Just to avoid confusion, this is a different, new continuity to the Paul feminization one, although I hope to still continue the first one &#128522; it's also during Dune Messiah, so spoilers obviously. And yes, I know Hayt/the Duncan Idaho ghola should have metal eyes.<br />-------<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;"That's close enough," barked Duncan Idaho, the ghola once known as Hayt. "Sit there and keep your hands where I can see them."<br /> Idaho pointed to a seat at the end of the throne room, far from the imperial throne. The fedaykin had scanned Scytale and his slave girl with everything they had and found no weapons, though one could never be too sure with Face Dancers. The human chameleons were faster than they appeared.<br /> Scytale made a show of being aggrieved as he took his distant chair. He had dispensed with his jolly appearance, his bloated dumpling of a belly now deflated into a waspish, androgynous figure. His disarmingly boyish face with its foppish locks had turned bald and sexless. At his feet, the girl was made to kneel. Her head was concealed beneath a cowl, though she was evidently aggrieved about her place, yanking at her restraints and mumbling foul oaths through her gag that would make a smuggler blush.<br /> "You have a nerve coming back here," spat Idaho.<br /> Scytale looked past the ghola to Paul, seated upon his throne, and spoke apologetically. "When I heard about the actions of your ghola, I came to extend my apologies for gifting such a dangerous product. Is it true he tried to murder you?" he asked in a voice that would sound utterly innocent &nbsp;and genuine to one without Paul's Bene Gesserit-honed senses.<br /> How at ease he appears for a man caught trying to kill me, Paul noted with curiosity. Beneath the facade, the Face Dancer gave suggestions of excitement, even delight, as if in failure he had succeeded. And there was no fear of death there, even though a single gesture from Paul would have seen the man's head rolling across the throne room floor.<br /> Scytale cool gaze fell on Idaho. "Allow me to take Hayte back to Tleilax and I will see it destroyed as the defective thing it is."<br /> Idaho's hand tightened on his sword hilt. "You people reprogrammed me," he spat, rage thick in his voice. Scytale's eyebrow arched at the 're-'. "Tried to make me kill the son I never had. But the real Duncan Idaho would sooner take over that ghola's body than slay his own lord."<br /> "And so you did!" A delighted smile flickered at the corner of Scytale's mouth. "We surmised it might be possible. But you are the first. What do you remember from your past, Duncan?"<br /> &#8220;Everything. From my childhood on. I even remember you at the tank<br />when they removed me from it,&#8221; Idaho growled.<br /> "Wonderful," Scytale breathed. "Wonderful.<br /> It took Paul a moment to catch up, as the fog that had shrouded their conspiracy at last parted. "The attack on my life was never about me, was it? You were learning how to awaken gholas to their original memories."<br />"And we did! By the tank in which I grew! We merely needed to find the right lever! And now that we have it, we can recreate it, or simulate it at least. Without you, we might never have made such a breakthrough," Scytale exclaimed. He looked down at the chained, hooded girl before him. "And for that we owe you a gift..."<br /> &nbsp; &nbsp;"We have had enough of your gifts," barked Idaho.<br /> "Ah, but the tleilaxu wish to make amends for the ill-treatment our last ghola visited upon you, Emperor. I can assure you that this one contains no subliminal programming and is already awakened to her genetic memories. We have improved upon the last template, adjusted it for your needs. Two beautiful wives and no heir to show for it in twelve years, Emperor? That is unusual, assuming you haven't been spending too long around your family atomics. But we have made this one for you so that she might bear the next Atreides," Scytale said, reaching for the girl's cowl.<br /> As the female ghola felt his hand upon her head, she jerked her head blindly, and might have bitten the Face Dancer's finger off were it not for her gag. Scytale slipped away her hood and blindfold, exposing a rare beauty, her dark eyes blinking against the sudden light. Her raven-haired head twisted in search of an adversary to swing for, as she gnawed at her gag. Duncan Idaho felt his lust stir at the sight of such a restrained beauty. Paul sat up straighter on his throne.<br /> "You recognize her, my Lord?" Idaho asked.<br /> "You mean you don't?" Paul gasped.<br /> "I've known many women across two lives but none as fetching as her," Idaho said magnanimously.<br /> Paul spluttered with laughter. With the power of prescience, it was so rare for anything to catch him by surprise like this had. "The rihani decipherment is surely as clear as day," he prompted. Idaho remained baffled. "You must see the familial resemblance at least!"<br /> Idaho shook his head. The beautiful girl's eyes had adjusted to the light, widening in horror as they fixated on Idaho's face. As the gag fell from between the ghola's lips, she raised an accusatory finger at him, shouting, "Paul, my Lord, I know not how I got here, but that man is an imposter! I am the real Duncan Idaho!" She wrenched at her manacles. In doing so, her gaze fell upon her bare breasts, freezing as if seeing them for the first time. She raised a trembling hand towards her chest, cupping them slowly, then her eyes rolled back into her head. She swooned on the floor.<br /> "A creature who has spent his life creating one particular representation of his selfdom will die rather than become the antithesis of that representation,&#8221; Scytale said. "Or faint, apparently. We have heard mythical tales of Idaho's prowess with the ladies." He rose and bowed. "We trust he will provide your highness with just as much pleasure as a woman."