[Jefferson] Previously on Black Lightning...
[Gambi] Tobias just unleashed a different kind of meta on Freeland
for some kind of demonstration.
I think he's created a mercenary army.
There were four of them.
They called themselves the Masters of Disaster.
[Tobias] How are they?
[Dr. Jace] They're actually better than they've ever been before.
Good. How long until they can be awakened and join the prison metas?
It's done. What's next?
Freeland, huh?
[Agent Odell] Every meta-human in Freeland is in danger.
Wendy could prove to be more revolutionary
than the tank or the machine gun.
There's nothing but pain for me in this life.
And who do you blame for that?
Tobias Whale.
Where Tobias goes,
heartache is sure to follow.
Then maybe he's better off dead.
[Jennifer] I'm gonna make him pay.
I'm gonna put Tobias Whale in the ground.
[Gambi] It's Jen. She's here...
She's wearing the suit. It's not ready.
[grunts]
[Lightning] I will find you.
[screaming]
Don't shoot. Please, man, it's cool. It's cool.
It don't look cool.
Just tell me one thing. Are you with Tobias Whale?
Definitely not with Tobias Whale.
-Jen. -[Lightning whimpering]
Jennifer, it's your Uncle Gambi. I'm here.
People, Jennifer has a critical situation. Lock in on my location.
[Black Lightning over radio] On my way.
[Thunder] I'm coming.
It's okay. It's gonna be okay, sweetheart. You hear me, Jen?
Go to your safe space.
[Gambi screams]
[Perenna] You have to get out of here. Hurry.
What about you?
I'm not really here, just a manifestation of your mind,
and you can't be here either.
Get out of yourself, now.
How?
The answer is already--
Is already inside of me. I know that.
I'm literally dying here.
All right. Bat your eyelashes and curl your toes.
How is that gonna help?
Flexing your power is as simple
as finding the right muscle and flexing it.
So feel it. Flex it. Pull it in.
And get the hell out of here!
[Gambi screaming]
[device beeping rapidly]
[Lightning] Uncle Gambi?
Uncle Gambi?
Uncle Gambi, wake up. Wake up.
Uncle Gambi, wake up.
Â¶ Last night I saw a superhero He was black Â¶
Â¶ He said "This is for the street Black Lightning's back" Â¶
[Black Lightning] Jennifer.
What happened? Are you okay?
He tried to help me, but I think he's dead.
[Black Lightning] No, no. I can see he still has a pulse.
Lynn, I found Gambi unconscious with radiation burns.
Oh, my God. He needs a doctor.
That would raise a lot of questions.
No, he's not that bad. I'll give him a shot for the pain.
-Are you sure? -Positive.
Okay. Put Gambi in the van. You go with 'em.
-Tell the van to take you to the sanctum. -Okay.
Make sure they get there. Make sure she stays there.
I'll take care of Gambi, but what about you?
Tobias bugged out. I wanna check it out
and see if he left any evidence behind that'll stick.
-Go. -[Thunder] All right.
I'll hit you when we get there. Come on. All right.
Yeah, I don't give a damn who the hell it was.
Running me out of my own building because a dead man is comin'.
I don't run from dead men, I make 'em.
You need to shut up or thank me. One or the other.
You gotta have a plan when you deal with a meta-human or an enhanced.
[Cutter sighs]
[Tobias] Maybe you're right.
I've killed Black Lightning and I've had him killed,
but that bastard keeps comin' back to cost me.
He cost me Joey Toledo, he cost me Syonide,
-now he wants to cost me this city. -[cell phone chimes]
District Attorney just announced...
no charges for the cops that shot that Cape Guy.
-It's typical. -Hmm.
This boy's death is an opportunity.
The community could really explode over this
like LA did in the '90s.
All it needs is a little push.
The whole city will be on its knees.
While we send metas to reclaim the pods.
Yeah, and Black Lightning is sure to show up.
But I'm done with him takin' from me.
This time, I'm gonna take his powers from him.
I'm positive he generates his power from the city's power grid.
Send Coldsnap to freeze the main generator until there's complete darkness.
Then I'm takin' his life for good.
-[Lightning grunts] -[objects clattering]
-[Gambi groans] -Dad, we're in.
[Black Lightning] Good. Stay put.
Will do.
Damn.
I thought the Markovians had you.
-Lynn. -Yes, Jeff?
You are not gonna believe what I just found.
I have your GPS. I'm on my way.
You think he's gonna be okay?
Shoot.
I wouldn't be surprised if he told us he was Batman.
He'll be fine, all right?
You know, this is another one I owe Tobias for.
Look, you're right, baby sis, but I need you to calm down, all right?
No, I'm fine. I'm...
Seeing him out of the blue like that kind of caught me off guard.
But it's cool. I'm not gonna blow us up.
Good, 'cause I got stuff to do.
Yeah, I know, Harriet.
Or should I say Blackbird?
Well, I kind of like Blackbird. She cool, right?
You're such an overachiever.
It's not enough you're in medical school, you gotta be two superheroes.
Or maybe just one now, 'cause of Dad's code.
Nah, Blackbird is needed.
But I will start planning better
and stop lone-wolfing it.
-You know, I can roll with you. -[Gambi gasping]
Anissa.
Oh, he's burning up.
-Look, I'm gonna give him some ibuprofen. -Wait--
I need you to get some ice bags out the freezer.
We gotta get his temperature down.
-Quick, all right? -[Jennifer] Okay.
All right, stay with me, Uncle Gambi.
[laughs] Don't you worry. I'll handle my business.
You just don't know how to play chess.
Never did. I know what I'm doing.
What?
I set off violence in strategic spots across the city.
Handpicked members of the One Hundred
are snatching motorists out of cars and setting stores on fire.
And non-One Hundred members are joining in.
Of course they are.
[Tobias laughing]
You know that's true. Ignorant, weak-ass fools.
Baby, maybe you need to get some sleep. I mean, you've been up for--
Don't you worry about my sleep.
You just make sure you pullin' Black Lightning's teeth
like I told you to.
[Lynn] No!
-[grunts] -[Black Lightning] Hey!
-[Lynn screams] -[both grunting]
[screaming]
Hey! Lynn-- [clears throat]
Bitch!
[Dr. Jace groaning]
I think you got her.
[panting]
[chuckles]
Oh, you have a funny bedside manner.
You're in no position to make jokes.
[Dr. Jace] This is true.
But you must understand, you cannot turn me over to the ASA.
Agent Odell will realize I helped Tobias, and he won't be forgiving.
You just tried to John Wilkes Booth me. Why do you think I care?
I have information that's valuable to you.
We're not playing that game.
Oh, you don't want to hear about more homicidal meta-humans
about to be turned loose on Freeland?
What do you want?
Police protection.
I much prefer the law-bound criminal justice system
to the national security ruthlessness of the ASA.
I'll see what I can do.
I assumed as much...
given the fact that there's no Black Lightning task force formed
to bring you to justice.
You have a connect. High level, I gather.
[Lynn] Stop showing off. Stop it!
Black Lightning, don't trust this woman.
Not until she tells us what she's got.
Well?
You're gonna want to write this down.
[car engine starting]
[Agent Odell] Dr. Stewart.
What the hell?
[Agent Odell] It looks like your anonymous caller has struck again
and led you to the pod kids.
How are they?
I haven't checked them all yet. The ones I have are stable.
Good. I'm gonna get 'em out of here
before the Markovians take advantage of the chaos outside.
No, that will destabilize them.
Better that than stable in Markovian hands.
Get special teams in here.
[reporter] Authorities are now advising residents of Freeland
to stay in their homes
as the riots surrounding the fatal shooting of Cape Guy
continue to evoke chaos in the city.
All right, his vitals are getting stronger.
Thank God.
People wildin' out in these streets.
Yo, that's 'cause they pissed off,
and they got every right to be.
Yeah, but what is tearing up your own community gonna do?
Look. This dude is running down the street with a TV.
How the hell is that helping anything?
That fool, he just wanna get a TV.
He ain't trying to create change.
But the majority of the people out there,
they're trying to get the attention of the powers that be.
[sirens wailing]
Freeland just went dark.
[Anissa] I know. We just saw that.
That's Gambi's backup power.
Yo, a power outage?
You think they're getting crazy now?
They about to be acting even more crazy.
[Anissa] Hey, yo, Dad tripping. Got me in here cooped up.
This is killing me.
I gotta get out there.
And do what, exactly?
I don't know, Jen. But, look, I gotta do something.
To who? These are regular people.
And on top of that, what about Uncle Gambi?
Least of your worries.
-[Jennifer] Hey. -[groans]
[Jennifer] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
All right. Are you okay?
Me? What about the whole "look before you leap" thing?
Why would you get so close to me
when I've got energy flying all over the place?
Because you're my family.
Now let's go check on your dad.
Jeff?
Jeff, do you read me?
Oh, it's good to hear your voice, old man.
-[sighs] -You all right?
I've had worse. Jeff, you gotta come in.
No, I can't. I have to get back to Lynn at Tobias's warehouse.
The pods are there. If I know Tobias, he's gonna want 'em back.
Just tell Lynn to get out of there.
Jeff, you're almost out of juice.
Without an energy supply, you're gonna go down soon.
Jeff?
-Jeff? -[comm beeps]
-He cut the comm link. -I'm out.
-Hold up. I'm comin' with. -Jen, no.
Wait... Wait! What are you doing?
I need to get the lights back on so your father can power up.
Okay, I'm coming with you.
-We need you to stay here. -No, I'm not staying here.
-You will if you're smart. -I'm not smart, then.
-Jennifer, trust me. -No, you need to trust me.
I can do this. The suit's done.
The suit only stops an outside source from overloading you.
It is up to you to keep a lid on your emotions.
I understand that. I can.
You've had no tactical training.
Tell me what you need me to do, and I'll do it. I promise.
Or you can walk out, and I'll just follow you anyway.
All right. Remember that promise.
Let's go.
[gunfire]
[officer] Stop!
[grunting]
Dr. Jace.
Line-of-sight teleportation. Interesting.
You're wanted in Markovia.
You're a bounty hunter.
[officer 2] We're moving in.
Whatever they're paying you, I can get you more. Double.
Yeah, I don't renegotiate.
-Check him. -No pulse.
Move in. Go, go!
All clear.
[officer 3] We've got nothing, sir.
[officer 4] They're gone.
[sighs]
-[chuckles] -[indistinct shouting]
[sniffs] Can you smell it?
The city's burning, Tori. It's burning down.
-[shouting continues] -[sirens wailing]
Nobody's gonna take a damn thing from us anymore.
And when I rebuild this city, it'll be just the way we always wanted it.
[funk music playing]
[officer 1] Put your hands where we can see them!
[officer 2] Do not move!
-On your knees! -[officer 3] Freeze!
[officer 1] Do not move!
Stop!
[officers groaning]
Let me guess. Tobias Whale sent you.
-Hey, what's up? -[Rebecca] Glad you made it.
Now we won't have to hunt you down.
Is that right?
[grunts]
[both groan]
So you grab that one, you grab that arm.
Take me to him.
-Ma'am, you can't come in right now. -[Reverend Holt] Hold on now.
Hold on now.
That's not who we are, not in this church.
Let 'em come on through.
Let me tell you all something.
If the good Lord can see fit to raise me up off my deathbed...
[all agreeing]
...we can see fit to raise our neighbors in their time of need.
[all agreeing]
I want you all to spread the word that this church
will serve as a place of sanctuary during the riots.
-[all] Amen. -Amen?
-[all] Amen. -That's all right.
[both grunting]
[Black Lightning grunting]
[grunts]
[both grunt]
Oh, yeah? Y'all ass is mine.
[all grunting]
[groaning loudly]
The hell with this!
[grunting]
I saw that you was runnin' out of juice.
I know we had beef for a long time, but I ain't about that no more.
My city don't need to be this torn up. The streets need you.
I'm only about one thing. I'm gonna kill Tobias Whale.
[Thunder grunting]
Your partner gettin' ready to die over there.
[choking]
[Black Lightning] No! [grunting]
[choking]
[Gambi] Hey.
All right, Jen, come on up.
[Jennifer] Damn.
The main generator's over here.
[Jennifer] That's crazy.
Do you think you can control your powers well enough to create small blasts?
Yeah, of course.
Okay. Controlled bursts.
Hit it on both sides at the same time.
But not too hard,
or you'll destroy the generator behind the ice.
I got it.
[grunting]
-Hit it again, harder. -Okay.
One more time, just like that.
[powering up]
Perfect. You okay?
Hell no. I'm awesome. [chuckles]
[laughing]
[alarm buzzing]
Yes, you are awesome. Let's go.
[choking]
[gasps]
[all groan]
[grunting]
[all screaming]
The power's back on.
Police aren't overreacting like they're supposed to.
My riot is dyin' out.
It's that damn Black Lightning. It's always Black Lightning.
Thinks he can take my chaos.
Wait till I put 12 dazed and enraged meta-humans on his punk ass.
No, don't, Tobias. Think.
If you release the pods now, we will lose everything we've worked--
[Tobias] Get off me!
[choking]
So you gonna cut me now?
No.
But I'm leaving you.
Like I give a damn. I could have ten of you by tomorrow.
[door closes]
[Agent Odell] Call reinforcements.
Everyone here, hold. Pods are the priority.
Just give me five minutes to initiate the serum, okay?
[beeping]
Oh, my God. Wait. No. No, wait! Wait!
Stand back! Everybody, don't touch them!
Do it. Stand down. Stand down!
[Lynn over comms] Jeff, Anissa.
We're looking at pod kids.
[Lynn] Don't do anything.
They aren't fully awake, and they could be erratic.
[kids mumbling indistinctly]
-[Black Lightning] Lynn. -Oh, Jeff.
-[Black Lightning] Hey. -Oh, my God. Mom.
-I'm okay. -Okay, so they left you alone?
I stepped aside to tell you that the kids were out of the pods, and...
turned around, and Odell and his people were gone.
[Gambi] You're old news now, Lynn.
Those meta-humans are out of the pods.
Odell's gonna wanna claim them.
[Black Lightning] I'm not gonna let that happen.
No. No, hold on.
With the information Dr. Jace gave us for protection,
I can trace the signal that helped to open the pods.
That'll be where the briefcase is.
[Black Lightning] Yeah, and I bet anything Tobias will be with the briefcase.
There.
-All right. -[Lynn] All right.
-We'll see you. -I'll be here.
Almost back. Send me the GPS,
and I'll support from the sanctum.
Wait. I know where that is.
Jen, no.
If I can float in my sleep, then I can probably fly while I'm awake.
[grunts]
[Tobias] I know, right? As soon as I kill Black Lightning,
I'm gonna scoop up all those poor, lost little meta-humans.
[Lala] Damn.
You talkin' to paintings now?
It's about time I killed your ass.
Latavious? Please. The devil deals the cards.
[grunting]
That don't work on me anymore.
[laughs]
You think I never caught any lead?
-[laughing] -[bullet clatters]
The next one's goin' right between your eyes.
I don't think so. E pluribus unum.
[Tobias chuckles]
[Lala grunts]
Yeah, that one worked.
Yeah. Do you feel that bubbling up inside?
[groaning]
[grunting]
[continues laughing]
[groaning]
[continues groaning]
What did you do?
Lazarus Prime only brought you back.
I'm the one who brainwashed you.
-[grunting] -First level was about control. You clearly passed that.
[groaning]
Second level, way deeper.
That passphrase was Latin for, "From many, one."
[screaming]
Bringin' out all the tattoos, all the people you killed, at once.
And your black ass certainly killed a lot, directly and indirectly.
-[tattoos sizzling] -[Lala screaming]
[Tobias laughing]
[continues laughing]
Yeah, Tattoo-man.
[shushes] Go to sleep.
The next time your ass wakes up,
you're gonna be buried in some concrete on the East Side.
[Tobias laughing and applauding]
What?
I know. He actually thought that he had me.
[laughing]
Who the hell are you?
Call me Lightning.
And this is payback.
[Tobias screaming]
Let me down!
[shouting indistinctly]
[screaming]
Stop.
[Lightning] He deserves it.
[Black Lightning] But you don't!
'Cause you don't deserve to become a cold-blooded killer.
[Tobias continues screaming]
[Black Lightning grunts] Stop fighting me!
I can't let him win.
-[Black Lightning] You don't-- -I'm gonna kill you!
[Black Lightning grunting]
Let go. Just let go. You're hurting yourself.
You know I can't let you.
[Tobias] Kid, I'm gonna kill you.
[Lightning] Are you okay?
[Jefferson] When Tobias came, I should've helped you.
Dad.
[Jefferson] I'm so sorry.
[Alvin] There's nothing to be sorry for.
All the violence...
Peace ain't always peaceful, son.
All the blood, broken bones, pain you suffered,
only you'll ever know if it was worth it.
I love you, son.
Love you, too, Dad.
[breathing heavily] Are you okay?
Yeah.
-[Tobias] Oh, no, you ain't! -[gun clicking]
-Please. -Please.
[Tobias screaming]
[groaning]
He's mine.
Come on!
[grunting]
Get him!
[Reverend Holt] Is this thing on here?
I don't know if you all can hear me out there.
[all] Yes, Father.
If you're out there in the community, this is Reverend Holt,
coming to you by radio,
and I'm coming to you by podcast.
But mostly, I'm coming to you
through the grace of the Almighty God.
-[all] Yeah! -Come on!
[all cheering]
Because it's only through God's love...
...that I live and I breathe.
-[woman] Amen! -[all] Praise God.
As you all know here in the church and out there in the community,
I was struck down and left in a coma.
Oh, but the God I serve had another plan.
[all cheering]
That's right. That's right. That's right.
See, I was struck down by the evil here in Freeland.
[all agreeing]
And we have all in this church felt that evil.
See, I praise God for sending us Black Lightning,
an angel of justice to fight that evil.
I praise God that he gave us Thunder
to protect and inspire us.
I'm telling you, be you man, a woman, or meta-human,
we all have a part to play.
So just as God's love sent us Black Lightning,
and God's love sent us Thunder,
it was God's love that allowed me to rise up off my deathbed.
And I'm telling you right here in the church,
and I'm telling all of y'all out there in the community,
Freeland will rise again.
All we have to do is hold on to faith and love in our hearts.
[all cheering]
Now, it took evil to start this unrest.
But love will stop it.
Let me hear somebody say, "Love will stop it."
Love can stop it! Love can stop it!
[all cheering]
[man] I'm the captain of the guard of this shift.
Allow me to welcome you to the Pit.
The collar you wear around your neck nullifies your strength,
so you can stop trying to use it.
You can't keep me here. I want my lawyer.
[laughs]
You don't get one.
You've been classified a clear and present meta-human threat to national security.
The Pit is a black site which exists on no map
and from which there is no escape.
In other words, abandon all hope of the life you knew before.
Now there's just the Pit.
Yeah, well, I'm just happy none of the pod kids hurt anybody when they got out.
I know. That was my greatest fear.
I'm proud of you.
What?
I said I'm proud of you.
Is this some kind of April fool-joke setup?
No. You handled your business.
Well, not all the pod kids have been found. I mean...
I guess some of them went into hiding, afraid to use their powers
in fear of being put back in the pods.
Mom, like you always tell me, celebrate the victory.
Worry about the problem when it presents itself.
-Lynn, take the compliment. -[door opens, closes]
-I'm sorry. Thank you. [laughs] -[laughs] You're welcome.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did I miss a moment?
-Yeah. -[both laugh]
My younger daughter just gave me a compliment.
-Oh. How'd that feel? -Great.
-Well, I made cobbler for us. -Ooh.
My recipe or your dad's?
[Jennifer] 'Cause if it's Dad's--
No, no, no. It's Mom's.
-[Lynn] Okay, great. -[women laugh]
Wait, wait. What's wrong with mine?
What's right with it?
[women laughing]
Harsh. That's harsh.
It's a little harsh, but it's true.
[Lynn] You have to put peaches in it, one.
Yeah, just a little more peaches.
-It's just bread. -What?
Just a bunch of bread.
[Anissa] You do a lot of things great, but it's just not one of them.
[Jennifer] No, there are no peaches.
Yeah, right. [chuckles]
[Anissa] It just does anything for me.
[women laughing]
Dad, you know I was just playin'.
Jeff, what's...
What's wrong, baby?
-Dad, for real. -I'm fine.
[Anissa] No, you're crying.
[Jefferson sniffles] I'm...
I'm happy.
You walked through that door.
Your mom is here. Jen is here. We're safe.
I worry all the time.
Baby, we're here.
We're together.
-We're all here. We're fine. -I know.
You know, sometimes I just want to quit all of it.
I just want to take you all
and take you somewhere far away from here, but...
I can't.
And I feel guilty
because we got cobbler,
family dinners,
and so many people in Freeland don't.
We all deserve this.
And I shouldn't have to hold my breath
until all of you walk through that door,
but I do.
And I'm not the only one.
Baby.
No...
[sighs] I'm happy. I'm happy. I'm happy.
I'm happy you are home.
Look, I know I'm always late.
I promise I won't be late no more.
-I won't. Don't. -Good.
-Stop laughing at me. -[music playing over radio]
-Oh! Saved by the song. -[Lynn] Oh,
This is my jam, honey.
-Come on. -It's all your jam.
-Dance with me. -No, you're--
-Oh, my rheumatism is acting up. -Oh, those old knees?
Come on. You still got some moves.
-Now, come on. Dance with me. -[all laughing]
[Agent Odell] Good evening.
Let's skip the prelims.
I know exactly who and what you all are.
You need to leave.
[Agent Odell] There's something you need to know.
The Markovians have a stockpile of meta-humans in pods.
The largest on Earth.
You've been asked to leave...
nicely.
Not yet, Mr. Pierce.
Thanks to you, the Markovians have Dr. Jace.
And here is the best part.
The concentration of meta-humans in Freeland
from the vaccines and the Green Light experiment
make it the greatest threat to Markovia.
It's only a matter of time before they launch a lethal first strike.
I'm swearing in Black Lightning, Thunder,
and whatever you're calling yourself, young lady.
The Markovian War is coming.
And Freeland...
Freeland
is ground zero.
[closing theme music playing]