Black Lightning

Previously on Black Lightning...

Besides Gravedigger, how many metas are stable enough to fight?

None, I'm afraid.

Lynn's been kidnapped by the Markovians.

There is a substance that Tobias' body produces

that is key to making the stabilization serum.

I know that you have developed

a meta stabilization serum in America.

You will prepare it for us here.

So there's a chip in him. Why don't we just take it out?

The chip is connected to Khalil's brain.

Removing it would kill him.

Firewall.

After everything that's happened,

how could you possibly work with them?

Because getting her back is the only thing that matters.

Listen up. We're going on to foreign soil

to engage a ruthless enemy who knows we're coming.

So the ASA support is our best chance of getting in and out alive.

Let's get to work.

Black Lightning.

"Black Lightning"!

Never particularly cared for that name.

The news...

News called me that,

twenty-two years ago...

and it stuck.

Twenty-two years.

Feels like a thousand...

and then some.

All the blood,

broken bones,

broken hearts...

and death.

All the death.

There was Lynn, witness to it all.

We tried to balance a normal life,

you know, kids, career.

But nothing... Nothing mixes well with Black Lightning.

So, we fought.

We made up...

got divorced, got back together.

Just couldn't stop loving each other.

I grew up around...

drug dealers and drug addicts. You know all that. Man...

I've seen drugs devastate people,

families...

I know the depth of addiction.

I also know...

that Black Lightning's powers are...

useless in that fight.

But they are not useless in the fight

in front of me right now.

This war...

for Freeland...

This war for Freeland took her from me.

If I have to break bones,

burn skin, draw blood...

If I have to kill, I will.

I'm getting her back.

You're right, Jeff, we'll get her back.

Big day tomorrow. You should get some sleep.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, you've got nowhere to go but up.

Why don't we just reduce the difficulty

until they get the hang of it?

This isn't a damn video game.

We're training for a mission we cannot fail.

Run it again.

Mr. Pierce, a word.

Major, I'm busy.

Everything we have on Painkiller.

As agreed.

And you'll provide amnesty for my entire team?

As agreed.

Although your use of the word "team" is a joke.

It takes weeks for seasoned professionals

to train for a rescue op.

We have to launch this op before the Markovians

find a way to force Dr. Stewart to stabilize their metas,

and half your people can't fight their way out of a paper bag.

Let me worry about that.

Say the word, and I will give you

my best ASA commandos.

They'll get you to the target,

you can do the rest.

My mission.

My team.

Good luck with that.

This spectrometer is in dire need of an upgrade.

You haven't said anything all morning.

Are you not talking to me?

My research shows that friendly human connections

start with a salutation of some sort.

So, good morning.

I'm a prisoner, miles from home. So no, it isn't.

Greetings, doctors.

- Any progress? - I'm afraid not.

You will make the stabilization serum.

Kiss my ass.

If you kill her, she can't help us.

Then, I'm just in time.

Colonel.

Heard about Dr. Stewart.

I'll take it from here.

This is my operation, Gravedigger.

I have things well in hand.

No, you don't.

This is my operation now.

You are under my command.

I want a full briefing of this facility.

You have an hour to get it together.

Now, get the hell out of my face.

You've still not aged.

Don't analyze me.

I'm not one of your subjects anymore, Jace.

I won't say it's good to see you,

because... it isn't.

Dr. Stewart.

Your reputation precedes you.

Welcome to Markovia.

You sound American.

I was.

But that's a long story for later,

after you've cured my people.

Your people?

There are 94 meta-humans here in pods

who could live healthy lives with your stabilization cure.

You think I'm stupid?

You're weaponizing them!

Freedom ain't free.

Spare me the rationalization.

I'm not open to persuasion.

It's... It's interesting that you'd say that.

Make the cure as fast as you can.

What are you staring at?

ASA troops continue to patrol the streets...

Hey.

...protecting the citizens from the Markovian just outside our city.

Hey.

How you doing?

Perfect.

Just... catching up

with what's going on in the world.

I feel like I've been in a bubble for years.

I know the timing's really bad...

but our rescue team ain't looking so good.

- I need to ask you a favor. - No.

No. No, the last thing I need to do is

go on another kill mission again.

Khalil, you know I'm not asking you to kill anybody.

This is to get my mom back.

Please. You have more training than all of us put together.

J, I want you to get your mother back.

Really, I do.

But I am more of a liability than I am an asset.

- What are you talking about? - He's still in my head, Jen.

I can't be trusted.

We've both killed for the ASA.

But I lied to my family about it.

They've lied to me,

Odell lied to you, at least you've been honest.

So, as far as I'm concerned,

I trust you.

I killed my own mother, Jen.

Then help me save mine.

Please.

No.

Are you experiencing discomfort?

A migraine, perhaps?

Headache.

Whole head or part?

Front.

You know what happened. Tell me.

That was Gravedigger.

A meta-human with enhanced strength and speed,

with the power to push whoever is in earshot.

- "Push"? - Mental domination.

Auditory stimulation overrides the frontal lobe.

That's why I can't stop working, even though I don't want to.

Give me the Glimmer.

- What? Lynn, you're not... - Just give it to me!

Careful, or you'll OD. Lynn!

Lynn?

Lynn!

I don't have to finish.

The Glimmer causes hyperactivity in the frontal lobe.

An antidote to being pushed.

Which means while he thinks we're making the cure,

we can make something else.

Perhaps best not to test it.

Allow me to suggest a man does not get the name "Gravedigger"

because he's kind and gentle.

Then you better hope we don't get caught.

"We"? So we're bonding now?

We're in the same boat for now,

but it has a major leak in it.

Resisting Gravedigger's push isn't enough.

We're gonna have to use it to get out of here.