Carrying a large black bag, Hidar Fen Ajidica walked briskly past two Sardaukar guards in the underground city. The Imperial soldiers stood at attention and hardly blinked when the Master Researcher went by, as if he was beneath their notice.
Now that he had learned how to dramatically increase ajidamal production, Ajidica regularly consumed large doses of the synthetic spice; he existed in a pleasurable sense of hyperconsciousness. His intuition was sharper than ever before. The drug exceeded all expectations. Ajidamal was not only a substitute for melange; it was better than melange.
With his increased awareness, Ajidica noticed a tiny reptile crawling on the rough rock wall. Draco volans, one of the “flying dragon” lizards that had moved down from the rugged surface after the Tleilaxu takeover. With a flicker of dull, scaly skin it skittered out of sight.
Ants, beetles, and cockroaches had also found their way into the subterranean realm. He had instituted a number of eradication procedures to keep the vermin out of his antiseptic laboratories, but to no avail.
Filled with enthusiasm, Ajidica passed through the pale orange light of a bioscanner and continued into the Sardaukar Officers’ core of the military base. Without knocking, he strutted into the innermost office and dropped onto a small chairdog, holding the bag on his lap. After an uncharacteristic whine of protest, the sedentary animal conformed to the Master Researcher’s body. Ajidica’s eyelids slitted half-closed as a fresh burst of drug pleasure infused his brain.
A large man in a gray-and-black uniform looked up from the midday meal he’d been eating at his desk. Commander Cando Garon— son of the Emperor’s Supreme Bashar Zum Garon— frequently dined alone. Though not yet forty years of age, Cando looked older than that, his brown hair frosted gray at the temples. His skin had a pale cast from spending so many years down in the caverns after being assigned here by the Emperor. The younger Garon’s prominent but secret role guarding the experiments made his esteemed father proud.
The commander gave Ajidica an appraising look, spooned a gooey forkful of pundi rice and meat from packaged Sardaukar rations into his mouth. “You asked to see me, Master Researcher? Is there a problem my men must address?”
“No problems, Commander. Actually, I come to offer a reward.” The little man squirmed out of the reluctant chairdog and set his satchel on the desk. “Your men have done an exemplary job here, and our long labors have finally come to fruition.” The compliments tasted strange in Ajidica’s mouth. “I will send a commendation directly to your father, the Supreme Bashar. In the meantime, however, the Emperor has allowed me to offer you a small reward.”
Removing a sealed packet from the bag, Garon looked at it as if it might explode in his face. He sniffed, detected an unmistakable cinnamon scent. “Melange?” Garon removed several packets from the satchel. “This is far too much for my personal use.”
“Enough to share among your men, perhaps? If you wish, I will see that you and your Sardaukar have as much as you need.”
He met the steady gaze of Ajidica. “Are you bribing me, sir?”
“I ask nothing in return, Commander. You know our mission here, to serve the Emperor’s plans.” Ajidica smiled. “This substance comes from our laboratories, not Arrakis. We manufactured it, converted the liquid essence into solid form. Our axlotl tanks are currently operating at peak production. Soon, spice will flow freely… for anyone who deserves it. Not just for the Guild, or CHOAM, or the fabulously wealthy.”
Ajidica snatched one of the packets himself, tore it open, and gobbled the sample. “There, to prove the substance is pure.”
“I never doubted you, sir.” Commander Garon opened one of the samples and sniffed cautiously at the cakey material processed from the original liquid distillate. He touched a bit of it to his tongue, then ate more. A tingle suffused his nerves, and his pale skin flushed. He clearly wanted more, but he restrained himself. “After it is tested thoroughly, I will see that this is equitably distributed among my men.”
As Ajidica departed from the Officers’ complex, satisfied, he wondered if this young Sardaukar commander might be of some use to him in his new regime. It was radical to trust an infidel outsider, a powindah. Still, Ajidica rather liked the no-nonsense soldier— provided he could be controlled. Control. The artificial spice might allow him to accomplish exactly that.
Content with his grand visions, Ajidica stepped into a capsule-car. Soon, he would escape to a promised world where he could grow strong, if only he could keep the Emperor and his dog Fenring at bay long enough.
Inevitably, he would have to fight the deposed Shaddam, and the Tleilaxu corruptors who had distorted the Great Belief. For such vital challenges, Ajidica would need his own holy warriors, in addition to loyal Face Dancer servants and spies. Yes, these legions of Imperial Sardaukar could prove necessary… once he addicted them.