Author Topic: Stories of the Bene Gesserit Sisters  (Read 2149 times)

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Offline Libby

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Stories of the Bene Gesserit Sisters
« on: April 24, 2020, 10:20:04 PM »
24th April 2020

Lydia came up from below the deck of her small single person sailboat. She turned on the campstove to boil some fresh water to make her morning porridge while enjoying the sunrise over the Kyne. It had taken her well over a week to reach this little bay and in a few hours she'd be entering a port in southern Tamora. She mixed the last of her honey into the thick oaty porridge and radioed into HQ where exactly she was. Her small simple breakfast done she tidied up the deck, lifted the anchor and checked her GPS to make sure she was on course. She kept close to the shore line for most of the morning until the Tamoran port town came into view. She sent her final message from the boat and prepared to come into the port, no sooner had she moored up the tiny boat she was heading off in search of her next mode of transport the hefty backpack strapped to her back.

It was a bit of a struggle, she didn't speak Parthian and her stuttered use of the phrase book meant it took longer than you would expect to get the hire care, she was just pleased it would allow her to play her music as she headed North. Her legs were still wobbly as she got settled for what would be a longish drive. Lydia enjoyed the travelling she was doing, it was perhaps similar to the reason she enjoyed long distance running because you could just get lost in your own little world. The air-conditioned car was certainly a great way to see this new country and she was in some way a little disappointed that she couldn't pull off the road here and there and do some exploring, maybe on the way back if she had the time. By early afternoon the skyscape of Djerb came into view, various minarets, spires and domes visible. Thankfully the strange city was pretty easy to navigate around thanks to the GPS and she found Verspassian Atreides, the ambassador to Tamora. Lydia may be a Truthsayer officer, but she was also one of the children of the Four Holy Houses and that meant in some very distant roundabout way that made the Fremen and Atreides family. Verspasian hugged her as she got out of the car and had one of the embassy security detachment grab her bag from the boot of the car. "Did you bring it?" Verspasian asked eagerly.

"Of course not, I've just sailed half way round Aranye without the stuff" she shook her head surprised at the question in some ways. "I tell you though it was a fantastic voyage, if we still need the job doing next year then sign me up." she added. The pair walked inside the embassy and Verspasian watched as Lydia unpacked the ruck sack, she'd left nearly everything on the boat and having carefully taken out a vaccum packed bag containing her Truthsayer uniform she began pulling out taped pack after taped pack of powder handing each carefully to Verspasian. It must have been a good 3/4 of the rucksack which contained the packets and once each had been handed over she unwrapped her uniform. "I'm going to need an iron." she said as she held up the heavily creased trousers, jacket and shirt.

"We'll have someone sort it for you." Verspasian replied as he motioned for a Truthsayer Corporal to take the items and ensure they were taken care of. "You have a nap, have a shower, get yourself settled. If you want some food just pick up the phone, dial 1 and speak to the kitchen." Confident that his guest in the embassy was settled he went back downstairs. A whole production line was being set up, each of the taped packets was carefully being unwrapped onto clean white table clothes were two Truthsayers wearing surgical style masks. They passed the powder through seives ensuring no lumps or chunks existed. Once the finely sifted powder was one the cloth a series of small wooden boxes were brought out and using digital scales a set amount of the powder was weighed. Only when exactly perfect measurements of the precious powder were set was it carefully placed into the silk cloth lined box. It was at this point a third Truthsayer carefully folded the silk over and tied the dark blue ribbon around it tightly. The box was then placed in a black velvet bag and a member of the Missionara Protectiva who was overseeing the whole process wrote a tag attached to the bag and then ticked it off on a clipboard pinned list. It took the best part of the day to complete the task and by the end hundreds of the boxes had been prepared.

Lydia had time to have a nap on something that wasn't pitching and rolling before having a shower. By the time she emerged from the giant bathroom her uniform was hanging ready. "You going to be OK doing this?" Verspassian asked her as she made her way downstairs to see the tables and boxes being tidied up.

"Of course" Lydia laughed, "walking through Arakkeen with a rucksack full of this compared to a stroll through Djerb, easy choice" she picked up one of the boxes and placed it carefully into the ammunition box that sat on the hip of her black leather belt. Normally she'd have had a service pistol on her other hip and her crystknife on the back of her belt, all ceremonial emblemns of a Truthsayer officer but Verspassian figured having an armed woman wandering around Djerb wouldn't be desireable. She checked her directions, donned her beret and headed out the embassy. It was a pleasant stroll through the streets of Djerb, she watched how some of the locals watched her passing curiously and having stopped to ask directions a few times just to double check where she was going she found herself explaining who she was several times. Eventually she reached the Palace and made her way up to the gate security. "Good evening" the sun was just about to begin its descent towards the horizon. "My name is Liutenant Fremen, I'm a Truthsayer officer sent by His Excellency Ambassador Verspasian Atreides." She reached into her pouch and retrieved the small box. "I have been dispatched with delivering this, its a token of esteem from the the Ambassador." She handed it over. "It contains a Truthsayers ration of the spice melange freshly harvested from Seitch. The Ambassador has sent it as a gift to the Empress." While every other box had been ear-marked for members of the faith spread across Mundus the Ambassador had thought it fitting to present his host with the gift. "Thank you" she smiled as she handed the box over, "Have a pleasant evening" she nodded respectfully to the guards, about turned and headed back towards the embassy via a small cafe she'd spotted on her way to the Palace.

Attached to the box was a creamy white envelope containing a message from the Ambassador

Quote from: Letter

To Her Imperial Majesty

Every year the Truthsayers of the Bene Gesserit faith harvest the sandworms of Seitch and make the spice Melange. Our faith teaches us that women of great spiritual power, good standing and blessed with great gifts can harness it as a means of connecting with God/Gods. Others believe that it is an excellent addition to cake. Each year the spice is distributed and traditionally Truthsayers, those charged with defending the faith, are the only ones guaranteed a portion. As the matriach of a nation that has allowed us to live safely in your nation it in my view means you have done as much to defend the Bene Gesserit faith as a Truthsayer. It is therefore my honour to present you with a Truthsayers portion of this years spice harvest.

With thanks on behalf of the Bene Gesserit

Verspassian Atreides