Miles

**"Miles"** is the first episode of *Season 4: Remake* of *Strain Zero*, the remake of *The Walking Dead by EDStudios*. It is the eighteenth episode of the series overall.

## Plot

*With Fargo far behind them, the Pioneers finally approach their destination, only to discover that not everything is as it seems.*

## Synopsis

Almost two weeks after leaving Fargo behind them, the Pioneers convoy has grown to around 30 vehicles and nearly 80 survivors, many of whom are stragglers and scavengers. The convoy drives across the entirety of North Dakota, stopping off at any town or rest stop to gather supplies before moving on to the Montana border; at the border station they grab guns and ammo that the National Guard left behind. The convoy spends another five days driving across Montana, and are forced to leave several vehicles behind. Passing near Great Falls, they turn east to find Adams Air Force Base.

The exhausted convoy rests in the shade of a mountain; Henry, battered and gaunt, leads a team to scout the nearby planes. With Drew by his side, Henry scans the horizon before finally setting sights on the base in the distance. He notes several pillars of smoke rising from the base, effectively confirming survivors within. Heading back to the convoy, Henry decides to take a small group down to the base to make contact with the survivors, leaving the bulk of the convoy behind until the all-clear is delivered. Several people volunteer: Emma, Ben, Mike, Drew, Katrina, Gideon and, to everyone's shock, Bethany, who has grown more confident with weapons. Justinas and Holly also volunteer, but Henry refuses; he asks Justinas to guard and lead the convoy, and outright refuses to allow Holly to join him due to her morning sickness. He charges Kyle with protecting her, with the boy now referring to them both as his parents.

Taking the refridgeration truck down the valley, the scout team approach the reinforced gate of Adams Air Force Base, confused that there is no one around. They break the lock holding the gate shut and drive onto the grounds of the base, where they discover a second, more homemade border fence made out of scrap metal. A warning shot rings out and the truck grinds to a halt; a second shot impacts the windscreen, revealed to be an arrow with a piece of paper attached. Stepping outside, Henry approaches cautiously and grabs the paper, discovering a radio frequency written on it. Tuning his walkie-talkie, he attempts contact. A voice asks what his intensions are; Henry responds that they are simply looking to trade, and adds that his group means no harm. A screeching sound emerges as the makeshift barricade opens up and a truck adnorned with USAF colours approaches, driven by armed survivors.

They stop twenty feet from the group, armed with automatic weapons and grenades; the lead soldier throws an empty duffle bag at Henry's feet and demands that the group discard all their weapons; despite Emma's protests, the group does so, gently placing their knives and guns into the bag. The lead soldier asks what they have to trade; Henry admits that the truck is empty, but wants to discuss trade with the bulk of their convoy. Irritated, but interested, the lead soldier agrees to take them to the base's leader, a man called Grenowich.

The group are escorted past the barrier and into the base; Ben compares it to a "homeless camp", with lit braizers and hunched survivors all over the place. They are led to a spot near a disused hanger and escorted through the base on foot; suspicious survivors watch them closely, gaunt and restless. The soldiers lead them to the base's air traffic control tower; inside, they are introduced to a dreadlocked man covered in dirt. He introduces himself as Grenowich and once again asks for the group's intensions; Henry, unsettled by the unsubtle inspections of his people by the soldiers in the room, lies and says they were just passing through and wish to move on. Grenowich responds that there is no need, because their group won't be going anywhere. Before they can react, the group are forced to their knees, guns aimed at their heads; Grenowich remarks to his people that "hunting" is getting easier, even if there are less people out there. The group are blinded with black bags and dragged away; as the group yell and struggle, Henry overhears Grenowich order his men to apprehend the rest of Henry's people.

Meanwhile, up on the hill, Justinas, still recovering from his beating a few weeks earlier, scans the horizon through his rifle scope while watching Laika playing with Sarah and Lawrence with a smile on his face. Becky approaches, asking if he can see the scout group on the base's grounds or heading back. Justinas lowers his rifle to respond, telling Becky he has a bad feeling about the base and that he is worried about Laika, who is still struggling to speak English. Becky replies that Sarah struggles with crawling, and admits that she is disturbed that baby Lawrence makes few noises at all; she adds her confusion about Bethany volunteering for the scout team, considering that she is Lawrence's sole caretaker. Justinas shrugs that all parents face challenges, and they have to support one another. Becky smiles but pauses, telling Justinas that she sees something. Justinas looks through the scope to see a vehicle heading their way.

## Trivia

* First appearance of Grenowich

 **Season 5: Remake** | "Blood" • "Rules" • "Dissent" • "The Game" • "The Coming Storm" • "Brotherhood" • "Call to Arms"