BOOK ONE - CHAPTER THREE
 

Religion has been a force of almost limitless power in all cultures since the dawn of humanity, the vast majority of the members of any given society being subordinate to it, simultaneously cursing its oppression and welcoming its promises of salvation from potentially greater evils lurking in the world-without-a-saviour. However, there has always been a minority of people that controlled the flow of power and goods within the system the prevalent religion in their particular culture created, consolidating their position by manipulating the contents of the official belief-system and the way this gospel was interpreted by the masses. There is enormous potential in this strategy, especially when the rulers themselves do not fall prey to whatever beliefs prevail - this allows them to better tailor the ecclesiastical edicts to the necessities and possibilities of their culture. Our Missionaria Protectiva preys on the weakness of the masses that drives them to seek out the help of higher powers, and moulds it to increase the potential of advancing the Sisterhood's needs. As well as creating fertile soil for the development of ours plans, the Missionaria forms the ultimate test to separate the humans from the animals. The sceptics, those that managed to achieve relatively independent thought despite omni-present ideological oppression, are the most dangerous, but also potentially the most valuable. They should be sought out, tested, and either assimilated or killed, depending on the results of the test.
-Excerpt from a lecture on the Panoplia Propheticus for advanced Bene Gesserit acolytes-
 

What a weak-looking little man, Sheeana thought. She shuddered, realising the danger of thinking this way about the captive facing her inside the prison cell. Latent danger often takes the least remarkable form.

The Tleilaxu Master Scytale, a small, unappealing creature with an unhealthy-looking grayish skin, intrigued her to no end. Darwi Odrade, whose persona resided within Sheeana's Other Memory, had managed to learn much about the Bene Tleilax and their religious beliefs during her dealings with the Master of Masters Tylwyth Waff a decade earlier on Rakis. They adhere to Zensunni and Sufi beliefs, which have been kept unchanged in their society for millennia. Knowledge of these belief systems from Other Memory should allow you to understand and predict his thinking patterns. Use this as leverage, Odrade-within said.

Sheeana, while still a young girl, had witnessed several of those meetings between Waff and Odrade in the Bene Gesserit keep in Keen, and had guided the sandworm that had taken them to the remains of the ancient Sietch Tabr one time, where a large store of the Tyrant's Spice had been found. She tried to recall what Odrade had done to pry loose so much important information from the xenophobic Tleilaxu Master.

This one is considerably smarter than Waff. Sheeana did not delude herself into thinking it would be easy to wrestle away secrets from Scytale, but she knew she had to try. The Tleilaxu have been planning something for many centuries - the abilities they hid in the Duncan gholas ordered by the Sisterhood are somehow a part of this. Their religion preaches an eventual ascendancy of the true believers - how will this come to pass, and when?

Don't worry, I will help you, Odrade-within comforted her.

"Many of your kind have already tried during my years of captivity", Scytale said suddenly in his high-pitched, childlike voice, "but no one has managed to convince me, and I will not tolerate being insulted by yet another transparent attempt."

Sheeana did not expect such a strong dismissal at the very beginning of the conversation. His initial surprise at encountering non-Tleilaxu claiming to share his beliefs has completely faded away, strengthening his distrust towards the Bene Gesserit in the process. This presents me with rather serious problems. Feigning ignorance of what he was talking about, she asked: "In what way have we insulted you?"

"You know exactly what I mean!", Scytale shrieked, looking like a spoiled child having a temper tantrum.

This sudden outburst revealed much to Sheeana. He is so intent on not co-operating that he might be susceptible to subtler means of persuasion.

Or more forceful methods, Odrade suggested.

It's too soon!, Sheeana protested.

Not at all. He is hiding something, and he knows it would be very valuable to us if we would find out what it was. He thinks this gives him a certain measure of control over us. This is all about the distribution of power to him, and despite his incarceration he believes he has the upper hand. Remember, an enemy is most vulnerable when he believes he has defeated you.

Very well, Sheeana reluctantly agreed.

"The time of Mabak Ghisharat is near", she said, and immediately observed the revelation take effect on Scytale's face. So it's true! Just like the Bene Gesserit, the Bene Tleilax have been executing a plan spanning many hundreds of generations. And now it seems "The New Dawn" is about to become a reality. The fact Scytale knows this even though he has been our captive for so long means it's very close.

"How dare you speak of this! You cannot know-". Scytale stopped mid-sentence, realising what he had said. If this was another trick of these powindah witches, I have just given them the confirmation they needed.

"We are not on Chapter House anymore, you know." Sheeana knew this was still unknown to the Tleilaxu Master. The no-ship's systems did not only prevent any energy from spilling outward, effectively making the ship invisible to any and all sensors, but were also capable of masking any energy from being transmitted in the opposite direction. The Bene Gesserit on the ship had agreed to allow Scytale to continue to believe they were on the Sisterhood's central planet, making no changes in his daily routine. Garimi intended to use this piece of information in her own attempts at finding out what Scytale knows. I could not allow her to create that monodirectional dependency relationship with him - if she would gain that influence over him it would severely hinder my plans.

"We're far from the Empire", Sheeana added. "The star formations outside are completely unknown to us."

She saw this revelation stripped away some of the confidence Scytale had built up with his religion-fueled arrogance. The proximity to his homeworld was obviously very important to him, even if it gave him no practical gain because of his incarceration.

No amount of cleansing will suffice to wash the powindah filth from my body, Scytale despaired, but he kept silent. What are these demons doing to me?

Sheeana let Odrade prepare her for the release of yet another bombshell. He will not openly tell us what we need to know, but he has poor control of his reflexes. His reactions to our shocking "revelations" will tell us what we need to know. Mention our speculations about Tleilaxu involvement with the Ixians next.

Sheeana complied. "Will the deployment of Ixian artifacts not taint the coming of Mabak Gisharat?"

Scytale's mouth fell open and his eyes went wide. He let out a short, uncontrolled guttural sound. The shock he experienced was so great he almost collapsed onto the floor of his holding cell, but he managed to regain control of his limbs just in time. His right hand reflexively clutched his chest where the nulltube with many priceless ghola cells was hidden. He removed the hand as soon as the conscious part of his thought processes caught up with the situation. These accursed witches know everything! Do they know about the treasure trove I carry within my chest? No, they can't - my skin is impervious to their scanning equipment. Did my unconscious reaction just now give away too much? I must control myself. Scytale straightened his narrow shoulders and prepared to ward off Sheeana's next blow.

Odrade-within noted the succession of gestures. Did you see him rubbing a certain spot on his chest? He has done this before.

Sheeana agreed. Yes, I noticed it - it was clearly a reflex, perhaps protective.

Perhaps. He is not hurt, and he shows no sign of having been operated on in that location. Then again, we should take into account the fact that the Tleilaxu are highly skilled genetic engineers - who knows what they're capable of?

In a infinitesimally short flash of enlightenment, Sheeana tought she had found a suitable explanation - an exhilarating sensation, but a very brief one. It took a moment for her to reconstruct her insight in the realm of conscious thought. What is it Scytale wants most of all of us?, she asked Odrade.

His freedom, or, if that's impossible, an axolotl tank for his personal use, Odrade answered.

Exactly. He would probably be very reluctant to breed with "tainted" Bene Gesserit cells, so he needs some other source of material to work with.

This is certainly an interesting change of roles, Sheeana. I'm supposed to give you these little insights, not the other way around, Odrade joked. I suggest you use this bit of speculation.

"Scytale", Sheeana said, "I will grant your request. We will provide you with an axolotl tank."

Another trick? These witches cannot be trusted! "You cannot fool me as easily as you could fool Waff. He might have believed you at one point, but his reports clearly show his capacity for rational thought was severely impaired," Scytale spat out. She's preparing to launch another attack. I will be ready.

"This is not an attempt to deceive you, Malik Brother, I speak the truth. But -" She emphasized this word, and allowed for a short pause. "- I get to determine which of the ghola cells in your possession is used first."

This revelation, the greatest one yet, was expected to drive Scytale into insanity, but Sheeana detected not even the slightest flinching. What? Was our analysis wrong? Not even his eyes betrayed anything!

Sheeana's frustration at failing at this crucial moment caused her to relapse into old behavioural patterns which had been neatly tucked away in unconscious levels of her mind by Bene Gesserit training, but apparently not thoroughly enough - irrational rage flooded her thoughts, suffocating even Odrade's warnings.

"Admit it, you repulsive little weasel! There's something inside your chest! Tell me!", she shrieked, almost attempting to claw through the energy barrier separating her from the startled Tleilaxu Master.

Excellent, Scytale thought. The balance of power shifts again. Considering the advanced training these witches receive, this outburst is especially telling. I can use this ...

After a few moments, Odrade finally managed to get through to Sheeana. Get a grip, child! You just destroyed everything we have accomplished with him in the last few years!

Sheeana took a few deep breaths, and looked at the Tleilaxu Master again. He was visibly pleased with the way things had turned out for him.

"I will accept your offer," he said, barely restraining himself from bursting into laughter. "However, I will not comply with your demands."

Sheeana's rage emerged again. "The offer is retracted," she growled.

"Would you not like to contribute some genetic material ... Alyama?"

'Blessed One!' He uses the ancient Islamiyat again, knowing that you will understand the words. Despite your outburst, we still have this leverage over him, Odrade said.

"The Prophet resides in a hold in this ship, Malik Brother," Sheeana tried, slowly beginning to realise the potential of what the priests of Rakis and later the Sisterhood had built around her.

The Tleilaxu Master's smile disappeared, a look of religious awe replacing it. "Take me to him."

Retake control. Now! Odrade said.

A gloating expression appeared on Sheeana's face. "Maybe later ..."

Sheeana walked towards her quarters, leaving Scytale behind at the mercy of the implications the things she had said could have. The worms? Of course! This power I have over the worms needs to be utilised somehow.

Odrade intervened, sensing the earlier outburst might have released some of Sheeana's old demons. The only "power" you have is what those worms give you. Don't abuse this privilege.

Sheeana ignored her advisor. I was born with this power for a reason. The Sisterhood's plans of creating a new religion around me could still be realised - the ultimate accomplishment of the Missionaria Protectiva!

It had taken much time and effort to condition Sheeana to such an extent that her megalomaniacal tendencies retreated into her unconsciousness. Odrade realised that some of the things she had learnt during her formative years under guidance of the priests on Rakis were apparently too persistent. She attempted to reason with her host. You're not a god, Sheeana.

Sheeana shunted Odrade's persona away to a place where she would be least effective. Poor Duncan! He thinks I will help him create a new and better society. She grinned. He's so gullible...

>>>