"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 XVII…
Ebling Mis rested carelessly on the too-lavish chair in Mayor Indbur's private quarters, unregenerately unthankful for the condescension shown him, and watched the small mayor's fidgeting unsympathetically. He tossed away a cigar stub and spat out a shred of tobacco. "And, incidentally, if you want something for your next concert at Mallow Hall, Indbur," he said, "you can dump out those electronic gadgeteers into the sewers they came from and have our little freak play the Visi-Sonor for you. Indbur, it's out of this world."
Indbur said peevishly, "I did not call you here to listen to your lectures on music. What of the Mule? Tell me that. What of the Mule?"
Sessons, with two of his staff seated on the other side of the Mayor's desk, spoke up. "You've had that clown of his, supposedly the only person we know who's been close to the Mule, for nearly two weeks now. And those traitors, the Dartells, who've been on Kalgan…Who started this whole mess by taking her."
"Nonsense…" Mis frowned. "The Mule was looking for any excuse to attack as soon as he felt ready."
"The girl should be here, at Foundation Security. Where she'd be made to talk." Sessons, firmly.
"You've probed her…And got nothing." Mis noted.
"And that may be all she's worth…Nothing." Sessons frowned.
"Enough!" Indbur, surprising both men by his agitation. "Neither of you have anything? We need to know of the Mule!"
"The Mule?" Mis leaned back… "Well, I'll tell you, we've used psychic probes on the girl. Sessons has as you know, and we've both got little. Can't go too deep because the freak is scared blind of it, so that her resistance will probably blow her unprintable mental fuses if we do."
"Leave that to my team…" Sessons noted.
"You had your chance with her and got nowhere." Mis pointed out. Sessons fuming…
"As for torture…She's been gone over by the best/worst, largely for fun and amusement. We both knew that right from the start."
"I never suggested…" Sessons began.
"Only because you knew it would do no good." Mis insisted. "Sessons, you're a cheap thug with a smattering of psychology. But you know anything the girl knows about the Mule is buried and all torture or your probing will do is render her catatonic."
"But this is what I've got, if you'll just stop tapping your fingernails…" eyeing the Mayor, who involuntarily stopped. Sessons attempting to speak, waved to annoyed but cautious silence by Indbur.
"Good. First place, we need to de-stress the Mule's physical strength." Mis noted. "He's probably strong, but most of the freak's fairy tales about it are probably considerably blown up by her own fearful memory or memories deliberately planted by the Mule. Seems he wears queer glasses and his eyes kill, so that he evidently has mental powers."
"So much we've learned," commented Sessons. "My own and my team's research. Confirmed, Excellence."
"Fine. Well, as I say, our probes confirm it, and from there on I've been working mathematically."
Sessons eyeing him. "I should like to see…"
"You couldn't begin to understand the calculations…I barely do myself to be honest. But they support events as they've unfolded."
"So? And how long will all this take? Your word-rattling will deafen me yet." Indbur fumed.
"About two months, I should say, and I may have something for you. And I may not, of course. But what of it? If this is all outside Seldon's plans, our chances are precious little, unprintable little." Mis noted. "And if it is Second Foundation…"
"The Second Foundation?" Sessons eyed him, his team looking as well. Then to Indbur… "There, as I have said, Excellence!" triumphant.
Indbur whirled on the psychologist fiercely, "Now we have you, traitor. Lie! Say you're not one of these criminal rumormongers that are spreading defeatism and panic through the Foundation, and making my work doubly hard."
"I? I?" Mis gathered anger slowly.
Indbur swore at him, "Because by the dust-clouds of space, the Foundation will win, the Foundation must win. And Sessons…Sessons, tell him!"
"I agree with you, Mis. To some extent." Sessons nodded. "The Second Foundation is likely involved and the Mule could be a mutant. But all that fits well into the scheme of the Plan and you could have spared the Mayor the trouble of your presence or your own efforts for that matter."
"That's your brilliant solution…Do nothing?" Mis fumed. "Despite the loss at Horleggor?"
"It was not a loss." Indbur insisted. "You have swallowed that spreading lie, too? We were outnumbered and betreasoned…"
"By whom?" demanded Mis, contemptuously.
"By the lice-ridden democrats of the gutter," shouted Indbur back at him. "I have known for long that the fleet has been riddled by democratic cells. Most have been wiped out, but enough remain for the unexplained surrender of fifty ships in the thickest of the swarming fight. Enough to force an apparent defeat."
"They're spread throughout the fleet." Sessions agreed. "We have proof from several who were probed and others who talked."
"I can imagine." Mis glared.
"For that matter, my rough-tongued, simple patriot and epitome of the primitive virtues, what are your own connections with the democrats?" Indbur eyed him. "You protector of those traitors, the Dartells. And…"
Ebling Mis shrugged it off, "You rave, do you know that? What of the retreat since, and the loss of half of Siwenna? Democrats again?"
"No. Not democrats," the little man smiled sharply. "We retreat. As the Foundation has always retreated under attack, until the inevitable march of history turns with us. Already, I see the outcome. Already, the so-called underground of the democrats has issued manifestoes swearing aid and allegiance to the Government. It could be a feint, a cover for a deeper treachery, but I make good use of it, and the propaganda distilled from it will have its effect, whatever the crawling traitors' scheme. And better than that…"
"Even better than that, Indbur?"
"Judge for yourself. One week ago, representatives of the so-called Association of Independent Traders offered a secret treaty, accepted by me, against the Mule. Three days ago, the Mule attacked Mnemon and the Association formally declared war on the Mule. The Foundation fleet strengthened, at a stroke, by nearly two thousand ships. You see, this Mule goes too far. He finds us divided and quarreling among ourselves and under the pressure of his attack we unite and grow strong. He must lose. It is inevitable, as always."
Mis still exuded skepticism, "Then you tell me that Seldon planned even for the fortuitous occurrence of a mutant."
"You yourself thought the Second Foundation involved. Dr. Sessons?" Indbur turned.
"It's my assessment that the Second Foundation is behind the Mule…" Sessons noted. "That it was to prevent the weakening of the Foundation during a civil war that a common and powerful enemy was created. We both agree, Mis, that the Second Foundation was created to deal with maintaining the Plan using Psychology and Psychohistory. The Mule is their creation, perhaps one of them, with some sort of show of mental powers, perhaps. Perhaps not. But it's all part of the Plan, as Seldon will reveal, I and my people are sure of it."
"You and your people?" Mis snorted.
"We may not be as skilled at psychohistorical analysis as you, Mis. But we've maintained faith in Seldon's Plan and we're convinced of this. And again…" Sessons noted. "You yourself have speculated on the involvement of the Second Foundation."
"It seemed possible at first…" Mis frowned. "But…Now we know the Mule is…"
"A mutant!" Indbur sneered. "I can't tell him from a human, nor could you but for the ravings of some outland youngsters, and an addled juggler and clown. And you forget the most conclusive evidence of all, eh Sessons? Your own."
"My own?" For just a moment, Mis was startled.
"Your own," sneered the mayor. "The Time Vault opens in nine weeks, you and Sessons both agree. What of that? It opens for a crisis. If this attack of the Mule is not the crisis, where is the 'real' one, the one the Vault is opening for? Answer me, you lardish ball!"
The psychologist shrugged, "All right. If it keeps you happy. Do me a favor, though. Just in case . . . just in case old Seldon makes his speech and it does go sour, suppose you let me attend the Grand Opening."
"All right. Get out of here. And stay out of my sight for nine weeks. Dismissed."
"With unprintable pleasure, you wizened horror," muttered Mis to himself as he rose and took his leave… He left the large office and made his way through the vast halls
"Mis! Mis!" Sessons, hurrying after him.
"What now? You want the freak or the Dartells…Have Indbur issue…"
The look of concern on Sessons' taut face stopping him.
"What is it?" Mis eyed him.
"You really don't believe now it's the Second Foundation?" Sessons eyed him
"Well, you and Indbur seem to…Or do you?" Mis eyed him.
"To be honest…I don't know." Sessons sighed. "But his Excellency wants answers and that was the best."
"You fool, Sessons." Mis frowned. "You're leading Indbur down a garden path to destruction."
"He wanted a safe answer, Mis. And you thought it possible." Sessons' clearly pleading now. "But if we work together…"
"Go on lying to him…?"
"What alternative do we have? If it is the Second Foundation, the Plan holds but…"
"But, we're puppets of Seldon's mind-controllers." Mis nodded. "And if not…If the Mule does lie outside the Plan, even outside the Second's control?"
"The Plan could fall…" Sessons sighed. "But there's surely hope, the Traders hit the Mule's shipyards at Droxima yesterday and destroyed over twenty-five new ships. The front at Siwenna's holding. That could mean he can be stopped and maybe he's not the menace we both think. And if he's a random factor, together we might find a counter…Perhaps even the Second itself. Look, I'm not your equal in Science, I've never pretended to be. But I can help you and keep Indbur from stopping your work or arresting your friends, including the Devers girl." Hard look.
"Yes, I know she's the granddaughter of Latham Devers. I could have told Indbur and he would have arrested her. I spared her for your sake. Mis, he'll listen to me."
"You'd do that?"
"I may not be your kind of patriot hero, Mis…Or a dedicated Oppositioner. But I am a Foundationer."
…