My Adventures with Superman
Season 2 – Episode 6
Episode title: The Machine Who Would Be Empire
Original air date: June 22, 2024 (Adult Swim)
Plot: Kidnapped and far from home, Superman bonds with his cousin Kara; he discovers the truth about the last days of Krypton from the last Kryptonians in existence.
* * *
[gasps] What’s… what’s happening?
You… you kidnapped me?
Yes.
Someone had to extricate you from that backwater planet.
You’re welcome.
Am I in outer space? What’s going on?
Wait. Kal-El.
[grunts]
[grunts]
[shattering]
My name is Clark, and you can’t just hold people against their will.
Where do you keep the helmets on this thing?
[helmet whooshes]
[forcefield whooshing]
Where am I?
Where’s Earth?
Earth is not your home.
Krypton was your home.
And we are going to bring it back and build a glorious new empire… together.
[opening music playing]
[Supergirl] You know, this is not how I pictured our reunion going.
Oh, so sorry I’m not cooperating with my kidnapper.
Next time I’m knocked unconscious,
I’ll make sure to wake up in a cheerful mood just for you.
I’m going back to Earth.
Without coordinates, you will never find your way back.
KalEl, I promise you we will both return to Earth when we conquer it for the Empire.
I told you I’m not going to conquer Earth.
It’s just not happening.
Oh, KalEl. I think I understand.
Earth has made your brain weak.
All that soft living has made your brain bad and weak.
Look, wanting peace isn’t weak.
Father was worried something like this would happen.
But we can fix that.
Wait. Your father?
Your father survived?
There are… there are others besides us?
Who did you think I was bringing you to see?
I’ve spent my whole life helping Father reestablish the Empire for the good of the universe.
Please.
Let me show you.
[forcefield whooshing]
Okay.
Show me your Krypton.
A thoughtprojector.
It records and displays memories.
This one has files from the last days of Krypton.
[thoughtprojector chirps]
[thoughtprojector warbles]
What is this?
It’s us…
before the fall.
Krypton was the most advanced society in the universe.
The apex of science, art, everything.
The Empire brought less advanced planets into the fold, giving them the opportunity to become model Kryptonian citizens.
[chuckles softly] This is beautiful.
Isn’t it?
I mean… [clears throat]
This is what we’re trying to rebuild.
[chuckles softly]
They look like my parents back on Earth.
That’s Garden Citizen One and Two.
Oh, and this one?
That’s Food Citizen.
I often wonder what our food tasted like.
[gasps] Ooh, watch this.
[holograph chirping]
[thumps]
I used to do this all the time as a child.
When not training, of course.
Kara, these people… They’re, uh… they’re all gone.
I know that.
I know what it’s like to be lonely.
I’m not lonely, and I’m not alone.
You have returned.
Didn’t really have a choice, did I?
[sighs wearily]
Look, Krypton is gone.
But Earth,
I have a family and friends and a… Um, people.
I want to show you what I’m fighting for.
Will you let me?
[thoughtprojector chirps]
That’s Ma and Pa. They adopted me.
It wasn’t always easy, but they loved me.
And they made sure I knew it.
Okay.
Just how we practiced, son. Ready?
[groaning]
[straining] Sweet Martha Kent!
Okay, I’m all right, kiddo. It’s all right.
[sighs] That was great, Clark.
But I bet you can throw it even softer next time.
All right. Go again.
That’s my boy. Come on.
[Superman chuckles softly]
They taught me everything I know about love and family, about what matters.
[scoffing] KalEl, they taught you how to hide.
This was a lesson in how to stifle your true self.
What? No. It’s… it’s catch.
It’s sweet. My parents love me.
They diminished you.
They told you to conceal who you are.
Did anyone on that planet ever care for the real you?
[thoughtprojector warbles]
[thoughtprojector chirps]
That’s enough. We’re… we’re done here.
No, wait! Don’t look in there. Don’t!
Is this Jimmy?
You know Jimmy? My Jimmy?
When did you even meet him?
It’s reconnaissance of Jimmy Flamebird, the leader of your planet.
[snickering] The leader of what now?
[grunting] Don’t!
[laughs]
Give it back!
Okay.
Wait, wait, wait. Do you… Ow, ow!
Do you… do you like Jimmy?
What? No! What?
I don’t even know what that means.
Stop being all weird with your bad Earth brain.
[groans]
[laughs heartily]
Jimmy’s gonna lose it when he finds out an alien has a crush on him.
I will not crush him.
I will simply conquer his planet.
Now close the…
Oh, what’s this?
[sighs wearily]
More reconnaissance?
They’re from the planets I’ve been to.
Euphorix, H’lven… Thanagar.
Then why are you hiding them?
Father says my affinity for anything nonKryptonian is a weakness, that I should strive only to be a perfect Kryptonian warrior.
Okay, that’s what he wants.
But what do you want?
I want what is good for the Empire.
We brought these planets into the light of Krypton.
Why would you not want that for Earth?
What if you showed me one of these planets in your new Empire?
Not… not a projection.
The real thing.
Yes! I know exactly where to go.
Hold on.
[spaceship whooshes]
[Brainiac] Hmm.
Off course. Again.
Oh, Kara.
There will be no more delays.
[sighs wearily]
What’s wrong?
That’s a solid hydrogen state asteroid field.
Ship can’t maneuver around it.
We have to clear the way manually.
Oh, neat!
Not every day you get to do that. Uh…
Helmets, please.
[helmet whooshes]
[forcefield whooshing]
Yes, ship. Helmet.
[helmet whooshes]
Where should we start?
Kara?
[static noise]
[coughing, gasping]
Help.
[straining] Helmet…
Malfunction.
Kara. No! No!
Uh… What do I do? I don’t know what to do. I’m not an astronaut!
[laughing] Your face!
KalEl, we’re Kryptonian. We don’t need these.
It’s so easy to mess with your sad little Earthbrain.
[Superman] That’s not funny.
[Supergirl groans]
Kara?
Think fast!
[chuckles softly]
Really?
You’re quick.
But I’m faster.
Kara… [groans]
You don’t have to hide your powers with me.
Throw as hard as you can.
[groans softly, grunts]
[grunts, chuckles]
[groans, coughs]
[Superman laughs]
[exclaiming] Ah! Yes!
Much better.
This is… neat.
[chuckling] Yeah, it is.
It’s very neat.
Ha!
[groans]
[laughs heartily]
[coughing]
Okay. Pretty good, Kal-El.
[gasps]
Kara?
[yelling]
[breathing heavily]
[exhales]
You changed.
You did that on Earth too. How?
Whenever I’ve needed to protect someone I care about, I get stronger.
I always thought it was a Kryptonian thing.
[scoffing] No, you’re mistaken.
I am the defender of the new Kryptonian Empire.
If anyone should be able to get stronger when fighting, it should be me.
[low rumbling]
Finally, Thanagar.
The people of Thanagar have the ability to fly too. You’ll love it.
[wind howling]
No. How is this possible?
[gasps]
What happened here?
What?
[static crackles]
They will become model citizens of the…
[Superman] Kara!
Is this what you wanted to show me?
A dead planet?
This doesn’t make sense.
Thanagar is a thriving part of our Empire.
Is this what you do when you conquer a world?
Are… are all the planets in the new Kryptonian Empire like this?
No. I don’t understand.
They were cities, people when I was last…
When I was last here?
[screams echoing]
Kara? Hey, what’s going on?
Something’s wrong.
Kara, get back.
It’s all right.
They’re Father’s.
I have delayed us from Kandor too long.
What’s Kandor?
[heavy metallic footsteps]
Kal-El, kneel before Father.
Uh, why are we kneeling before Zor-El?
ZorEl?
Who is Zor-El?
ZorEl, my uncle. Your father.
My father is the light of the Empire.
The might of Krypton.
[creaking]
Primus Brainiac.
Kara, Kal-El. Welcome.
You’re a robot.
I am many things.
I was once the artificial intelligence that ran through every ship, computer, city, and defense system in the Empire.
Now I am the mind that controls this station.
All that is left of Krypton.
And I am the father of a wayward daughter.
Forgive me, Primus, but my detour was necessary.
As was going to Earth alone, despite my command that we arrive together.
I… Primus, I… I didn’t mean to…
[chuckles] We will work on your compliance.
But you found KalEl and brought him home to help us build the Empire anew.
You’ve done well, Kara.
As I told Kara, I’m not going to help…
Please, son of Jor-El.
Yes, I knew your father.
I worked with him on the council before the fall.
With Jor-El…
and your mother Lara.
My… my mother?
Her name was Lara.
I knew all in the house of El.
I assure you, the Empire I seek to create is not the one your father knew.
Go, child. We will speak later.
[sighs softly]
[Brainiac] Please.
Let me show you my Krypton.
[ominous music playing]
[lights clicking]
[growling]
Who are these people?
A means to measure your potential.
[groans]
[Brainiac] You are familiar with the Kryptonian mindscan, are you not?
Consciousness preserved in a holographic form.
[groans]
[groans]
[Brainiac] These scans are all that’s left of those who did not comply with the original Kryptonian Empire.
Their hatred and anguish is perfect for training our warriors.
This is… this is too cruel.
Cruel is a word created by the weak.
[yells]
[breathing heavily]
[groans]
[straining] Kara said you wanted to bring back the best of Krypton.
The technology, the scientific advancements.
How do you think we made those advancements?
War was the engine which fueled the Empire.
This was my Krypton.
It was you.
You destroyed Thanagar.
[laughs maniacally]
You really don’t understand anything, do you?
[grunts]
Luckily, I don’t need your mind.
I only need what your body can do.
[groans]
[yells]
Yes.
[grunts]
[yells]
[Brainiac] There it is.
You, Kal-El, are what I have been waiting for.
With you as our weapon, the Empire will rise again.
No! I am not a weapon!
[groans]
[Brainiac laughing maniacally]
[Superman breathing heavily]
[Brainiac] Did you think it would be that easy?
I will take what is rightfully mine
and rebuild the Kryptonian Empire.
Starting with your Earth.
No. No!
[Brainiac] Activate Red Sun Omega Field.
[groaning softly]
[groans]
Jor-El, your father, was weak, with ambitions so small they could be contained within a cradle.
But I dream of the Empire perfected.
You will make that happen.
I’m not going to help you.
I’m going to take Kara away from this place.
[Brainiac] Oh, I don’t need your cooperation.
[groaning]
I just need you to kneel.
[grunting]
Father… [gasps]
What’s going on.
[Brainiac] You went to Thanagar.
You disobeyed my orders for Earth.
You ran away from all your responsibilities.
Is this correct?
[sputtering] What? No! I mean, yes.
Or perhaps you wanted to disappoint all those who died clinging to the dream of Krypton, the home that only you and I can bring back.
Do those deaths mean nothing to you?
I gave you memories of our world and you throw them aside like so much dross.
You are a disappointment, Kara.
[sighs] What’s going on?
I need to know.
[Brainiac] No, you don’t.
But you will comply.
[Supergirl] I will comply.
[sinister music playing]
[groans]
Father? Kal-El?
Kal-El?
When did…
I don’t remember bringing you here.
Kara, you did so well, bringing your cousin Kal-El home.
Uh… I did?
Yes. I did.
Good. Very good.
You will be venerated by all.
[both] And all will become model citizens of the Empire.
What?
Are all the planets and the new Kryptonian Empire like this?
[gasps]
[Supergirl] Set coordinates for H’lven.
Set coordinates for Euphorix.
Set coordinates for Thanagar.
Show yourself!
Show me!
No.
[screaming echoes]
[screams echoing]
[Supergirl] No!
I couldn’t.
I don’t remember.
[sobbing]
Kal-El…
Clark…
What do I do now?
[portal chirping]
Jimmy Flamebird?
[gasps]
