Chapter 29
..."Believe nothing. No matter where you read it,
Or who said it,
Even if I have said it,
Unless it agrees with your own reason
And your own common sense."
Buddha, The Dhammapada
Dax stood before the full-length mirror and adjusted the collar to his uniform. Like his twin he was a Major and like his twin there was nothing honourary about it. He was Fremen, son of a Sword Master and an Empress – that alone meant that he had had the best of training.
There was a knock and Ammaso entered.
Dax turned from the reflection in the mirror to the reflection in the room. They really did look alike and had had enough good times fooling all as to who was whom.
Dax took one last look into the mirror as Amasso spoke. "One way or another this is going to be an historic day."
Not bothering to turn to look his way, Dax replied "And then some."
"Know something I don't little brother?" He probed.
This time Dax returned his twin's gaze. "House Atreides will stand or fall this day."
Amasso studied Dax. "You know something."
"I know what can be. I don't know what will be."
"And there in lies the difference." Amasso conceded.
"And there in lies the difference." Dax echoed. "Time to go."
Amasso hesitated.
"Mas?" Dax called. "Something wrong?'
"Shar'Lem, liked to see me in my dress uniform."
Dax got sober too, he had liked the woman, he had been good for his brother and now he was without her, Amasso seemed to have no direction. He stood mute. What could one say?
"I miss her, Dax." Amasso whispered.
"I know. I know." He really did, for he missed her too. Oppressed by the feeling of loss the two brothers walked out the door.
~*~*~*~*~
It was the rare occasion that brought every member of the Landsraad to a meeting. Dependant upon the agenda a percentage of the membership was the norm. Not this day - they all were all there, the Major Houses, the Minor Houses and the Houses awaiting admittance and thus only conferred with observer stauts. Also in attendance were: The Bene Gesserit, The Bene Tleilaxu, The Spacing Guild, The Supreme Sword Master of Ecaz and many others, this afterall promised to be a historic meeting.
It had not taken long for the convening of the Landsraad to disintegrate into near chaos. Emotions were running high.
Arista with her Royal Cabinet, less Mick'N and Alexi sat on the elevated stage. As her heir, Dax was the closest to her and by projection; the two were maintaining vocal contact even as speaker after speaker took to the floor and condemned the twin acts of terrorism.
The Telauxu informed them that Urban Warfare had increased and accused the Bene Gesserit Exodus for the groundswell.
House Richa'ard demanded the creation of a weapons inspection team to examine every transport in the Empire.
The Spacing Guild had but one concern: The Spice Must Flow.
So far the gathering had gone through the motions. Speaker after speaker said basically the same thing; Arista could have conducted the meeting in her sleep.
Then the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen stood to address the assembly.
"Mother…" Dax alerted her. "Here it comes."
Vlad talked for his allocated sixty minutes and as it drew to an end he produced a report entitled Transplanetorial Threats From the Planet Arakkis: Crying Wolf or Crying Havoc? Under the leadership of House Atreides and slapped it down for dramatic effect. "Within this report, Highness with all due respect, there are allegations that House Atreides was involved if not responsible for the acts of terror and that it was done with thinking machines!"
The hall went instantly silent. THINKING MACHINES! Delegates reached eagerly for their copy of the report as Aides distributed them. Thinking Machines had enslaved the human race under animalistic conditions. They were unfeeling, uncaring collection of circuits that had nearly eradicated the species. Every one knew that if it were not for the Butlerian Jihad named for Serina Bulter the human race would have ceased to exit millennia ago. And now House Atreides was breaking cardinal rule number one!!!! Thou Shall Make / Own No Self Aware Machine.
The Duke Richa'ard again stood. "Highness I amend my recommendation. Instead of weapons inspectors I suggest that the inspectors be allowed on Dune, to search for thinking machines." He stopped short of suggesting the Inspectors start with the Atreides holdings.
"House Atreides is not harbouring Thinking Machines." The Empress stated.
"This is a new day." Rammen Corrino took to the floor. "… and you saying so is not good enough... Highness."
"You forget yourself." Dax warned.
The room was on borderline hysteria.
Two roads had opened up before House Atreides. The first; allow the inspectors and weaken the Throne or second resist and lose the Throne. Dax was communicating rapidly with his mother. They had discussed this before. The choice however was hers alone.
Dax was not the only one advising The Empress. Like all Reverend Mothers she too had access to the inner voices and today they were out in full force. Out of the bedlam one came out loud and clear. [What have you got to loose?] It was the voice of the old Baron. Arista had always suspected that he lurked in all of them after the experience of Alia.
She stiffened her back. "I will allow the inspectors under the guidance of the NaEmperor… but understand this - any dishonorable action will answer to me." With that threat she left the throne room. She had heard and seen enough, she needed air. Let Dax feel some of the weight of this Empire, she had other work to do.
As she swept by she called "Amasso – walk with me." He fell into step with his mother. "Can you stay sober long enough to prove the Baron's report a forgery?"
He couldn't stop himself "Not Dax? The NaEmperor?"
She stopped and so did he. She just stared at him. He eventually crumbled. It was amazing how Arista's lack of the use of the voice could be just as effective as if she had used it. "Consider it done." He said.
As she walked away he heard her say, "I never had a doubt."
House Atreides would not fall this day.
~*~*~*~*~
Naib N'Gai as had many others had received the news that the Fremen were to move into deep desert. There were storms approaching and even if House Atreides was to deflect the storm one could not stop one. He gave the order to move out.
The most difficult of the members to move was the usual one. Tho'Ma Kynes. In a similar obsession to his work like his ancestors Pardot and then Liet Kynes, Tho'Ma did not want to leave. He didn't understand the need to.
It took much begging, pleading, beseeching, imploring, entreating and a threat imbedded in ultimatum but what finally moved the scientist was the promise that they would move him to an Ancient Imperial Observatory Station set up in the days of Shaddam IV, where he could be alone to do his work. Even after all these eons the stations were still functional.
~*~*~*~*~
The Hazard Inspectors as Dax called them would not be ready for a few days. Hazard Inspectors was really easier to say than "The Landsraad Inspection Team for Thinking Machines on Arakkis" Yes, Hazard Inspectors would do just fine.
With time on his hands he went to visit Alexi.
On his arrival he made inquiries as to where she was, Bastagen seemed to know the movements of all that occupied the Sietch. Today was no different. Alexi had gone cave exploring. So that's where he headed.
He pulled the transport up to the entrance of the cave and got out. He entered but a quick search revealed that it was empty. He paused for a moment to contemplate his next move. Down a path that led deeper into the cave a light caught his eye. He followed it.
Alexi heard the rustling as someone approached. They were making no attempt to hide their approach. She braced for defense watched, waited and then stared as Dax rounded the corner.
"Dax?" She had not expected him.
"I had some time before the inspections started." He explained.
She snorted. "I saw that farce on the AVU. Thinking Machines indeed."
He changed the topic. "I didn't come here to talk about Imperial matters."
"You didn't?"
"I didn't." He assured her.
She smiled. "Isn't this place just so beautiful? I've been trying to occupy myself by learning the ways and places of your people."
"I've seen more beauty than this." He said.
"Where!" She disputed.
"I'm looking at her."
She looked at him to see if he was teasing her. He was not. He pulled her towards him and laid her down. He initiated a deep kiss and his hands began roaming freely over her body. Suddenly he stopped.
"What?" Alexi asked, confused.
"Any time you want me to stop just say so." He announced.
"Dax. If you stop I guarantee you that I will inflict grievous bodily harm." His reply was to kiss her again. She ran her fingers through his thick hair. The kiss began to lead to more as Dax began to gently caress her body and explore her form, she giggled and broke the kiss. "You're ticklish!" He chortled in delight.
He was just so happy being with her.
"Mmmm" she replied as she too continued to explore his body. With each caress, whisper and kiss Alexi felt her soul sing.
She was torturing him with pleasure and eventually like all victims of torment Dax broke and he begged for mercy. She had pity on him. Dax's intension had been to gently make love to her, but he had miscalculated her skills as well as his need for her or her need for him.
Alexi lay outstretched and happy. She glanced down at her mate who had sprawled out with his head in her lap. "Comfortable, Sir?" She smiled.
He just grinned his contentment and replied with only an "Mmmm".
"Mmmm?" She moved a shapely leg and his head bobbed up in response. "Mmmm?"
"I'm the strong and silent type." He turned and crawled over her.
"Hey!"
With her under him Dax leaned in and nibbled at Alexi's ear he then graduated from her ear to her jaw line and finally found her lips. He had planned butterfly kisses all the way, but when he got to her mouth she changed the mood and deepened the kiss and what began, as a brief kiss became a language of its own.
..."Believe nothing. No matter where you read it,
Or who said it,
Even if I have said it,
Unless it agrees with your own reason
And your own common sense."
Buddha, The Dhammapada
Dax stood before the full-length mirror and adjusted the collar to his uniform. Like his twin he was a Major and like his twin there was nothing honourary about it. He was Fremen, son of a Sword Master and an Empress – that alone meant that he had had the best of training.
There was a knock and Ammaso entered.
Dax turned from the reflection in the mirror to the reflection in the room. They really did look alike and had had enough good times fooling all as to who was whom.
Dax took one last look into the mirror as Amasso spoke. "One way or another this is going to be an historic day."
Not bothering to turn to look his way, Dax replied "And then some."
"Know something I don't little brother?" He probed.
This time Dax returned his twin's gaze. "House Atreides will stand or fall this day."
Amasso studied Dax. "You know something."
"I know what can be. I don't know what will be."
"And there in lies the difference." Amasso conceded.
"And there in lies the difference." Dax echoed. "Time to go."
Amasso hesitated.
"Mas?" Dax called. "Something wrong?'
"Shar'Lem, liked to see me in my dress uniform."
Dax got sober too, he had liked the woman, he had been good for his brother and now he was without her, Amasso seemed to have no direction. He stood mute. What could one say?
"I miss her, Dax." Amasso whispered.
"I know. I know." He really did, for he missed her too. Oppressed by the feeling of loss the two brothers walked out the door.
~*~*~*~*~
It was the rare occasion that brought every member of the Landsraad to a meeting. Dependant upon the agenda a percentage of the membership was the norm. Not this day - they all were all there, the Major Houses, the Minor Houses and the Houses awaiting admittance and thus only conferred with observer stauts. Also in attendance were: The Bene Gesserit, The Bene Tleilaxu, The Spacing Guild, The Supreme Sword Master of Ecaz and many others, this afterall promised to be a historic meeting.
It had not taken long for the convening of the Landsraad to disintegrate into near chaos. Emotions were running high.
Arista with her Royal Cabinet, less Mick'N and Alexi sat on the elevated stage. As her heir, Dax was the closest to her and by projection; the two were maintaining vocal contact even as speaker after speaker took to the floor and condemned the twin acts of terrorism.
The Telauxu informed them that Urban Warfare had increased and accused the Bene Gesserit Exodus for the groundswell.
House Richa'ard demanded the creation of a weapons inspection team to examine every transport in the Empire.
The Spacing Guild had but one concern: The Spice Must Flow.
So far the gathering had gone through the motions. Speaker after speaker said basically the same thing; Arista could have conducted the meeting in her sleep.
Then the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen stood to address the assembly.
"Mother…" Dax alerted her. "Here it comes."
Vlad talked for his allocated sixty minutes and as it drew to an end he produced a report entitled Transplanetorial Threats From the Planet Arakkis: Crying Wolf or Crying Havoc? Under the leadership of House Atreides and slapped it down for dramatic effect. "Within this report, Highness with all due respect, there are allegations that House Atreides was involved if not responsible for the acts of terror and that it was done with thinking machines!"
The hall went instantly silent. THINKING MACHINES! Delegates reached eagerly for their copy of the report as Aides distributed them. Thinking Machines had enslaved the human race under animalistic conditions. They were unfeeling, uncaring collection of circuits that had nearly eradicated the species. Every one knew that if it were not for the Butlerian Jihad named for Serina Bulter the human race would have ceased to exit millennia ago. And now House Atreides was breaking cardinal rule number one!!!! Thou Shall Make / Own No Self Aware Machine.
The Duke Richa'ard again stood. "Highness I amend my recommendation. Instead of weapons inspectors I suggest that the inspectors be allowed on Dune, to search for thinking machines." He stopped short of suggesting the Inspectors start with the Atreides holdings.
"House Atreides is not harbouring Thinking Machines." The Empress stated.
"This is a new day." Rammen Corrino took to the floor. "… and you saying so is not good enough... Highness."
"You forget yourself." Dax warned.
The room was on borderline hysteria.
Two roads had opened up before House Atreides. The first; allow the inspectors and weaken the Throne or second resist and lose the Throne. Dax was communicating rapidly with his mother. They had discussed this before. The choice however was hers alone.
Dax was not the only one advising The Empress. Like all Reverend Mothers she too had access to the inner voices and today they were out in full force. Out of the bedlam one came out loud and clear. [What have you got to loose?] It was the voice of the old Baron. Arista had always suspected that he lurked in all of them after the experience of Alia.
She stiffened her back. "I will allow the inspectors under the guidance of the NaEmperor… but understand this - any dishonorable action will answer to me." With that threat she left the throne room. She had heard and seen enough, she needed air. Let Dax feel some of the weight of this Empire, she had other work to do.
As she swept by she called "Amasso – walk with me." He fell into step with his mother. "Can you stay sober long enough to prove the Baron's report a forgery?"
He couldn't stop himself "Not Dax? The NaEmperor?"
She stopped and so did he. She just stared at him. He eventually crumbled. It was amazing how Arista's lack of the use of the voice could be just as effective as if she had used it. "Consider it done." He said.
As she walked away he heard her say, "I never had a doubt."
House Atreides would not fall this day.
~*~*~*~*~
Naib N'Gai as had many others had received the news that the Fremen were to move into deep desert. There were storms approaching and even if House Atreides was to deflect the storm one could not stop one. He gave the order to move out.
The most difficult of the members to move was the usual one. Tho'Ma Kynes. In a similar obsession to his work like his ancestors Pardot and then Liet Kynes, Tho'Ma did not want to leave. He didn't understand the need to.
It took much begging, pleading, beseeching, imploring, entreating and a threat imbedded in ultimatum but what finally moved the scientist was the promise that they would move him to an Ancient Imperial Observatory Station set up in the days of Shaddam IV, where he could be alone to do his work. Even after all these eons the stations were still functional.
~*~*~*~*~
The Hazard Inspectors as Dax called them would not be ready for a few days. Hazard Inspectors was really easier to say than "The Landsraad Inspection Team for Thinking Machines on Arakkis" Yes, Hazard Inspectors would do just fine.
With time on his hands he went to visit Alexi.
On his arrival he made inquiries as to where she was, Bastagen seemed to know the movements of all that occupied the Sietch. Today was no different. Alexi had gone cave exploring. So that's where he headed.
He pulled the transport up to the entrance of the cave and got out. He entered but a quick search revealed that it was empty. He paused for a moment to contemplate his next move. Down a path that led deeper into the cave a light caught his eye. He followed it.
Alexi heard the rustling as someone approached. They were making no attempt to hide their approach. She braced for defense watched, waited and then stared as Dax rounded the corner.
"Dax?" She had not expected him.
"I had some time before the inspections started." He explained.
She snorted. "I saw that farce on the AVU. Thinking Machines indeed."
He changed the topic. "I didn't come here to talk about Imperial matters."
"You didn't?"
"I didn't." He assured her.
She smiled. "Isn't this place just so beautiful? I've been trying to occupy myself by learning the ways and places of your people."
"I've seen more beauty than this." He said.
"Where!" She disputed.
"I'm looking at her."
She looked at him to see if he was teasing her. He was not. He pulled her towards him and laid her down. He initiated a deep kiss and his hands began roaming freely over her body. Suddenly he stopped.
"What?" Alexi asked, confused.
"Any time you want me to stop just say so." He announced.
"Dax. If you stop I guarantee you that I will inflict grievous bodily harm." His reply was to kiss her again. She ran her fingers through his thick hair. The kiss began to lead to more as Dax began to gently caress her body and explore her form, she giggled and broke the kiss. "You're ticklish!" He chortled in delight.
He was just so happy being with her.
"Mmmm" she replied as she too continued to explore his body. With each caress, whisper and kiss Alexi felt her soul sing.
She was torturing him with pleasure and eventually like all victims of torment Dax broke and he begged for mercy. She had pity on him. Dax's intension had been to gently make love to her, but he had miscalculated her skills as well as his need for her or her need for him.
Alexi lay outstretched and happy. She glanced down at her mate who had sprawled out with his head in her lap. "Comfortable, Sir?" She smiled.
He just grinned his contentment and replied with only an "Mmmm".
"Mmmm?" She moved a shapely leg and his head bobbed up in response. "Mmmm?"
"I'm the strong and silent type." He turned and crawled over her.
"Hey!"
With her under him Dax leaned in and nibbled at Alexi's ear he then graduated from her ear to her jaw line and finally found her lips. He had planned butterfly kisses all the way, but when he got to her mouth she changed the mood and deepened the kiss and what began, as a brief kiss became a language of its own.
