Jessica wakes around 2 A.M. to a loud disturbance in the great hall. After confirming that Paul is asleep and Leto is absent at the command post, Jessica arms herself with a crysknife and goes to investigate, fearing the noise may signal a Harkonnen attack or harm to Leto.

In the hall, two guards are restraining Duncan Idaho, who is filthy, drunk on spice beer, and shouting about past battles. Jessica orders Mapes to bring caffeine and calls for Yueh, but Duncan resists treatment. When Jessica shocks Duncan by slapping him and commanding him to drink, Duncan accuses Jessica of being a Harkonnen spy.

Duncan’s accusation makes Jessica realize that Thufir Hawat has been using Duncan and others to watch her. Jessica orders Hawat brought to her immediately, sends Duncan to sleep off his intoxication in the east wing, and dismisses Mapes and Yueh. Alone in her sitting room, Jessica prepares for a dangerous confrontation and wonders whether Hawat himself could be the bought traitor.

When Hawat arrives, Jessica directly asks whether Hawat is a Harkonnen agent. Hawat’s outraged reaction convinces Jessica that Hawat remains loyal to Leto, but Hawat refuses to abandon his suspicion of Jessica. Jessica argues that the real enemy may be exploiting fear, displacement, and suspicion among the Atreides household, especially because the men have lost Caladan as their home and are unsettled on Arrakis.

Jessica considers revealing that Jessica is pregnant with Leto’s daughter, but decides the knowledge would burden Leto at the wrong time. Instead, Jessica escalates the confrontation by revealing part of the true power of Bene Gesserit training. When Hawat tries to leave, Jessica uses the Voice to force Hawat back into his chair, proving that Jessica could have manipulated or killed him if Jessica wished.

Hawat is shaken and nearly reaches for a hidden weapon, but Jessica turns her back on him and dismisses him, trusting that the gesture will force him to reconsider. Hawat leaves with a new, fearful admiration for Jessica. Jessica believes the confrontation will prompt Hawat to act more effectively against the real source of the plot against House Atreides.