Episode 2 of Season 3 of "Foundation" commences with a thrilling awakening for Gaal and Hari Seldon, who find themselves transported 151 years into the past. The Second Foundation has established its presence here, with Thalis at the helm, driving their mission forward. Though still on the planet Ignis, the Foundation's desperation to revitalize their plan is palpable.
For these two, the years have been a blur of cryosleep, interrupted only by fleeting weeks of consciousness each year. During these waking moments, Hari has imparted his wisdom of psychohistory to the Mentalists, while Gaal has harnessed her abilities to fortify their defenses against the formidable Mule. This collective knowledge eventually propels the Second Foundation's expansion across the galaxy, establishing a network of informants and allies in every corner of the cosmos.
Despite their growing influence and the Empire's weakening hold, not all aspects of their endeavor can be so neatly controlled. Gaal and Hari come to a sobering realization: perfection is paramount, and to achieve it, one of them must remain awake indefinitely. In a selfless act, Hari Seldon decides to dedicate the remainder of his life to this cause, staying awake to impart every ounce of his knowledge to the Mentalists.
Fast forward four years, and Thalis is no more. A new First Speaker has emerged on Ignis, Preem Palver by name. As for Hari Seldon, he is now a frail old man, acutely aware of his diminishing time and the urgent need to teach the Mentalists everything he knows. Gaal, described as "the girl who holds the key to everything," stands by his side.
Hari unveils the Prime Radiant to her, a repository containing his comprehensive understanding of the Eight Crises. It houses raw data, his innermost thoughts, secrets, and crucially, the Invictus. Should the Mule be vanquished, they face the impending Third Crisis, and they must be prepared.
Now an elderly figure, it is uncertain how much time Hari has left. A mystical embodiment of the Prime Radiant addresses him, opening a portal that seems to beckon him to his eternal resting place.
When Gaal discovers Hari's absence, she engages in conversation with Preem, mastering his tongue in the process and thereby helping to realign their strategy. This extended prelude brings us up to speed, bridging the gap to the climactic scenes of episode 1. Gaal awakens from her cryosleep in the present day, only to be confronted with the devastating news that the Mule's meddling has utterly derailed their meticulously laid plans.
On the bustling planet of Trantor, the Cleons cling desperately to hope for a better tomorrow. Dusk and Dawn find themselves questioning the infallibility of psychohistory and whether its course can indeed be altered, whereas Day washes his hands of the entire ordeal, declaring their situation as hopelessly "screwed." Instead of dwelling on these concerns, Day makes his way to the Claviger Barracks, where he indulges in his gambling vices.
Dusk, on the other hand, pleads with Demerzel in a desperate bid to evade his inevitable fate of turning to dust. However, his plan falls apart, yielding no results. Desperate and undeterred, he turns to Day, hoping to strike a deal to attend the robing ceremony. Day, disillusioned and skeptical, dismisses their plight as mere puppeteering, demonstrating the absurdity of their situation by slicing his hand and showcasing the nanites instantaneously healing his wound. Clearly, Day is not swayed.
Seeking solace elsewhere, Dusk confides in Dawn, expressing regret over Day's neglect of his duties. Despite this, Dusk vows to assist Dawn in any way possible to rectify their predicament. He reveals plans for an evening drink with Ambassador Quent and extends an invitation to Dawn, hinting at a special gift he intends to share but is waiting for the perfect moment to present. The anticipation builds as Dusk teases the mysterious nature of this unrevealed present, leaving Dawn intrigued and curious about what lies ahead.
As Dawn transitions from twilight to dawn, ascending with the breaking light, Dusk inspects his ominous "gift"—a Novacula, a black hole bomb of unparalleled power. This celestial weapon, akin to a planetary terminator akin to the Death Star in its ultimate form, holds within it the capacity to obliterate worlds across the cosmos, its引力irresistible as nothing can escape a black hole's clutches. Reserved for Dawn's utmost desperation, it serves as a last resort in the darkest of times.
Meanwhile, on the planet Kalgan, the Mule makes his grand entrance at the Archduke's opulent palace, where he encounters his daughter, Skirlet, amidst a sea of silent, watching soldiers. With a chilling demeanor, he speaks of conversion and the subtlety of his coercion, presenting Skirlet with a gun, which she raises to her temple and pulls the trigger. Mercifully, the chamber is empty, but the gesture serves as a potent reminder of his mastery over fate, and his foreboding vow to bend the galaxy to his will casts a long, ominous shadow over the horizon.
Across the stars, at the Alliance of Traders, we reacquaint ourselves with Toran Mallow, who yearns for distance from the entanglements of the cosmos, particularly his father's involvement in the arms trade revealed in the previous chapter. However, the Mule's unexpected visit to his doorstep forces Toran's attention. He is not alone in this predicament, as Captain Pritcher also seeks audience with Mallow.
Pritcher solemnly reveals their precarious position docked in a warzone, pleading for Toran's aid, a strategic alliance that would inadvertently provide cover for Indbur and the Foundation's leadership.
As the episode draws to a close, Dawn gracefully excuses himself from the political banter at dinner with Quent and Dusk, who dismiss the Mule's threat with casual indifference. Instead, Dawn finds himself engaged in a harried communication with Gaal, the scene shifting to a more intense, private conversation teeming with urgency and gravitas.
