"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 XI…
Kalgan Central Complex…Storage and Portable Waste Area, in the rear of the Lena Botos "Thanks to the Troops" concert, VIP area…
"Pritcher…" a weary, yet alert and wary voice greeted him.
"Herve…" Pritcher eyed the small, dark-haired and skinned, man, one of his top fellow operatives…A man who refused military rank, preferring to keep civilian status despite his intel role.
"You shouldn't be on Kalgan." Herve firmly. "I tried to get a warning out."
"I got it. But…I had to come." Pritcher noted.
"I'm guessing that fool Indbur didn't send you. Why are you are here?"
"In part to find out what happened to you and the others. Mostly, the Mule…What can you tell me?"
"The others…" Herve sighed. "Treval and Hostr are dead. I'd guess the others are taken, maybe one or two in hiding, though I doubt it. Pritcher, you have to get out, while you can."
"What about the soldier?"
"That's Goldan, one of mine. I got him into the Kalgan military just after Keffin surrendered to the Mule. Fortunately, he joined on Forxe, never been on Kalgan before, so he wasn't exposed, and he got to Sagosa after…The Mule…"
"Exposed? I need some answers, Herve. And what can you tell me about the Mule?"
"Harla's gone over, Han." Herve eyed him. "If you meet her, kill her or you're done. In fact, if you meet any of ours, don't trust them." Wry smile. "Present company more or less excepted, natch."
"Harla Mallow? Gone over?" Pritcher stared. "Not possible."
"You don't know what the Mule is capable of, Han…Frankly, neither I am to the full." Herve sighed. "He's able to break the best."
"Harla's trained to handle a Probe…" Pritcher insisted.
"This is no probe." Herve noted. "This is total conversion…The sort of thing you read about in science fiction about the old Empire. Or that the geek boys in research loved to speculate about." He sighed. "You remember there used to be talk, that the old Empire tried to find ways to reshape the mind? That Seldon's Second Foundation was trying? Well, the Mule's done it. Either by device or some kind of natural power. Han, I've seen it. Callier, Harla…They're utterly devoted to him. And you must have seen the people here."
"The Mule's able to reshape minds…On a scale like that?" Pritcher stared.
"I think there are limits…" Herve sighed. "He seems to have to drench a population repeatedly in whatever mental force he uses. But even one dip into his emotion/mind-control field, force whatever…I've been through it, Han. Took me days to come out of it fully. I nearly turned myself in. Just lucky I was one of the last to come before the Mule had to go and join his forces. Or move his device with his fleet, I don't know. But with individuals…" shook head. "They aren't to blame, Han. This isn't treason, they couldn't help themselves. But you can't trust them. And you have to get off Kalgan, now, today. Tell the Foundation what it's facing."
"Herve…Why didn't you contact us? Why didn't you leave?" Pritcher eyed him.
"Tried. Harla had all long-range signals blocked and tracked my frequency. Yes, she's one of the Mule top intel people now. They almost got me, that's when Hostr bought it, to save me. He'd felt the force before too, same time I did. He preferred letting them kill him to what Harla bought. I've tried to get off Kalgan, but Harla had my picture everywhere and my bio readings. I only managed to stay free by hiding."
"Why did you come out, then?"
"They know you're here, Han. Goldan works in the intel office now, since he was wounded. But they've not yet put out the full alert, you may just have a chance." Herve eyed him. "I don't. They'll take me tonight, probably here, probably within an hour. Even the dampening field I'm using now to mask my readings, Harla knows about and I'm sure is scanning for."
"You came out for my sake?" Pritcher eyed him.
"Don't get sentimental. For the Foundation and our people there." Herve noted, another grin. "And…There's one other minor detail. You've got to take Goldan with you. I can't let my boy fall to the Mule. And if he stays here, he will. Sooner or later Harla will figure him out or the Mule will come back and start his population drenches again, to convert new and captured troops to his side. I can't let that happen to my son. He's given up his life already for me." Herve shook head.
"I know, against all regs to use family." he nodded. "But in my family our regs are different. And Goldan was hellbent on joining Intel…Following in his damn fool old man's footsteps. In the Opposition as well. Han, I can't let my boy…Not what happened to Harla and others. Get off Kalgan and take him with you if you can. I'm going now, they'll be all over me soon. Use me to get out while you still can. And save my boy. Even legless he's ten times the agent I was then, he'll be value to you." Herve headed off, Pritcher looking after him. The man vanished in seconds…Even to Pritcher's trained eye.
Pritcher sighed…
Well, seems for me the concert's over and I think I've missed my one chance to party backstage with Lena Botos.
Mental powers? Emotional control?
Anyone else, I might entertain the notion of insanity or cracking under the pressure. But, Herve…?
Well…Lets hope this Goldan's as good as his loving dad suggests…
…
Harla Mallow, in civilian dress, eyed the body of Herve Lida...Just outside the Central Complex gate access area. One clean shot to the head, self-inflicted, the moment he knew she was closing in.
What a waste, she thought, sighing. A single tear running…
She rose to face an intel group officer who'd come at her transmitted summons…
No need to keep up the masquerade now, surely Herve had contacted Pritcher and warned him.
"No sign of Pritcher, Major." The officer saluted. "We're searching every holoview, video…We had the entire area blanketed but he's slipped through our fingers."
She nodded, wry smile at Herve's body. Nicely done, Herve.
But, even if Han makes it off Kalgan, all for nothing, really…
"Have this body taken to Intel's morgue. See it's treated with respect." Harla noted. "I'll examine it with the coroner later and arrange a proper burial."
Least I can do, old friend. She eyed the body. I am sorry…And I know the First Citizen will regret your death as I regret I failed you both.
…
Psychohistory
Gaal Dornick, using nonmathematical concepts, has defined Psychohistory to be that branch of mathematics which deals with the reactions of human conglomerates to fixed social and economic stimuli. Implicit in all these definitions the assumption that the human conglomerate being dealt with sufficiently large for valid statistical treatment. The necessary size of such a conglomerate may be determined by Seldon's First Theorem which states it must be at least eight billions. A further necessary assumption is that human conglomerate be itself unaware of Psychohistory analysis in order that its reactions be truly random. The basis of all valid Psychohistory lies in the development of the Seldon functions which exhibit properties congruent to those of such social and economic forces as…
-Encyclopedia Galactica
Bayta looked over to Magnifica who clearly fallen fast asleep, with a grin…
Well, it was a bit much…Even she was a bit tired of facts and figures. Though she noted Mylin still seemed bent on completing her data review.
"Mylin…" she hissed. Pointing to the sleeping Magnifica. Mylin looking up to grin…
"Might as well have one of them be useful." She noted quietly, indicating the guard to Bayta's left.
"Yeah…Come on pal…" she whispered to the guard, the usual burly fellow… "How's about a hand here, I can't try to lift her myself."
The guard frowned but complied, gently lifting the frail girl who moved slightly at his touch but did not awaken.
"Oh…Do not…No…" Magnifica moaned a bit, gently, the guard lifting her easily into his arms. "Mistress…?" she suddenly twisted and woke, looking frightened.
"It's all right, honey. The guard's just carrying you to bed." Bayta noted. "You try to get some sleep. Really, it's ok."
"Is Lord Toran…The doctor…" voice trailing.
"They'll be back soon. Just get to bed."
"Ay, milady…The great soldier floats her off…" Magnifica letting herself be carried, the guard taking her into the room and came out.
"Ok…The girl's set." He noted coolly.
"Thanks." Bayta noted.
"Sure. Say it's not my business but why are you keeping her around?" the guard asked. "She'd be better off in a home or something."
"You're right…None of your business." Bayta nodded.
"Ok…" the guard shrugged, taking a seat. Rising and quite alert as the doorbell buzzed…Toran's image appearing above the inner door.
"That's my husband and Dr. Mis…Let them in, please." Bayta ordered. The guard complied and Toran and Mis entered, the two guards behind in the doorway simply looking in, then stepping back.
"Torie… I was getting worried." Bayta noted. "Eb." She nodded. Ebling offering quick greeting then hurrying to Mylin who greeted him.
"Indbur wanted another session with the Traders. He still seems to think they'll cheat him but he's accepted the alliance." Toran noted.
"Thank God." Bayta nodded. "So…This may be the Seldon crisis."
"Mis says the resolution wouldn't be for three months but yeah, maybe." Toran nodded.
"I should have been there." She noted.
"You didn't miss much. We should have been done hours ago but Indbur…" shrug. "Still, Mis thinks it's a positive step, eh Eb?" he called over. Mis looking intently at Mylin's data then to Toran…
"What? Oh, yeah." Ebling waved. "Probably solved the whole thing."
"That fills me with confidence." Bayta noted quietly to Toran, who shrugged.
"Magnifica get to bed?" he asked.
"Just as you came in…I was trying to do a little more history and science, we started Psychohistory, but even I started passing out." Wan smile.
"Well, we should get to bed, too." Toran noted. "I'll fill you in on the details, I promise but the short answer is we have our alliance. I hope it'll put the Mule thing to rest."
"Ok, but next meeting…Opposition or Indbur…"
"Absolutely…But bed now."