Daron-Vex quotes from Krypton

Daron-Vex

You know, you're right. I do look out for number one. But the people of Kandor are number two. Where do you suppose they feature on the Voice of Rao's list? He only cares about the glorification of his god, and he expects the people to dedicate themselves to that. At least from me, they get a chance at a decent life. I am a selfish bastard, Jayna. But people do things for more than one reason.

Daron-Vex

Primus Zod, the accused claims she acted alone. Would you enlighten us.

Jayna-Zod

Our scanners clearly registered two bio-signatures in the stolen skimmer.

Charys-El

Your scanners are wrong.

Daron-Vex

Yet upon your capture, you claim allegiance to Black Zero.

Charys-El

I told them what they wanted to hear. To get in front of the people of Kandor. To tell them the truth. We are not alone! Don't believe their lies! Val-El was right!

Daron-Vex

Enough! The only one who lies today is you. 14 cycles ago, we condemned your father-in-law to the ice. And now you maintain his claims! Tell the truth. You stole that skimmer in an effort to locate Val-El's hidden fortress. Did you not?

Daron-Vex

Val of House El. I offer you a final chance to pledge your loyalty to His Eminence, the Voice of Rao.

Val-El

Don't hold your breath.

Daron-Vex

Listen to me. The old counsel is no more. They've already sworn their allegiance. All but you. You're our greatest scientific mind, Val. Think of all you've accomplished. Are you willing to throw it all away?

Val-El

I've taken measures to safeguard my work. I had to. You can deny it all you like. But the truth is, we are not alone in the universe. Krypton is vulnerable. And praying to him won't be enough to save it.

Daron-Vex

Val of House El. For rebelling against the lawful state authority of the state, you leave me no choice but to find you guilty of sedition. You are hereby sentenced to death. The name El will be struck from the Registry of Citizens. Your family will be stripped of all rights and privileges. You are now to be considered Rankless. Without guild. Without name. Without honor. You chose the wrong side.

Daron-Vex

Well, Seg, this is impressive. You're early. Investiture Ceremony isn't for another hour.

Seg-El

There's not gonna be a ceremony.

Daron-Vex

[laughs] I'm sorry?

Seg-El

You want me to be Ranked again? Join the Science Guild, Bind with your daughter, okay. Even if I never get to bear the sigil of my own house, I will not wear yours. [he draws a dagger, cuts the patch off his chest, and tosses it on the ground] I'd rather die Rankless.

Daron-Vex

Now, you listen to me. And you listen well, th...

This is acceptable. You will wear the sigil of the Science Guild.

Daron-Vex

Why, Your Eminence...

Leave us now, Seg. May Rao's light forever guide your way.

Seg-El

You, too.

Daron-Vex

Please. Help me understand.

You want to control him. This is how.

Daron-Vex

Do you have any idea what you've done?

Nyssa-Vex

I'm trying to salvage this mess.

Daron-Vex

By going behind my back? To the Primus of the Sagitari? What makes you think Jayna is ready to join us and go against everything that House Zod stands for?

Nyssa-Vex

The fact that most parents love their children.

Daron-Vex

And if she loves her daughter so much, what's to stop her from going to the Voice of Rao herself and bargaining for a better deal? You risked everything, Nyssa.

Nyssa-Vex

We need the Sagitari. She's a Zod. If we don't stop Lyta's execution, we lose Jayna. And then we lose the chance to make a better Kandor.

Daron-Vex

A better Kandor? There's something else clouding your judgment. Or someone else. Seg, perhaps?

Nyssa-Vex

I did what I did so we can prevail against a tyrant.

Daron-Vex

Tyrants with power and a temper. If Jayna agrees, and joins us to spare her daughter, how do I explain to the Voice that he won't get the blood he's asked for? And if she refuses, and tells the Voice of our plans before we can put them in motion, then the blood he asks for will be ours.

Daron-Vex

You're telling me there will be collateral damage?

Dev-Em

I am telling you the room will be stuffed with collateral damage. This is no longer a controlled situation. We have to abort.

Daron-Vex

Proceed as planned. There comes a point in any coup when it's more dangerous to back out than to go forward. Too many people are involved to depend on none of them betraying the secret. Even inadvertently...

Dev-Em

Let me be clear. Your opinion means nothing to me. Primus?

Jayna-Zod

We can't withdraw now. We've already paid too much, Dev.

Jayna-Zod

Two decades ago, you came out of nowhere, and married into House Vex, and spent the rest of your life trying to make the Vex name seem important. My honor, that's my own problem. But what did I sacrifice it for? And am I supposed to kill a junior officer to prop up your ego?

Daron-Vex

My ego? You take a good look at this city that you are supposedly protecting, Jayna. Kandor is stagnating. We are barely surviving on our dwindling resources. It is time to look to the future. To look beyond, and start to build new alliances with the eight other cities. To combine our expertise, and develop new resources. If the other, more illustrious houses are too hidebound to do it, I am not. This world will only improve when our cities work together.

Daron-Vex

He's been asking questions. Wondering why the last-minute pardon for a Black Zero bombmaker. Noting that the prisoner hasn't returned to his dwelling, or been seen in the city since his release.

Jayna-Zod

Of course not. He's in a Rankless safehouse under guard, waiting to be found and arrested for the Voice's death, and killed while avoiding capture.

Daron-Vex

What good does that do us when one of your officers is encouraging people to scrutinize the chain of events? He's from a prominent family. People might listen to him. Couldn't you have replaced him with one of our people?

Jayna-Zod

I already slipped Dev in. If you want to attract suspicion, a good way to do it would be to shift assignments around just before an assassination. Most officers wouldn't have questioned the order. We were unlucky.

Daron-Vex

You need to silence him, quickly, before he draws attention. [seeing her expression] Well, it's too late to bring him on board now. And any attempt to scare him would only deepen his suspicion further. No, there is only one way to handle this.

Jayna-Zod

I'll speak to him.

Daron-Vex

No, don't...

Jayna-Zod

I do not need to schooled on the danger here. The lives of every Sagitari I've recruited are in my hands, and they've put them there because they have faith in me. I'm committed, they're willing to back me. What are you committed to, except yourself? You've only ever been out for number one.

Nyssa-Vex

All my life, I have watched you betray and destroy everyone around you. But I always held up hope that I was different.

Daron-Vex

You are.

Nyssa-Vex

I actually fooled myself into believing that in your own way you might actually love me.

Daron-Vex

I do. I do love you, Nyssa.

Nyssa-Vex

I gave up everything to please you. I sacrificed my friendships, my morality, even my own ambition! You molded me to be your perfect political ally.

Daron-Vex

I taught you the skills you needed to survive in the...

Nyssa-Vex

No! You taught me how to manipulate people, then disgard them when they outlived their usefulness. I learned that lesson well.

Seg-El

You killed my grandfather when he tried to warn you about Brainiac. And now you are working for him.

Daron-Vex

I had no choice.

Seg-El

There's always a choice. You just made the wrong one. Now's he gonna take the city.

Daron-Vex

I don't know what you're talking about.

Seg-El

Your new master is going to rip Kandor from the ground and enslave all of us. I need to know how he's going to do it so I can stop him.

Daron-Vex

I have idea. And if it were true, you're deluding yourself if you think you have the power to stop him. Better to live under his rule than to die.

Nyssa-Vex

Coward. You won't live to see it.

Brainiac

Look at me.

Daron-Vex

None are worthy to look upon the Voice of Rao's face.

Brainiac

There is no Voice of Rao. Only the agent of Brainiac.

Daron-Vex

Are you here to destroy us?

Brainiac

Don't be foolish. I'm here to save you.

Daron-Vex

From what?

Brainiac

Entropy. I will lead this city into a glorious new future. Your way of life preserved for all eternity.

Daron-Vex

Then you and I have the same goals. The same vision. Let me serve you.

Brainiac

An interesting offer. Let's put your new found loyalty to the test. If I detect deception, you die. Who was behind this coup attempt?

Daron-Vex

I was, it - Along with Primus Zod. We also had the support of five members of the Supreme Council.

Brainiac

Why did you wish your leader dead?

Daron-Vex

He was an ignorant zealot and peddled false hope in a nonexistent god.

Brainiac

You don't believe in this sun god of yours. Why?

Daron-Vex

My parents... worshipped the goddess of ice - Cythonna. After the Catalysm, all religions except Raoism were banned but unofficially tolerated. When the Voice of Rao was anointed, he initiated the Great Purge, and those who did not convert were killed and disappeared. My parents refused. And I never saw them again. All I know is... their god couldn't save them any more than Rao's prophet from you.

Nyssa-Vex

Hello, Father. Six months I've been searching. I was almost ready to give up.

Daron-Vex

How did you find me?

Nyssa-Vex

You used to joke about how much you despised Bokos, which is why I never thought to look here. And then I received a tip earlier today. I still have some connections.

Daron-Vex

I don't doubt it. You always were resourceful, Nyssa.

Nyssa-Vex

I never understood why you hated this city, and then I found out that this is where you're from.

Daron-Vex

Nobody knew that. [realizing] Jax-Ur.

Nyssa-Vex

We've developed quite the bond while you've been bathing in shit. She told me everything. About how you grew up in this filth and then remade yourself in Kandor by binding with my mother and using her name to gain power. I know all about you, Father. And I know what you did to me. Why didn't you tell me?

Daron-Vex

I had my reasons.

Nyssa-Vex

It wasn't your decision to make. This is my life, and I need to know who I really am. Because unlike you, Father, I am not done living yet.

Daron-Vex

You always were the better parts of her.

Daron-Vex

I am truly and deeply sorry for all the pain I've caused you, Nyssa.

Nyssa-Vex

I don't need apologies, I need answers, and I need them now. What happened that night my mother died? And why was I in that skimmer with her? How much is me? How much is the clone? Who was I before it all happened?

Daron-Vex

I always knew this day would come. Eventually.