Lee begins his speech. "People of Howe's. I don't have a lot of time, so please listen to me carefully and I'll wrap this up as soon as I can. Firstly, everyone stay in your rooms and don't come out. The herd is outside as I speak and could break in potentially, so get comfortable and make sure you can defend yourself. Carver and Troy are dead. Tavia is dead. I didn't kill them out of malice or because I want this community to suffer: I did it in self defense, and to protect my friends and family. My name is Lee Everett. I know you don't know me very well, but I'm not a bad guy. I want to make this place better than it was before."
He takes a deep breath, looking between Shel and Shawn. "Carver, as intelligent and crafty as he was, was a monster who took control of your lives and forced you to live under his boot. Troy was a monster who took advantage of the women here and tried to sexually assault my friend. Tavia threatened to murder both a child and his mother. Me and my people, we're not perfect, but we're good. We won't let what happened to this place continue to happen, however we need your help. When this is over, I need everyone to pitch in with the rebuilding process, as I'm sure projects like the expansion will suffer due to our lack of a well constructed fence around that area. I don't mean to alarm any of you, but I know how much this community means to you, and I know that you all want to help maintain it, or at least want it as well protected as possible." Lee takes a few steps away from the mic, gesturing to Shawn and Shel to take it. They take a few steps forward.
"Everybody, this is Shel. I'm with Shawn right now. I made the choice to stand up against Carver after the horrible murder he committed this afternoon. I left my original group because of a man just as tyrannical and influential as Bill, and I'll be damned if my little sister or the rest of you have to live in fear any longer. Lee is a good man. Please, keep an open mind and heart and help us make this place as good as it should have been from the beginning, without Bill." Shel looks at Shawn, smiling at him. He smiles back and leans over.
"Hey, y'all, it's Shawn. I'm not feeling too hot right now, so I'm sorry if I sound off today. Some of you may remember me as the owner of the Greene farm. Do you remember that place? Only a small number of survivors here will, but trust me when I say that we were as pure and tight knit as you could find out here. This world has made a lot of people give up, left a lot of folks scared and dangerous, but my peaceful settlement thrived, being peaceful. When Tavia came to our doorstep and brought us here, we thought it'd be better.. But she manipulated us into a life of slavery, living in fear below her and the rest of her council. Bill and I never got along, and now that he's dead, I can only hope things get better from here. As for Lee and his friends, I can vouch for them. I went against Bill today because I trust Lee, a helluva lot more than I ever trusted Bill. Lee saved me once, and he'll save you all as many times as necessary. I won't be around much longer, as.." Shawn sighs. "I've been bitten, so I hope that my final request for everyone to live in harmony here, without the dangerous vibe this place has always had, is granted. God bless you all."
Lee grabs and holds onto Clem's hand, looking down at her with an anxious look in his eyes. She reassures him with a smile. He smiles back smally and takes the mic one last time. "Rest easy. We'll see you all soon."
Shel turns off the microphone.
Episode 3, In Harm's Way
To be continued
Alternative Choices
Chapter 139: Held your tongue?
A: Carver's relationship remains stagnant, unsure of how he feels about you changing the subject instead of facing him head on or apologizing.
B: Carver smacks Clementine in the face for her disrespect, getting a rise out of both Lee and Carley, as well as Sarah and Duck.
D: Same result as B, though Carver would respect the boldness of Clementine.
Chapter 141: With Carver or Against Him?
B: Lee states he's against Bill, creating immediate bad blood. This ensures that Lee doesn't get a choice when choosing whether to stay in the elite's bedroom or the pen. Also immediately destroys any chance of directly working with Bill.
Chapter 142: Where Are You Sleeping?
A: Lee wouldn't be able to look any better amongst the prisoners, meaning his friends and family turn their backs on him. But, he gets to get along better with the elites and maybe help out the prisoners easier.
B: Same as what ended up happening, but Carley and Clem would also be in the pen, meaning Clem gets less time to get to know elite characters.
D: Lee gets to know the elites better, diminishes his relationship with Carley and Clem significantly and the rest of the pen dislikes him. Easiest way to Carver's co-lead.
Chapter 143: Stop Fighting!
A: Lee reveals to the entire pen that he's not with Carver, which both Reggie and Danny hear. This helps the prisoners know who's side Lee is really on though.
C: This sends a clear message that not only is Lee on their side, but also too insecure to remain leader. His relationship with Kenny's entire group tanks and he's outcast.
D: The group continues fighting until Troy hears it and punishes everyone by commanding them to go to bed early, threatening Reggie and Danny by telling them he'll have to tell Bill about this.
Chapter 144: Shawn and Clem
A: Clem shows distance between the pair and so Shawn keeps his.
B: Clem states Shawn is an enemy now, so Shawn backs off. Clem dislikes Shawn simply for being a Carver soldier, meaning she'll think the same with everyone else under his rule.
D: Similar to A.
Chapter 145: Eat Ice Cream?
B: Declining coldly will once again draw distance between Clem and the elites, and will also influence Carley's decision to also say no to ice cream.
C: Declining more politely makes your relationship with Wyatt better, as he sees you as nice instead of rude. It also makes sure that Carley still eats her own ice cream.
D: Carley tells Clem to take up the offer, and they do. No relationship changes with Wyatt, but there is a gain with Carley.
Chapter 146: Take Carver's Deal?
A: Agreeing to the deal would have Alvin be cold to Rebecca until she really does hate him, but he'd survive the episode. Upon Carver's death, he'd tell Rebecca how he really feels and she wouldn't believe him, prompting him to redeem himself.
C: Carver tortures Alvin for his insubordination with plans to kill him, just like in canon.
Chapter 147: What's Becca Up To?
A: Asking her directly what she's doing would force her to make up a lie and then go back to bed after faking a task. Relationship decrease.
B: Staying silent would reveal that Becca sneaks out of the elite's bedroom, and then comes back with a big smile on her face. Relationship remains stagnant. (FYI, she was seeing Danny)
C: Skip the entire scene, relationship remains stagnant.
Chapter 148: Who Do You Stand With?
A: Sarah and Duck would have still been punished for talking, only Clem wouldn't be able to help them, and their relationships would go down because you didn't talk to them.
Chapter 149: Stopped Kenny?
B: Claiming responsibility wouldn't have worked, like in canon, and so not only would Carver look down on this, but Kenny would also try to hit him and prematurely get his ass kicked by Bill, though Sarah and Duck wouldn't have been hurt.
C: No relationship gains or losses, Carver beats up Kenny.
Chapter 151: Take His Hand?
B: Rejecting his hand would have sent a message to Carver that you're not on his side and that you don't approve of his ways directly. It also would have made Lee more morally green than the gray he maintains now.
Chapter 152: Forgave Bonnie?
A: Similar to what ended up happening, but Bonnie would be thankful for your forgiveness.
C: Rejecting her apology would bring your relationship down with her. She'd try to make it up to you anyways.
Chapter 153: Take the Jacket?
B: Refusing the jacket would have led to Clementine not taking the jacket and therefore being colder in future episodes.
Chapter 154: Who To Assist?
B: Helping Sarah would boost your relationship with her, but Duck would still lash out and get punished, along with Reggie. Carver wouldn't have shot Sarah later on.
C: Helping Duck would have been the best outcome, with everyone getting a good amount of work done after Clem calms down Duck. Sarah is inspired to do the same and does her work too. Reggie and Duck go unpunished.
Chapter 155: Danny and Becca
A: Prying into Danny's business would make him lie. Lee would be suspicious but Danny wouldn't be scared of him and would rat him out if he was betraying Bill.
B: Danny and Lee bond over this one, but Danny assures Lee that Becca isn't any trouble. Lee is not suspicious, however Danny will still rat Lee out if he betrays Bill.
C: A real bonding moment between Danny and Lee venting about Bill. Danny would like Lee enough to not rat on him at all. Lee would not be suspicious of Danny.
Chapter 156: Stopped Kenny?
A: If you talk Kenny down, your relationship with Mike skyrockets, while Kenny's decreases.
B: Just reverse choice A, Kenny's relationship goes up and Mike's goes down.
D: The argument escalates until the walkers break in, relationships remain stagnant.
Chapter 157: I'm Not Like You
B: Agreeing with Carver would have set our Clementine down the road of agreeing with him. She wouldn't want to betray Carver.
C: Threatening Carver would make his relationship with you go down, but his fascination and respect would definitely go up. He'd keep Kenny's name in mind.
D: Relationship with Bill goes up as you cold death stare him. "So you admit it then?"
Chapter 158: Who's Baby Is It?
A: Relationship decreases with Bill and Carver shoots Alvin during the radio scene if Danny rats on him.
B: Relationship increases with Bill, Bill shoots Alvin during the radio scene if Danny rats on him.
D: Relationship decrease with Bill, trust also goes down, respect goes up.
Chapter 159: Break Duck?
B: Breaking Duck's jaw, a horrendous relationship decrease and he can't speak throughout the rest of the episode, confined to a hospital bed. He'd survive the takeover plan.
C: Breaking his knee cap would make him unable to walk throughout the rest of the season, confined to a hospital bed. He'd survive the takeover plan.
D: Refusal would mean Carver punishes him instead, by cutting his tongue out.
E: Clem tries to hit Carver, but he catches the hammer and breaks her arm, then batters Duck's face until he dies. Then he throws her in the pen. Complete relationship deletion.
Chapter 160: Rat?
B: If you ratted on the group, Molly, Luke, Pete and Mike would all be executed the next morning for their betrayal while the others would be offered a chance to redeem themselves by working twice as hard.
C: Refusing to be a part of the plan doesn't change the plan much, except you don't get to choose who gets the walkie talkies, and you don't get one.
Chapter 161: Take a Hit?
A: Clementine mellows out significantly and has an easy time sleeping, but Carley notices and her relationship with her goes down. Clem smokes weed in the future to calm down during high stress situations.
Chapter 162: Who Gets What Job?
If you have a question about a specific job or character, ask me on the discord, linked below.
Chapter 163: Take His Gun?
A: Lee would have taken the gun. Sam barks at him but Carver trusts Lee and simply feeds Sam a bone to shut him up. Later, you could have saved Mike with this gun when Kenny decided not to help you.
Chapter 164: Who To Give the Walkie To?
B: If you gave it to Carley, Lee would be the one to reveal he has both walkies later on. He'd get beaten with it if your relationship with Bill is low, but otherwise he'd be sent away.
Chapter 165: Tell Shel?
A: If you told Shel now, she'd trust you sooner, however she'd also be extremely angry at Becca, causing a verbal argument between the two that Carver notices. He'd take note of it and dock points on your management skills.
Chapter 166: Phone a Friend
A: Dropping this bombshell on Shawn would force him to decline, however later on after witnessing Chuck's death, he'd be on board to help escape. He would not vouch for you during the walkie talkie scene, meaning Lee would also get beaten down and injured in the same vein as Kenny.
B: Shawn would be 100% up for this plan, this would also ensure that Lee goes down the path of becoming a co-leader whilst conspiring against Carver. Of course, he'll still be able to backstab and kill him when he becomes leader, but it's the fastest way to get there. He'd vouch for you during the walkie talkie scene.
C: Similar to A.
Chapter 167: Which Plan Do You Agree With?
A: Relationship boost with Kenny, relationship decrease with Mike. Clem now wants to leave tonight.
C: Clem wants to do whatever Luke wants to do, trusting in him. Relationship decrease with Kenny. Relationship increase with Mike.
D: Relationship decrease with everyone but Lee. Clem now both respects and fears Carver enough to want to live under.
E: Clem will follow whatever Lee does. Relationship decrease with Kenny.
Chapter 168: Stop Clem?
A: Pulling Clementine back will raise your relationship with Duck and Sarita, while decreasing your relationship with Clem significantly. She'll fall into Carver's viewpoint.
C: Staying out of it would lead to Carver having to break up the fight, which basically equates to him hitting Duck and defending Clementine. Relationship decrease with everyone involved. Clementine would consider supporting Carver over you.
D: Pushing Duck away would decrease your relationship with him and Sarita significantly. Carver would stay out of the situation and approve of Lee's management skills. Clem's relationship goes up.
E: Telling on Duck would show Carver that you're not ready to handle stuff on your own, causing a relationship decrease, but he'd handle the situation just like in C.
Chapter 169: Shoot Walter?
B: If Lee couldn't shoot Walter, he wouldn't immediately turn on Christa. Carver would take the gun from Lee and give it to Clementine instead, forcing her to shoot Walter.
C: Trying to give Walter another chance would lead to a relationship decrease with Carver. He'd then take it upon himself to shoot Walter. Lee would not cast away Christa.
D: Shooting Carver would lead directly to the rushed escape ending. Lee would shoot Carver in the shoulder when Bill dodges out of the way, and then get shot protecting Clementine. Walter and Christa would be gunned down and Lee would have to get his group out of Howe's before they all die. Lee would die from his injuries.
Chapter 170: Blame Lee?
B: This option would enable Lee to continue being a bad person for the sake of appeasing Carver. He'd give the walkie talkies back.
C: Same as B, but Clementine would be against Lee; afraid of him. He ends up handing in the walkie talkies early.
D: A more aggressive way to oppose Lee, he wouldn't listen to you if you decided to choose this option but you'd be against him. He'd rat you out to Carver and you would switch bedrooms with him later on. He'd also hand in the walkie talkies.
Chapter 171: The Walkie Talkie
B: This would stall Carver for a few minutes as he looks around sarcastically, giving Lee a chance to take Clem's walkie and have Shawn vouch for them all.
C: Same as what happened in A.
D: Blaming Duck would result in Carver beating him down for information, killing him prematurely. Shawn wouldn't vouch for you and Lee and Chuck would be forced to take their beatings, also resulting in Chuck's death. Carver would love Clementine for this though.
Chapter 172: What Plan Did You Choose?
A: Putting the decision to a vote would result in a relationship gain with everyone in the pen, as well as the escape plan being chosen by default.
B: Leaving would increase and decrease relationships depending on who wanted to do what, but overall the escape plan would be chosen. Kenny would be happy.
Chapter 173: Choose A Plan
Explained in the chapter themselves. For the full list of who would have died, if you're really that curious, it's on the discord.
Chapter 174: Let Sarah Help?
A: This would have saved Sarah's life. She would have been given a gun and came along with Luke's group to help out. When Carver holds her hostage, she shoots him in the shoulder, getting everyone else to get their guns on him.
Chapter 175: Let Danny Help?
B: Danny would come along with Kenny and Mike's group, and end up helping save Mike if you had brought him along.
C: Knocking him out would decrease your relationship with Danny significantly. Rebecca would be pleased. Not much of the plan's success changes.
D: Everyone learns that Danny is a Minecraft Streamer, so they're perfectly fine with tying him up. Gives you the opportunity to kill him later.
E: Tying Danny up but keeping his secret. Gives you the opportunity to expose or kill him later.
Chapter 176: Defend Yourself
A: Sam gets shot before he can do anything, causing everyone to hear the gunshot. Not much change from canon aside from more people realizing what's happening.
C: Molly throws Sam a bone, which he ignores. He attacks her, causing her gun to fall towards Christa, who helps save Molly by putting Sam down while he bites her arm.
Chapter 177A: Convince Christa?
A: Molly gives Christa a speech about keeping herself alive for her family. It works, however, Christa forever has a serious grudge against Lee and tries to kill him later on.
B: Molly knocks her out and ties her up so she can't hurt herself or anyone else, learning from Carley. Lee decides what to do with her next episode.
D: Same as what happened, only she gets to kill herself.
Chapter 177B: Find The Others?
A: Splitting up wouldn't have changed much, except when Molly attacks Carver in the stock room, she ends up getting shot due to no cover on her, killing her.
C: Staying there wouldn't change much from what actually happened. They'd still hear the gunshot and investigate, leading to Shawn getting bit.
Chapter 178: Hide or Wait?
A: Alternate death for Troy, he gets shot in the stomach instead of the dick and then gets speared in the junk by Hilda, followed by getting hit in the head until death.
C: Molly accidentally shoots Lee, Troy shoots Molly and then kills Lee too. Game Over.
Chapter 179: Duck or Sarita?
B: Lee shoots Stan, saving Duck, however Tavia kills Sarita. Duck unloads on Tavia, killing her too.
Chapter 180: Stay or Go?
A: Clementine goes down the Kenny path, wanting revenge for her friends' and families deaths. She sadistically watches Carver die, but doesn't exactly enjoy it. Her relationship with everyone who stayed goes up, while her relationship with Lee and Carley goes down.
Chapter 181: Speech, Speech, Speech.
Yet to be seen…
Stay Tuned for Episode 4, coming very soon. Make sure to join the Choices Matter discord in order to interact with writers, readers and get consistent updates on BYCAM.
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