Zach
A character from Deadly Premonition/Red Seeds Profile. A main character in TFR's Season 8.
Hey, Zach?[edit | edit source]
A man with vague memories with a knack for solving puzzling situations, he helps and is helped by "York" in his investigations although he sleeps most of the time.
In The Final Rumble[edit | edit source]
TFR/Season 7-7.5[edit | edit source]
Helps York in his investigations, and 'tags in' whenever they engage in a fight.
TFR/Season 8[edit | edit source]
A strange, amnesiac man who suddenly wound up in Coolsville.
Episode 1
Waking up in a well-worn room, the lying-down man begins coming back to his senses. Just as an old man next to him tells him to stay down and begins asking him questions, the bell is rung and he walks out. A different voice coming from seemingly nowhere wonders what the man might have been talking about since he should have be strong enough... and is quickly proven wrong as he falls back into rest. He wakes again when hearing the last sentence of a violent voice threatening someone and leaving, the old man quickly returns and apologizes as they are running into trouble lately, then moves on to asking the man's name. As he can't come up with an answer, the old man introduces himself as Kamogawa Genji, the owner of the boxing gym where he's currently at, who found him while driving in the countryside after having a bad crash far from the main road. Considering the kind of business he runs and having found him with no self-identifying material, he thought against bringing him to a hospital since things could've gotten... ugly, but a doctor he knew came and gave him some good stuff. The man tries to think back, and the name "Zach" rings repeatedly in his head, so he uses it to confusely introduce himself, which makes Kamogawa wonder if it's some kind of hebrew name before mentioning that he's welcome as long as he's got a strong punch and can stay until he recovers.
As the man returns to telling some kid to block with his head and punch harder, the voice in his head continues talking as the dazed Zach stumbles his way to the bathroom. As the voice tells him knowing the extent of his injuries is a good idea, Zach looks in the mirror and sees his face... for the first time.
Episode 2
Zach listens to York's voice again, who is glad he didn't go to 'sleep'. From what he sees they're both still suffering from amnesia, although Zach's is way worseâthis condition has been explored in many movies, such as Memento, 2000, directed by Christopher Nolanâwhich Zach does somewhat remember watching. All that's left is for them to keep bringing the pieces togetherâmaybe keeping notes, like the protagonist, Leonard, didâbut they say a healthy body makes a healthy mind, and he IS in a gym after all, and Kamogawa left a training plan behind...
Look at that Zach, until recently he could barely walk but now he's being whipped into shapeâsimilar to Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. 1987. Directed by Stanley Kubrickâalthough Kamogawa hasn't been as unfair as the sergeant was to those cadets. Just then, Kamogawa yells at him that there's no time for resting, in fact there's a tournament coming up and Ippo still hasn't recovered from his oxygen deprivation, but Zach looks like he has that 'spirit' in him. Although Zach isn't sure if he's in shape yet, Kamogawa assures him a few hits to the head will cure any of his headaches and as long as he helps with the gym Kamogawa will help him recover, so it seems hard to argue with such a fair deal from the man who saved him. Kamogawa calls over their recently recovered #2, and tells him to take his damn helmet off (not the rest of the armor though, perfect for training).
Zach was the one who had been taking care of their fights until now, but now it's time for York to prove himself and see if this gym is the real deal against Susuhara Suzumu. The fight ends in Zach's favor, and Kamogawa ends their training for the day. Susuhara can't believe it at first, but he hadn't had the chance to get into a real spar since Ippo went down. Zach asks about "Ippo"s situation, according to Susuhara he faced a fearsome opponent who used his power to vaporize all his oxygen and led him to this state, they don't know if he'll ever recover and it's really weighted on the old man... but he's lightened up since Zach showed up. Old man Kamogawa might be rough and seem kinda shady, but Susuhara assures Zach he's a great man... ever since a doctor told him to stop training his athletes to receive so many headshots, the gym went on the decline and he came to believe hospitals are conspirating against sports so it could lead to trouble if he visited one again. Susuhara mentions he doesn't like talking about it, but York is sure they'll find a way to ask him about it, isn't that right, Zach?
Episode 3[edit | edit source]
...If there's one thing he didn't forget, it's how to make a good coffee. Coffee's one of the only things they can always rely on (other than each other), after all. Zach decides to check the latest newspaper...
"Dynamite Ratings SKYPLUMMET after strong "The Big Bang Theory" lead-in"...
"New, innovative line of TFR merchandise coming to Sex Shops worldwide?"
"Tyrone Ngubu with a last-minute header to win the game as fans go crazy in the stands."
"Series of brutal murders haunts Coolsville in the past few months."
That last section catches his interest... but, there's something that's bothering him more first... Kamogawa is completely quiet. Not a single scream to quit slacking off. Just then, the door rings before, after a short delay, being promptly kicked open. V enters and, respectfully (as respectful as he can be), greets Kamogawa and asks for the thing they talked about last time, which Kamogawa replies in a... lacking manner. After a short pause, V instantly erupts, screaming at the "demented fucking old man" that it was his last warning, and punching him strongly enough that he falls to the floor. He cracks his knuckles and tells his boys to bring out the camera before Zach tries to step in, but Susuhara holds him back and apologizes to V in his stead since 'he's new'. Laughing, V's glad he scammed another person and can let the old man off with another extension, but if he's empty next time... he can't begin to imagine what they'll do to him and this place. He begins to leave and says to tell Ippo he said hello, if he's not braindead yet.
York tells Zach they've must just met the local despot, and with the low-level thug behavior of assaulting an old man like that, doesn't think they'll be in good terms. Once he leaves, Susuhara explains how Mafia City took over the region sometime ago and he's one of their guys, in truth it pained Susuhara to see such injustice yet have to stop Zach, because they simply lack the strength to fight against them as things stand. Kamogawa finally gets up and regrets how they can demand things like that because of the state of the place; they don't even make enough money to stay afloat without Ippo, but since Susuhara still trains there by himself (as Kamogawa doesn't have anything more to teach him) he gives them a cut of his salary as wrestler. Kamogawa returns to his office to figure a way out of this and Susuhara tries to continue explaining how Mafia city is growing exponentially and with V as the underboss they're more ruthless than ever, but Kamogawa yells at him to stop scaring Zach with horror stories and bring him the stuff they recovered from the site of the accident.
The surviving documents are case files about murders, and Zach realizes it's time to move out to do important work, promising Kamogawa to return for his training and have a proper rematch with Susuhara someday. But before that... he almost forgot... the coffee! No good... it's gone stale, but he also remembers the last section of the newspaper he left: James Tomitake's corpse at Sneed's Feed & Seed. The coffee must be telling them something, so better hurry, It's never good to be this late to a crime scene.
From the moment they arrived, York could feel the place had a special aura, it's said big moments of Coolsville's history took place there after all. Zach starts analyzing his surroundings... the marks of the blood splatting are still there, a blade was involved, probably a stabbing... considering the outline of where the body was, he finds a tiny piece of glass among a bunch of garbage where it went unnoticed, parts of his lens that could've only broken and went flying when he fell to the ground... and various footsteps, same shoes in different sizes, a group dressed in a single manner... there's no doubt about it, this was the place for a secret meeting, and for a man of James' position it's unlikely he'd be here unless he sought a private rendezvous. Zach sees a clear image in his mental profiling...
Can't you see it? We have the power to do exactly that...
Your men and my men, together.
...That way, we'll rise to relevancy, we'll be bigger than ever...
And this city will be free from that old man's claws...
...Huh?
...Ugh... Aaaahhh...
Didn't... We... Have a deal...?
A tale of men with too much power and money for their own good... and still, they wanted more. What led to James's demise is coming together... but someone doesn't want him to find out, for someone crept from the dark that may want to silence them. Let them bring it.
This is some real trouble they're into, but then, a lightning flash gives away the identity of their assailtant... Manuel "Manny" Pardo, the most tenacious detective in town. Pardo is equally surprisedâhe thought he had the Coolsville Cutthroat cornered and ambushed, and because he figured he disappeared because the higher ups had told him to leave the case, it's dangerous just to touch it and even Pardo has been told the same, but he'd never give up the chase. Pardo hastily remembers he thought he dropped something in the crime scene, but since Zach hasn't seen anything, Pardo recommends not to tackle the case alone. He's not afraid of that, but Zach's not the one to deny any help, so Pardo figures he'll help him out.
Just as they are about to go back to the scene, the smell of smoke suddenly breaks into the place; the Coolsville Cutthroat must've been watching! As they make a run for it, a deranged laugh is heard in the distance...
Episode 4
Shortly after the fire, Pardo had managed to catch the perpetrator following a lengthy chase. Once he was brought to the authorities, Pardo and Zach return to investigating...
An underworld hangout bar where the meanest sons of guns (like the Coolsville Cutthroat) always slither to, to chew over their dirty deeds and shadowy transactions, including Mafia City goons. If Pardo didn't have sources as solid as concrete, they'd be already sleeping with the fishes, speaking of which... they better start buying drinks to sway away the mean looks. Pardo gets a straight whiskey, and Zach gets a look at the cocktails before taking "The Forbidden Sip", which Pardo heard they stir quicksilver in for that extra kick.
With their backs turned, V gives them both a cheap shot while announcing they've seem to got a "rat problem" in this place. V tells his guys to give 'em the one-way ticket to the afterlife while he gets to real places to do real business, so Richter, M. Goku, and Cow Tools get up and close in. Just as York is thinking about facing them against the odds, he hears someone telling 'Frank' if he's not even gonna say hello, and Charles gets up from his chair and jumps in, shocking the thugs, Richter specially, before they regroup to attack.
Truth is, before Charles even got up, he gave the cops a call, so the assailants flee. The fight reminds York of of Steven Sonozaki's Out for Justice. 1991, directed by John Flynn. Date Kaname arrives at the scene, apologizing for his lateness since he was busy with the arson investigation, and since both Pardo and Zach were at the scene that night, they want to tell Date what went down. He'd order a drink... but this place doesn't even have any hostesses.
Episode 5
Back at Kamogawa's Gym, York explains how the victims all had different backgrounds, and different levels of involvement with the Coolsville Underworld, yet each crime presents a noticeable level of brutality. Definitely an expert, adds Zach. Charles has no idea who he's talking to, but they all have their issues, like how Charles would put everything out of focus during his phone talks, and remarks what a foolish man he was. York reminds Zach that this man was once the kingpin of Mafia City, he owned a kingdom in the underworld before they met him, at which point he was quite pathetic... how fast people change when reaching rock bottom. Kamogawa takes a good look at Zach's friend, and wonders if he'd be up to learn the ăMotionless Corkscrew Coconut 8th Dimension Diagonal Dempsey Rollă, but Pardo interrupts with grim news, another murder. Pardo wants to leave alone since it might be safer, but Zach decides to accompany him despite his protest, and asks Pardo to brief him on the way. Charles wishes them good luck since he has his own matters to attend to.
A forsaken place like NXT... what a rotten way to die. The murder must be hours old, and the victim was Captain John "Soap" MacTavish. Pardo insists he hurry and leave it to him before The Coolsville Cutthroat shows up. York notices something between the last 2 victims, but before he tells Zach, Pardo is attacked by Jacopo Bearzatti who's looking for the lead detective and assumes it to be Zach. It took long to find the one with all the information regarding the murder of their consigliere, and for the glory of the Cosca he'll make him spit his words.
Now that it's his task, York notices he might not be as good at fighting as when their roles were switched. Jacopo swiftly knocks Zach's lights out. Upon waking up, York notices they're tied up and Jacopo prepares to torture him for information on James Tomitake, but Pardo got past the pain thanks to his thick skin and prepares to give it to Jacopo. Before the situation can get more dire, Zach explains Pardo is the main investigator of the case instead. That hadn't even crossed Jacopo's head, but he announces they'll stop at nothing to find the truth of their consigliere's murder, which slightly shocks Pardo after seeing his determination. Disappointed at wasting his time since there's no culprit, a bunch of men from the Conseguenza Consortium quickly jab at Zach and Pardo before absconding with their comrade as suddenly as they appeared. After seeing they're not the only ones looking for the culprit, the detectives return to investigating the crime scene.
Episode 6
It's a shame Charles wasn't there when Zach and Pardo met the caporegime, but it's only a minor delay because after all, Richter is still committed to be their agent on the inside. It's never easy playing the double agent, but with this many people on the inside, York believes this should make things easier, and Richter leaves to his duty. The doorbell rings, and Kamogawa hurriedly opens the door to the three recruits that'll apparently be joining the gym. But... York and Charles recognize that man, Sneed's friend whom they tried to buy coffee seeds before, but Chuck denies knowing what they are talking about. Just before Kamogawa signs their contract, Susuhara notices in the fine print: it's a scam! Had he signed, he'd be giving away the rights to the propertyâBONKâSusuhara is incapacitated, and with the facade revealed, Chuck orders his hired muscle to get that paper signed with blood.
Zach, Charles and Pardo prove the gym's worth by fending off the two thugs and defeating Chuck; Kamogawa is proud and Susuhara affirms they'd never lose to dirty tactics. The two strongest backups Chuck could find were easily defeated, but even more surprising is that Cum Bucket chanced upon him and saw him entering a boxing gym. Upon hearing how worried he was about his friend being involved with wrestling now that the city is anything but safe, Chuck regrets his actions and talks about his pastâthe story of how he was a powerful man, the owner of Chuck's Fuck & Suck, and yet it was all superfluous to the friendships he built and the things he learnt, such as Big Pussy's "life is much like a vagina", and the most invaluable thing was the time spent getting to know them. But one day his empire fell apart, nothing but rubbleâand that's why he thought that having a well-located lot would allow him to bring it all back. He finally understood now, after being beaten to a bloody pulp, that taking away is not the way, but to work hard to protect the bonds forged and people he cares about. To thank Zach, he gives something long-promised, a memento of the recent past:
| >You got [Coffee Seeds] |
Sometimes you might lose sight of what's really important until you've lost it... York thinks it's a good thing that life can teach some lessons in the most unexpected of ways, though. Don't you agree, Zach?
Episode 7
They sure are some great coffee sneeds, so in the meanwhile, Zach and York take a moment to go over the case.
Coolsville had been facing turbulent times for a while when the serial killings begun, due to the constant conflicts happening in both its wrestling landscape and its underworld, which is the reason why such incidents have been flying under the radar.
The first victim was Big Pussy, a former hostess of the Eden of Coolsville, was found at an abandoned warehouse, such an odd location that he must've been lured there. He suffered an accident on the way back which is the reason other details before that point are blurry, and in the period of time he was unconscious, Darren Young was the second to meet a cruel fate, just as violent as the first with his body in the local church, despite not seeming like a religious man. After waking up, Kamogawa Genji was arguing with the local despot, V, who is extorting money from him. Around that time they learned of the death of James Tomitake, a significant figure in the Conseguenza Consortium, found dead at Sneed's, where they discovered his death was the result of a swift betrayal carried by many men, a stark difference from every other case, and that the motive and weapon were different, in this case related to the negotiation itself and with a bladed weapon instead of blunt. A man by the name of Jackson Kiryu set fire to the crime scene and was apprehended, but York nor Zach believe in him being the culprit being the murder. The latest victim, Captain Soap, was found at NXT, a place he never wrestled in before.
With everything in place, their next objective is hitting the Conseguenza Consortium through their man on the inside. Most interesting though, York points out that every murder took place in a different locationâwas it opportunism, or a motive, for the killer doing this?
Before he can dwell on it, Zach receives an urgent call from Charles: Mafia City got Richter. He's in one of their warehouse, one Charles himself had bought, obviously expecting them to come. Zach and Pardo won't leave him alone, so they decide to rendezvous in there as it'll probably be their biggest challenge yet.
Episode 9
521 alligators killed out of 29... blue squirrels to be found... Bartender's Sunday Cocktail at the right time... Chuck's requested artifact... Van's request to look at a locker room's leak... York reminds Zach of all their tasks. Since Chuck won't be around until tomorrow morning, they smoke to pass the time. Once they're done, Zach heads to the Coolsville Docks and reunites with Charles and Pardo at the warehouse entrance... but at the last minute, York remembers Kirei asked them for some ingredients...
Episode 10[edit | edit source]
At the rendezvous point, Charles tells York he's earlier than expected, and Pardo checks he's ready before preparing their rescue operation. While Zach is thinking to decide between a frontal or alternate entrance, Pardo is fed up by waiting and begins moving to the silent and vacant entrance. The entrance area is surprisingly empty as well, worrying Charles and Pardo, so Charles lays out the directions he remembered from the time he bought the place; the office area is right ahead, where he suspects Richter is held. Stationed on the entrance of the main office is M. Goku as lookout, and although Charles tells Zach to hurry up, he decides to take a meditated approach. On the way, they pass a strange cat that makes a "chrissssss" sound and teleports away; for the sake of sanity the group decides not to dwell on it (save York, who restores 5SP from the fascinating encounter).
They move to adjacent Equipment Room from the Office Area, where Zach checks the three closed lockers. The third contains some expired food, which Pardo quickly scarfs down, his sheer hardboiled-ness shocking everyone. The first belongs to "Joe", since Pardo recognizes his photo, and reminisces about his beautiful sister... also Joe. The second calls Charles' attention, but Zach finds it locked. The group climbs the stairs in the Office Area and peek through the window of the Main Office. V is viciously torturing Richter, who refuses to give him the expression he wants since "he's done with being underestimated and V's done once the real boss is back", which prompts V to begin going harder. Charles is distraught but remains calm, and Pardo calls him a coward, while York thinks he can't take much more. Zach instinctively closes his fist while look at the glass, but backs away and York praises the good call.
The group moves back to the Entrance Area and investigates the Bathroom. Charles quickly catches on and asks to keep their voice quiet (which reminds York of a scene from Scream (1996, by Wes Craven), who reminds Zach even a Bathroom sneak attack can be effective if they aren't careful.). Zach checks the mirror, and quickly takes a shave at his growing fuzz (+$10 for hygiene) Stall #4 has... a laptop, hooked to a TV set, with some sort of fighting game on display; Charles wonders what kind of sick individual would do this, but York thinks it could be an interesting experience once they rescue Richter. Stall #3 is locked, and a man asks for some TP, which Zach lacks but will keep an eye out for. Stall #2's empty save for an intoxicating smell, as expected of a bathroom. Stall #1 has a magazine, an edition of The PWI... 70? Pardo points it's some backyard mag instead of the real thing, and to just trash it.
Passing through the Entrance Area, Zach and co head to Quality Control right across, finding a bunch of boxes. One box, Pardo finds, is full of ladders, but Zach corrects him on them being "step"ladders; a stepladder can stand on its own, while a straight ladder must be leant up against a wall... so Pardo hits him with asking who came up with that, which Zach doesn't have enough research to know, and Charles uses to prove the argument as meaningless, but York consoles Zach that they simply don't "seem to understand". One box is full of pills, Daily Doses, and after some staring, Zach decides to take one even against York's wishes (this never goes well in movies), shocking everyone... until he confirms that as he suspected, they're placebo. One box is full of tables, who contrary to common sense Charles believes they use to put people through rather than furniture, but then why didn't they pass quality control? They're Japanese, Zach points, and Charles confirms that those indeed are practically unbreakable, while Spanish is what they would want... the more you know. One box is full of weapons: hammers, bats, shovels... Charles and Pardo are stopped by Zach since these obviously didn't pass quality control and would be no good, but if they had a guitar instead... Pardo doesn't get it at all. One box is full of food, more specifically culinary specialties, whose smell shocks Zach, even Pardo wouldn't eat it, and Charles figures it must be torture for hostages, but York notices some rare bat soup... which Zach decides to taste, and although quite tasty, makes Charles remark he's tasted something he considers a "forbidden sip" in his opinion, because now... he's gonna cough; indeed Zach got sick...
Out of options, Zach runs out of the Warehouse alone, and passes by a street shop run by Tony, a humble exchange student, but Zach doesn't have enough cash. He leaves the docks and heads to Coolsville's center. He passes by Kirei's Ramen Shop, where the owner gives him a cryptic message about the LORD hungering, requiring drowning in drink and tasting a forbidden sip. He heads to the Survive Bar, asking Survive's Bartender for their cheapest drink that can knock them out in a sip, and gets drunk! He stumbles back to the Ramen Shop where the LORD hungers for his suffering no more, and rewards him with some [Pocket Tissues]. Passing by the Arcade, it's completely empty, but it seems a fight broke out, York guessing it was probably over something childish, and they leave... Majima Goro exits from hiding, and continues searching for his lost phone (Zach would feel his presence and re-enter the Arcade 3 more times, but unable to find him every time). On his way to the Docks, Zach passes by the Boxing Gym, Kamogawa telling him off since he has something to do (and York doesn't want their head hit for now).
Back at the Docks, Zach reunites with Pardo and Charles, and goes to give the pocket tissues to the stall guy. Once he's done, Pardo immediately knocks the guy out, and Zach finds a [Small Key]. They return to the Equipment Room, and inside the locker is... a [Wrench]. Charles and Pardo are disappointed, but Zach and York are both excited and take it, the former two's disbelief. The three head to the entrance of the Main Office, and while the lookout is laughing to himself about the "extra mild" cowards, Zach rushes from the corner and totally wrenches him in such a way that the wrench breaks and M. Goku is instantly knocked out.
After waiting an awful long time, V finally sees the three he expected enter the office. V lifts Richter's head up by his hair and tells him to smile since his friends arrived, but he can barely talk. Charles shouts to Richter to save his strength and Pardo announces he'll be joining them soon outta here, so Zach prepares to take out V's goons once again, but V shows them the new backup he's got in the scarred and menacing Sneed along with Cow Tools; Charles hopes he's footing their hospital bills like he once did, because they'll need themâV's had enough of his 5 minutes of babbling and wants the violence NOW, so York promises Zach to give it his all on this one; he's been waiting for it far too long.
Thanks to Pardo's resilience, the enemy is taken care of, Charles finally paying him back for messing with his gang, and Zach tells him to turn himself in... but V lifts Cow Tools up and throws him at them into a mad rush, that they barely manage to avoid while V makes a successful escape. With the hostiles taken care, Charles rushes to untie Richter, who tries to walk, but his boss tells him to drop the pride for now since he did well enough enduring for so low. Not to cut the good moment short, but Pardo hurries everyone to leave before reinforcements can come, or worse the Coolsville Cutthroat, although Charles feels good enough that he could take him on, much to Pardo's silence. With the rescue mission successful, it's time to regroup at the gym, since Zach and Richter have quite the story for Kamogawa.
Episode 11
Outside of Kamogawa's, York notices Tony set shop right in front of the gym, sure comes in handy now that they got the rewards for taking care of all those killer bees. Either way, that's it for shopping so Zach and Pardo enter the gym. Kamogawa greets the heroes who faced the mafia and rescued a friend all in a day's work, with Pardo informing him that Charles asked to leave it to him and split with Richter for safety reasons. Kamogawa hopes it'll be alright, but Charles is a man of conviction and moreso feels responsible; there's no man more trustworthy to protect his friend no matter what.
While they saved their friend, Kamogawa announces he got a new student, so there's plenty to celebrate, and shouts at Susuhara for the drinks. Pardo looks at the bald guy signing the contract with suspicion for the way he dresses, but Susuhara assures he got to assess him first-hand: a loudmouth but seems generally nice. While they take a seat after Susuhara beckons them to, Kamogawa mentions Tony (which he met out in his errand) and hopes the shop will attract new customers, he's a brave one for risking having the mafia at his doorstep, so Zach hopes he finds a way to avoid them. Kamogawa shouts at Susuhara if the new boy is one of them quiet types before shouting at him directly to grab a drink for his welcome party. Not "boy", but "The Professional" announces he only drinks fine wine, until Pardo tells him to stop acting like a spoiled sissy, which flusters 47 and forces him to take the sip.
A light-hearted talk over a drink is what gives the energy to keep going... Zach agrees with the thought, but it's a shame Charles and Richter aren't enjoying it, so he says they should get them a drink to make up for it. Kamogawa agrees... if he's paying, although Zach will probably need to kill some alligators to afford it, and Pardo remarks he dug his own grave. Not like the gym's budget would be able to afford it considering Kamogawa already went overboard tonight, but he feels business will be booming soon, and Susuhara notes things are bound to get lively with not just himself around, but 47 tells Susuhara not to go implicating him in his "lively" homosexual schemes. With that, Pardo believes it's time to leave since he has to take care of some important... "business", although Zach didn't take him for the entrepreneur type, and 47 shouts at him to not invest in the stock market for it was the worst mistake in his life... or more accurately, something like third worst this past month, with how things have been going.
"Business" likely means something else, York points out, but although it's dangerous out in the night like this, it's doubtful doubt Mafia City would strike back this soon, and officer Pardo can handle himself, so instead they should get some sleep. Since he hasn't got any proper sleep in a while, Zach takes the chance while thanking for the "acquired taste" drinks; Kamogawa hopes to see him training early tomorrow, and Susuhara thinks they could even have that promised rematch. It seem Zach's got things to look forward to, tomorrow is sure to be a good day...
Episode 12
Kamogawa has to push 47 to his limit if he wants him to achieve a perfect 1080 backstabbing inverted Dempsey Roll, and besides his head is still shiny and not cracked like an egg! Susuhara tells him it might be too much, so Kamogawa relents... 47 can barely stop himself from vomiting, nevermind he doesn't care who this "Dempsey" sissy is or learning about his flamboyant ballet moves, but Susuhara tells him he's lucky Kamogawa didn't hear that. The doorbell rings (Kamogawa salivating at the prospect of another new student) so Richter approaches to open, and in enters... FBI Special Agent Francis Zach Morgan, or more commonly Zach since everyone calls him that, returning after his 3 months of absence since his superiors recalled him. Charles is shocked, what with being instantly recalled just after their celebratory day with the drinks; another murder had just happened without them being able to investigate, and the guy they sent in his place was a damn piece of work. Then the murders stopped, but just a few days ago, another corpse was found, so Charles wonders if that's why he came back, but in fact, Zach "just thought" it would be a "lovely vacation place". Meanwhile, they've been fighting Mafia City's influence the best they could, but V recovered not long after that day, and Pardo begun acting strange and never met up with them again after that very night...
Then, even more unexpectedly, Tony the vendor enters the gym, announcing that "the boss" wants to talk to them... because he's a member of the "Italian Mafia", although he's not too sure what's an Italian Mafia, but either way he wants Zach and the other two to follow him. Charles and Richter are wary, but Zach sees no reason to decline. Susuhara wonders if it's a trap, but Kamogawa is sure they can defend themselves, but just in case he orders 47 to follow them, unless he wants to do more cardio, so he begrudgingly accepts since he's the best he could wish for when it comes to stealth.
They indeed meet Jacopo, and Charles & Richter are instantly prepare to fight in case of an ambush, but Jacopo insists he doesn't seek violence (currently), but they are more than welcome to try when he has the King of Assassins next to him, whose sheer presence instantly makes them back down. What Jacopo is looking for, as a matter of fact, is an alliance. He's been watching their group for the past few months, which Tony (among others) has done perfectly, and determined that none of them could've caused Tomitake's deathâhowever, during those weeks, just one of their suspects escaped their sights, and through those intervals, a new murder victim would ariseâthat suspect... Manuel Pardo. Zach's speechless at first, but Charles and Richter instantly take to the possibility. As Zach moves on to rebute him, he stops when York reminds him to consider every perspective (and he's seen scenario like this in movies), saying that he's entitled to his opinion, and stating that he'll make it his job to find any issue in his investigation, as he accepts the truce. With a sigh of relief, Jacopo admits he never saw anything like this happening until listening to Uncle Mario's orders and that "You can't make-a some good spaghetti without adding in the polpetta!", making him understand unlikely collaboration was necessary to reach the truth. With that done, he asks them to follow him since they've got places to go, and the group follows along.
King Hassan stalls for a moment, looking in a particular direction in the alleyway, before turning around to continue following them... 47 leaves a sigh of relief, surprised he had to hold his breath and was still noticed... he wonders if the great King of Assassins is capable of Instinct Mode too.
In a distant, dark warehouse, Pardo's antipathy and paranoia swells and flows...
...Can't trust anyone these days...
Everyone's always out to get you.
But I've got eyes on my back. No one's following me. I'm following them.
Coolsville Cutthroat... Count your days...
Episode 13[edit | edit source]
After Jacopo is done showing the group, he invites them to rest at The Pizza Tower; he explains it's one of their legit business, and this place specifically has been expanded by their family for generations. After witnessing a customer ordering Casu Marzu, Ritcher sees they really have all kind of toppings, and Charles takes the chance to ask if they even serve Hawaiian, but Jacopo assures the floor where they keep all the ones who order pineapple is not a pleasant place, and Charles backs off. York is glad they found a place like this; it's got the true taste of Italy, and the atmosphere of an old fashioned Italian restaurant as well... brings back memories. And the name, gotta love simple yet efficient italian nomenclature. Zach however stays quiet, worrying York if he's worried... or worse, has something against Italians. Ritcher notices Zach is too quiet and asks his boss if they should talk him out of his shell, but Charles is interrupted by Jacopo's order arriving: he proclaims you can't go wrong with some classic Italian spaghetti, none of that bolognese crap, just the right amount of sauce. Zach in response asks for... just coffee.
Jacopo decides to get down to business, and says that as they know they've been looking for Manuel Pardo the last 3 months. However, he always slips out of sight, with none of their strategies working. Waiting around on crime scenes was pointless too, as Pardo was always the first one in and first one out... which is to be expected, as he's likely the culprit. Charles adds the never passed through the Gym either (and Ritcher that the old man kept asking about him), which Jacopo affirms as Tony didn't inform anything. Zach's coffee arrives, just as Jacopo does another thing he never thought he would and asks Zach if his FBI sources couldn't help, so he explains again that he's cut from the bureau since he's officially on vacation. York suddenly screams within Zach's head to stop! but it's too late, as he forgot their ritual of checking the coffee before drinking it, and missed an important lead. Zach apologizes, having spat coffee even on the distant window... suddenly, York notices something: the coffee stain is right about where Angel Mort is. The coffee's message! Zach suddenly announces he'll be taking his leave despite the fantastic coffee, as Charles and Richter (who didn't even get to order) are dumbfounded, but Jacopo instantly picks up he's got something and says to follow.
It really was him in the distance: officer Pardo. Zach needs to talk to him man-to-man, but York points out they've already got company on the trail. Jacopo and Charles screams for Zach to not leave them behind (Richter is just hungry), and Jacopo then also catches a glimpse of Pardo, following Zach into Angel Mort. Inside the building, they find it infested by cops. Date Kaname screams it's the best Coolsville P.D. gathering ever; such revealing waitress outfits... he MUST get a membership card. Charles also says he should come more often, and Richter thinks of ordering something, but Jacopo screams frantically for where Pardo is. Date responds that he stopped real quick and left through the back, but wonders what they're doing in this private gathering in the first place, and then a rank-and-file notices he's a member of the Consortium and asks if he's come to initiate a gang war in Sonozaki territory. Zach takes the chance to leave the three behind and follows quickly after Pardo.
...He's there. Zach can feel it before Pardo even appears, who remarks he's got good eyes on his back. Finally, Zach gets to askâwhy? To answer, Pardo believes it should be fairly obvious. He's a nuisance, been from the start; fancy shmancy brat from the FBI waltzes in and steals all the thunder, but this caseâhis case, the Coolsville Cutthroatâwas always his' since day one. He thought he's gonna sweep in to save the day, in HIS city? No. That's where he's wrong, Pardo IS the action hero this city needsâthe guardian of Coolsville, who's seen the darkness and been deep in the filth, still standing tall. Pardo was planning to leave them from the start, and when Zach got recalled, he could stop playing nice with thugs, pretending to give a damn about anything but the case. But now, that he is this close, he's back again, just to ruin everything. He... doesn't sound anything like the hard-boiled detective he knew, says Zach, and Pardo tells him to stop pretending to know him when he doesn't have a clueâbut Zach can tell one thing, he's not just playing the detective, he's performing the role like a character from some cheap flick. In fact, he's damn rightâ"Seven", "Heat", "Chinatown", he watched all the classics, and it takes a lot to grow into that role. Heroes don't just walk out of the station one day fully-formed, he had to breathe it, live it, become what this city needs... without it, he's just another washed-up cop full of regrets.
York tells him he's more than trying to be a hero, but a man who let delusion become his identity, and is terrified because he knows deep down it's all hollow. He's holding on to this case because it's the last thing holding him together... just like "Taxi Driver". 1976, directed by Martin Scorsese. Zach calls out all his bravado as a mask, and behind it he lost himself in the script of his own movie. But Pardo scream that that's wrong! This is who he is now, who he's become. The last honest man in a city of scum. If that's the role he wants to play, Zach asks him to show this "hero" he's convinced he is, but Pardo warns that this isn't just a fightâthis is the final act, the guardian of Coolville's legacy. And he's not going down without a fight.
Catching his breath, Zach believes him now he wasn't kidding about his thick skin, but it isn't even close to indestructible, and that's why he won. Thick skin... stubbornness... whatever you call it, it's all Pardo ever had to keep going this far. But, he wasn't fighting for the city, points Zach, he just twisted this whole case into his personal noir fantasy. By now, Pardo claims he knows that well, but what else does he have, what is he if not a hero, someone who mattered, who is remembered? He didn't want to face it was the end of the line, not until Zach forced him to. York points out he's been living in his own noir flick, trying to be the hero he saw when he was a kid, the tough guy who never gives up even when the odds are stacked against him. But the facade's crumbling; he's realizing he's not the lone wolf he's been pretending to be, but a man who backed himself into a corner, holding onto scraps of pride. Pardo reveals that the Coolsville Cutthroat was within his reach, but he failed, and then turned it all into an act to avoid facing the truth. His tough guy act was never about justice, but about hiding how lost he really was. Now that he's lost everything, he has something to show Zach.
Inside a warehouse a little way's off, was Pardo's little detective nest. He lived here, pouring over every detail, chasing leads that go nowhere, trying to find patterns that don't exist... the case ate away at him, all while losing himself in the process. The pictures are from crime scenes they never even got access to, Zach wonders how, but Pardo reminds him he was always the first one there: it wasn't hard to pocket stuff, all to not allow someone else to solve the case and be the hero but him, but instead, he lost sight of the real killer and what was right in front of him. York notices something Pardo circled and hasn't even realized, a cigarette case engraved with the family crest of Mafia City, and Zach is about to mention it, but Charles and Richter finally arrive, and Jacopo jumps in to deal with Pardo. Quickly, Zach explains Pardo's withholding of evidence, blurring the truth which points which one thing: V is the one who orchestrated everything. Even Jacopo remembers V pointed him to Pardo and played him LIKE A DAMN FIDDLE. Charles tells everyone that they've chased each other's tails too long, but now they can make a proper alliance, as his goal was always to take V out of the picture, and now they can focus on putting an end to Mafia City. He asks Zach for his help, for with him on their side they can finally win the war.
But... something isn't right, and Zach has to point out the obvious: Charles' alliance with Jacopo... it didn't just start last week, and they planned this in advance. After some awkwardness, he concedes they needed him to help track down Pardo, and they needed someone strong to help tip the scales in a war like this. Zach asks Charles if he's really going to start an all-out war without considering the collateral damage, but Jacopo quickly shoots that it's plain and simple justice, no matter the sacrifices, and Charles agrees V's a monster and deserves what comes. After that, Zach decries out that that's THEIR justiceâânot his', and Charles is disappointed at his "lack of resolve", but Zach can live with that, and sees himself out. Pardo stands dejectedly outside, as Zach mentions he got one thing right; he's not the hero of this story, but he isn't the villain either... just another man caught in the crossfire. As he leaves, he turns to Zach and utters one last thing:
Zach...
Catch the Coolsville Cutthroat.
Match History[edit | edit source]
| Date | Type | Vs | Result | Records | Singles | Details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KO-only | Susuhara Suzumu | Win |
|
Stage: Kamogawa Boxing Gym | ||||||||||||||
| Mysterious Assailtant | Win |
|
Stage: Behind Sneed's Feed & Seed - Parking Lot | |||||||||||||||
| Tag-Team Elimination KO |
Charles, Francis Zach Morgan, Manny Pardo | Win |
|
Stage: Underworld Bar | ||||||||||||||
| Jacopo Bearzatti | Lose |
|
|
Stage: NXT | ||||||||||||||
| Tornado-Tag Elimination KO |
Chuck, Arkantos, Gladiatar | Win |
|
Stage: Kamogawa Boxing Gym
| ||||||||||||||
| Tag-Team Elimination KO |
Francis Zach Morgan, Manny Pardo, Charles | Win |
|
Stage: Mafia City Warehouse | ||||||||||||||
| NON-CANON Royal Rumble |
S8E11.1§ROYAL RUMBLE
âFull List |
Lose | For Title: King of Uncanon
â: 25 | |||||||||||||||
| Manny Pardo | Win |
|
|
Iconic Match
 The Buried Truth â Vs. Manny PardoStage: Near Angel Mort Note: Submission | ||||||||||||||
