- Adam Strange: Seg, I know how this sounds, but please. This is a key moment in history. Things need to unfold the way that they originally did. Okay, any changes could set off history in some new and crazy way, and something huge, like stopping Brainiac, that could ruin everything.
- Seg-El: By everything, you mean my grandson. Your obsession. Tell me, how is it that my world goes extinct, but he ends up on yours?
- Adam Strange: He was sent off just before this planet explodes. That's why he's called the Last Son of Krypton. I don't have all the answers here. I admit it. I guess if... if Brainiac doesn't take Kandor, if Krypton doesn't explode, then anything can happen. And maybe Kal-El will exist. Maybe he won't. But what I do know is that is a risk we cannot afford to take.
- General Zod: One might argue that millions of lives on Krypton are more important than one immature survivor on Earth.
- Adam Strange: And one might argue how many times Superman saves the universe, if you want to count numbers.
- Seg-El: Forget the numbers! I care about my world. My friends. What's the point of any of it? Or making the world a better place? Of having children? Of protecting our loved ones? If it all just ends in fire and death? Everything that we are. Everything we've built. You're asking me to sacrifice all of it. For an idea. An abstraction. A future if.
- General Zod: [to Lyta] You made me work for this when I just a boy. Then you put it on me, and you said, we kneel for no one.
- General Zod: It's amazing to see you like this.
- Lyta-Zod: Happy?
- General Zod: Happy, open. Smiling. What I remember most about you was how heavy the loss of Kandor weighed on your heart. You didn't like to talk about it, but I learned that you were in one of the military vessels attacking Brainiac's ship when he ripped the city from the ground. You never forget your failure to defend the city. It made you bitter.
- Lyta-Zod: I guess you're saying I'm not a perfect mother.
- General Zod: Maybe, but you taught me to put the defense of this world above all else. You fashioned me into a weapon. I take pride in that.
- Seg-El: What was he telling you?
- Lyta-Zod: Apparently, one day, I wake up to find I've turned into my mother.
- Seg-El: Well, it seems I have a grandson who's decisions are morally dubious, so there's that.
- Lyta-Zod: Can't help but worry, though.
- Seg-El: Our future?
- Lyta-Zod: I have a son who recognizes me as his mother, but only knows you as the father of his best friend. I suppose I thought... Now that you're Guilded, maybe there'd be a way. I still want to believe we have a future.
- Seg-El: Let's stick with today. We already know the future is confusing.
- General Zod: According to the archive, we find that symbol, we find the weapon.
- Lyta-Zod: It looks like a house sigil.
- General Zod: It doesn't match any house currently on Krypton.
- [Seg takes it back]
- General Zod: You recognize it. All you have to do is take me there.
- Adam Strange: Seg, you can't...
- Seg-El: 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?
- General Zod: Yes, and they will guard it with their lives. Because that is how powerful it is. Which is why we need it.
- Voice of Rao: Have you decided, Ona? Are you ready to give yourself over now, and join your mother?
- Ona: That's not what I've chosen. I want to serve you here.
- Voice of Rao: You are a surprising child.
- Ona: I'm sorry.
- Voice of Rao: One gets tired of always being right. I think I like surprises.
- [she gives him a tight hug]
- Voice of Rao: Perhaps it's time you saw who it is you've vowed to serve.
- Adam Strange: This sorry bastard has traveled back through time to get here. I don't know how, but it's not hard to see why. He's obviously working with Braniac to destroy Krypton.
- General Zod: Why would I destroy our world? I'm here to save Krypton.
- Adam Strange: Oh, so it's just a coincidence you're here the same time as Brainiac?
- General Zod: Of course not. History tells us this when that creature ripped Kandor City away from the planet and made it part of his collection. I'm here to prevent that tragedy.
- Seg-El: I'm confused, you're saying that Brainiac isn't from the future?
- General Zod: That's exactly what I'm saying. Brainiac didn't travel through time to launch his attack. This is what he's always done.
- Adam Strange: No, that... That can't be right.
- General Zod: 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.
- Seg-El: The planet explodes in 200 years? That, that, that's insane.
- Adam Strange: He's here to destroy Krypton, and make sure Superman is never born.
- General Zod: No Zod would ever destroy Krypton. It's our duty to defend our city, and our world.
- Lyta-Zod: Our duty, and...
- General Zod: Our proud privilege.
- Adam Strange: Oh, this is some grade-A, premium bullshit.
- Adam Strange: You guys can't be seriously by giving this whackjob a weapon of mass destruction. Seg. I'm sorry. Really, I am. I know I should have told you before, but what was I supposed to say? Hey, man, let's go get a drink. By the way your world's gonna explode. Why even lay that burden on you?
- Seg-El: Wouldn't you want to know?
- Adam Strange: All right. I didn't tell because it was hard. It's not a conversation anyone wants to have. Look, I don't, I don't know. Maybe Zod's lying. Maybe... Maybe I was wrong. All I knew that Superman's enemy was going back to change the timeline, which means your grandson would never be born.
- Seg-El: So you're telling me you didn't even hear the full story, but you came to me, so sure of yours...
- Adam Strange: I had to. I couldn't just stand around and do nothing if it meant no Superman.
- Lyta-Zod: Regardless of what you got wrong, Brainiac is still coming. We all can agree on that. We all want to stop him, so why don't we all work together?
- Adam Strange: Because, if the warning I recieved wasn't about Brainiac it must've been about Zod. And if we're to preserve the timeline, then we have to step back and let... Let Brainiac take Kandor.
- Adam Strange: That thing in there, they told me it's called Doomsday. Okay, I know that name. It's a soulless killing machine that can't be destroyed. Or controlled. Seg, if you let that thing loose, it will kill everything that it comes across.
- Raika: It's true. That's why we've given our lives to protecting the universe from Doomsday.
- Anireh: My people were here when they weapon arrived. The Els and the Zods, they thought that together, they were creating something great. But we've seen it. We understand the unending cloud of hatred they birthed.
- Ona: Born from the void of the universe, before time began, Almighty Rao, who kindled the sun and created all life, I submit to thee.
- Voice of Rao: What makes you think Rao created all life?
- Ona: 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.
- Voice of Rao: Or it could be considered a delusion. The sign of a species not given to clear thought.
- Ona: Is this a test?
- Voice of Rao: Yes.
- Ona: Do you think my faith isn't strong enough? What are you testing?
- Voice of Rao: Your worthiness. Your city's, your world's. Do you deserve eternal life?
- Ona: What happens to those who aren't worthy?
- Voice of Rao: I think you know the opposite of eternal life, Ona.
- Adam Strange: Don't listen to a god damn word this asshole says, Seg.
- Seg-El: You know him?
- Adam Strange: I know who he is. In my time, we all know who he is.
- [keeping his weapon trained on Zod as he stands up]
- Adam Strange: 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.
- General Zod: Come now, you're obviously not built for this. You're only resting that weapon on my chest to stop your hands from shaking.
- Adam Strange: Go on, say one more word. And you'll see exactly what I'm built for.
- Seg-El: You said you're here to stop Brainac, that you've studied him. Let's hear the plan.
- General Zod: 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.
- Lyta-Zod: Yet here you are. And we still haven't heard a plan yet, General.
- Adam Strange: That's because he doesn't have one. On account of he's full of shit.
- General Zod: 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.
- Seg-El: That's why your base is down here?
- General Zod: I've been searching these catacombs for months. With only one clue.
- [indicating his coat]
- General Zod: Inside pocket.
- Adam Strange: 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.
- Adam Strange: Seg, I'm sorry. Really, I am. I know I should have told you before, but what was I supposed to say? "Hey, man, let's go get a drink. By the way, your world's gonna explode." Why even lay that burden on you?
- Seg-El: Wouldn't you want to know?
- Adam Strange: All right. I didn't tell you because it was hard. It's not a conversation anyone wants to have. Look, I don't... I don't know. Maybe Zod's lying. Maybe... maybe I was wrong. All I knew was Superman's enemy was going back to change the timeline, which means that your grandson would never be born.
- Seg-El: So you're telling me you didn't even hear the full story, but you came to me, so sure of yours...
- Adam Strange: I had to! I couldn't just stand around and do nothing if it meant no Superman.
- Lyta-Zod: Regardless of what you got wrong, Brainiac is still coming. We can all agree on that. We all want to stop him, so why don't we work together?
- Adam Strange: Because if the warning I received wasn't about Brainiac, it must have been about Zod. And if we're to preserve the timeline, maybe we have to step back and let... let Brainac take Kandor.
- Voice of Rao: Why is faith important to you?
- Ona: It means that everything has a purpose. That the purpose is good. That I'll see my mother again one day. It's faith that leads us to the Blessed Place.
- Voice of Rao: Is that important to you, Little Sundrop?
- Ona: How did you know that my mother called me that?
- Voice of Rao: A few of the worthy, the special ones, I take into myself. I take their memories, skills, dreams. Everything that makes them what they are. Their template lives forever in me.
- Ona: A template, that's a soul?
- Voice of Rao: Your mother is here in me. You could join her. Together forever. Would you choose that?
- Ona: Sevi, why are you afraid? What's wrong?
- Voice of Rao: Sevi has nothing to be afraid of. She's answered her questions well, and been promised eternal life.
- Ona: Sevi, that's wonderful, isn't it?
- Sevi: Yes. I'm so happy.
- Voice of Rao: Your choice will determine your fate for eternity. Take time to consider it well.
- 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]
- Daron-Vex: 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.
- 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: 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.
- Dev-Em: Your Eminence, we're here to escort you to the ceremony.
- Voice of Rao: There will be a slight delay. In speaking with my protege, I realize I need more contact with the people of Kandor. I have much to learn, and to judge.
- Dev-Em: I don't understand, Your Eminence.
- Voice of Rao: The ceremony must be open to the public. I want the hall packed with citizens. Young, old, Guilded, Rankless. Turn no one away.
- Dev-Em: Your Eminence, I'm not sure we can get the people there in time.
- Voice of Rao: Then begin now.
- Lyta-Zod: Where did you get those? They're military-grade explosives.
- General Zod: Perks of using Black Zero.
- 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.
- General Zod: There has to be a way in. I know if we work together, we can find it.
- Seg-El: [noticing something] I think you might be more right than you realize. I can't believe I didn't see it before. Doesn't that symbol look familiar to you? It's the El and Zod sigils superimposed on each other. I think our famiies put this vault here. Raika... Raika said that because I'm an El, I have the power to destroy everything.
- General Zod: And the power to open the vault.