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This article refers to elements that only appear in the cinematic universe established with Dune (2021). |
Desmond Hart was a soldier with an enigmatic past, who sought to gain Emperor Javicco Corrino's trust at the expense of the Sisterhood.[1] He was later revealed to be the love child of Orry Atreides and Tula Harkonnen.
Official Dune: Prophecy Character Bio[]
A charismatic soldier with an enigmatic past who seeks to gain the Emperor’s trust.[2]
Biography[]
Desmond was born on Wallach IX, to Tula Harkonnen, who'd been impregnated by Orry Atreides the night before she killed him. Knowing he had tremendous potential and not wanting him to be exploited for that by Valya, Tula pretended he died and had him swapped with a stillborn infant with Francesca's help.[3]
Little is known about his life after this, but before the series begins he takes twelve tours on Arrakis, a feat since most barely survive their first.[4]
Desmond came to Salusa Secondus to tell Javicco Corrino, who believed him to be dead, of the attack he endured on Arrakis. Describing the event, Desmond believes the attack to have been made by insurgents who came from off-world to steal Spice. Kasha brushes it off as an isolated incident, despite Desmond's insistence that it wasn't. Javicco arranges an assignment at the palace for Desmond and in the meantime, he could come to Ynez and Pruwet's engagement party. At the party, Pruwet revealed that he had a thinking machine toy. When it escaped and ran around the floor, Desmond stabbed it with his sword to stop it. Then he gave the toy back to Pruwet.
Desmond again appealed to Javicco, suggesting that Kasha was leading him astray and informing him of some looming resentment from the people. He also said that the attack should have killed him and he wasn't certain how he'd survived. This left him with a strong faith in the gods. Javicco said faith was his wife's refuge and if they freed him from his daughter's upcoming wedding, he'd be a true believer.
Desmond went to see Pruwet and told him that winning a war required sacrifices and Pruwet's wouldn't be in vain. He then used his power to burn Pruwet and Kasha's skin, killing both of them.[4]
After they discovered Pruwet's body, Javicco went to Desmond and said tragedy seemed to follow him. Desmond said he didn't see Pruwet's death as a tragedy and indicated to Javicco he'd done it on Javicco's request. Javicco was quick to say that he hadn't asked him to do that and had Desmond arrested.
Valya interrogated Desmond, who readily admitted to killing Pruwet and Kasha and said he'd done so using a gift he'd gotten from the sandworm that swallowed him. He also promised he was loyal to the Imperium.
Natalya came to see him alone and he told her that he was still a soldier, at her mercy and command, and laid out how he could help her. She and Javicco ended up using this to their advantage, having him use his powers on Ferdinand to get Ferdinand to honor their deal.[5]
Desmond remained by Javicco's side. When Ynez discovered this, she asked if Javicco knew about the rumor spreading that Desmond had killed Pruwet. Javicco said he did, but he was more concerned about the lack of respect people had for him. Additionally, Desmond reminded her that Pruwet broke the highest law: no thinking machines. When Javicco and Natalya tried to insist on their family showing a united front, Ynez told them it wouldn't be possible as long as Desmond was by Javicco's side.
Desmond was destroying Kasha's Sisterhood book when Javicco found him. Desmond told Javicco about how the Sisterhood used whisper campaigns to achieve their own ends and how Javicco should encourage all the Great Houses to remove their Truthsayers. Javicco decided not to do that in order to avoid losing support from the Great Houses.
Natalya then found Desmond and gave him surveillance files to review, as she believed, as he did, that they'd been too lenient. Desmond passed the files to the guards and told them to find everyone involved in the cover trade of thinking machines.
Desmond then came to the High Council at Javicco's side. When Harrow Harkonnen asked publicly for an investigation into Pruwet's death, which Ynez backed up and directly targeted at Javicco, Desmond had the guards bring in the criminals he'd had rounded up and admitted that he'd killed Pruwet, though he said it was an execution for Pruwet's crime of having a thinking machine. He told everyone about the plot he'd foiled that involved the criminals using a drone to kill Javicco and everyone else in the room. He showed them the drone they were planning to use for this and then destroyed it. Then he publicly executed the criminals and Lord Hagal. This caused him extreme pain and he started bleeding from his back. He stumbled out of the room, leaving a trail of blood.
Javicco found Desmond and said he didn't realize it hurt Desmond. Desmond told him it happened every time, which was why he had scars all over his back. Desmond apologized if he overstepped, but Javicco told him it was okay and said he could stay at the palace.[6]
Desmond helped Javicco debut a new unit, led by Desmond, dedicated to hunting down insurgents. Harrow came to see Desmond to apologize for the accusation he'd made. Desmond said that he didn't need to apologize to Desmond, but Javicco. Nevertheless, he said Harrow could make amends by helping take the insurgents down. Harrow gave him information on how he could find an underground market. Then Desmond said he wouldn't be forgiven until he gave proof that Valya was involved.
Desmond took the unit and went to Mikaela's market. He located her second room and left a guard to watch her while he investigated it. In the room was a large store of spice. Just as Diamond found Mikaela's outfit, revealing her as a member of the Sisterhood, Keiran activated the chain detonators they'd set, causing an explosion that destroyed the whole market. Desmond avoided death by activating his shield at the last second. When he woke up, he left the rubble and went back to the palace, where he told Natalya he should have died. She asked him what the Sisterhood did to him and he explained that the woman who gave birth to him was a Sister and she abandoned him to survive on scraps. Natalya kissed him and said they could rid the Imperium of the Sisterhood forever.[7]
Desmond interrogated Keiran, trying to get him to share information about the Sisterhood's involvement with the revels. Keiran said his father taught him from a young age never to trust a Harkonnen, as one had killed his entire family, so he didn't know anything about what Desmond was talking about. Desmond asked Keiran to testify at the Landsraad to avenge his family name, but Keiran said he hated what Desmond and Javicco were doing, so he wouldn't.
Javicco came to Desmond after learning Ynez had been arrested and asked Desmond who gave him permission to do that. Desmond said that was between him and Natalya, but Natalya was just protecting the Imperium. Desmond told Javicco that a Sister had plotted Javicco's murder, but he couldn't prove it because the evidence went up in flames. In the course of the conversation, Desmond realized Javicco was bringing the Sisterhood back into the palace.
Desmond stood behind Natalya as Javicco confronted her about Ynez's arrest. Natalya said that going forward, her counsel wouldn't be ignored. Once Javicco left, Natalya said they could convince the Great Houses that the Sisterhood was behind the assassination plot and they'd authorize retaliation. Then the Sisterhood wouldn't be able to hide. Unfortunately, a trooper came in and told them Valya had bene arrested. Desmond told them to send out the alarm and lock the palace down.
Desmond went to the suspensor cells and sent the guards to find the escaped prisoners. A dying guard grabbed his leg and whispered to him. Desmond leaned down to hear him, only to have him stab Desmond, as it was Theodosia in disguise. Desmond punched her, pulled out the knife, and told a trooper to get her into suspension.
He followed Ynez, Keiran, and Valya to a field depot, where he told the guards to fan out. Valya found them and tried to get the guards to turn on Desmond. It worked but the guards were unable to kill him. Valya then asked Desmond to show her her end. When she came to, she said she'd seen what they did to Desmond. She didn't know who they were, but they put a thinking machine in him and he was spreading the virus. She wanted to kill Desmond, but Tula stopped her, saying that Desmond was her son. Valya gave Tula a knife and left the decision up to her. Tula went to hold Desmond, only to have him slap her hands away. After a moment, he let her hug him, but as she pulled away, he told the guards to arrest her.[3]
Desmond Hart was a soldier of the Imperium who did 12 tours on Arrakis and received multiple commendations for his service. He admitted to Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen that he was from Balut when asked during interrogation on Salusa Secundus.
Desmond was ostensibly the sole survivor of a Sisterhood-manipulated rebel attack on Arrakis, after which he became faithful to unnamed gods.
Desmond Hart is allegedly Harkonnen and Atreides, he is the son of Sister Tula Harkonnen who sent him away to live among scavengers who left him fighting for scraps to survive. Therefore giving him a reason to have a distaste against the sisterhood.
Faith[]
When Desmond first arrives at the Imperial Palace, he states that faith was what brought him there. When asked by Empress Natalya, Desmond says he would have once laughed at being called a prophet, but was then unsure. During a conversation with the Emperor, Desmond asks Javicco if he believes in forces that extend beyond man and machine.
Quotes[]
Notes and Trivia[]
Abilities and Skills[]
Desmond stated that after surviving the rebel attack on Arrakis, he felt reborn, and that there are "beautiful, terrible things" that he can do now.
During his interrogation by Valya at the palace, Desmond states “Shai-Hulud took my eye, and granted me with the gift to see what even you cannot." Desmond also tells Valya he can see the blood trailing her every step, and the corruption that was in Kasha Jinjo's heart when she stood as Truthsayer to the Emporer.
Desmond killed Pruwet Richese in the palace, causing the boy's skin to burn and smoke. At the same time on Wallach IX, Kasha Jinjo suffered a similar affliction and died as a result. After an autopsy done by a Suk-trained Sister, the burns that killed Kasha were caused by an acute imbalance in her meridian network. Later, Desmond demonstrates the ability on Pruwet Richese's father, Duke Ferdinand Richese, causing blue veins to appear prominently across his face, and his skin to burn like Pruwet and Kasha's. Desmond is able to stop the burning once the Duke pleads mercy and the Emporer signals him to stop.
When Desmond inflicts the burning on his victims, he frequently places his hand against the scarred side of his face, and appears to be straining to concentrate.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Variety: 'Dune' Prequel Series at HBO Max Casts Travis Fimmel by Joe Otterson. Nov 8, 2022.
- ↑ Official Dune: Prophecy character bio from HBO
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The High-Handed Enemy
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Hidden Hand
- ↑ Two Wolves
- ↑ Twice Born
- ↑ In Blood, Truth