Chapter 3
Extract -
"The selective breeding program of the powerful social, religious, and political force of the Imperium; the BeneGesserit have selectively bred lineages across millennia in hope to bring the salvation of mankind. Many prospects have been made; much is still unknown about the consequences of such power play. Some have been more of the speculative nature suggesting that mankind's salvation would also be a bridge to other planes of existence. Although the sisterhood has more outspoken members, their voices are often quelled, much uncertainty and fear is held in their minds, a soul as powerful as the promised one is held at much scrutiny. Some say they play with forces yet unknown with consequences unbeknown to the fledgling Imperium." – Anonymous (Book of the Astronomical Beings: Volume 3 – chapter 12.)
The night sky hung heavy over Arrakis, a swirling canvas of black and deep indigo, punctuated by the occasional twinkle of distant stars. The air itself trembled with an ancient tension; the desert's undulating dunes cloaked in shadow. Duncan Idaho moved with a practiced grace, his heart pounding in rhythm with the whispers of danger that reverbed in the tunnels and hallways. It was not just the arid wind that hissed through the night; it was the certainty that one mistake would cost everything.
Duncan's thoughts raced, each one sharper than the last, as he navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the Arrakeen Palace. The usually vibrant red tapestries—depicting the lineage of House Atreides, their noble history woven into threads of culture and honor—seemed to hang like ghosts over the dimly lit walls. His mind was fixed on one singular purpose: to find Paul, to protect the heir of House Atreides from the touch of the Harkonnen blade.
"Paul!" he whispered, the name making his presence known, swallowed by the thick night air and the tangy taste of copper. Had they already breached the Palace? Were the enemy already upon the household he had sworn to protect? Everything inside him screamed urgency as he pressed on through the maze of the adopted home.
Only 2 turns away from the boy's bedroom, he began to step faster and quicker, heart slowing-calming in turn his eyesight focused on what was in front of him. He was under no illusion it was going to be the fight for his life. His shirt brushed against the blemished sandstones made from the earth of Arrakis. His mind empty and still like a pool of water. No ripples no doubt; he came to the final turn steps and strides, he made to go to the door to see if Paul had remained there. He had doubted the boy had stayed, but he had to check. The steel doors parted, alerting the would-be kidnappers. Hand thrusted upwards going into an arching arc the unfortunate being impaled in the skull. The other 2 turned and whipped out their blades in a confident manner, he'd make them think twice- "come you dogs." He thundered, no mercy was promised, his tone conveyed all.
Two confident paces were all it took before Duncan clashed blades with the 2 figures. He intercepted the first cut with a sideways block, taking a step back to avoid the second blade slipping into where his head would've been. Meanwhile he turned his wrist clockwise, dama steel blade screeching from the forceful contact into the chest of the second Harkonnen. The third disengaged reconsidering his options. Duncan moved to block his only way of escape, the third Harkonnen made his move, Duncan bringing his blade from a lowered stance throwing the offending blade out his line of direction, and promptly cut the throat of the last animal. He gave a longing look around Pauls room and noticed the missing blades and shield generator. Bed sheets ruffled, tore aside- cold sweat staining the covers and pillows. The rascal must've got out; he thought to himself. He beamed slightly, suddenly the world didn't look so dark. He left, and the search continued.
With every instinct honed by years of training and battle, he pushed himself forward, weaving through the fray. Flares of light burst against the night sky, illuminating the charging figures of Harkonnen infantry and white still suits of the sardaukar, their black and white uniforms a stark contrast to the earthen tones of the polished stone corridors. Their masks flushed, menacing visages that promised only pain and eradication. He moved back behind cover and let them pass. He made to back track and find another way. He took careful steps measuring the vibrations in the air, hits and misses, the touch of blades and footsteps churning their way ever closer. Until he came to what seemed to be the epicentre of the unfolding chaos.
Duncan didn't need to hear more. He thrust the door wide and stepped into the chaos. The passageway opened before him; a turbulent thought entered Duncans head 'someone close, someone who he'd vetted, spoken and shared a bond, brought the havoc on their heads,' shrouding his world in a blanket of paranoia and distrust. At that moment, it felt as if the planet itself was alive, convulsing in anticipation of the violence that was about to spill, his life would flicker in the dark. But he'd meet them none the less.
The sound of scuffling feet echoed through the narrow passageways, growing louder with each heartbeat. Duncan strained his ears and pounced. He launched himself deeper into the fray with a singular focus, pushing through fabric and flesh, calling Paul's name loud enough for the boy to hear over the madness enveloping them. Duncan's instincts guided him, his training honed by years of danger and sacrifice. With one final burst of speed, he tore through the heart of chaos, past bodies & shouts, and caught a glimpse of the curly mane of hair which belonged to Paul.
"Paul!" Duncan called, almost breathless, his heart lurching with relief. Far from the fray, the boy stood resolute, surrounded by loyal men at arms, caught between loyalty and the looming shadows of death. Paul eyes turned fixing on to Duncans in a trance, a connection being formed only known to the participating duo, golden eyes met Duncan's. Foreign yet known. This made his gut twist, it didn't feel like the Paul he knew, it felt different, something was off. 'Come to me.'
Duncans muscles involuntarily ceased towards the mass around him, the action not being by his own volition. Arms flew out cutting down the Harkonnen and Sardaukar, turning into a mix of red and brutalised flesh. Step by step his mouth was filled with the coppery taste of blood that made his stomach churn, and his nostrils filled with the stench of flayed meat. It made him sick, a prisoner in his own right, an unwilling participant in the slaughter around him. His vocal cords screaming in defiance to his violation, in effect scaring the enemy and feeding into the flow of red.
His blade stopped millimetres away from Paul's neck, his body heaving, having expended much force and energy into his involuntary actions. He locked eyes with Paul gain, his eyes ferocious- flared with golden light. "Duncan, we have to leave" he said quickly, "Find my mother and my father, please." The words having left his lips, the glowing intensity faded and softened, the soft, carefree eyes of Paul Atreides he knew returned. "Good to have you back," Paul landed a hand on Duncan's shoulder to reaffirm him.
"To me!" They turned and ran, the last Atreides household guards having bought them time, the few Harkonnen remaining duking it out in the grand chamber. "Follow me Paul, we'll look for your mother, your father; I fear is already lost." A feeling, one he knew and trusted, a feeling that had saved him time and time again tugged at him. "We go to find your mother my boy, your father I fear he's already been taken." The hardest part on Duncan part was meeting Paul's eyes, they were sorrowful- hateful, a storm of emotions, careening and waning, a tear ran down his eye.
"I felt it too." He said, "I don't know how… I." He choked, they in turn began to run harder, Duncan taking the lead. Turn after turn they neared his mother's quarters, dread and a growing pit accompanied him like a silent ghost, following him as an inescapable dread. They turned the last corner and saw Jessica being handled by the Harkonnen intruders, limp and unconscious. Silent contempt grew and the need for action sprang. Paul impulsively sprang from the corner alerting the soldiers to his whereabouts, Duncan not far behind took the lead and cut the standing figure sideways in a powerful cut, a hot fire in his veins- his muscles pumped, filled with newfound strength.
His hair swayed with his movement acting to counter act his sporadic movement. His eyes tunnelling onto Jessica. He parried the oncoming strike, grabbing the assailant by the throat and in turn stabbed him in the gut. He moved, with time slowing down to accommodate his heightened senses being able to see the moves made and swiping away the oncoming blades. He took steps forwards lowering the count one by one until he reached Jessica, he saw an artificial induced state of sleep, grabbing her falling body the 2 Harkonnen having been too slow to see his slice, they paid for it with their lives. He lifted her head, his thumbs moving her jaw, checking the inside of her mouth, her dilated eyes. He saw Paul stare. "She's fine, we have to move, now!" He shouted unintentionally, the adrenaline and combat stimulants wearing away. His head hanging back in bare shame, showing Paul an unseen side.
Lifting up the unconscious figure, her head slumped into his arms, cradled into Duncans arms- her modesty being preserved only by fine pale silks, her ample legs hanging barefooted. He motioned towards Paul to make for the platforms with the ornithopter. "Can't we stop, pick some things up?" without skipping a beat "We can't spare any time." Duncan cooly replied, the tension and violence having uncoiled itself having found its mark on the dogs which destroyed everything he held dear. He took a passing step and made to do a light jog towards the platform. Paul shadowing his movements.
The sky was illuminated in bright bursts of light, streaks of flame laid asunder, polluting the sky of its starry visage. Each blow plunging the dark night into a fiery brilliance that served to give all away. Jessica began to stir, and emotion began to streak across her face, features contorting and writhing, eyes shooting open. Duncan stumbled in his steps and gently dropped the waking Jessica on the metal platform. The only Ornithopter being on the edge on the horizon.
"Mother!" Paul slid to her side, 'a very unbecoming sight of the young duke', he thought in joke, but the thought was too sincere to exist in such bitter times. Hands joining her own in comforting reassurance. Duncan carried her upwards despite the groggy silent protest, Pauls hands losing contact with his mothers. A final journey being made with haste towards the ornithopter. His heart thumping in its skeletal structure reverberating in his well-trained body. Paul came first opening the door with a swing a feeling of reassurance seeping into his muscles. Paul entered, opening the backdoor ramp, the whirring of pistons and servos allowing Duncan to board with his prize. He looked to the side and saw the seats marked with a square symbol, his eyes moving to absorb what information he could gleam from the ornithopter.
He heard a distinct hiss behind and a heavy footstep, turning his head and laying the waking figure of Jessica on the cold steel floor he turned and saw the monstrous unknown behind him. Towering, dominating a presence expelled from the soul of the transhuman he was in the presence of. He grasped his lying blades and turned to confront the statutesc carving observing them in it's silent thought.
That's it. The next chapter will be focused on the captain and his journey. It will probably be 4k or 6k words. A lot of ground to cover in general and the main reason I wrote this early chapter is due to drinking a lot and gaining the ability to write. Like honestly why doesn't GRR Maritn do this and maybe he'd finish the game of thrones.
Q- Why doesn't the captain have an iron halo?
A - I'm assuming that's the shielding technology, artificer armour automatically has it.
Until next time and happy new year