Duncan Idaho awakens in a stark, windowless cube on Arrakis, brought there by the Tleilaxu, who grew his body in an axlotl tank from his dead flesh. Struggling to accept that he is a ghola living more than thirty-five hundred years after his death, he relies on his returning memories and his enduring identity as a swordmaster of the Atreides. He recalls his past service to Paul Muad Dib and struggles to comprehend the Tleilaxu claims that Leto II, the grandson of his former leader, has become a long-living tyrant known as the God Emperor.
Two women of the Imperial Guard enter the room, wearing uniforms bearing the Atreides hawk. The slender one, Luli, addresses Idaho as Commander and informs him that he has been summoned into the service of Lord Leto, while her companion remains hidden beneath an enigmatic cibus hood. The masked woman tests Idaho to determine whether the Tleilaxu have tampered with his psyche, revealing that the Tleilaxu have made costly mistakes in the past.
Observing the women, Idaho recognizes the signs of heavy fanaticism and conditioning, noting that Leto still requires the subtle and loyal services of a skilled guard. Despite his lingering questions about what happened to his predecessors, Idaho feels a reassuring connection to the enduring loyalty of the Atreides. Accepting their guidance, he prepares to leave the featureless room and is led toward the Citadel to finally meet the God Emperor.