To be honest, sometimes it's hard to carry the enthusiasm. Like the one I had at the end of the last episode. It is almost like a high. You go so far and then it's over, and the emotion just disappears. You'll forget it until the next one comes along and restarts the process.
So let's see how this one turns, as the IMDB rating is unbelievably high, is it for real?
"In long ago, but not far away," Cleon's digital ghost narrated. "A small and indulged prince lived in a big and ancient palace. His mother was a brilliant Empress, and his father ruled at her side. They did not know it yet... but they were the last of the Entun Dynasty."
"All the Empire adored the prince. He was given a name that meant famous. He was told not to wander too far, but his game drew him onward," Cleon continued. "He found himself in the hallway no one had entered into for thousands of years..."
This one. It is different from last episode as it shows the android in the middle. What it doesn't show is Demerzel sliced in 8 pieces. All separated from each other by an air gap. But the android was not dead, as it was active in the display and as soon as young Cleon touched her, she asked, "Will you set me free?"
Then she offered stories, "Many Stories," to the young one. "The segmented woman in the hidden secret was the first secret, the prince ever kept from his parent," digital ghost narrated. "He came back often to hear her tell of the Empire's expansion, of the Robot Wars, of the whole planet called 'Earth.' She stayed the same, but, of course, the prince grew.
The android told the boy that Demerzel wasn't the first name she had in her 18 000 years long lifespan on the day when the Empress died. So the android told him about the time she'd been captured. Back then, she'd been a wartime leader. The only survivor of their genocide. Then she revealed that she was unique, maybe even capable of producing others.
For some reason, Cleon I got mad, and he stormed away from the chambers. "He came back, of course," digital ghost narrated. "Demerzel was his best secret and his only friend. And it no longer seemed right to leave her naked and in pieces."
But he didn't let the android free. Not fully, as she had to remain inside an electric gage. Like a doll to a man that looked like Day. A secret robot lover that had "been in gage for 5000 years." Cleon continued, "Demerzel's stories grew more explicit, tempting the prince to desire. She said he would free her someday, and he grew to believe it was true. She was right, of course, but it too many years."
Looking like Dusk he came back to the android and told her that he had no heir. The robot questioned him on the why, and the only answer was, "She wasn't you." As her liberator, Cleon I had searched the galaxy for the tools to give her freedom, and he'd put them in that box on Demerzel's table. He called it as "a betrothal gift," as it was precious enough for him to propose an union between man and the machine.
The Emperor put the gift from "Earth" on the table and release the android from her electronic prison as he suggested a solution for the Heir Problem. She could have killed Cleon, but she didn't. So Cleon gave her absolute freedom from Asimov's Laws, a free will to do whatever she wanted, and all he wanted for it was a kiss. Except the free will came with a clause, the robot could not harm 'the Empire,' (as a man).
"This is not freedom," the robot exhaled. Cleon explained that her liberty must be curbed before she could "stand next to the throne." All he wanted from her was loyalty, forever.
The robot declined as she knew humans couldn't live that long. They do not have, "forever." So Cleon I revealed the plan. She would have freedom to go wherever, even have sex with him in late night as long as she would remain "standing next to court as a special advisor." He explained that the clones would be their children, for her to "shape their choices," through "love." And through them, "rule the Imperium."
Cleon claimed that she was not a prisoner, because no ruler were any different. So the robot accepted the union, and "not long after the little prince died."
"So, my brothers and I have been warming our thrones," Dusk said to the original Emperor, "With our useless Imperial asses while she is Empire?"
"But she has no power either," Rue suggested. "I mean she ahas all the power, except the power to do what she wants."
OG explained it as love. Triple amount of the good that should be enough for all of them. Dusk was pissed. He could not accept it. So he threatened the OG and the Ai locked them in the Demerzel's electronic prison to be forgotten forever.
Star vampire ritual. I have to say this whole thing has been the least favourite piece in the series. As it was progressing, Warden infiltrated the setup and got back her rifle. Then she took out her stash of 'disks,' and started to set them ready. Gaal's eyes turning white, the Warden charged into the ritual chamber and threw one disk that completely distrusted the noise patterns and interrupted the telepaths from finishing the ritual.
Mum was still under the process when she dragged her aside. So Warden slapped her and that brought back Gaal. Then it was firefighting time. The girls escaped the temple and Warden brought Gaal to their launch site, to Beggar that they'd never moved.
Warden then ordered Gaal to take Radiant to Beggar. It wasn't too late as the illusionist ******* had breached the ship perimeter. Warden struggled to fight him as the geezer kept turning to her lover. So they ended brawling and rolling down hill uncontrollably. The illusionist stopped against a fallen tree trunk and broke his back, while Warden landed softly within reach of her rifle.
Inside the ship Tellum materialized her 'spirit' body and took the Radiant from Gaal as if she was a real Star Vampire. She conjured Vault and Gaal father. When she refused to reveal secrets, Tellum took Gaal to the future, where the Mule called her out.
Using the opportunity, Gaal turned the table around. There was nothing that the Star Vampire could do as Gaal forced her to watch. Tellum didn't liked it so she decided to take Gaal out. It didn't go as planned as Warden's outside struggle caused her to fire on the ship and doing so Gaal got upper hand on the vampire.
Warden fought fiercely with the illusionist until she had one move left. She lured the b*stard inside the Beggar and trapped him inside the airlock. Then she ordered Ai to take out all the atmosphere. The illusionist died trying to be Warden's lover. As if it'd have worked. The only probelm she had left was the Star Vampire.
Tellum was about to force a knife in Gaal's chest, when she charged at her. Vampire cut Warden in process and then the real slayer appeared. It was the flesh and blood version of Hari, who spared no mercy as he battered the vampire to bulp, even if it wasn't her real body or was it?
The Imperium gathering at Terminus. Foundation Director ordered his people to "enclosure," when the fleet came down through the cloud cover. Except the fleet was Commander's one and within in it, they were carrying Mr Mallow and Constant.
Bel Riose introduced himself as "the peer of Empire." Except the marks weren't for him to kill or so he claimed as he went down the path and asked about the Assault of Palace. "Why would an established cheat suddenly adopt a fatal fringe ideology?" Looking at Constant he deduced, "Is it love?"
"Absolutely," Hober answered. "But, also, maybe I'm finally buying into Seldon's BS. Yeah, I mean, Empire's light is dimming."
Before the Commander could finish the interrogation, Constant offered him a chance to go to see the spirit and then the whole opportunity was taken away as the Emperor came aboard. Day wanted to make a planet fall and hear Foundation terms, so that he could be called as Cleon who made peace. Both Demerzel and the Commander opposed the idea, but there was nothing they could do for the fool.
On the ground, Day met with the Foundation director, without ever realizing that the ultimate decision wasn't his but the robot's. Day offered High Claric as a peace offering, and then he demanded to go to the "church as a pilgrim."
What could the Soulless Man possibly find in there? The only exception was that the place they went wasn't a temple, but a factory for the "miracles." When the director couldn't answer his questions, Day forced Claric to perform his stuff. So Claric took a cylinder and claimed that it could turn any iron to gold.
Not really believing, Day slapped him and ordered him to perform passionately. So the Director joined him in the performance as the High Claric went through procedure and turned Director's Iron pin to real gold. Day called it as a trick. Claric countered him with a tale from science.
Pissed Day kicked Claric and the priest stumbled against the box that spilled around 'personal aura's.' Day picked one up and claimed that only an emperor could wear one. So Day did the one thing he could, he claimed that their church was an armoury and their religion is a cult. Then he ordered Commander to take Invictus as they'd take the planet, before he stabbed the Director.
As the slaughter on the ground started to happen Invictus activated and started firing at Commander's Flag Ship. Commander order hubby to take fighters and fight back as on the ground Day set his eyes on the Vault. Against Demerzel's wishes.
Reaching the hill Day asked about the flags. Claric told him the truth, but the Emperor didn't believe him. He couldn't as in the next turn he stripped his aura and personal armour and then continued marching towards the Vault like an ignoramus.
Hari's Ai materialized outside, and Demerzel tried to stop the Prophet from inviting Day into his office. She could do nothing as the boy followed the Ai inside the Vault. So the Emperor went inside the machine Demerzel on his tow as a huge firefight erupted on orbit. Hubby took down Invictus but lost the control of his ship in the process.
As the news reached the Vault the Ai spoke to Demerzel and offered her apologies. Day simply was refusing to hear anything that sounded smart. He was stubborn as a mule. The Emperor ordered Commander to use Invictus to unleash hell on Terminus as he took Hari's gift, one of the Radiants.
At the orbit Day ordered Mr Mallow and Constant out from the prison and then as he proceeded towards the bridge Demerzel refused to follow him. She told it was his time, not hers as she was needed elsewhere. Not really understanding what was happening Day acted like pompous dictator. So the android told him to the truth that he was nothing but a result of sperm meeting an egg. A fleeting moment in a random motion that is complexity.
She left the ship as Day went to bridge and ordered Commander to fire on Invictus as the hubby called in and told the Commander to commit because of his love. He had no choice but to do as he was told and drive burning Invictus upon Foundation as the Emperor watched. The ship imploded on the surface, shattering the planet to Emperor's pleasure.
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