“In Seldon’s Shadow”

Demerzel interrupts this weirdly charged moment to tell Day that a body, floating in space for over 100 years, has been recovered and identified as Commander Dorwin—last seen heading to Terminus to check up on the Foundation. Suddenly, Empire realizes that the “megaflare” they thought wiped out all life in the Outer Reach (including on Terminus) might have been misdirection—and went unverified because it happened while Empire was distracted by the realization that their genetic dynasty had been corrupted. Now they know the truth, thanks to a message Dorwin recorded on his neural implant before his death, relaying what we all saw in season one: Anacreons, neighbors to Terminus and enemies of Empire, recovered a derelict Imperial warship with jump-drive capabilities. That technology is now outdated (the Empire now uses “spacers,” something to be explained later), but still functional. What’s worse, Demerzel’s turned up evidence that planets in the area have formed an alliance, “led by magicians who glow in the darkness and fly unaided through the air, and whom weapons cannot touch” and who follow a “Galactic Spirit” that will guide them to a new age—who Day immediately recognizes as Seldon. Dusk’s in favor of crushing them immediately; Demerzel recommends investigating the matter further before taking action. Day agrees with his robot boo, to Dusk’s disgust.