It has been a day since the battle at the outpost. They got the Emperor, along with his daughter, Irulan, the Reverned Mother, and the now dead Baron's youngest nephew, Feyd-Rautha. The Fremen were gathered here today to see who will win in a one V one duel: the Duke's son, Paul, or Feyd, the planetary governor of Arrakis.
The men were gathered around the room, where the Baron once was. Tessa nuzzled her forehead, sighing in the process, whilst Uzi was thinking about her previous interaction with N; N deeply apologized to her, saying that some virus was controlling him. Uzi was convinced, but not the Fremen, who still imprisoned him. Tessa stopped what she was doing to join Paul, Gurney, and Stilgar, who were walking up to the window; the scenery was beautiful, because the sun was setting. Some say that Arrakis is most beautiful when the sun is low.
"Warships," said Gurney. Paul looked up to the sky, to see that a few, dimly lit lights were being cascaded down.
"The Great Houses," purred Paul, continuing to look up into the sky, calmly demanding, "Gurney, it's time, bring the prisoners."
"My lord," replied Gurney, before turning his back to him, walking away. There was silence for about 10 seconds, people waiting for the prisoners to come here. Tessa looked up, entranced, her hand on her hips. Paul looked to his right, to see someone in the crowd - Chani.
Paul walked to Chani, his movements calm.
"This isn't over yet," said Chani, her expression basically saying that she ain't happy.
Paul, unfazed, replied, "I want you to know...
I will love you as long as I breathe."
The doors slowly, but surely, opened up, revealing the Emperor, Irulan, the Reverned Mother, Feyd, and N.
N was the only one who was injured, as he was missing a limb, a leg, and an open skull. Somehow, he's still walking.
Paul slowly turned his head to the prisoners, who, being lead by Gurney, entered the room.
"There is a massed armada in orbit," announced the Emperor.
"You're facing a full invasion, Fremen," hissed the Emperor, leading Paul to immediately respond, with doubt, "How can you be so sure the Great Houses are here for me?"
Paul's back was facing the Emperor, but, in a second, Paul turned his back away to see him face-to-face.
"They may be curious to hear my side of the story, don't you think?" Asked Paul, walking towards the Emperor, confidently.
"I am Paul Atreides, son of Leto Atreides, Duke of Arrakis," introduced Paul, his voice stern. The Emperor didn't say anything, processing what the Duke's son just said.
"Gurney."
"My lord."
"Send a warning to all ships," began Paul, before saying the following:
"If the Great Houses attack, our atomics will obliterate all spice fields."
Gurney nodded, before turning his head to a control panel, walking towards it.
The hell is he on?! Thought Tessa, looking at Paul, her mouth open, about to say something. But Didn't
Luckily, Tessa wasn't the only one who thought that the threat was absurd, as the Emperor replied, doubtful, "You're out of your mind!"
"He's bluffing!" Chimed Feyd, also doubtful.
"Consider what you're about to do, Paul Atreide--" but before the Reverned Mother could finish her sentence, she interrupted by Paul, saying 'calmly,' "SILENCE!"
Because of simply saying one word, the Reverned Mother jolted back in surprise. As she regained her balance, the Reverned Mother muttered, "abomination."
After pressing a couple buttons, Gurney walked back to Paul, announcing, "message sent, my lord."
"As a servant of the imperium, you will bow at my feet!" Snarled the Emperor, expecting Paul to be 'okay, I'll stop whatever I'm doing right now, bow at your feet, and we'll be good chums!'
But no, Paul instead denied his command, "your feet?! You'll be lucky to keep your head!"
"I'll take the hand of your daughter," said Paul. Chani looked at Paul, wanting to know what the hell is he doing?!
"And we will rule together over the Empire," continued Paul, "But you..." Paul trailed off, slowly taking steps closer to the Emperor, "You have to answer for my father."
Oh, boy, he's like a real-life OC of mine, thought Uzi, rolling her glitching digital eyes, underneath the rag.
Other than that, silence.
"Do you know why I killed him?" Asked the Emperor, blinking. He didn't wait for Paul, just going in, "Because he was a man who believed in the rules of the heart. But the heart is not meant to rule. In other words... your father, weak a weak man."
"Stand, or choose your champion," demanded Paul, blinking.
"I am here, Atreides," said Feyd, his voice husky, yet menacing, chimed in.
Feyd stood there, infront of Paul, with the Harkonnen tattoo on his forehead, now being blocked by a single strand of hair, his pitch-black eyes appearing lifeless and emotionless, and his brown hair, most swaying to his left side, leaving the right side only a buzz-cut.
"I need a blade," demanded Feyd, the Emperor turning his head to him, replying, "accept mine."
Feyd looked back at the Emperor, nodding slightly, before turning his head back to Paul. Paul then turned his back to Feyd, walking away. Not that he's scared, or anything. Gurney walked to Paul, whispering in Paul's ear, his teeth clenched, "Do not stain your hands on this animal, let me deal with him,"
"It's my burden, Gurney," Paul whispered back, his hands stiffening behind him, brushing his coat off his shoulders.
Someone, with a blade in hand, approached Feyd, his fingers on the tip of the blade, and the butt of the blade (no pun intended). Feyd turned his head to the man, who, immediately wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the blade, pulling it away from the man.
The blade has intricate markings carved into it, looking like a medieval dagger, yet with the vibe of it being sci-fi.
Gurney walked over to Stilgar, their shoulders meeting, whispering to Stilgar, "Why does he take such risks?"
"Maud'Dib, leads the way," replied Stilgar.
Paul then walked walked to the other end of the room, his eyes lingering on Chani, before back at Feyd. Paul's right hand reaches for his back, gripping a hilt, before, with one quick motion, unsheathed it from his back.
Feyd slowly walked towards Paul, his shoulders swaying slightly.
"I'm happy to finally meet you, cousin," greeted Paul, his voice menacing. Feyd stood there, unfazed, repeating, "Cousin? Is that right? Well." Feyd then began to walk towards Paul, continuing, "you wouldn't be the first relative I've killed."
Paul brang the blade up to the shoulder, then to his forehead, chanting, "May thy knife chip and shatter," before striking a pose, like of a fencing one, prepared to duel Feyd.
"May THY knife, chip and shatter," repeared Feyd, smiling.
They didn't do anything for the first few seconds.
Before Feyd was the one to kickstart it.
Paul deflected Feyd's attack, from bringing his wrist up to Feyd's interrupting the flow, to pulling his torso away.
There was one impact with the blade, before Paul shoved his knife to Feyd, missing entirely. This gives Feyd the upper hand, grabbing his arm, trying to stab Paul with his knife. But that was scrapped as Paul quickly moved his head towards the Baron's nephew's, headbutting him. Feyd let out a loud, pained groan, backing away from Paul.
Paul then dashed to Feyd, his knife up in the air. Feyd, with his free hand, gripped Paul's wrist. But he had other plans, as he spinned Feyd around him with ease, kicking him in the shoulder to finish it. The kick didn't do much.
Their knives are now clashed together, struggling for dominance, before undoing the struggle thing.
They're now back to square one, deflecting each other's attacks.
After some bickering, Paul successfully gripped Feyd's arm, but was interrupted by Feyd giving his own headbutt to Paul. Feyd's knife swings up, clashing with Paul's as he circled around Paul, the Duke's son doing the same.
After some more bickering, Feyd's leg swing across Paul's, making him tumble down. As it almost looked Paul was about to die, the Duke's son placed a foot on Feyd's stomach, shoving the Baron's nephew away from him, giving him enough time to regain his footing. Paul's knife swings towards Feyd's but was quickly interrupted by Feyd placing his foot on Paul's wrist, stopping his motion, and giving Feyd enough time to roll over from Paul. The Duke's son's knife hit the ground, creating a loud clang.
Feyd and Paul stood there for a few seconds, before Feyd tried to stab Paul in the abdomen. Paul dodged it by rolling over Feyd, gaining his footing. Paul then dashed to Feyd, to which the Baron's nephew kicked the Duke's son in the stomach, sending him tumbling to the ground. Paul looked at Feyd, not doing anything to get up, blood evident on the left side of his skull. Feyd turned his head over to the other side of the room, eyeing Chani, before turning back to Paul blood coming out his nose, "She's your pet?"
Paul just layed there, not saying a thing, Chani shaking his head slightly, and Irulan looking at them. To Irulan, it doesn't really matter who will prevail, Feyd, or Paul.
Feyd turned his back to Paul, walking towards Chani, menancingly.
Paul wasn't gonna let that happen, as it made him stood up, his feet carrying his weight. Feyd turned his head to Paul, taunting to the Duke's son, "any special attention, for the pet?"
Paul didn't respond, instead, he walked over to Feyd, before stopping. They stood there, with Paul's hand hitting his chest several times, before dashing towards Feyd.
The clash is back on, with missing attacks and all.
Paul swung his blade toward Feyd's stomach, but the Baron's nephew pulled his torso away, just in time. They then exchange attacks, which were stopped with their arms interrupting the flow.
Finally, after Paul tried to stab Feyd in the shoulder, which was missed, Feyd grabbed Paul's knife, stabbing him in the abdomen.
Feyd let out a roar, shoving Paul across the room, alongside him. Feyd then grasped the back of Paul's neck, shoving the knife deeper into Paul. The Baron's nephew then spun him around, pushing the Duke's son away from him. Paul looked at the knife, sticking out of his body like a sore thumb, breathing heavily. Meanwhile, Stilgar just sat there, looking like a three year-old who just became fully aware of his surroundings on his birthday. Paul slowly looked back at Feyd, struggling to keep his footing. Feyd then began to walk towards Paul, with the intentions of finishing the job. Paul looked at Chani, before back at Feyd, letting him grip his shoulder. Feyd then brang up his knife up to jaw-level. The Baron's nephew then tried to stab Paul with it, but was quickly interrupted by him grabbing the blade, holding on for dear life.
It was a struggle, with the blade slipping through Paul's fist several times, but was worth it, as Paul diverted the blade back to Feyd, stabbing him. There was silence, only punctuated by Paul's heavy breathing. Feyd began to lose balance on his legs, slowly elevating down. As they get down to knee-level, Feyd looked down, to see the sight of his own blade puncturing his body greeting him.
"You fought well, Atreides," said Feyd, his voice ragged from the wound. With a loud, heavy groan, Paul shoved the knife from Feyd's body, allowing the Baron's nephew's body to collapse to the ground.
Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, is no more.
"Lisan-Al-Gaib!" Shouted out Stilgar, jolting involuntarily, starting a chant of 'Lisan-Al-Gaib."
Paul looked around, then to the Emperor, and then the knife lodged into his shoulder. Paul gripped the knife, before slowly, but surely, pulled out the knife out of his shoulder. The Duke's son's head turned to Chani, his eyes meeting her's. Paul's head then turned to face the Emperor. Paul then displayed the knife, still in his hand, to his side, which is now encased in his own blood.
You should have believed. You chose the wrong side
Side? You, of all people, should know, there are no sides, Reverned Mother.
After Jessica's and the Reverned Mother's exchange in thoughts, they turned their heads straight, acting like it never happened.
Paul began to walk towards Irulan, limping, waking past the corpse of Feyd-Rautha.
"The life debt has been paid, spare my father now and I will be your willing bride, the throne will be yours," Irulan said, quickly, trying to get Paul to not kill her father. Paul stopped in his tracks, instead, he brings his right hand to the Emperor, his eyes meeting the Duke's son. Paul stomped his feet, demanding that the Emperor will kiss his hand. The Emperor then placed a hand on Paul's fingers, kneeling down to Paul, before placing a kiss on the ducal signet that was sitting on Paul's index.
After the kiss, the soldiers began to kneel down, accepting Paul's ascension, including Gurney, Stilgar, N, Tessa, and Uzi. Except for Irulan, Jessica, and Chani. Paul slowly turned his head to Chani. Suddenly, Chani turned her back to Paul, walking away from the room.
"My lord," Gurney began, standing up, along with Stilgar, Tessa, and the rest.
"The Great Houses have answered, they refuse to honor your ascendancy," announced the Atreides soldier, leading Paul to turn his head away, letting for Stilgar to chime in, "we wait your orders, Lisan-Al-Gaib."
As Stilgar kneeled down, the others stood up.
"Lead them to Paradise," replied the Lisan-Al-Gaib, causing another chanting of 'Lisan-Al-Gaib' with their Cryknives in the air.
Hours later, and they are now outside, boarding onto transport ships. Stilgar turned around, beckoning the soldiers with his hand, yelling, "Lisan-Al-Gaib!"
Tessa boarded the ship, with Uzi at her side. The Worker-disassembly asked, "we're attacking armies?"
"Yes," replied Tessa, leaving for a pause, before continuing, "A whole-ass war is gonna begin, all because they didn't accept Usul's ascendancy."
"... I have a bad feeling about this," Uzi blurted out.
YOU ARE READING
Drones of Dune - A Murder Drones X Dune crossover
Fanfiction"Power over spice is power over all." After a decade after the defeat of the AbsoluteSolver and the worker drone's extinction, N and Uzi knew they were gonna settle in for the rest of their days. But when Sardaukar troops, sent by the Paddishah empe...