Chapter 31

It is always disagreeable

when a person we consider our inferior likes or loathes the same things we do,

thereby becoming our equal.

Maxim Gorky - Harkonnen Dramatist

Valcyn curled up before his AVU. He was a hermit not a masochist - there was no reason for him not to have all the comforts of home.

The spokesperson for House Harkonnen was making a statement on behalf of two Great Houses: Harkonnen and Corrino. "The new Interplanetary Court of Justice should not expect any cooperation from Giedi Prime or Kaitian. The Houses have declared non-compliance and non-extradition. The prosecutors of the ICJ will not be given any information from the Governing Great Houses to help them bring cases against any of its citizens."

"Well there you go." Valcyn muttered. "Harkonnen mentality, why cooperate when conflict is such fun?" He sipped his spiced coffee.

"If the prosecutor of the ICJ seeks to build a case against one of our citizens, then that prosecutor should build the case on his or her own effort and not be dependent or reliant upon Giedi Prime or Kaitian for information or cooperation."

There was more…

"Legal Counsel has indicated that we are not in contravention of any inter-planetary treaties that we are signatory too. This is a matter of National Security and in natural justice this takes precedence."

Valcyn was fascinated by the power play.

"We have issued diplomatic letters to fellow Great Houses soliciting their cooperation for immunity from the ICJ."

~*~*~*~*~

Dax and Arista were the only ones in the Chamber. Amasso was still on the mission for his mother and it had taken him off world. Mick'N was with Alexi and his father Duncan was prepping troops for the inevitable.

Arista switched off the AUV halfway through the statement from House Harkonnen and House Corrino on the ICJ. Then there was the infernal resolution 1441, which she threw down in disgust. She was getting a glimpse of what was to be, the House had to fall to be built up. She looked at her son as he studied her.

"Was überhaupt ist, seien Sie" he said.

She agreed.

~*~*~*~*~

Dax had three days before the leader of the Hazard Inspectors Dr. X'Ilb was due to present his fourth quarterly report to the Landsraad. He did a quick calculation – half a day travel to the Sietch, two days with Alexi, and half a day travel back. That gave him one day to spare.

He eagerly headed for the Sietch.

+ + +

Dax found Alexi in the gymnasium.

He froze for a myriad of reasons. First: She was practically naked and bathed in sweat and sparring with a fighting droid - a glistening prismoid dervish of blinking lights and razor sharp swords spitting out at unexpected moments from unexpected sources, some real, some illusory.

Second: She was beautiful in her athleticism. He could watch all day as she brilliantly parried the droid's thrusts, countering its moves gracefully, expertly. But each time she did... The droid increased speed and maneuverability, with its weapons emerging at a faster tempo.

This was no game. A misstep could be fatal. His grew anxious and edgy as he knew what a wrong move could result in.

The third reason was just as disturbing for as he watched he experienced another genetic memory. [SEVERAL TIMES ALIA WAS DRIVEN BACK...OFF BALANCE... HER DEFENSIVE MOVES BARELY KEEPING PACE WITH THE DROID'S ATTACK...UNTIL SHE FINALLY COUNTERED WITH AND EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY OF ATHLETICISM AND FINESSE. SHE DODGED THE DROID'S TRUE WEAPONS, SLIPPING THROUGH THE COUNTERFEITS TO TOUCH THE KILL TARGET.

THE DROID'S LIGHTS FLASH WILDLY...AND THEN DIMMED. IT THEN RETREATED INTO PEACEFUL REPOSE. THAT'S WHEN; SHE BECAME AWARE OF PAUL, STANDING IN THE DOORWAY STARING AT HER, HIS EXPRESSION STRAINED AND TENSE.]

Alexi was concerned. "Dax?" she called. No response. She hardened her voice slightly to snap him out of his blank state. "Dax!"

He focused on her. "Alia! Do you know how dangerous that was?" Dax demanded.

"Alia?" She asked. "Who's Alia?"

Dax gathered his scattered wits about him. In the mean time Alexi continued to heave from the exertion but managed to exclaim. "Twenty one lights! Twenty-one! The finest swordsmen in the Imperium have never gone against more than eleven."

"Impressive." He replied sarcastically. "Do you know how dangerous that was?"

"You said that already." She replied. "Nice to see you too."

Without warning he reached for her and enveloped her in a bear hug. "Do you know how dangerous that was?" he said for the third time.

She sighed and said, "Is that why you came? To tell me just how dangerous that was?"

"No." he confessed.

Already in his embrace, she purred. "No?"

He began to relax. He bent his head and kissed her. "Better." She said.

"Do you know how dangerous that was?" he said.

She growled in frustration and tried to disentangle herself. "I'm not some child, Dax!" He held on tight as she wiggled in his embrace attempting to free herself.

"Alia! Stop!" He said. "Alexi! I was teasing." He was laughing and having trouble holding on. "Alexi, I swear that last one was a joke!"

She stopped "Not funny."

"I know. I know."

"… and just who is Alia." She insisted then paused. "St Alia of the Knife?"

He got sheepish. "Sorry about that." Then tried to cover. "But look so much like an Atreides." He kissed her on he forehead. "Sometimes I get mixed up." He kissed her eyes. "I do." He said and then kissed her on the lips.

He was up to something, she knew that, but the kiss was distracting her. She slipped her arms around his neck and responded to her mate.

+ + +

Refreshed physically and emotionally Dax returned to Arakkis City just in time for the Convocation of the Landsraad

Events were occurring at a rapid pace and he didn't have the luxury of dwelling on the implications of visions and memories. The latest one had been intense so much so that he had confused the name of Alexi with Alia. He didn't know if this was good or bad and he didn't have the time to find out.

~*~*~*~*~

Convocation of the Landsraad

The 15th Day of Lud, in the year 39,178

EXTRACT FROM

Oral introduction of the fourth report of "The Landsraad Inspection Team for Thinking Machines on Arakkis"

Executive Chairman Dr. Sans X'Ilb

Mr. President,

For two months, the team has been coming to the Landsraad presenting updates on the inspection. They have described our many preparations for the inspections on Arakkis. The report was finalized two days ago. Today's statement will supplement the circulated report on these points to bring the Landsraad up-to-date.

Arakkis, with a highly developed administrative system, should be able to provide more documentary evidence about its proscribed Machines programs. Only a few new such documents have come to light so far and been handed over since we began inspections. When proscribed items are deemed unaccounted for it is above all credible accounts that is needed – or the proscribed items, if they exist.

Members of the Landsraad may relate most of what I have said to resolution 1441 (39,177), but The Machine Team is performing work under several resolutions of the Landsraad.

Let me conclude by telling you that The Machine Team is currently drafting the supplementary work programme, which we are required to submit this month. It will obviously contain our proposed list of key remaining inspection tasks; it will describe the reinforced system of ongoing monitoring and verification that the Landsraad has asked us to implement; it will also describe the various subsystems, which constitute the programme, e.g. for aerial surveillance, for information from governments and suppliers, for sampling, for the checking of road traffic, etc.

Bearing in mind the Arrakeen mindset of being wary of off worlders - How much time would it take to resolve the key remaining tasks? While cooperation can and is to be immediate, dismemberment and at any rate the verification of it cannot be instant. Even with a proactive Arakkis attitude, induced by continued outside pressure, it would still take some time to verify sites and items, analyse documents, interview relevant persons, and draw conclusions. It would not take years, nor weeks, but months. Neither governments nor inspectors would want dismemberment inspection to go on forever. However, it must be remembered that in accordance with the governing resolutions, a sustained inspection and monitoring system is to remain in place after verified dismemberment to give confidence and to strike an alarm, if signs were seen of the revival of any proscribed Thinking Machine programmes.

It should be noted by the Landsraad that after one year of inspections that no evidence of the manufacturing of Thinking Machines have been found, and that if they are to be uncovered the work program will indicate the time lines recommended.

Thank you

~*~*~*~*~

With another two months of searching the Desert Planet still not revealing a Thinking Machine the Baron Harkonnen and the Prince Rammen Corrino were in no mood to hear the leader of the team ask for more time or even hint at there being nothing to find.

The whole endeavour was proving prohibitive to House Harkonnen and Corrino, with their agitators continually demanding increased payments. They were however seeing successes for with the mood of the Empire decidedly against the making of Thinking Machines, they were able to declare that they would no longer wait upon the Landsraad while House Atreides did as it pleased.

Rammen Corrino announced the build up of his military along the space borders of Arakkis and took the opportunity to unveil the new Sardaukar.

~*~*~*~*~

The Viscount Smyrna was the head of a minor house and the request from House Harkonnen for immunity from the ICJ was causing him sleepless nights.

A decision had to be made. He knew what that decision needed to be, but did he dare make it? He sent for his Mentat.

"Sire." The Mentat reported in.

"Chaz, You are aware of the 'request' of House Harkonnen and House Corrino regarding the ICJ?"

"I am, Sire."

"Compute and project for me the outcome if one - House Smyrna agrees or if two House Smyrna disagrees."

The Mentat moved away slightly and chanted the hymn to induce computation. "It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Sapho that thoughts acquire speed - The lips acquire stains - The stains become a warning - It is by will alone I set my mind in motion." After that he fell silent with the effort of the concentration.

~*~*~*~*~

Statement from the Landsraad Commission on Humanitarism

"The Landsraad Commission has taken note that the Tleilaxu Marriage Separatist Act is about to be enforced and that it establishes a discriminatory regime to the detriment of Budislamics in the highly sensitive area of family rights," The Landsraad special representative read.

"The Commission will examine the compatibility of this legislation with regard to interplanetary law and basic standards of human rights."