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[Krypton, Rao Star System, 1981]
City of Kryptonopolis:
Kryptonopolis was once the jewel in the crown of the Kryptonian empire, home to the council of houses and the emperor. There resided the royal palace where the House of El, descendants of the empire's founder, ruled.
But now, under the crimson skies of the collapsing planet's sun, the city burned in flames. Colossal-sized ships were falling from the sky.
The majestic buildings, once symbols of Krypton's power and advanced technology, were now reduced to rubble. The gleaming towers, once imposing, leaned precariously, some already collapsed into piles of debris. The streets, once pulsating with vibrant Kryptonian life, lay deserted, covered in dust and fragments of twisted metal.
Explosions echoed in the distance, and the sound of collapsing structures mixed with the incessant crackling of flames consuming everything in their path. The air was heavy with smoke and ash, making it difficult to breathe for the few survivors who still fought desperately for their lives. The fallen ships created enormous craters, some still emitting steam and sparks as their energy systems failed.
Amid this devastation, solitary figures ran in search of shelter, their faces marked by despair and disbelief at the destruction of their homeland. The royal palace, once a bastion of security and power, lay in ruins, its golden walls now blackened with soot and partially collapsed.
The sound of evacuation alarms rang uselessly, a sad reminder that Krypton's greatness was coming to an end. And above all, Rao's sun cast a sinister red light over the planet.
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What was left of the royal palace, a dark skeleton of its former glory, was just rubble and the garden, protected by a shielding dome. In the midst of this devastation, a solitary figure walked through the desolate corridors. He held a nine-centimeter pendant, black with silver stripes.
The figure was Jor-El, the Emperor of Krypton. He appeared to be middle-aged, perhaps around forty-five, with marks of experience and wisdom on his face. His features were strong and resolute, a reflection of his leadership and determination. He wore a royal Kryptonian tactical suit, white and light gray, adorned with the House of El emblem on the chest, still intact despite the chaos around. The fabric of the suit was reinforced, designed for both combat and survival, enhancing his muscular and imposing figure.
Jor-El had a robust build, broad shoulders, and strong arms indicating years of rigorous physical training. His dark brown hair was cut short, but starting to show signs of gray at the temples. He had one eye of piercing blue, full of determination and sadness. The other eye, lost in a past battle, was covered by an advanced cybernetic implant emitting a soft blue light that complemented the color of his remaining eye.
As he walked through what remained of the palace, Jor-El reflected on the downfall of his world, his expression grave and focused.
Jor-El walked toward the garden, where he found his wife, Lara Lor-Van, holding something in her arms, wrapped in a large red cloth. In her arms was their son, a small, cute baby with deep blue eyes. Jor-El approached Lara, his gaze softening as he saw the child. He then looked at the only remaining escape pod.
The pod was a masterpiece of Kryptonian engineering, compact and elegant, made of resilient silver metal. It had an aerodynamic design with House of El inscriptions engraved on its sides. The pod was equipped with advanced life support systems and navigation technology to ensure the passenger's safety during the journey through the stars. A transparent dome on top allowed light to enter, providing a clear view of the outside.
Jor-El and Lara exchanged a resolute look. With care and tenderness, they placed the baby inside the pod. Jor-El adjusted the cloth around his son's small body to ensure he was comfortable and safe.
"Rak-Kara, my son... Kal-El," Jor-El said in a Kryptonian dialect, his voice filled with emotion and determination.
They activated the pod's systems, which began to glow with a soft blue light, indicating everything was functioning correctly.
With heavy hearts but resolved, Jor-El and Lara looked at their son one last time. Lara touched Kal-El's face, a tear running down her cheek. Jor-El closed the pod's dome, which emitted a subtle sealing sound. They then sent the pod off into the stars, watching as it ascended rapidly and disappeared into the sky.
Lara and Jor-El looked at each other one last time, sharing a moment of deep sorrow and love. They then turned their eyes to the sky, where two beams of purple energy struck the already collapsing sun, causing a cataclysmic explosion. The sky lit up with intense light, and waves of heat began to sweep everything around.
As flames and destruction approached, Jor-El and Lara looked at each other again. They embraced and kissed one last time, a kiss filled with love and farewell, as fire engulfed them, marking the end of an era and the beginning of new hope for their son among the stars.
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The situation in space around was chaotic and desolate. Krypton's collapsing sun was targeted by the powerful Celestial, Eson the Judge, who pointed his scepter and unleashed a devastating energy beam, triggering a colossal explosion that consumed the planet.
On the opposite side of Krypton, another capsule emerged, much larger than Kal-El's, adorned with a strange and intricate symbol. The symbol, intricately intertwined in geometric patterns, seemed to pulsate with a sinister energy, reminiscent of complex circuits.
Around them, several Kryptonian combat ships lay in pieces, scattered like wreckage from a recent battle. The debris floated slowly in the vacuum of space, silent witnesses to the unfolding tragedy.
Inside Kal-El's capsule, a serene and safe environment contrasted with the chaos outside. The ship's luminous panels emitted a soft blue light, indicating that the systems were operational.
Ahead of Kal-El, a holographic interface displayed an advanced navigation system.
The hyperdrive entry system of Kal-El's ship was complex and sophisticated. Small energy generators around the capsule began to hum, creating a distortion field around the ship. Beams of bluish light started to envelop the capsule, distorting the space around it as the ship prepared for the hyperspace jump.
Kal-El, still an innocent baby unaware of the magnitude of the events around him, slept peacefully inside the capsule, protected by the advanced technology of his ship.
As destiny took him away from Krypton and toward an uncertain future among the stars, chaos and destruction continued to consume what remained of his home planet.
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[Smallville , Kansas , USA , 03/05/1981]
Middle of the Road to Smallville:
Inside a pickup truck, Martha and Jonathan Kent were returning from a doctor's appointment in the nearby town. Martha looked out the window with a lost look, holding the results of a fertility test that showed a negative result. The heavy silence was interrupted only by the steady hum of the engine as the road stretched ahead.
Jonathan, beside her, tried to cheer her up with a half-sad smile.
Jonathan: "Martha, my love, we'll find a solution for this. We always find a way."
Martha, visibly emotional, sobbed as she continued to stare out the window.
Martha: "But why is this happening to us, Jonathan? Why can't we have a baby? Why can't we have a family?"
Her tear-filled eyes met his, seeking answers neither of them had.
Jonathan: "sigh Babies don't fall from the sky, as our parents used to say... but sometimes the universe sends us strange signs. Maybe we can try adoption?"
As Jonathan's words hung in the air, a sudden flash cut through the night sky. A comet passed very close to the truck, its bright tail briefly illuminating the dark landscape. Moments later, the comet crashed a few meters away, creating a dull thud and a cloud of dust.
Martha and Jonathan looked at each other, surprised by what they had just witnessed.
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Cast:
Stephen Lang: Jor-El
Lara Lor-Van: Jessica Chastain
Martha Kent: Laura Linney
Jonathan Kent:Dennis Quaid