Rao (comics) - Smallville

Rao is referenced in episode six of season 9 of the series Smallville. R.A.O. is a solar-energy company run by Zod as a front in order to harness the powers of the yellow sun.

The "Book of Rao" is first mentioned in the next episode (Kandor). While held captive by Tess Mercer, Jor-El states, "Our sacred book of Rao teaches that wherever there is light, there is darkness." Earlier, Jor-El is seen by Chloe Sullivan, through cameras secretly installed in the Kent farm, hiding a Kryptonian artifact. In subsequent episodes, this artifact is revealed to be the Book of Rao.

In episode 17 of season 9, Zod (of Kandor) tells Clark of "the red sun god Rao", in the Fortress of Solitude. He explains that on Krypton "religion is science" and that Jor-El left their bible, the Book of Rao, on Earth. Zod proclaims that he is after the knowledge in that book, having already gained the Kryptonian powers under the yellow sun from Clark's very blood.

In the final episode, it is revealed that the Book of Rao is in fact a key that will transport all Kryptonians on Earth to a "higher plane of existence", implied to be a form of Heaven, but not explained fully. Clark uses the key and transports all of Zod's soldiers away from Earth, but Zod avoids this with the use of a Blue Kryptonite dagger. In a final battle, Clark takes the dagger away, Zod reverts to his Kryptonian self and is taken with the rest of his soldiers. It is unknown what happens to the Book of Rao.

After the destruction of the RAO Solar Tower, it is more than likely the company went bankrupt.

Read more about this topic:  Rao (comics)