Previously on Black Lightning...
Mr. Pierce?
What the hell is this place?
A glimpse of the future.
Don't fret.
My filters, they keep the combatant's identity secret.
Fight or get out.
Lynn, how is your sobriety?
I injected myself with Wendy's powers and went out there.
You didn't beat Glimmer, you just traded one drug for another.
You look like trash.
Like you've been partying all night.
No, there's always a comedown when I go to the ionosphere.
Well, how about you stop going up there?
Absorbing that much power
has to have some type of consequence, Jen.
I'm fine. I know my limits.
- Are those... - My pride and joy.
The next generation direct energy gun.
The press calls them the DEGs.
That's not good for Black Lightning.
That's not good for anyone.
Dr. Stewart.
Please do me the honor of joining me for dinner.
I need a favor.
- Your party's already seated. - I'll find her, thank you.
Lynn, something's wrong. I can't move.
It's because you're dying, Jeff.
You've been poisoned.
Poisoned?
Wait, wait, no, you don't have to do that.
Just help me up, we can go get help.
It's okay, Jefferson. Just let go.
Just let go.
Lynn.
It's okay, Jefferson. You can just let go.
You can let go.
- Gotta get up. - You can let go.
This is how it was always gonna end, Jeff.
With me on the top,
and your bougie, do-gooder ass under my boot.
I just have one last question.
Do you believe in resurrection?
? Last night I saw a superhero he was Black ?
? He said "This is for the street Black Lightning's back" ?
? Kid 'n Play can't get enough ?
? Of that funky go-go-go rhythm ?
- ? You wanted a dope jam ? - ? Well that's what we givin' ?
- ? We're heading for fame ? - ? Because Kid 'n Play's driven ?
- ? And boy we don't game ? - ? And large is how we living ?
- ? We stay paid ? - ? You know the boys have got it ?
- Not a go-go fan, huh? - I'm more of an Otis Redding guy.
So where are we at with the DEGs?
You were right.
There's a way to install a design flaw in the DEGs
that should delay their rollout.
But are you sure you want to do this?
The servers estimate that these new DEGs
will explode 37% of the time.
It's a risk we're gonna have to take.
The Freeland PD is days away
from receiving their first shipment of DEGs.
And until I can figure out a way to neutralize them,
delaying Monovista's rollout is the only way
I can protect Jefferson and the girls.
So can you do it?
Can you install the design flaw?
Is Kid 'n Play too hype?
The answer is yes, Gambi.
I just need a couple of minutes.
What's up, Mr. Jefferson?
TC, maybe you should work on that in your room.
Thanks, buddy.
I'm guessing Lynn didn't come clean.
It's been three days, Gambi. Three days and nothing.
How could Lynn have dinner with Tobias Whale?
Why would she hide something like that from me?
Jefferson. Lynn has been kidnapped,
tortured, even killed to protect your family.
Don't you think you should give her the benefit of the doubt?
No.
No, I don't know if I could ever trust her again.
She hid her Glimmer addiction from me,
shooting herself up with powers, and now Tobias.
- What else is she hiding? - I don't know!
But I am sure Lynn will tell you about Tobias
when she's ready.
But in the meantime, I think you should just leave it alone.
- Ah... - At least for a little while longer.
Fine.
Fine. I will leave it alone. For now.
Now, what are we gonna do about Tobias?
We have to get him off the streets
before he does whatever he's planning to do.
I have been tracking Tobias Whale's every move
- ever since he returned to Freeland. - Okay, and?
Nothing. Everything he's done since he came back
has been completely above board.
Oh, come on, we know it's an act.
It's Tobias we're talking about here.
Eventually, Mr. Tobias Whale will slip up.
But for now, he's untouchable.
Yeah, we'll see about that.
Well, well.
I see you found your knock off Joey Toledo and Syonide.
Can you two give us a second, please?
Have a seat, Jefferson.
No.
No. I think I'll stand.
Let me rephrase.
Sit your weak monkey-ass down
before all the people of Freeland learn that the Pierce family
is the chocolate-covered Incredibles.
So to what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?
I saw you here with Lynn.
What you saw is two colleagues having dinner,
discussing a possible business venture.
But you knew that already.
Unless Lynn didn't tell you.
Stay away from my family.
You and Dr. Stewart have been divorced for, what?
A decade now?
She's not family, sir. She's a baby mama.
Which means she can do whatever she wants
with whomever she wants.
Including me.
What's the matter, Jeff? Can't keep a charge?
I hear that happens to men your age.
Though there's medicine to fix that.
You got all of these people fooled,
with your big talk and your large donations.
But, like I said before, I know who you are.
As you should by now.
I'm the man who promised to take away
everything you loved in the world.
And unlike most of you hapless Negroes,
I'm a promise keeper.
Thank you, sweetheart.
You can stand now, Jeff.
This isn't over.
Well, it damn sure feels over to me.
Oh, and Jeff?
Only if you can,
give my love to Lynn.
- I could have carried you, you know. - Oh, yeah, yeah.
But who thought of it first? Me.
- Shonda, close door. - Yes, my queen.
I see some things haven't changed.
Oh, Lord.
Are you really about to start on me with Shonda already?
We just got home.
All right, all right.
- Well, we'll talk about emancipating Shonda later. - Okay.
Right now, I just want to run upstairs,
grab a shower, change into my favorite pair of pajamas.
Um... Um...
About that,
your pajamas are in storage with all your other stuff.
- I'm sorry. - Anissa, you don't have to be sorry.
I was in a coma for a year, what else were you supposed to do?
Let's just go to storage and grab my stuff later this week?
Yeah, that sounds like a plan.
Great.
'Cause I kind of miss my reading chair.
Wait, I thought you were just wanting to grab some clothes.
Yeah, I was, but there's other things I want to grab too,
like the chair, my easel, my comics collection.
Wait, whoa, whoa. Grace. My loft, it already has a vibe
and all that stuff you're talking about
doesn't really fit the vibe in here.
Your loft?
Come on, you know what I meant.
Yeah. I think I do.
Grace! Grace!
Damn.
Huh.
I must admit. Tobias,
your proposal for the renovation
of Freeland's south side was...
It's impressive.
A rebuilding like this,
it's going to run you, what, $60, $70 million?
Eighty-three to be exact.
But who's counting?
I told you, Mayor. Freeland is my home.
And I want to see it restored back to its former glory.
With that being said, a personal investment of this magnitude
is going to require some assurances.
What kind of assurances?
Well, frankly, Freeland's become a magnet
for random violence.
I just saw on the news the other day
that one of Freeland's finest got beat down by a meta
and wound up in the hospital with a broken hip.
Between the gangs and the metahumans,
no person, no piece of property is safe.
Well, what if I could assure you
that all this is about to change?
Mr. Whale, we're two days away from receiving a shipment
of second generation DEGs from Monovista.
Once Freeland PD's fully outfitted,
we will take the streets back from the gangs.
And those walking science experiments.
I like the way you think, Chief.
I like the way she thinks, Mayor.
Have you given any thought
as to when and where you're gonna announce
the DEG launch?
Oh, yes, my PR team has come up with a few ideas.
But my favorite so far is announce
at a gun buyback event.
I think I may know the exact location
where you should hold the event.
Have you heard of the Homeless Safe Zone up north?
Holding it there will let the people of Freeland know
that its mayor cares about the safety of all Freeland residents.
Even if they can't donate to his campaign.
That is a great idea.
Unity.
It's exactly what Freeland needs.
You know, I may come to you for a little help,
if that's all right.
Anything for Freeland.
Tobias.
Can we leave here today
knowing we can count on your investment?
Well, if you and this pretty little chief here
can keep up your end of the bargain,
I'll definitely keep up mine.
Morning, creepy.
Thought you could use this.
Thank you.
So, I did a little more research on the ionosphere,
and it's not safe for you to go up there, so...
TC. We're not talking about this anymore, okay?
- But you... - Are you my friend or are you my father?
Listen, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, but...
I know you're looking out for me.
I really appreciate it, but I'm fine, okay? I'm fine.
Hey, I almost forgot.
Have you checked your IG lately?
- Uh, yeah, it's nothing special. - No. Not... Not that one.
The other one.
Give me your phone.
I have two million followers?
In three days?
Sixty-five hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds,
but who's counting?
Yeah. My parents see this, they're gonna flip.
I'm supposed to be keeping a low profile.
Do you want me to take it down?
No.
Look, don't do anything yet, I'll...
I'll figure this out later.
I've been dying to shoot one of these, man.
What the hell are y'all standing around for?
Let's see what these things can do.
What kind of bootleg crap is this?
The energy source must be depleted.
It's first gen tech, it's bound to glitch.
So where do I get some more of this so-called energy source?
I was a soldier not a scientist.
Then what are you good for, then?
Devonte.
Bring me that gun.
How am I supposed to keep metas off my ass with one damn gun?
- Man, you trying to kill me? - If I wanted you dead,
you would have been a memory already.
Considering how much you owe me for them club fight bets.
So Deputy Chief,
tell me something I wanna hear.
Second generation DEGs are being shipped
to Freeland PD in two days.
- Do you know when and where? - I'm in charge of logistics.
Finally, some information that I can use.
- So, we even? - Even?
Negro, please.
Just feel lucky that you're still breathing.
We gonna steal these DEGs.
And when we do,
no cop,
no meta, no Kobra Cartel,
not even Tobias Whales himself, will be able to stop us.
In addition to the nonlethal mode,
I modified it so that the officers can quickly adjust
both the focus and intensity of the blast radius.
What kind of range are we talking?
Max of 1,000 meters.
Lauren.
I'm sorry, I don't meant to interrupt,
but something doesn't look right.
What the hell are you doing?
I think you have a serious design problem here.
And so you decide to bring this up now?
The rollout for the Freeland PD's tomorrow.
I didn't see it before. I would have said something.
But trust me, with the capacitor bank position like this,
these weapons will misfire more times than not.
I've worked on this project for a year.
And my boss is right here.
So keep your damn mouth shut.
Is there a problem?
No, Mr. Bates.
Gambi?
No, sir. This is going to be one hell of a weapon.
Well, if it ain't Apollo Pierce.
Not today.
I need to holla at you for a minute.
It's not a request.
I can't say I haven't enjoyed
watching you beat the black off of these wannabes
for the last week,
but I think it's time that you hang it up.
Yo, look, I'm working through some things,
but I know when to quit.
The Freeland Cemetery is filled with people
who thought they knew when to quit.
What, is that a concern of yours?
Nah.
It's practicality.
Eventually, your luck's gonna run out.
And someone's gonna stomp a mud hole in your ass.
Now, I can't have the golden child of Freeland
dying in my ring.
We've avoided the police thus far.
But if something happened to you,
they gonna throw my ass under the jail.
I came here to fight.
That's what I'm gonna do.
All right, then.
But don't say I didn't warn you.
Fight starts in a half an hour.
Don't keep me waiting.
You wanted to see me, Chief?
Detective. Close the door.
I've been tasked with providing extra security
for a gun buyback event.
And since you know this city better than I do,
I'd appreciate some help.
- Where's the event? - At the Homeless Safe Zone?
That's an odd place to be doing something like that.
I guess the mayor has his reasons.
Actually, it was Tobias Whale's suggestion.
What is it?
Maybe it's not the best idea to trust Tobias Whale.
I don't care who he's pretending to be.
Cats like him, they don't change.
I appreciate your concern, Detective.
But you needn't worry.
But the mayor gave me a job to do.
The same mayor who gave me a chance
when no one else would.
So I'm gonna execute his wishes to the best of my ability.
I just need to know, are you in or are you out?
? Get nothin' but abuse ?
? Punks jump up to get beat down! ?
? Get nothin' but abuse ?
? Punks jump up to get beat down! ?
? Get nothin' but abuse ?
? Punks jump up to get beat down! ?
? Get nothin' but abuse ?
? Punks jump up to get beat down! ?
Fight!
? I didn't say nothin' 'cause these kids caught my goat ?
? Even wore my coat like a murder that they wrote ?
? So this kid with mouth swagger 'n I'll blaze the cloak and dagger ?
? So I gotta show Dukes the macho lot that I am ?
? Black prodigy since the age of 20 ?
? I could write a rhyme rip it up and write a next one ?
? Right there on the spot sign my name with a dot ?
What's up, TC?
TC?
Jen, I didn't see you.
Soda?
Boy, stop offering me sodas.
And get your Dorito fingers out of my face.
What are you watching?
It's an underground fight club.
Wait, Fight club? Like the movie?
What movie?
I was waiting on you to get here
so we could fix your IG problem.
I got bored and started scrolling.
Somebody posted it on their live-feed and it's crazy.
It's like Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! in real life.
Mike Tyson's punch what?
- Never mind. - Move, let me watch.
Who you got? I think the bigger dude's gonna take him.
TC, can you remove the distortion from their faces?
- Of course I can. Why? - Just do it, please.
- Is that... - That's my dad.
All right, that's enough.
Jeff, enough, man, you got him.
? Punks jump up to get beat down! ?
Hey.
What is going on?
A fight club?
Really?
Who are you and what did you do with my husband?
- How did you... - Find out?
Your youngest daughter and TC stumbled across your little hobby.
She's upstairs in her room right now.
She can't even look at you.
What were you thinking, Jefferson?
- Not now. - No. You talk to me.
That's really funny coming from you.
What?
- What's that supposed to mean? - Means I saw you, Lynn.
You and your little cozy dinner with Tobias,
which was three days ago.
No word from you.
Why is that?
Is he your new type now?
You son of a bitch.
You hid things from me our entire marriage.
And I don't tell you one thing?
Oh, one thing?
You're a drug addict.
You hid that from us for months.
You know, you could... You could be on something right now.
You tell me that you weren't, I wouldn't believe you.
- I don't trust you! - Right.
'Cause the only person you truly trusted
is gone now, right? Henderson?
What would Henderson say if he was here right now, Jeff, huh?
What would Henderson say if he could see you right now, Jeff?
I can't do this.
? Wasn't it a lucky thing ?
? That we got caught in the rain ?
Peace offering?
Thank you.
You were right.
But I'm sure that you already knew that.
After you left, I reran the numbers.
Mainly just to prove you wrong.
I don't know how you knew, but thank God that you did.
I've shot a lot of guns in my life.
The alignment just seemed off.
Yeah, by two and a half millimeters.
Two and a half millimeters that would have caused those DEGs
to explode a projected 36.8% of the time.
Do you have any idea how many lives you just saved?
I'm just sorry that you can't get those DEGs
out on the street any sooner.
I'm assuming this will set back the rollout quite a bit.
No. Thankfully, it will just be a few more days.
Bates isn't happy about it, but he knows he dodged a bullet here.
He told me that he owes you a debt.
He doesn't owe me anything.
I'm just happy to be part of a team again.
That's what I told him you'd say.
You know, since you're so handy,
there is another project that I could use your help with.
I'm all ears.
Great. I'll take you to see it.
? You'll find us waitin to greet you ?
Later.
? Lullaby Lane ?
Larsen Line officials are still trying to uncover
how the ticking time bomb
the liberal sheep refer to as "Lightning"
managed to replace our footage
of her destroying a small business in Freeland
with an obviously-doctored video of the same event,
which tries to rewrite history and paint her as the hero
in this scenario.
Nice try, Lightning. We can see through your lies.
See, that's the problem with the new school wannabe heroes.
I bet you Black Lightning wouldn't be
caught up in that hacking nonsense.
But he's old school. Like us.
Please. He's gone. That's what he is.
No, no.
He ain't forget. He'll come back.
He always comes back.
Maybe he should just stay away.
And what... What has Black Lightning actually really done anyway?
Yeah, he beat down some thugs every now and again.
But what difference has he actually made?
Y'all got some short-ass memories.
The man put together a crew of metas
and battled the US government and Markovia to save Freeland.
If he hadn't done that,
we'd probably still be getting snatched off the street
and thrown in unmarked vans
like they did those protesters in Portland.
Black Lightning has given everything for this city
and what has he asked for?
Nothing.
When I was a kid, I got caught up.
Black Lightning saved my life.
Then he looked me dead in my face and said,
"Everybody deserves a second chance".
And told me to get back in school
and off the streets.
I miss him.
So when you talk Black Lightning,
you put respect on that man's name.
Shonda, open door.
Shonda?
Hey, I think something's wrong with Shonda.
Mm-mmm. Ain't nothing wrong with Shonda.
I just put her on emergency mode.
Why? Anissa, what's going on?
It's a surprise.
Okay.
I'm surprised.
Good, but dinner's not the surprise, babe.
What is that?
I don't know. You gotta open it and tell me.
Wow.
Anissa!
Volume two, issue 16 of the Outsiders?
- How did you... - What, remember? How could I forget?
The first day we met, you had this exact comic
rolled up in your back pocket.
So, to me, makes sense for me to get you a new copy
to signify our new life together.
Well, now, this is a surprise.
Now, where do you want to hang it?
What do you mean, "hang it"?
I thought your loft was a vibe
and that my stuff didn't fit in here.
Yes, I know I said that,
but you know, babe, this isn't my loft anymore.
And it hasn't been ever since you walked back into my life.
This is your home.
You're my home.
So,
what do you say we go to your storage
and get some of your favorite things,
and we start making this place feel more like our place
than my place?
What do you say?
I say I love you.
I love you, too.
- Anissa? - Yes, Shonda?
Mayor Black is currently visiting the Homeless Safe Zone
with an insufficient amount of security.
How would you like to proceed?
- You up for some adventure? - With you? Always.
Mm.
Come on, let's go.
You know you didn't have to come, it's just a patrol.
I'd rather be anywhere but home right now.
But if you two would rather be alone, you could just say that.
- Mm, it's not like that. - Mm-hmm.
How about I go patrol the rest of the city
to give y'all some privacy?
Jennifer, I told you, it's not like that.
I still don't know why you got me walking around in a hoodie.
Oh, so, Miss Comic-Con doesn't understand
the importance of a secret identity?
I don't need a hoodie for that.
I'm a walking secret identity.
Mm, that's wild.
I don't know if it's scary or sexy.
"Wylde", I like that.
But that's your real last name, the one you changed.
I know. I'm reclaiming it.
All right, girl. I see you. Reclaim away.
All your men in place?
Everybody is where they're supposed to be, Chief.
You know, I had no idea
how many families have been displaced by the Freeland Conflict.
I told you, Mayor.
- Tobias, they're setting up for you. - Okay.
Mr. Mayor, could we get you to say
a few words to the people of Freeland?
Comfort them in their time of need.
You know, that is a great idea, Tobias.
Maybe I was wrong about you.
Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last.
Come this way.
I'm not in the mood to argue anymore.
No.
Look, I want to apologize for my part in all of this.
Henderson's death...
rocked me to my core.
It brought up some memories
that I thought were buried a long time ago.
I got lost in my grief and for that, I'm sorry.
Look, I said some things.
And I should have told you about Tobias the night that it happened.
But in my defense,
I didn't think you were in the right mindset to hear it.
Nonetheless, I should have told you.
But you don't have to worry.
I have no intention of working for that man.
Actually, I think you should.
How much have you had to drink?
Oh, no. Hear me out.
Tobias is always one step ahead of us.
We have to turn the tables and get ahead of him
for a change.
You're asking me to play a dangerous game, Jefferson.
Yeah.
But if we don't play it, who will?
Eyes open, people.
You got your order assignment?
Yeah. Got it right here.
That's what you get for being nosy.
Hello, Freelanders.
I'm so proud to be here with you tonight.
We all know this past year has been a difficult one.
But you didn't run.
You stayed here and you fought.
You fought here for yourselves and your families.
And I'm here to tell you that the city of Freeland
is going to continue to fight right beside you!
Devonte. Light they ass up.
Tobias doesn't live through the night.
- You hear that? - Hear what?
A car. It's accelerating.
Fast.
Get down!
Get on the ground!
This is my town.
I got your back.
Damn it!
Hey, let's go! Let's go! Break up!
What are you freaks doing here?
Listen. We were just trying to help.
The mayor has been shot.
He's dead.
I could have gotten to him.
I could have protected him if it wasn't for you.
This is your fault.
Did you use Freeland PD-issued rounds like we discussed?
- Of course. - Perfect.
Now the coroner will believe that their beloved backbiting mayor
was killed by friendly fire.
And that, my friend,
is cause for a toast.
To the demise of Mayor Billy Black,
who found out firsthand
what happens to those who say no to the Whale.
Ah. That's good.
How'd you know Lala would take the bait?
Try and take you out?
Because like most, Lala's predictable.
And predictability can be planned for.
Now things get real interesting.
Had it brought here so I could work on it in secret.
What is it?
You're looking at the future of renewable energy.
It's called an energy field emitter.
I got the idea from Tesla.
He had a theory you could transmit electricity without wires.
"Terrestrial resonance" he called it.
I know. The Wardenclyffe Tower,
but I thought he never completed it.
He didn't.
Died before his dream was ever realized.
Maybe it will never be.
Why? What's the problem?
It's the range.
I've been able to generate a field,
but only for a few short blocks.
Only for a few short blocks?
Lauren, that's incredible.
You've done something that not even Tesla could do.
It's not enough. I need to expand it somehow.
Does anyone else know about that?
No, Mr. Bates asked me to work on it himself.
Apparently, it's for some big partner.
I was hoping you could help me with it.
When do we start?
To the fine people of Freeland,
tonight, we grieve the loss of our mayor.
But we must persevere.
That's why I'm personally funding an initiative
to double the amount of upgraded DEGs
going to the Freeland PD.
To all who endeavor to do us harm,
whether The One-Hundred, or masked vigilantes,
we're armed and we are ready for you.
Jen, I can hear you in there.
I heard what happened tonight.
I'm sorry you had to see that.
I'm sorry for a lot of things.
This last year,
with Henderson's death,
I lost myself.
But I, I wouldn't be standing here right now...
I...
I wouldn't have gotten this far without the family.
Look, baby girl, I'm still, um...
I'm still working through some things.
So I'm gonna need you to bear with me
just a little bit longer, okay?
Uh...
But I promise you...
I promise you that I will be the man I once was.
A man you can be proud of.
Jen?
Lightning, you good?
What? Are you spying on me now?
I'm just checking 'cause your suit levels are really high.
Look, I just came up here to clear my head. Okay?
How many times do I have to...
Wait.
TC, there's something wrong.
It's too much. It's too much. It hurts.
I... I can't move.
I can't move.
Come down, Lightning! Get out of there!
Oh, my God.
Lightning!
Jen.
- Synced and corrected by Firefly - - www.addic7ed.com -