I won’t forget the promise we made
I’ll close my eyes and ascertain it
Shaking off the darkness that closed in on me
I advance on
When can I see again here
The future that I lost?
Akemi Homura- Collection of personal chants
Farad’n at least had the decency of a quick death, Homura used the sword just as a distraction, when he noticed the grenade on his belt it was already too late, the shield enclosed most of the explosion, this would be considered a dishonorable way to end one’s enemy, Homura considered leaving things to fate or pride to be the true dishonor.
Ghanima lacked a similar fate, Fremen do not give up even when wounded, Madoka at first tried to incapacitate her. Ghanima had trained under Duncan Idaho, but only under Duncan Idaho, Madoka had trained under several Ginaz battle masters, it was like fighting a Duncan that did not hold back.
Madoka in the end did not end it, Homura had pierced the shield with her pistol and delivered the coup de grace.
On yet another entrance of the Citadel Kyouko and Sayaka were standing before a fully armed Duncan Idaho. His metallic eyes reflecting back Sayaka’s own fearful face. She expected soldiers but not the Weapons master of House Atreides.
“We can take him” Sayaka said more in question than a statement.
Kyouko scratched the ground with her spear “Of course”
Duncan bowed “I shouldn’t allow you to tarnish your honor in such an unfair match”
Kyouko shrugged “Of course, 2 on 2, as it should be”
Sayaka shivered, she feared this would happen, it seemed Kyouko was more of a Ginaz fighter than a Reverend Mother.
Out from the corner came out Duncan’s support, with a spear in hand, her metallic eyes with a warm expression. Now Kyouko started to shake, this was Mami, a ghola of her.
“The God Emperor was expecting you” Duncan said with a smile “Awakening her was surprisingly difficult, turns out she was only afraid of her own death”
Mami sighed “I asked you to keep that a secret”
“I WAS EXPECTING GURNEY HALLECK!” Kyouko yelled from sheer shock.
Sayaka instead screamed and attacked Duncan right away, he barely had time to activate his shield, Sayaka was fighting without one which made it easy for Duncan to slid an artery below her armpit.
This didn’t stop Sayaka, she continued for long enough for Duncan to see that the wound had healed, her body didn’t seem to be tired while his was starting to ache, after all actual close quarters combat lasts for an extended period of time, it is a short game.
Sayaka’s sword broke though she managed to deactivate Duncan’s shield with the broken blade, she shook it and slowly the sword started to grow again to full size. Duncan’s muscles were screaming, no wound he had done lasted on Sayaka, she wasn’t trying to win but to tire him out.
Mami stared at the fight “Kull wahad!”
“Tleilaxu stuff… I thought you’d knew about this” Kyouko extended her hand “Let’s call it a draw?”
Mami nodded “Sure” she had trained Kyouko, she knew what kind of demon Kyouko would be if actually fighting. Perhaps this was why the Emperor had requested for a Ghola of this Bene Gesserit, they’d listen to her.
“Explain it like I’m dumb” Kyouko said, at this point Sayaka was just toying with Duncan whose hits no longer had any strength to them.
“Leto II wants to ensure humanity keeps on living, it’s not exactly a painless process. Madoka and Homura are here to stop it. Walpurgis was just a pawn in Madoka’s game so she could obtain something, what, we don’t know yet, she’s invisible to the Emperor”
Kyouko tossed her spear at Sayaka’s feet “Humanity lives but suffers, or we die a slow death?”
Sayaka frowned “We live of course, everything takes effort!” She placed her blade next to Duncan’s neck.
“We are on the same side then” Mami said “Madoka wants exactly the opposite”
Sayaka looked at Duncan, she wouldn’t trust this Atreides man, but Mami spoke no lie, this was the Mami they knew, a face dancer or an unawakened ghola would be easy to dismiss, Mami had always been their mentor, she always knew better.
Duncan fell on the ground sweating “I… I will catch you in a minute”
Kyouko shrugged, she had held back for this guy, not for her, well Duncan had not really tried to kill her, he could have gone for the neck instead of the arm, it wouldn’t have made a difference for Sayaka, though it would have made a difference for Duncan, Leto would soon need another Ghola if he wanted to keep that guy in his employment.
They were given a new set of clothes, which both denied, though Kyouko took the food, sweetmeats made with ground up pistachios and spice.
Editorial 