Lucas stands in front of the Parole Board later that afternoon, as promised. They stamp his file, releasing him. "Thank you," he smiles and minutes later, he is released from Seagate Prison. He looks up at the towering building as the electronic gate closes behind him. He waits until the guard leaves before reaching out, touching the fence with the tips of his fingers. He twists, casually snapping a piece of it off between his fingers and takes a look. "Wow," he mutters and continues to the car waiting nearby. He gets in the back with McIver next to him.
"Ready to visit your new apartment?"
"Can we make a stop along the way?"
"Sure thing. Where would you like to go?"
Lucas arrives in a graveyard with McIver waiting behind him. He kneels in front of a tombstone and lays some flowers on his grandmother's grave. "I love you, granny," he says and the two leave.
"So sad about your grandmother," McIver tells him.
"Thanks."
"I'm sure you must be very angry right now. You're not sure what you want to do."
"I ain't angry. She used to tell me how everything that happens is God's plan or whatever. I'll ride this thing out. I'm on parole and I got a job. Other than that, I have my health and more."
"Much more," McIver nods and leads him back to the car.
Jessica Jones walks through a cellblock along with the Warden at Seagate Prison. They pass several cells as they talk, Jessica recording his statements as they go.
"So the medical experiment was carried out by a Prof. Burstein, working for a man named John McIver?"
"Yes."
"So what can you tell me about the medical experiments?"
"I'm not entirely sure. You'll have to ask Prof. Burstein."
"So you allowed your prisoners to undergo medical treatments that you were not fully aware of?"
"No... they volunteered," he states defensively, "As part of a rehabilitation program, I might add."
"And this program did not take into account the actions of a guard attempting to murder a prisoner?"
"Albert Rackham was on suspension and has since been killed, Ms. Jones."
"I see. Just one more question: What company sponsors Seagate Prison."
"The Syndyne Corporation," the Warden becomes increasingly annoyed.
"And who owns them?"
"Ms. Jones, I am very busy. I have no time for this," he motions to a guard, "The guard will see you out."
"Thanks for your time."
As Jessica is led out, she passes a cell with Tim and Tom Stuart. They leer at her as she walks by, smirking to one another. "Hey, y'know it's my brother's birthday," Tim shouts, "Wanna give him a present?". They both laugh. She never looks at them.
Willis Stryker is brought in to the visiting room at Ryker's Island. Sonny Caputo sits on the other side of the plexiglass, holding the reciever.
"Hey, Sonny. What's up, man?".
"Carl Lucas just made parole."
"What? Hell no!"
"Don't worry. I hear he's moving back to Harlem."
"Is he gonna get a visit?"
"Apparently, the boss has other plans in mind."
"So we're still taking orders, huh?"
"Yeah. Sit tight."
"What else am I gonna do in here?"
"Well,... You won't be in here forever. You still owe us a favor, remember."
In Harlem, Lucas enters his new apartment. It's old and very small but he seems content. McIver follows him in, looking less pleased.
"The state gave you such a small apartment. I could set you up with a better place. Much bigger than this."
"It's fine. I like being back in my old neighborhood."
"I see. A car will be picking you up in the morning to take you to Burstein's labratory. Make sure you're ready."
"All right."
McIver begins to leave but stops, "And what about the gang who put you away?"
"The Rivals?"
"They tried to kill you in prison, yeah?"
"Yeah,... tried."
"You might want to be careful. They may come after you out here."
"I'm not worried. Doesn't seem like too many things can hurt me."
The next morning, Lucas is placing his hand over a bunsen burner in Burstein's lab. He waves his hand over the tip of the flame, moving back and forth without flinching.
"Nothing?," Burstein asks.
"Nah, I don't feel a thing."
"Can I increase the flame?"
"Go ahead."
Burstein turns up the heat, making the flame go higher. Lucas' entire hand is now inside it but still unhurt, "Still nothing". Burstein increases the temperature a little bit more, turning the flame blue. "Ah," Lucas exclaims and pulls back, "Felt it that time." Burstein takes notes.
A little while later, Burstein preps Lucas while holding a syringe.
"I'll just take a little blood sample," Burstein brings the needle against his arm, "You probably won't even feel -," he stops suddenly.
"What's wrong?"
He holds up a bent syringe, "The needle broke."
"Lemme see that," Lucas reaches for it but shatters the syringe once he takes hold. "Sorry," he apologizes, "Still don't know how strong I am." Burstein nods and decides upon the next test.
Lucas and Burstein are now in the university gym with several athletes working out around them. He lays on a bench with a bar filled with weights above his head. "Whenever you're ready," Burstein explains. Lucas lifts, casually hefting hundreds of pounds over his head. Burstein gawks at him and those working out around them stop to stare. "This is nothing," Lucas admits. "We're gonna need more weight," Burstein motions for him to come along.
They stand outside in the parking lot, a large SUV sitting in front of them. Lucas rubs his neck and looks over the vehicle. "Whenever you're ready," Burstein says casually as he takes notes. "Okay, let's see what I can do," Lucas stoops down, placing both arms under the SUV.
He lifts with his knees, slowly taking the entire vehicle into his arms. The tires begin to lift off the ground and Burstein's jaw drops. Lucas grunts loudly as he stands up, lifting the entire SUV off the ground. He bites his lower lip, straining to hold it at chest level. "I got it!," Lucas holds it up awkwardly while Burstein quickly scirbbles in his notes.
"I-I can't believe this," he exclaims, "This is phenominal. I've never seen anything like -"
"Can I put this damn thing down now?"
"Oh, oh yes!"
Lucas places the SUV back on the ground and takes another look at his arms, "You must really trust me if you let me handle your car like that."
"Oh, this isn't my car," Burstein continues writing notes.
"It's... What?"
Later, they walk across campus. "So professor, what's the verdict?"
"As far as I can see, your skin is almost indestructible. Your strength, obviously, is beyond human capability."
"So is it temporary? Will it go away?"
"So far, it would seem it's permanent. The nanos were designed to completely rewrite your genetic code. I don't see this fading away."
"Crazy."
"How do you feel about that?"
"I don't know... I mean, it's not everyday you get super strength, y'know? What do you think I should do with it?"
"I think you're the only person qualified to answer that question at the moment."