"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 XXIV…

Never noted for glamour, the mining worlds of Sesa and its sister planets Sesa Lesser and Sesa III, on the edge of the Sayshell sector in the Periphery, forgotten by most of the Galaxy, have fallen upon rather drab times. Just enough is earned from the sale of basic minerals and ores, primarily now from Sesa Lesser, and natural gases from the system's gas giant, Sesa III, to the Sayshell Union and rare other customers, to allow a comfortable but hardly excessive living to the approximately 20,000 families still living in the system, mainly on barely habitable, rather frigid, Sesa, who stay mainly for lack of energy, a dependable if limited living, and some slight historical/familial feeling. A thousand years ago, it was somewhat different when trillium mines on Sesa and especially on baked, tidally locked, Sesa Lesser churned out fuel for local transit and even on rare occasions, Imperial vessels. Then some mining families were quite prosperous and attempted to bring a bit of culture and elegance in…But, after trillium ran low and steadier, more affordable sources were found at Sayshell and other systems within the Foundation, the (relatively) wealthy elite fled as did a good number of ordinary folks and Sesa shrank to the status of a small, insular community, with only limited contact with the greater Galaxy, even the relatively near Sayshell Union.

So that the arrival of a fairly new-model starship, even a small, two-man job like the Herve, attracted a degree of attention from the locals. And a certain measure of cautious curiosity from the local governing board of miners' families…Although technically a part of the Sayshell Union…And as one customs official had noted wryly to Pritcher while examining their documents, still technically an Imperial fueling station/mine system, Sesa has governed itself through a sort of Parliament of the leading families for decades.

So that Pritcher and Goldan found themselves enough objects of curiosity, even local celebrity, as to, despite their efforts to be unobtrusive, receive unrefusable invitations to dine with the Mayor of Sesa and several (on Sesa) important figures in the government. Making the best of it, Pritcher had graciously accepted the one for their first evening, hoping it might prove to be a source of useful intel.

And interestingly, despite Sesa's isolation there was considerable curiosity about and knowledge of the Kalganian-Foundation war. And divided opinion…

"So, you fought for Kalgan as mercenaries, Mr. Gilese, you and your brother? What do you think of the Union's chances?" Mayor Se Huya, a black-haired, sturdy woman in her forties, eyed Pritcher from across the communal table.

"We were just private soldiers, Madame Mayor. I only attained the rank of sergeant. But the Mule seems quite a brilliant strategist, he's won some amazing victories. Can't really say, though, given the Foundation's history and my lack of knowledge." Pritcher smiled.

"Modest for a mercenary, but wise." The Mayor nodded. "And you, young man? You see a potential winner in this war?" she addressed Goldan.

"Well, the Foundation usually manages to pull things out…And I understand things have stabilized recently after Horleggor was taken by Kalgan." Goldan noted.

"Amazing, that…No one's got that much the better of the Foundation since General Bel Riose nearly conquered them." A member of the Sesan Parliament and head of an old rare ore mining family…Gul Hanian noted, the swarthy body of a miner, dark-hair, sharp-eyed look.

"No one's really challenged them until now." Another member, Terv Loga, a thin, intense man, chimed in from his seat as he picked a bit at his food. "But you never met the Mule, Gilese?" he addressed Pritcher.

"I doubt he meets many private soldiers, sir." Pritcher, generating smiles about the communal table. "And I wasn't stationed on Kalgan."

"Fair enough. But you had no convictions about the war?" Terv continued.

"My brother and I were professional soldiers. On Zebu, it's that, piracy, or a mix that one may choose to call 'trading'." Pritcher smiled. Goldan chuckling. "But we're well out of the fighting game…Our hope is to settle in the Sayshell Union and hear nothing more of war, except the ending of this one."

"You don't believe in the Mule's message…'Unite the Galaxy now'?" the Mayor spoke up.

"He wasn't broadcasting it when we signed on, ma'am." Pritcher noted. "It was 'Fight for Kalgan on Resa and be well paid'. This new message is recent."

"Indeed…" Hainan nodded. "But the Mule's ambitions seemed to have grown with his successes."

"Typical of a warlord." The Mayor noted. "But as to your business here, Gilese? You hope to reopen some of the older mines, you said?"

"There still quite a bit of potential on Sesa Lesser, according to a fellow we met on Sayshell who used to work in the mines here, years ago. It's an opportunity we wanted to check, especially, frankly with the war driving up mineral prices. Gile and I have done some mining in the past so, we thought we'd check things out."

"Here, here…" Trev smiled. "I've some hopes there myself. But we do try to keep clear of interstellar politics. You aren't thinking of favoring sides?"

"Never." Pritcher shook head. "'Cash and carry' is our motto. But of course, we'd only proceed with the permission of your government and after properly securing a few properties on Sesa Lesser."

"I don't see a problem so long as it doesn't get the Kalganians or the Foundation or the Sayshell Unionists coming down on us." The Mayor shrugged. "But you may want to stick to the neutrals…"smile.

"Usually best." Pritcher nodded. "But we did wonder if anyone could tell us about the Borealis system?"

"Borealis?" Trev eyed him. "It's a mess of debris…Not a single habitable planet, not even a good dwarf."

"But debris can include minerals…" Goldan noted. "So, we thought it worth a quick look."

"A hard system to navigate." Hainan shrugged. "I've passed by it, even did a little probing once but I think you'd find it hard to do anything with it."

"Probably so." Pritcher nodded. "But some of the modern captive technology might make a difference."

"The man knows his stuff…" Trev smiled to the others about the table. "But hard to set up out there, if you even find anything. Still, you may be right, it might be worth a look."

"That's what we intend."

"If you do find anything…" the Mayor noted. "We'd be interested, you might well find a few fellow investors here."

"Good to know." Pritcher nodded, with smile. "Whether we set up on Sesa Lesser, or Borealis, the Sesa system would naturally be our main base of operations. Investors very welcome."

"Of course…" Goldan began. "We have heard there's a legend associated with Borealis. The Sayshellians were full of it. Something about the system maybe being the original home of Humanity?"

Chuckles about the table…

"Do they? Well…" Trev grinned. "The Sayshellians like to claim they're one hop away from Earth the Mother. Pretty much nonsense and they know it."

"What about the one that claimed the Empire destroyed the planet or planets in the Borealis system?" Pritcher asked.

"And you heard that one on Sayshell as well?" Trev eyed him.

"I did." Nod. "But the legend wasn't about Earth in that case, but some world of mentalic types, called Gaia."

"There are all sorts of legends, Janis." The Mayor noted. "Gaia, Earth…I'd stick to what you actually find." Smile. "And there'll be people here curious as to that."

"Well, my brother's the romantic." Pritcher noted. "He likes the story the Emperor's clone wife persuaded Cleon to blast Gaia to stop whatever calamity it posed."

"Guilty as charged." Goldan nodded. "And the notion she was a biological robot, who died as a result of arranging the deaths of several millions or billions even though she supposedly got Cleon to save most of them..."

"That is romantic." Mayor Huya smiled. "That's the legend of Empress Althea, I believe."

"That was the name we were told." Goldan, blandly.

"And if I remember…" the Mayor eyed him. "It was claimed Sesa played a minor role. Refueling the 'killer' fleet?"

"Yes, we heard that too." Pritcher nodded. "Any truth to it?"

"All I know is my ancestors didn't profit from it." Trev grinned. "And refueling a large Imperial fleet should have made someone rich, especially with the trillium mines depleting."

…

Back at their hotel, what passed for 'four-stars' on Sesa, Pritcher and Goldan considered the evening's events.

"That group was pumping us for info. I can't believe they make this big a deal out of every ship passing through." Goldan noted. "And they weren't keen on talking about Gaia or Earth, especially Mayor Huya. She clearly wanted to get us off that kick."

"Agreed." Pritcher nodded. "Though it could be natural reservations about discussing superstitions. Or they may have an interest in Borealis mining…They all seemed interested in hearing about what we may find there. Anything else?"

"For a backwater they all seemed well-informed as to the Mule and the Kalganian war." Goldan considered.

"Yes, they were. But they are the government here. It stands to reason they try to keep up on Galactic info. I think we may want to get out and speak to a few people about the local legends and Borealis before we go to see the real thing." Pritcher frowned.

"Captain, if I may…" Goldan asked…"Request permission to stay aboard the Herve tonight. I'm just a hair nervous after that dinner."

"I think you might be right. And one of us, namely me, should stay here to give the impression we're not unduly concerned. If you go, you can claim a procedure using the ship's systems for your condition should anyone note you on board."

"Aye, sir." Nod. Smile. "Nice to know my injuries come in handy at times."

….

The apartment of Mayor Se Huya…

Where the Mayor was holding an impromptu meeting of her own, with Trev Loga and Gul Hainan…

"Well?" she eyed the two men. "The Council believes my concerns are financial and military. We shouldn't have any problem there. Now…Clearly these two are after something at Borealis. Do you buy their story?"

"It's plausible…" Trev shrugged. "I see no signs of mentalic interference on either of them, though we can't risk probing too deeply. I don't know if they were mercenaries or no, but they're not Mule's men."

"They may as well go to Borealis, Se." Gui Hainan noted. "They'll only find out what we and the First Speaker know. Gaia existed and was destroyed, by the Empire. If they are working voluntarily for the Mule, or for the Foundation, that knowledge won't help much."

"But it might impress the Mule." Huya noted. "And if he's impressed enough, he'll probe about here. And he might find our group."

"We're all prepared to commit suicide or mind-wipe to keep from falling into the Mule's hands." Trev noted. "But frankly, I'm more worried that the Mule might start seriously probing after the Gaians. If any survived independent of us and retained any ability, we are in danger. There's already hints the Mule is seeking the mentalically gifted. He believes in us, folks. He knows or at least suspects the Second Foundation exists. And I'd be willing to guess he knows we're not his equal and that Seldon never anticipated him."

"Lets hope for the moment, legends keep him in check." Huya sighed. "If he believes the Second is a threat to him and knows little about us, he'll be cautious in acting against us."

"Gilese is clearly skillful. If he's an agent, I'd not be surprised." Hainan noted. "But the boy intrigues me. I sense he's gifted, to some extent. Trev?"

"Yes…" Trev nodded. "He's clearly mentalically gifted, he'd be a prime candidate if he'd been caught young."

"But not the Mule?" Huya eyed them.

"I'd say no." Trev shook head. "Our operatives sent to Kalgan sensed overwhelming mentalic power. The Mule's not one to conceal his, just to conceal his identity."

"We can't be sure of that." Huya shook head. "If he is on to us, he's probably clever enough to mask his power. But, to these two men. We're agreed that we should let them proceed unhindered for now?"

"Agree." Trev noted. "Aye." Hainan nodded.

"Very well. I'll make our report to the First though it will have to go by encrypted message, we can't risk mentalic communication. Trev, you're the most powerful of us three here. And the best actor for playing the laid-back but slightly greedy type." Smile to his smile.

"I like to think I'm quite the greedy type…Or 'businesslike' if you allow." Trev noted, grinning.

"I think you should try to hook up with them for the trip to Borealis. Just in case." Huya nodded.

"'In case'?"

"To date, the Mule's been continually two steps ahead of us, even if the Foundation seems to be holding with help of the Traders. He may yet conquer or at least beat the Foundation if he can affect more of their leadership and we can't risk trying to help, even if we could. If these two are voluntarily loyal Mule people…And the Mule may be clever enough to use such for this…And are after something in the Borealis system, we can't risk falling further behind."

"Se?" Trev stared. "I get that the Mule might find a few Gaians with useful abilities, but surely as yet, Gaia's past is no serious threat. We've never found anything that could be such at Borealis…And elsewhere. Not even a way to track the survivors down, since Cleon destroyed all records of them. And surely all learned mentalic abilities faded with time and lack of training…"

"Arrogance on our part let the Mule prosper, Trev. We can't let arrogance let him win. He's sought information on Gaia and Earth before in this sector, via that Imperial, long before we knew he existed. He may easily know something we don't, and if these men may be his voluntary team, entrusted with that knowledge, they do as well. Perhaps not. At the very least we need to be sure. After all, if they are his…They might lead us to him. Or his identity. And who knows, if they are just would-be miners, they might make us rich." She grinned.

"I suppose that would be nice." Trev smiled. "Thank gods we take no vow of poverty."