Control

Ursula's fingers and hands were sore. She had been doing her prana bindu hand exercises for days on end. How much longer must she endure this mindless physical training? When she left her parents and joined this keep among the Bene Gesserit, her mind was filled with the possibilities of what she might become. The allure of accessing other memories of the past had brought her here, but her patience and persistence were wearing thin. 

Reverend Mother Talu had left her in this room three days ago with simple instructions. She must move each muscle in her hand from her wrist to the tip of each finger one after another, practicing until she could fire through them in rapid succession without thinking. Ursula had begun on the first day with sweat pouring from her forehead while she searched her mind for the location of each muscle. Tula had laughed when her hands cramped in the first hour. She left Ursula after the second hour, shaking her head while muttering about falling standards of new initiates.

The Scattering had created the need for a large number of new sisters to travel with humanity as it filled the corners of the universe. Ursula was one of the thousands of young girls with promising genes who were offered the chance to join in spreading the Missionaria Protectiva to the new planets being colonized. Having grown up amongst the Museum Fremen, Ursula knew much about the Bene Gessert from the oral histories. Yes, they were witches, but their thousands of years of influence both before and after the Tyrant's reign could not be denied. Ursula took the sisterhood up on their offer of training and a new purpose. She was regretting her choice now but could not turn back. Failure would mean a punishment beyond any physical pain known to her. 

Shaitan's Shadow