Renegade: A Dune Tale

Stefania sat still between Angus and her mother. The Guild people about her made her nervous, they had a strangeness to them that made her skin crawl. One Guild representative in particular kept gazing upon her, his eyes barely blinking, his gaze never wavering. Stefania squirmed in her seat pressing against Angus who looked up at the Guild representative who met Angus' cold hard stare without wavering. Lady Tavdi glanced at Angus and Stefania and went back to her needlework.

"He scares me," Stefania said for all in the compartment to hear.

"Too much time in space has addled his brain is all," Angus replied. "All that time spent among machines and metal has taken away much of his humanity."

Stefania's eyes went wide and she leaned forward staring at the Guild representative with the intensity only one of her age could muster.

"He looks funny," she said letting out a slight girlish giggle and his a smile behind her hand.

"Stop that child, it's unbecoming of a lady of your postion ot behave like such a commoner," Lady Tavdi rebuked Stefania without looking up from her needle work.

"Sorry mother," Stefania smoothed her skirt and looked at the Guild representative. "I'm sorry for making fun of you."

The representative barely nodded his head in acknowledgement and turned his attention to something small in his lap. Stefania squirmed wanting to see what it was but kept silent.

Baron Tavdi listened without emotion as one by one the comm units in his command center went dead as the Imperial Sardakaur systematically over ran his house's meager forces. His aides remained silent as their death approached unabated.

"Is our surprise ready?" The Baron asked softly. A short nod of acknowledgement. "When they reach the Spice stores, overload the lasgun,"Baron Tavdi ordered in a firm voice.

All present knew of the Lasgun and shield set as a trap in place of the family atomics which had been spirited away with the the Baron's family. The Great Convention would matter little already dead.

"They approach my Baron," an aide said softly.

"Do it," he ordered.

The comm unit crackled as orders were given and acknowledged while those present waited for the explosion.

"My Baron! Something's wrong!"

Baron Tavdi sighed. "It was always a possibility, the Sardakaur had infiltrated my house troops." Baron Tavdi gripped his short sword. "Prepare for our last stand," he growled.

To Be Continued.....

Now that is a thing of beauty

What' was in your bottle?

  If I had been bottled fed this is what I wish would of been in it.

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The Old Firm: A Steampunk Tale

VII

     The airship came to a hover just above the ground as portals dilated and solid black humanoid shapes tumbled to the ground and rapidly crossed the torn ground and surrounded the shattered rail car spewing steam and smoke from its shattered boilers. A figure immaculately dressed came to a halt among the dark figures. 

     "Find me McBride", hissed the voice thick and cold a thin cough blasting from the lips.

     "Yes Master M," came cold mechanical replies in unison. 

     Large chunks of metal shrieked as they were torn from their rivets and tossed aside gouging out chunks of grass and dirt. The thunder of Pod's guns shattered the windy shriek by the bridge and Master M turned back to peer across the river to see the Alba Pods approaching, lumbering forward on their stumpy metal legs.

     "Master M, we have found more than one subject." The cold metallic voice carried easily to Master M's ears.

     "Gather the women and board the airship," barked Master M his voice thin in the wind as he turned and began to hurry back as the Pods guns began to zero in on the wreckage their projectiles throwing up massive gouts of earth and vegetation. 

     The dark humanoids scurried past Master M, McBride and the the ladies unconscious in their arms. Master M was wheezing hard his chest heaving as he reached the airship.  Gloved hands reached down and pulled him aboard the portal dilating shut behind him as the airships engines revved higher their pitch overpowering the Pods projectiles as the frame of the airship shuddered as it began to rise into the air. Master M sighed wearily as he eased himself into his chair as his crew scurried about the airships turrets whirring as they came to bear on the approaching Pods.

     "The prisoners are secured Master M," a harsh voice tinkled over the wireless. 

     "Captain get us out of range," barked Master M his eyes closed his voice weak as he reached for a vial in his pocket.

To Be Continued....