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Salusa Secundus
Imperial Palace
Javicco Corrino hated the sound of his own footsteps on the marble floor - they somehow made the shattering truth he had just heard from Valya Harkonnen resonate even louder in his head.
'My entire life. A lie. A noble lie, but still a lie. All the steps I took... predetermined. Engineered. I have been nothing but a puppet. A pawn in other peoples' games.'
He stopped, briefly looked around to make sure no one was watching and then put his forehead against the cool marble wall of the hallway he was in.
The coldness brought relief, but it did not stop the reeling thoughts in his mind.
'Desmond. Francesca. Natalya. The Sisterhood. They all betrayed me. Used me.'
"Your Majesty?"
Javicco froze when he recognized the voice. "If you've come to kill me, Desmond Hart, do it - but do it fast because I just might do it myself."
The Bashar quickly stepped closer. "I did not come to kill you. I came to give you something."
Javicco turned away from the wall in surprise. "What?"
Desmond reached inside his cloak and pulled out a dagger. "Take this, and find a way to switch it with the one you keep in your chambers. It was meant to protect my life, but I think you will need it much more than I do."
Javicco slowly took the dagger. "Surely this isn't just a simple knife...?"
"No. It may look like one, but it actually is a special weapon. If you stab yourself with it, it will release a poison that will make your body go limp - it will look like as if you're dying. At the same time, however, the dagger's powers will also prevent any major blood loss and no harm will be done to any vital organs. You will be completely immobilized for a few minutes, but you will survive."
Javicco stared at the dagger. "This contains forbidden thinking machine technology, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
Javicco's eyes narrowed as he looked back at Desmond. "Who are you working for?"
"That doesn't matter, at least not to you - not anymore," Desmond replied calmly. "You are unimportant now."
"Yes, I heard the same from the Mother Superior only a few minutes ago," Javicco retorted dryly. "And, if I remember correctly, I also heard it from you... and my own wife."
Desmond shook his head. "I will not insult you by pretending that I don't have plans that may or may not involve Natalya, but you must believe me when I say this: I never wished to see you harmed, Javicco."
Javicco inhaled sharply - the way in which he'd said his name brought back sudden memories of the night of passion they had spent together.
"I did not expect to discover that I have such strong feelings for you, but they are part of me now, and their hold on me is greater than anything else." Desmond leaned closer. "I may not be able to save your reign... but I will be able to save you."
Javicco almost moaned in despair - everything in him wanted to pull Desmond into his arms in order to cling to him like the drowning man that he was right now, to feel his strength, his reassurance, his resolve...
And yet he knew he couldn't.
Not anymore indeed.
"If I go along with this, what do I do once it's... over?"
Desmond took a deep breath. "Once you're able to move again, open the door to the secret passage underneath your chambers."
Javicco frowned. "How did you know about th-"
"Never mind," Desmond interrupted. "Right next to the door you will find an exact replica of your dead body. Take that body, plunge your normal dagger into its chest and put it all wherever it needs to be found. Then, follow the secret passage and leave the palace."
"And go where?" Javicco asked, his mind still reeling.
"That is not for me to say - I can only give you your freedom. From there on, the choices you make will be yours... for the first time in your life, perhaps."
Javicco looked at the dagger once more. It appeared harmless enough, and yet he could almost feel the power it wielded due to the forbidden technology it contained.
"What will happen to my imprisoned daughter?" he asked.
"She will - for now - be seen as a traitor to the Imperium for trying to free Keiran Atreides," Desmond replied. "You must never contact her or your son. If you do, you will endanger both their lives."
Javicco briefly closed his eyes as he felt intense agony washing over him. "But love my children, I -"
"There's no time to discuss these details," Desmond interrupted and looked around nervously. "Natalya is ready to make her move against you. As is that witch Francesca, if I'm not mistaken." He looked right into Javicco's eyes. "You must hurry. Go."
Javicco bit his lower lip - he knew Desmond was right. There would be a time to think about and reflect on all the things that had happened to him today, but that time was not now.
He raised his hand and put it on Desmond's shoulder. "Thank you. For everything."
The Bashar smiled sadly. "As I said before: I was born to serve."
Their eyes remained focused on each other for another moment and then Javicco took his hand away, hid the dagger underneath his cloak, turned around and continued to walk down the hallway, suddenly ready to play other peoples' games after all.
At least for one last time.
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When the world surrounds you, I'll make it go away
Paint the sky with silver lining
I will try to save you, cover up the grey
With silver lining
(Hurts, 'Silver Lining')
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