House of Cards

Season 2, Episode 3

> Batman: "Rule number four, always have a dramatic exit."
>
>

> Robin: "That seems unnecessary."
>
>

> Batman: "So are you."
>
>

## Description

"House of Cards” is the third episode of the second season of *Young Justice Abridged*. It was uploaded to YouTube on March 1st, 2017. The first part can be watched here.

## Plot

In the final Presidential debate, Superman and Lex Luthor face off before the election. Jade Nguyen is desperate to help her ex-husband Roy out of his depression and begs her father for the location of something. Meanwhile, Kaldur prepares to begin experiencing flash-forwards due to his exposure to the Helmet of Fate, which has already revealed a dark future ahead of him where he kills Artemis. The first of his mind jumps reveals the membership of the Light, which Kaldur relays to Batman, much to the hero's admiration.

In Gotham City, the Dark Knight reveals his new Robin to Commissioner Gordon, who informs the pair of Kirk Langstrom's disappearance. Batman violently interrogates Killer Croc for information on the kidnapper, who points the hero to Deathstroke. Meanwhile, Kaldur arrives in Atlantis for a vacation home. He visits his old friends Garth and Tula, who are struggling to improve their singing ability for the concert that night. At the Atlantean science lab, Orm studies a new form of alien that was discovered at the bottom of the sea. Black Manta watches from afar, preparing to steal the alien. In Central City, Starfire and Martian Manhunter offer their home planets as sanctuaries for refugees wishing to flee the planet in the event of a Superman victory.

Deathstroke contacts Vandal Savage, wishing to take Ra's' seat on the Light, but is interrupted when Talia al Ghul attacks his base with her men. She is captured. Nearby, Red Arrow and Cheshire prepare to break into the facility, with Jade promising her ex a special surprise. Back in Atlantis, the concert begins with a performance from John the Lobster. Kaldur flashes forward to 2016 again, where he learns that both he and a secretly-alive Artemis are undercover in Black Manta's organization. He destroys Mount Justice. Back in 2011, Batman and Robin hunt down Kirk Langstrom, who has been forced to create a Man-Bat army for Deathstroke, who is holding the scientist's family hostage. At his mountain facility, the one-eyed mercenary interrogates Talia al Ghul and is able to learn the location of a Lazarus Pit just from her breasts, the location being an oil rig off the coast of England.

Garth and Tula embarrass themselves at the concert, but Kaldur and Arthur manage to salvage things with their singing talent. Mera and Arthur announce they are expecting a child. As the event reaches its climax, Black Manta prepares to attack the city and steal the alien starfish from the lab. Orm, a member of the Light, struggles with the impending crisis as he no longer desires to betray his brother. Arthur leaves for the Watchtower to witness the results of the election, and confirms that Black Manta is Kaldur's father. As soon as the king departs, the attack begins, with Orm protecting Mera and admitting his involvement. He reveals the plan to steal the alien and sends Kaldur and Garth to stop Manta. The starfish is blown up in the conflict, but Orm managed to recover a piece. In the future, Black Manta and Sportsmaster fight over an injured Aqualad, who is still believed to have murdered Artemis. Kaldur eventually reveals his true allegiances and bests his father.

In the Himalayas, Batman and Robin infiltrate Deathstroke's facility and bond over their shared trauma. They find Francine and Rebecca Langstrom, the latter of which gives Damian a video from Deathstroke, where the villain challenges the boy to come save his mother. Red Arrow and Cheshire break into Nanda Parbat, where Jade shows off her surprise: the real Roy Harper, revealing that Red Arrow is a clone. Back in Atlantis, Arthur commends Orm for siding with his family, with Mera finally forgiving the former villain. He gives Kaldur the piece of the alien to give to scientists on the surface world. The Light officially replaces Orm with Black Manta.

After an extremely close race, Superman is elected the President of the United States, spelling doom for the world. Batman launches into a rage.

## Cast

* Sehanort as Kaldur'ahm/Aqualad
	+ Mr.PhaeThorn as Kaldur's singing voice
* LordJazor as G. Gordon Godfrey, Bruce Wayne/Batman, Lex Luthor, Alfred Pennyworth, Lawrence Crock/Sportsmaster, Vandal Savage, Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, Orm, and John the Lobster
* Starbeastrave as Clark Kent/Superman, Garth, and The Brain
* Malcolm X-Ray as David Hyde/Black Manta and Kirk Langstrom
* TallestSilver as Cat Grant, Damian Wayne/Robin, Mera, Koriand'r/Starfire, Talia al Ghul, and Artemis Crock
* DemonGroceryStore as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, La'gaan/Lagoon Boy, J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter, and Cameron Mahkent/Icicle Jr.
	+ JorporXx as Arthur's singing voice
* Frank Todaro as James Gordon, Waylon Jones/Killer Croc, and Roy Harper/Red Arrow
* Milkpiece as Jade Nguyen/Cheshire, Tula, and Rebecca Langstrom
* Alejandro Saab as Wally West/Kid Flash
* Leik777 as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow and Vulko

Additionally, Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Lian Nguyen-Harper, Ra's al Ghul, Queen Bee, Klarion, Tuppence Terror, Garfield Logan/Beast Boy, Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle, Bart Allen/Impulse, Tommy Terror, M'gann M'orzz/Miss Martian, Francine Langstrom, the real Roy Harper, Nathaniel Adams/Captain Atom, John Stewart/Green Lantern, and Adam Strange all appear in a non-speaking capacity. Barbara Gordon is also mentioned.

## Trivia

* Election years are one year off on Earth-16A, so our 2012 election happens in 2011.
* James Gordon mentions his daughter Barbara is dating "that no-good Wayne boy". However, it's unknown which character it is. Traditionally, her most prominent relationship in the comics is with Dick Grayson, but he's already shown to be in a serious relationship with Starfire by this point. It can't be Jason because he's dead; it can't be Tim because he's still dating Avi at this point and then goes right into a relationship with Zatanna; it obviously can't be Damian because he's ten and just arrived in Gotham. The most likely answer to this query is that Barbara had a serious relationship with Dick, but on Earth-16A it just didn't pan out.
* This is the only episode where Tim Drake and Superboy do not appear in any capacity.