Odrade argued for two months to gain approval of Sheeana as a successor to Tam. Duncan’s suggestion that the Scattering was a futile strategy has damaged morale. Duncan and Murbella’s next child will be born within eight days. There is no word from Dortujla, and the acolyte she sent as a messenger is now a Reverend Mother. Sheeana’s reports indicate that there has been no change since the spice mass was spotted, and there is no sign of worms.

They discuss Sheeana and Duncan’s plans to awaken Miles Teg’s memories. They are worried that due to his age, the pain of awakening could harm him terribly, but the ethics of imprinting on him is another issue.

Odrade brings Scytale for a walk outside of the no-ship. She brings him toward her workroom to negotiate. He asks for face dancers as companions before he accedes to any of her requests, and she is curious about his interest in face dancers and Duncan Idaho. He answers both by saying he wishes for companions.

They talk about his home, The Wekht of Jandola, and how it was destroyed by the Honored Matres. Scytale fled ahead of the attack alone until he was picked up by Bene Gesserit spies. He accuses them of growing a replacement ghola Scytale, which they admit.

Bellonda contacts them to say that Sheeana has reported a spice blow, which is the first sign of worms entering their adult phase. Sandworms are on Chapterhouse. The planet now has spice on its surface. Scytale is skeptical until a small sandworm is brought to them in a suspensor tank by Sheeana. She opens the tank and handles the worm, which is docile, as she is still capable of controlling them. Odrade tells Scytale that she wants high-quality tanks; he wants his own tanks and face dancer attendants. She gives him time to think and sends him away.

A message comes in: Clairby has been injured in a ‘thopter crash. His only hope is to be cyborged, something that horrifies the sensibilities of the Bene Gesserit. Odrade gives the order to do so.

Odrade meets Murbella at the no-ship. The climate change is reaching the orchards now. Murbella is training with an auto trainer, though she is well into her pregnancy. Her Bene Gesserit abilities and mindset are growing. Odrade reveals that the Bene Gesserit never wanted the Honored Matres’s sexual abilities, but Sheeana easily mastered them. Murbella asks why they don’t use this ability more widely given the Bene Gesserit’s desperate situation. Odrade says that they don’t want to enslave people.

They argue over Murbella’s desire to remain with Duncan, and Murbella compares her situation to Lady Jessica, Paul Atreides’s mother. Odrade says there were consequences to Jessica’s decision to have Paul. Murbella refuses to work on Scytale and says Sheeana should do that, but Murbella will coach her. Meanwhile, Murbella says that she will work on the ghola Miles Teg.

Scytale notices agitation among the guards and presumes that Murbella’s child is about to be born. He sees Odrade and thinks about how the profit is in Bene Gesserit hands, as they control the sandworms that serve as his legacy. He considers using his knowledge of the no-ship’s systems to take over and hold everyone in it hostage, but that may entail playing his hand too soon.

Odrade notices Scytale watching her but is busy responding to Murbella’s announcement. She meets Duncan, who is waiting with two Suk doctors. Streggi, her assistant, brings in Miles Teg and undresses him to prepare him for imprinting. Some of the others present may be called to kill Miles Teg if he becomes dangerous during his awakening memories. Miles Teg has been told that Sheeana will restore his memories. He hasn’t been told how this will happen. Sheeana enters and begins the imprinting technique. Miles is confused and doesn’t understand what’s happening. As the process continues, he accuses Sheeana of being an imprinter and attacks her.

His memories return, and Miles becomes Bashar Teg. Sheeana tells him that he died on Dune, and the planet was destroyed. He talks to Odrade and confirms that he is still loyal to the Bene Gesserit.

Later, alone with Duncan, Miles Teg tells him how he looked back through his ghola memories, far back to the first seeds of his awareness. The Bene Gesserit may find this dangerous, as though he were a potential Kwizatz Hadderach, a big risk with his Atreides DNA. He dismisses this thought, as does Duncan.

Odrade has engagements with Duncan, Miles Teg, and Murbella during the day. She meets with Bellonda and Sheeana, who asks about Murbella being given the freedom to wander outside of the no-ship. Odrade asks Bellonda to order the construction of a gazebo.

An acolyte messenger emerges and delivers a message from Dortujla, who is reportedly ill. Odrade summons Tam. Dortujla arrives, walking with a cane. She reports that she has done as ordered. The Honored Matres will meet the Bene Gesserit at planet Junction in 100 days.

Dortujla reveals that she’s unwell because the Honored Matres conducted experiments on her and attempted to force her into their ranks. They failed. They killed Dortujla’s fellow Reverend Mothers and fed them to Futars.

Odrade summons Streggi and Miles Teg to discuss Junction. She suggests a feint strike at Gammu and then a true attack at Junction. They need intelligence on Junction, though there is some memory of when it was a Guild base. They talk about the tactic of englobement, in which they surround the Honored Matres with Holzmann generators that will allow them to see no-ships. Miles Teg thinks how he must keep some of his abilities secret, especially his ability to see no-ships.

They agree on the plan, and everyone but Miles Teg and Odrade leave. He cautions the Bene Gesserit against catching the Honored Matres’s madness. He then says that something drove the Honored Matres back into the old empires.

Odrade reflects on the Scattering of the Bene Gesserit. Bellonda enters, and they discuss Sheeana and Duncan. Odrade meets Duncan and tells him that his guards have been dismissed; the only prisoner left on the no-ship is Scytale. However, as there are Guild Navigators working with the Honored Matres, he must be aware of their prescience detecting him outside the ship.

Duncan says the Miles Teg needs new weapons and the ship’s armory. Odrade reveals to Duncan that she called a gathering—a Convocation—and acolytes are included. She also reveals that Murbella may be a Reverend Mother by then.

Tam and Sheeana arrive, and Odrade discusses Murbella’s imminent Spice Agony ritual. Bellonda asks if the ritual will be a mistake, but there is no better course when it comes to dealing with her and developing an understanding of the Honored Matres. Sheeana asks if they are going to attempt to imprint Scytale again. They discuss love as a weakness in the Bene Gesserit, like Murbella’s love for Duncan.

Odrade asks who will accompany her to Junction. This is something of great risk, and Tam, Sheeana, and Odrade agree to share memories before they go. Odrade will share with Bellonda, who will remain behind.

Odrade is in her work room. It is Murbella’s day of Spice Agony. Sheeana and Tam stand together looking out the window at the accidentally disrupted weather. Since sharing memories, they have grown closer. They also share a secret that belongs to Sheeana.

Bellonda sits across from Odrade. She remarks that there is a chance that Murbella won’t survive. This means one of the Reverend Mothers will have to extract her memories before death. Bellonda says this risk is reason enough not to allow Duncan to attend, but Odrade says he must because she promised Murbella. They cannot take Duncan from the no-ship, so the ceremony must be held there. Duncan may also serve as the catalyst that will pull Murbella through the Spice Agony.

At the ceremony, Murbella is given the spice. She undergoes the Spice Agony and has a vision from her genetic memory. The reality of these memories nearly overwhelms her, and the pain is incredible. She calls for Duncan. The visions abate, and she emerges.

Duncan spends his time in weapons development. When he sees Murbella, she’s in the throes of Other Memory. She is becoming more and more like a Reverend Mother and pulling away from him. Odrade explains that each new Reverend Mother goes through an adjustment period that can look manic at times.

Her change strains her relationship with Duncan. She says that the men bound to the Honored Matres could be turned if their sexual addiction could be serviced elsewhere. She says she hopes she’s pregnant again. After a fitful sleep, Duncan awakes with specifications for tiny Holzmann devices in his mind. He copies it down into his archive and sends it to Odrade and Bellonda. More designs for weapons appear in his mind. He has a vision of the elderly couple again. He informs Miles Teg he has developed his decoys for him.

During a Mentat projection, Duncan realizes Odrade’s plan to confront the Honored Matres, and he realizes that one way or another, this will cause him to lose Murbella.

The great common room of Central is packed with Bene Gesserit for the gathering. There is to be an important announcement. Odrade enters with Murbella, Tam, Sheeana, and Dortujla, with Miles Teg following. Odrade begins the meeting by announcing that she is going to Junction to meet with the Honored Matres. She may not return from this alive. The meeting is a distraction that will allow them to strike.

To prepare for the strike, they will feint at Gammu, which should drive Honored Matres allies to Junction. They will then take Junction and capture the Spider Queen, Dama. All of this will happen while Odrade is on Junction.

Odrade says she will share her memory with Murbella, Sheeana, and one other if the proctors put forward a candidate. Miles Teg steps forward and announces the plan to englobe Junction with small decoy crafts mounted with Holzmann generators and lasguns—laser weapons—that will destroy anything they hit.

The Rabbi and Rebecca are in the safe house on Gammu. The air filter has broken down. He is agitated and questions Rebecca about her new bond with the Bene Gesserit after Lucilla shared memories with her.

Joshua enters. He has just repaired the air filtration; the no-chambers field was affecting the machinery. The Rabbi is skeptical of the Bene Gesserit because they create religions to further their aims.

A machine alerts them that 10 men bound to the Honored Matres are digging in the ash pit above their shelter, but they are doing it randomly. The men leave.