Krypton

This is only a casing, used to contain a Sentry.

Once the Sentry is out of the shell, it seeks a host.

Then uses that host to gather information

about whatever planet it's on.

Once it's gathered all the information required,

it uploads it to Brainiac,

and leaves the host body for dead.

My mom's not coming home, is she?

No, sweetheart, she's not.

Val, I'm headed your way...

Tell me what you know about Brainiac.

- Who are you? - I didn't bring you here

to ask me questions.

I need you to tell me how to get us out of here.

We go straight.

Whoa, hey, friends, friends.

This is a sacred place. You do not belong here.

Commander Zod, it is by Rao's word

that you are hereby eby chard with treason.

I have come to make you an offer

- that could save Lyta's life. - For the cost of what?

Pledge your support for my father.

What makes you think Jayna is ready to join us

and go against everything House Zod stands for?

Our plans rest on Jayna's militarism...

Oh, you think I don't know that?

Tell us where you took that Cythonnite woman.

She holds the key to stopping Brainiac.

Stay here.

- Who gave you that? - You did.

I'm your son.

You made me work for this when I was just a boy.

Then you put it on me, and said,

we kneel for no one.

This...

It can't be. It's impossible.

Don't listen to a goddamn word this asshole says, Seg.

- You know him? - I know who he is.

In my time, we all know who he is.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.

General Zod.

This son of a bitch is Superman's greatest enemy.

So trust me on this, we need to kill him now.

- Born from the void of the universe,

before time began,

Almighty Rao, who kindled the sun and created all life,

I submit to thee.

What makes you think Rao created all life?

Because I have faith.

My mother told me faith's a journey

that begins in hope and ends in belief of what you can't see,

but know to be true.

Or it could be considered a delusion.

The sign of a species not given to clear thought.

Is this a test?

Yes.

Do you think my faith isn't strong enough?

What are you testing?

Your worthiness.

Your city's, your world's.

Do you deserve eternal life?

What happens to those who aren't worthy?

I think you know the opposite of eternal life, Ona.

Killing a man directly runs the risk of witnesses.

A bomb, though, that can be attributed to anyone.

Tonight, the Voice of Rao closes the Nova Cycle festival

with the Ascension Ceremony at the Hall of Justice.

It's private, so there will be minimal collateral damage

and we can rig the explosive ahead of time.

I hope you've chosen your support

among the Guilded carefully.

Oh, we know who will back us when the time comes.

- What about you? - There's only one left

to complete the team. Commander Dev-Em.

He's used to working with the Voice's security detail,

and the Voice is used to him.

How sure are you that he'll commit?

The Ems are a traditional house.

Dev goes through the motions of Raoism,

but it's not where his heart lies.

That's with my daughter.

As for his loyalty, that's with me.

- I hope you're right. - And I hope you're ready.

Come now, you're obviously not built for this.

You're only resting that weapon on my chest

to stop your hands from shaking.

Go on, say one more word.

And you'll see exactly what I'm built for.

All right, all right. Just take it easy.

- And start explaining. - This sorry bastard

has travelled back through time to get here.

I don't know how, but it's not hard to see why.

He's obviously working with Brainiac to destroy Krypton.

Why would I destroy our world?

I'm here to save Krypton.

Oh, so it's just a coincidence

you're here at the same time as Brainiac?

Of course not. History tells us this

is when that creature ripped Kandor City

away from the planet and made it part of his collection.

I'm here to prevent that tragedy.

I'm confused, you're saying that Brainiac

isn't from the future?

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Brainiac didn't travel through time to launch this attack.

This is what he's always done.

No, that...

That can't be right.

It's elementary Kryptonian history.

The beginning of the end for our civilization.

Brainiac takes Kandor City,

which destabilizes Krypton's core.

Causing the planet to explode in 200 years.

The planet explodes in 200 years?

That, that, that's insane.

- That's insane. - Wait.

Your friend here didn't mention that?

It's true, isn't it?

That's not the point.

This whole time, you knew and you said noth...

Seg, you cannot trust this man.

Oh, so he's lying?

But you've confirmed he's a Zod,

- and he's from your time... - And if he's really your son,

then I'm sorry, but believing anything he says

is a mistake. You got to trust me on this.

He's here to destroy Krypton,

and make sure Superman is never born.

No Zod would ever destroy Krypton.

It's our duty to defend our city, and our world.

Our duty, and...

Our proud privilege.

Oh, this is some grade-A, premium bullshit.

Seg.

You know you can trust me, don't you?

Well?

Hey, man.

Seg!

Cuff them both.

Come on.

Seg...

Oh, I think there's some explaining to be done.

All right.

You first.

You said you're here to stop Brainiac,

that you've studied him. Let's hear the plan.

Firstly, you have to understand

that Brainiac is virtually immortal.

Existing for thousands of years.

He possesses the intellectual plunder

of countless advanced civilizations.

He's far beyond us.

And as history has proven, Krypton's current weapons

- are useless against him. - Yet here you are.

And we still haven't heard a plan yet, General.

That's because he doesn't have one.

On account of he's full of shit.

When Brainiac took Kandor, both our families made it out.

They made their way to Kryptonopolis.

In that city's ancient archives,

I learned of the location of a hidden weapon.

A pre-cataclysm instrument of violence so powerful,

it would give even Brainiac pause.

That's why your base is down here?

I've been searching these catacombs for months.

With only one clue.

Inside pocket.

Don't come crying to me

if he's hiding some kind of freaky ass space spider

in there that bites your hand off.

Just saying.

According to the archive,

we find that symbol, we find the weapon.

It looks like a house sigil.

It doesn't match any house currently on Krypton.

You recognize it.

All you have to do is take me there.

- Seg, you can't... - Shut up.

You'll have your turn.

The people who live down here, the Cythonnites.

This weapon is what they're sworn to protect, isn't it?

Yes, and they will guard it with their lives.

Because that is how powerful it is.

Which is why we need it.

I received a message. You wanted to see me?

Commander Em, sit down.

What I need to say to you,

I say because I trust you, Dev.

Thank you, Primus. That means a lot.

The Rankless Initiative. That was shit, wasn't it.

Complete shit.

It only made things worse, and Lyta didn't deserve

to be made a scapegoat for the Council's bad decisions.

Over your lifetime, would you say things

have gotten better in Kandor?

No, I wouldn't.

But there is nothing we can do about it.

We are Sagitari. We don't make policy.

What if I told you there are some

who would like to see a change in who makes policy?