Kal-El. My future grandson. This is the story of the House of El. Our ending has yet to be written. But this is how it began. Ours is a story of sacrifice and triumph. How the House of El led a revolution against tyranny. The story of your family isn't how we died. But how we lived.
All S1
S1 E15Unfinished Business
Could you remind me why I am the one who has to go and provoke a very large, very corrupt government officials?
My guess that's just the way that this one goes, isn't it?
Mmm-hmm.
Plus you got superior stamina and, uh, a very punchable face.
Mmm, well, yours is looking more punchable by the minute, mate.
Cor-Vex. He seems handsome enough. There's that at least.
Doesn't it bother you? Knowing how his life's gonna play out?
I'm the fifth of five daughters, Seg. It's a miracle the Council are allowing me to bind with anyone. I'll take what I can get. Even a Rankless boy with a chip on his shoulder.
Your father chooses me, and you accept without a word.
Please tell me you aren't that naive. You are the grandson of a traitor. If my father binds you to us, he is taming you. Proving that even a dreaded El can be co-opted and brought into the fold.
I'm just a game piece.
Everyone in Kandor is a game piece to my father. Including me. Besides, you're not completely repellent. There's a lot I can teach you about life up here. My father only thinks he was the one who chose you.
This fortress. It's why they killed grandfather, isn't it?
Val was determined to prove we weren't alone in the universe. After the council shut down his work, he would come here to work in secret.
He found something he wasn't supposed to.
Some kind of alien presence he believed was consuming other worlds and would someday come for Krypton. He tried to warn the Council, and they silenced him for it. Your father and I believed him. There was nothing we could do. With Val dead, we didn't even know how to get in this place. Your grandfather was no traitor. He was a hero. He was trying to protect Krypton. He believed in it so much, he was willing to do for it. We have to finish his work. Together.
You only think you're the end of the line. [brings out Superman's cape out of his duffel bag] This belongs to your grandson. Kal-El. Emphasis on the El. [the cape starts fading]
Why's it doing that?
It's like an hourglass. Once this cape is gone, our time's up. And Superman will have been wiped from existence. This isn't just about your grandson, Seg. This things that coming. It's not just gonna stop at Krypton. It is coming for everything.
What are you talking about?
It moves... from planet to planet conquering civilizations. Destroying billions of lives. It's known as the Collector of Worlds. But its true name... is Brainiac.
TETer-El
Please tell me you and Kem didn't pull that scam again last night.
All right, fine. I won't.
TETer-El
If you keep carrying on like this...
Dad, we can talk about this in the morning.
It is morning, Seg. You can't keep doing this. If you're caught after curfew...
They'll put me in the lunar work camps. I know, I know. Look, we need that money.
TETer-El
Well, I can take extra shifts.
At the Guild?
TETer-El
Yeah.
Great. The same people who executed Grandpa. Forced us to live down here. Sounds like a plan.
I come from a planet called Earth. A time centuries from now. And I've come here to warn you. Someone from the future is coming to destroy Krypton.
Okay, right. Why? Why would they do that?
Because where I'm from, your grandson becomes the greatest hero in the universe. Like, ever. Unless somebody changes things to make sure that he's never born... [Adam collapses to the ground]
You all right?
I'm running out of time. Take this. [gives Seg the Sunstone] You have to find the fortress. You have to save Superman.
Remember, Seg. Keep believing in a better tomorrow.
Grandpa! I love you!
Primus Zod, the accused claims she acted alone. Would you enlighten us.
Our scanners clearly registered two bio-signatures in the stolen skimmer.
Your scanners are wrong.
Yet upon your capture, you claim allegiance to Black Zero.
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!
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?
If that's the best you got - maybe I won't be as late as I thought.
T1Technician #1
Always got something clever to say, haven't you? Well, if you're so clever, tell me this. How come you're on the stupid end of this blaster?
[aims his blaster at the back of the technician's head] Easy, mate. My stupid end's bigger.
Val of House El. I offer you a final chance to pledge your loyalty to His Eminence, the Voice of Rao.
Don't hold your breath.
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?
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.
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.
Commander? What is all this?
CQCommander Quex-Ul
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.
CQCommander Quex-Ul
Well, shit yeah, we're going to war.
The Rankless are not out enemy. Black Zero is.
CQCommander Quex-Ul
Well, who can be bothered sorting out your actual terrorists from your regular, everyday, Rankless shitheads?
Well, Seg, this is impressive. You're early. Investiture Ceremony isn't for another hour.
There's not gonna be a ceremony.
[laughs] I'm sorry?
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.
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.
This better be something real, Earth man. I'm getting tired of being... [seeing a small, metallic ball on the table] 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.
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.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Krypton pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.