- As the battle continues, old alliances are revisited and new alliances forged.
- The Pierces and their allies return to Freeland after rescuing Lynn and Jace. Lynn deals with addition, Jeff deal with Odell, Peter deals with Lady Eve, and TC and Jennifer deal with Painkiller. The secret origin of Gravedigger is revealed as Peter finally gets the briefcase.—Gislef
- Peter tells Jace that he could have prevented the war between the U.S. and Markovia 40 years ago... if he hadn't disobeyed orders and left her alive. He aims a gun at her, and Jace points out that Peter didn't kill her. She says that she was forced to work for both sides, and if Markovia wins the meta arms race, everything they know will be wiped out. Jace insists that they're working on the same side now, and Peter lowers his gun and asks what she learned about the Markovian leader. She says that his name is G4ravedigger, and he wants all of the stable metas.
Jeff tells Odell that the mission was a success and his team recovered Lynn and Jace. He says that he's holding Odell to the deal he made with Grey, and Grey points out that Jeff let Tobias escaped. She says that Jeff's team botched the mission and the Markovians have surrounded Freeland. Odell dismisses Grey and tells Jeff that Erica has been returned to her family. The agent says that all of the team members, including Jace, will have their names excised from the records. Jeff tells him that they also came across Gravedigger in Markovia, and he's leading the Markovian invasion against Freeland. Odell claims he isn't familiar with Gravediggers'a name, but will do due diligence on the meta. He asks Jeff if he can count on him in the coming war, and Jeff says that Odell can't but Freeeland can.
Anissa tries to cool Jennifer down with ice, and they discuss Painkiller. Jennifer insists that his name is Khalil, and says that he still needs her help. Anissa wonders what happens if Painkiller gets loose, but Jennifer figures Khalil can control Painkiller. Her sister warns that they're not the same people they were when they were in love, and warns that Painkiller is a wild animal. Jennifer points out that Grace is a shapechanged animal, and Anissa asks if Jennifer can say that Khalil never hurt her.
Devonte collects payment money from Lady Eve, and she assures Devonte she paid what she owes Lala. She asks if any of her girls caught Devonte's eye, and says that Lala's lieutenant should know the quality of her "product".
Later, Devonte meets with Destiny and her girls, and one of them gives him a drugged drink. he picks one girl, Charlotte, and leaves with her.
TC confirms that the firewall on Khalil's Painkiller chip is holding up. Peter suggests that Khalil find a safe emotional structure to deal with his PTSD, and offers him sketch pads. Khalil refuses, saying he can take care of himself, and Peter asks if he's be willing to talk to someone about his PTSD. Peter says that he'll link Khalil up with Perenna once the occupation is over, and until then Khalil should express himself through his art.
Inside of Khalil's head, Painkiller pounds on the firewall door.
At the Pierce home, Jeff and Lynn make dinner together. Lynn weakens briefly and Jeff catches her, and leads her to a stool. Jeff confirms that she's sweating, and his wife admits that she's going through withdrawal. She says that she now understands the lure that Jeff experienced when being Black Lightning, and why he couldn't stop. Lynn apologizes for forcing him to be someone he wasn't, and Jeff apologizes for not being there when she needed him. Going through more withdrawal, Lynn runs upstairs to her room.
Brandon paces nervously in his apartment, and tells Jennifer to take him to Jace. Jennifer says that taking a life changes someone, and says that killing Jace is more execution than justice when they're in Freeland. Brandon asks to just speak to Jace.
Lady Eve watches video of Charlotte questioning Devonte under the influence of the drug. He says that Lala has Tobias' briefcase, and Lala will kill Tobias when he comes to collect. Lady Eve tells Destiny to set up a meeting with Lala.
Anissa finds Lynn in the bathroom, gasping for breath and going through withdrawal. Lynn gets hold of herself and thanks Anissa for coming to family dinner. Anissa says that Grace won't be there because she needs rest after shapechanging so extensively during the mission to Markovia, Lynn snaps at Anissa when she tries to help her, then asks Anissa to forgive her explaining that it's the withdrawal. Anissa assures her that Lynn has nothing to be ashamed of and they'll get her through it, and they hug. Once Anissa leaves, Lynn takes out a hidden stash of glimmer Light and looks at it.
Jeff tells his family what he told Odell, and says that he was hoping all of them would protect Freeland. When his daughters hesitate, Jeff asks if they have a better idea. Jennifer says that Odell needs to go, and Jeff and Lynn say that it's better to deal with the devil they know. Both adults say that they want to start over with a clean slate, and Lynn admits that she found her last stash of glimmer and puts it out on the table. Anissa and Jennifer say that they're there for Lynn, and Jennifer destroys the glimmer.
Anissa says that she thinks Grace might be the one for her. Jennifer isn't surprised, and Anissa asks her to reveal a secret. The youngest Pierce says that she was working with Odell and he tricked her into killing Markovians at the data farm. Lynn sympathizes since Odell tricked her into using glimmer. Anissa assures Jennifer that she did what was right, and Jeff tells them about Crisis. He then says grace over dinner and eat.
Lady Eve calls Lala into her office and she says she's asked Lala there for a personal matter. Devonte draws his gun and Lady Eve has her guards escort him out. Lady Eve offers to help Lala open the briefcase, and says that she can give him what he truly wants. Lala says that when Tobias comes to get the briefcase, Lala will have his revenge. Lady Eve points out that Lala can't hurt Tobias because Tobias programmed him, and recites the control words. Lala convulses and Lady Eve tells him to sit down. She then says that Tobias works for her and she runs the Shadow Board. Tobias used her technology to keep Lala on his leash. She offers to undo it and gives the code phrase to release Lala from her control. Lala gets to his feet, and Lady Eve asks if he's interested.
At Anissa's loft, Anissa complains to Grace about Jennifer not believing Painkiller is dangerous. Grace says that Khalil is Jennifer's first love and she'll protect him no matter what. She advises Anissa to cut Jennifer some slack, and invites Anissa to join her for a romantic relationship. Anissa gives in but vows to kill Khalil if he hurts Jennifer. Shonda interrupts to say that Anissa has a message. It's Anaya, who asks Blackbird for help. Anissa contacts her, and says that the invading Markovians have found them and the survivors are heading for the ASA checkpoint. After having Shonda contact Jeff to have him meet her, she tells Grace to suit up.
Jennifer and Brandon confront Jace in her lab. Brandon demands to know why Jace experimented on his mother while she was pregnant with him. Jace casually mentions Brandon's mother Helen, and Brandon unleashes his earth-controlling. He pulls off a cylinder with his mother's crystallized ashes, and uses his powers to transform them into a dagger. Brandon says that his mother will kill Jace even if he doesn't. Jace points out that he gave Brandon his powers and a new life. Brandon throws the crystal shards into Jace's chest, and Jennifer has Brandon back off. Jace says that Brandon's father tried to kill him with similar powers, and says that Brandon will never find out the truth if she kills him. When Brandon's continues unleashing his powers, Jennifer shocks him to stop him and leads him out.
The ASA commandoes at the checkpoint open fire on the Markovians as they shoot at the refugees. Black Lightning flies down, blasts some of the Markovians, and shields the refugees and invaders against the Markovian bullets. Thunder and Grace attack the Markovians while the refugees run.
The heroes get Anaya and the refugees to safety, and Anaya says that the Markovians overruns the Markovians. The ASA doesn't have enough resources to help the refugees, so Black Lightning knows someone who does.
Peter captures one of one of the assassins that Lady Eve sent after him, cuts out his eye, and tells him to tell Lady Eve not to miss the next time she orders his assassination.
Jennifer takes Brandon to the sanctuary and tells him to ask TC for help finding his father. Brandon wonders if he takes after his father the way Jennifer does, and Jennifer says that Jace won't tell him the truth no matter what. They talk to TC, who is with Khalil as he draws. Jennifer notices Khalil sketching her with a mask, and he says that sketching help. She offers to listen if he needs someone to talk to, and says that she knows he would never hurt her.
TC has overheard Brandon and Jennifer talking, and agrees to help. Khalil "glitches", staring off into space, and TC comes over and reluctantly projects his consciousness into the chip. Painkiller says that he still has his mission to kill the Pierce family, and when he escapes he's going to make TC watch and listen as they scream. The program breaks out of his confinement and grabs TC... and in the real world Khalil knocks out Brandon and chokes Jennifer.
TC breaks free of Painkiller's grip and fights him. TC manages to knock Pain killer back into his room and seal the door, and in the real world Khalil releases Jennifer. He stares in shock at her and walks off. Jennifer tries to control her own energy powers as they run out of control, and finally manages to restrain them.
Later, Jennifer goes out her bedroom window and sits on the porch. Khalil approaches her and insists that it's him, not Painkiller. Jennifer summons an energy burst and says that Anissa was right about him, and Khalil apologizes. He warns that he's not himself anymore, and doesn't know who he is. Khalil warns that he has to learn to live with Painkiller, but Jennifer says that she doesn't have to. He says that he needs Jennifer to believe he still has a soul. Jennifer tells him that she can't love a weapon that is pointed at her family, even if it has a soul, and turns away. Khalil starts to go and Jennifer says that she'll see him around. he says that she won't and leave.
Lady Eve enters Peter's shop, gun drawn. Peter steps out of the shadows, shotgun drawn, and says that killing her deserved a personal touch. He tells Lady Eve to speak her peace, and Lady Eve lowers her gun and admits that she set a contract on Peter's life. Tobias tried to have her killed because of what Peter did, and suggests they let bygones be bygones. Peter asks what she wants, and Lady Eve hands over the briefcase. She admits that she can't open it but figures Peter can. He asks what she wants, and Lady Eve says that the ASA has shattered Freeland. She wants Peter to use the briefcase to take down the ASA, and either way her quarrel with Peter is over.
When Lady Eve leaves, Peter takes the briefcase to the sanctum. He tells TC that it's their top priority, and TC manages to open it with his powers. When Peter opens the case, he and TC stare at the contents and smile.
Later, Peter calls in Jeff and Lynn and says that the briefcase contains the genome of every meta the ASA has ever come in contact with. It updates whenever the ASA comes in contact with a new meta, and proves that the USA financed Markovian research decades before they brought the research to the U.S. The research started with Gravedigger, aka American soldier Tyson Sykes.
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During World War II, racists taunted Tyson until he fought back. Once they knocked him out, the government gave him the choice between court martial or experimentation. Sykes survived where hundreds died, gaining superhuman strength and speed, and the ability to "push" others. The government spent him on countless missions and he acquired the codename :"Gravedigger".
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Tyson is Meta Prime, the first meta in human history. Gravedigger is the only part of the program that survived, and the U.S. has spent billions trying to recreate the meta program. Markovia was the perfect strategic location during the Cold War: close to Russia and lacking laws against human experimentation. After a couple, the U.S. was thrown out of Markovia. Peter was sent there afterward with a covert mission to extract Jace, and that led to the start of the ASA. Every President since FDR has known of the program and funded it.
Peter figures that Odell was telling the truth about not knowing Gravedigger. Peter hadn't heard about him, and Gravedigger refused to live in the U.S. where he wasn't wanted. Gravedigger is in charge of the Markovian military, living like a king, and he has a grudge against the ASA, the U.S., and the Pierces. Lynn says that she left the formula for the meta booster in Markovia, and figures that Gravedigger would unstoppable with any meta power he wants.
In Markovia, Gravedigger gets a shot of the meta booster. Mosin tells him that transport to Freeland has been assured, but they've lost Tobias. He asks what Gravedigger would have him do, and Gravedigger uses his newfound powers to telekinetically kill Mosin. The doctor says that the booster is a success, and Gravedigger says that vengeance lies in one man: him.
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