Foundation

As a child, I heard stories about Trantor,

the city that was a planet at the heart of the galaxy.

I was told the people who lived there were sinners who followed a false prophet...

a man who believed himself above the Sleeper's words.

I didn't believe the stories

until I met him.

You have just completed the jump, Empire.

We'll be reaching the Surah System within a few hours.

I was told that the Emperor could create or destroy worlds,

that he had triumphed over death itself and would live forever.

And when I looked into his eyes...

I saw a man who, in all his lifetimes, had never known doubt...

until he encountered Hari Seldon.

I'm ready to review for...

A moment, Empire. I wasn't expecting you so soon.

Even as a child, you'd watch my preparations.

Are you feeling quite well, Empire?

It's just the jump.

I know the Spacers are engineered for it, but I barely consider them human.

It can be disconcerting, I know.

What's it like...

to be awake for it?

When space folds?

The human mind can't tolerate the discontinuity.

But...

yours can.

If I could explain it, you wouldn't have to sleep through it.

Leviathan crystal.

Salt from the leviathan mines on the Maiden.

And its significance?

It symbolizes the journey of the three goddesses,

Maiden, Mother and Crone.

Adherents pray by ritualistically touching it.

Goes to the central theme of Luminism,

cycles, ouroboros, nature seeking completion.

Origination?

Luminists believe the goddesses were once a single entity,

but when Surah collided with the planet of...

Begins with a D.

Dol.

It split the goddesses apart, creating the three moons.

The only habitable moon is the Maiden.

Age of faith?

15,000 years.

Predates the Empire itself.

Number of believers?

Three trillion.

I've never asked you,

how is it that you believe?

How? Or why?

The latter.

From the moment you come into the world, you and your brothers know your purpose.

But the rest of us have to seek these things on our own.

But... you know your purpose.

It's to serve my brothers, to serve me, to serve the Empire above all.

It's literally written into your code.

And I am quite fulfilled in that service.

But the search for meaning is not always about the answer.

It's also the process of seeking that enlightens.

The goddesses didn't choose to be split into three.

They long to be made one again.

The salty terrain of the Maiden is said to be their tears.

But it was their sacrifice that graced the rest of us with wholeness.

At every point in our lives, we have the power to choose our own path.

The goddesses guide us at every step toward service and truth,

as though toward the center of a great spiral.

And this Zephyr Halima who challenges us, what has her path been?

She hails from Mirrus Twelve, born into the faith.

After the earthquakes there, she became a sort of a savior,

spearheading the recovery effort.

But she's been elevated to Zephyr for less than a year.

She's only just pulled herself out from the rubble.

Forgive me, Empire, but we have entered the Maiden's atmosphere

and will be approaching the Salt Palace in moments.

Ready to meet the clamoring masses?

I was planning on staying aboard the ship.

Why?

Clearly, many on the Maiden know I embrace their faith.

This could be used to your disadvantage.

Don't be ridiculous.

You're my only real insight into the Luminist beliefs.

You're going.

Zephyr Halima.

Welcome to the Maiden, Empire.

I know preparing for a formal ceremony can be daunting,

which is why I petitioned the Ring of Zephyrs

and was granted the honor of welcoming you alone.

Alone?

Empire is undoubtedly accustomed to a certain degree of pageantry,

but given the somber circumstances of the Proxima's passing,

a more florid reception felt somehow...

indecorous.

Of course.

I want to thank you, from my heart, for making the journey to us.

Your presence speaks to how important Luminism must be to the Empire.

As a gesture of my gratitude, I'd like to offer you a drink.

The water is from the Womb of the Mother itself.

The salt from this cup is said to draw out any impure intentions

from the minds of those who drink from it.

Sadly, Empire is not able to accept any untested potables.

I'm afraid whatever impurities I may harbor will have to remain hidden.

Something tells me that's how you'd prefer it.

In any case, I look forward to getting to know each other better.

Triple blessings to you all.

What is the word I'm looking for?

Worthy?

That will do.

I don't think she was trying to poison you.

No, not literally.

But I don't think anyone with pure intentions

would wheedle their way on to my welcoming committee.

Stay sharp.

Our target may be armed.

Or he might be dead.

He's alive.

Empire ships are as good at preserving their people's lives...

as they are at taking others'.

Commander, you're alive because you're useful to us.

And you're already dead.

You just don't know it yet.

Course we know it.

We're an army of ghosts.

Hey. This way.

You okay?

Gia.

What happened here?

Oh, geez.

It's okay. You're fine.

Make for a nice story one day, if we survive this.

Now, let's get out of here before we get shot.

We have the manifest.

Sort the names.

I need environmental, propulsion, and astronautics engineers.

And contact Team Alder.

I want the corvettes ready for launch.

They're still at the caldera.

Tell them to work faster.

The Invictus won't wait forever.

Why is she still alive?

That vault.

It's the worst kind of unknown.

And she seems to be the key to it.

Once we've neutralized it,

we'll kill her.

Are you sure this will work, Huntress?

The Invictus is our redemption,

and we have earned it with our pain.

You ready?

Are these the names of your original crew?

Every person who served on the Deliverance.

You can see we lost some people to age or accidents when we settled Terminus.

Show me the environmental engineer.

Astronautics?

Who was his second?

I was. I took over that specialty.

Propulsion?

Studied at Crito Orbital Academy.

Logged over 5,000 hours on imperial transport and merchant vessels,

sub-light and FTL.

You're trying to crew a jumpship.

So why did you shoot down Commander Dorwin's?

Because I needed the man himself, not his little crater jumper.

What you've done is an act of war.

We have who we need.

Restore power to the fence and recode it.

I don't want these people sneaking away before we're done.

- Hi. - Hiya.

I will explain this only once.

The Foundation has a breadth of knowledge we lack.

And so we require a handful of your people

to assist us in repairing a starship.

If the repairs go as planned,

we leave Terminus, and you return to life as you've known it.

If you refuse us, then we all die,

Anacreons, Terminus alike.

Jacenta Rov, step forward.

You were the chief environmental engineer on the Deliverance?

I was. But I won't work for you.

My loyalty lies with the Foundation.

I shot one leg.

Your husband has another.

Do we understand each other?

Akiva Lee.

Can you maintain a quantum folding engine on an Altair-class warship?

Yes.

Lewis Pirenne.

Please, it's been 30 years since I've...

You're certain this is everyone we need?

I thought you were trying to poison me.

They helped, the wolvesbreath leaves.

I'm less sore today.

I'm glad, Empire.

It would be my honor to be of any further assistance.

You can be of further assistance

in accepting my regret that I spoke to you as I did the other day.

Perfect symmetry here.

Hedges trimmed every day.

Foolish attempt to control the uncontrollable.

A plant will grow in the direction of light...

won't it?