Thread: Student of Dune (DarkAngel & Sync)

Helene had heard stories of the way her uncle had taken to piloting. All too often, he'd make Irulan's knuckles turn white, her face turn ashen as he flew over the protective walls of Arrakeen and out over the deserts of Dune. Her mother had told her about their encounters with the great worms, coming so close that she could smell faint traces of cinnamon. How magical those moments must've been...magical and terrifying! To see Irulan's face would've been worth it, though the woman was somewhere off-world, on some crisp and cool planet biding her time. She'd seen the woman in her dreams on occasion, still raw over the fact that her affections had been spurned not once, but twice by the Atreides bloodline. She'd all but lost their love, their friendship. Everything. I will face my fear... Helene breathed as she watched the open desert before her and trusted Talgar to fly the 'thopter to safe ground. Just then there was a jolt. Helene let out a soft sound, her hands holding ever tighter to the armrests at her sides. Whoever was pursuing them knew she was inside. They had no plans of letting them get any further. She turned to look at Talgar, his face determined as he expertly piloted the tiny craft just as she knew her uncle would've done. Up ahead, she saw the sand storm. Only one thing didn't fear the great storms of the desert. Shai'Hulud. You can't be serious, Helene said out loud, though mostly to herself. Her words were a breath, barely audible. But she knew this was their only chance. Talgar was Fremen, desert creaturelike her mother and her grandmother before her. If anyone would see she survived such an onslaught, it would be this man who sat beside her. She closed her eyes, recited the litany she'd been taught and saw Talgar's face just as she did in her dreams. His eyes were fierce, but there was that smile...subtle and soft as his hands reached out. Just as she always did, she reached back, her hands finding his as he pulled her somewhere safe, somewhere familiar. When Helene opened her eyes, they'd lost altitude. There was another jolt, alarms sounding all around and Talgar was readying the 'thopter for a crash. She bounced in her seat, her body bracing itself for impact. The craft hit the sands hard, sliding across dunes, scarring the sands. If not for the storm, she was certain the sound would've summoned a great worm, but perhaps nature was on their side rather than against it. Talgar wasted no time. He was up, grabbing a pistol and moving to head outside. Helene knew she must wait, his expression said it all, his words and actions only confirmed it. Talgar opened the door, wind and sand blowing into the tiny space within the 'thopter. Helene brought up her own face-flap, followed by her hood. The sand threatened to sting her eyes, but she managed not to get anything in them. Once Talgar was gone, she set to searching for needed supplies. He'd mentioned a Fremkit and tent. She nodded, remembering what those were. Her mother had shown her once when she was little and Talgar had pointed them out just before boarding. Right. She could do this. She had to. For her family. No...for Talgar and herself. Helene found what she was looking for and clutched them close. Peering outside, she could see that the storm was close. They had so little time before it would be upon them and then what? Shai'Hulud. Only the great worms of the desert didn't fear its sand storms. Uncle Leto. Uncle Leto didn't fear them either. Helene knew this in her heart. Her uncle stopped fearing them years ago. Just then a shiver ran down her spine and she heard a familiar voice call out her name. Immediately, her head perked up and she moved outside, the winds hard and sand whipping at her small body. It was difficult to stand, to move, but she managed. Barely. She held on to the precious supplies and allowed her eyes to find Talgar across the way. They needed to pitch the tent...and by the maker, she'd see that it was done. With all her might, Helene remembered back to the days of her childhood when her mother had showed her what she'd known and she began to run on instinct, hoping that it would somehow be enough. Ghani just stood there, feeling so unsure and so very vulnerable. She'd lost a child, her others scattered all over, so far away that she couldn't embrace any of them. It was unfair even if a necessary sacrifice. She was beside herself, wanting to place blame and at a loss as to where it belonged. She'd promised Leto she'd try, but her heart was so full of sorrow. Sorrow, yet longing. Was she capable of being loved? She hardly knew. She'd been called an abomination, so many hated her, her family, her children. The Corrinos and Harkonnens had been trying to destroy them for generations...to end them once and for all! They'd stop at nothing to see them come to an end. As she looked at Farad'n, his own face unsure, she didn't know what to think. For the first time, Ghani felt confusion. Farad'n stepped closer, his hands ever gentle as he moved to touch her, to brush away her unnatural tears. She sensed his hesitance, his attempt to try and speak in a way she'd possibly like even if it came off all wrong on his tongue. Oh, to think she caused this. She truly did want to weep, to mourn and not just for her lost child. Shh...no more words, Ghani whispered, her eyes clamping shut. She'd reduced Farad'n to a shell. She was no worse than her grandmother, than Irulan. Her heart twisted. I did this, she spoke softly before opening her eyes. Didn't I? Her blue-in-blue eyes, for once, sought answers. I...I'm so sorry, she went on, her knees starting to give out beneath her. I've never done all that I could. I... Her voice trailed and she thought of her brother and his words. I've never tried. She took a step closer. We both lost her. I... She looked down at the ground, unable to hold Farad'n's gaze. I am pre-born, yet I am so blind.