Kasumi: Can you believe that we’ve now been doing this for a year?

Aquila: It’s been a lot of fun.  And for our one year anniversary, we have a special sponsor!

K: Wonderful!  Who is it?

A: Not a clue.

K: Didn’t you take down the information, put it somewhere safe...

A: Oh, I did all those things, but there isn’t much point, is there?  Every single time we’ve had a sponsor, we’ve lost the piece of paper somehow.  I put in my pocket right after writing it down, but there’s no way it’s still there.  No point in even checking.

K: Right...

A: So thank you to our sponsor, whoever you may be!

K: Okay, then, let’s talk about Dune.  That was quite a movie!

A: It was a visual spectacle.  And the world of Arrakis is just brought to life.

K: I loved how different and weird each great house was presented.  It gave the movie a texture you don’t often see.

A: And poor Paul...losing his family to an attack backed by the imperial house and now having to survive with the mysterious Fremen.

K: You really do feel for him.  He’s in a truly alien world now.

A: It’s a pity that the Fremen aren’t smarter about their world – they could be living like kings, if they wanted to.

K: I’m not sure I follow you.  Aren’t they always under imperial occupation of some sort or another?

A: That doesn’t matter if you have money, and they could have tons of it!  They just need to use their natural resources.

K: What, the spice?  Isn’t that the thing being harvested by the imperial occupation?  I don’t think they’d be willing to share it.

A: Who’s talking about spice?  I’m talking about what the spice is in.

K: Wait...you mean the sand?

A: Precisely!  It’s a desert planet – they’ve got all the sand they could ever need!

K: That seems more like a problem than an asset...

A: You need to be logical, Kasumi!  What do you do with sand?

K: Make sand castles?

A: You make glass, Kasumi.  Arrakis has the natural resources to be the greatest glass producer in the known galaxy.  They wouldn’t have to pay for materials at all – just manufacturing and shipping!

K: I suppose that follows.

A: And it would be the best glass.

K: Oh?

A: Just think about what else is in that sand...there’s almost certainly a trace amount of spice in it, and that would get into the glass.

K: Okay.

A: And that means there would be benefits for anybody who uses it.  Just imagine it: you’re at a party, drinking from glass made from Arrakeen glass...just imagine what the trace amount of spice would add to the buzz!  Just think about what they'd see!

K: Wait a minute...are you talking about hallucinogenic glass?

A: Well, I suppose that’s one way of putting it.  The effects would almost certainly be quite mild and harmless.

K: Unless you’re one of the glass blowers.

A: Ah, but they would gain the most advantages!  Remember what the spice does – it lets you see the future.  They would be able to know exactly what the glass they’re making is going to be used for, and customize it before the customer even thinks about buying it!  Arrakeen glass would be unstoppable!

K: Right...

A: I mean, they might mutate into something that can’t really be called human anymore, but all that money they’ll be raking in is bound to make up for it...

K: And, moving on, who is your candidate for best girl?

A: Best girls.  The sandworms.

K: Really?

A: They have to tolerate people luring them in with the promise of food and then forcing them to be giant taxis.  They deserve a break!

K: So, to sum up, we liked Dune, and apparently the Fremen need to start blowing glass.

A: And that’s it, Kasumi – one year done!

K: Let’s take Cap and the girls to a fancy restaurant to celebrate.

A: That sounds like a great idea.  I’ll turn off the recording, and we’ll be on our way.  Huh...that piece of paper is still in my pocket.

K: Really?  Let me see!

A: Okay, here it is.  I’ll just get the recording turned off...

K: Wait, our sponsor was–