When Ammon stepped out of the tunnel he had at last arrived at the the Ordos hidden keep. He turned off his glowglobe. He had entered anther corridor but this one was brightly lit with a bright green carpet and the walls and ceilings were made of some white plastic. Ammon did not recognize this particular plastic. He could only guess at how this lair was built. Perhaps Ixian technologies were used. Ammon had to be in a state of meditation to reach his ultimate potential at finding answers to all his questions.
The two of them stood silent for a brief moment. Ammon made a mental note to find out exactly where on Draconis IV the keep was and not to ask the Ordos for it was now apparent that the Ordos hated answering questions. Ammon followed his guide down the long corridor to another large door made of steel. Ammon pressed the large red square button. Immediately a voice from unseen speakers spoke from all around instead of from one source.
"Who approaches?" The voice asked. The voice sounded very inhuman and must have been produced by a machine. A thinking machine here? Now it all made sense! The Ordos were so secretive because they were breaking the golden law of the Orange Catholic Bible and that of the Imperium: Thou shalt not create a machine in the likeness of man. Ammon was struck with terror but with effort maintained his composure and tried not to show any fear and disgust that the ancient law was being violated. These people were an evil that must be reported immediately or it could mean humanity would once again be enslaved by machines. Ammon had to find a way to escape and report this to the Emperor. But Ammon also understood that they probably had precautions to deal with traitors and spies. Another possibility came to his head though the odds were against it: perhaps the voice was that of a human being only altered by an Ixian intercom. Ammon doubted it and it would be wishful thinking to believe it but as a Mentat he was open to speculate. If Ammon could escape, it would be a very narrow escape. All these thoughts went through his mind in only seconds. Ammon answered the creature or thing that had spoken.
"I am Ammon your new Mentat recruit" By then his guide had walked back to the tunnel.
"You may proceed to enter" the voice replied. The large steel door with lightning speed opened. Ammon carefully entered another hallway that looked like the interior of a spaceship. Ammon took comfort however from the green carpet on the floor that was releasing an unnatural heat. There were no other corridors leading to other parts of the lair. There was just one hallway leading to the throne room or at least where he would be briefed by his new masters. Glowglobe chandeliers hung from the ceiling and projectile holes could be seen in the walls where most likely poison darts would fly out towards those the Ordos thought were untrustworthy. Ammon was still afraid but knew that if he were to escape, he would have to act as if nothing was amiss. To run now would mean he would automatically be gunned down. Walking confidently towards the door on the far side, Ammon made several theories as to what kind of leader or leaders the head of House Ordos were. Were they a council of greedy Houses Minor or a rogue Prince? Or maybe they were just wealthy CHOAM businessmen who cared nothing for the law? Or perhaps they were something inhuman all together? Ammon was hoping very much to meet the leader or leaders of House Ordos but with such a deadly secret they were hiding, Ammon was beginning to have doubts that such a meeting would ever take place.
As he walked down the hallway he finally saw what looked like a Great House throne room. There was a high ceiling with a mosaic on it depicting the Ordos insignia held up by large black pillars. There was a central isle leading to an open circular space in front the steps leading to where the throne was supposed to be but Ammon could only see an empty space. On both sides of the room was seating for an audience. The room was windowless but brightly lit. There were ventilation shafts above the doors. The room had one main entrance and two smaller exits left and right from the throne. Ammon knew that there were also secret passages in the room most likely near the throne area.
The room was empty but Ammon knew that his every move was being watched by comeyes. Ammon approached the area where the throne was supposed to be when suddenly the same inhuman voice could be heard again this time telling him to wait at the base of the steps. Ammon obeyed. Suddenly on the open space in front of him he could see a blue image appearing; a hologram. Ammon was expecting something like this to happen. The hologram projected an image of a man sitting on a black throne that looked like a pair of bat wings. Three glowglobes were attached to the right armrest and the man had his hand placed on one of them lighting it up while the other two remained off. The being sitting on the throne wore a featureless black suit. His face was as white as all other Draconis IV residents and was bald and had no eyebrows. He wore what looked like some sort of breathing device with tubes going to the back of the throne. Four more large tubes could be seen attached to his head but the hologram did not show where the tubes led. The beings eyes stared at Ammon intensely.
"What you see in front of you is the speaker" said the inhuman voice, "We are the Ordos. We are one" Ammon did not know who or what the speaker is; only that it spoke on behalf of his masters. The speaker continued. "Before we can discuss your mission or recruit you we must have you sign a contract assuring your confidentiality and your eternal commitment to serve House Ordos" Ammon tuned to his left at the sound of a door opening. A pale and thin man in thick dark clothing walked in and approached Ammon. He held what appeared to be a syringe. Ammon knew as soon as he saw the syringe what was about to happen: a contract signed in blood. This was once a sinful taboo practice on Old Earth. If one were to breach a contract written in blood, his/her life would be forfeit and his/her soul would burn in hell. Ammon realized he would be within the Ordos inner circle of trust. The Ordos seldom accepted new retainers. And here he was being accepted as one. If he could escape, he would indeed be able to sell many secrets to the Emperor and the Bene Gesserit or anyone willing to pay a high amount in mélange. Ammon cast his greed aside for he knew that wealth and power were only secondary to escape.
It was not long before he received a prick on his left index finger and the servant proceeded to extract his blood enough to sign a signature with. He could only hope that he did not need to go through any sort of procedure that would have the Ordos take control of his mind. Ammon knew that even if he escaped, he would be chased across the Imperium by agents employed by House Ordos. He would be for several months on the run in search of another Great House sympathetic enough to grant him protection from the Ordos. Ammon almost lost his confidence with this thought and his knuckles turned white.