"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 XII…
"Well?" Bayta had rolled over to face Toran who lay naked in their bed.
"It's great they finally removed that chamber yesterday." He noted.
"Torie." Frown. "Well, ok, it is." She nodded. "But you know what I want to hear."
He sighed. "Ok…The details. Indbur met with Loos Weslon, my uncle Randu, and Skiva Hardin from the Trading Worlds, along with a few senior commanders and the usual complement of guards and security personnel. Mis was there, as you know, along with Flavia DeSantis and Indbur's pets from the University, of which as you know, Mis only respects Sessons. He and they agree a Seldon crisis is coming. Sessons agreed with Mis, in about three months, DeSantis a little more cautious, the others pretty much went with Sessons. And Sessons agreed the Mule is the focus not the Traders or the Opposition. Indbur tried to rant a bit which kept things going but in the end he 'tentatively' agreed to the alliance and the military boys made some plans in another room then told us and Indbur there'd be a strike at Campor where the Mule seems to be massing some forces. Indbur ranted for a bit again but gave his approval. And that, midear is that. Oh, and my contribution was to sit like an idiot and answer one question that Randu put to me, mainly for show."
"Poor Torie…" Bayta mock-sighed. "If I'd been there I'd've been running the meeting." She grinned.
"I know." He shrugged. "That's why I said absolutely not when Indbur demanded you be brought in."
"Oh…So, you mentioned Flavia…"
"Yes and if you must know, Captain Flecia Haven and Vice-Admiral Gena Raddis were there, decked out in their uniforms. They gave me such an eyeing." He noted, archly.
Whamp! She hit him with her pillow.
"Glad to see you are over everything." He noted, embracing her.
…
"My orderly's had a few too many. Lena's concert." Officer Goldan noted as Pritcher, in the black uniform of the Union, casually eyed the gate officer, an older fellow who proudly sported his black and silver.
"He should watch himself…You sure you don't need some assist." The officer eyed Pritcher, who gave a smile and half-salute.
"Nah, Cordy's all right. He'll get me home." Goldan smiled. "Pull yourself together, Cordan…Time to head home." Wheeling the self-propelled chair expertly.
"Sir…" Pritcher nodded, partial salute.
Lena's voice drifting over from the huge stage… "Sure we can' stay? Sir?" Pritcher suggested to Goldan who frowned.
"I'm only going to cover for you so much, Cordy…Come on. He'll be ok." To the officer who gave a frown but let them through.
"My shuttle's parked four rows down…" Goldan hissed. "Right." Pritcher noted, "But the ship…"
"It'll have to be my own…A small job but fitted to travel. We'll shuttle over and go immediately. My dad's dead." He noted, matter of factly. "He put out a signal, indiscriminate. We'd agreed it would his death sign."
"I'm sorry."
"He'd've preferred it to what the Mule would do. Here's the shuttle, lets go." Goldan noted.
"It's that bad?" as they strapped in.
"Yeah." Nod. "Pray you don't see any old friends."
"I've met some folks."
"Then you have an idea. We'll get back home then we go. No delays."
"Can we clear Kalgan airspace?"
"Not a chance. We jump…Ground ;up."
"What? Can that even be done?" Pritcher stared.
"If we blow up my house and a portion of the neighborhood, yeah." Goldan noted. "Of course if the nav's off we could end up in Kalgan's sun or any random star or planet…But it's our only chance."
…
"What is that you've got there?" Mis eyed Magnifica as he, she, and Mylin sat at table. Magnifica fingering a plastic flute.
"Bayta got it for her yesterday. She seemed to like it." Mylin noted.
"Oh, yes. This one loves to play music when allowed." Magnifica agreed. "May the one…" she held up flute.
"She's actually pretty good." Mylin noted.
"My lady is sweet to say so." Magnifica beamed and lifted to lips. "If the great doctor…?"
"Fine by me…" Mis nodded. "But I have to hurry to get to the University to meet my team. Indbur having 'graciously' allowed it."
Magnifica, closing eyes, played a gentle air…A sweet thing that seemed to dance on the air a moment. Shyly putting it down a moment later.
"She is good." Mis stared. "Where did you learn to play like that?"
"Some with my lord Vargos, some I do not know, some with the Mule…Though he had me play upon an old VisiSonar, found somewhere by a guard. He enjoyed my playing, sometimes when he was not angry at me, he would have me play a time and give me food or let his men toss me a coin." Magnifica noted. "But when I fled…There was no time to find it."
"A VisiSonar?" Mis eyed her. "That is old. Well, I've got to go. Mylin? You finish up the stuff here and keep an eye out on our guests, meaning the guards, plus our friends here." Smile at Magnifica.
"Much success, great one!" she called to Mis as he left.
"She always talk like that?" the room guard asked Mylin as Mis went out, the guard regarding Magnifica as she fingered the flute.
"Do you?" Mylin eyed him coldly.
…