| “ | Facility's central server confirmed it. All the research has been wiped. Every drop of data. Everything. Every paper, every theory. They're trying to take it with them. This isn't just an escape plan. This is a rebellion. The Civic Republic stands to lose every scrap of knowledge and progress that we've built since -- since the end of everything. This could be the second end.
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The Rebellion at the Research Facility is a major battle that took place during the second season season of AMC's The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
History[]
Prelude[]
Leo shows Amanda Siegel, Terry Ellis and Dr. Ebersol the stolen communications proving that the CRM had wiped out Omaha and the Campus Colony. Leo tells the others that their entire purpose now is to find their way to a healed planet, not them, but for their children, and maybe their grandchildren. They can still give their families that life and they owe it to them, but not at the research facility with the people responsible for genocide. Amanda and Terry wonder how, pointing out that the CRM won't just let them leave. Leo acknowledges this, stating that they can be damn sure that the CRM will never let them go.
Ebersol realizes that Leo is talking about an escape, but Leo clarifies that he's past talking about it and that a plan's already in motion with help from the outside and using the CRM's own security protocols against them. Ebersol worries about what will happen to them in the long term, and Leo knows that he's asking them to take a giant leap and doesn't have every answer, but they can't stay at the research facility either. Leo reveals to the other scientists that Lyla Belshaw wasn't killed in a laboratory accident, but rather that she was murdered by the CRM, just like Samuel Abbott and Leo's security detail. Although Ebersol is still hesitant, Amanda agrees with Leo, pointing out that the CRM has committed genocide and intends to again which they have proof of. If the scientists stay, they will become a party to all that the CRM does or they will be killed too. Leo promises Ebersol that they are working to stop the monsters and to stop people from turning into monsters, but they need to save themselves from that fate first. Leo asks if the scientists are in, and they agree.
In Leo's apartment, Hope and Iris pack. Iris reports that the cameras in the north stairwell are still down from the outage and Percy is taking down the rest of the go-bags. Iris notices her sister's distracted state and Hope admits that it just got real for her that everyone is putting their lives in the Endlings' hands. Hope knows that Iris thinks that it's smarter to just go for the gas and save Portland, and Iris acknowledges that there's a lot that could go wrong with getting everyone out, but she promises Hope that they will make it work and that they will do whatever they have to do to make sure that they win.
In Huck's apartment, Huck rolls up a blueprint and tells Leo and Felix that, if things roll the Endlings' way, it'll be just enough to pull this off and get everyone out and someplace where the CRM can't get them. Felix wonders what happens to Huck if this works and she suggests that if she can get back to the Civic Republic, Huck can let the civilian government know what the military's done. Leo admits that Huck almost had him fooled the day before and Huck starts to bring up what Jadis had her do to Lyla. However, Leo reassures Huck that Lyla did it to herself and that if Lyla had to die at someone else's hands, Leo wishes that they had been his, but Huck tells Leo that he doesn't want that on his conscience.
Felix wonders how this plays out without the CRM killing Huck and Huck reveals that she is pretty sure that the empty that Jadis had her use to kill Lyla was a soldier that was tied to Omaha who had been trying to talk. If there's one, there's more, a resistance that can help Huck get to the people that she needs to talk to. It won't be easy, but Huck has to try "and who knows. Maybe in the end, it'll be me and Dennis, trying together." Felix silently acknowledges this, and Huck provides the two men with radios and guns, ordering them to wait for her go. Leo asks if they're all set up for them on the outside and Huck explains that Dennis and Silas are on their way to relay the plan to Indira and her people. Once they radio that they're on board, the Endlings will make their move.
Huck enters Jadis' office and Jadis dismisses the soldiers that she was talking to. Huck explains that she had wanted to see about the briefing that Jadis had promised her the day before and asks what's going on. Jadis explains that they were able to get some of the operational monitoring systems back online after the outage and shows Huck the diagnostics report from the last hour. Jadis reveals that the data shows a variance in key card activity and that water and power usage in the labs has dropped to almost nothing. Huck suggests that the data could just be scrambled from the outage, but Jadis is worried that Leo isn't keeping quiet about what he knows. Elizabeth Kublek's psychological profile of him had indicated that Leo would fall in line in order to keep his family safe and Jadis is starting to wonder if Elizabeth's report was wrong or if there are other variables at play. Huck doesn't believe that Leo would ever put his daughters in danger and offers to snoop around, but Jadis is way past that. If Jadis is right, and she usually is, then this is about stopping the rot before it spreads and showing Leo what happens to one or both of his daughters if he steps out of line. Jadis calls Frank Newton into the room and informs him that her team's ready when his is. Jadis and Frank move out with their men, leaving Huck alone in Jadis' office.
Initial Lockdown[]
As the girls continue to pack, Huck calls for Hope, Iris and Felix over the radio revealing that they need to start everything now. Jadis and some armed guards are on their way to Leo's place to take everybody in. They need to get out and head to rendezvous one. Hope protests that they haven't heard from Will or Elton, but Huck tells them that there's no time. They need to start the plan and Huck will do whatever she can to help, but if their plan is going to happen, it needs to happen now.
Arriving at Leo's apartment, Frank signals the soldiers to enter, but they find Hope and Iris gone and the apartment empty. Frank informs Jadis that, as they suspected, Leo is not in his usual class and Felix has abandoned his post. Jadis orders Frank to initiate evacuation protocols for the facility's civilian personnel. Frank wonders if Jadis thinks that that will flush them out, but Jadis instead thinks that it will tell her just how far the rot's spread.
Hope and Iris flee the apartment with their bags just before Jadis, Frank and their troops burst in. Hesitating outside, Hope gives Iris her bag and orders her to find Felix and Leo, spread the word and get everybody in place. Hope promises to meet Iris there and runs off in the opposite direction.
As an evacuation order sounds, Hope finds Mason in the school part of the facility. Mason wonders what's going on and Hope asks him to get Ian or somebody that Mason trusts to sign him in with the evac guards while Mason comes with her. Mason is confused and Hope asks him just to trust her as it's life or death. After a moment of hesitation, Mason agrees.
In Jadis' office, Frank tells Jadis that they are still awaiting the final manifest from transport three, and he provides her with a list of everyone that has checked in for evacuation. There's no sign of the Bennetts, any of the civilian research staff or their security details. Frank suggests that it must be an error, but Jadis calls his comment cute and tells Huck that they now know that this goes far beyond the Bennetts. Jadis orders a full facility lockdown and for every door, window and vent to be closed off. Once the complex is secure, Frank is to sweep every inch of it until he finds where they're hiding. Acknowledging Jadis' order, Frank departs to carry it out.
As the facility enters full lockdown, Hope arrives at the biocontainment unit with Mason just in time before the door seals. Looking around at the gathered people in alarm and confusion, Mason asks Hope what's going on. Hope apologizes, wishing that there was another way, but the Endlings' plan doesn't work without Mason. Felix and Percy grab Mason and drag him away, calling out for Hope and Percy welcomes Mason to the biocontainment unit.
Outside of the biocontainment unit, one of Frank's soldiers uses a listening device on the wall as Huck arrives, explaining that there's no signal down here and that Jadis is asking for an update. Frank tells Huck that the scientists have locked themselves in the biocontainment unit and that there's no way in or out, but the soldiers are picking up indistinct chatter through the walls and know that they're in there. Huck wonders why they're not in there yet and Frank tells her that the door is reinforced titanium and it sealed shut as a failsafe triggered by the lockdown. Blunt force won't get them in and they will have to wait for a full system reboot to override the lockdown. Huck wonders how long that will take and Frank admits that it will be at least two hours. Huck departs to let Jadis know, secretly smirking as she walks away.
Leo and Felix move around some shelves to make room and Felix quips that it's a good thing that he told Will that he wouldn't do anything reckless. Leo believes that they didn't have a choice, but Felix suggests that it's all a choice: Leo chose to give Felix a life and Felix is choosing to make it count. Leo reassures Felix that he already has and promises that they're going to get Felix back to Will and then Felix is finally going to start living for himself. Stating that that goes for Leo too, Felix and Leo start smashing the floor apart with sledgehammers.
Tied to a pillar, Mason notices masked figures moving around through a window and is startled when one comes up to the window, revealing that it's an empty. Approaching, Hope explains that it's one-way glass and they can see the empties, but the empties can't see them. Mason demands answers and Hope explains that the CRM isn't what he thinks it is and that they've done horrible things. Mason insists that whatever the CRM has done can't be that bad and that his dad would know about it. Mason realizes from Hope's reaction that she took him because of Mason's dad and Hope insists that there was no other way. The Endlings are going to leverage Mason to get what they want and then, once they do, they'll let him go. Mason wonders what they want and what they will do if they don't get it such as feeding him to the empties, but Hope promises Mason that no one's going to hurt him and walks away. From nearby, Iris silently observes this interaction.
As the initial part of the rebellion goes into action, the Endlings' plan is put in jeopardy when Brody betrays them and the Perimeter and reveals everything to Jadis before trying to blackmail Huck into getting him residency in the Civic Republic. Huck executes Brody for his betrayal and comes up with a cover story, but Jadis still orders Sergeant Mills to kill Indira and her people. However, Dennis and Silas, arriving at the Perimeter to inform everyone of the plan, intervene, leading to a gunfight that leaves Mills and his men dead and Dennis severely wounded.
Hope and Iris go over a blueprint with Felix and Leo, mapping out the direction that they will be traveling in. Leo warns the others that they only have 12 minutes until the CRM gets in and Leo heads off to get everybody ready while Felix goes to set the C4. Nearby, Percy unties Mason who angrily refuses to go anywhere until they tell him where they're taking him. Hope tries to intervene as Percy roughly drags Mason away, but Iris stops her. Hope protests that Mason didn't do anything, but Iris tells her that neither did and they and that there is too much at stake and they need to get it done.
When the server reboots, Frank's team begins to enter the biocontainment unit, only for an explosion to kill four of his men. Inside, Frank discovers the room empty, everyone having used the CRM's own security protocols against them by taking advantage of the door being sealed by the lockdown to break through the floor to the old mining tunnels below, setting up C4 to cover their escape behind them. Frank is unable to follow the Endlings into the tunnels due to the explosion collapsing the entrance that they had created.
Jadis tells Huck that they have to assume that Mills and his team are dead while the scientists were counting on the CRM initiating lockdown protocols. The scientists had known that sealing the containment door would buy them time to escape into the old mining tunnels, using explosives to stop the CRM from following them in. Jadis hands Huck a copy of the blueprints of the mining tunnels and Huck asks when Jadis had known. Jadis reveals that the facility's central server had confirmed it. Every bit of research has been wiped from it and the scientists are trying to take it with them. Jadis realizes that they aren't just dealing with an escape plan, but a rebellion and the Civic Republic stands to lose all of the progress and knowledge that they've built since the end of everything. Jadis worries that this could be the second end of everything.
Huck asks Jadis what her plan is and Jadis tells her that she has ordered Corporal Diane Pierce to station soldiers at every tunnel exit. When the Endlings emerge, the CRM will be waiting. Diane contacts Jadis to report that fireteams are moving into position and to ask for the rules of engagement. Jadis rescinds all arrest protocols, intending to make an example of the Bennetts. If Diane and her teams see them or any of the scientists, they are to shoot to kill. "Eliminate some to traumatize the many. They've been safe for too long. They've forgotten too much. This is an opportunity to make them remember," Jadis declares, much to Huck's horror.
Fall of the Research Facility[]
Samuel Abbott and a number of the CRM's test subjects are sent into the old mining tunnels beneath the research facility by the Endlings. Mistaking them for the group, the CRM soldiers in the tunnels open fire, putting down Samuel and the other empties.
Having escaped into Lyla Belshaw's secret lab, Leo passes around controllers for the viral recorders strapped to the backs of several of the test subjects which the Endlings have released into the mining tunnels with C4 strapped to their backs. Leo declares to the others that the CRM is sending them a signal so they're sending one back, reassuring the group that the CRM has brought them to this. While the others watch, Leo, Iris, Terry Ellis, Amanda Siegel and Dr. Ebersol detonate the C4, killing the fireteams searching for them in the tunnels who have just encountered and put down all of the empties. "No going back now," notes Felix. After exchanging a look with Mason, Hope detonates hers last.
Jadis attempts to contact her fireteams for a report. Corporal Diane Pierce reports that there have been explosions in tunnels 1 through 5, that they walked into a trap, and she has lost contact with the fireteams. Jadis asks Huck where the Endlings got explosives, but Huck merely reminds Jadis that they're scientists, implying that the group had created their own.
Leo calls in over the radio, asking to speak to Jadis. Answering his call, Jadis admonishes Leo for killing her men, telling him that their lives might mean nothing to Leo, but they had dedicated their lives to fighting for a future, a future that the Endlings are putting at great risk for every living person on the planet. Leo tells her that the trap was only for show, and they're prepared to escalate even further. Jadis states that Leo has crossed a very serious line, but Leo tells her that the CRM destroyed their home and an entire surviving city full of living people and then tried to hide that from everyone.
Leo announces that they're done with the CRM and that they're all leaving today. Jadis doesn't think that Leo is any position to bargain with her, but Leo reveals that they have Mason Beale, giving Jadis pause. After a moment, Jadis accuses Leo of lying as Mason had left on an evacuation transport with the other students. Leo holds up the radio to Mason who hesitates to respond before Hope pleads with him to. After a moment, Mason speaks to Jadis and asks her to get him out of there. Increasingly angry but unable to do anything but bargain, Jadis asks what Leo wants and he asks for the two biggest transport trucks that she has with full tanks of gas and no tricks.
Jadis asks where they plan on going and if Leo plans on abandoning his role in finding a cure and in someday saving their entire species. However, Leo reiterates that the CRM are murderers and liars, and the scientists are no longer willing to continue working for them. Leo promises that if the CRM lets them go, the scientists will find another way to save everyone eventually, even the CRM. Jadis questions if everyone with him feels the same way and if they are all so quick to abandon the safety and security that the CRM has given them. Jadis insists that they won't find that outside of the CRM's walls and that "there is no progress out there. Only death and the dead." Jadis tells Leo to ask Hope as she's seen it. Iris, Felix and Leo give Hope surprised looks, but Leo simply tells Jadis that she has 30 minutes to get the trucks backed up to the service entrance near Guard Gate 1 and while they don't want to hurt Mason, they're prepared to escalate, causing Mason to give a worried look to Hope. Jadis agrees to give the Endlings the trucks and, as Felix heads off to meet them, furiously congratulates on Leo on roping a lot of smart people into a breathlessly stupid suicide mission.
Huck asks Jadis what they're going to do now and Jadis reminds Huck that the entire point of her mission was to ensure that Hope Bennett understood the importance of a future. "She does. It sounds like they all do. Just not one that involves us wiping out their home," points out Huck. Huck asks if Jadis blames them for that and states that it's not her fault that the CRM couldn't keep a lid on their genocide.
Outside, Felix approaches the two trucks and examines them. Frank Newton reassures Felix that there's no tricks as the CRM aren't going to pull anything while the Endlings have Major General Beale's son. Frank furiously tells Felix that, if it were up to him, he would put a bullet in Felix's head right now for killing Frank's men in the mining tunnels. Felix orders Frank to have the trucks backed up to the service entrance with the keys in the ignition and promises to kill Frank if he ever sees him again.
Reentering the lab, Felix tells Leo that the trucks are ready and Leo states he and the others are heading out and they should keep radio communications to a minimum. Iris promises to let her father know when they've made it out and reassures him that he's got this. Leo tells Hope, Iris and Felix that as long as the CRM thinks that they're all leaving and that they've got Mason, they shouldn't try anything. Hope tells her father to be safe and he jokes that he should be saying that to her and Iris. Iris promises Leo that, if this works, they'll be right behind him. The three agree to no goodbyes and Leo asks Felix to take care of his daughters which Felix agrees to and asks Leo to take care of the other scientists, reminding Leo that all eyes are going to be on Leo for this part. Stating that that's the plan, Leo and the scientists leave while Felix prepares to depart with Hope, telling Iris to watch Mason and that they'll be back in 10 minutes.
Mason interrupts their departure, calling to Hope that there's nowhere that she can go that's better. As Percy orders him to shut up, Mason asks what if the Endlings never find this kind of safety again and what if this is their last chance at a future and they blow it. Seeing Hope wavering, Iris orders her sister to ignore Mason as he doesn't know anything about what the CRM has done, and Percy suggests that it might be time to tell him. Felix gets Hope moving, leaving Iris and Percy alone with Mason.
Driving towards the research facility in a jeep, Elton uses firecrackers to keep the herd gathered at the culling facility following him and Silas. Elton tells Silas that they're about a mile out now which means that they're clear to peel off and meet the others. Silas asks if Elton still has Will's map of the research facility and, after Elton confirms that he does, tells his friend that they're making a stop before meeting up with the others. Silas and Elton continue leading the herd towards the research facility with more empties emerging from the trees to join the ones that are already following the two.
Hope and Felix, armed with S-Poles, reach the cold storage area. Felix tells Hope that they're going to get in, set the charges and get out with Hope adding that hopefully the others will meet them with the gas masks. Entering the area and looking around, Hope notes that it's pretty warm for cold storage which Felix agrees with. Hope wonders if the power outage knocked out power to cold storage as well, but Felix tells her that it's on a different grid. Seeing an empty moving around in the open freezer, Felix realizes that the test subjects being stored there have all thawed out. As empties approach from around the corner, Felix orders Hope to shut the freezer door.
As Hope tries, an empty gets in the way and, seeing its Alliance of the Three tattoo, Hope realizes that it's a zombified Lyla. Desperately slamming the door on Lyla, Hope remembers Lyla telling her that she should be proud, Huck telling her that the research facility is safe and good for everybody and Lyla stating that the research facility is her home now. Redoubling her efforts as the memories pass through her mind and Lyla's head gets stuck in the doorway, Hope finally manages to smash Lyla's frozen head with the door, putting her down.
Felix rejoins Hope as she stares at Lyla's corpse. Filled with new determination and finally completely disillusioned with the appeal of the research facility and the safety that it offers, Hope tells Felix that they need to plant the charges and get out of here, "fuck this place." However, upon opening the door to the area containing the chlorine gas, Hope and Felix find it all gone and Felix realizes that Jadis had moved everything somehow. With the gas moved, the power cut and the empties released, Hope and Felix realize that the CRM knew that they were coming for the gas and they quickly flee the cold storage area.
Huck is surprised to find out that Jadis thinks that the Endlings are still there. Jadis tells Huck that they only saw two trucks leave which is what the Endlings had wanted them to see. The Bennetts' motives are based on a sense of justice and the CRM has already seen how far the group will go. If they found the vial, then the Endlings also found the chlorine gas and they wouldn't leave without trying to destroy it. However, they won't succeed in either destroying the gas or getting out of the facility alive.
Diane joins the two women and reveals that the western checkpoint has just called in a Code 6. There's a thousand empties incoming from the south southwest and they are only minutes away from a full breach. While it would've been spotted long before, the western patrols had been redirected to the tunnels and killed in the explosions. Looking out of the office window with a pair of binoculars at the approaching herd, Jadis orders Diane to divert them with disruption charges and to send all available teams to the western gates. If the CRM can't hold the line, they could lose everything.
Returning to the lab, Hope and Felix reveal to Iris and Percy that the gas is gone. Iris insists that the gas has to be there somewhere, they just need to find it. However, Felix knows that there's no time to search for it as the CRM knows that they're still here. Iris suggests using the charges to do some damage on the way out, but Hope tells Iris that Silas is already leading a herd to the research facility to do that for them. Felix declares that Hope is right, and they stick to the exit plan. Percy asks what they do with Mason and Felix tells him that that part of the plan doesn't change: they drop Mason off somewhere a ways out and radio the CRM to pick him up. Angry, Iris asks if they're just giving up on saving Portland, but Felix reminds her that they can't save anyone until they save themselves. Once they get out, they'll radio the others about the change of plans and figure it out from there.
Turning to Mason, Iris demands to know where the gas is, but Mason doesn't know, and Hope asks how he could. Iris reminds Mason that his father is the head of this place, but Mason believes that his father wouldn't do any of the things that they're accusing him of without a reason and that he's a lot more sane than any of the Endlings. Iris continues to press Mason, but he insists that he doesn't know anything about the gas. Intervening, Percy reassures his girlfriend that they're going to figure this out and the group follows Felix's orders to leave.
Continuing to watch the herd outside, Jadis asks for a status update from Diane. Diane tells her that security checkpoints 3 and 4 have been breached and that teams are trying to clear a path to the helicopters for the disruption charges, but there's just too many. Calling this crazy, Huck begins to leave to suit up and help hold the line. However, Jadis stops her and orders Diane to ready the jeep. Jadis tells Huck that she's staying with her as there's business here left to resolve.
Making their way up the stairs to the surface, Percy notes from the gunfire outside that Silas came through for them. Iris states that the more eyes that the CRM has on the empties, the less they'll have on the Endlings. Hope tells the others that they have to get out of here or the empties will be their problem as well. Returning from checking outside, Felix announces that the coast seems clear and asks which Humvee they are stealing. Percy provides Felix with the keys that he had stolen from one of the grounds crew using Tony's Ring Around the Rosy routine and tells him how to find it.
Entering the research facility, which is being overrun by the herd, Elton checks the map and tells Silas that the medical supply room should be right in front of them, meaning that the way in is through one of the doorways to either side of them. The two decide to split up and Silas thanks Elton for doing this instead of just going with the others. Elton tells his best friend that while so much hasn't worked out, this will.
As Silas sneaks through the facility, he's confronted by Webb who is now a CRM cadet. As Silas tries to explain himself, Webb draws his gun on his former coworker and Silas puts down his kill stick. Webb explains that the CRM had pulled all of the soldiers to the gates and, needing manpower quick, brought in some of the cadets. Webb correctly deduces that Silas is one of the insurgents that they're looking for and that the rest are the friends that Silas had kept trying to find. Webb has orders to shoot on sight, but Silas attempts to explain to Webb that he's here for the badly injured Dennis who needs antibiotics that Silas is trying to get for him. However, Webb doesn't believe him and, despite their former friendship, is committed to doing his duty and killing Silas even if it means that Dennis will die. As Webb apologizes and prepares to shoot, he is suddenly hit over the head from behind by Elton with his axe. Elton asks a slightly stunned Silas who Webb was before dismissing it as unimportant and informing Silas that Webb will be unconscious for awhile. Elton has found the way into the medical supply room, although he complains that it wasn't easy to find as the signage in the research facility leaves something to be desired. Reminding Silas that he told him that it would work out, Elton leads Silas, who retrieves his kill stick, to the supply room.
In the supply room, Silas locks himself and Elton in and quickly locates the antibiotics. As Silas loads up the medical supplies for Dennis in Elton's backpack, Elton finds and steals the drugs that Indira will need to survive. The two are startled by a recovered Webb banging on the door and demanding to be let in. However, the commotion that Webb makes causes empties to break through the window into the hallway and devour him despite Webb's attempts to defend himself. Looking at the pool of Webb's blood spreading under the door, a despondent Silas tells Elton that they're not going to make it back to the jeep. Looking for a way out, Elton sees the herd overrunning the grounds outside with one even coming up to the other side of the window. However, spotting the Perimeter's globe sculpture nearby, Elton comes up with an idea for how they can escape.
Entering the globe sculpture, Silas and Elton roll it across the empty-infested grounds, rolling over a number of zombies in their way while remaining completely safe at the same time. Reaching the road at the bottom of the hill, Silas and Elton exit the globe and run off down the road to safety.
As Hope, Iris, Felix, Percy and Mason approach the jeeps, they are confronted by several CRM soldiers, including Jadis and Huck. Felix quickly turns his gun on Mason, forcing Jadis to order her men to hold their fire. Hope and Huck exchange a look as Jadis orders Team Alpha to stand fast over her radio as they have the Bennetts where they want them. Jadis asks the Endlings to talk, just them, and gives Felix instructions on how to adjust his radio accordingly. Stating that the Endlings want out of here while the CRM wants Mason Beale, Jadis asks how they will do this. Felix tells Jadis that they will turn Mason over to the CRM unharmed once they're out which will only happen when she lets them drive off in the jeep. However, Jadis calls this unacceptable as they haven't shown her anything to make Jadis trust them with Felix telling Jadis that they don't trust the CRM either. Jadis points out that there's the CRM, the Endlings and a giant herd coming and challenges Felix to see who blinks first. Jadis states that the Endlings hadn't wanted to listen and now they are all in a no-win situation. Felix swears to God that he will kill Mason if Jadis tries anything and then Jadis is out of luck. Jadis reminds Felix that he will be too as the Endlings lose their leverage without Mason, causing Felix to threaten to kneecap Mason instead. Jadis understands that they're angry and blame the CRM for all of their troubles, but this is the outcome of their own actions, not the CRM's. Iris tells Jadis that the CRM didn't give them a choice, but Jadis thinks that they just don't understand.
Iris confronts Jadis about the CRM's lies and how they covered up their genocide of Omaha and the Campus Colony. Jadis tells Iris that this is the only world that she's ever known and is far too young to understand all that has been lost. Stepping forward, Iris furiously accuses Jadis and the CRM of murdering 100,000 people. Jadis tells the Endlings that all of those people were going to die anyway and the military had made the hard decision so that the civilians wouldn't have to. "Two years ago, the CRM's modeling revealed that the Alliance would soon become a drain on the Civic Republic's resources. Omaha, the Campus Colony, Portland... had become too reliant. They'd never be fully self-sustaining. So, it was only a matter of time before thousands faced a famine of devastating proportions. At best, those thousands would have died slowly. At worst, disease and conflict would have spread through the Civic Republic itself, and then? The light of the world... extinguished forever. Death wins. We made the choice to spare them that by ending it quickly for them so that there could be a chance for humanity to survive. What we did to your home was mercy," Jadis explains. The CRM made sure that all assets were extracted, including 10,000 children, and the greatest minds were sent to the research facility to contribute to scientific progress under the CRM's protection. Jadis insists that the people who died became an essential part of their study to stop reanimation and that their legacy will be stopping the dead from walking the world.
As Huck notices a CRM sniper moving in nearby, Hope demands to know what gives the CRM the right to choose who lives and who dies. Jadis berates the Endlings for looking at the world from their limited perspectives and criticizing the CRM when it is the CRM's work that made their very existence possible. The Endlings rant about injustices and unfairness while they compromise and possibly destroy the advances of the many that came before them. The CRM makes the hard choices so that other people don't have to. Jadis tells them to take a look around at their great plan at work and claims that all they're doing is stopping the march towards scientific progress and denying the world the path to its rightful future because the Endlings are mad at them for their actions. Jadis calls it cute if it wasn't so dangerous and pathetic.
With empties approaching from behind, Felix is forced to turn and shoot them. Headbutting Iris, Mason breaks free of Percy's hold and Jadis orders her men to make one shot kills. As Percy races after Mason, the Endlings engage the CRM with Iris killing one before Huck suddenly turns her gun on the soldiers, killing the sniper and one other before holding Jadis at gunpoint and forcing Jadis to disarm herself.
After Felix kills the last two soldiers, Iris turns to find Percy dead, having been shot in the back of the head during the skirmish. As a devastated Iris cries over her boyfriend's body, Hope retrieves her sister's dropped gun and turns it on Mason. Hope accuses Mason of being responsible, but the unrepentant Mason blames Hope and her family instead. Hope angrily tells Mason that he only had to come with them, and everyone would be okay, but Mason states that it's what Percy and Iris deserved, and orders Hope to look at what they've done. Hope realizes that Iris was right about Mason, that he is just like the rest of the CRM and that he never cared. Hope blames herself for not seeing it sooner and for Percy's death and prepares to kill Mason in revenge as Felix puts down several empties and gets into jeep. Coming up beside her sister, Iris tells her not to kill Mason as she'd only be doing something to herself all over again. Remembering how she accidentally killed Amelia Ortiz on the Night the Sky Fell, Hope finally relents and drops the gun. Felix drives up and Huck orders them to go. After a last look at Percy's body, Iris climbs into the jeep and they drive off. Left alone with Jadis, Huck forces her to move out of the way, exchanging a look with Felix as he briefly slows down while driving by.
Left alone with Jadis, Huck forces her to move out of the way, exchanging a look with Felix as he briefly slows down while driving by. With empties swarming around them, Jadis guesses that Huck's mother was right about her, but Huck states that her mother has nothing to do with this. Jadis states that if Huck was gonna shoot her, she would've done it by now and reinforcements are on the way. Jadis offers to give Huck a 5 to 10 minute head start if she spares Jadis' life, suggesting that with Huck's skills, she might even make it. As Huck hesitates, Mason screams for help and Huck and Jadis notice empties approaching him. Jadis rushes to Mason's rescue and, making her choice, Huck shoots several of the empties approaching Mason before she runs out of bullets. Huck jumps into a jeep and drives off as Jadis puts down the remaining empties that have gotten too close to Mason. As the research facility is completely overrun by the massive herd, Jadis and Mason watch Huck go.
Retreating to the CRM basecamp, Jadis contacts Major General Beale, thanking him for the additional troops to secure the facility, but warning Beale that they need to move up the timeline of the attack on Portland as nothing can be allowed to prevent that. While getting the scientists back are a priority, their operation has been compromised as the Bennetts know about Portland and have told the others. Jadis promises that she has every intention of bringing to justice the sympathizer that has been giving the Bennetts information and she will make sure that the scientists are retrieved, and their research resumed. Although Jadis wishes that she was brought in sooner to prevent this, she will fix it. In response to Beale's answer, Jadis thanks him for placing his trust in her and promises to not let him down.
Arriving at the rendezvous point, Hope, Iris and Felix find no sign of anyone else. Hope asks if Felix is sure that this is it and Felix explains that, with the gas out of play, he had Will and Indira head to the underground mall. Hope asks why Leo isn't answering as he should've been there already with everyone else. Felix tries to raise Leo on the radio again and Leo reveals that they got stuck after a tire blew on one of the trucks due to spikes in the road. Leo and the others have loaded as many people as they could onto the second truck and sent it ahead. Felix asks for Leo's location and Leo explains that they're about 2 miles due west of the rendezvous point, having lost some time detouring around a herd. Leo thinks that they can patch the tire, but whoever left the spikes can't be far behind. Felix orders Leo to sit tight as he's coming which Leo acknowledges. With the jeep too easy to spot from the air, Felix decides to go on foot and Hope promises that they are good to wait for the others to arrive. The grief-stricken Iris doesn't respond, and Felix grabs his S-Pole from the jeep and heads off to find Leo.
Following her escape, Huck returns to the culling facility where she is devastated to find the gravely wounded Dennis. While taking a moment to break down in private on the facility's North Pads, Huck takes an interest in the cargo containers around her.
Silas and Elton arrive at the rendezvous point and Hope, reunited with Elton for the first time she confessed to accidentally killing Elton's mother, breaks down in tears as she hugs him. Elton tells Hope and Iris that they've got the meds for Dennis, but they need to stop by the outpost before they meet up with Indira. Noticing that Hope and Iris are alone, Elton asks where everybody else is while Silas asks where Percy is. Iris breaks down crying and Silas realizes that Percy is dead from her reaction. Hope explains that Leo is in trouble and that Felix has gone to help him. However, even if Felix makes it, even if they make it, the gas is probably already on its way to Portland. The CRM won: they're going to destroy another city and there isn't anything that the Endlings can do about it. Devastated by their losses, the four enter into a group hug.
As Hope, Iris, Silas and Elton break their group hug, Huck calls out over the radio and Hope answers her. Stating that she thinks that she's found something, Huck asks if the others still have the C4. Looking at her bag lying on the ground, Hope confirms that they still have it and asks what Huck found and where she is. At the culling facility, Huck stands in front of a cargo container that she had opened, the missing chlorine gas concealed inside of it, giving the Endlings one last chance to stop the genocide in Portland.
Roadblock Ambush[]
At the CRM basecamp, Corporal Diane Pierce reports to Jadis who has already heard that they've resurved access to the helicopters. Jadis asks how long it will be until they can have them in the air and dropping disruption charges on the herd and Diane tells her that it will be within the hour. Jadis is pleased as this will free up more teams to hunt down and secure the CRM's missing scientists who need to be found.
Jadis orders Diane to have a dozen vehicles fan out in an eight-mile radius to jam all frequencies until sundown. Diane realizes that Jadis thinks that the Endlings are still using comms, but warns her that doing so will interfere with their own communications. Jadis acknowledges that it's a calculated risk, but it's the best way to stop their insurgents in their tracks. Diane asks about the impact on their current operation, but Jadis tells her that helicopters from the Civic Republic will be at the culling facility in four hours to airlift the Chlorine Gas to Portland and Jadis intends to have everything wrapped up by then.
At the roadside, Leo puts down an empty an S-Pole before Felix joins him and the others. Felix asks if everyone is safe, and Leo informs him that the rest of the scientists got to safety on the second truck. It's just them, two others and a decade's worth of research left. Spotting a CRM jeep pulling up, the four men quickly hide in the woods. Lieutenant Frank Newton emerges with two CRM soldiers and Frank calls for them to surrender, stating that they can't win this.
Exchanging a look, Leo and Felix emerge from hiding and open fire on the CRM soldiers, sparking a gunfight. Suddenly, Will joins them, armed with a CRM rifle. Will explains that he was headed to the underground mall with the others, but he doubled back after hearing Leo's distress call. Still under fire, Leo states that they can't do this forever, and Will orders the other two to split the soldiers up as it will be easier to pick them off. Felix decides to circle around as a decoy and cut through the trees, stating that Frank is an asshole who is sure to take the bait. As Leo and Will provide covering fire, Felix grabs Leo's S-Pole and heads off through the trees, chased by Frank. The two men exchange fire as they run before Felix runs out of bullets as he reaches a gated area with a herd on the other side of it.
As Leo, Will and the two soldiers continue to exchange fire, one of the men runs out of ammo and is forced to reload. Sneaking around the truck, Will attempts to shoot him, only to discover that he has run out of ammo as well. The two men enter into a physical fight, ending with Will snapping the soldier's neck, killing him. The other soldier moves into the woods where he finds and prepares to shoot the other two men. Will sneaks up on the soldier, but hearing him, the man turns and fires at Will who hides behind a tree. As the soldier is distracted with Will, Leo shoots and kills him from the side.
Advancing on Felix, Frank tells him that people like Felix are worse than the dead because they are helping the dead win, but today, Felix loses. As three empties approach, Frank is forced to turn and shoot them, running out of bullets in the process and switching to a nightstick-type weapon for the last one. Turning his attention back to Felix, Frank declares that it's actually better like this and challenges Felix to a fight, reminding Felix of his promise to kill Frank if Felix ever met him again. Stating that he's read Felix's psych report, Frank sadistically taunts him that Felix has failed all of the people at the Campus Colony that he swore to protect, his boyfriend whom Frank claims came to the research facility to get away from him and Felix's own parents didn't want anything to do with him. Frank offers Felix a fair fight, using only the weapons that they're holding while secretly drawing a knife from behind his back. Frank asks if Felix intends to add him to that list, but rather than fall for Frank's taunting, Felix uses his S-Pole to cut open the gate and releases the herd upon Frank, telling him "yeah. Have fun" as more walkers come at Frank from behind as well and Felix shelters behind the open gate.
Frank manages to put down several of the empties before Felix closes the gate on the herd again, leaving the two men facing off against only each other and the empties approaching from further down the road. Combining his two S-Poles into one double-bladed S-Pole, Felix declares that it's now a fair fight. The two men attack each other with their weapons, having to occasionally put down attacking empties from both sides after the herd gets the gate open again. Finally, as Frank charges at Felix, Felix stabs the other man in the abdomen with his S-Pole and brutally disembowels him. As Felix watches, the approaching empties descend upon Frank and devour him.
Aftermath[]
With the failure of the roadside ambush, Leo and the remaining scientists are able to make it to safety with all of their research, successfully escaping from the CRM's grasp.
In the Civic Republic itself, Jadis arrests Elizabeth Kublek to face trial for treason, blaming the rebellion on Elizabeth and her choices.
Silas Plaskett, having been captured by the CRM, lies that the Endlings were no longer his friends after they banished Silas for supposedly murdering Tony Delmado. Taking an interest in Silas due to the strength that he displayed in killing Dennis Graham on Dennis' own orders, Jadis inducts Silas into the CRM and makes him her special project, giving Silas the chance to find his way to the right people and warn them about the CRM's actions.
Participants[]
The Endlings[]
- Iris Bennett
- Hope Bennett
- Leopold Bennett
- Terry Ellis
- Amanda Siegel
- Dr. Ebersol
- Silas Plaskett
- Elton Ortiz
- Percy
- Felix Carlucci
- Will Campbell
- Jennifer Mallick
- Dennis Graham
- 5 unnamed CRM researchers
- 5 unnamed CRM researchers' bodyguards
Civic Republic Military[]
- Jadis
- Frank Newton
- Diane Pierce
- Many unnamed soldiers
Casualties[]
- Brody
- Samuel Abbott (Zombified)
- Lyla Belshaw (Zombified)
- Webb
- Percy
- Frank Newton
- Several unnamed CRM test subjects (Zombified)
- At least 26 unnamed CRM soldiers
Results[]
- The Civic Republic Research Facility is overrun by a massive herd
- Escape of the scientists and the Endlings
- Successful theft of the medicine that Indira and Dennis Graham need
- Revelation of the CRM's motivations behind the genocides in Omaha and the Campus Colony
- Failure to destroy the Chlorine Gas and discovery of it at Civic Republic Cull Facility 1
- Exposure of Jennifer Mallick's duplicity
- Retreat of the CRM to the CRM basecamp
- The planned attack on Portland is moved up
- Arrest of Elizabeth Kublek for treason due to her actions supposedly leading to the rebellion
Appearances[]
World Beyond[]
Season 2[]
Conflicts of The Walking Dead: World Beyond
| |
|---|---|
| Major Conflicts | Civic Republic Military |
| Events | The Trials • Monument Day • The Night the Sky Fell • Operation Cobalt • Huck's Observe-and-Report Mission • Genocide of Omaha • Genocide of the Campus Colony |
| Battles | Battle of the Perimeter • Rebellion at the Research Facility • Battle for the Chlorine Gas |