Chapterhouse: Dune

Content Warning: This section discusses graphic violence, death, sexual content, addiction, and religious discrimination. 

Mother Superior Darwi Odrade is celebrating the successful production of a ghola baby from the first Bene Gesserit axolotl tank. A ghola is an artificially produced baby created from DNA scraped from a different body. The ghola can gradually recollect its former body’s memories. Odrade orders the two members of her council, Tamalane and Belladona, to attend to it. The ghola is of Odrade’s father, Bashar Miles Teg, the former military leader of the Bene Gesserit.

They are fleeing from the Honored Matres, a violent, xenophobic rival order who emerged out of The Scattering. They have destroyed 16 Bene Gesserit planets. Odrade decides that they will not sit in defensive enclaves; they will proactively respond to the Honored Matres threat.

The Great Honored Matre, who is referred to as the Spider Queen or Dama by the Bene Gesserit, is interrogating a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, who has resisted torture. Dama asks the Reverend Mother her name, and she introduces herself as Sabanda.