"Mule…"
Summary: My AU version of the Asimov tale from his collection of Foundation and Second Foundation tales.
Even as civil war threatens the mighty but flawed Foundation, the Galaxy's greatest power since the Fall of the great Galactic Empire, its road to eventual triumph as the reuniting force in the Galaxy yet (supposedly) guaranteed by the quasi-mystical Seldon Plan, a mysterious warlord of a new and rapidly rising power is maneuvering to seize domination of the Galaxy in defiance of Seldon.
Part V…
"And so the little fellow then told me that the only reason he wasn't going to have me arrested immediately was that his top commanders told him they needed me. And then he assigned me as chief of a team to defeat this so-called 'superweapon' of the Mule's." Ebling Mis snorted.
"What did you say?" Bayta eyed him as Mis, she, Toran, and an anxious Magnifica sat in Mis' home…A modest but elegant affair in one of the quieter suburbs of Terminus City. His pretty brunette assistant, Mylin, chuckling from where she stood, offering Toran, then Magnifica, drinks from the tray she'd brought in, after handing Bayta a glass of juice…Magnifica in turn, begging milady's pardon, she could not tolerate strong drink, but water would be wonderful.
"I told him any half-brained technician could work out a counter, just measure the field output and determine the frequency of the dampening field. I had better things to do. Like determine the best resolution of the fifth Seldon crisis now pending, though I did not bother to say that." Mis noted.
"Here, this is fruit juice." Mylin offered the clown a drink which she accepted hesitantly, sipping cautiously.
"My, it is very fine, milady." Magnifica beamed. "Thank ye."
"Eb. You really think you should push it, especially now?" Bayta frowned at Mis, who shrugged.
"Eh, life is short, best to live it with courage." He proclaimed.
"He got that from last night's play." Mylin giggled.
"You're fired. And if you were a biobot, you'd be deactivated." Mis noted, sternly.
"Right, boss. And yes, Master." Mylin chuckled.
"Girl will be the death of me." Eb frowned.
"Bio…?" Magnifica stared at Mylin.
"A bad joke some idiots make." Bayta frowned.
"'Cause I'm so icy and cold." Mylin noted, with grin. "Don't worry, kiddo. I'm human as you are."
"Indeed, my lady." Magnifica nodded. "The humble one feels it so. Your kindness radiates."
"Magnifica was trained in Galactic standard by an old Lord turned pirate captain." Bayta explained to the amused Mylin. "And the Mule pressed her to address him like a royal courtier. She can't help speaking in rather grand style."
"Well…My lady…" Magnifica, blushing a bit. "Both my ladies deserve to be praised in highest style. Forgive me if I speak foolishly. I am not accustomed to the ways of the great Foundationers."
"Not at all, Magnifica." Bayta, kindly. "Just be yourself. And you deserve a little praise, you've been very brave these last days, with all the sudden changes and such. I know I'd be in a state of constant panic myself."
"Oh, my lady Bayta…These last days have been a Heaven to me. Such friends, such food, such fine clothes…" Magnifica hugged her Foundation tunic to her chest. "So many kind people. I have never been so happy in all my life. It is easy not to have fear in such times and places."
"I'm glad, sweetheart." Bayta patted her. Stretching a bit.
"My lady is well…?" Cautious tone.
"A bit pooped. Carrying lil' Torie about is more work than I thought." Grin to Toran who also gave her a concerned look.
"Now don't both of you go getting all worried, I'm fine." She noted, firmly.
"She should rest, my Lord." Magnifica eyed Toran.
"I think so too, Magnifica." Toran nodded.
"Stop it, both of you." Bayta frowned. Catching Mylin's look, she shook head. "Don't you start too…And as for you, Eb." Eyeing Mis' quick look.
"I'm just a little pooped and I will rest, but I want to know what's going on." Bayta noted.
"Well, given I'm here. And the fleet has recaptured part of the Sagosian system…Meaning the war's going reasonably well." Mis, smiling. "I'd say…"
"Reasonably but not so well as one might expect." Toran noted. "The Mule's troops are fighting like animals, they say, to the last man. Sagosa's beat off five attempts to retake her from their garrison."
"Yes. It's surprising." Mis agreed. "Still, there's been no new advances on either side."
"It shouldn't be like this…" Mylin shook her head, setting down the tray on a small table and taking a drink to her seat. "I know you geniuses thought the Mule would be a good pawn to dampen the new Seldon crisis but it's pretty amazing that Kalgan can go toe to toe with us."
"Is my lady Mylin worried?" Magnifica spoke up, nervously. "Will the Mule come?" a quaver in her voice.
"No, honey." Mylin, gently. "He's not coming. I'm just surprised his people are fighting so well."
"It's interesting…" Mis, who'd come over to Bayta, noted quietly. "She's so terrified of the fellow."
"You know she was horribly abused, Eb." Bayta noted, softly.
"Yes, but this goes beyond that trauma I think." He replied. "Aton's Psychic Probe revealed she has a near pathological dread of the man. And that it might have somehow been implanted."
"Implanted?" Toran looked over at Mis.
"Uncle" or no, I rather wish he'd not sit on the arm of Bay's chair, he thought. Still, I know there's nothing between them. At least on her part…
And Mylin keeps Eb pretty much on a tight lease these days.
"Yes…And it may point to…" Eb began. "Damn…Mylin?" as the holocommunicator in the room buzzed.
"Righto, boss." She rose with smile.
"Hello, Mr. Mayor." She greeted the small image of Mayor Indbur on the pad of the holocommunicator.
…
"Do you really have to go?" Mylin addressed Mis now in coat against the somewhat cool fall air, turning up his collar with matronly air. The others rising as well, to see him off.
"I'd better. My stock is up since I turned out to be right about the Mule's 'superweapon', the depressor field, but I can only push Indbur so far, especially now that things are going a little better and he feels confident again. And it's best I keep some influence with him, if we're to ever hope to get him to negotiate with the Opposition and the Traders."
"He's never going to negotiate with us." Toran sighed. "Especially now."
"War's not over yet." Ebling shrugged. "I know you can't help hating him, Toran, but there are worse alternatives, especially among the military chums of his father, if they decide to turn on him. He may be our best hope for coming through this safely. All right, I'll see you all later and remember, all of you." He eyed the group. "No one can find out you're here. So far as Indbur knows you fled to Haven, with our special guest here." He eyed Magnifica who smiled wanly.
"I'll keep em hid, just be careful, you old fool." Mylin frowned at him. "Don't challenge him too much, at least not in front of his staff."
"I'll be utterly charming, as always." Mis smiled coyly. "And I wouldn't humiliate the boy, he's only trying to live up to the name. Bye, all."
"Bye, Eb!" Bayta called. Toran nodding. Magnifica looking anxious.
"Will the great doctor Mis be safe, my lady?" she turned to Bayta, now taking her seat again, next to her.
"Certainly." She nodded, careful glance to the clearly troubled Mylin.
"My lady Mylin fears for him." Magnifica noted quietly. "Will the great Lord Mayor punish him?"
"No, Magnifica." Bayta shook head. "The Mayor just wants his advice. And to find out what he knows."
Oh…Magnifica, nervously.
"What?"
"My lady…When the Mule seeks knowledge…" shudder. "Pain is his tool."
"Indbur isn't the Mule, Magnifica. He's not the best ruler by far, but he doesn't act that way."
"I see." Pause.
Mylin taking seat, looking a bit anxious. "Anyone hungry? I know I am."
"Sure." Toran nodded. "And Bayta needs to eat. Magnifica?"
"Oh, yes, Lord Toran." Eager nod.
"Ok, then. Let me get things going." Mylin rose.
"May I help, milady?" Magnifica, starting to rise.
"No, and you too, Torie, stay with Bayta. It's fine." Mylin exited into the kitchen area.
"My lady…" Magnifica turned to Bayta. "If the great Lord Indbur is wise and kind…"
"I wouldn't go quite that far, Magnifica." Bayta smiled at her. "He's just not quite the Mule."
"Oh." Nod. "But you are fighting him? Or does the foolish one not understand?" perturbed look.
"Indbur and his people are not letting us have a choice as to who rules us or makes laws, we want that power back."
"Back, my Lady?"
"The Foundation once elected its leaders and its people's representatives made the laws." Bayta explained.
"The Trading Worlds still do." Toran had come over.
"Ah." Magnifica nodded. "Democracy. A very nice word, my lady. I've read of it. But…Does not the great Plan of Seldon seek to restore the Empire?"
"It does. But we hope to make it a democratic Empire. Even an elected Emperor." Bayta smiled.
"That would be very fine, milady." Nod. "I should go help my lady Mylin…My lady?" pausing before rising.
"What is it?" Bayta stared.
"The word…Biobot? I have heard…"
"Well…A long time ago, even before the Empire was formed, humans built mechanical servants, robots and developed them into almost human form." Bayta noted. "They helped us spread out from the original world, Earth, and settle the Galaxy. But humans got a little fearful of them, even though their minds were specially built never to harm humans. Then, the powers that created the Empire used some in wars, erasing the protections in some ways, and they killed millions without restraint, not even realizing what they were doing, simply following orders because their minds were programmable, not independent. Even the Empire became nervous about them once it consolidated…Then the Empire perfected human cloning. And they realized they could make biological robots with artificial brains from clones far more cheaply and quickly…And with programmable brains, they made perfect, reliable soldiers and devoted consorts for the cloned Emperors. But they had the same problem, their minds were programmable and too easily manipulated, so first they were limited to just consorts for the Emperors, then abandoned, and after the Empire declined… What, sweetie?" she eyed Magnifica's questioning face.
"You're overloading her, Bay." Toran smiled. "Our Lady Bayta is a born historian, Magnifica. She'll go on all night if we let her."
"Ignore milord, Magnifica." Bayta mock-glared. "What was it?"
"Earth, milady? I have heard…"
"The ancestral home of human beings." Toran noted. "It's where, at least, in stories, we began. The planet most life sprang from."
"Yes, Lord. I've heard and read tell-tales. But it is not the capital of the old Empire? Tran-tor?" the girl carefully sounded the name.
"No, Trantor was settled thousands of years after we left Earth, wherever it is. Earth's location's been an Imperial secret, they say, for thousands of years. No one quite knows why or if the Empire really knew." Toran noted. "Some do say it was cursed…Or had some disaster that made it too dangerous to visit. Environmental or maybe some sort of war. No one knows for sure, or so I've heard." He eyed Bayta who grinned.
I can go on all night? He offering apologetic shrug. Fine. I like history, too. It's a shared obsession.
"That's what I've heard." Bayta nodded. "There are stories it's protected by the spirits of the ancient dead and the Empire feared being cursed by them. Oh…Sorry." She grinned at Magnifica's stricken face. "Don't be frightened, honey. Those are just legends."
"But no one knows…Where the home Earth is?"
"Maybe the Empire did. Maybe not." Bayta shrugged.
"Of course…" Toran paused. "Some do say that's where the Second Foundation is."
Magnifica blinked… "The Second…Foundation? Another world of great science?"
"They say Seldon created a dual Foundation, to guard and protect the Plan." Bayta noted.
"I've heard…Stories. Reading in Lord Vargos' library and other places…" Magnifica nodded. "And that like this great world of Science, it is a world of wizards and people of power."
"More stories." Toran shrugged. "But this one may be true." Bayta noted.
"Mis believes in it." Mylin had emerged from the kitchen. "Dinner'll be ready in an hour. I like to do real food, not just replicator." Smile.
"He does?" Bayta stared. "I know it's always been mentioned as an idea but no one's even proven Seldon created it."
"Mis believes it exists. And guards the Seldon Plan." Mylin, firmly. "And he's the greatest expert on Psychohistory we have now."
"Then…" Magnifica beamed. "The Mule will never win. You great ones and these great Lords and Ladies will defeat him! Such good news, my Lady!" happy smile, clapping of hands.
"Assuming they exist and can do anything." Toran noted. "They're supposed to be the ones with mind-powers, telepathy, right?"
"Mentalics." Mylin shrugged. "They were set up to develop human mentalic ability, based on old Imperial research. The Empire studied human mental ability for some time for its potential, mainly as weapons I suppose, but lost interest during the Decline. Too little return for the cost."
"Men…Talics?" Magnifica hesitated.
"Mind powers." Toran explained.
"Powers of the mind?" Magnifica gulped. "These great ones can make one think…wrongly?"
"Hopefully for the better." Mylin shrugged. "Eb believes Seldon intended they'd preserve the new Empire on its track, prevent another Decline."
"I dunno." Bayta shook head. "I kinda agree with Magnifica. Couldn't they adjust minds…Wrongly?"
"It's all stories, anyway." Toran noted. "Still, it couldn't hurt to have another ally in our corner."
"Could these great ones…?" Magnifica paused. "Could they truly be on the home of all, Earth?"
"Who knows…" Bayta shrugged. "For all we know they live here, among us."
"Or don't exist at all. An idea Seldon considered but never developed." Toran noted.
"If Eb believes in them, they exist." Mylin insisted. Clasping hands nervously.
"I am sure the great doctor Mis will return safe." Magnifica eyed her. Mylin smiling back… "You're a good kid, Magnifica. And the name suits."
"Indeed." Bayta grinned at the girl, who blushed, lowering head.
"My lady."
…
"This is absolute nonsense, Indbur." Mis argued as he sat across from Mayor Indbur III, the same two security officers eyeing him from their own chairs. "You accused me before and there was nothing to it."
"I had no specific evidence, Doctor." Indbur leaned back, clearly relishing in triumph. "Though we knew you to be a member of the Opposition, I accepted that such evidence was required, given your position and past services. Now, however…" he leaned forward and pressed several pads on his desk. The holoimage of Captain Han Pritcher appeared above his desk. "Captain Han Pritcher of our Intelligence Service, deliberately defied my specific orders to go to Haven and unmask the leaders of the traitors there. He's gone to Kalgan, clearly to negotiate with the Mule on behalf of the Opposition. And you are one of those who authorized his mission. Treason, Doctor. Treason of the worst sort." Coldly calm tone.
"Nonsense." Mis, firmly. "And a picture of this Captain Pritcher hardly constitutes evidence."
"His ship was detected entering Kalganian space by our own intelligence. An agent on Kalgan received an alert from him. It's all here, in the record. Ota?"
"Yes, Mayor, in the record." Major Ota nodded.
"Fine, this Pritcher went to Kalgan, defying you. How does that affect me?"
"Mis." Indbur's face stony and a shade redder than its usual pale, suggesting, for him, great anger.
"I told you not to assume me a fool. We have agents in your Opposition. They confirmed you were at the meeting where a mission to Kalgan was approved."
"Do they?" Mis coolly. "Lets see them, and their confirmation."
Indbur smiled coolly and leaned back. "You think I'd expose the identities of my agents?"
"Then clearly you have nothing." Mis returned smile.
Indbur pressed more pads…Holoimages appeared. Mis and others in a room.
"This is what you've got?" Mis chuckled. "Me, drinking with friends?"
"All known members of the Opposition." Indbur, pointedly.
"And what about Toran and Bayta Dartell, the couple who triggered the Kalganian crisis?" the other of the officers spoke up. "Friends of yours?"
"Of course. And you know that, Mr. Mayor. Bayta… nee Mallow is the daughter of two old friends, the powers that be rest their souls, she's like a daughter or niece to me."
"Yes. One young woman who seems to have escape your clutches." Indbur coldly.
"If you're accusing me of anything, do it and stop making yourself ridiculous." Mis frowned.
"Listen…" Indbur, angrily, waving a hand. Ota pressing on compad.
"We're sending Toran and Bayta Dartell to Kalgan, then? It's agreed?" a voice rose in the room.
"Agreed." The playback stopped.
Mis smiled. "They're newlyweds, Indbur. I arranged a trip for them to Kalgan with help from some friends. We weren't at war then and I wanted to be sure there'd be no diplomatic problems given the change of government then. And what exactly does this have to do with this Captain Pritcher?"
"Pritcher is a member of the Opposition. You and the others sent the Dartells to Kalgan to begin negotiations, Pritcher then followed to complete the treason! Now, I want to know where the Dartells are, where the Kalganian woman is, and exactly what Pritcher is arranging with the Mule!" Indbur, face now a dangerously healthy pink.
"The Dartells went home, well, Toran's home, to Haven. What Kalganian woman? And I've no idea what this Captain Pritcher is doing on Kalgan if he actually is there." Mis, firmly. "Now either charge me, or I'll be on my way."
"Charge you?! I should have you executed at once under martial law! And your entire staff arrested!"
"You won't or I'd have been arrested." Mis regarded the fuming Mayor. "Even you and your 'experts' know the fifth Seldon crisis is brewing and you need me to calculate it. Else how can you know what to do and when?"
"I hardly need your guidance!" Indbur rising in his seat. The security officers tensing.
"Calm down and listen." Mis frowned. "It's true we considered negotiations with the Mule…To pressure you into reform, but we never counted on him being as powerful as he's clearly become. I'm not sure if the events around him properly fit into the psychohistory calculations for this coming crisis and it's worrying me. Now if you'll guarantee the safety of my friends, I'll put those calculations at your disposal."
"You've just confessed to treason, Mis." Indbur, eyes gleaming. "You heard him." He eyed the security officers, who nodded solemnly. "And…It's recorded." Firm nod.
"Fine, you can prosecute me after the crisis is resolved. Don't be foolish, I'm trying to save the Foundation and just possibly your head."
"A threat to my safety as well…" Indbur eyed him.
"If this were simply about the Traders, my friends in the Opposition, and your pissant dictatorship why would I mention a word? Indbur, we have to know more about this Mule and what role he plays in the Crisis before it's too late to act."
"Such patriotism." Grimly mocking tone.
"Common sense survival, you fool. You know I'm right. Will you be sensible?" Mis eyed him.
"Hardly matters." Indbur shrugged. "We already raided your home while you were here." Triumphant look as he leaned back in his chair. "Your friends and the Kalganian who started it all are in custody as we speak."