"Mule..."
Summary: My AU version of the Asimov tale from his collection of Foundation and Second Foundation tales.
As she consolidates her new Empire, the First Citizen, Magnifica Gigantica, i.e. Bobo the Clown/Musician is one step away from Galactic conquest. But that step requires the locating and defeat of Seldon's hidden Second Foundation.
Book III: "Foundation and Union..."
Part XI…
So, the heir to the throne of the Galactic Empire, if a rather weakened and even crumbling one, found himself forced to deceive and even lie to his father the Emperor, colleagues and friends among the government and Imperial staff and command…And to his new colleagues among the Second Foundation, mostly concealed among his fellow students, a few professors, and among the staff of the Galactic Empire…
Fortunately, the press of events did not require him to lie…Much…To his old friend and hero, Rox. The now middle-aged archchancellor was caught up in the desperate attempts to hold the key remaining Core Provinces, particularly the shipbuilding and resource-rich province of Vargos about 200 light years from Trantor at its nearest approach and stretching to almost 1000, and to protect Trantor itself from rebels and usurpers, however potential they might be at this time.
However, he kept in touch with the young heir and continued to pass on what he'd learned of the Foundations' and the mysterious, destroyed Gaia which increasingly absorbed him. Rox had become convinced that descendants of the Gaians might have received the ability of their ancestors passed on genetically. If enough could be found and trained, possibly at an early age, they might form a structure on which the Empire could be rebuilt. At the very least, they could be a clue to uncovering the Second Foundation. Even during the effort to destroy Gaia, the then Emperor Cleon had retained genetic data on the scattered Gaians and it had been there, in the archives, as if, Rox had excitedly told Del in message, it were waiting for him. With a mentalic force, the Empire could stand against the Second Foundation. With its remaining still vast military power, however sapped added to that, even the First Foundation would be vulnerable.
At least, that was his dream…And a reasonable one Del reflected, if Gaians could be found, had retained some mentalic abilities, were not the Second Foundation's core, neither Foundation learned what Rox was up to, and if Rox could physically find the time away from his essential duties.
…
But while his father and his hero struggled during the last peaceful years to save what was left, Del found himself having rather the time of his life…A time he would remember fondly in future dark days…Immersed in his studies on history, galactic economics, various aspects of what physical science the Empire retained, literature of various major systems, women, and a supposed "elective", psychological analysis…A course added to the roster a few years back.
While all were interesting…And the "elective" naturally…As it included his initial training in mentalics, in secret and learning the history of the Second Foundation…Occupied a considerable chunk of his time, it was the study of women that young and quite acceptably handsome Del found most interesting.
The Empire had long foregone the practice of earlier centuries after the Cleonic Genetic Dynasty had ended of providing generally compliant biobot consorts for the Emperors…Not only had the public displeasure at learning of Empress biological robots when humanoid robots were supposedly banned quickly grown dangerous, the technology to create and maintain them had gravely declined. So, Del expected to have a quite human wife, of his father's and the Court's and Congress' choosing…Balancing the need for placating powerful families and to please various key system rulers with the need to retain key resources, particularly the jump ship technology that had long given Trantor its crucial edge. But while he awaited his Imperial fate with as much good grace as possible…Reflecting that his own mother and father had grown quite fond of one another…He enjoyed, with discretion, the remaining delights that a young Prince and heir no longer bound to the pitiable conditions of the Cleon clones could find on Trantor. Which remained considerable.
Indeed, on some of his increasingly less frequent visits to report and consult, it had been his older friend and mentor, Rox who'd led him to a few memorable places. He might be twenty-seven years older but he'd not lost the appreciation for what a virile young man might look for in entertainment on Trantor…And to a certain extent he considered it his duty to keep his young Prince from dangerous liaisons or overindulgence. Neither of which the Empire needed just now. The said places might be "memorable"…And they indeed were…But they were relatively safe and discreet.
Of course, Del also had his Imperial duties as a young Prince…Increasingly burdensome ones at that…But he accepted them with good grace, knowing his father was quite worn with care and that the pressure and strain of helping to maintain a strong Imperial facade had surely played a role in his mother's early death. He was, to the extent allowed him, quite willing to relieve some of the burdens…And those duties assigned to him, he carried off well, in the late Imperial style. It did naturally, as a young man, tickle his fancy to think that many a young lady's heart sighed over his holoimage as the gallant young prince at different events, even as it occasionally irritated some of his university colleagues, especially a few of his supposedly more grave, unemotional, and stoic Second Foundation colleagues. As his father aged and was increasingly less willing to waste time on the more frivolous aspects of the Imperial court business, despite his insistence that all etiquette be adhered to, the role of PR showman/Face of the Empire fell on Del. And though, with the earnest support of his Second Foundation superiors, he tried to keep the Court's business from intruding on his work at the university, the appeal of a handsome, likeable, young student prince was too good for the Empire's increasingly desperate managers to resist. And he would find the Court's media pressing for more time with him at his studies, on the campus, with his fellow students. "Providing a human face for the Empire" one fellow actually called it. One senior professor leading his "study group" who in fact was First Speaker of the Second, namely the former Ezo Demerzol, humorously reflected on the situation to him in the "class" when certain matters had to be abandoned to allow for a less sensitive lecture on Psychology when members of the Imperial media pushed their way in to where Del and his "classmates"/colleagues labored on their work. A few, more gravely, let it be known to him he had been chosen against their opinions, largely by the urging and persuasion of the First Speaker, and was allowed on sufferance. A sufferance which could be terminated, along with his memories of the Second Foundation, should the situation become too problematic or the Empire's flunkeys too intrusive, whatever the wishes of the First. An even smaller group, Trantorian-born, expressed some cautious enthusiasm for a future Emperor being included among their group…Enthusiasm he sought to repress, making it as clear as possible he had no intention of violating the Plan or abusing the trust placed in him to try to use the Second Foundation to prop up Trantor. He suspected, probably rightly, that most of these were in fact agents provocateur seeking to expose his Imperial sympathies for those who'd prefer he be ejected from the Second as too dangerous. Hard to blame them given his sincere doubts of the Plan…Doubts he confided only to the First…And only after the First had revealed both that he was aware of his doubts and in return confided something of his own secrets. By then his own abilities were surpassing most of the others considerably, at least relatively, given none possessed major natural mentalic powers, only a curious charisma and ability in sensing others' emotions, and a degree of ESP/telepathy allowing simple projections from mind to receptive mind. He reflected to himself and jokingly to others that it might be good that should the Empire crumble and his inheritance be lost that he could always enter the entertainment field as a card reader…Or perhaps win his fortune in gambling.
Or, just perhaps, as a gigilo…Given he had a way of sensing women's emotions and appealing to them. Not that he abused the gift, he was naturally kind and genuinely enjoyed pleasing his various partners…Just that he cut rather a discreet swath through the young ladies of remaining Trantor society and to a certain extent in other social areas. Fortunately, his success was put down to his rank and PR, his wealth, his good looks, his appealing and generous manner, and to the way most of the reasonably- good-looking Dagoberts had managed to win over the attentions of females and in some cases, males. It did occur to him that perhaps that past success of Dagoberts had been the unconscious result of the same gift he possessed. A thought which the First, on amused hearing, did not find improbable.
But in the end, the administration, including his Imperial father, sought and found an acceptable consort in the Lady Almya, a warm-hearted and lovely girl whose father ruled, loosely in the Imperial name, a sort of kingdom of several old provinces in the Galactic Core area, about 10000 light years from Trantor and quite vital given their wealth and military strength. He found her a sweet girl of twenty, reasonably well-educated for the day, impulsive, kind, dark-haired with a strong resemblance to his mother, no doubt something the clever souls among the administration had screened for. After a few carefully managed interviews, he'd let it be known she was quite charming and thoroughly acceptable to him, if she liked him. She indicated in reply to those delivering his proposal that she did.
This of course now further cut down on his time for study and more importantly for his work with the Second Foundation… Though fortunately an Imperial courtship had to be carried out largely at a distance, under careful chaperoning…Which allowed Del yet a fair amount of time for his work. The biggest problem was Almya's personal affection and increasing desire to be a part of his life, beyond simple court etiquette. Not that it was a problem to him…He'd quickly grown fond of her, even to considering himself fortunate as his father. Though it also occurred to his amused sensibility that one skill the Imperial administration had not lost, even in these degenerate times, was a considerably well-honed ability to choose reasonably compatible to excellent consorts. No, it was on the one hand his father and the Court, anxious for him to devote more and more time to Imperial interests, though accepting not only his need to complete his studies but that having a personable and charming Princess and future Empress on his arm could only increase his popularity, even if it reduced his time for other matters; and on the other hand, the demands of the University, especially his various friendly and unfriendly colleagues of the Second Foundation who could not of course allow Almya's presence in their "study groups". It required a delicate balance as Almya considered herself quite capable of mastering most of what the University had to offer. However, he was not at all surprised to find it was also his first major test as a Second Foundationer, first to keep an outsider close to him from learning secrets…And secondly to uncover her own secret, that she herself was in fact a Second Foundationer and her position as chosen consort carefully planned by none other than the First.
Though as she'd happily admitted when he'd confronted her with the truth, after both gradually sensing her abilities, and reaching a logical conclusion given what he already knew of the First's shrewdness, she was not at all displeased by the lifetime assignment. She'd feared a bit earlier on she might be placed with some warlord or minor princeling of importance whom she'd have to gently manipulate to a degree of compatibility...As well as any duties the Speakers might require for the Plan, if any other than monitoring. Of course, her own abilities were fairly limited…And she'd been recruited at a far earlier age, given her family was not so in the Galactic spotlight, so to speak. Of course, it remained best her own sessions with the Second Foundation be apart from his, to avoid intrusion and even suspicion…And her training, so far as it could go, was complete. Amused at his initial clear if slight annoyance…After all, she'd pointed out, it was rare two such prominent persons, members of the Second, could be allowed to mate…And even in their previous lives, their choices were largely restricted by their social status…She noted there could be rather pleasant personal benefits in having some ability to read each other deeply. Perhaps not, on days when, like now, he…Or she, placating gesture…Might be in a mood…But on some days, good days…It could be quite pleasant.
It was, he soon found.
At age 20, when Del was fast completing his undergraduate studies, two months after his betrothal had been publicly proclaimed and a wedding date set for just past his twenty-second birthday and Almya's twenty-first, the First Speaker arranged for him to meet for an "advisory session" regards his Psychology seminar in his office in the administrative rooms of the University/Library complex.
…
If the Galactic University of Trantor remained a jewel in the Imperial Crown, the Galactic Library was the fire in the center of that jewel…Still imposing and relatively well-maintained, the Library was of early to mid-Imperial design, with a few Late additions and remodelings. The complex of the Library, like the University as a whole, was deceptive…Above ground, under the vast metal towers, there was little to see but access ports that could be found all over the city world of Trantor, a few large glasssteel dome buildings protruding above the metal blankness otherwise broken only by the said towers and ports. And once on the surface level at the spaceport landing, there was not a great deal to see but the finely carved wood of the entrance way and reference room. But below…The complex stretched out for hundreds of miles, endless long corridors into the heart of the Trantor crust. Vast stretches of rooms and halls, containing the accumulated knowledge of Humanity back over tens of thousands of years, including even those rare materials known as paper and parchment, the original forms of ancient man, even a few wood, stone, and very rare, preserved clay. Here, in special containment, one could see works that had followed Humanity throughout the ages of Galactic colonization…The fictions, plays, poetry of legendary home worlders…Shakespeare, Conrad, Twain, Woolf, and countless others…The histories of Burys, Grant, Gibbon…The ancient, antique strivings in science by Newton, Euclid, Einstein…And the works since Humanity had spread out across the stars…The Memoirs of Cleon I, the History of the Galactic Empire through various times, to even the present day…By both historians and Emperors…The religious works of the Luminists and various other sects…The great fictions and tales of the High Empire and the Decline. All were here, in their various surviving forms. One could and many had, spent their lives here, studying, researching, or simply just reading forever, lost among the works.
Having informed Almya he would speak to her of the interview later…And received her secret, quiet assurance she knew, and was not compelled to deceive him, nothing of the First's concerns, Del donned the irritating but required security shield and tracking mantle, took a shuttle from his quarters in the Imperial Palace, a still imposing if increasingly dated structure, to the Library landing platform and he, presenting his pass like any student or patron, entered the Library's reception room where the ever present and ever elderly Clerk greeted him like any patron, welcoming him to the use of the Library, its facilities, and its offices. He passed through the entrance arch and headed for the administrative offices. Grand floating holograms met his eyes on the walls, depictions of great Imperial moments, battles, discoveries, treaties…Portrayals of various rare and unusual animals in their native habitats…And some more whimsical displays. One or two fellow students on their way to meet professors or rush to seminars held in the professors' offices, nodded to him. Despite his father's and various court officials' concerns, he traveled alone, no bodyguards…Only his emergency shield and tracker, draped about his shoulders under his everyday dress protecting him. Though against anything but an all-out attack with serious weaponry, it should provide sufficient protection and was the minimum security his father and the Court in general would tolerate.
And of course, it constantly monitored his movements, actions, speech, and biological readings…Not that his father suspected him in any way…Far unlike many an heir and father in Imperial history…But it was considered vital the Court have complete records of anything he might say or do…
The ultimate in corrective plausible deniability, as his father liked to mildly joke…He being required to wear such himself. But in fact so that any mistake, any gaffe, any questionable action could be evaluated quickly, and denied or excused as necessary.
But it could not monitor Del's mentalic communications. And though it could be a tiresome chore to speak lightly and think quite differently, it provided excellent cover when Del could not escape the need to wear it. A need only conceded during his regular classes and seminars, in areas where guards could be at hand in the outer corridors if not the very classrooms.
For this meeting it was quite necessary…There had to be no question as to why the young heir might be meeting a professor alone. Even if he and his father had no suspicions of each other, it would be the natural course to suspect a plot was being hatched, considered, executed…And always best to remove any such doubts.
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, some ancient bit of wisdom noted…Del thought as he moved along to a reserved elevator transport…For once not reserved for him, but for senior staff and their guests, one of which he was.
His transport sank into the depths of the Library, traveling over 5000 feet in seconds. He stepped out, peering round at the ornate carvings and soft, subtle wall lighting. The office of "Professor Anton" aka the First Speaker lay down the hall. Instinctively, to his own amusement, he waited for guards or attendants to follow him.
No, not today. Not here.
A feeling of welcome, warm and friendly, rose up within his mind…The First had sensed his coming.
And no doubt was pleased to note he'd arrived on time.
…