Chapter 16
STILGAR
Arrakis was slow to change, despite the flash storms, life rarely changed on the sandy planet for living in such an environment was hard, living in such an environment under the authoritarian rule of the Emperor's dog, even harder.
On Arrakis things did not change in days, no they took years, their customs were older than himself going back nearly hundreds of years, having been passed on from one generation to another through the passage of time.
Yet change was coming to Arrakis, it had been percolating through the air for some time, and this was not the slow change of the times bygone. No, this change came fast, and came to uproot everything Stilgar had ever known about life in Arrakis.
It was not difficult to point out when this had begun, for he had watched its beginning with his own eyes as they had brought back that fated child to their Sietch from the broken remains of that ship. That had been the day of the beginning of this storm that threatened to envelop their whole way of life.
And it all had never been more apparent until today as the Naibs from Sietches all over the desert planet came to Sietch Tabr, pouring over from all parts of the globe, some sending their representatives. Such a gathering had not happened since they had decided to end the accursed people of Jacurutu centuries ago, and yet now it happened once more infront of his eyes as he sat in the Great Hall, watching the leaders of the Fremen gather and mingle in a single place, all at the behest of the youngest amongst them.
Inzal, the young man who had called this Council and had gathered them all here today, stood there near the center, watching everything with those blue orbs of his, scanning the crowd alone.
The young Naib represented not one Sietch but hundreds, if not thousands, for the little twenty people who had left with him all those years ago had now become thousands and were renowned throughout the land.
The famous 'Ajniha,' the wings.
For years, they had fought the Harkonnens, looted them, and saved and rescued thousands of Fremen, many of whom would go on to join his cause as their strength continued to grow. He would also warn a Sietch about any imminent Harkonnen attack, allowing them to escape in time, even replenishing their water reserves through his own wealth to buy them more time.
Many of the Naibs sitting here owed their lives to him, and that was why they had gathered with such haste at his call. He walked up to the young man as the lights began to dim until only one remained focused on the raised platform that acted as the stage.
"Stilgar," the young Naib greeted him, and once he had thought that the young man would replace him taking up his own mental once he had grown old and weary, yet a shame it had not gone as he had thought.
His own thoughts on Inzal remained conflicted to this day, and the young boy had grown up infront of his eyes. Yet the boy also stood against his very beliefs, stood against the tradition, and the values he had always held sacred. He had done good, much good, saved thousands, and provided for even more, yet the young boy spat on their beliefs, on their hope of a Messiah, on their prayers for a Greenish Paradise.
"Do you have any idea of what you are about to do?" he asked again, knowing full well the implications of the Council they were about to have.
The Fremem prided themselves on their unity. All Fremen, no matter from what corner of the planet, were united as one, yet Inzal's proposition threatened to divide them, to create a chasm that could uproot their very society.
"I do," he answered, looking into his eyes with his own blue orbs. He noticed that the young boy was now of equal height to himself, and then he began to move forward as the whispers began to die down, adding with a whisper.
"I am about to bring us all one step closer to our collective dream...." he spoke as he stepped into the brightest light set on the platform.
"...freedom."
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INZAL KAZAB CORRINO
"Today you have all gathered here on my summon," he began as he looked around the room, the probing eyes of the leader of their respective sietches all fixated on him as he took the stage.
"Many of you may have heard some things about it as well; others may have been caught by surprise at the suddenness of this meeting, and now I am giving you all the answers you have been looking for," he took a deep breath.
"I am not simply Inzal Kazab as you all think, the truth is that I am much greater than that. I am the son of the very man whom you all blame for your present situation. The blood of the Emperor runs through these veins, and though some of you may know it already. I wish to proclaim it for all..." and with that, he raised his hand.
"I AM INZAL KAZAB CORRINO, SON OF THE PADISHAH THE EMPEROR!" and murmurs broke out, for though his identity was quite well known, he had never confirmed it since that day, and many had thought it to be a simple rumor.
But it was no rumor.
"And I have gathered you all here for the dream of every Fremen is now within our grasps." He added as thousands of blue orbs landed on his form, hanging onto his words.
"Freedom is here, our long-last dream, and I plan on grasping it for myself. For Arrakis, FOR YOU!" he added.
"How? And why should we trust you? You are the son of the Emperor himself?" someone asked.
"Because I am a Freman as well, I was raised in this desert. I have fought alongside you people, fought for you people when all of you were complacent enough in simply waiting for a damned prophecized savior." He added.
"I do not stand here as the Naib of the largest number of Fremen because of my blood. I stand here because of my own hard work, my own effort, work that I did, tell me how many Fremen sietches have you saved," he asked as he pointed towards the man who had questioned him.
"How many people have you rescued out of Harkonnen prions? How many have you saved by giving them water? I did all that. I!" he shouted as he thumped his chest.
"We do not doubt your blood, Kazab. Yet we doubt your actions. You claim to bring us Freedom, so let us ask you how?
And he could see everyone looking at him.
"By taking over my Father's throne!" He announced and heard murmurs break out.
"Why should we trust you!"
"You are not one of us!"
And many more spoke against him, as he had expected. For though many owed him, many did not like him; their disdain kept unactionable only because of the reverence the young men and women of their sketches held for him.
"You wish to sit on your father's throne. You offer to give us freedom, yet what is to say that you are not only planning on using us!" one of the Naibs spoke as he stood up.
"He poisons our young, distorts their minds, pushes them away from the traditions and religion that have kept us alive for years!" he began as he looked at him.
"You spit on the prophecy of the Mahdi, on the promise of the Lisan-Al-Gaib with your very name! Why shall we lend you our aid!" he shouted, and Inzal shook his head.
"You seem to be mistaken! Korba," he said, stilling the Naib as Inzal spoke his name.
"I am not seeking your help, for I am not in need of it. I have enough men and equipment for this. I gathered you all here to speak of it to you all, and you ask why you should trust me over a prophecy!"
And then he shook his head as he opened his mouth once more.
"Because I am honest. Because I am flesh and blood, not some inane words uttered by Bene Gesserit Witch!" he used the Voice and saw them reel back at his words.
"Because I give you more than a promise of a better future, I work for it, give my own blood, sweat, and tears for it. I am not words on a scroll. I am flesh. I have fought for you, bled for you, killed for you. I do not promise you the Green Paradise of your dreams, but a sky you can call your own, land you may roam without fear, water you may drink to your fill." His words were followed by many nods, as many came out in his support.
"And for those of you who may wish to join me, know this that I do not offer you a glorious purpose as your so-called prophecies, I do not offer a religious Jihad like this Lisan-Al-Gaib, I offer you freedom, and nothing more...."
"...and even that with your own blood, sweat, and tears."
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