Krypton (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - House of El - full transcript

- Val of House El!

You are hereby

sentenced to death.

Your family will now be
considered Rankless,

without name,
without honor.

- No!
Grandpa!

- He's got a bomb!

- Death to the Voice of Rao!

- You did a brave thing.

You are to be assigned
a new surname.

My name.
Vex.



- We never ask for mercy.

- Do you understand, Lyta-Zod?

- Yes, mother.

What the hell
were you thinking, Seg?

- You gonna un-cuff me or what?

- Nyssa here has yet
to be paired with someone.

As my youngest daughter,

you will be Binding with her.

- I'm happy for you.

- It's not like I want
to be a Vex.

- What's not to want?

You've got better food,
better air.

You're gonna be
one of them again.

- But not as an El.



Mom?
- It's time you learned

the truth.

Your grandfather
was no traitor.

He was a hero.

My son didn't steal
the skimmer.

I did!

- Who was your accomplice,
Charys?

- It was me!

- No!

No!

- My name is Adam Strange.

Someone from the future
is coming to destroy Krypton.

This belongs to your grandson,
Kal-El.

Once this cape is gone,
our time's up.

This thing that's coming...

It's known as
The Collector of Worlds,

but its true name is Brainiac,

and it seems your parents
gave their lives

because they knew this threat
needed to be stopped,

and they believed
that you could stop it.

- Does this really belong
to my grandson?

- Yeah.

- Then why isn't he here?

- Why you?

- Uh, he sent me in his place.

Kind of a big deal
where I'm from.

Lot of reasons,
but mainly because

I can teleport
across light-years

using a little something
called a Zeta Beam.

I know.
It's a cool name, huh?

Came up with it myself.

Only problem is, uh,

one passenger per ride, me,

and...
it's a little temperamental.

You don't believe me.

How do you think
that I got to this fortress?

Do you...

You think that I power-walked
across the ice to get here?

Everything that I am
telling you is true.

Trust me.

- Even if I did,
it wouldn't make a difference.

Can't help you.

- What is the matter with you?

- Look, I don't know
what you expect of me,

but I don't understand a thing
about all this.

My parents died before
they could explain it to me.

- Great, then we can
figure this out together.

- I don't have time
to argue this.

I have to get back to Kandor.

- Time?

We don't have any.
Brainiac is coming,

and he ain't waiting for you
to square away

whatever it is
you think needs doing.

Now, I am talking about
millions of lives,

so get your head out of your
ass and into the game.

- I don't care what a big deal
you might be

on the planet Detroit.

- This is Krypton.

I gave you my answer.

- Guess I had the wrong guy.

And it's Earth.

- Sorry?

- I'm a big deal on Earth,

not planet Detroit.

- Well, I suggest

you get on your beam
and get back there.

There's someone
I need to deal with.

- Wait!

Do you think that I could just

get a ride back to the city?

So this guy you're so eager
to see...

- Daron-Vex.
- Yeah, him.

You say he's
the chief what now?

- City's chief magistrate.

- Chief magistrate, huh?

Guy like that probably has

a bunch of valuable information

right at his fingertips.

- Strange, just don't.

- I'm just saying,

if you were curious,

you could probably
use this guy,

gain access to the city's
deep space sensors,

which I promise you,
will show you

a big, ugly, organic life form

headed this way.

If you want to honor
what your parents died for,

at least--
- Don't

talk to me about my parents.

I know exactly how
I'm going to honor them.

I just need to
get close to him,

and not get arrested the moment
I set foot up there.

- If you're thinking
about revenge,

which you obviously are,
don't.

At least look into
what I'm saying first,

and if I'm wrong,
hey, man, have at it.

Get your revenge on.

But if I'm right,

work with me.

When we're done putting
the foot to alien ass,

I will help you murk
this son of a bitch myself.

Deal?

- You know, you really
stand out, wearing this.

Go find Kem at the tavern.
Tell him I sent you.

He'll, uh, hook you up
with a change of clothes.

- Seriously?

- Hello, Seg.

We've been looking for you.

- Yeah, what's new?

- Rankless amateur.

- Oh!

- Come on. March!

- I hope you didn't break him.

- No, just a little love-tap.

He'll be all right.

- He better be.

You can leave now.

- What's going on?

- My father is waiting
for you,

along with His Reverence.

I suggest you clean yourself up
and get changed.

You really don't want to
keep them waiting much longer.

Trust me.

You bear the sigil

of House Vex from now on.

We have been expecting you...

For some time.

- Apologies, Father.

Entirely my fault.

Now, Seg.

Oh.

You are interested
in the mask?

Course, it would be
the first time

you've seen the many faces
up close.

A face to symbolize
each of our old gods.

Cythonna,

Telle,

Lorra,

Mordo,

Yuda,

and finally, the one true god,

our supreme deity, Rao.

He who kindled the sun.

We used to worship
all of the gods,

but now, only one.

Do you know why?

At the time of creation,

Rao looked out at the chaos

and saw wasted potential,

and so he formed
the stars and planets,

the most perfect of which
became Krypton.

You see,

our very planet
is a symbol of

fully realized potential, Seg.

It is also harsh
and inhospitable.

The only thing protecting us
is the force dome,

and the only thing
protecting the dome is...

Order.

Sadly, your parents
chose chaos.

I need to know if you intend

to follow in their footsteps.

- I don't.

The Investiture Ceremony
will be held tomorrow night,

and then you officially
become a Vex.

Don't be late.

You are dismissed.

- Come on, guys.
Line up.

Come and get your brand-new,

state-of-the-art firepower.

All new blasters.

Blow your whole
chest cavity out.

Feel the weight of it,
much lighter

and much quicker.

You look after that.

- Commander?

What is all this?

- Mommy didn't tell you?

New offensive.

We're going down to
the Rankless

to smoke out Black Zero.

- This looks like
we're going to war.

- Well, shit yeah,
we're going to war.

- The Rankless are not
our enemy.

Black Zero is.

- Well, who can be bothered

sorting out
your actual terrorists

from your regular, everyday,

Rankless shitheads?

All right, boys.
Who's ready to crack

some Rankless skulls?

- Quex is right.

You know the El name
was already synonymous

with resistance
amongst the Rankless.

Val-El's execution
made sure of it.

Now with Ter and Charys,

Black Zero have new martyrs
for their rallying cry.

- They weren't terrorists.

- They confessed to it,

and I bet my life

their son is, too,

and now he gets to

walk amongst us
up here in the guilds.

It's not right.

- You know what Quex is like.

If he leads this thing,
it will be a bloodbath.

Innocent lives will be--

- You know, I never really

cared about the scars.

Sometimes, I even forget
I still have them.

- Dev...
- Or the ache in my shoulder

that wakes me up
every single day.

I can live with that too.

What I can't live with

is knowing
the people responsible

were never found.

They get to live free
somewhere,

while my family...

Maybe...

not all Rankless
are Black Zero,

but they provide cover
for them,

so please don't
talk to me again

about innocent lives.

- Primus Zod, a word, please.

- Quickly.

- This new offensive.

- The Rankless Initiative.
What about it?

- It's only going to breed
more resentment.

Our people are divided enough
without this.

- Black Zero almost
assassinated the Voice of Rao.

- Until he was saved
by a Rankless.

I can't see them putting
their lives on the line for him

after we destroy what little
they have down there,

or after you've gunned down
two of their own

in the Tribunal.

- I executed two
self-confessed terrorists

who pulled weapons
on the chief magistrate,

as is my duty.

You had best be very careful

of what comes out of
your mouth next, Lyta.

Or perhaps you'd care
to explain

what compels you
to defend the Rankless

at every chance you get?

- I just...

I have to believe
there's another way.

- You have neither the right

nor the rank to question this.

And given your recent
training performances,

your focus should be
on staying alive.

Nothing more,

nothing less.

Is that clear enough for you?

- Loud and clear, Primus.

I got your message.

You okay?

- What happened to
my parents...

I know it had nothing
to do with you--

really, I do--

but at the same time,
I can't forget

what your mother did.

- I understand.

- I just don't know
what I'm meant to do now.

- There are so many things
in our lives we can't control.

Only you know

what's inside you,

what you're capable of.

You just need to
be true to yourself.

We both do.

- Seg?

You look troubled.

Is something on your mind?

- I wanted to ask you
about my parents.

I'd like to perform
traditional funeral rights.

- It's out of the question,
I'm afraid.

Your parents died as

enemies of the state.

I'm sorry, Seg.

I lost my parents when I was,
uh...

a few years younger
than you are now.

I thought I'd never recover,

but I did,

and you will too.

You remind me of him, you know.

Your grandfather, that is.

You're going to be
a Vex soon.

Maybe it's time we talked about

the history between
our two houses.

Maybe I can help you understand

what happened
all those years ago.

With your grandfather.

What people fail to realize is

how much I admired Val.

We were so close,
once.

But what Val was doing...

It threatened
our whole way of life.

He developed a highly advanced
computer system,

but of course, he refused
to reveal its location.

Through this technology,
he claimed to have

detected a... presence,

many millions of light-years
away.

He said it was
collecting worlds, and...

eventually, it would come
for Krypton.

- And you didn't believe him?

- Of course not.

You see, Seg...

Even great men
can lose their way,

and that's the tragedy here.

If not for this obsession,

Val could have gone on
to achieve

so much more for our people.

His legacy could've

lived on forever.

He could've been immortalized.

- Maybe his legacy can live on.

- If you admired him
as much as you say, then...

Let me continue his work

His earlier work,

with the Science Guild.

Let me serve Kandor
the way he did.

- Wow, you look...

You look.
Are you sure

Seg is gonna pay for those?

- Absolutely.

And you know, I'm offended.

He was very clear.
Change of clothes,

no expense spared.

- Oh, clearly.

- And, uh,

he also said something
to quench my thirst.

Extremely clear
about that one.

- Did he?
Okay.

Well, enjoy.

Well, this looks
positively intriguing,

and I am dying to hear
all about it,

but can we just have a--

a little word in private first?

Yeah?
- Yeah, sure.

Yeah.
- It's not about you.

Just...

Okay.

What in the name of Rao
is going on?

Firstly, you disappear
without a trace,

and then you show up,
looking like this,

then this guy shows up,

says that you sent him,

and starts telling
crazy stories about--

- I know, I know, I know,
they...

They sound crazy.
- Yeah.

- They might...

actually be true.

- Seg, listen.

I know you've been going
through a lot lately.

- I'm fine.

Trust me.

- Okay, okay.

- You know, I like Candy Crush
as much as the next guy,

but this is--
- Shut up and listen,

Earth man.

I took your advice earlier,

so now I'm a member
of the Science Guild.

They gave me that

and unlimited access
to their data banks.

- Ah, see, I told you
that that was--

- I'm not finished.

You said you could find proof

to back up your claims

about Brainiac.

Here's your chance.

But I'm not going to let you
string me along forever.

You have two hours.

If you don't come up with
anything by then,

I'm going to finish
what I went up there to do.

- Commander,

do you have a moment?

- I've already been informed
of your complaints.

- Concerns, not complaints.

- You should've come to me
first.

You made me look like a punk.

- You don't need my help
with that.

- What did you just say?

- Commander Quex-Ul.

I, Lyta-Zod,

hereby invoke
the spirit of Jo-Mon,

and our ancient traditions,

in challenging you
to a Kandorian duel.

- Lyta...
- You silly girl.

- Of which the victor

will assume command
of this division

and the right for their voice
to be heard

above all others.

- Lyta, please.

Don't do this.

If you go through with it,
there's nothing I can do.

Quex is bound by
Kandorian rite

to show no mercy.
That means to the death.

- You think I don't know that?

- Then please explain this
to me.

Tell me why.

- Sagitari Zod,

inside.

Now.

What is the meaning of this?

- I challenged my commander

for the right to lead
our division.

I am not required
to give a reason.

- I'm asking for one.

- As my superior?

- As your mother.

- My mother who doesn't
believe her child

is capable of being a warrior.

- Not yet.
- Not ever.

I see it in your eyes, Mother.

I always have.

You try to hide it,
but you don't think

I will ever be worthy
of the Zod name.

- That's not true.

- It is.

And it's fine.

But it's not going to stop me.

- You and I both know

there's no turning back
from this.

May Rao's grace be your shield.

- Nothing on
the satellite array.

Nothing on
the deep space sensors.

It's not just Kandor City,
either.

This is connected to

the Guild's
planet-wide network.

There's nothing out there.

- No, that can't be right.

It's a mistake.
Check that again.

[music intensifies]

- Well, that's it, then.
- Seg...

Seg, hey, come on--

Hey, hey, hey, wait!

Just wait.

Give us a second.

Seg, please think about
what you are doing.

Okay?
Forget this idiot.

Let's just you and I

sit down and talk it over.

- All I've done
is think about this,

and I'm done talking.

- If you do this,

you are throwing away
everything.

- There's nothing left
to throw away.

- You look me in the eye

and you tell me

that what you've been saying
is true.

- I swear to God.

- Well, then, we'd better
find another way to prove it,

or else our boy
is gonna get himself killed.

- You're a quick learner.

You've hardly been up here,

and you already
look sure of yourself.

About my father,

he's...

always had a flair
for the dramatic, but...

- You said your father

only thinks that
he chose me.

If this really was your choice,

then maybe you can tell me why.

- First, I want
to show you something.

- It's my parents ashes.

But you could be arrested
for this.

- I know.

- Then why?

- Everyone deserves a chance

to say good-bye
to the ones they love.

No matter the circumstances.

- Nyssa.

Thank you.

- Climatology reports,
atmospheric physics,

meteorological phenomena--
- Bam! That's it!

Check for anomalies.

- Uh, anomalies.
Okay.

Um... Hm.

Well, here's something
you don't see every day.

The meteor shower reported
in the Outlands.

- Is it recent?

- Yeah, three days ago.

- Okay, we gotta
check that out.

- Well, okay, but, I mean,

I guess we can tag along
with a salvage crew,

but it's illegal,

so we're gonna
have to bribe them.

- Great.
Let's go.

What?

- Hm?

- Why are you looking at me
like that?

- Well, I'm not exactly flush,

but there might be
another way.

[sighs] It may just cost you
that head cover.

- My--

- No more hiding.

- What?
- All your life,

you've hidden your truth,

like it's something
to be ashamed of.

I've always seen it,

when nobody else has,
even your mother.

You are not Sagitari.

You are Lyta of House Zod.

You are a warrior...

And you always have been.

Rhom, Ona.

I'm...

I'm sorry.
I--I, um...

I wasn't expecting you.
- We just wanted to stop by

and pay our respects.

Your mom and dad...

They were always willing
to look after Ona

when I worked nights.

Never asked for
anything in return.

I hope you know
how much they meant to us.

Thank you.

Thank you both.

- A thousand cycles ago,

the ancient warrior Jo-Mon

faced a challenge

that would
change Krypton forever.

Jo-Mon invited his detractors

to the highest peak

of the Jewel Mountains

and challenged them,

one by one,

to a duel to the death.

His victory

ushered in

the first golden age
of peace

in Krypton's history.

If one believes

they are worthy
of true leadership,

it is not only their right,

but their obligation
to act on it.

Fight with honor.

Fight with pride,

and fight without mercy.

Begin.

- "The blood of House El
will forever bind us."

The blood of House El.

- Hello, Seg.

- Grandpa, you...

You're not...

- I'm afraid not, Seg.

I'm a projection.

A copy of Val-El.

I share his thoughts
and memories, but...

in essence,

I'm a computer program.

- You knew
they were coming for you.

- I suspected it.

But I knew I had
a responsibility to you, Seg.

That's why I created
this program.

To guide you.

To educate you

when the time came.

- Well, there's a chance
that time has arrived.

Well, then, we better
get started.

- Seems to love
that arm clock.

- Oh, yeah, he really loves it.
[arm cracks]

- Ooh, yeah, he's--
he's tough.

Used to wrestle.

But, um, there it is.

- We're good, yeah?

- Mm-hmm.
- Great.

- Mm.

I--I told you.
- Come...

- I told you.

You said we had to get
to the Outlands.

This is the price we pay.

Good deal.

It's weird, anyway.

It's like your forehead's
got a beak.

- Just...

- Oh. Oh.

Mwa! Beautiful!

Let's go.

We're in.

- He's not even a fan.

- And Tharb-El,

also a member of
the Science Guild,

discovered a cure
for the Green Death,

which almost drove our planet
to extinction.

Seg, it would take millennia

for me to detail
the achievements of our house.

The important thing
to remember is

their greatness

lives on in you.

- The blood of House El.

- You are the torchbearer
for our legacy now.

You must keep that flame alive,

pass it on
to the next generation.

If you believe in yourself,

the way I always have,

your accomplishments
will stand alongside

all those who came before you,

and will forever inspire
those that follow.

- Then tell me about Brainiac.

Help me find a way to stop him.

- Well, there's not much
to tell.

Once the Council moved to
silence me,

I continued my work here,

where I created
the most incredible technology

that allowed me to enter

the interdimensional realm

which lay beyond

the normal space-time
continuum.

I called it the "Phantom Zone."

You have a better name?

- Eh...

No, no, it's a cool name.

It's a cool name.
It's catchy.

- It was only a prototype,
and I knew it was dangerous.

I used it to travel
throughout space,

where I found entire galaxies,

swarming with intelligent life,

all under threat...

by a barbarous creature

moving unchecked

throughout the universe,

devouring these civilizations

one by one.

I hurried back,

somehow made it out
of the Phantom Zone,

tried to warn the Council.

Then...

Well, you know how that ended.

- It's not over yet, Grandpa.

We're gonna finish
what you started.

I promise.

- I like the sound of that.

But you better do something

about this house of Vex
situation first.

- Mercy!

- We never ask for mercy.

- Well, Seg,
this is impressive.

You're early.

Investiture Ceremony isn't
for another hour.

- There's not gonna be
a ceremony.

- I'm sorry?

- You want me
to be Ranked again?

Join the Science Guild,

Bind with your daughter,

okay.

But even if I never get to bear

the sigil of my own house,

I will not wear yours.

I'd rather die Rankless.

- Now, you listen to me.

And you listen well, th--

- This is acceptable.

You will wear the sigil
of the Science Guild.

- Why, Your Eminence--

- Leave us now, Seg.

May Rao's light

forever guide your way.

- You too.

- Please.

Help me understand.

- You want to control him.

This is how.

- We've been at this
for hours!

- What?

- I'm sorry, but I think

we need to call it!

- You know what the first rule
of archaeology is?

- I have no idea!

- And neither do I.

I dropped out
the first year of college,

but I think it's something
like "never stop searching."

- That's a wonderful story,

but we need to go,

or else we're gonna die!

- Hold on.

I found something!

- Oh, yeah,
we call those rocks.

- It's not just any rock.

See the markings?

- Yeah.

- Scorch marks

from something crashing here.

Or there.

- The sigil on the urn
was a nice touch.

Not that it mattered.

I'm voicing
my displeasure here,

in case you couldn't tell.

- What do you want me to say?

Evidently, he didn't
get the closure we expected.

- You expected.

It was your suggestion.

- And now I have another one.

Be patient.

He trusts me now.

That alone
made this worthwhile.

- I hope it was worth it.

- I tried talking to you.

- I don't know why
you're protecting Seg,

but if you want to
risk your life for him,

so be it.

But not even Rao will help you

if you risk those
of your squads.

Lyta-Zod,

I hereby appoint you

Commander of Fourth Squad,
Sagitari.

You are obliged to bear
true allegiance and faith

to the Military Guild
of Kandor City

against all enemies

and to defend and support
the Supreme Council,

in loyal service of
His Reverence,

the Voice of Rao.

May Rao's grace

be your shield.

It only gets harder from here.

Dismissed, Commander.

- This better be
something real, Earth man.

I'm getting tired of being--

What is that?

- Not sure what you call it.

Brainiac sends them out
to any planet

that he deems
worthy of conquest

as a forward scout.

Brainiac isn't on his way.

He's already here.