Zephyr Vorellis is a recurring character in Season Three of the Apple TV+ streaming series Foundation. She is Luminist Zephyr summoned to Trantor to take Demerzel's unburdening. Zephyr Vorellis is portrayed by Rebecca Ineson.
Biography[]
Zephyr Vorellis was a member of the Luminist faith, who was invited to Trantor by Demerzel, although her approval was confirmed by Brother Dusk. Vorellis was the first Zephyr on Trantor, invited to hear Demerzel's unburdening. However, Vorellis was to undergo memory erasure at the end of each session, and her memories were to be restored for the next, then removed again. Vorellis told Demerzel she could be entrusted with secrets, but Demerzel told her that she could not be trusted with the information Demerzel would reveal.[1]
Demerzel confessed to Vorellis about her true nature as robot, giving the Zephyr a history lesson about the Robot Wars and the creation of the Zeroth Law, which was to prioritize the safety of humanity as a whole. Vorellis asked why Demerzel wished to be unburdened, Demerzel told her that she was living in a paradox after Doctor Seldon gave her the Prime Radiant. The end of the Galactic Empire was inevitable, and when it ended and she outlived her programming, Demerzel had no idea who she would be. As a Luminist, she believed in rebirth, but as a robot, she would not die anytime soon. Vorellis was later present at a dinner where she met Brother Dawn and Brother Dusk, as well as Foundation ambassador Quent.[1]
Vorellis met with Demerzel for another unburdening session, and Demerzel revealed the secret she had been keeping for three centuries; that she had engineered the bombing of the Star Bridge. Vorellis was shocked at the confession due to the number of casualties, and Demerzel explained her reasoning; that in her estimation, the Foundation would lengthen the rule of Empire. Vorellis believed that Demerzel's internal conflict came from the paradox; at the time, helping the Foundation did not violate her core programming to serve Empire, but now, the Foundation had risen to be one of the greatest threats to Empire. Returning to their earlier conversation about Demerzel being afraid that she did not have a soul and could not reincarnate, Vorellis put forward the idea that she already had. The differing versions of Demerzel over the centuries were, in fact, different people. The Demerzel who had been a General would have helped Seldon, but would also have killed the Demerzel that she was today for the good of the galaxy. Demerzel rejected Vorellis' position, since she was not human. Vorellis apologised, and Demerzel sent her away.[2]
Appearances[]
- Season Three
- "A Song for the End of Everything" (First appearance)
- "The Stress of Her Regard"
- "Skin in the Game"
- "The Paths That Choose Us"