Episode 6 of Season 3 of "Foundation" opens with The Mule awakening in a frenzy of screams, his nights tormented by recurrent visions of a woman's visage mocking him with a sinister grin. His awareness of her presence has sharpened, a byproduct of unraveling Pritcher's complex mind, revealing her to be none other than Gaal Dornick. Possessed by an insatiable quest, The Mule is driven to incinerate any obstacle that crosses his path, his sole objective now to locate Gaal before she tracks him down.
Yet, it is Demerzel who unearths Gaal's whereabouts before anyone else, catching up from last week's cliffhanger where she discovered Brother Dawn, under her watchful eye, had been traced to Clarion. Her fury intensifies upon learning that Dawn did not survive the airlock ordeal. Seizing Gaal by the throat, Demerzel demands the truth in its entirety.
Gaal complies, spilling the beans on how Hari Seldon, during Season 1, had been personally briefing Demerzel—not the Cleons—on the Foundation's fate. Her memories were pivotal in completing the dataset, unbeknownst to her at the time that Demerzel herself had finalized psychohistory with those very recollections.
As Gaal reveals the existence of the Second Foundation and her pivotal role, Demerzel's ears perk up. Gaal confesses that The Mule is not aligned with them and has been orchestrating this intricate dance from the very beginning.
Gaal possesses an uncanny ability to foresee events before they unfold, a gift that has allowed her to anticipate The Mule's existence for an astonishing 152 years. She foresees a monumental battle four months hence, where The Mule will attempt to wrench from her mind the location of the Second Foundation's hideout.
Demerzel, glimpsing Gaal's futuristic visions, deduces that the confrontation with The Mule will take place on Trantor, within the hallowed halls of the Imperial Library. Further into the future, she discerns a grim projection: Gaal, four months from now, potentially orbiting a black hole.
The sudden flashes induce a catastrophic system malfunction in Demerzel, propelling her into a grueling cycle of a hard reboot. This sequence of events culminates in a localized Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) explosion. Upon regaining consciousness, Demerzel is compelled to revive Gaal. In parallel, Bayta offers Magnifico reassuring words as they venture closer to New Terminus. The group readies themselves to execute their meticulously crafted plan, and their sole means of securing landing clearance is by deceitfully invoking Pritcher's endorsement. However, when Randu encounters Pritcher in the detention cell, their rapport proves anything but harmonious.
Following a brief altercation, the duo reluctantly agrees to a fragile truce for the immediate future. Indbur then inserts himself into the conversation, intent on evaluating Magnifico's utility to their endeavor. Yet, Indbur eagerly embraces the chance to serve a purpose beyond being The Mule's pawn, eager to prove his worth.
Indbur and Randu engage in a heated debate within the office, their words clashing like swords. However, Toran swiftly interjects, urging them to transcend their trivial disputes. The Mule's arrival looms on the horizon, and they must be prepared for the impending confrontation. Meanwhile, Indbur observes Magnifico as he plays his music, a demonstration intended to showcase how the Mule's abilities can be potentiated by the visi-sonor in his possession. Without it, the formidable adversary becomes vulnerable. Thus, if they can set aside their differences and forge an alliance, they might just succeed in neutralizing The Mule.
Across the galaxy, on Mycogen, Brother Day continues to blend seamlessly into the local fabric. He experiences a vastly different lifestyle here, yet he also catches whispers of the turmoil unfolding on Kalgan, or rather, what remains of it.
The genuine intention behind Brother Day's actions is to seek out Song. The revelation of his identity, coupled with a device holding her stolen memories, creates an awkward and astonishing moment for Song. Day yearns for her to reclaim what she has lost, firmly believing that their relationship transcended mere business deals and late-night intimate encounters. He urges her to abandon the rules and place her trust in him once more, yet Song is reluctant to do so. In an attempt to win her over, Day appeals to her religious beliefs and mentions her encounter with a robot—none other than Demerzel. However, his efforts take a turn for the worse when Oceanglass, a woman, bursts in and disables Day. Song rejects Day, declaring Oceanglass as her partner.
As the eclipse unfolds, Hari Seldon reappears when the Vault opens. Toran is the one who challenges Seldon's grand vision of a ceasefire, and when he mentions The Mule, Seldon responds with disbelief and seems unaware of who he is. However, this ignorance doesn't last long, as The Mule materializes above them as a hologram. He mocks Seldon, who is left speechless and eventually retreats, while the group hastily exits the Vault and attempts to fend off the attacking forces circling above. The Mule has arrived, and in his typical manner, he has compelled the Foundation's ships to engage in battle against one another.
The Mule intends to march on Trantor, but when Gaal discovers what is happening, she tries to reach Pritcher via radio, to no avail. Panic ensues as everyone flees the Vault, while Toran manages to rescue Bayta after she is knocked unconscious. The scene is one of absolute chaos.
