Chapter 51
INZAL KAZAB CORRINO
Inzal believed that one must only ever fear a wounded tiger, for when no animal is ever more alive than when it is just about to die. And so he had hatched a plan to both end the rebellion, which had begun to take its toll on him and to make sure that the enemy did not resort to something rather unorthodox upon eyeing its defeat.
And so, a bit more than half a decade ago, he had formed a plan. One meant to achieve both of these objectives, and now years later he could feel it once more.
Freedom.
Despite his nature, the constant surveillance of the whole galaxy took a toll on him, and so it was in his interest to end this heinous war as quickly as possible. Yet the Ixians, the Guild, the Been Gesserit, and the Bene Telilaxu had not survived for as long as they had for no reason. They had existed for centuries, and for good reason, and so despite his prowess and the sheer skill of his forces they had managed to last for a decade.
But no more.
Their time had come.
And now, as he watched all of his enemies, their so-called pillars, gather in the caves of Jacurutu, he saw the end of the war. His presence, much like the presence of his Ajniha, was masked by the person standing beside him, his hump now gone as he stood straight, watching the proceedings down below in his own way.
"I never thought they would fall for it," Paul Atreides, otherwise known as the preacher, added from the side. He had been the lynchpin holding the plan together, the Atreides heir who had lost his sight during their fateful battle had retired in these very caves with the love of his life.
When Inzal had reached out to him years ago, asking for his aid in this plan of his, he had been eager to accept, more than willing to pay off the huge debt he owed him for sparing his life at much peril to himself.
"I am not," Inzal added, and he was not, for while the Pillars had a spy in his ranks, he was no different.
"They are desperate. They have practically lost the war, this is just them clinging at straws, and now it is time to end this farce once and for all," and with that Inzal gave the signal as his Ajniha all prepared themselves, all of them ready to dive and destroy the enemy lingering in these caves.
"Do you need my help?" Paul asked, and as his hood dropped, it showed a cloth covering the scar that cut horizontally across his face, leaving behind now only fibrotic mess where his eyes would once have been.
"No, I can handle the rest on my own," he said and the man nodded and stepped back and Inzal stepped forward and before he was set to reveal himself he stopped and glanced back.
"Your mother wished to see you, but you and I both know that I cannot allow such a thing," Inzal cut in as Paul nodded.
"I know," he agreed as Inzal continued.
"But the same cannot be said for your daughter. She wishes to meet Ghanima, and after this whole war is over I shall allow this meeting," and Paul smiled.
"She will like that," Inzal said, tuning in on his enemies' plans and plots as a smirk appeared on his face.
And as Paul's cloak hiding him and his men dropped, he saw their faces turn towards him in fear, as he jumped down from the edge he wa standing on.
"I believe there is a little problem with your plans..." he began, as his Ajniha activated their gear. The so-called Pillars of the rebellion sat there still as rocks, as his own presence and prowess spread all over the caves.
0000
LADY MARGOT FENRING
Lady Margot Fenring watched as the Padishah Emperor's men tore through their forces cutting them down like they were nothing as the caves that she had thought would be their sanctuary became the grave of the rebellion and its forces.
The battle—No, the slaughter had been going on for some time now, and she stood there covered head to toe in blood as the man who had brought upon them this destruction and devastation walked towards her.
The bodies of the Ixian and the Guild leaders lay there beside him, as his blue eyes focused on her and the woman standing beside her.
"Stop! Stop!" Lady Threus's shrill voice cut in as the Emperor stepped forward.
"We had a deal! I said we had a deal, you cannot go back.." but before she could finish she saw the woman grip her throat as a blade was lodged in her neck, forcing her down to her knees as blood spilled on the already wet ground as Inzal Kazab Corrino walked towards her.
"Did you really think you could fool me with all that fake information, did you learn nothing from the memories of your ancestors," he scoffed as the Reverend Mother glared at him.
"You! You monster!" she screamed, as her body grew limp as the Emperor's gaze landed on her once more. And she knew that they had lost, that she had lost.
Margot Fenring was considered a prodigy when it came to Prana Bindu, and yet she knew that despite her martial prowess she was no match for him.
And so, with a heavy heart she fell on her knees and looked him in the eye.
"Kill me," she begged as those eyes glistened.
"And why should I do that, my precious little pawn," and she frowned.
"I am not your pawn!" she denied him, as her eyes landed on the Reverend Mother, the one who had betrayed their cause, as Inzal Kazab Corrino's chuckle gave her an ominous feeling.
"Her! You think she was my pawn!" he laughed there as dread filled her heart.
"My dear you have truly outdone yourself. You truly are
"My dear you have truly outdone yourself. You truly are the most wonderful creature. Even now with he answer right infront of your gaze you deceive yourself otherwise," and those words made her heart thump in her chest, as she shook her head.
"No," she denied the accusation.
"It cannot be," she continued as Inzal Kazab Corrino looked her in the eye.
"Ohh, but it is true! It is..." he finished. She saw him sheath his swords, and he opened his mouth and used his voice.
"Remember the truth! Margot Fenring!"
And as soon as those words entered her ears, a slew of memories erupted in her mind, memories buried deep. Memories of betrayal, of love, and of deception.
0000
SHISHAKLI TABR CORRINO
Shishakli Tab Corrino sat on the Padishah Emperor's throne as the whole of the Imperium gathered infront of her either in person or through a video transmission.
She had called on this congregation, using her powers both as Duchess and Empress to address the Imperium, and now with each and every lord gathered there she began the address.
"Today I have gathered you all to make a declaration," she began and she could notice each and every lord and noble hanging onto her words.
"Ten years ago, for their crimes against the Imperium and the Royal family, the Imperium waged a war against those who wished to unsettle and control both the Imperium and the Royal family. For ten years, we have fought against these opponents, sometimes with great success, sometimes with even greater success," she continued.
"They have many allies. Some of these allies now sit amongst you listening to me, wishing upon me and your Emperor nothing but harm as you support these evil powers in the shadows," she scoffed as many a lords shifted nervously.
"But it does not matter anymore," she added after seconds of silence as whispers broke out in the throne room as suddenly The gates to the throne room were thrown open as a singular figure walked through those gates with an army of Ajniha at his back, alongside four dead bodies at his back.
"For today I wish to announce!" she screamed as many a lords paled at that display, some cheered while others could only watch in Silence as the Emperor they had all thought dead stepped into the throne room with the corpses of the so called pillars.
"THE WAR IS WON!"
00000
A year later a ship flew down the skies of Caladan, as the old duke and duchess of the clan stood there ready to welcome the person aboard the ship.
The ship landed, and out of it walked out the infamous Alia Atreides, the true Duchess of Caladan set to marry the infamous warrior Duncan Idaho in a year's time, and yet beside her was another child.
One who mirrored the girl's own features yet had hair raven in color, much like that of a Fremen. The little girl hid behind the older girl, a peculiarity given the nature of the rumors around Alia Atreides and as the young Duchess stepped down from the sip the girl followed on watching her surroundings rather nervously until she stood infront of the Jessica Atreides and looked her in the eye.
"You must be grandma," she said, and the usually stoic Duchess of Caladan smiled much like her husband beside her as she bent down and nodded.
"I am," she agreed her voice but a whisper.
"And you must be Ghanima!"
0000