- Daron-Vex: Well, Seg, this is impressive. You're early. Investiture Ceremony isn't for another hour.
- Seg-El: There's not gonna be a ceremony.
- Daron-Vex: [laughs] I'm sorry?
- Seg-El: You want me to be Ranked again? Join the Science Guild, Bind with your daughter, okay. Even if I never get to bear the sigil of my own house, I will not wear yours.
- [he draws a dagger, cuts the patch off his chest, and tosses it on the ground]
- Seg-El: I'd rather die Rankless.
- Seg-El: This better be something real, Earth man. I'm getting tired of being...
- [seeing a small, metallic ball on the table]
- Seg-El: What is that?
- Adam Strange: Not sure what you call it. Brainiac sends them out to any planet that he deems worthy of conquest as a forward scout. Brainiac isn't on his way. He's already here.
- Adam Strange: What is the matter with you?
- Seg-El: Look, I don't know what you expect of me, but I don't understand a thing about all this. My parents died before they could explain it to me.
- Adam Strange: Great, then we can figure this out together.
- Seg-El: I don't have time to argue this. I have to get back to Kandor.
- Adam Strange: Time? We don't have any. Brainiac is coming, and he ain't waiting for you to square away whatever it is you think needs doing. Now, I am talking about millions of lives, so get your head out of your ass and into the game.
- Seg-El: I don't care what a big deal you might be on the planet Detroit. This is Krypton. I gave you my answer.
- Adam Strange: Guess I had the wrong guy. And it's Earth.
- Seg-El: Sorry?
- Adam Strange: I'm a big deal on Earth, not planet Detroit.
- Seg-El: Well, I suggest you get on your beam and get back there. There's someone I need to deal with.
- Lyta-Zod: Commander? What is all this?
- Commander Quex-Ul: Mommy didn't tell you? New offensive. We're going down to the Rankless to smoke out Black Zero.
- Lyta-Zod: This looks like we're going to war.
- Commander Quex-Ul: Well, shit yeah, we're going to war.
- Lyta-Zod: The Rankless are not out enemy. Black Zero is.
- Commander Quex-Ul: Well, who can be bothered sorting out your actual terrorists from your regular, everyday, Rankless shitheads?
- Voice of Rao: You will wear the sigil of the Science Guild.
- Daron-Vex: Why, Your Eminence...
- Voice of Rao: Leave us now, Seg. May Rao's light forever guide your way.
- Seg-El: You, too.
- Daron-Vex: Please. Help me understand.
- Voice of Rao: You want to control him. This is how.
- Jayna-Zod: I hope it was worth it.
- Lyta-Zod: I tried talking to you.
- Jayna-Zod: I don't know why you're protecting Seg, but if you want to risk your life for him, so be it. But not even Rao will help you if you risk those of your squads. Lyta-Zod, I hereby appoint you Commander of Fourth Squad, Sagitari. You are obliged to bear true allegiance and faith to the Military Guild of Kandor City against all enemies, and to defend and support the Supreme Council in loyal service of His Reverence, the Voice of Rao. May Rao's grace be your shield. It only gets harder from here.
- Seg-El: [holding Superman's cape] Does this really belong to my grandson?
- Adam Strange: Yeah.
- Seg-El: Then why isn't he here? Why you?
- Adam Strange: Uh, he sent me in his place. Kind of a big deal where I'm from. Lot of reasons, but mainly because I can teleport across light-years using a little something called a Zeta Beam. I know. It's a cool name, huh? Came up with it myself. Only problem is, uh, one passenger per ride, me, and... it's a little temperamental. You don't believe me. How do you think I got to this fortress? Do you... You think that I power-walked across the ice to get here? Everythng that I am telling you is true. Trust me.
- Seg-El: Even if I did, it wouldn't make a difference. Can't help you.
- Daron-Vex: Well, Seg, this is impressive. You're early. Investiture Ceremony isn't for another hour.
- Seg-El: There's not gonna be a ceremony.
- Daron-Vex: I'm sorry?
- Seg-El: You want me to be Ranked again? Join the Science Guild, Bind with your daughter, okay. But even if I never get to bear the sigil of my own house, I will not wear yours. I'd rather did Rankless.
- Daron-Vex: Now, you listen to me. And you listen well, th...
- The Voice of Rao: This is acceptable. You will wear the sigil of the Science Guild. Leave us now, Seg. May Rao's light forever guide your way.