01x05 - House of Zod

[bunniefuu]

- This initiative is about
targeting Black Zero.

Nobody fires unless
I give the order.

- Let him go.

- What happened here?

Kol-Da, you are under arrest.

- Lyta, thank you.

- I need someone
to take responsibility

for the Rankless
initiative's failures.

- Commander Zod,
it's by Rao's word

that you are hereby
charged with treason.

- What's gonna happen to her?

- She'll be ex*cuted just like
your grandfather was.

- Why do you want
to save Lyta-Zod?

- Because I love her.
Will you help her?

- She's innocent.

The moment Lyta dies,
so does our chance

to overthrow
the Voice of Rao.

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.

- Thanks for always
having my back.

- It's more than loyalty.

- Val, I'm headed your way.

Do you read?

- Tell me what you know about Brainiac.

Together we can protect
the future of Krypton.

- Seg-El is somewhere
in the complex.

Find him.

- You're my daughter,
and Zods are not traitors.

I think you're here
protecting Seg.

- If you want to help me,
then for once in your life

trust me.
- Trust runs both ways, Lyta.

- What makes a Zod?

- Jayna.

Vidar.

You were born
into a great House.

A House of Warriors.

Warriors whose
courage, honor...

...And loyalty to the State
are without equal.

And without question.

You hold back because
she is your sister.

Your unwillingness
to land the blow ensures

that she will remain
vulnerable to such an att*ck

from a future opponent,

one not blinded
by sentiment as you are.

Is that honorable?

To earn the name Zod, you
must place honor above all.

Above love.

Above life.

Even above family.

- There.
Blood.

He won't last long out here.

Especially with
the ice storm coming.

- We better find him
before it hits.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay, okay, okay.

Ah, come on, come on.

Hello.

Hello, ca--

Can any--

sh*t.

- Ah.

- Help me.

Please.
They'll be back soon.

I know a way to safety.
Huh?

Far from these people.

- Deactivate the barrier.

- Dev.
- You're a Zod.

Wouldn't run
even if I begged you.

Do it and go.

I'll be responsible.

I should've come sooner.

- You shouldn't
have come at all.

- You really expect me
to believe that all this time

you've been
a Black Zero operative?

- Clearly some do.

- I was thinking about
the first night we met.

- The Nova Cycle
First Night Dinner.

Was that really 18 cycles ago?

- I couldn't believe my family
got seated with House Zod.

When I saw the Fire of Rao,

I knew I'd never see
anything as beautiful.

And then I saw you.

- I paid that Rankless

to spread spark snow
in the Fire.

- Only you would try
to improve the Ceremonial Fire.

- I had no idea it would--

- Set fire
to the Surrus blossoms.

- [laughs]

I didn't ask you
to take the blame for me.

- You didn't have to.

I was already in love with you.

Look, I know you don't
feel the same way

I feel about you, but--

- I do love you.

- He's nowhere to be found and
he's not picking up his comm.

I'm telling you, something
is seriously wrong.

- Yes, Lyta has been
scheduled for execution.

It does not get
more wrong for Seg.

He will show up eventually.

- Great, so until then I'm just
supposed to sit around

with my thumb up my ass?

- Yeah, if--if you think
that's gonna help.

Be my guest.

- It'll probably be a lot
more help than you've been.

- Why would you put
your thumb...

Uh.

You know yet,
we getting close?

How much further?

- Hey, come on, stay with me.

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

- Straight, we go straight.

- Straight?

You said that
three straights ago.

How can you even tell?
It looks all the same.

Co--come on, come on.

You gotta stay with me.

Come on, keep talking.

What's your name?
Tell me your name.

What's your name?
- Raika.

I am Raika.
- Raika.

Great.
I'm Seg.

Those people back there,

what do they want from you?

Why were they torturing you?

- I could not let them find it.

- Find what?

- That which we protect.

- Protect?
What do you mean "protect"?

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, hey.

Come on, we gotta keep moving.

Whoa, hey, friends, friends,
friend of Raika's.

She's hurt.
I tried to help her.

- Ha neh fra bor.

Jayta fesu henni Raika.

Yek un gas ka-ta meh hann.

- Yeah, well, that...
looks bad.

Um, that probably doesn't help,

but I used those to pry open
Raika's shackles

when I rescued her.

Heroically.

- El?

- Yeah, El.

Seg-El.
Yeah.

Very good.

Oh, sh*t.

- Do you have any idea
what you've done?

- I'm trying
to salvage this mess.

- 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
House Zod stands for?

- The fact that most parents
love their children.

And if she does love
her daughter that much,

what's to stop her going
to the Voice of Rao himself

and bargaining
for a better deal?

You have risked everything,
Nyssa.

- 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.

- A better Kandor?

There's something else
clouding your judgment.

Or someone else.

- Seg, perhaps?

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

- A tyrant with power
and a temper.

If Jayna agrees,

and joins us to spare her
beloved 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.

- How do you all
survive down here?

- Cythonna.

With her love and blessing,

all things are possible.

- Cythonna?
The Ice Goddess?

- The true Mother of Krypton.

- You're Cythonnites?

- This is a sacred place.

You do not belong here.

Why have you come, El?

- Raika brought me here
after I rescued her

from some
very bad people.

- Your people.

- If they were my people, would
they have done this to me?

But hey,

you don't want me here, I don't
particularly want to be here,

so point me
in the direction of Kandor

and I'll gladly
be on my way.

- You have shown one
of our own a kindness.

Allow us to return it
by healing your wounds.

- I testified exactly
as you told me to.

Why am I still here?

- Procedural delay.

Nothing more.

- Stymied by bureaucracy?

Most powerful man in Kandor.

- Second most.

You will be out soon.

And we will be
sipping drinks by nightfall.

- Good.

- Every moment
of your life is a test.

One that reveals who you are.

And if you truly are worthy
of the name Zod.

Today is your trial by ice.

You will make your way
to the Jewel Mountains.

You will follow in the
footsteps of those

who have
come before you.

Or you will die trying.

At the southern base
is the Sword of Jo-Mon,

the fiercest of all
Kryptonian warriors.

There you will find the oxygen
that will ease your return.

- There's only one respirator.

- We made it all
this way without one.

- And we almost d*ed.
- But we didn't.

We can do this.

- We're too far out.

- We share the respirator.

We each use half.

- It took all we had
to get here.

- We have to try.
- No!

Don't you see?
This is the test.

- We're wasting
breath arguing.

We can both do this.

- I'm sorry.

- Vidar, don't.

- Better than letting you
freeze out here.

I'll make it quick.

Don't.

Don't leave me here.

Jayna!

Jayna!

Jayna!

- You have to make a decision.

You're sacrificing your
daughter for honor?

- You dare speak
to me of honor?

- Tell me, Primus.

What makes you any different
from those who blindly follow

the Voice of Rao?

- You'll say anything
to achieve your desires.

That's your code.

Duty is action.

Duty is thought.

- What about
your duty to Lyta?

One word from you
and she is saved.

Her rank, her honor restored.

You serve an oppressive ruler
without question.

Why not serve my father

who wants to truly lead?

- You aspire to lead,

yet know nothing
about being a leader.

- Is that a yes or a no?

- That actually
feels a lot better.

What is this stuff?

Okay, well, not bad for
something that clearly came out

of some creature's ass.

Thank you.

I'm glad you pulled through.

- Yes,
thanks to you.

- What are they saying?

I know it's about me.

Come on, Raika.

Talk to me.

- They're trying to figure out
what to do with you.

- What's to figure out?

Unless they have
no intention of...

letting me leave.

- I'm sorry.

If I had known you were an El,

I would never have
brought you to this place.

- Well, that seems
a little judgy.

You barely know me, except
for the fact that I saved you.

Do you remember that?

- You are an El.

You have the power
to destroy everything.

- What do you mean?

- I've said too much.

- Too much?
You haven't told me sh*t.

Why would you think
that I could ever do that?

- Because the House of El
has done it before.

- I can't say any more
about this.

- What exactly
did my family do?

- I'm sorry,

but all I can say is our duty
to protect this place

from your family
has been passed

from generation
to generation.

- Well, all I can say is that
my family means you no harm.

And I'm leaving.

- They will never let you
out of here alive.

- Then help me.

Help me, like I helped you.

- No.

You will tell others
about this place.

- You're worried about others?

Do you know what happens

when I don't go home?

Others come looking for me.

Els.

That's right, yeah.

All my brothers, and all
my cousins, and all my uncles.

Pretty soon this place is
gonna be crawling with Els.

And think about
the destruction they could do.

But you can make sure
that none of that happens.

All I need

is a respirator
and a way out of here.

I should've asked

for more than just
a respirator.

- Warning.
Oxygen level near depletion.

Warning. Replenish oxygen
supply immediately.

Warning...

- It's not too late
to stop this.

- Jayna!

- Vidar, he's still out there--

- Do not think of your brother.

He no longer
has a place among us.

My mother gave this to me.

As her father gave it to her.

As you know, it has
never been apart from me.

It is indestructible.

As is your spirit, Jayna.

I saw that from the start.

Your purpose is fulfilled.

And your destiny clear.

You take your place
in the House of Zod,

protector of Krypton.

With you serving it,

our people's future is
as bright as Rao's light.

You are a Zod.

As such, you kneel to no one.

- Stop.

Lyta-Zod,

the witness against you
has recanted.

All testimony is
hereby rescinded.

And all charges of treason
are dropped.

You are to be reinstated
immediately to full rank.

The Council...

apologizes.

- Mother, I--

I don't understand this.
I--

I don't know how this happened.

I guess I have Nyssa-Vex
to thank.

She'll be expecting
something in return--

- You owe her nothing.

Do you understand?

Nothing.

- It was you.

You saved me.

I thought I was going to die.

I just--I can't believe it,
how?

What did you do?

- I know you've truly never
understood this, Lyta.

But you've always been
my greatest love.

And now my greatest shame.

- Mother?

Mother.

- Why am I still here?

I demand to see
the Chief Magistrate.

What is going on?

Where's Daron-Vex?

- End program.

- I want a full investigation.

I will find out

how a prisoner of the Sagitari
was able to get a w*apon

into her cell.

Go!

- I must say,
you nearly had me fooled.

- Well, let's hope the Voice
of Rao will be as well.

- No, I meant
your feelings for Kol-Da.

You did care for her.

- Yes, I did.

Very much.

She was a fierce warrior.

And loyal to our cause.

- And yet...

- And yet,

you left me with little choice.

A sacrifice...
had to be made.

- Warning.
Oxygen level near depletion.

- Yeah.
Painfully aware of that.

- Please replenish
oxygen supply.

- Can't do that.

- Warning.
Oxygen level critical.

- I heard you!
- Alert. Oxygen now depleted.

- Fine.

Maybe you'll shut up.

Alert. Oxygen now depleted.

- That's enough out of you.

Okay.

Okay.

Come on.
Come on, baby.

Come on now.

Yes!
Yes.

Adam! Adam, come in.

sh*t.
No, come on.

This has to work.

Adam, it's Seg.
Do you hear me?

- He's about yea high,
dreamy eyes, legs for days.

- Adam, Adam, do you read?
It's Seg.

- Uh, Seg, Seg, yeah.

- Adam, can you hear me?
- Yeah, Seg, I got you.

Adam, there's-- ...ference--

- I can hear you.

Uh...

Can you hear me now?

- Seg, can you hear me now?
[signal crackling]

- Adam, listen.

I don't know how much time
I have.

I'm in the Outlands,
and I'm stuck.

I need help.

But if things go badly,

there's something I need you
to do for me.

- I got your message.

- How is it
I'm standing here?

- Rao works in mysterious ways.

- Clearly, so do you.

What is going on between
you and my mother

and where is Seg?

Nobody's seen him.
- Commander Zod.

Commander, this man claims
to have information for you.

What do I do with him?

- I'll deal with him.
Dismissed.

- You remember me?

Seg's friend.

The alien.

- What is it?
- I've got a message from him.

In my hand.

Lyta, if you're hearing this,

you know what happened.

I'm so sorry.

I wish I knew you were okay.

You've always been
the strongest,

bravest person I know.

Ugh, it's cold as sh*t
out here. [panting]

I bet you'd survive it,
though.

You will survive.

I know you.

Do you remember
our first kiss?

I'd give anything to kiss you
one more time.

You are everything good

in me.

And...

I love you.

I--

- Follow me.

There's still a chance.

- That's why
I'm coming with you.

I've got a general area
where he's at.

I hope you got some tech
that can narrow that down

a little bit.
Whoa.

- Lieutenant Tai,
you're with me.

S&R Ops.
Outlands.

Suit up.
I'll brief you on the way.

Put that on.

- Lyta, if you need another
man, I'll get suited up.

- No, it's...
classified.

I'll talk to you soon, okay?

Let's move.

- Rough.

- Seg-El was captured
by a faction of Black Zero.

He escaped.
He's in the Outlands.

- There's a Level 6 ice storm
in that sector.

No way he survives that.

Hate to be the one
to break bad news to Nyssa-Vex.

- Secure that sh*t, Lieutenant.

We bring him back alive.

Clear?
- Solid copy, Commander.

- We're gonna find him.

- Seg.

- Lyta.

- We're close!

- We're not gonna
stop looking.

- There's skimmer dust-off
markings back there.

Looks fresh.

- Scan for a heat signature.

- This will revive him.

- We need you alive,

so you can tell us where
you took that Cythonnite woman.

You have no idea
how important she is.

She holds the key
to stopping Brainiac.

Tell us where she is.

We don't have much time.

- Are you okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

- Sweep the place.

Stay here.

- Uh.

- How you doing?
- Ah.

A little tender.

- Sorry.

- It's you.

- What's so funny?

Who gave you that?

- You did.

I'm your son.