Dune 4 "The Hawk and the Mouse"

[RyanEX2000]

Chapter four
The Hawk and the Mouse


The control room of the harvester was hot,and stank of sweat,smoke,dust,and most of all.....spice.The massive machine trundled across a rich exposed vein of spice,while screens,fans and electrostatic fields seperated melange from sand grains,and deposited the spice into armoured containers in an onboard hopper which could be detached and whisked away by the Carryall at the approach of a worm.The captain,a tough,gritty veteran kept his eyes on the screens that were projected by over a dozen onboard cameras.He didn't trust the spotter craft,preffering instead to rely on himself,his own workers,a hired Fremen help.

"Do you see anything Wufei?"He called into a com unit looped over his head.

Outside the harvester a young man,clad in a fremen-made stillsuit,touched the small transmitter in his ear,"Nothing yet Gar.I told you I would call if I saw anything.Do not call me again."

"Sure thing lad,just keep those Fremen eyes of yours to the sand.Gar out."

Wufei scowled as he turned his attention to the undulating dunes of the hostile landscape.He kept an eye out for deep tremors or the low mounds that preceded the worms.Every Fremen knew.Where there was spice........Shai-Hulud would always come.......always.There would be three other crewmen also on lookout at other points of the square grid of territory that the harvester worked,but they didn't have fremen eyesight or training.There!!!He spotted a low mound on distant sand forming.As he raised his hand to touch his transmitter he heard a familiar crackling.

"Wufei......spotter four just spotted Wormsign in your quadrant.Can you confirm?"

"Yes.A big one by the looks of it,"then,grudgingly he added."Four has good eyes,I only caught sight a few moments ago."

"Compliments Wufei,"Gar sounded amused."I'll pass it on to her.You should get back onboard.A carryall's coming."

Wufei snorted at the implication that he'd rely on the offworlder's machinery to protect him from Shai-Hulud.Ignoring Gars' recall he moved beyond the harvesters' operating grid with the shuffling uneven walk of the fremen.Raching the top of a high dune well beyond the expected groundswell he looked back.They appeared to be experiencing difficulty with the linkup.He smiled a tight humourless grin.Shai-Hulud would dine well upon their water as well as the stolen spice.It was then he heard the roar of low flying ornithopters.

*****

Skimming as low along the surface as he dared the pilot of the lead thopter angled his craft towards the rapidly moving sand wave.A second from contact he pulled sharply on the control stick,while at the same time flipping a switch to release the pods under the wings.The small explosives hit the sand,burrowing rapidly to a depth of fifteen metres before detonating.Wounded,the massive worm reared out of the sand with an eerily sorrowful cry as strange blood ran from the horrific wounds along it's carapace.

"Fire,"the lead thopters pilot ordered tonelessly.

Rocket after rocket slammed into the behemoths body as the other thopters,carrying conventional artillery laid in with a vengeance.Driven mad with pain the worm turned to face it's attackers and roared.Given such an inviting target the pilots did as trained,and fired one final salvo....right down it's throat.

*****

(one hour later)

Back in Carthag a regal looking man stood beneath the blazing white sun as the five thopters returned escorting the Carryall with the harvester.His stillsuit was custom made of a dark blue unlike the traditional red of the Harkonnen military.His eyes squinted in the harsh light as the ships settles onto the tarmac engines powering down.He approached the lead thopter as it's pilot climbed out of the cockpit.

"Welcome back Lady,"he greeted her."I trust the hunt went well?!"

"Commander,"she saluted,then gestured at the harvester."The melange is secure.And we've even obtained a bonus......"

The commander raised a forked brow as the harvesters' ramp descended with a clatter to the ground.One of the Dune bikes trundled out bearing a large bluish white object."Is that..........."

"Indeed commander Treize,it is the tip of a worm's tooth."

*****

Wufei stumbled through the caverns of Red Wall Sietch until he reached his destination.Waving aside the two Fedaykin that guarded the shrine he dropped cross-legged before the bones of Paul Atreides,the Lisan al-Gaib.The memory would not leave him.The sight of the water fat Harkonnens and the witch that directed them as they'd hurriedly sawed through the tooth of Shai-Hulud,even as his body had disintegrated,had sickened him to his very core.The sloughed off skin had become the many small makers that had quickly burrowed away to safety.With luck they would avoid their larger cousins long enough to reach maturity.

But that was beside the point.He needed the guidance of Muad'ib to dispel his shame.There was only one Harkonnen who could have given such an order.And he was the source of Wufei's shame.His hands curled tightly as he remembered his shameful defeat at the Harkonnen's hand,before his entire Fedaykin guard.He would have welcomed and embraced death.....but even that was denied him.

*****

Taking the slim sword from his throat the man had turned his back on him.Seeking to provoke him he had snarled,"If you don't kill me I swear I'll hunt you down and destroy you."

Instead of being intimidated the commander,Treize had merely smiled,"Then I have something to look forward to.Once you've improved your skills."

*****

The light patter of feet on the dusty floor jerked him out of his reverie.Whirling around he could make out her slim elfin form as she walked towards him.

"What happened?"she asked as she knelt beside him.As always she could identify the subtle play of his moods.Only she,and one other,had ever been able to read his moods.

"Meiran.........."he started then,hesitantly,he told her all.

*****

(Carthag,next day)

"Well,can you do it?"

The weathered old man ran his hand against the luminous blue-white tooth a look of wonder on his ancient face,"It can be done lord.But it will take much time."

"How long are we talking,Kzun?"Treize asked patiently.

"A standard month at least.Possibly longer."

"Unacceptable,"Une snapped,moving up beside her commander."Sietch Fremen are said to be able to create one in less than a week."

"If it was a knife you wanted,that would be easy."Kzun explained."But the commander wants a cryssword.That has never been done before."

"Very well then,"Treize rose off his seat,brushing at the dust that'd settled onto his suit."A month.I will call on you then."

Once outside the ferocious heat attacked their exposed flesh,but what water was lost due to swet was quickly reclaimed by their stillsuits.Since it was midday the citizenry were inside their dwellings to escape the worst of the day's heat.The palace in the centre of Carthag was a source of much envy to the many Houses Minor that existed on Arrakis.A shield system based on filter glass protected the palace from both outside attack,and the fierce white sun.Passing through a DNA scanner the shield opened a small portal allowing them access.As the shield reformed behind them the harsh white sun was transformed into a gentle yellow one.

They followed the white pathway to the palce doors.On either side tall rose bushes swayed in gentle artificial breeze and the gentle splashing of the fountains beyond could be heard.At the door the pressed their eyes to the retinal scanner which unlocked the doors.Striding inside they both ignored the disapproving stares from offworld servants.The decor was unsuitably opulent,having come from the 'Music World' Chusuk.Mirrors lined the halls bound bt intricately wrought gold frames.Soft carpetting sewn from the the fur of the famous fur whales of Lankiveil.The walls and roof were coated in the valuable blue obsidian produced by House Harkonnen and sold through the merchants of Hagal.

"Commander Treize!?"

The pair turned to the voice,a look of barely restrained disgust on Treizes' face,"Tuberov.I didn't expect you back so soon."

The man who approached them would have fit in the court of the Emperor himself.Billowy pantaloons bound at the knees covered his legs,with a gray hose down to short black boots.The belt was wide with a ruby buckle just smaller than his hand.His blouse had a high restrictive collar,long billowing sleeves,tight cuffs and lace trimmings.His face was old and weathered,but not from Arrakis,oh no.Tuberov never ventured from the palace and it's carefully controlled climate unless he absolutely had too and he never wore a stillsuit.

"A messenger from Giedi Prime has arrived,"Tuberov's grating voice ground out.His face was almost perpetually angry."He has repeatedly stated that his message is for your eyes only."

"Thank you Tuberov,"Treize rmarked dismissing the man.He turned to his colonel."Lady Une why don't you check on your flowers in the conservatory.I'll see you after I've met this messenger."

Une's eyes unfocused slightly and her face lost the harsh look she'd carried before,adopting an almost peaceful,serene look.Moving past Tuberov the couple failed to notice the look of pure venom he shot at their backs.

*****

"This highly irregular you realise,"Treize remarked to his guest.

"Indeed I do,commander,"Quatre sipped at the spiced tea he'd been offered."However,according according to my sensei,Our lord Gunseng believes this to be in the best interest of House Harkonnen."

He stroked his chin,"An alliance with the Atreides.Possible if Yuy is as good as his reputation suggests,but what of their fremen allies?"

"Heero's always told me to face the problems at hand rather than trying to solve the ones yet to surface."

"Clever,"Treize remarked."But what do think for yourself?"

Quatre hesitated,"What is our relationship with the fremen within the surrounding area................"

*****

Around the Eastern edge of Carthag was known as Entertainment district for the soldiers of House Harkonnen.The Blue Griffin however was reserved primarily for officers.It was surprisingly clean and was kept cool by a valuable air filtration system that filtered and cooled the air before it passed through the large underground club.He flashed his pass that allowed civilians into the club.To avoid detection he'd even wasted water to clean himself.She always refused him if he came as he was.So he capitulated.There......

She was sitting at a private table sipping at a glass of water.His blood began to boil as a obviosly drunk sergeant approached her.Her golden coiled hair swayed as she refused whatever he suggested.While shaking her head she caught sight of him.Her red lips smiled at him as nodded her head towards the refrehers.His blood heated as he cut his path to intercept hers.Taking her arm possessivly he pulled her into the small room,his lips finding hers before the door even closed.

"Sally..."he groaned against her mouth as her hands delved low into his covered stillsuit.

She smiled as he squirmed at her touch,"Your message sounded quite urgent Wufei.You couldn't have missed me that much."

He growled at her,devouring her mouth with his own,"I need a way into the palace.Can you manage it?"

"It will be difficult but.......eeeaahhh,"she gasped as he pulled open her blouse,flicking a nipple."It will be difficult but it can be done."

Wufei grimaced as she pressed her body tightly against his.He had done what he came here to do so he now focused on the woman in his arms,trying not to think of Meiran back in the sietch.No one came to use their fresher before they were done a long time later.Before they went their seperate way Sally gave him a lingering kiss that only compounded his guilt before he disappeared back into the desert.

[athena]

Wow. I just finished that book, and can't believe you managed to put it into a story, sci-fi details and all!!

I like it! You really do have to know the plot though. It's very similiar to the book in style, but seeing GW characters in there makes it much easier to read. ha.

(took me almost a month to get through that book) Good work! Next chapter, please?

[Kanya Barton]

GAH! Wufei's cheating on Meiran?? Or wait...I don't know...I'll get it in a few hours. It'll come to me while I'm sleeping...lol. Well, like I've said several times before, you've gotten me interested and there will be no living with myself until I read the book or learn more about it. Geez...thanks A LOT! GRRRR... I can't wait for the next one!
Peace out!