Dune: Telepathic twins

Twinned fates and hidden truths

- How could she use the Voice on you? – Jessica asked Paul, - You also have that power, which means your superpower should have prevented hers.

- Mom, I don't know how she managed to do it, but I think this situation taught you something.

- What? What do you mean?

- I mean, it is proof that Clary loves me, and I'm not a rival for her. If she saw me as an enemy, she would never save my life at the risk of her own.

- Don't be so naïve, Paul! This is what she wants; she pretends to be a victim and shows herself as innocent. But in fact, she is not, and-

- Enough! I won't keep on listening to your myths about Clary! – Paul got angry, - She is not my half-sister, she is my twin, and nothing can change that.

Clary was passing by Jessica's room, when Paul aggressively went out. Jessica also left the room as she remembered that she had to take the twins to Gaius Helen Mohiam for testing them:

- Follow me, Gaius Helen wants to talk to you.

Paul and Clary went after Jessica through the dark corridors, which ended in a big scary door. They entered the room.

- Lady Helen, here you are.

- Great. Now, leave the room, Jessica. I need to talk to them personally, - Helen told Jessica calmly.

Then she turned to the children:

- Come here and kneel in front of me.

- Why should we do that? – Paul looked at her suspiciously.

- I will test your power with the gom jabbar (poisonous needle). You must put your hands in the pain-inducing boxes that are placed on the arms of my chair and endure the agony without removing your hands. If you do so, I will prick you with the gom jabbar, resulting in your instant death. Now, do what I said.

- But... What is the purpose of this test? – Clary asked.

- Silence! – Helen used the Voice, - It's a crucial test of humanity. It examines your rationality and self-control.

Paul and Clary were not so pleased by the examination, but they had to do it. Both kneeled in front of Helen's chair and put their left hand in the boxes. It was too painful to bear. But what to do, they had to tolerate this test to prove their strength. Clary was totally out of breath, while Paul was trying to distract himself from the situation to deal with the torment. Finally, Helen took their hands out of the boxes and told them:

- You got too much power on you. It's unbelievable for your age!

- It's because we are Duke Leto's children, – Paul said proudly.

- No, it's because you are Jessica's son, and Clary is Agatha's daughter. Both of you derived these superpowers from your moms.

When the examination was over, Helen let the twins out and called Jessica in.

- It's so strange. How is it even possible?!

- What happened, Helen?

- Paul is very powerful, so is Clary. Their levels of tolerance and strength are exactly the same.

- I know it...

- But the most surprising part is that they have these powers thanks to you and Agatha. Do you have any bonds with her?

- No! I have told you so many times that I knew her only when she got married to Leto. And besides, she is a Fremen, while I'm a Harkonnen.

- Oh, sorry. I forgot it for a moment. And yes, if she was your relative, you would never...

- If you don't have anything else to say, I'm leaving, - Jessica cut Helen's words as she didn't want to talk about Agatha anymore.

- I know, Jessica, you don't like discussing this topic. But don't you think that Paul and Clary have a right to know that you killed Agatha?

- They won't discover it, neither will Leto! – Jessica shouted in rage.

- Remember, Jessica! The lie can never become the truth! One day all of them will expose your secret...

***

Meanwhile, Paul and Clary went to the headquarters for the attack on Harkonnen. The Atreides and Fremen soldiers were ready for the command of Leto to initiate their plan. They had a specific tactic for the assault: the weaker warriors had to surround the enemy, while the stronger ones would assail the nemesis at the moment they engaged with the weaker group. When it comes to the twins, they were among the strong part of the army. It wasn't that risky, but still Leto was concerned about his children's life. So, Duncan was supposed to fight near them during the battle to ensure their safety.

The Atreides attacked, and the battle started. The Harkonnens knew that it was yet to come, so, they were well-prepared. Leto was among the weak fighters to baffle the enemy. The twins were doing their best, and the combat was pretty successful. Duncan was totally obsessed with their abilities; he was also a bit surprised.

During this heavy combat, Duncan lost himself for a moment. A Harkonnen bullet hit his arm, when he realized Paul and Clary were missing. Meanwhile, the twins were helping the weak group of soldiers, fighting back-to-back together with them. They were on different sides of the central battlefield. Paul was on the left side, where he was easily ending lives of the Harkonnens. Clary was maneuvering with her sword skillfully on the other side, but suddenly, four Harkonnen soldiers surrounded her. She killed two of them quickly, but the other two were stronger than she thought. They attacked her, and in an unexpected moment, one of them hit her stomach with the sword. Clary fell down, she was out of power. When Paul felt horrible pain, he turned his head and was terrified by the scene he saw:

- Clary! No! – he rushed to her and killed the soldiers who had injured Clary. Then he kneeled in pain and looked at her. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't and closed her eyes.

- Clary! – Paul cried out, using the Voice to revive her, - Please, stay with me... It's forbidden to die!

Hearing Paul's voice, Duncan could finally find them and was shocked by the sight of Clary lying in blood. He informed Leto about it, who immediately commanded the army to retreat...