03x02 - The Book of Occupation: Chapter Two: Maryam's Tasbih

[bunniefuu]

[Jefferson] Previously on Black Lightning...

-[woman on speaker] Name. -[Maryam] Maryam Luqman.

I can blend into any environment.

There's a clear and present Markovian thr*at and until that is eliminated, consider this protective custody.

There's no way I'm going on television and letting myself or this department become the face of your experiment gone wrong.

You will follow orders.

The experiments they did on me must have opened a door in me some kind of way.

This vision comes from within.

Like, clearer.

[Williams] Markovians breached the compound.

-[Odell] Put Freeland on lockdown. -Copy.

A room full of scared meta children ain't a good combination.

[Blackbird] We'll get them through and across soon.

Guys, come on! Let's go, quick!

[Blackbird groans]

[woman on speaker] Describe your current condition.

Bad.

I don't know how long I can take it.

I get muscle spasms all over.

[groaning]

[screams and whimpers]

[Maryam] I can't eat.

[vomits]

[Maryam] I'm falling apart.

Literally.

I'm losing all my hair.

I don't know what else to say, except, "Help me."

Please.

♪ Last night, I saw a superhero He was black ♪

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

[Stone k*ller] What's in the case?

I don't know.

How come the screen's blank?

I can't turn it on.

[Stone k*ller] Then what you want with it?

The case belongs to Tobias Whale.

It's important to him.

I don't know where to find Tobias, but as God is my witness, he'll find me if I got his.

And I'll be waitin'.

It's my sad duty to announce that the five young service members who were wounded when the Markovians att*cked the metahuman processing center have passed away.

The Markovians learned of the processing center through the media.

And consequently, all media inside Freeland has to be cleared with the ASA prior to broadcast within Freeland.

The blackout for outside media will continue until further notice.

No media goes out, and nothing comes in.

The ASA will spare no effort to rid Freeland of this foreign nuisance, and this department will give total and full cooperation.

-[system beeps] -[Henderson] Thank you.

[man] Good morning.

This is Truthteller Johnson with your Resistance Alert.

What Chief Henderson said was straight-up bull.

The only ones responsible for anybody dying is the ASA itself.

They've been doing our kids wrong for 30 years.

Listen to what they did to this sister.

[Nichelle] What they did was help Tobias Whale turn my child into a monster.

And when he decided to stop and do the right thing, they k*lled him! They m*rder*d my baby.

At least disguise her voice.

[beeping]

[Truthteller Johnson] That's truth, people.

And we won't stop telling it till Freeland is free.

Katie!

[Katie] Unable to trace, sir.

Sir, encrypted eyes-only message from Langley. Coming on your screen.

Get me Commander Williams!

[Katie] Dialing now, sir.

-You okay? -I feel awful.

And I'm worried about our daughters.

[Lynn] I keep reminding myself that Anissa's there.

She's been helping out at the house since they brought you in for testing.

When I looked at her the other day, I realized she is all grown. [chuckles softly]

Yeah, just ask her.

You wanna go through some of this data with me?

Seriously?

[electricity crackles]

Now, why do you think Odell's lettin' you see that data? Huh?

He's playing you.

[scoffs] Odell can have his little agenda.

But I'm not gonna let these children die just because the ASA wants to exploit them.

[sighs] It's strange. The testing is making you stronger.

You think everything about me, including my powers, is strange.

-What is-- -What's going on?

We can't hear anything in this room. Are you doin' that?

It's none of your business what I say with my wife!

Just doing my job, Mr. Pierce.

Get out of here, I'm about tired of all y'all.

[sighs] Commander, we're gonna need some privacy if we're gonna stay here for an extended time.

Of course.

How long do you expect us to be here?

-Can't say. -No, you mean you won't.

I mean what I say, meta.

Why's that sound like a curse word comin' out your mouth?

Jefferson.

[breathing heavily]

Commander, have our children been kept out of this as Odell promised?

As long as they refrain from using their abilities, they've been authorized to remain home.

-I wanna talk to 'em myself. -Can't do that.

Though we have secure communications on this end, there's a remote possibility of tracing a call from your home.

No, that is unacceptable.

We have a teenage daughter. There must be a way.

I'll have a secure phone brought in for you to record a message.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

In the meantime, please follow me.

Here.

Your new niche.

We hope you'll be comfortable.

It's been stocked with your favorite foods and beverages, including... your scotch... and your red wine.

Dr. Stewart, I'm glad you're looking at the data.

We have four Green Light babies and two pod kids deceased, with a dozen others not far behind.

We could use your help.

You have the run of the sector.

Don't get lost.

[Jefferson exhales heavily]

It's better.

See how he made a point to let us know they know our habits?

It's always about more and more power with the ASA. I've had it.

[Lynn] How can you be so certain?

These people weren't scared of Tobias, but they are scared of the Markovians.

Doesn't that say something to you?

What if the Markovians are some sort of pretext?

Like the so-called "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq?

The ASA has been dogging Freeland my whole life.

Now, we only hurt ourselves if we help them weaponize these kids--

What about the Green Light babies? And the pod kids?

Listen to me.

Now, if you don't help them, the ASA will see that they can't get their metahuman weapons here.

Eventually, they will abandon their master plan and leave Freeland.

Eventually?

You sound just as ready to sacrifice innocent children as Odell.

Well, I'm not.

[men speaking Russian]

[man 1 speaking Russian]

[man 2 speaking Russian]

[sighs heavily]

[speaking Russian]

[all exclaim]

Quarantine be damned. We're still police officers.

Sinzell Johnson. I want his grimy ass off the streets.

Effective immediately, we are going to stake out every known whereabouts--

[Williams] Listen up!

I'm Commander Williams.

Here under authority of martial law.

Detective Sergeant King, identify yourself.

[indistinct murmuring]

Take her.

Wait, what?

[man] You can't just take her.

Why?

We have intel that your officer is a Green Light user and a possible metahuman.

King?

[scoffs]

[man] Blackbird, are you okay?

[Blackbird] I'm fine.

Don't worry about me.

I heal fast, okay?

Now we have a ways to go, and I can't have any of you crampin' up.

[Anaya] Blackbird.

Another group?

So soon?

Look, I had to. Is there a problem?

Besides soldiers lookin' for them who are liable to sh**t us or lock us up?

Look, isn't that enough?

You already k*lled a dozen Perdi, including my mother.

Okay. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute.

You came to me then.

We risked our lives takin' on Looker and the Sange.

We saved Perdis' lives, including your babies.

Yeah, and I still have babies. They don't need this trouble.

None of us do.

Well, I made a deal with your father, okay?

Like I was sayin', please make sure you are hydrated.

I need you to make sure you have enough food in your system.

We have a lot to do.

[Jennifer sighs]

[chuckles] Yeah, that was a good one.

You know we have a doorbell, right?

You don't appear to be in distress.

Yeah, well, I just broke my microwave.

Wasting food during food rationing is pretty tragic.

I'm going to exempt your family from rationing.

Mmm-mmm.

Don't do that. We don't deserve to be above everybody else.

I need you to accept that you do.

You have unique gifts that require unique responsibility.

So, unique perks are appropriate.

Look, my dad would never...

Why are you here?

The, um... surveillance system crashed.

That's 'cause I crashed it.

It's creepy anyway, you watchin' me all the time.

Okay, all right.

Forget surveillance.

Where's Anissa?

She's in the shower. You wanna watch her, too?

We... [sighs]

There is a video from your parents on this.

They wanted you to have it and so do I.

Why?

This is not fair, but it's necessary.

Just want you to know we're on the same side.

If you, uh, need anything... anything at all...

you can reach me on that phone anytime, day or night.

-[Jefferson] Hey. -[Lynn] Hi, sweeties.

We're all right, okay? Perfectly fine.

We're just here as a precaution. We'll be home soon, okay?

We miss you!

-[Jefferson] Love you. -[Lynn] Love you.

[indistinct chatter]

There they are, right there.

All right.

Rayvon.

What's good?

Lala?

Man, what, you going campin' or somethin'?

That's some cool threads, man. [laughs]

You remember who gave you your start, don't you?

Yeah, all you, bruh.

[Lala] It's time for you to start again.

All y'all.

And how we do that?

We got tanks and troops up the ass.

Soldiers need dr*gs more than anybody else.

-They stressed out. -[Rayvon] Yeah, but how?

We ain't got no product.

[Lala chuckles] There's always a way.

Even in the joint, there's product.

Remember Sinzell?

[Lala] Yeah.

He lost my money and went to the pen.

Well, he got back. Right before the wall went up.

He runnin' protection.

Got a whole black market out here. Eleven blocks on lock.

Then we take it back.

Man, Sinzell a whole beast out here, with a dozen g*ns behind him.

And all you got is... well, you know, you.

[Lala inhales deeply]

[grunts softly]

Don't worry about it.

[man 1] There you go.

[man 2] Hey, can I get one more scoop of that, though?

[Blackbird] Make sure the line is moving, okay?

We have to talk?

Really, Anaya?

Listen, I know you have to consider the safety of the Perdi.

I don't wanna bring any harm to you, either.

On top of that, our business is limited with Freeland's quarantine.

So, givin' away all of this food--

[Blackbird] Whoa, whoa, whoa, I paid for this food.

We made a deal for safe passage through these woods.

We need to establish some limits. We need--

Thierry! Anaya! People are in trouble. They need help!

And the Perdi need to help themselves.

Look.

You took the money.

There's more where that came from, but you are not backin' out.

Do you hear me?

You are a guest here. You don't tell us how to do this.

I will tear this place down and you know I can.

Am I threatenin' you?

Hell, yeah.

[groaning]

-[grunting] -[people exclaiming]

Why'd you hit him so hard?

He could've been crippled for life.

He could've been dead a lot longer.

You're almost just as bad as the Sange.

Test me and I'll be worse.

Everybody eat!

[soldier 1] Northwest perimeter's secured.

[indistinct radio chatter]

[Henderson] Hmm.

What the hell do you want?

[beeps]

Well, get in the car, man.

Do you ever run out of weird-ass tech?

I know you're working closely with the ASA.

They have comm drives that can get through the firewall.

All I need is one.

Okay, well, I don't wanna go to Leavenworth for stealin' one.

[sighs]

Anissa is outside the perimeter.

The ASA will put her in a cage if they catch her trying to get back in.

And there's no way she stays out with her family inside.

With a comm drive, I can bring her home safely.

Otherwise...

Look, that girl is my heart.

I was there when she took her first steps, I cheered for her at her graduation, but I got a wife to look after.

And this job is more than a job. I swore an oath.

Screw your oath. This is no time to be worrying about oaths.

-It's a matter of life and death. -You think I don't know that?

Look...

Get the hell out of my car.

No, look.

Hard times, hard choices.

You're the only one that can help Anissa. The only one.

What's it gonna be?

I'm so glad you're here, Dr. Stewart.

I think I'm dying.

No, don't think like that.

I'm gonna help you, okay?

You lost your hair, your fingernails...

Anything else?

My eyes bleed.

That must be scary.

Now, your brain scans are almost normal.

What's wrong with me?

[sighs] The human body wasn't designed to do what a meta can do.

We know how to stabilize the cells, but... that doesn't last if you use your powers.

[Maryam] Fine.

I won't use them.

[sighs] The damage is already done.

It's like a cr*ck in a windshield.

It keeps getting bigger until the glass breaks.

-No, I'm not gonna let it get that far. -[Maryam shudders]

I promise.

Okay?

[door opens]

[Henderson] All right. All right. All right.

You ain't gotta put your hands on me.

Get off of me.

Where's your commander?

What can I do for you, Chief?

You give back Sergeant King.

That's a non-starter.

[Henderson] Where is she?

At the processing center.

[Henderson] You mean that prison camp?

[Williams] Chief, I strongly suggest you watch your tone... and keep your distance.

[Henderson] I don't need your damn suggestions.

You put a sworn police officer in a prison camp?

She's a public servant with a perfect record, on a force where I got problems out the ass.

And you snatch her up over some damn rumors about Green Light?

[Williams] My orders are clear and so are yours.

-I don't care about your freakin' orders. -[man] All right, let's go.

I'm talkin' about some common damn decency.

I'm the damn Chief of Police!

[door lock beeps]

[indistinct chatter]

It's my last five dollars.

[man] Ain't that your man?

Oh, hell, no.

Y'all gougin' the people?

For food?

For bread and crackers?

For bread and crackers?

This ain't right, man.

Ain't none of this right.

The One Hundred, the warrior class of Freeland.

And y'all out here fightin' over crumbs?

[vehicle approaching]

Okay. Okay.

You owe me money.

I'm takin' all this back.

[crowd screaming and shouting]

Y'all thought I was just gonna let him talk all that?

Huh?

Move the truck to the next spot.

-[Lala gasps] -[man] Oh, hell, no.

[Lala groaning softly]

[man] Damn.

Oh, my God!

That did not just happen.

-[Lala grunts softly] -[man] Damn!

[tsking]

[Sinzell whimpers]

[man] Oh, my God!

[Anaya] It's all set.

We leave at sundown.

[Blackbird] That wasn't so bad, was it?

And you have a bunch of temporary farmhands.

No.

You don't have a choice.

I'm sorry, Thierry, but it is what it is.

Maybe we can work somethin' out.

Just know we'll never trust you again.

[Blackbird] Yeah, I know you better keep your promises.

[Gambi] Anissa, are you reading me?

Uncle Gambi? How did you make a call out of Freeland?

I'm inside the ASA's system.

Look, I can bring you in anytime, sweetheart.

But I've got some bad news.

What is it?

The Markovians have got special forces units patrolling the area around Freeland's perimeter.

Looks like pathfinder units doing a pre-invasion reconnaissance.

And I'm reading a patrol that's within spitting distance from where you are.

No. If they find out where the Perdi farm is, it jeopardizes everything.

Guide me to them.

And there's another unit at six o'clock.

Wait until they pass by.

Now!

[both groan]

[Gambi] You're close. Fifteen yards.

[Blackbird grunting]

[indistinct chatter in Russian]

[speaking Russian]

-[Blackbird grunts] -[groans]

[Gambi] Get out of there, Anissa.

[rapid beeping]

[speaking Russian]

Okay, I'm gonna need you to blast the plate and keep building your output.

Maryam, I need you to blend with each hologram, okay?

Good.

Keep going. Keep building.

Little more.

Good.

-[Maryam grunting] -[Lynn] That's good.

Keep going. Keep building.

That's really good.

Keep going.

More.

-That's good. -[Maryam groans]

Little more.

Keep going. Keep building.

[Lynn] Okay.

[gasps] Maryam?

Oh, my God.

Wait, Lynn. Lynn! Is she okay?

I don't know.

[Maryam breathing heavily]

Those Khalil's drawings, aren't they?

Yeah.

That boy could draw.

He actually did some of me. Look, check 'em out.

Tavon, does it look like I want company?

Nah, wait.

I'm sorry.

Jen!

I'm Jamillah Olsen, inside ASA-occupied Freeland.

Though the ASA has instituted a ban on all outgoing communication and censorship on all communication inside of Freeland, this reporter will continue to exercise her First Amendment rights.

Scores of people have been pulled off the streets by ASA troops and commandos.

People resisting have been beaten and sh*t.

ASA tanks and heavily-armored checkpoints enforce the total isolation of Freeland with curfews and rationing inside it.

Nevertheless, Markovia recently launched a daring att*ck on an ASA detainment facility resulting in ASA casualties.

Meanwhile, resistance has begun to arise, and their symbol is a metahuman the people call "Blackbird."

It is perhaps the unanswered questions that are the most troubling.

Where are the city's heroes, Black Lightning and Thunder?

And what is the ASA doing with the pod kids and the Green Light babies?

-I'm Jamillah Olsen. -[soldier] Stop recording.

[woman on speaker] Name.

Painkiller.

[woman over speaker] Confirm.

-Is your brain chip up and working? -Yes.

-Spinal implant functioning? -Perfectly.

-Legs? -Fully functional.

List pre-installed software.

Human anatomy, small arms marksmanship, m*llitary history.

Add a classical education.

[woman] Adding.

List new capacity.

Master's degree level in literature, philosophy, and mathematics.

Good.

Commander Williams?

Painkiller, what is your function?

[Painkiller] I'm a biological weapons system.

Katie, now.

[Odell] This is your target.

Terminate with prejudice.

Yes, sir.

Permission to speak freely, sir?

Be brief.

I believe it unwise to send the Painkiller asset to that particular target first time out.

The brain chip is in place and it's working.

It hasn't been tested.

This is the test.

But having him k*ll his own mother?

If there's anything that could reverse a mindwipe...

Meaning the brain chip doesn't work, but... if he kills her...

Then we know it does.

And can be applied as required... for human and metahuman alike.

Maryam?

Hi. Uh...

Are you okay?

[Maryam] No.

No, I'm not okay.

They told me to take a break and eat.

But what's the point? I'm just gonna have to throw it up.

Yeah, I feel you.

I mean, I felt the same way.

-Hold on. -[electricity crackling]

There. Now, we can talk privately.

You have powers like Black Lightning's.

Yeah, uh, kinda.

Look, have you seen more like us?

Uh-huh.

They even make us fight.

Really?

People get hurt real bad here.

But I guess we'll fall apart on our own, anyway.

I know one girl who lost her fingers and her toes.

They just fell off.

Have you seen a, uh, six-foot albino man?

No.

[exhales]

Okay, thanks.

Make sure you get some rest, all right?

Never underestimate the power of a good nap.

I trust you're making progress?

Some.

Good.

Help me out here.

I've been reviewing data myself, and I noticed, uh, a spike...

in Mr. Pierce's neuron activity that correlates with an energy flux that we're reading at the lab.

Can you tell me about this?

[Lynn] I have no idea.

Neuron spikes and energy fluctuations happen all the time.

-It's probably nothing. -[Odell] Hmm.

That's funny, because... we're detecting the exact same energy flux... right now.

[Lynn] Mmm.

This is good.

I wanna thank you for helping me with Maryam today.

I really appreciate it.

[sighs] Her condition worries me.

Well, I saw her. She seems to be recovering.

You saw her?

Yeah, I checked on her while you were in the lab.

[Lynn] That was nice of you.

Turns out I was right.

The ASA has them fighting each other.

Wait.

You pumped a sick teenager for information?

Do you even consider the kind of trouble she could get into?

No, I threw up the static field, like I use for our privacy.

Yeah, "use" is the right word.

You "used" Maryam 'cause you just gotta be in control, jeopardizing all of us in the process.

Wait. What are you talking... I told you.

-They couldn't hear. -They don't need to hear us, Jeff!

They've got your energy signature. They know when you're using your powers.

All I did was ask the questions that you should be asking.

Look, I think I understand what she's going through

-a lot better than you do. -No, you don't.

You've had all the life experiences to deal with this.

She hasn't.

-None of us know what she's going through. -All I'm saying is

-I understand what it means to-- -As for questions, I'm a doctor.

I think I know what questions to ask my patients.

But you're so convinced that everybody has to follow your lead, you're making this into something that it's not.

[Jefferson] Wow.

Odell has finally figured you out, hasn't he?

Yeah, he's got you runnin' to tell him anything and everything.

As long as he lets you play in the lab.

I see Odell perfectly clearly.

And I am not "playing."

Tell me you weren't just talkin' to him just now behind my back.

I don't need your permission to talk to anyone.

No, you don't. Talk about me.

Tell him exactly how my powers work.

[sighs] Lights out.

You should trust me.

[knocking on door]

[gasps] Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

I don't believe it. [crying]

Thank you, Lord.

Let me look at you, son.

Khalil... are you okay?

Nichelle Payne?

You don't know me?

I don't need to.

What's happened to you?

How come you don't know your own--

[Nichelle choking]

[continues choking]

[bones snap]

[bell rings]

[students exclaiming]

[girl] Hit him. Hit him!

[all] Ooh!

Yo! Yo, yo, yo! Stop, stop, stop!

Yo, just 'cause we in here like animals, does not mean we have to act like it.

[all booing]

-You ain't the queen of Garfield. -Can we please hold on to our dignity?

Damn, hold onto somethin'?

Hey, shut up, bitch. [panting]

You're next.

[students exclaiming]

Y'all are the b*tches.

And believe me, this ain't a problem you want.

Hold up. Hold up. Where you going? Hold that.

[Jennifer grunts]

[boy] Yo, come on. Get up.

[Jennifer grunting]

-[students cheering] -[boy] Yeah!

Stop! Stop!

[panting]

I guess we can't hold on, huh?

Everything's different now.

And so am I.

[students laughing]

[closing theme music playing]