Episode 7 of "Foundation" kicks off in the Anthony Belt, where Salvor and Hugo stand somberly surveying the remnants of a once-thriving mining colony, now reduced to a desolate wasteland. The only tangible vestige of its former glory is the derelict starship, Invictus, monikered the "World Killer." We were privy to tales of this vessel in the previous episode (worthy of note, these details are absent from Isaac Asimov's books). Phara, blinded by her insatiable lust for power, covets Invictus for herself. With an Imperial collaborator at their disposal, the Anacreons devise a plan to exploit him to deceive the ship's AI and gain entry.
Salvor harbors misgivings about this perilous endeavor, especially considering the daunting 10,000-foot leap they must undertake. Their intended destination: the Inner Ring, a high-stakes gamble indeed.
Salvor manages to navigate the leap with precision and lands gracefully, with the rest of the crew following suit shortly thereafter. However, disaster strikes as Hugo loses his footing and plummets into the abyss of space, leaving only an echo of his scream. Phara remains indifferent, coldly reminding Salvor that they lack the luxury of time to mourn.
As they approach the foreboding gates of Invictus, the ship's defense system springs to life, unleashing a barrage of fire upon their makeshift expedition. By sheer providence, they manage to penetrate inside—just as Phara executes the Imperial soldier with a swift, unforgiving shot to the head. Without hesitation, she places Salvor in ironclad restraints, leaving no margin for error.
Their respite is fleeting, as the ship's lights begin to pulse with a rhythmic intensity, counting down to another jump. It dawns on them that Invictus has been randomly teleporting across the cosmos, explaining the crew's abandonment and subsequent descent into madness and cannibalism.
Meanwhile, on the planet Maiden, Brother Day seethes with indignation towards Demerzel. Her act of kneeling before Halima strikes him as a blatant disregard for his established protocols. Yet, the android retaliates sharply, asserting that her programming would have intervened had the gesture been impermissible. As their verbal spat escalates, Day receives intelligence that Halima has ascended to the forefront of this political merry-go-round.
Driven by this revelation, Day seeks out Halima amidst her compassionate endeavors among the populace. The sun beats down mercilessly, casting a harsh light on the countless souls who have perished in their desperate quest to reach the Mother's sanctuary, embodied by the ominous Great Spiral. Unperturbed by these somber surroundings, Day plunges into the heart of the matter, endeavoring to broker an alliance with Halima and her supporters on Maiden.
Halima, however, remains unyielding, piercing through his veneer with keen perception. She points out his dwindling support and her own surging popularity. She also casts aspersions on the star bridge incident, deriding the Genetic Dynasty as a mere whisper from the past – essentially, she paints a picture of Day as outmaneuvered and outgunned.
Interpreting her words as a challenge, Day resolves to demonstrate his prowess, intent on proving both Halima and Seldon wrong with his next strategic move. He plans to invoke the blessing of the triple goddesses by undertaking the treacherous journey of the Great Spiral, allowing their divine will to adjudicate the contest between him and Halima.
Turning his attention back to Brother Dawn, the younger clone finds himself growing increasingly attached to Azura, the palace gardener. She whispers enticing notions of abandoning the dynasty and forging a new destiny together, filled with discussions of evasive nanobot technology to ensure they remain undetected. However, Dawn's reverie is abruptly shattered by Brother Dusk's growing suspicion. Dusk's words resonate ominously: "Nothing beyond the palace walls holds any significance."
Back aboard the Invictus, Salvor persuades Phara to unbind her wrists, and she promptly engages in combat against the Anacreons. However, things swiftly descend into chaos, particularly when Salvor's subordinates are neutralized, leaving her solely responsible for redirecting the ship. Their new destination: Trantor. Phara is set to become a martyr, a willing sacrifice crashing into Trantor, obliterating the empire while sacrificing herself in the process.
Amidst this unfolding drama, we shift our focus to Gaal, the so-called "chosen one," as she continues her conversation with Hari Seldon. The fragments of his memories converge, creating an echo of his life story. Upon discovering Raych's demise, Hari experiences another mental breakdown.
It becomes apparent that Hari's passing served as the spark that ignited the Foundation's transformation, acting as the catalyst needed to turn the tide. With Hari no longer present to be branded an "old crackpot" when plans went awry, it transpires that he had been meticulously orchestrating events to suit his vision. So, what altered the grand plan? Raych. It turns out that Hari manipulated Raych into killing him, all to ensure Gaal's departure. Gaal was never meant to stray from Terminus; she was destined to lead them.
As they converse, Gaal realizes that Hari brought her to him because she possesses the ability to foresee the future! Oh, the revelation! She is the chosen one! One wonders if she might also be a skywalker, a title steeped in mystical significance.
