Description
Zacks Cromwell is a loud, cheerful, and talkative middle-aged man, often raising his voice. His appearance features medium-length black hair, a mustache, beard, and a distinctive goggle-like eyepatch permanently covering his left eye. He possesses a congenital steam-related disorder, Infrared Hypersensitivity, in that eye. This grants him thermal vision, but removing the eyepatch risks severe retinal damage, optic nerve injury, or death.
Generally careless and not adept with children, partly due to his perpetual bachelorhood at age 38, Zacks became guardian to his nephew Levius Cromwell five years prior. This followed the death of Levius's father (Zacks's brother Nicholas) in war and the coma of Levius's mother. Zacks initially struggled to connect, falling asleep waiting for Levius at the station and fumbling through awkward early exchanges. He privately reflected on the trauma Levius endured—losing an arm and his mother—as a 12-year-old. Sharing a personal story about arguing with a friend before the friend's war death revealed Zacks's unresolved guilt. He supported Levius's interest in mechanical martial arts, arranging prosthetic arm maintenance with mechanic Bill Weinberg and eventually agreeing to coach him.
As Levius's trainer and cornerman, Zacks provides strategic advice during matches, shouting tactical adjustments like opening moves against opponents such as Malcolm Eden. He frequently uses humor to lighten Levius's mood, though often unacknowledged. Zacks is protective, urgently discouraging Levius from pursuing revenge against the military organization Amethyst after spotting their emblem on fighter A.J. Langdon, prioritizing Levius's career safety. This protectiveness extends to physically shielding Levius during an attack by Hugo Stratus outside the ring.
His infrared vision proves strategically vital when he removes the eyepatch during Levius's fight against A.J., identifying her hidden backup steam generator despite the extreme personal risk. This underscores his willingness for self-sacrifice. He coordinates with allies like Bill Weinberg for Levius's technical and medical support, including negotiating resources to enhance Levius against Amethyst.
Zacks serves as a parental figure, balancing mechanical martial arts mentorship with emotional support. He encourages Levius during low moments, like after hospital visits to his comatose mother, remaining a steadfast presence despite his own discomfort in medical settings. His background as a traditional boxer informs his coaching, emphasizing discipline while grappling with concerns about cybernetic boxing's dangers.
Generally careless and not adept with children, partly due to his perpetual bachelorhood at age 38, Zacks became guardian to his nephew Levius Cromwell five years prior. This followed the death of Levius's father (Zacks's brother Nicholas) in war and the coma of Levius's mother. Zacks initially struggled to connect, falling asleep waiting for Levius at the station and fumbling through awkward early exchanges. He privately reflected on the trauma Levius endured—losing an arm and his mother—as a 12-year-old. Sharing a personal story about arguing with a friend before the friend's war death revealed Zacks's unresolved guilt. He supported Levius's interest in mechanical martial arts, arranging prosthetic arm maintenance with mechanic Bill Weinberg and eventually agreeing to coach him.
As Levius's trainer and cornerman, Zacks provides strategic advice during matches, shouting tactical adjustments like opening moves against opponents such as Malcolm Eden. He frequently uses humor to lighten Levius's mood, though often unacknowledged. Zacks is protective, urgently discouraging Levius from pursuing revenge against the military organization Amethyst after spotting their emblem on fighter A.J. Langdon, prioritizing Levius's career safety. This protectiveness extends to physically shielding Levius during an attack by Hugo Stratus outside the ring.
His infrared vision proves strategically vital when he removes the eyepatch during Levius's fight against A.J., identifying her hidden backup steam generator despite the extreme personal risk. This underscores his willingness for self-sacrifice. He coordinates with allies like Bill Weinberg for Levius's technical and medical support, including negotiating resources to enhance Levius against Amethyst.
Zacks serves as a parental figure, balancing mechanical martial arts mentorship with emotional support. He encourages Levius during low moments, like after hospital visits to his comatose mother, remaining a steadfast presence despite his own discomfort in medical settings. His background as a traditional boxer informs his coaching, emphasizing discipline while grappling with concerns about cybernetic boxing's dangers.