Vorian Atreides meets privately with Emperor Salvador Corrino and Roderick Corrino in the Imperial Palace, wearing his old military dress uniform. Newly exposed to the public after the parade, Vorian recognizes that his legendary status unsettles the Corrinos, just as it once unsettled Faykan Butler after the Battle of Corrin.

Vorian opens by condemning slavery on the frontier worlds and describing the attack on Kepler, where slavers kidnapped many of his people. He presents the roster of victims and his bill of sale from Poritrin, then argues that freeing them once does not protect Kepler from future raids.

When Roderick minimizes the issue as one crisis among many, Vorian uses his popularity as leverage. Vorian warns that he could rally the public around a crusade against slavery, making the problem politically unavoidable. Salvador reacts angrily, while Roderick stays controlled and seeks a bargain.

Vorian demands an Imperial decree putting Kepler off-limits to slavers and warships to enforce it. Salvador suspects Vorian may intend to challenge the throne, but Vorian denies any political ambition, swears allegiance, and says he only wants his family and planet protected so he can return to obscurity.

Roderick counters that because the people now know Vorian is alive, Kepler cannot remain a safe refuge for him. Roderick offers Imperial protection and ships for Kepler, eventually to be turned over to the local government, but only if Vorian leaves the planet and vanishes elsewhere. Remembering the burned fields, dead villagers, and slave markets, Vorian accepts, sacrificing his home with Mariella and his family to secure Kepler’s safety.