“Transformation” is episode seven of season one of Krypton.
In the previous episode, “Civil Wars”, a plan had been put in place to kill the Voice of Rao using an explosive device that would be blamed on Black Zero. However, the Voice – who is no longer the Voice – had been talking to Ona and, as a result, had decided to invite the public in to watch the final ceremony, the ceremony in which he was supposed to be assassinated – by himself. Dev, not being willing to watch the slaughter of innocents, anno9unced that there was a bomb, so everyone fled. Jayna-Zod and her Sagitari had ambushed the Voice but their weapons were useless. He removed his helmet revealed to them that he was now alien, and tentacles struck out from his arms, spearing the Sagitari in the head.
Lyta, Seg and General Zod had found the weapon that Zod had been searching for, and the blood of House El and House Zod opened the vault. Adam had told those guarding it what was happening, and they arrived as the door was opened – revealing that the weapon inside was Doomsday. Releasing Doomsday would have been a really, really bad idea. The three had fled, with Zod being shot in the process, and Adam had followed. Although Seg told him to get lost, not having forgiven Adam for omitting the bit about Krypton exploding from his story.
The episode opens with Jayna running away from the Voice, but no-one else manages to. The Voice, Brainiac’s servant, tells the impaled Sagitari that they have been given a precious gift, that they have been freed from their concerns and attachments. When his tentacles withdraw, something has been implanted in the forehead of each Sagitari. The Voice asks if they are ready to serve, to be the instruments of his will, and the Sagitari all kneel.
Daron-Vex is brought before the Voice; he was apparently outside the city in a skimmer. Daron promises to make Black Zero bleed; the Voice comments that it’s curious for the city’s chief magistrate to be absent during a coup attempt. Daron states that he was on a diplomatic mission, but the Voice says that he is lying – and that it’s easy to tell with his species. The Voice removes his helm and tells Daron that there is no Voice of Rao any longer, only the agent of Brainiac.
Lyta and Seg are back in the city and Zod is badly injured. Seg has a bad feeling, for there are a lot of patrols on the streets. He thinks something must have happened; being out of the city, they missed the coup attempt. Zod is injured badly enough that he needs a hospital, but he’s also a wanted terrorist. So that’s out.
Daron wants to know if Brainiac wants to destroy them, but he’s told that he is here to save them from entropy, preserved for all eternity. Daron says that they have the same goals and vision, and offers to serve Brainiac. First, there is a test – Daron must say who was behind the coup attempt. Brainiac wants to know why Daron wanted to overthrow the Voice. Daron replies that the Voice of Rao was an ignorant zealot who raised false hopes in a nonexistent god. After the Cataclysm, whatever it was (Doomsday?), worship of all gods but Rao was banned. When the Voice came to power, anyone who didn’t convert – which included Daron’s parents – who didn’t convert died or disappeared. Daron says that there is no point in believing in something that has no power. Brainiac tells Daron he has a use for him, and agrees that all involved in the coup – which includes Daron – must be executed. Daron also gives up his daughter, Nyssa. It seems he is the ultimate opportunistic coward who will betray anyone and anything to preserve himself. Daron says he will deal with Nyssa himself.
Seg and Lyta arrive at Kem’s, with Zod in tow, and Kem fills them in as to what has happened. Lyta is going to go and look for her mother whilst Seg is going to try to save Nyssa.
Adam, meanwhile, has returned to the Fortress and is drinking whilst watching Superman’s cape evaporate. Val appears and asks if he can help. Adam wants the device that brought him to Krypton repairing so that he can return home. Adam is having a bit of a crisis of faith at the moment. It probably doesn’t help that he and Seg have different aims – Seg wants to save Kandor and Krypton and Adam wants to save Superman. Which pretty much requires the theft of Kandor and the destruction of Krypton. Not ideal requirements for an alliance.