"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 XIX…
Sayshell…
Sayshell is the capital of the Sayshell Union, a collection of star systems at the periphery of the Galaxy, partially surrounded by Foundation territory. Even at the height of the First Galactic Empire, before the founding of the Union, Sayshell was reowned for its resistance to outside influences and received limited Imperial attention. During the Decline, after the Empire granted autonomy to the Periphery and focused on its inner core, the Union was created, of about thirty systems which surprisingly has resisted Foundation control even to recent times although the aggressive moves of the Mule across the Galaxy have led some of its leaders to reconsider their long-held neutral stance. As yet however, the Mule's Union of Worlds has made no moves to threaten or coerce the Sayshell Union.
A curious legend held on Sayshell claims the initial and surrounding planets were colonized by a group not known to hail from any previously colonized world, leading some Imperial historians to conclude it might have behind founded from Earth. The Sayshellians further claim, despite firm and verified Imperial recprds evidence to the contrary ,that Earth is located within the Sayshell Sector.
Unlike the ultra-scientific culture of the Foundation, Sayshellian culture stresses mysticism, including the influence of dreams and a respect for nature that has led to an unusually high percentage of Sayshelllian native wildlife surviving, preserved from human interference.
The Herve now emerged at the edge of Sayshellian space, beyond Foundation outpost now carefully and watchfully, if somewhat trigger-happily manned. Given the Sayshell Union's concerns about the ongoing war, recently turned somewhat in the Foundation's favor, it was not surprising that the Herve was quickly detected and ordered to come to a halt and be scanned. Pritcher, having prepared neutral id, sticking with the Zebu identities for himself and Goldan, was ready and quite willing to display no offense at the boarding. For their part the Sayshell customs people were polite enough, especially on establishing that the two men on board were neither Foundation nor Kalganian. Though the distance from Zebu and Goldan's injuries raised a few questions and eyebrows.
Pritcher candidly explained that he and Goldan had been mercenaries for forces associated with Kalgan in some fighting for the wild kingdoms near the central core…But his young brother's war wounds had led them both to reconsider. And Sayshell was noted as both neutral in politics and advanced in technology, nearly so as the Foundation and the more advanced states, like Kalgan…Well, in short it was a quiet and safe haven in a sea of war…Yet one where a skilled soldier, now dedicated to the cause of maintaining peace, might prosper.
It being not an unusual case for migration…The border officials had heard many similar stories since the war began…The men were allowed temporary…And only, temporary…Visas. Permanent residence depending on their being deemed useful to the planet they chose and the Sayshell Union.
"Welcome to Sayshell." The official approving their compad 60-day Visas concluded.
…
"Why do you suppose Rox would dislike Sayshell so much? To remember he'd never go back after all those years and in his mental twilight." Goldan eyed Pritcher from his medstasis chair as they prepared to set down on the planet. "It's not Kalgan or Terminus, but it's reasonably comfortable and generally quiet. Frankly I don't understand why an Imperial minister or a fairly successful pirate would give the place a thought."
"That's exactly what we'd want to know. But he seemed to be promising someone, rather than cursing the place himself." Pritcher noted.
"What exactly again did Rox say? You thought he was promising someone to keep them from Sayshell and to bring them to Trantor?" Goldan asked.
"That was the gist…He'd promised whoever he'd see they were made whole on Trantor by the medicos there. It was still, at the time, about the best place for medical treatment in the Galaxy. And that they'd see the Empire and the Emperor rise again."
"Could be a loyal Imperialist rambling in his cups…" Goldan suggested.
"Could be, but to whom and why?" Pritcher questioned. "And what connection did Rox or this mysterious person he was protecting have to Sayshell?"
"If it was the Mule, it sounds like he and Rox were close, not that Rox was a victim." Goldan noted.
"Perhaps…Unless he imposed that way of thinking on the pirate he was using. Still, he certainly didn't abandon him or dispose of him when he was no longer of use."
"Suggesting the Mule has a degree of compassion…Some human feeling at least." Goldan eyed Pritcher. "Merged of course with a ruthlessness that lets him bend billions to his will, however he does it. But more, would a Second Foundation put such effort to protecting an old tool…Even a friend?"
"We don't know how they operate…" Pritcher shrugged. "Perhaps they're allowed a personal life, perhaps Vargos was deserving of favor or…But if he was a Second Foundationer surely they wouldn't leave him stuck in a backwater hospital on the edge of space."
"Unless Trevlon is the Second Foundation…" Goldan suggested. "A backwater no one cares about except for its medical services, but those are just enough value to keep the place intact and undisturbed."
"I doubt we'd've had it so easy getting in or out if so." Pritcher noted. "And Sayshell here fits the bill to the same extent, with the added factor that it's nearly surrounded by the Foundation now, yet it's never been taken or threatened."
"I thought the Foundation spread its rule through more or less peaceful trade and tech. Above such crude things as force." Goldan smiled.
"I think the Independent Traders, half the Foundation Federation, and quite a few folks in the unaffiliated Galaxy waiting to see how the war plays out, would beg to differ." Pritcher wryly noted.
"Yet we serve the Foundation." Goldan eyed him.
"With the hope, in least in my case, that things can be made better, after we check the real menace. A hope your father supported, quietly."
"Not all that quietly…" Goldan smiled. "He pulled me into the Opposition five years ago. But, you're right. We can hope for better but best to focus on the most serious menace. But is that the Mule…Or are we trying to fight the Second Foundation. And if so, Captain…Should we?"
"That's why we need answers. But if it is the Second, I'm not convinced their methods are anything to trust in."Pritcher shook head.
"They could be exaggerating the Mule's powers, as we discussed, creating an artificial menace to unite us." Goldan pondered. "Understand me, sir. I'm not questioning the mission. We do need to know. But if we learn we're potentially threatening an operation to maintain the Seldon Plan…?"
"Then we may back off, if we're allowed to, by our own choice." Pritcher nodded. "Though who's to say how much choice we have here."
"Sir…Do you know Anton Sessons, Dr. Anton Sessons…?" Gold an eyed him.
"Indbur's attempt at a psychologist of his own, to keep him informed on Seldon and to give him a counter to Elbing Mis and his team. I've met him. He likes to give pep rallies for Intelligence that combine 'Go team', 'You're all heroes', and 'we have the names of your families'. Why?"
"Dad worked for him, on a secret project, back on Terminus. Sessons wasn't a Mis but he wasn't quite a fool." Goldan noted. "Part of what he did was an act, to stay close to the Indburs."
"You're telling me Anton Sessons is one of us? An Oppositionist?"
"No,sir…His project goes deeper. Or the project he had inherited, really. See, not everyone thought the Second Foundation, if it exists, was the best future for Humanity, whatever Seldon's plans for them were. They thought the Foundation ought to have some protection, leverage at least, so that we wouldn't be helpless before them, puppets."Goldan noted.
"You've kept this to yourself a while, son." Pritcher frowned.
"It wasn't my secret to share, sir. And frankly, I couldn't be sure you could be trusted. You've had an interesting career, and we've had a lot of narrow escapes. You could be Second Foundation."
"As could you. Surviving in the Kalgan ranks so long, by luck."
"I could, but, I'm telling you of a group in the Foundation that opposes the Second. A group I know you're not a part of. Hardly the way for me to go about neutralizing a threat."
Pritcher nodded. "Well, allowing I choose to trust you, how much progress has been made?"
"Limited but real…They were rather shooting in the dark, playing on old Imperial research. But they have been working on a few things, to protect and detect. But only a very few know of the project's existence. I only know what I just told you, no details. And I'm pledged to die before I reveal even that to anyone I know is a threat."
"I see…So you have nothing practical that might defend us…"
"No…Afraid not, sir. And I doubt they'd risk experimental prototype equipment for our benefit. But it does mean it's doubly important one of us gets back to the Foundation if we find anything about the Mule's origins or the Second here. And I'm guessing, from Lord Rox's testimony, we may. So I'm telling you all I know, because one of us needs to reach Sessons and Mis. Sayshell could be the key to whatever the Mule is and is doing."