Generation 87 - The Duncan's
Duncan's eye lids fluttered, he winced as too much light flooded his sight. But the light was only memories of his past as he was standing in the shade of a cave entrance. He had already walked from the landing pad to the dirt entrance of Leto's underground Citadel in the mid day sun. Pausing Duncan took a moment to feel the rush of emotions and echos of physical pain, as he had done so many times before today.
As Duncan walked away from Leto's meeting alive, the great Atredies loyalist, came to the conclusion that he was sure many before him had walked this path as well. He was going to serve this Leto of this empire. Pondering his situation for hours afterward he decided that as the next Ghola General of Leto's warrior Fishspeakers, he would have to accept his current situation for now.
60 years later..
Duncan roamed the night many times in his current life and from memory to memory of his past lives. He was no stranger to deja vu.
A night of clear skies and calm winds settled on Leto's Sitch. Duncan knew the seasons and planned the visit to experience the calmest of calmest nights on Rakis.
The Citadel's preparations for the seasonal event went as usual. Duncan took to strolling the streets during this time. During Leto's reign assassination attempts were not the norm anymore. Duncan was able to roam the streets at night on Rakis without any garrison with in a liege of him.
A life without pressure presents it's self in moments, Leto had always said.
Duncan never denied the opportunity to take in such moments, perhaps they would serve some benefit to a later version of himself, it there were more to be.
The air smelled especially clean and dust scented as he walked out of the plaza. The moon shone bright making it possible to walk without glow globes.
He had been particularly light hearted all day. The night held no threats and he expected nothing but calm.
Duncan exited an alley way from the plaza.
As he exited into the street he noticed someone against the building.
Walking past the person they spoke him but not directly.
"They all look alike."
Duncan attempted to walk on as the man appeared drunk.
"They all look alike Duncan. You know what I'm talking about."
Duncan being almost as well known as Leto, was not surprised the man knew his nam. "Sir I believe you've had enough to drink."
"They smell like her too. Ahhh.. The scent can drive you mad with passion."
Perplexed Duncan replied, "Sir I am Duncan Ida..."
"Idaho!" The man stood up in a more aggressive stance.
Duncan took a more aggressive passive stance.
"They all smell and look just like her. You know... You Know..."
"You seem to be to inebriated to understand what you are speaking of.."
"Yes. Yes I am very much beyond what I can understand. Your God Emperor knows this. Did he not tell about it conversation? Oh.. you haven't spoken to him in while.. I see."
Duncan had come across many a fanatic, but tonight he felt very unenthusiastic to meet this one.
"Sir if you do not back up I will alleviate your pains from your shoudlers."
"I would have said the same thing in my youth, but then again maybe not. I'm not so sure anymore,but I had strength, strength to rip a mans head off I'm not so sure, but your fishspeakers, yes, they could rip a head off in one move. So fascinating."
Duncan did not care to deal with the sycophant at this time so he continued to walk.
Paul would have gave me audience.
Duncan stopped dead in his tracks as the tone the drunk bellowed.
"Sir you should choose your words more wisely from here on."
"Idaho.. The Atredies are not dead. They live on and on and on and on and on and on... He trailed off laughing in his drunkenness."
"I know you don't I?" The mannerisms began to shin through, and Duncan became uneasy.
"You see her too don't you?"
Duncan had never been afraid of anything in this new world of Leto's reign, never.
Battles against fanatics, submission of cultures and death of millions across the sycronized worlds. But.. He was never prepared for this.
"We all have shards of the past. Not all but some scattered here and there as best we can recover. Don't worry, your not the only one. I suffer too, oh do I suffer.."
Duncan knew of what the drunken man spoke of. Though for years he chose not acknowledge it.
"Shut up old man."
"Ah.. So you do know like I know.. That is a relief. I don't like the feeling of being the only one with such a long past."
"I told you to shut up!"
"No need to yell." the old man paused for a moment as he grinned. "Young Man." then silence again. "I am just as addicted as you, I only wish to know that I am not alone in this eon."
The escalator down was the longest that Duncan had ever experienced in his current life. The memories of every angry moment pulsated in the veins of every existence within him. They all did look like her and it tormented him for decades it tormented his soul. He would, as once was predicted and verified by the old man, have some very specific words with Leto.
