Chapter 39
God created Arakkis to train the faithful.
One cannot go against the word of God.
Paul Maud'Dib – Coronation Day
MEMO
FROM: TERRAN GROWTH INC
TO: THE EMPEROR VLADIMIR HARKONNEN I
HIGHNESS.
THE TERRAN GROWTH INC HAS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND SARDAUKAR, WITH A POSSIBLE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AVAILABLE EVERY FIVE YEARS FOR THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS, EVEN LONGER SHOULD YOU DESIRE.
SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED WE ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL CONTRACT.
J'TU
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
~*~*~*~*~
The Maud'Dib had spoken and the Worms rushed to obey.
Their fist priority was to relay the message. An accurate census of humans had proved a constant impossibility. A count of Fremen was equally daunting. A study of the Worms of Arakkis had never been contemplated or attempted. It was universally agreed that there were thousands.
It wasn't long before results were being seen and felt.
Fremen conducted raids on every vulnerable Harkonnen site that they could think of. While in the Desert - the domain of the Sand Worm - nothing was safe.
'Thopters hovered over sand miners constantly on the look out for worm sign so as to signal the carryall that would come and carry the miners and the machinery to safety. Suddenly there was no longer any worm sign. Usually the tell tale sign of shifting sand and miniature bolts of lightening could be spotted for kilometers - now a worm just emerged from the bowels of the planet and consumed miners, 'thopters, machinery, spice and all.
Mining for spice had always been a hazardous undertaking now it was deadly. It wasn't long before there was no more machinery to mine with. Even if there had been there was no longer anyone prepared to venture into the Desert to mine for it. Except for the people who had always been there - the Fremen.
In the mean time Spice production came to a grinding halt.
~*~*~*~*~
Having returned from his latest foray Dax entered the Command Room and greeted his 'wife'. "We need to talk." He said to her. She followed him to a private corner.
"What did the Guild Representative have to say?" he was anxious to know.
"They are prescient – they had no difficulty finding us." She snorted.
"…and?"
"The Guild have not the time for Religion or Politics together or separate. They have one burning concern…"
"THE SPICE MUST FLOW!" he finished. "And that means what for us."
"Now that manufacturing has stopped the Guild had a most interesting message; they propose a coup. They will pledge the safety of House Atreides if we guarantee spice production."
Weary as he was, Dax got alert. "And your answer?"
"We guarantee spice production." She grinned.
"Have I told you lately that I love you?" He reflected her smirk.
"Yes but a woman can never hear it enough."
~*~*~*~*~
MEMO
FROM: HOUSE RICHA'ARD
TO: ALL MEMBERS OF THE LANDSRAAD
SPICE PRODUCTION HAS STOPPED.
HOW MUCH HAVE YOU HOARDED?
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
HEAD
HOUSE RICHA'ARD
~*~*~*~*~
It had taken an amount of bribery, which only a Fremen could demand, for the Bene Gesserit to obtain the latest coordinates to Dax's site. Even then the person supplying the information had been instructed by Dax to take a Sister hostage to guarantee the safety of the camp. There was no doubt that they would relocate as soon as the representative had been dealt with.
So it was that the Reverend Mother Farrah found herself awaiting an audience with Lord Dax. A warrior entered and announced. "The Lady Alexi Atreides will be with you shortly." Expecting no answer the fighter had left her alone.
Two minutes later Alexi entered. Farrah had been mulling over the confirmation of Alexi's position in the eyes of the Fremen when she had entered.
The change in their relationship was established with the first words. "Farrah. It is good to see you." Aleix greeted her former teacher.
The Reverend Mother bowed her head in respect. "M'Lady."
"How may I be of assistance to the sisterhood?" Alexi asked. Her mind took her back to their last encounter and her parting remark that the next time they would come to her.
Farrah's thoughts were not that different. She looked at the woman who had once been her protégé and now was Consort to the deposed NaEmperor. To date she had fulfilled all the expectations of the Bene Gesserit, now was the time to see just where her main loyalty lay. They all served multiple masters and agendas but which was primary?
"The Emperor." Farrah said.
"Lord Dax?" Alexi played the ignorant.
"Do not play the fool with me." Farrah snapped.
"The same may be said of you." Alexi retorted. "… and so I ask again – What do you want!?"
"The power game is as like a that of Terran Chess. Move and counter move. Strike and counter strike." Farrah parried.
"All with the timeless objective." Alexi responded. She had a fair idea what it was the Bene Gesserit wanted but they would have to say it.
"The achievement of the objective is based on cooperation." Farrah continued.
"As is the cycle of life… the cycle of the Spice." Again Alexi waited.
"The stronger the ally the better the chances of success." The dance was constant. "The Bene Gesserit have been trained to play the game."
[The question is which game?] Alexi silently contemplated. "You offer to join in this game?"
"We do." The former mentor replied.
"The fact that you are here indicates that the Bene Gesserit will play on the side of the Fremen." Alexi began to focus the discussion.
"A safe assumption." The Reverent Mother replied.
"This would manifest how?" Now the younger wanted details. The Sisterhood was known for exploiting loopholes in agreements.
"Intelligence when available, but most important – support when needed." Farrah pledged.
"All necessary to a chess game." Alexi resumed with the metaphor.
"In any game of power."
"Then we understand each other." Alexi wanted this ended.
"We do." Farrah confirmed. "As in any power game – communication is vital."
Alexi smiled. "We know where to find you."
Now they were ready.
~*~*~*~*~
Guarantee or no, under the guidance of Dax the Fedaykin had infiltrated the City and the Place for what was about to unfold.
The offers from the Guild and then the Bene Gesserit had been too much to resist and it had brought House Atreides to the Throne Room in Arakkis City. To confirm who controlled the planet Dax had arrived with a token number of Soldiers riding two thousand worms.
Alexi knew that the Throne room was capable of holding one hundred thousand; she estimated that this day they were at capacity.
"Vladmir Harkonnen... there are Guild Heighliners above us containing many Great Houses of the Landsraad.... SEND THEM BACK!"
The Reverend Mother Mo'Hadin recognized the words, even if she had not been there in person.
"I will not!" Vlad had the throne and he'd die before he gave it up.
The Guild Representative stepped forward. "The Spice must flow - Name your conditions."
"The life of every member of House Harkonnen." He had not forgotten who had cost him his family.
He spotted the Reverend Mother Mo'Hadin. "It has been many moons since I felt the gom jabber of Shakira and that of Gaius Helen Mohiam; now all will feel mine."
Mo'Hadin gasped as she realized that he indeed had genetic memory.
He projected his voice to ensure that all heard. "I am called THE Maud'Dib. I have come to re-establish balance in the Universe and harmony with the Spice or there will be Jihad!"
No one spoke.
"As a people we have evolved into viruses that feed and feed until we kill what feeds us. This will cease or Spice Production will stop and not by the hand of THE Maud'Dib, but by yours!"
"He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind." Mick'N quoted.
Dax continued, "My mother the Empress Arista warned that should there be dishonorable behaviour found within the Great Houses you would deal with her. Look at me and see her!"
He glared at the Harkonnens. "House Harkonnen shall not leave this Planet – Dead or Alive! Their water is not to be mixed with ours. They are not fit for their bones to feed Shai-Hulud place their lifeless bodies on a pre-spice blow and leave them."
Vlad roared in objection as the Fedaykin dragged the household away and no one intervened. No one dared.
The pronouncement was met with the approval of those who mattered as the Fedaykin cheered. Amidst the chanting of Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Every worm on the Planet, every Guild Member and every Reverend Mother thoughout the Universe heard the echo of Alia as clear as the day that she first said it, as clear as if she stood there in person…
"And how can this be? For... he is the Kwisatz Haderach!"
~*~*~*~*~
Valcyn sat perched on a hill that gave him a bird's eye view of Arakkis City. He didn't need to be in the hall to know what was happening. His angle was just fine.
He watched as millions of Fremen had assembled in the city to the point that humans eclipsed the cityscape. All one could see from his vantage point were people – and still they came. They would soon spill out into the desert if the worms would move.
Valcyn had witnessed much in his wanderings, recently, but the spectacle unfolding before him would be burned into his mind till the day he died. Shai-Hulud had come. They had not come for Maud'Dib in his day, but they had come for this man. As with the humans they just kept coming.
Then Valcyn heard the chanting. It came like a wave. Far at first as it seemed to have come from the hall. Then the crowd outside picked it up. Soon the entire city as one voice was calling. "Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib!"
The Convocation heard the roar of fifty thousand Giant Sand Worms as they gave their approval to the arrival of Dax – The Maud'Dib. Valcyn shuddered.
The Fremen continued to chant Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Now there would be balance in the Universe or there would be Jihad!
~*~ THE END ~*~
God created Arakkis to train the faithful.
One cannot go against the word of God.
Paul Maud'Dib – Coronation Day
MEMO
FROM: TERRAN GROWTH INC
TO: THE EMPEROR VLADIMIR HARKONNEN I
HIGHNESS.
THE TERRAN GROWTH INC HAS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND SARDAUKAR, WITH A POSSIBLE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AVAILABLE EVERY FIVE YEARS FOR THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS, EVEN LONGER SHOULD YOU DESIRE.
SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED WE ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL CONTRACT.
J'TU
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
~*~*~*~*~
The Maud'Dib had spoken and the Worms rushed to obey.
Their fist priority was to relay the message. An accurate census of humans had proved a constant impossibility. A count of Fremen was equally daunting. A study of the Worms of Arakkis had never been contemplated or attempted. It was universally agreed that there were thousands.
It wasn't long before results were being seen and felt.
Fremen conducted raids on every vulnerable Harkonnen site that they could think of. While in the Desert - the domain of the Sand Worm - nothing was safe.
'Thopters hovered over sand miners constantly on the look out for worm sign so as to signal the carryall that would come and carry the miners and the machinery to safety. Suddenly there was no longer any worm sign. Usually the tell tale sign of shifting sand and miniature bolts of lightening could be spotted for kilometers - now a worm just emerged from the bowels of the planet and consumed miners, 'thopters, machinery, spice and all.
Mining for spice had always been a hazardous undertaking now it was deadly. It wasn't long before there was no more machinery to mine with. Even if there had been there was no longer anyone prepared to venture into the Desert to mine for it. Except for the people who had always been there - the Fremen.
In the mean time Spice production came to a grinding halt.
~*~*~*~*~
Having returned from his latest foray Dax entered the Command Room and greeted his 'wife'. "We need to talk." He said to her. She followed him to a private corner.
"What did the Guild Representative have to say?" he was anxious to know.
"They are prescient – they had no difficulty finding us." She snorted.
"…and?"
"The Guild have not the time for Religion or Politics together or separate. They have one burning concern…"
"THE SPICE MUST FLOW!" he finished. "And that means what for us."
"Now that manufacturing has stopped the Guild had a most interesting message; they propose a coup. They will pledge the safety of House Atreides if we guarantee spice production."
Weary as he was, Dax got alert. "And your answer?"
"We guarantee spice production." She grinned.
"Have I told you lately that I love you?" He reflected her smirk.
"Yes but a woman can never hear it enough."
~*~*~*~*~
MEMO
FROM: HOUSE RICHA'ARD
TO: ALL MEMBERS OF THE LANDSRAAD
SPICE PRODUCTION HAS STOPPED.
HOW MUCH HAVE YOU HOARDED?
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
HEAD
HOUSE RICHA'ARD
~*~*~*~*~
It had taken an amount of bribery, which only a Fremen could demand, for the Bene Gesserit to obtain the latest coordinates to Dax's site. Even then the person supplying the information had been instructed by Dax to take a Sister hostage to guarantee the safety of the camp. There was no doubt that they would relocate as soon as the representative had been dealt with.
So it was that the Reverend Mother Farrah found herself awaiting an audience with Lord Dax. A warrior entered and announced. "The Lady Alexi Atreides will be with you shortly." Expecting no answer the fighter had left her alone.
Two minutes later Alexi entered. Farrah had been mulling over the confirmation of Alexi's position in the eyes of the Fremen when she had entered.
The change in their relationship was established with the first words. "Farrah. It is good to see you." Aleix greeted her former teacher.
The Reverend Mother bowed her head in respect. "M'Lady."
"How may I be of assistance to the sisterhood?" Alexi asked. Her mind took her back to their last encounter and her parting remark that the next time they would come to her.
Farrah's thoughts were not that different. She looked at the woman who had once been her protégé and now was Consort to the deposed NaEmperor. To date she had fulfilled all the expectations of the Bene Gesserit, now was the time to see just where her main loyalty lay. They all served multiple masters and agendas but which was primary?
"The Emperor." Farrah said.
"Lord Dax?" Alexi played the ignorant.
"Do not play the fool with me." Farrah snapped.
"The same may be said of you." Alexi retorted. "… and so I ask again – What do you want!?"
"The power game is as like a that of Terran Chess. Move and counter move. Strike and counter strike." Farrah parried.
"All with the timeless objective." Alexi responded. She had a fair idea what it was the Bene Gesserit wanted but they would have to say it.
"The achievement of the objective is based on cooperation." Farrah continued.
"As is the cycle of life… the cycle of the Spice." Again Alexi waited.
"The stronger the ally the better the chances of success." The dance was constant. "The Bene Gesserit have been trained to play the game."
[The question is which game?] Alexi silently contemplated. "You offer to join in this game?"
"We do." The former mentor replied.
"The fact that you are here indicates that the Bene Gesserit will play on the side of the Fremen." Alexi began to focus the discussion.
"A safe assumption." The Reverent Mother replied.
"This would manifest how?" Now the younger wanted details. The Sisterhood was known for exploiting loopholes in agreements.
"Intelligence when available, but most important – support when needed." Farrah pledged.
"All necessary to a chess game." Alexi resumed with the metaphor.
"In any game of power."
"Then we understand each other." Alexi wanted this ended.
"We do." Farrah confirmed. "As in any power game – communication is vital."
Alexi smiled. "We know where to find you."
Now they were ready.
~*~*~*~*~
Guarantee or no, under the guidance of Dax the Fedaykin had infiltrated the City and the Place for what was about to unfold.
The offers from the Guild and then the Bene Gesserit had been too much to resist and it had brought House Atreides to the Throne Room in Arakkis City. To confirm who controlled the planet Dax had arrived with a token number of Soldiers riding two thousand worms.
Alexi knew that the Throne room was capable of holding one hundred thousand; she estimated that this day they were at capacity.
"Vladmir Harkonnen... there are Guild Heighliners above us containing many Great Houses of the Landsraad.... SEND THEM BACK!"
The Reverend Mother Mo'Hadin recognized the words, even if she had not been there in person.
"I will not!" Vlad had the throne and he'd die before he gave it up.
The Guild Representative stepped forward. "The Spice must flow - Name your conditions."
"The life of every member of House Harkonnen." He had not forgotten who had cost him his family.
He spotted the Reverend Mother Mo'Hadin. "It has been many moons since I felt the gom jabber of Shakira and that of Gaius Helen Mohiam; now all will feel mine."
Mo'Hadin gasped as she realized that he indeed had genetic memory.
He projected his voice to ensure that all heard. "I am called THE Maud'Dib. I have come to re-establish balance in the Universe and harmony with the Spice or there will be Jihad!"
No one spoke.
"As a people we have evolved into viruses that feed and feed until we kill what feeds us. This will cease or Spice Production will stop and not by the hand of THE Maud'Dib, but by yours!"
"He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind." Mick'N quoted.
Dax continued, "My mother the Empress Arista warned that should there be dishonorable behaviour found within the Great Houses you would deal with her. Look at me and see her!"
He glared at the Harkonnens. "House Harkonnen shall not leave this Planet – Dead or Alive! Their water is not to be mixed with ours. They are not fit for their bones to feed Shai-Hulud place their lifeless bodies on a pre-spice blow and leave them."
Vlad roared in objection as the Fedaykin dragged the household away and no one intervened. No one dared.
The pronouncement was met with the approval of those who mattered as the Fedaykin cheered. Amidst the chanting of Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Every worm on the Planet, every Guild Member and every Reverend Mother thoughout the Universe heard the echo of Alia as clear as the day that she first said it, as clear as if she stood there in person…
"And how can this be? For... he is the Kwisatz Haderach!"
~*~*~*~*~
Valcyn sat perched on a hill that gave him a bird's eye view of Arakkis City. He didn't need to be in the hall to know what was happening. His angle was just fine.
He watched as millions of Fremen had assembled in the city to the point that humans eclipsed the cityscape. All one could see from his vantage point were people – and still they came. They would soon spill out into the desert if the worms would move.
Valcyn had witnessed much in his wanderings, recently, but the spectacle unfolding before him would be burned into his mind till the day he died. Shai-Hulud had come. They had not come for Maud'Dib in his day, but they had come for this man. As with the humans they just kept coming.
Then Valcyn heard the chanting. It came like a wave. Far at first as it seemed to have come from the hall. Then the crowd outside picked it up. Soon the entire city as one voice was calling. "Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib!"
The Convocation heard the roar of fifty thousand Giant Sand Worms as they gave their approval to the arrival of Dax – The Maud'Dib. Valcyn shuddered.
The Fremen continued to chant Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Maud'Dib! Now there would be balance in the Universe or there would be Jihad!
~*~ THE END ~*~
