Shadow of the Sands

"I'll be watching you."

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- I'm still alive!

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They strolled through the vast halls of the building, minutes seemed to slip away unnoticed. There were carvings on a massive door. The carvings were intricate images of a sandworm with a rider, these stirred memories of her own desert adventures. Suddenly, the guards halted, as they prompted her to stop too. With a glance at the guards, they opened the massive door, leading her into the room beyond.

It was the Baron's audience chamber. This chamber served as a place where the Baron held court and made important decisions. The room was adorned with dark, imposing decor, featuring heavy tapestries and dark hues. There were some sort of devices that were connected to the Harkonnens' brains.

She was a bit confused about the devices but then she remembered that it was most likely suspensors, which are anti-gravity devices allowing for ease of movement. Suspensors might be used to control the movement of objects or to support the Baron's levitating chair.

Zurayeh glanced around the room, spotting the Baron, Rabban, and Feyd Rautha. She avoided eye contact with Feyd as she remembered their last encounter all too well. Rabban lay on the floor near Feyd's shoe. She had been dragged in and chained beside the guards. He tried to intimidate her, but she looked away, finding distraction in the carvings on the door. Rabban's heavy breathing filled the room as Feyd had his blade at Rabban's ear.
"You humiliated my family..." He took a pause. "You humiliated me."

Zurayeh slowly looked at Feyd as he said this, observing them both now.

"Kiss... or die." Feyd Rautha demanded to Rabban and Zurayeh got goosebumps as Feyd said so. She didn't really realize how scary Feyd actually could become and brutal, not to say the least.

Rabban finally kissed Feyd's shoe, as he was humiliated in front of everyone. She glared at Rabban, but Zurayeh took pleasure in his suffering and humiliation. Feyd Rautha glanced at Zurayeh and thought he saw a tiny smile forming on her lips. Feyd was a little surprised, he looked at her for a moment before turning back to Rabban and moving his shoe away, signaling Rabban to get up.
The Baron spoke to Rabban, warning him that he would be removed from his role in spice production. Zurayeh paid little attention to this, her focus instead on the carvings on the massive door depicting a Fremen man riding a sandworm.
Feyd Rautha seemed to notice her distraction. Zurayeh slowly turned her head to meet his glare.
"Never humiliate us again," the Baron said sternly to Rabban.

Zurayeh's gaze met Feyd's for a tense moment before she shifted her attention back to the carvings on the door. The little tension in the room was palpable, Rabban struggled to his feet, his face flushed with anger and humiliation, but he remained silent under the Baron's stern gaze.

"Zurayeh," the Baron called, drawing her attention. "You are here for a reason. Do not think you are above this."

She turned her head slowly, her eyes cold and defiant. "I am here only because you forced me," she replied, her voice stern too.

The Baron chuckled, a low, ominous sound. "You misunderstood your position, Fremen. You possess valuable knowledge about the Fremen, knowledge that can tip the balance of power in this region. Your cooperation is essential to our strategic goals."

"What do you want from me?" Zurayeh asked

The Baron leaned back, his fat fingers tapping thoughtfully on the armrest of the chair. "The Fremen have been a thorn in our side for far too long. Their guerrilla tactics, their mastery of the desert... it all stems from knowledge that you hold. You WILL provide us with this information. You will tell us their weaknesses, their hideouts, their plans."

Her eyes narrowed. "I will.. never betray my people."

The Baron glared with a cold and calculating expression. "Everyone has a breaking point. But you should consider the larger picture. With your help, we can bring order to this chaos. The spice must flow, and stability is paramount. Imagine the prosperity, the power, the control we can achieve together.... Our interests align more than you might think. You can be a part of this new order, or you can be... crushed by it." The Baron said.

Feyd Rautha now stepped back, his eyes never leaving hers. "Remember, Zurayeh. We control your fate now.."

As the tension in the room thickened a bit, Rabban seethed quietly, his humiliation fueling his rage. The Baron motioned to the guards. "Take her to her quarters, Ensure she is comfortable, but remind her of the consequences should she refuse to cooperate."

The guards now moved to escort her out of that room, but not before Feyd Rautha leaned in close to her, gripping her arm before the guards took her out. His breath was hot against her ear. "I'll be watching you."

She was now taken out of the room, her mind was racing with thoughts of what Feyd just had said and thoughts of escape and revenge. As the door closed behind her, she stole one last glance at the carvings, a silent promise to herself.

Zurayeh was led out of the grand room by the guards, her chains clinking softly with each step. The walls of the halls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of conquest and control. The guards guided her down several passages until they reached a small, but lavishly furnished room.

The door creaked open, revealing a room with a large bed, a desk, and a window that offered a view of the desert beyond. The guards unshackled her and pushed her inside, locking the door behind her.

"Make yourself comfortable, rat." They said from behind the door.
She rolled her eyes as she now looked around the room. The Baron's words echoed in her ears, and she knew she had to find a way to resist. She moved to the little window with bars on the outside, taking in the view of the desert. The endless sands reminded her of her people.
Her people needed her, and she needed to find a way to help them. She examined every corner of the room, searching for any means of escape. The window had bars, the door was solid and well-guarded.

Hours passed, and the room grew colder as night fell. As the night deepened, she lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts were now interrupted by a faint sound, a whispering noise. She sat up, straining to hear. The sound was coming from the wall. She pressed her ear against it, catching fragments of a conversation.

"She's valuable." A voice said. "We need to keep her under close watch. The Baron expects results."

"She won't break easily." Another voice replied. "The Fremen are stubborn rats, but as the Baron said, everyone has a breaking point.."

Zurayeh's heart started to pound. She continued to listen, the conversation took a darker turn.

"I heard the Baron has a new plan," one of the guards said.

"He's going to destroy Sietch Tabr. Wipe out the heart of the Fremen resistance."

"Are you sure?" The other guard asked. "That would provoke a larger uprising."

"The Baron is confident. He believes that without Sietch Tabr, the Fremen will be disorganized and easier to control.."

Zurayeh realized that she could use this unintended source of information to her advantage. Her blood ran cold. Sietch Tabr was one of the largest and most vital Fremen settlements. If it were to be destroyed, it would be a devastating blow to her people. She had to find a way to warn them, to stop this plan before it could be carried out.

As the voices faded, Zurayeh lay back down, her mind racing. She had to play strong and find a way to turn the situation to her advantage. She would gather information, bide her time, and when the moment was right, she would strike back again the Baron and his regime.

This fight was far from over..