Mariah's political career comes under fire, and Cottonmouth picks up information that could put Luke on the run.
Scarfe's ledger is found inadmissible in court and Stokes is released from prison, prompting Temple to urge Cage to stop him directly and placing Knight under investigation by Internal Affairs. Stokes reminisces about being abandoned by his mother and raised by Dillard at the behest of his grandmother, mobster Mama Mabel. As a child, Stokes' musical talents were encouraged by his uncle Pete, whom Mama Mabel later forced Stokes to kill after learning Pete had made side dealings with her rivals.
Dillard visits Stokes to convince him to let go of his obsession with Cage, which leads into an argument that ends with Dillard killing Stokes when he mocks the sexual abuse that Pete subjected her to. Knight finds out "Luke Cage" is an alias just as Cage meets Temple to reveal his true identity and is shot by Diamondback with the Judas, a special bullet made from Chitauri technology and capable of piercing Cage's skin.