01x12 - Return to Zenn-La

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

[Silver Surfer]
The Kree and the Skrull!

Wherever they go...
violence inevitably follows.

What can be the reason
for their conflict here?

Greed? Territorial expansion?

Or is it that they know
no other way?

All I wished to do here
was nourish myself

after my own encounter
with the Kree.

Instead, am I forced
to witness this... inhumanity,

knowing that even if I could
stop this battle

there would simply be more.

Still must I try,
for only then can I preserve

the tranquil precepts
of lost Zenn-La.

[Man] Please...

A communication beam!

Not only does it not originate
with the combatants,

it is contacting both sides!

[male voice] Help...

Please...

An entire planet at the edge
of the solar system,

its energy sign showing
it is under attack!

To be rescued
by the Kree or the Skrull

may well be a worse fate
than whatever danger threatens.

So engrossed are the two Armadas
in their battle,

they are ignoring the plea.

I must do all I can to help.

For that, too,
is the way of Zenn-La.

Fractites,
inanimate forces of nature

still have they become
the scourge of seven galaxies,

draining the energy from any
source they encounter.

Now are they attempting to drain

not only this world,
but myself as well!

The Fractites are even more...
dangerous than I thought.

I feel myself weakening.

So numerous are my enemies,

can this call have been
an attempt to entrap me?

[male voice] Help us.

Do not despair!

[Infinity] Eternity!

Brother,
I have felt the first blow!

It has begun,
my dear sister, Infinity,

as we knew it would,

the end of the universe

and... of you and I.

We need our champion
at the ready.

Only he has a chance
of stopping the catastrophe.

We must trust that the
Silver Surfer will prevail.

My cosmic blasts have only
strengthened the Fractites.

Resisting them is futile.

I must follow the teachings
of the master

and give myself to them instead.

Brothers and sisters
of this planet,

whoever you may be,
you are safe now.

The Power Cosmic
of the Silver Surfer

was too much
for the Fractites to absorb.

[woman's voice] Silver Surfer,
is it really you...

Norrin Radd?

That voice!

It knows my name
and sounds so much like...

No, it cannot be.

My body has been weakened
by my exertions,

and my mind must have
been affected, as well.

[woman] Norrin Radd!

Please answer me.

Is that you?

Shalla-Bal?

This planet...

Now that the Fractites are gone,

it, indeed,
reminds me of Zenn-La.

It could well be a trap.

Yet, after all
I have experienced

on my search for my home,

dare I leave
any possibility unexplored?

These fields... so familiar...
Tranquil dwelling places

where predator and prey exist
side by side.

That sculpture...
like one I know so well.

Can this truly be Zenn-La?

The academy of the master

it has been restored.

Norrin Radd! Norrin Radd!

Shalla-Bal!

Oh, Norrin. It is really you!

It seems too good to be true.

Can I have found you at last?

You said you would return

and you have!

Mere moments ago,

it appeared the Fractites
would destroy us all,

and... and I would never
see you again.

And, now, here you are.

But how does Zenn-La come to be
at this point in space?

One day, an angry Galactus
appeared overhead.

He said you had
broken the compact

the two of you had made,

and, now, our world
was doomed to warp forever

from sun to sun.

So, we could never be together,
because you were

roaming the spaceways,
even as I.

But we are together
now, my love.

[Woman]
Oh, this is wonderful! Aw!

[man] Norrin Radd, welcome home!

[woman]
Once more have you saved us.

Norrin Radd, seeing you again

makes my segments
tremble with joy.

Had I such segments,
Borad, my friend,

- they would do the same.
- [laughing]

Norrin Radd!

Darwekk!
Are you here for good, then?

- I am home to stay.
- Aw!

[woodwind music]

Still is it difficult for me

to accept that I'm back
on Zenn-La.

Do you want to test
us, Norrin Radd

to make certain
we are who we seem?

I can tell you every moment
you and I have spent together

since we were 12
and met at the master's knee.

Tell me, what do all of you know

of the fate of the master?

It is common knowledge throughout
the universe that he left Zenn-La

so he might return
with greater truth

before our days
of wandering began.

Have you further news?

The master
will not be returning.

He... is no more.

Oh, master!

[woman] I know.
We loved him so much!

You bear sad tidings,
Norrin Radd.

All of us loved the master
very much.

Yet, out of tragedy
can come triumph.

Norrin Radd must be
the new master.

Was he not the chosen successor?

- All right!
- [crowd] Yay!

- Woo!
- [crowd cheering]

[crowd cheering] Norrin Radd!

Norrin Radd!

- Norrin Radd! Norrin Radd!
- The new master!

[crowd cheering] - Shalla-Bal,
I realize this is an honor.

But such unquestioning
acceptance of fate

- greatly disturbs me.
- [woman laughing]

I am reminded now of everything

that made me feel an outsider
in my own home.

Of course!

It was not Zenn-La's present
you admired,

but its past.

You wanted to live during a time

of adventure and conflict.

You, Norrin Radd.

You are not fit to lead us.

Darwekk! What has happened
to your tranquility?

Were you not my advocate
just moments ago?

But now, I have
come to my senses.

How can we reward
the one responsible

for Galactus casting
Zenn-La adrift?

[yelling]

[crashing]

The bad blood between you two
must be settled.

I demand my right
to trial by combat!

Have you gone mad?

It has been centuries since such
activities were condoned here.

You yourself have said
many times, Norrin, that

that the ancients were far wiser

than many have believed.

It is time
for their rituals to return!

Even were I to agree
to such a trial

as long as I possess
the Power Cosmic,

never could it be fair.

There is only one answer
to that, my beloved.

Come.

[footsteps]

Shalla-Bal, I want my home
world to be perfect

and to be part
of its perfection,

but I feel so confused.

For you to live your life
with us to the fullest,

you must once again
become the man you were

the Norrin Radd I so admired.

Here, can we make that occur.

You want me
to give up my power?!

What has this precious power
done for you, Norrin Radd?

No doubt, you have experienced

many wonderful things, but,

but how many
terrible ones as well?

You are right. No longer
do I need the Power Cosmic.

I shall prove myself worthy
of Zenn-La.

Let the combat begin!

You fight before I'm ready.

Yet, if you believe that gives you
an advantage, you are mistaken.

I have defeated foes
you cannot even imagine!

In your present state,
Norrin Radd,

you will find me more formidable
than Galactus or Thanos!

[screams]

- Uh!
- Argh!

[gasping and coughing]

[Norrin] What can be happening
in my world?

One moment,
we're a civilization of peace,

the next, we're adopting

the violent ways
of a millennium ago.

[grunts] Even I have been
swept away by the change

as I am now being taken
by the current of a river

I never knew existed before.

Norrin Radd!

Help me!

[grunts]

[gasps]

[gasps]

Thank you.

Your conduct proves
you are worthy

to be master after all.

Worthiness is the least
of my concerns just now.

Still must we
extricate ourselves.

Were the Power Cosmic
still mine,

all I would need to do
is call out.

No! Do not call!

To me, my board.

[grunts]

Norrin! Darwekk mirl!

You have survived!

Yes, but in a way
that is simply... not possible.

That board belongs
to the Silver Surfer,

not Norrin Radd.

Without the Power Cosmic,

it should never have
come to my aid.

The ways of a being like
Galactus are often unfathomable.

[Shalla-Bal] Yes! Another way

of fulfilling yourself
here on Zenn-La.

Yes. Shalla-Bal's right.

I know Zenn-La
and I know Shalla-Bal.

And I know all the
rest of you as well.

But it is as though you
and this whole world

are no longer yourselves,

but rather, what you believe
I would like you to be.

Shalla-Bal said Galactus
kept you always moving.

But I felt no trace

of the Power Cosmic
on this world.

And Darwekk Mirl spoke
of Thanos as my foe.

How would anyone marooned
on Zenn-La have known that?

[male voice] I have failed.

He knows!

What?

Am I once more
the Silver Surfer?

Or has this

always been the truth

and Norrin Radd but an illusion?

Is that why you did not wish me

to summon my board?

[screaming]

To me, my board.

[expl*si*n]

[Silver Surfer] Either this is
madness or the trap I feared.

No matter how much I desire it,

this is not Zenn-La.

And you are not my Shalla-Bal.

It is not madness, Norrin Radd.

But no, I am not Shalla-Bal,

but I could be.

And this could be your world,

if you would but let it.

I cannot

tempting though it is.

I have traveled
too long and too far

to find peace
in the arms of a fraud.

Oh, my beloved.

Your refusal has destroyed me.

Shalla-Bal!

No. She was not Shalla-Bal.

Still, to lose her

the pain is almost unbearable.

Only one being I know of

has the power to alter and mold

an entire planet like this.

Only one being can create
the semblance of life.

Deceiver! Show yourself!

[screams] Ego!

[Ego] Ah, Silver Surfer,

you have seen through me.

But in so doing,
you lose the peace

you could have had.

A false peace, Ego. A sham!

Why would you do such a thing
to one who has saved you

from Thanos himself?

I wanted only your
happiness, Silver Surfer.

To give you
what you most desire.

And you sought to do so
by violating my hopes?

My very dreams?

Again, Ego, why?

Know this, Silver Surfer,

that you speak
to the only being of my kind.

There is no race
of living planets.

I am a cosmic accident.

All-powerful within my sphere,

yet doomed to be forever

alone for millennium.

I have gone my own way,
evading every attack.

But when the Fractites
threatened,

their energy field prevented me
from transporting away.

In my desperation,
I sent out a call for help,

and when you came to my aid,

I remembered
the strength and nobility

that had impressed me
when we met before.

I realized
that to be truly safe,

I needed a defender

to stay with me for all time,

combining the information
I received

when Thanos entered your mind.

With other knowledge gleaned
on my travels,

I recreated myself in the image

of Zenn-La.

So you could make me
not a defender

but a... prisoner?

I will not remain with you, Ego.

Not for another moment,
let alone all time.

No, Silver Surfer,
you shall not leave.

I will force you to stay!

Ego!

Can you truly believe
that your powerful

fiery core will over-match me

who takes sustenance
from the very heart of a star?

[explosions]

[Silver Surfer] Ego?

Ironic, is it not,
Silver Surfer?

I have done my best.

But you...

Who I hoped would protect me...

Have caused
my destruction instead.

That was not my intention, Ego.

I desired only to be free.

What have I done?

Ego is not evil

merely misguided.

I must help the planet live

even if it means
we combat each other again.

[Ego] You have healed me,
Silver Surfer,

in spite of the fact
that I tried to imprison you.

I could do nothing else.

So... you have continued
as my protector after all.

There may come a time
when you need me to help you.

Rest assured... I will be there.

Until that time, go.

And may you find
the true Zenn-La.

My sister, how do you fare?

I am in pain, brother.

The fabric of space and time
is being twisted and warped.

Soon, it will tear.

We will survive, sister.

Do not give in to the
devastation which lies ahead.

Do not give in to the Chaos.

[Thanos] Lady Chaos!

For century upon century

you have mocked me.

Accepting my tribute
while refusing

to reveal yourself to one

who worships and adores you!

I say, " No more."

[sighs]

At last, all my efforts
have reached fruition.

By discovering a way to reverse

the flow of time itself,

I have designed a weapon
of total destruction.

Tell me, my cold one,

how can you fail to love me?

To take me within your embrace

after I cause

the ultimate chaos

all of creation to vanish?

[theme music playing]