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Miles Teg

the Supreme Bashar

Miles Teg was a Bene Gesserit Mentat and military commander, the Supreme Bashar of the Sisterhood's forces, bred down the Atreides line and so close in likeness to Leto Atreides I that he was used to reawaken a Duncan Idaho ghola. Tortured into prescience, he died in battle on Rakis and was later revived as a ghola.

By Joe Garratt

Supreme Bashar Miles Teg was a highly regarded military commander and Mentat of the Bene Gesserit, who lived roughly fifteen centuries after the death of the God Emperor Leto Atreides II. A product of the Sisterhood's breeding program bred down the line of House Atreides genes, he resembled Leto Atreides I so closely that the Sisterhood employed him to reawaken the dormant memories of a Duncan Idaho ghola. Combining the discipline of a Reverend Mother's training with Mentat computation, Teg became the ablest commander of his age before his death in battle on Rakis.

Origins and breeding#

Miles Teg was the eldest son of Loschy Teg and Lady Janet Roxbrough, born on Lernaeus and conditioned from an early age to serve the interests of the Bene Gesserit. He was regarded as an exceptional example of pure breeding, possessing the physical and mental attributes of a classic Atreides male to the point where he was said to resemble Leto Atreides I almost exactly, differing only in being somewhat taller. When Teg first saw the ego-likeness of the old Duke in a Bene Gesserit library, he regarded the experience as looking into a mirror, an impression that extended to the old Duke's mannerisms as well as his features.

His likeness to the Atreides was no accident. The Sisterhood had bred him down the line of House Atreides genes, and his loyalty was secured where earlier Atreides had slipped their control. Where the mother of Paul Atreides had defied the Sisterhood, Teg's mother Janet Roxbrough remained loyal, instilling in him awe and devotion for the Bene Gesserit through his upbringing and training. He thus combined the powerful traits of the Atreides with complete obedience to the Sisterhood, unlike Paul or Leto Atreides II before him.

Training as Mentat and adept#

Much of Teg's training reflected the learning instilled in Reverend Mothers, an inheritance largely attributed to his mother, who was a Reverend Mother herself. He became both a Mentat and a Bene Gesserit adept, a combination that made him a formidable instrument of the Sisterhood's will. Shortly before his thirteenth birthday he was sent to advanced schooling at the Bene Gesserit stronghold on Lampadas, where the early assessment of his promise was confirmed. Word went back to his mother: "You have given us the Warrior Mentat we had hoped for." Teg did not see that note, inscribed on a small sheet of Ridulian crystal, until he sorted through his mother's effects after her death.

Career as Supreme Bashar#

Teg spent his career commanding Bene Gesserit military forces as their Supreme Bashar. He earned a reputation for superior ability in leading men in battle and for engendering truces between otherwise implacable enemies. His successes were attributed in part to his genetic inheritance, for the men of the Atreides line were known to be charismatic and to elicit fierce loyalty in those who followed them, a potential the Sisterhood capitalised upon through his training. He fathered multiple daughters, among them the Reverend Mother and later Mother Superior Darwi Odrade and his eldest, Dimela, who herself had three children. After an extremely successful career he retired to his home planet of Lernaeus.

Recall, capture, and torture#

Some time after his retirement Teg was called back to active duty to train a Duncan Idaho ghola and to awaken the ghola's dormant memories and personality. The Sisterhood believed that his superior abilities and his resemblance to Leto Atreides I would assist the task, since the original Duncan Idaho had maintained a strong relationship with the Duke. During this period the Reverend Mother Darwi Odrade revealed to him that she was his daughter and speculated that her fellow Reverend Mother Lucilla might also be among his offspring.

After Teg had restored the ghola's memories, Tleilaxu forces attempted to capture him and Duncan, using both Face Dancers and people returning from the Scattering. Teg used a series of cunning and unexpected tactics to help Duncan and Lucilla escape, but he was himself captured. During his interrogation he was tortured severely with a T-probe. The extreme pain awoke prescient abilities in him along with heightened physical and mental powers, all of which allowed him to overpower his interrogators and escape.

Death on Rakis#

Following his escape Teg gathered many retired war veterans from Gammu who had served under him. He then travelled to Rakis, where he created a diversion to allow Duncan and the Reverend Mother Lucilla to escape. Teg was killed in this diversion, a massive battle involving millions between forces of the Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres.

Rebirth as a ghola#

Some years later Teg was returned from the dead as a ghola, grown in an axlotl tank from cells harvested before the death of the original. His memories were awakened in a reversal of the role he had once played for Duncan Idaho, this time by the woman Sheeana under Duncan's direction. Duncan theorised that the awakening could be triggered through Imprinting, and a buried memory of the hypnotrance suggestion his mother had once planted to repel Imprinting supplied the necessary trauma to restore his original self. Teg then commanded the forces that led to the subjugation of the Honored Matres under the Bene Gesserit. When Murbella's ascension to leadership was not accepted by all the Sisterhood, Teg left to join the Scattering led by Sheeana.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Miles Teg?
Miles Teg was a highly regarded military commander and Mentat of the Bene Gesserit who served as the Sisterhood's Supreme Bashar. He lived roughly fifteen centuries after the death of the God Emperor Leto Atreides II.
Why did Miles Teg resemble Leto Atreides I?
The Bene Gesserit had bred Teg down the line of House Atreides genes, and he resembled Leto Atreides I almost exactly, differing only in being somewhat taller. Because of this likeness the Sisterhood employed him to reawaken the dormant memories of a Duncan Idaho ghola.
How did Miles Teg gain prescient powers?
After he restored the Duncan Idaho ghola's memories, Tleilaxu forces captured Teg and tortured him severely with a T-probe. The extreme pain awoke prescient abilities along with heightened physical and mental powers, which allowed him to overpower his interrogators and escape.
How did Miles Teg die?
Teg travelled to Rakis and created a diversion to allow Duncan Idaho and the Reverend Mother Lucilla to escape. He was killed in that diversion, a massive battle involving millions between forces of the Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres.
Was Miles Teg brought back after his death?
Yes. Teg was revived as a ghola grown in an axlotl tank from cells harvested before his death, and his memories were awakened by Sheeana under Duncan's direction. He then commanded the forces that subdued the Honored Matres before leaving to join the Scattering led by Sheeana.

Gallery

Miles Teg — image 2
Miles Teg — image 3
Miles Teg — image 4

Images via Dune Wiki

Sources

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