Thread: Student of Dune (DarkAngel & Sync)

There was no comment forthcoming from the Fremen as Helene spoke instead he only nodded his acknowledgement of her observation. It was good that she'd noticed it it meant she was aware of her surroundings and the dangers within it. Better that than her be oblivious. Tal also noted the way she'd remained quiet as he'd adjusted her stillsuit, the way she'd held still for him, the way she seemed to pay attention to how the suit had been adjusted...and her acceptance of the increased firmness of the fit around her. So far, he had to concede a grudging acceptance of her capability to receive knowledge, and of her ability to accept instruction and direction. His eyes appraised her for a couple of seconds longer, before he nodded again and moved to sit in the pilot's chair of the small 'thopter. He heard her apology as he sat, and he paused for a second, before his head turned to regard her as she moved to sit in the chair next to him. We Fremen are always in some kind of danger, he replied philosophically, although the tone of his voice carried a hard edge to it. Whether from the desert, or worms, or the Harkonnen, or the Atreides, or the Spacing Guild...there is always someone wishing harm on us. It is why we are a tough, hardy people. You, personally, have not placed me in danger your circumstances may have directed additional danger my way, but not you yourself. His hands danced over the controls of the craft, and soon the whirring of the engines could be heard. He fed power to the wings, tested the control surfaces, saw them respond as they should. Ravis - the man who walked into the desert earlier - leaves behind a wife and two children...a son and a daughter, he added quietly as he prepared to get them under way. They need your pity more than I. Hold on...I'll start us on our journey. Carefully the craft lifted, wobbled slightly as the ground no longer held it before stabilising. He nudged the throttles forward and the little bug-like vehicle edged out from under its shelter. The rocks slid past the windows and out of sight, then they were clear. Tal resisted the urge to push the throttle harder - that could be a giveaway to their location and presence. Instead he remained low and slow, almost crawling away from the city. It might get them some more time before they were discovered. Fahri - Ravis' wife - will need to be told what happened to him that task will fall to me, he added, sounding more like he was now thinking out loud. Then he turned to look directly at Helene. She may hold you indirectly responsible for his death, although she will not act on it. Leto smiled warmly at Ghani as she agreed - at least to him - that she'd go to Farad'n. Thank you, Ghani, He replied quietly. Remember he may be Corrino by blood, but even he recognises that his own family has done wrong by we Atreides, and others. He was taught by our grandmother, Jessica - if anyone can curb the ways of Corrino in him, it is her. He placed his inhumanly-strong hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. Trust me when I ask you to give him a chance to be more than you believe him to be. You will not be disappointed. Of course, there were so many levels upon which he knew she'd have her faith restored, but he could openly tell her none of it to do so would cause ripples in the Golden Path, and humanity needed to be guided along this path. The Golden Path was a reformation humanity needed his father had seen it but shied away from it, unwilling to make the hard decisions necessary Leto knew that the hard choices would make him reviled for millennia after he was gone, but humanity would be better for it. He watched Ghani leave, almost reluctantly, then he turned to look at the desert. He'd go out tonight, run over the dunes as only he could he had to do it while his legs still functioned as legs. In a few hundred years his legs would stop being useful as such.