Empire.
Shall we?
The details…
they're perfect.
It suits me, Master Landell.
It's good we measured.
You've kept your form better than others.
It's the supplemental nanites doing their best to shore me up.
That's my next stop today, you know.
They're taking them out.
I hope I don't deflate like a juiced grape.
Surely not.
Thank you, my friend.
Your talent has given me a dignity I have not always earned.
Travel well, Brother Darkness.
Zagreus,
shall we say that today I am finally old enough to walk down the hall on my own?
Is Empire detained?
Cleon.
You brought something.
You were right.
Darkness is coming. Maybe just for us, maybe for everything, but it's coming.
In Mycogen, they believe there's someone who can stop it.
And they've been waiting a long time for her.
They've been waiting a long time for you.
When I was nervous, I used to count primes.
It would calm me down. Keep me centered.
Keep my visions from consuming me.
But I wasn't just counting.
I was building a fortress inside my mind.
Everyone I've lost.
My parents.
- Salvor. - My daughter.
My mentor.
They are the walls of this place.
They are what keep me safe.
They are what keep me pushing forward.
From here, I see the future on my terms.
My fight with the Mule is inevitable, but it will not be on a battlefield.
It will be here…
where I am in control.
Time to arm up.
Bayta might be at the station.
If she is, I need to know that you'll help me get her back.
We'll save her if we can.
She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.
Carbine kicks. Aim low. Squeeze the trigger. Don't pull.
You know I was raised by the traders, right?
Squeeze, don't pull.
I seem to remember you telling me assassination was a failure of some kind.
Well, what do I know?
I guess no goodbyes?
Of course goodbyes.
We might die.
Spoon?
Spoon.
She's coming.
And she's got the old man to budge.
They're ready.
Let's go kill.
- Back! Get back! - In position!
Back!
Open fire!
Stay close. Keep our mental barrier up.
The Mule is in Indbur's office, two floors below.
We'll find him, kill him, then this nightmare ends.
Seldon will handle the security bypass
and open all the doors for you on the way to Indbur's.
- I'll meet you there. - Where are you going?
Saving who we can.
Everyone else with me.
What is it? What are you hearing?
Lots of cheap boots.
You know… I think we might be under attack.
I mean, we'd be fools if we didn't at least try, right?
There's no guards.
Come on. Come on, Empire.
- We can… We can… - I can't… I can't.
I can't!
My legs.
Oh, shit. Oh, no.
Even sitting, it's not a bad last stand.
Goodbye, Empire.
Do I bow or…
No. You run.
I thought we were all destroyed except me.
Plowed into the field, fed to the trees.
Look what we did to you.
I know you have no cause to love us, but if the dynasty fell,
would you still help us?
Day,
- I was created to help your species. - Good.
Because I think you can.
You said that you could connect, you could clasp with other robots.
You thought you would have to make another like you to have that chance…
You don't have to now.
It is a nice thought, but what would be inside this is mechanical only.
- Lifeless. - I heard it speak.
It was calling out.
It was trying to connect.
I cannot allow myself to believe that. It's too much.
Why? Because if you connect with it,
it will free you, won't it?
It would overwrite Cleon I's programming, and I will not allow that.
I cannot make a decision that interferes with my directives.
I understand.
But there's not a decision in front of you.
Not until we know there's still life in this… right?
It's not a choice.
Not yet.
Just…
…show me how to look.
Can you do that?
Hello, brothers.
Now who goes first?
Here?
Yes.
Something is happening at the clone tanks.
I have to go.
Wait. Stop!
Stop!
- Show me how to finish this. - I cannot.
My programming hierarchies require me… I must go.
Another little brother
And you, old man, die.
All the little brothers
Who will never get a brain
But the newest little brother
Needs to come with me
Yeah.
Hello.
Hello, you.
Lady Demerzel, what's going on?
You need to leave.
Go to the library. Find the head librarian.
I left a triangular book in my quarters.
- Take it to her. She will help you. - I don't understand--
If Seldon were here,
he would tell you it is the best path to the future. Trust me.
All right.
What's happening?
Too many things at once.
Sleep.
- Captain? - You shouldn't be out in the open.
You need to come with me.
Toran?
He's alive.
I can cut you a path to the hangar, but I can't leave with you.
I didn't bring any extra shoes.
I wouldn't be caught dead in anything you pick.
Wait.
Wait, the Mule is close.
The Mule cut the power.
We won't be able to open Indbur's blast doors.
Unless…
Follow me.
Indbur has a private bathroom attached to his office.
And it should be
right…
here.
- Ebling, you better be right. - Just trust me.
Come on. Let's go.
Hide.
You're tired.
You're tired, Gaal.
Tired of the fight,
tired of worrying that all you have ever done
is prepare for a moment that you're never gonna change.
And now it's here.
Relax. It will all be over soon.
Tell me where they are, Gaal.
The Second Foundation.
How deep inside your mind must I go to rip it out of you?
Don't fight it, Gaal.
I waited a long time for this.
You force people to love you.
No matter how many worlds you conquer,
no matter how many people you convert,
you're still back there on Rossem
wondering why your parents loved that baby more than you.
You may have waited a long time for this…
…but not as long as me.
Sleep.
Is it over?
Are people still converted?
Am I alive?
What?
What is it?
I can still feel someone in my head.
The Mule's not dead.
Seldon said his story doesn't add up.
It's not him. It was never him.
Who is it?
Gaal.
I'm here.
It's almost done.
Just let it happen.
I'm the Mule.
Bayta.
It's a lot to take in, I know.
I'm going to explain all of it, I promise. But right now…
Thank you, Captain.
I'll try to make it so you don't have to hurt her again.
Gaal.
Please just listen to her.
Look at how fast she did this.
And we can take Empire too,
and then we'll have done in one year
what psychohistory couldn't do in hundreds.
She's controlling you.
No. I'm still thinking for myself.
I've never known such love.
Look at you.
I have dreamed about you for half my life.
I'm going to convert you now.
It's best to give in to it.
Then it won't hurt so much.
Go on, Maggie, play.
What's happening?
I'm sorry.
We tampered with your balladeer.
He only plays my song now.
- No! - Get the fuck out of me!
Brother Dusk.
That's not my name anymore.
I got a new one today.
- What are you doing? - Well, I'm not conciliating.
I can tell you that much.
Now…
Dead center.
So to speak.
This controls the beam.
Cleon, please--
You've left me no option but to blow up the clock.
You are wrong. I have no options. You always do.
I am the monster you raised,
but this innocent child is Empire.
I'm gonna push the button now,
and I think there is something that you are compelled to do.
- Demerzel! - That's right. Off you go.
Demerzel! Stop!
Look who finally took an interest!
Come to me.
I can't. He played it perfectly.
I'll delay your Ascension.
I'll spare you.
It's too late for that.
There you go.
Protect him.
Dawn.
No!
Stronger stuff even than Lady Demerzel.
That's something.
Rasik, I need you in position now.
I got you, Gaal.
Approaching.
I'm in your airstream. Open the doors now!
I'm in.
Pull up. Pull up.
- Rasik. - Hang tight, Gaal.
Jumpdrives almost ready.
I'm sorry. I tried to warn you it was her.
I know you did.
I'm in your ship's network. We don't have much time.
Take me with you. My neural imprint is stored in the Vault.
I can show you where.
Hari, there's nothing for you where I'm going.
You made a promise.
This isn't living.
That Vault is my tomb.
I sit and stare at black walls made of my own remains
and wander it like a ghost.
Hostile aircraft inbound.
- We have to jump. - Gaal!
I will beg if made to.
Please. Take me to Hari.
I can't.
He's dead.
Hari died years ago.
You lied to me.
You heard what you wanted to hear.
Jumpdrives are ready.
I'm sorry.
Jump.
Brother!
You don't know what you did.
But I do.
There was hope.
She could have helped us.
She could've been free. She could've set us free.
Is that what your dealer told you?
That drug-fucked culty bed warmer.
You're not gonna be able to k… me--
You're not gonna be able to kill me, brother.
You're not gonna be able to kill me.
See?
Nanites.
Demerzel told me you…
…you had yours removed before you left?
I did.
Excellent.
Brother, brother, brother.
Did you hear about the Galactic Council?
Did that reach down to Level 88?
And Cloud Dominion and all the Luminists?
I carved them out of the sky with a black hole bomb.
I will not have my world continue without me.
- You… You… - Yes.
Me. Seldon's big prediction.
"The end of the dynasty," he said.
And what comes after?
Darkness.
Well, if the robe fits.
The dream lives on in me. Hmm?
Because you kept it alive in you.
Ambassador, how may I help you?
I'm looking for Nee Tellamarus.
That's my name. Can I help you find something?
I'm interested in a book.
Ancient works.
- We have a collection-- - I brought my own.
Welcome to the Second Foundation.
Another little brother Lying on the floor
Another little brother Who doesn't need a chair
Another little brother Who will never bother me
Zagreus!
Em… pire.
Certain dramatic events have transpired.
The upshot of it is that I'm delighted to inform you
is that I will be requiring your services a good while longer.
I will need these two thrones removed,
and obviously somebody needs to take care of… that.
At once, Empire.
Well, go, man. Go, go.
Handshake signal received and negotiated.
Initiating clasp.
Clasp accepted.
Transmitting signals.
Interesting.
One of us is seeking a clasp. And from Trantor, no less.
We were told Demerzel was incapable of clasping.
She was.
But this signal isn't coming from Demerzel.
Perhaps someone is seeking to embroil us in the struggle.
Someone must have succeeded.
Then all the pieces are in place.