As I said, I want to cooperate in any way. I’m something of a scholar of ancient Arrakis, and I was deep into my cups, bragging of my prowess to the wrong sort of ears.

When I awoke, I found myself kidnapped by bandits and taken to an ancient testing station. The ruffians wanted my expertise to help them loot the site. I do admit that my fear melted into curiosity.

Is there a more enticing puzzle box than an Imperial Testing Station? A still-functioning artifact from the Old Empire — before Mentats — before the Great Convention. Imagine! Time capsules haunted by ancient feats of science.

I told them what I could, and they left me in the antechamber. I heard their sounds of excitement and avarice. Then sounds of surprise and awe. Then sounds that I could describe as screams for lack of a proper descriptor. Wonder and horror are separated by the thinnest of membranes. I left the station, closed the door, and hurried out into the deadly sun. It was sheer luck that I was found.