a delayed assassination," the Doctor said, as her eyes brightened with interests.
"Exactly. I never knew who made this possible, but I do know that the result of the assassination attempt resulted in the death of someone…special."
"Considering the fact that Usagi is around, I take it that this…death is someone else?"
"Yes. Her name is Alia Atreides…my wife."
Pause.
"To think that had I been faithful to her, I had I paid attention to the warning signs, Alia could have lived a full life," Cassandra said, as she shook her head.
"So, you want to stop her death from happening?" the Doctor said with a frown.
"No, I want to know the truth," Cassandra said. "And I want to know why every time I think about that day, the day Alia died, I can't remember the details."
"That is an interesting mystery," the Doctor said. "Okay. Call me 'Patsy Stone', if you wish, while we're here."
"Thanks," Cassandra said. "And call me…'River Song'."
"'River Song'? What are you, a symphony of aquatic proportions?"
"Hey, it's best I can do, okay?"
"Um, what about me?" Yugi said. "And why am I here?"
"You're good," Cassandra said. "You're 'Yugi Masaki'."
"But…that's my real name."
"Exactly, on account that no one knows the real YOU."
"If they DID, they run screaming," Yugi said. She was the product of seven people: Prince Yosho of Jurai, Washu Hakubi of Jurai, Lord Kagato of Jurai, Ranma Saotome of Earth, Princess Selenity of Luna, Hoshi Sato of Earth and T'Pol of Vulcan. Washu created Yugi in order to have someone be the living symbol of the happy times, when all seven were close friends in college. Needless to say, the results ended badly…
"Well, we hope to change that," Cassandra said. "Especially after you nearly wrecked Tokyo trying to be cousin Tenchi's girlfriend."
"Well, I was trying to impress him."
"He's your cousin! Well, technically speaking…"
"So is Ayeka to Tenchi, and that fact is not stopping HER, you know!"
"She got a point there," the Doctor said.
"Oh, shut up-"
"May I help you?" said a voice from behind.
All eyes turn towards a robed man wearing with a walking stick.
"Pardon?" the Doctor asked. "I don't believe I had the pleasure to make you acquaintance."
The man removes the hood from his head…
"YOU?" Cassandra said.
"Who is he?" Yugi asked.
"The one who could have prevented all this, and yet chose to run away," Cassandra said.
"We have much to talk about, you three," the man said.
"And your name?" the Doctor asked out of curiosity.
"You may call me…The Preacher."
"Ah, a religious type."
"So, he's safe or what?" Yugi asked.
"He's safe…for now," Cassandra said, as she squint her eyes out of suspicion.
"For now, yes," the Preacher said. He then motions towards the entrance of the abandoned Fremen temple.
"Come, allow me to introduce to you all your destinies…"
As the three followed the Preacher inside the temple, a voice could be heard in the wind…
"My apologies, Ranma," said the voice, which sounded like Usagi's. "I protected you from the choice that you will have to make, and now, you will know what really happened on the last day of Alia's life…"
"Did you hear something?" Cassandra asked, as she looked around.
"Must be the wind," the Doctor said. "Come on…"
For a split moment, the Crescent moon symbol appeared on Cassandra's shadow, before fading from view...
Tbc.
