His Lost Fremen

Ch.11 SandStorm

"The storm will be here in a few hours, we'll be safe here. Do you know what this place is? It's an old ecological testing station. They were meant to tame the planet. Free the water licked beneath the sand. Arrakis could have been a paradise. The work had begun, but then the spice was discovered. And suddenly no one wanted the desert to go away." she clarified smoothly as we made our way through the halls. "Tanat, will you find still suits to fit our visitors?" he bowed agreeing before walking away.

"Shamir a coffee service, please and take her to the infirmary, please." I turned quickly preventing him from taking any steps closer. "No she stays with me at all times." she shook her head turning around to look at me. "Sir either she stays with you and gets worse or she can go have a check-up to see if she's even alive. I assure you I have no ill bone in my body for any of you, it serves me no purpose." Mother came to my side nodding letting them take her from Duncan.

I watched as they disappeared down the hall the doors closing behind them. "Who are you to the Fremen?" she smiled at me and continued to walk inside with us to follow. "You know what the great houses fear most, Dr. Keynes? Exactly what has happened to us here? The Sardaukar coming and picking them off one by one. Only together can they stand a chance against the Imperium. Would you bear witness? Testify that the emperor has moved against us here?" I simply asked.

"If they believe me, there would be general warfare between the great houses and the emperor—

"Chaos across the Imperium" Mother finished looking off into the far distance in fear. "Suppose I presented the Emperor with an alternative to chaos, the emperor has no sons, and his daughters have yet to marry," I explained curiously waiting for their feedback. "You'd make a play for the throne? The emperor feared the Atreides, He brought you here to kill you. What don't you understand? You're a lost boy hiding in a hole in the ground." Liet finished in doubt of the plan I have thought through since my father died.

"The Fremen speak of the Lisan al-Gaib" I expressed. "Careful" Mother gushed out in panic. "The voice from the other world who will lead them to paradise." She sighed shaking her head in disapproval. "Superstition" she replied unbothered. "I know you loved a Frenen warrior and list him in battle. I know you walk in two worlds and are known by many names, I've seen your dream. As emperor, Dr. Kynes, I could make a paradise of Arrakis with a wave of my hand." I stated trying to reason with her when we heard sounds from behind the door.

Duncan appeared from another room walking to the closed door. Once he opened it he noticed Sardaukar soldiers. "Sardaukar!" he yelled before moving slightly turning towards us lifting his knife to his chest and forehead. "No Duncan!" I yelled running as fast as I could only for the door to close locked shut. I turned to my mother to see her shaking her head. "He's gone," sending me into a frenzy trying to open the door. "We have to, we have no choice." we rush away from the door as a thin line laser cuts through.

Once it stops we follow Liet through a tunnel down the hall. "No, we can't go Nani's in there! We can't leave her here!" I yelled tears flowing down my face. "Sweetheart look at me, Nani is fine. She'll find you no matter where or how far you go, do you understand stand." unable to speak she said her final goodbye to Liet and pulled us down the opposite tunnel. We continue to run seeing an aircraft in front of us. I pushed to button opening the doors, getting in when we heard more quarreling down the hall. I pressed every button to prepare us for take-off but the button I truly needed to.

"Paul we can't wait, sweetie, we have to go." she pleaded as we sat there. "No she has to come, she has to—we promised we'd never leave each other." I cried letting go of the handles, Mother quickly grabbed my face forcing me to look at her. "Paul, please don't let it all be in vain" I sighed catching my breath as I started the wings gear. Beginning to lift from the floor I stopped when I saw a shadow running to the opening. "Paul go now!" I stared intensively watching as the figure got closer to the light.

With all the strength I had, I opened the door and shouted the name.

"NANI!" I yelled reaching out waiting for her to jump in. Once she was in my arms I closed the door holding her dear to my heart. "Paul we have to go, they are right behind me!" I immediately lifted the aircraft heading into the storm. Nani shifted so she was in the middle of us making herself a seat. "There are jet flares behind us," Mother said in a panic. I picked up our pace going full speed into the storm. The alarms going off showing missiles heading our way. I then take a sharp right trying to avoid impact. "Paul we're not high enough!" Mother screams. In the middle of the storm, we watch as the explosives explode. The storm being too strong starts to crack the glass. "I must not fear, fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings obliteration" Mother chanted closing her eyes in her seat. "Paul turn the craft off, we can't fight it, but become one with it" Nani whispered to me. I turned to her seeing her eyes locked on me. With a reassuring smile, I quickly cut off the craft.

I pull Nani closer closing my eyes as I take in her scent, feeling her warmth, her heartbeat, beating next to mine. The alarms ring again alarming us of impact. "We're about 5,000 meters" I began turning the craft on. Once we made it through the storm safely I sighed in relief. "As soon as we land run for the rocks." As on cue, the craft wings broke and we went down crashing in the sand. Once 'safely landed' we made our way to the rocks. I sighed and took a squat looking over the view. Mother came and gave me a suit. Leaving shortly after to no doubt get dressed.

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