02x05 - The Karate Kid

[bunniefuu]

This is a highly
classified prototype.

We'll need level nine
security on this delivery.

Take him down!

It's a trap!

- Ah!
- Oh!

Uh, ooh, huh!

Do you always take things
that aren't yours?

Oh!

Ugh!

Cosmic Boy, Cham!

He's headed your way.

Stay here.
This exit is his only way out.

[intense music]

Uh!

Nowhere to run now, buddy.

Except maybe to that exit.

Oh!

[theme music]

[music continues]

If I didn't leave my post

Grimbor wouldn't have gotten
away with the prototype.

I'm sorry.

We made you
a primary on this mission

so you could prove yourself
in a leadership role.

The only thing you proved was
that you're not ready for one.

In all fairness, we didn't have
our usual manpower back there.

It's because this w*r with
Imperiex has thinned our ranks.

These are tough times.

Everyone's just gonna
have to pick up the slack.

We're overextended as it is.

I think we should
strongly consider...

No! Please, no anything but..

...Legion auditions.

[Superman]
Please, state your name
and superpower.

Well, the name's Calamity King.

I, uh, cause a little
bad luck wherever I go.

And how exactly does
this power manifest itself?

- Whoa!
- Uh!

Uh, huh.

Oh.

We'll get back to you.

Next.

The name's Nemesis Kid.

Look, unless you have
the power to make us

forget this day ever happened..

...go home. We're done.

Fine. I just thought I could
help you take down Grimbor.

Wait! You know Grimbor?

I've been tracking him
for some time as part

of the special unit
for the Science Police.

Now that you guys are
after him...I want in.

You may be a great cop..

...but you know you need
a superpower to join the Legion.

I have one.
I neutralize superpowers.

This I'd like to see.

If you insist.

Huh?

Nemesis Kid.

Welcome to the
Legion of Superheroes.

Okay, Nemesis Kid

what can you
tell us about Grimbor?

Grimbor is an expert
in locksmith techniques

and restraint technologies.

Lately, however, theft has
replaced trapping as his MO.

So we noticed.

And to help us find out why

Nemesis Kid will replace Cham
as a primary on this case.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!
That's not fair.

His history with Grimbor
simply makes him

more qualified for the job.

Congratulations.

Trial by fire, my friend.

[instrumental music]

Come on, Cham,
I have something

you can help me out with.

To the Legion of Superheroes

I make this solemn..

[Superman]
There it is.

Asteroid K-19.

Oh, I thought this
place was a myth.

Trust me, it's real.

[instrumental music]

[Chameleon]
And we're here because?

[Superman]
Because we're not done
looking for new recruits.

If there is someone tough
enough to be in the Legion

this is where we can find them.

[male #1]
Come on, kid, go home.

You have to let me fight.
I've trained years for this.

And for years we've
been kicking you out.

- Ugh!
- Now, b*at it, will ya?

For every obstacle,
there is a solution.

For every obstacle..

...there is a solution.

Aah, no!

Disqualification
by leaving the ring.

We have a winner!

[crowd cheering]

Who will be next
to take on the champ?

Instead of just
watching these guys

we should be getting
the intel first-hand

by fighting them ourselves!

But apparently,
you've already thought of that.

Let's do this.

It's fighting time!

[crowd cheering]

[instrumental music]

There are no other challengers.

Wait!

The Karate Kid challenges him.

[audience booing]

No way, kid.
You don't have to fight him.

He doesn't even
have superpowers.

Then it should
be a quick fight.

Let's see what you've got.

[instrumental music]

Huh!

[grunting]

Oo-oh! Ah!

Whoa!

[all cheering]

Ugh!

[grunts]

- Ah
- Whoa!

Disqualification
for leaving the ring.

Karate Kid is the winner!

[all cheering]

[indistinct chatter]

Karate Kid, welcome
to the Legion of Superheroes.

[audience cheering]

[Superman]
I'd like everyone
to meet our newest recruit.

Karate Kid.

Welcome aboard.

Nice to have you.

Thank you so much.

All my life, I've wanted
to be a part of something

bigger than myself.

I feel like
I finally found it.

That's great, Kid.
But don't keep us in suspense.

Tell us what
your superpower is.

Well, I don't actually
have any superpowers.

No powers, huh?

That's an interesting
way to go, Superman.

Look, we were all born
with or given our abilities.

His are the result of nothing
but hard work and determination.

Where I come from,
that means something.

Inspiring!

But this isn't the legion
of guys who try really hard.

There's a reason we don't
allow members without powers.

It's unsafe for them
to be put in the field.

Sorry, the best
we can do is find him

a support role on the ship.

Tough break!
You must be pretty bummed.

I was, but then
I just reminded myself.

There is a solution
for every obstacle.

Yeah, did you get that
from the motivational poster

in the break room?

I was born with nothing.

All I had to keep me going

was the dream
that there was some

greater destiny
out there for me.

Just the guy I was looking for.

Go light on the starch.

So laundry's part
of your greater destiny?

The universe sure works
in mysterious ways.

[intense music]

Uh.

[grunting]

[intense music]

This is security footage
from Grimbor's latest raid

on a hi-tech facility.

So far, Grimbor
has stolen a device

used to disrupt
electrical fields

another, which can control
cells on a molecular level.

And uses for
the rest are just as varied.

If there's a connection
between them

we're just not seeing it yet.

Yup, replacing me
with Nemesis Kid

has sure paid off.

Hang on a minute, Cham.

You need to see something.

Ah!

[Superman]
While you're here
complaining, this is how

Karate Kid responded
to his setback.

He's training,
learning, improving.

His powers might not be super.

But his attitude is.

His attitude is too perfect.

And guess what?
It's annoying.

[sighs]

For every obstacle,
there is a solution.

Oh, thank you for that.

Lacking a firm grasp
on reality, lad?

But in case you didn't
notice, you're dusting.

And I've been
given a late shift.

Obstacles, two.
Solutions, zero.

The way I see it,
today I am one step closer

than I was yesterday
to my greater destiny.

I guess I'm just frustrated

that I'm one step
further away from mine. Huh!

[siren blaring]

[beeping]

There's another
Grimbor robbery underway.

- And it's nearby.
- I will get the others.

Well, wait!
This might just be a solution.

[instrumental music]

Now, remember,
if we stop Grimbor

don't be surprised if you
end up with a flight ring.

[Chameleon]
There he is!

[grunts]

So, Cham, were you
planning on letting

the rest of us know about this?

Yeah, after I took
out Grimbor myself.

Oh! Aah!

[grunting]

Ugh!

Ha!

Uh! Aah!

[grunts]

[groans]

[grunting]

[grunts]

It's rigged to blow. Move!

Karate Kid!
He has no flight ring.

Tell me, Nemesis Kid,
what did we learn today?

Let's see, that Cham lacks the
judgment necessary

for leadership roles.

And Karate Kid doesn't
have the superpowers

needed to keep himself safe.

Your stint
with the Legion is over.

It's time you went home,
Karate Kid.

[Cosmic Boy]
Grimbor managed
to slip away again

but this time,
he left behind a clue.

We discovered a residue
of powdered xenethium

where he grabbed me.

There's only one facility
that mines xenethium.

It's on this Outer Venus Moon.

He's probably using it
as his home base.

When Grimbor shows up here

we'll have a little surprise
waiting for him.

Let's move.

Not you, Cham.
You're suspended.

Suspended?

It's official.

Cosmic Boy has it out for me.

A solution
in every obstacle? Ha!

You said it, brother.

I mean, you work hard
to prove yourself.

And the cruel hand of fate
snatches everything away.

Whoa! What happened
to being unreasonably positive?

It just seems like every time
I've ever gotten past

one obstacle,
a bigger one replaces it.

And the thing is..

...I am not like you guys.

I don't have
a superpower to help me.

But you do.
It's your determination.

And it's just
as good a power as flight

strength or heat vision.

Even as good as shape shifting?

You wish.

I'm showing no life forms.

But the xenethium radiation
could be blocking my readings.

We'll spread out over
the entire complex

and see if we can
track him down.

[intense music]

- It was good working with you.
- Same here.

I just wish we'd stopped
Grimbor's last theft.

Was it a theft?

Nothing was missing
from the scene.

You're right,
but why would Grimbor

att*ck and not take anything?

Maybe he was not there
to take something.

Maybe he was there
to leave something.

The xenethium dust
on Nemesis Kid's shirt.

Do you think
Grimbor planted it?

If he did, that would
mean he wanted us

to go down to that mine.

It's a trap!

We need to warn the others.

Can't get through,
the xenethium radiation

interference is too strong.

I'm about to get a reputation
for not following orders. Heh.

[rumbling]

Come on out, Grimbor.

You can't hide from this.

[dramatic music]

[growls]

Aah!

- My powers.
- What powers?

[grunts]

You won't win.

These traps are
an extension of my will.

I find everyone
eventually succumbs to them.

Oh, yeah?

Talk to the hand.

[screams]

[grunts]

[groans]

Aah!

[music continues]

[grunts]

[grunting]

- Nice toy.
- I thought you would like it.

After all, you were
the inspiration.

Aah!

[music continues]

- Uh!
- Look at you all.

Trapped like dogs!

The satisfaction
I get from this

is almost reward enough.

But that doesn't mean
I won't take

what Imperiex
has offered for you.

Yes, his forces are
on their way now.

[Chameleon]
Then it's too bad
we b*at them here.

Uh!

[grunts]

[grunting]

Haa-a-ha!

That w*apon will not take
away what makes me strong.

It won't need to.

[intense music]

[robot #1]
Submit to the will of Imperiex.

He needs our help.

We gotta get out of these traps.

Already tried. It's impossible.

Impossible?

For every obstacle,
there is a solution.

For every obstacle,
there is a solution.

And mine is d-double jointed.

[grunting]

[all grunting]

We were not done.

[grunts]

Hyah!

Aah!

[Grimbor screaming]

[expl*si*n]

It's great they're
letting you stay with us.

Yes, but I was also hoping
they'd be more

lenient on your suspension.

Well, I deserved it,
so I'll serve it.

Besides, it's just
a small setback, right?

An excuse to work
a little harder.

Hey, sorry but he doesn't
do laundry anymore.

I know. That's his laundry.

I thought I'd take care
of it for him.

Ready?

[instrumental music]

To the Legion Of Superheroes

I make this solemn pledge

to use my powers for good.

To fight for justice

and protect the innocent.

To aid my fellow Legionnaires

in times of peril.

And to keep their secrets safe.

I am...Karate Kid.

[theme music]