Before she was born her people the Phaelosians were been enslaved by tyrant of Warworld Mongul the elder. As a child she was one of many several children who listened to the stories of a Phaelosian elder Byla-Esh about Superman. Because his stories Thao-La became one many Phaelosians who idolized Superman who they believed would save them and the Phaelosians secretly wore his "mark" as a symbol of hope.
When Mongul's son and successor Mongul "He Who Holds All Chains" learned what the Phaelosians were doing, he tortured them by burning them with branding irons shaped like the S-shield. He told Thao-La he would spare her people in exchange for her going to Earth to lure Superman back to Warworld
Thao-La and a handful of others entered Earth's atmosphere in a ramshackle ship, pursued by Mongul's Warzoons. They were rescued by Superman and Superboy, who flew them to the Fortress of Solitude for emergency medical treatment. As the refugees spoke an ancient Kryptonian language called Falkiri and Thao-La had the House of El family sigil branded into her palms, the Superman Family suspected they may be Kryptonians. Supergirl and Lois Lane determined that they could not be Kryptonians who left Krypton shortly before the planet exploded, but Lois discovered an old book in Kandor's library which spoke about the Phaelosians.
Thao-La regained consciousness in the Fortress and realized her chains had been removed. She panicked and quickly put them back on, destroying Kelex when he tried to talk to her. Superman tried to convince her she was safe but she blasted him away with beams of energy from her eyes when he tried to take her chain. Terrified and confused over the powers she was developing under Earth's sun, she broke down and Lois comforted her.
Although Superboy and Batman both warned him that it was most likely a trap, Superman resolved to rescue the Phaelosians from Warworld.
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