Zack Taylor

PLAYER
» HANDLE: China
» CONTACT: shramp
» AGE: 30+
» CHARACTER(S) IN-GAME: None

CHARACTER
» NAME: Zack Taylor
» CANON: The Power Rangers (2017)
» CANON POINT: End of film
» AGE: 17

» SETTING:

• Power Rangers (2017) Wiki
  
• Zack Taylor (2017) Wiki

Note: The 'Personality' section contains what is known about Zack's history, specifically that he lives in Angel Grove, nominally attends the local high school, and cares for his mother, who is terminally ill. The lattermost weighs on him heavily, and that anxiety seems to drive a lot of reckless behavior.

» SHORT DESCRIPTION: Impulsive, intuitive, inquisitive, anxious, excitable, loyal
» INFLUENTIAL EVENTS:

Spoilers!


1. Discovery of Power Coins: In canon, the discovery of the power coins is both when Zack first meets the other Rangers, forming their close-knit group of friends, and also the moment that he gets in touch with incredible power from outer-space. The group immediately throws themselves into reckless, wildly physical shenanigans to escape the police, kindling the beginnings of their bond. Shortly afterward, they apparently teleport home and are able to commiserate over their shared experience. This is apparently the first sense of true, comfortable 'belonging' that Zack has ever demonstrated on-screen, as he didn't apparently have other friends before. He also plays a key role in (impulsively) busting through the substrate of glass to expose the coins to their respective owners.
   
   
2. Firelight Conversation: As the group struggles and fails to activate their powers ("to morph"), Zack suggests they come together and get to know each other. He then comes forward himself, and shares that he believes that being with the other teens is "good for [him]." Though he seems oddly comfortable with this amount of personal disclosure and emotional intimacy, it's heavily implied that he hasn't done it much of late, possibly because his mother's illness has largely pressed him to withdraw from Angel Grove.
   
   
3. Billy's Death: When faced with the cosmic threat of Rita Repulsa, the baby fledgling Power Rangers make the ill-conceived decision to try and prove themselves by attacking her before they have full command of their powers. It's the stupidest thing ever, and immediately goes sideways. Rita beats them up soundly and threatens to kill two of them in sequence, Zack being the second one, if their friend Billy does not give up the location of the alien artefact she needs to begin her assault on Earth. As Rita is beginning to torture Zack and prepare to kill him, Billy speaks up and gives away the location of the artefact. This experience basically pours concrete over Zack's love for his little group of friends, especially Billy, who prioritized his life over the safety of the city— though certainly not without the hope that they would come together and defend the Grove.
   
   
4. Saving Angel Grove: As the Rangers finally activate the full extent of their powers, Rita is beginning her attack on the Grove in search of the artefact, using her massive, winged, humanoid 'monster,' Goldar. The kids come together to try and defend the city, and mots of all, the item that Rita seeks to dig out of the (improbably fiery, burning depths of) earth. At one point, the tide of battle seems to have turned for the worst— even in their giant, mechanical Zords, the Rangers are unable to stop Goldar and are pushed into the red-hot chasm. However, the Zords then interlock together, in classic mecha style, and form a creature the size of Goldar and are able to punt Rita away. The city rejoices! This teaches Zack for the first time that he has some measure of power and influence against the terrifying chaos of the world (i.e., his mother's illness; potentially also the loss/absence of his father), to do good, with people who love him.

» FIT: Zack is bad at being away from his mother, and good at cavorting around terrifyingly dangerous situations at high risk. Thus, he would struggle with being 'abducted' by coincidence (?) to the Terminal, but also do a good job contributing to exploration and other tasks. He is brave to the point of reckless, and inquisitive in the face of alien artefacts.

» POWERS:

• Black Power Coin: Zack possesses a circular, flat (coin-shaped) supernatural crystal that's black in color. This is the fundamental source of all of the following abilities (apart from combat skills), as well as his morphing ability
  
• Black Mastodon Battle Zord: Zack technically commands an alien battle vehicle, which is extremely large-- perhaps 30 or 40 feet tall. It is powerful and quick, proportionate to its size, and can combine with the other Zords. Suggested nerf: he does not bring his Zord with him.
  
• Powers and Abilities:
  Power Ranger Physiology: All Power Rangers possess the following abilities, even out of morph—
  • Superhuman Strength: Zack has enhanced strength; he can break rock with his bare hands (preferably wearing armor), indicating about 5 tons of lift (the capacity of a compact excavator).
    
  • Superhuman Leaps: Zack has an extended range of leaping/jumping, approximately 40 feet.
    
  • Superhuman Durability: Though he is susceptible to pain without his armor, Zack is exceptionally resilient. Normal humans, bare-handed, cannot hurt him at all; Rita's rock golems, about 4-5 the weight and strength of normal humans, can cause bruising, etc. Firearms and knives could penetrate his skin and cause injuries, but less than a normal human.
  
  
  • Superhuman Climbing: Enhanced by his strength, Zack can climb up rocks and other surfaces, albeit at the cost of damaging them somewhat.
    
  • Morphing: If Zack 'morphs,' he develops a suit of black armor around him, each iteration seeming to grow around his body from scratch. This armor is extremely durable. Suggested nerf: We could make this as effective as a USA Army flak jacket, thus sniper bullets and widespread blunt, concussive trauma would still get through?
    
  • Skilled Combatant: Having been trained by/with the robot Alpha 5 as well as his teammates, Zack is a proficient hand-to-hand combatant.
  
  » NOTES: None. Human kid with powers. You know how it go.
  
  » SAMPLES: Thread with Jason and Thread with Ryuji