All Out War (Episode)

**"All Out War"** is the seventh and final episode *Season 6: Remake* of *Strain Zero*, the remake of *The Walking Dead by EDStudios*. It is the thirty-ninth episode of the series overall.

## Plot

*Storylines converge in the fateful final chapter of the* Bloodlines *arc.*

## Synopsis

A dazed, sweaty and bloody Henry tries to get to his feet in the midst of a ferocious blaze. He sinks back to his knees and clutches his bleeding side, finding a shallow carve beneath his ribcage. He looks up through the fire to see Nathan, grinning with ill intent.

### Chapter 1

Now aboard the death bus, Henry and Kyle help guide it to the safety of the base's front gate. The unstoppable bus plows through the walkers ahead, picking up other struggling fighters along the way that hold on to its armour plates. The base gates open and the bus coasts to safety. Tonks yells with triumph as they come to a stop and everyone exits the bus; the Crew falls into the welcoming arms of their friends, allies and former foes, their spirits high from the death bus' triumphant arrival.

The news of their return, however, is overshadowed by reports of low ammo, loss of life and damages to the base's walls, including a large breach that is now filled with piles of dead walkers. Added to this is news of Shadowman's bite and subsequent amputation, and soon people begin lowering their weapons and succumbing to their exhaustion.

Sensing the slip in morale, Henry kisses Holly, thanks her and climbs atop the death bus to deliver an impassioned speech; he denounces the Frontiersmen as weak, comparing them to the dead for how cold they have all become by cleansing fear. He encourages everyone to harness their fears - fears of losing their homes and loved ones - as it will give them the edge that could decide the battle and the rest of their lives. He reminds them that "we are NOT the walking dead!" and rallies them into bellowing cries of "Face your fears!"

With the crowd suitably rallied, Henry gathers the Militia leaders in Kieron's office, where he suggests a dangerous plan: using smoke camouflage, he will venture alone through the herd and into the Frontiersmen camp, where he will challenge Nathan to single combat; if he wins, Henry will earn leadership over the Frontiersmen, giving him the power to call off their attack.

The others, especially Holly, decry his plan as suicidal but Isabella admits that it may work: even if Nathan refuses the challenge, his leadership over the Frontiersmen will be questionable; if nothing else, it may buy the defenders some time. Holly demands to know why Henry has to keep putting himself in danger; Henry responds that it is just want he has to do, and he won't let anyone else finish what he started. Defeated, Holly passionately demands that he return.

Henry coats his clothes in fresh charcoal and enters the space between the inner and outer gates. He gives a final look at his friends before the inner gate closes and the outer gate opens, revealing a wall of ravenous walkers. Terrified, he waits for the creatures to approach and calms when they don't attack him. He begins walking through the massive herd, some of which are still on fire from Achilles' attack, and kills several surprised Frontiersmen along the way to break up the walkers.

Reaching the rear of the herd, Henry breaks off from the mass and kills several guards around the perimeter of the main camp. He enters through the hastily-constructed wooden gate and publically reveals himself to challenge Nathan; the Father, amused by Henry's bravery, refuses, causing many Frontiersmen to break rank until Eduard brings them to heel. Nathan orders Henry executed and for his army to charge; Henry is led off into the woods to be decapitated with his own axe while Eduard leads the final charge.

### Chapter 2

As he is being walked to his death, Henry's guards being arguing over Nathan's decision; he uses their distraction to his advantage, lunging for his axe before killing one and letting the other walk away. He rushes through the woods, using flares to set fires where he can, and discovers Nathan and his guards before challenging him once more. The guards ignore Nathan's command to kill Henry, forcing him to accept the challenge. So begins a brutal dual to the death as the forest burns around them.

Meanwhile the Frontiersmen charge on the base, led by Eduard, but face heavy resistance from the inspired survivors, now fighting with anything they can use as a weapon. The sheer volume of dead walkers slows the Frontiersmen charge, allowing the survivors to launch their own attack and meet them on the ruined battlefield. The melee quickly devolves into a battle of attrition in which Eduard is killed by Emma, who is clueless as to who he is, and Kieron gives the order to fire on the retreating tribals.

The Peacemaker becomes stuck in a tree just as Henry gets the upper hand, allowing Nathan to overpower him and cut his side with his sword. Injured, slowed and without a weapon, Henry is easily forced to the ground as Nathan begins to toy with him. Impressed by Henry's fearlessness, Nathan makes an offer: in exchange for Henry's submission, Nathan will spare his family and raise them as true Frontiersmen, allowing them to live in glory as he conquers every land he comes across.

Bolstered by the threat, Henry defiantly stands up, fearful of letting Nathan walk away again. No longer holding back years of rage, Henry avoids Nathan's strikes and retrieves the Peacemaker to shatter his sword. With Nathan vulnerable, Henry charges with the bladed tip of his axe; he tackles Nathan to the ground, not realizing that his axe has pierced Nathan's heart. Believing him to be dead, Henry falls beside him, exhausted, only for Nathan to splutter back to life; Henry realizes that the tip of the axe is all that is keeping Nathan's wound closed and him alive. As Nathan lays dying, his true self, James, emerges for the last time and cries that he is afraid; Henry, overcome with emotion, replies that he too is terrified and removes the axe, killing James. Henry waits for him to fall silent and finally remembers him as his friend, rather than his enemy; in his grief, Henry brings his axe down on James' neck.

Henry finds a horse and rides to the front, James' reanimated head hanging from his belt. The sight of their leader's head causes the Frontiersmen to surrender, but Kieron orders his troops to continue firing. Henry returns to the base and demands that Delta Force stand down: the Frontiersmen are no longer a threat. Kieron refuses and Henry responds by lifting his axe to Kieron's throat, only to lower it moments later. Henry has an epiphany that, for the first time in eight years, he doesn't feel any anger at himself and is finally able to let go of his failures.

In his newfound peace, Henry addresses Maldoon and her soldiers, inspiring them to stand against Kieron. Faced with resistance, Kieron finally orders his troops to pull back, ending the battle. Henry drops his axe as he reunites with Holly and his friends before collapsing from exhaustion and blood loss. Emma retrieves the axe while Henry is dragged to Tanya's tent.

### Chapter 3

In his dreams, Henry finally buries the ghosts of Jess and their son. He awakens three days later to find Emma waiting beside him. They reaffirm their bond and prepare to head home, learning along the way that the communities are working together to rebuild each settlement one by one. Henry and Kieron shake hands, with Kieron finally acknowledging their brotherhood.

Henry is given a hero's welcome at Graystone but immediately leaves to meet Holly on their balcony; they come to terms with their separate attitudes to survival and Holly finally accepts Henry's proposal. Their bliss is followed by news from Tanya: as suspected, there isn't a single trace of LBI in Hope's body; while that means she will not reanimate upon death, it doesn't necessarily mean she is immune. The trio reaffirm their agreement to tell Hope when she is old enough. As Henry and Holly process this news they discuss their unborn baby; sticking to the decision they made before Hope's birth, they decide to name it "Eric" if he is a boy.

Two years later, the communities have banded together and restructured into the Commonwealth of Montana, a thriving, ever-growing civilization. Holly is elected governor and Henry takes charge of the Rangers, an elite division of the Commonwealth Army charged with exploring new territories. With their population booming, the communities decide to rebuild the city of Great Falls into a shared capital, Bastion.

## Deaths

* Eduard - stabbed in the face by Emma
* James Cottingham *(alive & zombified)* - stabbed in the heart, head burned by Henry

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