No Time Left (Remake)

**"No Time Left"** is the first episode of *Season 3: Remake* of *Strain Zero*, the remake of *The Walking Dead by EDStudios*. It is the eleventh episode of the series overall.

## Plot

*Months have passed since our group set out on their search for "Greencole". Hardened by their losses and fuelled by their bonds, they are still unprepared for the threat that lies ahead...*

## Synopsis

### Prologue

A badly bruised and bloodied Henry waits beside the corner of a hallway. He calms his breathing as he raises a machete and places the cold blade against his forehead; his right ring finger is but a stump. He listens for heavy footsteps and strikes, thrusting the machete into the gut of an armed survivor. Henry grabs his victim's collar and forces the still-living survivor backwards, using him as a human shield against a small group of armed opponents. As his first victim is shot to death, Henry waits until the others reload before removing his machete from the corpse and engaging them directly. Striking one across the jaw, he severs the shooting hand of another and slashes his throat, using the momentum to spin arund and strike the other along the chest and thighs, tearing through his femoral artery.

Leaving his victims to bleed, Henry marches towards another survivor, who decides to engage him with his own machete. Henry brings his machete down on the blocking opponent before kicking him hard in the groin, knocking him off balance. He grabs his opponent's fist to pull his arm aside before thrusting his machete into the enemy's throat, keeping eye contact as the life drains from his opponent. Henry takes the gun from his victim's breast-mounted holster and fires two shots down the hallway, striking another in the shoulder. Once again using a body as a human shield, Henry staggers towards a fifth enemy and throws his machete in an arc towards him; the blade clatters off the bewildered survivor, distracting him and allowing Henry to stand up and fire three shots into his chest, killing him. Retrieving his machete, Henry walks towards a half-open door, at which point he is struck around the head and falls to his knees.

### Part I

A lone figure, their clothes darkened with blood and dirt, kills a solitary walker with a blow to the head with a broken fire axe, their face covered by their knotted shoulder-length hair. With the axe in their left hand and a Mark 23 in the other, the figure enters an abandoned house and cautiously makes their way through it, checking every room for walkers. They find the cabinets to be empty and make their way upstairs. They find every room stripped bare and finds the master bedroom's door to be locked. The figure kicks it open and aims their gun, only to discover the blinds drawn and two half-rotten corpses, a man and woman, lying on the bed, holding hands and dried blood covering their pillows. The figure takes a closer look and discovers a revolver in the man's hand, as well as gunshot wounds to both their heads. The figure takes the half-loaded revolver and pockets it before standing at the foot of the bed, considering the deceased's decision.

Slowly footsteps approach, but the figure does not flinch. Another survivor, David, appears in the doorway and asks if they found anything. The figure, revealed to be Henry, does not answer. David approaches to place a hand on Henry's shoulder, reassuring him that the couple went out how they wanted, "anything than being one of *them*". Henry grunts his agreement as David begins searching the closet, where he finds several clean clothes. Henry asks if David has seen Drew around, but David replies that he hasn't seen him since they all left camp that morning. Henry finally turns his gaze away, "Best we find him," he says, "In case he's gotten trapped again,". David smiles in response.

Their bags heavy with clean clothes, the pair exit the house and begin walking through the streets to the outskirts of town. Henry switches on his walkie-talkie and speaks into it, "Anyone heard from Drew?". Several seconds of silence are broken by a response from Mike: "Passed him two hours ago. Still in the woods as far as I know,". Henry thanks Mike and uses the compass on the walkie-talkie to direct himself and David in the direction of the wood. Keeping to the centre of the road, the pair finally break away from the streets with the forest before them. A bark rings out nearby; unalarmed, Henry lets out a shrill whistle, a call quickly answered by another bark. Boy, his fur matted, charges out from the ungrowth and up to a waiting Henry, who eagerly pets him. David asks if Boy had headed out with Drew that morning; Henry replies that Boy doesn't seem to be worried, so they shouldn't be either.

The trio enter the woods. Henry and David closely follow Boy as he leads them to the bottom of an outcrop, from which they can see the motionless Drew, sat completely still, his bow ready and two rabbits hanging from his quiver. Henry lets out a pattern of whistles, a coded message to grab his attention. Drew jumps at the sound but whistles his response and climbs down from the outcrop. He reports the two rabbits, as well as an abundance of bugs should they get desperate. Henry comments that they might have too before sacrificing a few seconds of precious battery to radio the rest of the team, telling them to return to the camp. Henry, David, Drew and Boy leave the woods and run into Mike, who has found nothing of value. Keeping each other's flanks guarded, they walk up a hilly road into a flat forest, where the rest of the group has built a fire. A cautious Justinas alerts the others of the team's return; although hungry, the group welcome the fresh set of clothes.

### Part II

That evening, the exhausted group - which has expanded to include two sisters, Charlotte and Faith - dine on what little food they have: rabbit meat on dried crackers. In an attempt to lift the group's spirits, Henry reports that they have reached North Dakota, meaning "Greencole" can't be far. Tired from hunger and frustration, Stephan interrupts Henry by pointing out that they have been walking for near enough nine months to get basically nowhere, just a series of abandoned, overgrown towns picked clean of supplies. Stephan then suggests that they turn back, even suggesting that they return to Hometown and take over what remains. To Henry's shock, three others - Kate, Leyton and, unexpectedly, Ben - agree with Stephan's arguments. Holly rebuffs and says that they have come too far to turn back, but nobody else speaks up. Stephan shouts that the plan was ridiculous from the get go and he no longer trusts Henry to make the right decisions. Justinas tells Stephan to be quiet to keep walkers away, but Stephan pulls out his gun, forcing Justinas back. As he aims the pistol at Henry, Stephan tells those who support him to pack their supplies. Angered, Henry stands up, dwarfing Stephan, who turns off the gun's safety. At that moment, Drew appears from the gloom, his bow aimed at Stephan's head.

As Stephan drops his gun, Henry sternly asks the group if they think they can do better out there and invites them to leave so they can see how long they last; he points out that everywhere they have come across has been empty and bare, leaving "Greencole" the only remote glimmer of hope, something he is willing to die to reach, even if it turns out to be nothing. In an uncharacteristic but tempered rage, Henry warns that he is in charge until they reach safety. He tells everyone to get some rest and to prepare for an early start in the morning. As the group, stunned into silence, retreats to their respective tents, Henry glances at Emma, her look cold.

Darkness falls. In their tent, Henry and Holly try to rest, but are unable to because of the squealing Lawrence in Bethany's neighbouring tent. Henry sits up, frustrated by lack of sleep and the events of the evening, forcing Holly to temper him. Henry whispers that the group are ungrateful; Holly simply says that they are scared and hungry. Henry removes his hair from his face and scratches at the scar tissue across his face, still prominent from when it was inflicted nine months ago. Holly starts saying that she has something to tell him, but an irritated Henry cuts her off as he exits the tent to quieten Lawrence. Holly's demands that he reenter the tent go unheard, but Henry stops when he notices Emma's sleeping bag to be empty. Briefly panicked, he notices her distinctive footprints leading off into the darkness.

He follows the footprints in the fading light of the campfire and spots Emma sat on the edge of the hill, the road below her and a view of the town under the faint moonlight. He cautiously approaches her and notices she is carving out arrows from branches. He sits beside her silently as she works before asking her why she's come out here. After a pause, she simply says "Francis". Henry tries to comfort her, but she rebuffs him. She asks if "Greencole" is even real, something she has heard a few times in gossip around the campfire. Henry sighs that he isn't sure himself, but its the only thing that can give him hope on this journey. He asks her why she has been distant lately, and Emma reveals that she has started bleeding.

### Part III

The next morning, Henry and Mike check their map of the U.S. and deduce that the "Greencole" signal originated near the city of Fargo, a few miles across the Red River. Desperate for supplies, the group agrees to scout out the city's outskirts while a team led by Henry ventures deeper into the city to find out whether Fargo truly is their destination. Suddenly, Charlotte cries out that her sister Faith is missing; they quickly discover Stephan is missing too. Henry realizes that the two abandoned the group together in the night. Knowing Fargo is the closest settlement, they decide to continue onwards and hope to run across them.

After more hours of walking, the group finally enter the outskirts of Fargo and approach the main avenue bridge over the Red River. The group quickly discover that the city had been bombed, likely during the early hours of the outbreak, and the bridge has partially collapsed, leaving just a thin line of concrete remaining at the bridge's right side. Justinas and Henry cautiously cross it first, followed by the children shepherded by Mike and Emma and finally the others. Drew, the last to cross, stops as the concrete begins to crumble beneath his feet. Promising to find the group, he braces himself as the concrete breaks away, sending him tumbling into the river below. As he falls, a piece of debris collides with his body and his limp body sinks beneath the water. Becky screams out for him and tries to jump after him, but Henry holds her back, assuring her that Drew will be fine and will find them eventually. Henry's cold decision earns him stares from most of the group, including Emma. Henry ignores them and pushes forward while the others, rather hesitantly, follow him.

As the group penetrate downtown Fargo, they are overwhelmed by the overgrown city and ruined infrastructure. Signs of military occupation litter the city: abandoned checkpoints, vehicles and dead bodies. Walking further, they find only a single road that isn't blocked by debris and abandoned vehicles. As they walk along the road, they suddenly hear a shrill scream; a bloodied Faith appears from out of cover, running wildly and bleeding from her shoulder. Upon seeing them, she calls out for the group to run before her head bursts open from a gunshot wound and she falls to the ground, dead. The group prepare to arm themselves as Charlotte screams for her sister; as they attempt to turn back, a series of grenades appear before them and detonate, throwing them back. Lost in the choking smoke, the group are suddenly accosted by a large group of armed survivors that easily outnumber and outgun them. The group are forced to surrender and lay down their weapons. Henry tries to surrender peacefully, but an imposing figure wielding a sniper rifle - clearly Faith's killer - emerges from the smoke with a smile; "Begging won't help ya, boy," he says before he smashes Henry over the head with the butt of his rifle.

## Deaths

* Faith - sniped in the head by Liam Horne

## Trivia

* First appearance of Charlotte
* First appearance of Katrina
* First appearance of Liam Horne
* First appearance of Mikhail
* First appearance of Kyle Granger
* First (and last) appearance of Faith

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