"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 VIII…
"The Second Foundation?" Toran shrugged. "We were just talking about it the other day here. Not much…I've heard the stories that there may be another one, crafted by Seldon at the same time as the Foundation. Some that it's tied up with the planet of origin, Earth. No one seems to know much about it besides that. Look, I've got to go sit with Bay, even if she'll be out a while. Lets talk later, I know she'll want to hear when she's well."
Ebling receiving cautioning stare from Mylin… Eb…
"I'm sure it can keep, right, Eb?" she eyed him.
"May this one come too, Lord Toran?" Magnifica asked, gently pleading. "Only while my lady sleeps, I would like to know she is well."
"For a little while, sure…" Toran, kindly. She rising hastily, slight wincing as she did.
"You should rest yourself, Magnifica." Mylin noted. "Did you get your pain pills in the cells?"
"I used all but I am well, Lady Mylin." The girl insisted.
"Well, I'll get you more. Toran, she needs to rest. I doubt she's slept the past couple of days. Don't let her sit up too long." Stern tone.
"No, I'll send her to bed in a few. Come along, Magnifica. I know Bay will be glad to have you there for a bit." He smiled to her, she happily following after him into the bedroom, the door sealing after them.
"That kid should be in a hospital." Mylin frowned.
"There's little that can be done for her. Aton's one of the best genetic specialists around today, he says the mutations are irreversible now. Just a matter of mitigating her pain and letting her have a bit of happiness till she dies." Eb noted.
"She's very fond of Bay and Toran…" Mylin smiled.
"Yes. I wish Toran would realize what's at stake here." Mis frowned.
"He does, Eb. Just give him a moment. It was hard for him to see them take Bay and not be able to do anything. And she could have lost the baby. A little patience, you fussy old man." She grinned. "And we all should eat something, so turn that marvelous old brain down and help me in the kitchen."
"We should get to work on the calculations…" Ebling shook head. "We have to know if the Seldon presentation time remains correct, three months from now."
"All the last indications were that it was holding steady, despite the perturbations, right?" she eyed him.
"There's more data now…I should have the full team in on it, including everyone I can get recalled from the military callups, we need answers fast more than security."
"Well, it'll keep till after breakfast. None of your other students not in training camp wakes up before ten on a weekend." She grinned, pulling at him. "Come on."
He frowned but gave in…
…
Magnifica, her thin and frail body curled in the chair she sat at the foot of the guest bed, intently eyeing Bayta in her statis tube, now placed in Mis' guest bed and opened to reveal her still, sleeping face. Toran in chair by Bayta's side, hand to her face, stroking gently.
"Bay…Bay…" he whispered gently. "I don't know if you can hear me but you're safe at home and Torie's out of danger and we're all safe. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there with you. I swear, I'll never let them take you again, if they kill me."
"No…Lord Toran, do not say that." Magnifica cut in. "Lady Bayta would die in her heart for such to happen. You must live, for her." She insisted. "We all must live…It is far too easy to die."
He regarded her…Her eyes sad but warm. And as old and bottomlessly sad as the Galaxy…In a face that should have been and was, young, but strangely, old.
"Far too easy…" she repeated.
"I suppose so…" he smiled wanly at her.
"I should leave you now." she smiled, some bit of youth returning to her face, with that smile. She straightened and rose, with an effort. "Please to call this one when milady wakes?" she asked, gently.
"I will, Magnifica. And again, thanks." He smiled.
…
In a reasonably trendy, though mostly empty of all but some tourists, it being a workday, bar, Pritcher, in casual, to him at least, reasonably touristy, clothes, sat as he nursed a drink.
Almost the only fact becoming clear was the Mule had no interest in public demonstrations of mass loyalty or adulation. He apparently didn't care for making grand speeches or even the most favorable of news interviews by the most sycophantic of interviewers on the most controlled of government broadcasts. And the loyal population of his capital seemed quite reconciled, even proud of his behavior. No loud-mouthed show-off as one patron of the bar had put it, when Pritcher carefully asked regards speeches or proclamations.
Indeed, no one he'd risked talking to had ever even seen or heard, directly, from the Mule. Though in at least one sign of normal human behavior, rumors about him abounded…He was a burly, huge man, ten feet in height… With booming voice and military bearing. No, a small quiet fellow, modest in proportions but solid and muscular, with an eagle's keen look. Able to toss men across rooms…Not so, one of the bar patrons noted in a brief clustering about a table…His brother's cousin's daughter had seen the Mule toss a horse over a man in rage at poor grooming of the animal.
Well…No, couldn't really say if the Mule rode regularly. Or if at all.
If he was to have any chance to even observe the Mule, he'd have to stick with Hanis and his chances of entering Kalganian service, he reflected.
On leaving the bar, Pritcher decided to play the flush tourist for a bit and tour the shops of central Kalgan City. After all, Hanis Marti had scored a killing and nothing unusual that he might spread the wealth a bit in one of the Galaxy's most famed pleasure resorts, even if now the capital of a mammoth war machine.
The flush tourist who let drop a few comments condemning the Foundation and suggesting he understood why a new power like Kalgan might not wish to kowtow to its arrogance.
Surprisingly little jingoism anywhere, he found…Simply a solid and confident belief the Foundation would be defeated and Kalgan and its Union of Worlds victorious. Though a bit vague as to how far that victory might extend, most leaving it in the hands of "Our Sovereign", followed by a somewhat ecstatic expression, similar to Lena Merv's.
Apparently, the Mule remarkably good at winning hearts in a short time…
Still, Pritcher considered. One thing to have people pleased with a string of victories against the odds, another for a new-minted ruler to have such quiet devotion uniformly among the people. And not even one, as yet, agent provocateur, speaking against him to draw opponents out.
Perhaps an act and they feared displaying any negativity, but…Surely someone would wince or grumble a bit. At least not share that rapturous enthusiasm.
Something quite strange going on here. As Herve had stated in his (last?, Pritcher suspected) transmission, one can't get a wedge in.
And no mere dictator/warlord's security's that good in inspiring terror. Even the Foundation under that maniac Indbur II had been honeycombed with resisters...Not of all of whom could resist that human urge to vent a bit, quietly and cautiously for the more sensible, loudly, foolishly, and terminally, for the less so. Or, for Indbur's own agents provocateur.
He stopped by a rather upscale clothing store, entering and smiling at the associate who'd hurried up to greet him. "Hello, I'm looking for a little help. I'm attending the concert tonight on the main plaza, VIP area, and wasn't sure about the proper outfit…?"
"I'd be very happy to help you with some ideas, sir. If you'd allow me." The young woman beamed at the tall, powerfully built man.
"I'm in your hands, miss." Pritcher noted.
….
"So, you agree…?" Captain Merv eyed her two visitors, one her own direct Kalganian superior, a Colonel in charge of her office, the other a former Foundation agent, now in the Union uniform.
"Yes, it's Han Pritcher…" the ex-agent nodded, eyeing the image of Hanis Marti floating above Captain Merv's desk. "One of the best, though a maverick with ties to the Opposition on Terminus. I've worked with him on several assignments. You have my files on him, Colonel." She eyed him, then Captain Merv. "Are you sure it's wise to let him roam free about the capital? Any mission he's had to contact the Mule is sure to become an assassination attempt now." anxious look.
"No worries, Major." The Colonel shook head. "The First Citizen will deal with Captain Pritcher in time. Let him wander about, he'll learn nothing of import, except what the Mule wants him to know. And I assure you, our Sovereign is in no danger here."
"Good." The ex-agent, clearly relieved. "But can't Pritcher be taken in now…? He's quite dangerous in his way, if allowed license, I assure you."
"The Mule wants him to leave Kalgan intact and able to reach Terminus safely. He should be clever enough to arrange that if he's as good a man as you say."
"He is." She nodded. "But…"
"You don't question the plans of our Sovereign?" Captain Merv asked gently.
"Never." Shake of head. "I just know Pritcher. He's already asking questions about the situation here. He may find answers."
"We hope that he will. But they'll do him and the Foundation no good." The Colonel noted. "Don't worry, leave that part in the First Citizen's hands. But apart from the information you've provided you could do the Citizen a good further service if you could resume your previous role as a Foundation imbedded agent."
"Of course." The Major nodded.
"We still need to bring in the agent Herve Lida. He's managed to elude us yet and the First Citizen is too busy to assist just right now. It's our task, as is dealing with Pritcher. And both he and Pritcher are difficult to fool. We will need you to be a dedicated Foundation operative, the only one besides Lida to have escaped our net."
"Both men trust me." The Major nodded. "But they know something strange is going on here on Kalgan, so they'll be on guard with me."
"I should hope so." The Colonel smiled. "Just convince them you're not compromised and your information untainted. It actually is untainted, so…" smile.
"Right." The Major nodded. "It might be best if I start with Pritcher and together we bring in Herve. You can take him once Pritcher's left Kalgan."
"Should work." The Colonel nodded.
"I recommend you try contact with Pritcher tonight, at my concert. He's stated a few times in the course of his travels today he'll be there and he's looking for a way in here, too, through me." Lena noted. She eyed a timepiece on her desk. "In fact, I should get moving soon if I'm going to be ready."
"Yes, that sounds perfect." The Colonel agreed, smiling. "And I'm looking forward to your concert myself. Sorry the Citizen can't be present, but greetings will be sent."
"I'm honored as is my family." Lena beamed.
"I'll get prepared and slip into the concert tonight. I'd best not try to use the special link to respond, just seek him out there." The Major pondered. "Suppose I take some intel from here, along with my old office work pass from when I first infiltrated here, that could be how I learned he was here and would be at the concert?"
"Excellent." The Colonel agreed. Captain Merv nodding as well.
"I'd also suggest…" the Major eyed them. "That when you want him to go, I be seriously wounded and a manhunt for me started. To suggest I've been exposed and you're closing in on him as well."
"A bit extreme…You're a valuable asset, Major Mallow. For your ability and experience as well as your family connections on Terminus." The Colonel noted.
"I'll recover, sir. And it's only an option, to convince Pritcher."
"Your devotion to the Union and the First is admirable, Major." Captain Merv beamed. "Lets hope it doesn't come to that, though."
"Besides, our friend Herve may require your services after Pritcher leaves…" the Colonel eyed Mallow. "If you and Pritcher can't lure him in, you may have to hunt him down."
"Of course, sir." Nod.