Aftermath

**"Aftermath"** is the first episode of *Season 6: Remake* of *Strain Zero*, the remake of *The Walking Dead by EDStudios*. It is the thirty-third episode of the series overall.

## Plot

*The communities reel from Henry's bold move while the Frontiersmen begin their march to war. Far away, Emma and her group face a new kind of danger.*

## Synopsis

Henry, reeling from Ben's death, receives a call from Kieron on the tower's radio, demanding to know what happened to the dam. Henry defiantly says that he didn't want anyone to die, but hostilities can cease now that Albert has been dealt with. Enraged, Kieron threatens to take Graystone away from the Pioneers; unfazed, Henry tells him that his people will be ready. He adds that the communities will not tolerate Delta Force's laws anymore, and tells Kieron to either lick his wounds or prepare for war. He shuts off the radio as Samuel, driving Albert's gun truck, arrives to pick him up while Kieron orders Jane's arrest and sends troops to Graystone.

On the road, Samuel questions whether everything they did was worth it, and if the prisoners can even by trusted. Henry vouches for Cara, explaining that she saved his life years ago when Albert tried to kill him. They return to Prescott to celebrations: Cara's dissidents have been freed and all of Delta Force's assets seized, including a stockpile of guns. Henry reclaims his rifle and formally forms the Militia with Achilles and Katherine, who is now on their side. They decide to use the F.O.B. as a temporary headquarters while they weather out the storm and wait to hear from the Crew. Ashleigh suddenly comes on the radio and reports a Frontiersmen raid; Samuel races to help in the gun truck and Henry joins him.

Elsewhere, bound and blinded, the Crew wake up inside a moving vehicle, closely watched by Jackal and his men. He taunts Laika and Emma that they will go the "The Boar" while Mike and Drew will be fighting stock. Unbeknownst to Jackal, Emma breaks her thumb and slips out of her bounds, waiting for a chance to strike, while Laika's condition begins to worsen.

Henry and Samuel arrive at Fairbanks to find it on fire despite the blizzard and Ashleigh leading the farm's defence. To their shock, the approaching Frontiersmen, surrounded by walkers, are using wielding guns. Samuel rescues Ashleigh and orders the folk to evacuate just as a thrown torch sets the barn on fire. Henry decides to save the trapped horses while Samuel and Ashleigh lay down covering fire with the gun truck; with the doors locked and unable to find the key, he climbs into the barn from the roof and opens the doors from the inside, only to face Eduard, the new war chief. Each armed with machetes, they engage in a brutal fight.

Kieron's reinforcements arrive at Graystone, still in the midst of the riot, where Robbins hears of his brother's murder. Maldoon takes command and orders her troops to stand down while she tries to negotiate; using a megaphone, Maldoon gives Holly and her people a final chance to stand down, but Holly reminds her that the hostages, including Tanya, will die if the barricade is removed. With her soldiers barking to attack, Maldoon apologises and orders her troops to advance on the barricade.

The soldiers begin pushing, throwing David and his team off balance before they begin pushing back. Kyle organizes a second furniture run to reinforce the barricade while Holly, in the midst of planning, vomits from morning sickness, confirming her pregnancy to the watching Hope and Becky. Tanya, despite being a hostage, continues to care for the injured Lawrence; Tanya announces that the boy needs blood and, luckily, is a universal recipient. Meanwhile, Kyle and Abigail split off from the team and climb over the town's wall, planning to flank the soldiers and steal weapons from their trucks. They duck into the trees to avoid being spotted and discover a mass of walkers, attracted by the gunfire, moving towards the town. On closer inspection, Kyle spots several torches in the mass: Frontiersmen guides.

The exhausted Henry and vengeful Eduard continue their melee battle, but Henry is quickly overwhelmed and thrown to the ground. Eduard taunts that he will face the Baptism of Fire only to be interrupted by Isabella, who shoves Eduard into the burning fields. Isabella helps Henry to his feet and together they climb into the gun truck as the survivors flee the burning farm.

Emma finally seizes her chance and remove her bounds, catching Jackal by surprise, and steals his weapon. She demands that they be returned home, but Jackal, unfazed, reveals why Laika is so sick: he poisoned his arrowhead, and will give her the antidote if Emma stands down. Emma remains bound for the rest of the journey; when they arrive, the Jackal introduces them to the Animals' leader, Grendel.

Eduard surveys the burning ruins of Fairbanks farm, bowing as Nathan arrives with the full force of the Frontiersmen.