03x16 - The Book of w*r: Chapter Three: Liberation

[bunniefuu]

Previously,on "Black Lightning"...

I left the formula for the meta-boost serum in Markovia.

What happens if Gravedigger can have any meta power he wants?

He'd be unstoppable.

w*r is coming to Freeland.

Take this peace offering.

Use it to burn down the ASA for what they did to my city.

Gravedigger is en route with a battalion of troops.

The powers that be have decided that they would rather nuke Freeland than let Gravedigger win.

The government is gonna b*mb Freeland if we don't b*at Gravedigger?

The DNA sample I took from Gravedigger matches your DNA.

Gravedigger's your great-uncle.

Gravedigger's at the perimeter.

Where's Jennifer? Jen?

We got a bogie at 9 o'clock. What is that?

That's Jen.

Gambi, she's alive!

Good for her.

*BLACK LIGHTNING* Season 03 Episode 16 Episode Title: "The Book of w*r: Chapter Three: Liberationn"

Hold it. What has gotten into you?

You're coming on hard.

Hold up.

Electrical powers...

Young enough to be your daughter.

That's baby Lightning.

Mmm, that's why you mad, huh?

Come on.

Can't believe you got up.

What you can't do, you'll do for blood, right?

You and I are blood.

That's funny.

Black Lightning continues to fight for the city of Freeland, which is suffering from a full-scale invasion from Markovian forces.

Police And fire stations have been blown up.

Citizens are being sh*t down in the street.

And the ASA's nowhere to be found.

Is Black Lightning the only line of defense?

Has the government abandoned Freeland?

I'm Jamillah Olsen, reporting live from Mark...

Now.

Let's stop the madness.

We're family. We can work it out.

Man, stop. We ain't related.

No?

Why am I a stable meta like you?

I know you were born out of wedlock.

Your father's name was Cassius.

You got that from the ASA.

I know you only met your half-brother twice.

Once when you were young, and once right before you both went off to w*r.

His name was Ben.

My grandfather.

Look here, kinfolk.

You ain't gonna talk your way out of this one.

I'm on a mission.

And I'm gonna complete it.

So you can surrender now.

You'll be treated nicely.

Just like your baby girl.

Where is she?

Ah!

She's a prisoner of w*r.

Where is she?

I'm giving you one last chance to surrender, boy.

Yeah, you feel that?

Those are microwaves.

Cooking you from the inside.

That's it.

Nothing to be ashamed about.

You fought well.

Now stay down.

Rangers.

Prepare for glory.

♪ Last night I saw a superhero He was black ♪

♪ He said "This is for the street Black Lightning's back" ♪

Grayle, Gambi.

We have to move the meta kids to the Pit to keep them away from Gravedigger.

It's the most secure place in all of Freeland.

Thunder's on her way to help you escort them.

Have them ready to travel.

Copy you.

Grayle, what's up?

We have to prep to move.

Okay, let's do it.

Katie, are you still jamming all transmissions?

Yes, this video will go unseen.

Sir, without our perimeter barrier, Markovian forces will overrun the city.

First will come a shock-and-awe strike to disrupt everything.

Then they'll secure an exfiltration route.

While the elite Markovian Rangers recon the city to locate Freeland's metas.

No longer our problem. We're pulling out of Freeland.

Commander, leave nothing classified behind. I want total closure.

Yes, sir.

Major, find the briefcase and bring it to me, or...

Destroy it.

Yes, sir.

Did I stutter?

Gambi, I need you.

I'm here.

The Markovians took Jen.

I need you to find out where they took her.

I'm on it.

Odell isn't at the Pit.

He must be at a safehouse somewhere.

Okay.

Okay, well, uh, I'll start talking to the cameras around the city.

I'll find him. Thanks.

I need to concentrate on using the ASA's system to search for Lightning's energy signature.

Copy you.

Come on.

It's not gonna work.

My name is Tyson Sykes.

I'm in command here.

And the first thing you need to understand is, I'm not your enemy.

You could've fooled me with the whole kidnapping and invasion thing.

Actions made necessary by the continuing treachery of the US government.

I have been empowered by the nation of Markovia to establish an independent meta-human state inside their borders.

A place where meta-humans can be free.

Live normal lives.

Mmm-mmm. You need to sell that trash somewhere else.

Trash?

Little girl, you don't know a damn thing about this country.

This country was built by and for rich white men.

That's never gonna change.

There's been plenty of change.

Not enough, sure, but it's disrespectful to the sacrifices of our ancestors to say there's been none.

Change. Oh, you mean Obama?

And Martin Luther King?

Well, seems to me that Obama was bought and paid for by rich liberals and multinational corporations, and Martin Luther King, well, he was a coward who lacked the courage to fight for his own freedom.

Are you insane?

MLK was one of the most courageous people to walk the face of this Earth.

Not by fighting, but by purposefully putting himself in harm's way.

The moral authority of his cause couldn't be debated.

Yeah, they debated that plenty.

But he was on the right side of history.

"Metas are with you, or else."

That's not independence or peace.

Who are you to judge me, huh?

You've been on this planet for the blink of an eye.

I'm 100 years old.

Maybe that's why you're so negative and grouchy.

I ought to k*ll you where you stand.

Why don't you let me out of here?

Try it.

Maybe later.

Is this moment in black history over?

What assurance do I have that the ASA will honor its side of the deal?

Above my paygrade.

You have something for me or not?

Suppose I'll have to trust you.

Or I could wash my hands in your blood if you double cross me.

The briefcase is at Gambi's tailor shop.

The tailor who came back from the dead?

Mmm.

Who does he work for?

No one.

Piece of cake. We'll be in touch.

Prepare for relocation to Gotham City.

You'll receive your seat on the Shadow Board there.

Gotham? Wait a minute.

You're gonna nuke Freeland if the Markovians take it.

And I just became a loose end.

You'll never get out of here alive.

I'm already gone, bitch.

Des... Destiny.

Call...

Call Lala.

Call Lala, tell him that I just got from the ASA that we won't have Freeland if the Markovians succeed.

Good morning, Nurse Judas.

Of course, a loser like you is still living at home with his parents in his 40s.

Oh, my God. What'd you do with them?

Your mom will be just fine, as long as you take me to where they're keeping the Markovian metas.

What about my father?

Ah, yes.

The Blackovian.

I assure you he d*ed well.

You sure this is where Jen is?

Not completely.

Her energy signature's vanished but I picked up an energy signature similar to ASA's meta collars.

It's there, in the middle of where the Markovian battalion has made camp.

That has to be it.

What has to be it?

You need him.

You'll never get Jen out alive past a hundred Markovian troops.

I know what I said before, but if Jen needs help, then I'm there.

What's the plan?

TC!

What's wrong with him?

Probably ASA countermeasures.

We were trying to trace Odell.

The ASA had him in a pod.

You best believe Odell knows how to deal with his powers.

Is he gonna be okay?

I think so.

Everything okay?

Yeah. Just a glitch.

Thought someone was opening up my front door.

All good.

Let's go get Jen.

Oh, thank God.

I presume I'm being tracked, and Odell wants you to break me out?

My orders are to clean out the classified information in Freeland.

All right, keep moving, everybody.

Go, go, go. You'll be safe inside. Go.

Keep moving!

Hey, Henderson. That's a lot of... That's a lot of bad guys, bro.

What we gonna do?

We're gonna fight, Two-Bits. Everybody fight!

Huh?

Get off my block.

Daddy.

Hey, I appreciate you. Always.

We could still use your help.

You wanna meet us at the Pit?

Yeah. I got you.

Gambi will direct you.

Can you fly?

Shh.

That's dope.

You shouldn't be here.

If we're gonna have any chance of b*ating Gravedigger, we have to strip him of his extra powers.

Can you do that?

I think so.

My orders are to destroy all classified information.

That includes the files you're using.

And, I imagine, the information inside my head.

Yes.

Dr. Jace has already been dealt with.

And I'm next.

Commander Williams, you're obviously dedicated to your duty.

But if you try and stop me, Markovians will k*ll and kidnap Americans.

Children.

Children, like you were.

Me?

Because you're a meta.

I'm not a damn meta.

I'm a soldier.

First Citizen, Gravedigger.

We've located an underground complex with an above-ground entrance that is heavily guarded.

Excellent.

That's it.

That's where they're hiding my metas.

I'm working on the anti-booster.

I need five minutes to render the solution.

I'm on my way.

I'm here to take back control.

Maybe after I finish my last mission and k*ll the Pierce family.

Starting with that pain in the ass you love so much.

Jennifer.

Are you serious right now?

You ever hear of the rope a dope?

You're the dope.

Why's it gotta be in the woods?

These damn bugs are eating me alive.

Hey, wait.

I see Resistance members guarding something.

Doesn't look like much.

It's not supposed to.

Who the hell is this? I don't know.

I just saw a man float down from the sky and land into the woods about 40 yards away.

Delta three, you in position?

Affirmative. Suppressive fire, sir?

Negative.

Looks like he's giving orders.

That would be Gravedigger, Chief, do not engage him.

Leave him for Black Lightning and Lightning.

They're on their way.

Arm the meta weapons.

Engage with Black Lightning when he arrives to follow.

What's this about?

Light him up!

He's still coming.

You think we can't see that?

Reload!

I already have.

Sleep.

It's just around the corner. I've already opened it.

Okay, I see it, I see it.

Everybody listen to me. There is a safe room right through this door, and I need everybody in it now.

Let's go. Come on.

Gravedigger's on level one. He's headed to level two.

Go, go, go. The safe room can withstand a thermonuclear w*r.

So hopefully, it can keep Gravedigger out.

Come on, come on, come on.

Hurry.

Wait.

This is unnecessary.

I'm here on your behalf, trust me.

Okay.

And this ass-whooping that we brought, it's for your own good, too.

Yeah, trust us.

You know what?

k*ll her.

What the hell is wrong with you?

What the hell is wrong with you? Stop!

Are they dead?

They're asleep.

Gravedigger's here.

First Citizen, Gravedigger.

I have Black Lightning in my sight.

Permission to take the sh*t?

Permission granted.

Drop them.

No.

No, no.

No, no. No! No, Henderson!

What are you doing here, man?

Saving your black ass.

Get me out of here, man.

I can't.

What you mean you can't?

Henderson, you got a hole in your chest.

If I move you...

Damn.

Damn, I'm not ready, man.

Thank you for saving my life, man.

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

I can't feel my legs, man.

Henderson, man, you're my best friend.

I'm sorry I let you down.

Never, man.

Never.

Now, you don't let down Freeland.

Grace.

No, Grace. Stop.

Grace, stop!

Grace. Grace. Come on.

Oh, my God. I didn't mean to...

Gambi. Gambi. Gambi.

I'm here.

We're in the Pit. And Grace, she's hurt. She's hurt bad.

I don't know what to do.

You need to stay on mission.

We'll get her out when we're done.

I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

Whoa, you need to lay back down.

There's no time.

I figured out how the ASA's countermeasure kicked me out.

I'm going to find Odell.

Is that the anti-booster?

Yeah.

I'm gonna deliver it with this.

No. No. Give it to me.

Jeff, he's not just gonna let you sh**t him.

You concentrate on staying alive.

And while he's busy with you, I'll do it.

I hate to say it, but you're right.

Jeff, I heard what happened with Henderson over the comms.

I'm so sorry.

What happened here?

I don't wanna talk about it.

Okay.

Hey.

You ready?

Yeah.

Let's go.

You again.

Well, this time I brought a friend.

What's up?

Wanna know a secret?

Volcanic lightning beats magnetic field.

Dad, Brandon and I have Gravedigger.

But I'm not sure how long we can hold him.

He'll k*ll her.

You go ahead. I'll catch up.

Katie.

Activate self-destruct.

Password, please.

Rosebud.

Self-destruct activated.

And put this safehouse on a ten-minute fuse, then blow it.

Understood.

Oh, you're back, huh?

You gonna run again?

Damn.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm good. Are you good?

Mom.

Sweetie, are you okay? Yeah, Mom, I'm good.

You okay? Yeah, I'm good.

Lynn, Black Lightning is fighting Gravedigger.

He needs that anti-booster.

Mom, go.

Go, we're fine. Go.

I ain't got time for this.

What were you thinking, hmm?

You should've gone for the head.

You know what I was thinking?

You ain't too tough without those extra powers.

You have nothing to be ashamed of.

You fought well.

Something's wrong.

The ASA system is really, really upset.

It's on self-destruct.

Override.

Saying it can't be.

They have 60 seconds to get out.

Jeff, you need to get out of there, right now. There's a self-destruct.

The safe room will survive, but it's already been sealed.

Everyone, you've got less than a minute to get away from the Pit.

Okay, I'll pick him up. You get on my back.

No, we have to go.

What? He lives, we die.

Lynn, he's family. We can't leave him.

No, Jeff. We have to go now. Come on!

Come on.

Now, you didn't really think I was gonna let you get away?

Not after making me k*ll my own mother, did you?

Caveat emptor.

That shut-down only works for Painkiller.

I'm Khalil.

We haven't officially met.

Don't try to stop me.

No, you're gonna stop yourself.

Because you're smart enough to realize that a b*llet to the head is too good for him.

He needs to be shackled, caged, humiliated, and then die alone.

Khalil!

I sh*t him through the spleen.

Don't need it, anyway.

He'll be all right.

No. Unless he has internal bleeding or gets an infection.

And if that's the case, it's God's will.

He's all yours.

Fire in the hole.

Clear!

Cover this area.

Mr. Gambi.

We know you're in here.

We know you have the briefcase.

Can't help but notice you have your most trusted Commandos with you.

Showing off that you're in our personnel files, tailor?

Brag much?

Thanking you.

For bringing me the last ASA personnel to know the Pierce family's secrets.

You're welcome.

They all know you very well.

You're not gonna get out of here.

I've seen worse.

Visual. Visual.

He's on the move.

Flash out.

Flash in.

Go, go.

All sides clear.

Nothing here, sir.

He's here somewhere.

Help me. Okay.

All clear.

My left.

Pulling.

TC!

You okay?

Come on.

I got you.

Come on.

You're doing good.

You're doing good.

Look, so what's your assessment?

She's in a coma.

I'm sorry, honey, but you know how this goes.

It could be ten minutes, it could be ten years.

And there's no data to determine how the shape-shifting might affect it.

No.

Come on, come on, come on. There's gotta be something that you can do.

She needs to be some place where she can have constant care.

And we can pray.

The last of our troops are returning from Freeland.

The Americans have declined to keep prisoners of w*r, but demanded reparations for the damage to Freeland.

The Prime Minister has flatly refused.

Meanwhile, the Americans are conducting hearings to investigate the provocation that made our raid necessary...

Thanks, Ma.

The Commission has been convened by Congress to look into the Freeland conflict.

A heinous and brutal att*ck on American soil.

Among others, the vigilante known as Black Lightning is expected to testify.

The Neon n*gro's about to get his 15 minutes of fame.

He ain't nothing but a snitch.

Just like you.

Well, my brother, looks like it's time for me to pack my bags.

Things seem copacetic back home.

Plus, I got a date with a beautiful divorcee doctor.

She's gonna help me get the crown of Freeland that I am destined to wear.

I am pleased to report that every meta-human in Freeland has been stabilized.

And though I was able to fix their bodies, their lives remain shattered.

They're outsiders, in need of reassimilation into society, and education, a place to live.

I have your recommendations here for a boarding school keyed to the needs of Freeland's meta-humans.

This Congressional Commission hereby ratifies your plan.

Thank you.

The Commission calls Black Lightning.

So what happened in Freeland was not random.

It was the latest in a long, reprehensible history of experimenting on black people.

From trial-and-error surgeries on women in bondage, to giving men syphilis at Tuskegee, and now to decades of illegal human experimentation to create meta-humans.

All the evidence is in this briefcase.

The Chair recognizes Judge Isabella.

Black Lightning, where did you get that briefcase?

From the ASA.

Now, what you're looking at is the master control for the ASA's operation on meta-humans.

The Chair recognizes Judge von Eeden.

Black Lightning, I assume the information in there is encrypted, is it not?

It was.

But it's been cracked.

And it will reveal a crime against humanity orchestrated by the ASA, and brought to its height with Agent Odell and Freeland.

As Chair of the Commission on the Freeland conflict, I promise you this, Agent Odell is being detained, and he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Furthermore, the ASA will be disbanded, effective tomorrow.

For security reasons, everyone will remain where they are until Black Lightning, Thunder, and Lightning have left the building.

The lobby has been cleared for your exit.