01x01 - The Origin of the Silver Surfer: Part 1

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

[male voice]
Behold the Universe!

Incredibly complex,
yet wonderfully simple.

It encompasses all creation

while racing
towards its ultimate end.

Within this maelstrom of growth
and destruction

blaze millions of galaxies,
billions of stars and planets.

This sector
of the universe alone

is home
to uncountable civilizations.

Sentient life so varied
that no one race

would ever have been able
to imagine the others.

Throughout the ages,
these civilizations

have encountered each other

time and time again

and have mingled
their cultures and beliefs.

Two societies, however,

the Kree, a race so old
that it is the basic stock

from which developed
all others

and the Skrull,
avaricious upstarts

who live only
to serve their hive mother,

have dedicated themselves

to the subjugation
of all others.

For countless eons,
they have battled each other

for supremacy
with neither side able

to gain a definitive advantage.

Now a new power
has entered this sector.

A power so great,

that it makes everything else

in the universe pale.

Galactus.

An immutable force

as old as time

Galactus possesses incalculable
knowledge and strength.

Like a shark gliding
through an intergalactic sea,

Galactus uses his knowledge
for only one thing.

To find planets whose cores
contain the nutrients

that will enable
him to survive.

So great are his needs

that he cares not
for any consequence

save his own nourishment.

And after he has fed,
shark that he is,

all Galactus can do

is move on.

I am the Watcher.

It is my task to note
all events of significance

in this part of the Cosmos.

Only to note them
and never interfere.

This task
brings me great joy...

and great sorrow.

Norrin Radd.

I knew I would
find you here.

Think of the courage
our ancestors had, Shalla
Bal...

to leave Zenn-La

and soar out
into the unknown.

But we have had no need
for space travel

since the enlightenment.

We know that the path
to peace and harmony

lies within our own souls.

Beings
from all over the universe

come here
to learn our ways.

And yet, never have I felt

either peace or harmony
within me.

Instead, I am driven by dreams
of other places.

But your place is here.

There are even
those who say

that you will be
the next master.

How can I become master
of Zenn-La, Shalla Bal

when I cannot even
be master over myself?

I believe in you, my love.

Whatever happens,
I will be at your side.

[Norrin] The Kree
a-and the Skrull!

Never before have their
soldiers come to Zenn-La.
What can this mean?

Allow me to present
our newest students.

Captain Kalek
of the Kree Empire

And Commander Husserl
of the Skrull Confederation.

My crew and I are honored

to be accepted
in your academy, Master.

My crew and I are more honored

especially since
we were accepted first.

There is neither

first nor last on Zenn-La.

Defying your leaders,

you have bravely chosen
to come to us in peace

and take the first step
towards stopping the strife

between your cultures.

If these are the peaceful ones,

I would hate to see the warlike
members of their kind.

Norrin Radd,

would you demonstrate
the true importance

of weapons here on Zenn-La?

You will find our world
unlike any to which

you have ever been.

Oh?

Perhaps someday you can tell me

about all your travels.

[The Watcher]
People of Zenn-La!

[crowd shouting]

By the Sacred Crystal!

I have seen him before.

[Kalek]
At the m*ssacre

of the Horseshoe Nebula.

Yes, my nest brother
perished there.

It was a dark day
for both sides.

I sensed your presence,
Watcher.

You are in pain.

Master of Zenn-La,
by speaking to you

I am breaking
my most sacred vow.

For millennia,
the teachings of Zenn-La

have been a beacon
of light and sanity

in a universe
darkened by chaos and strife.

Now, in the hope
that this light

shall not be extinguished

I bring you
the most dire of warnings.

Know, all of you,

that the being
called Galactus is approaching.

I thought Galactus a myth.

And I hoped him one.

Master, what will we do?

We are listening, Watcher.

Galactus comes
with a single purpose.

To feed on your world.

He himself
is neither good nor evil.

Whether or not you survive

is of no significance to him.

You, on Zenn-La

have the power to reach

into the hearts and minds
of others.

Your ways have changed

the destinies of
whole galaxies.

Now, you must change
your own.

[cries of distress]

-Oh, no!
-Galactus has arrived.

Is this
the end of Zenn-La?

Quickly! We must begin
the ceremony of outreaching.

These are most
unusual circumstances

for learning about peace.

[crowd screaming]

Mighty Galactus,

hear my words.

For countless centuries,
Zenn-La has taught

the civilizations
of the universe

harmony, balance and peace.

We ask nothing
for ourselves.

But you must know
that if you destroy us,

you condemn
the entire universe as well.

[moaning]

Master!

Over here.

Norrin! Norrin Radd!

[groans]

I must try again.

Flee while you still
have your ships.

Take my disciples
with you.

Master, we cannot leave you.

We allbelong to Zenn-La.

If I fail, it will be your task
to spread our message.

Norrin Radd, I know
you have always wanted to go.

But not like this, Master.

Not like this!

[cries out]

[moans]

It would seem that our destiny

is to fight after all.

Wewill blast Galactus
out of the sky!

My crew and I will strike
the fateful blow.

[Norrin] Unbelievable.

The Kree and the Skrull
side by side.

I pray it will
not always take

the destruction of a planet

to bring them together.

[panting]

[yelling]

[grunting]

What manner of being can create
so huge a vessel?

Captain, this doesn't
have to be ourfight.

If Galactus isn't stopped now,

we will surely waken one day

to find him
feeding on our nest.

Husserl,
you know what to do.

May you bring honor
to the Skrull mother.

And may you bring victory
to the Kree Supremor.

[Radd]
Shalla Bal, did you sense that?

Two great forces
have been extinguished.

I fear it is
the end of Zenn-La.

Let us prepare.

No! The beauty,

the- the meaning of our world
must not be lost.

Zenn-La cannot
bring peace to the universe

if there isno Zenn-La.

We cannot give up!

We will not!

Watcher!

If this world
means so much to you,

show yourself!

I know you are there!

I feel great pity and sorrow
for you all.

Pity? Sorrow?

You dare?

What kind of monster areyou

to- to claim sorrow but refuse
to help those in need?

You have already
broken your vow.

Now, you who have witnessed
the depredations of Galactus

for eons must tell us more.

You willtell us more!

For what purpose?

Galactus cannot be swayed.

You must know something
we can use to save our world.

Tell me his secret

Now!

Galactus,

I am Norrin Radd
of the planet Zenn-La.

I am not here to beg
nor ask for your mercy.

Instead,
I come to make you an offer.

I can help you.

I can give you
the one thing

that even
the great Galactus needs.

[laughs]

Galactus!

Are you listening to me?

[groans]

Your presumptuousness amuses
me, Norrin Radd of Zenn-La.

You have
set yourself a lofty goal.

How could one
such as you help one such as I?

I, who need nothing,
who desire nothing?

Great Galactus, do you not
desire to... survive?

[laughing]

The tiny mite
grows even bolder.

Tell me--

what is it Galactus
needs to survive?

Planets.
An endless supply

of planets to consume.

Your constant search
depletes you,

and that day is coming
when you will not find

your next meal in time.

It need not be so.

Spare Zenn-La

and I will serve you

as a net
serves a fisherman.

Cast me out
into the sea of space

and I will find
the new worlds you need.

I am Galactus.

My power is limitless.

In all the universe,
there is nothing I cannot do.

[sighing]

[wearily] Yet I grow so weary
of the endless search.

You have saved us,
Norrin Radd

But the price!

It must be paid.

And only I, of all those
on this world, can pay it.

But... how can anyone
of Zenn-La serve Galactus?

It is against all we stand for.

I knowwhat we stand for.

Then-then
how can you help him

destroy thousands of worlds?

You do not understand.

I will guide him
only to planets

whose cores burst with energy

yet which have
no intelligent life.

I will save
countless civilizations.

This is the true
philosophy of Zenn-La.

This is what you have
longed for all your life.

It truly isyour chance
to explore the stars.

Use it well, my love.

Use it wisely.

[Galactus] I am waiting.

Just another moment, please.

It is time.

I love you.

Galactus, take me with him!

Take me with him!

I will never forget you,
Shalla Bal.

Norrin!

To perform your task

as my herald, Norrin Radd,

you must become
far more than merely a man.

I bestow
upon you a portion

of my own power, Cosmic.

You shall absorb
boundless strength

from the Cosmos itself.

Needing no food to eat

no water to drink

no air to breathe.

You shall be able to transmute

-the elements...
-[groaning]

And to heal others

as well as yourself.

Cosmic bolts
of awesome power

shall be yours to hurl

and neither the frigid cold
of the deepest space

nor the blazing heat
of the brightest star

shall harm your shielded body.

[grunting in pain]

[sighing]

Most importantly,
I shall give you

the means to travel faster

than the fastest starship

so you may soar
to the ends

of the universe

and beyond.

Norrin Radd exists no more.

You are newborn, my herald.

Even your mind is a new page

on which I shall write.

Arise!

Master...

I am ready to serve.

Then go, my Silver Surfer.

The spaceways beckon

and the great hunger
is upon me once more.

To me, my board.

[The Watcher]
Behold the universe--

Incredibly complex,
yet wonderfully simple.

Tragedy becomes triumph

and triumph turns tragic
once more.

What of this planet, master?

[Galactus]
I gave a promise once

to an honorable man.

that planet is not
for such as we.

[The Watcher] Once on a planet
of wisdom known as Zenn-La

there lived a man
of nobility and courage.

Now, a new being
lives in his stead.

Behold the Silver Surfer.