Doctor Zed: Difference between revisions

Ten years prior to the events of the {{pkmn|movie}}, Dr. Zed worked for [[Chrom and Rin Molybden]] at the Biotope Company. They researched the mysteries of the healing spring water in the [[Forest of Okoya]], seeking to locate its source. Chrom and Rin eventually managed to acquire a sample of the spring water and were able to find its source, the Great Tree hidden somewhere deep in the jungle. However, when they realized the tree was a sacred place to the troop of {{p|Zarude}} living there, they decided to put their research on hold until they could find a way to approach the matter in a way more respectful to the tree's residents. This enraged Zed, who was unable to persuade Chrom to change his mind. Returning to his office, Zed recorded a video log about the project's postponement, only to suffer a psychotic break during the recording, trash the office and decide that he should lead the Biotope Company instead. He then pursued Chrom and Rin in his car, running them off a road and causing a fiery wreck. Unaware that they had sent their infant son Al away in a cradle down the nearby river with their research contained in a pendant, Zed stole their sample of the spring water and left them to die in the subsequent explosion, swearing he would rebuild their work from scratch. Al was later found by one of the Zarude, who named him {{OBP|Koko|M23}} and raised him as a son.

Dr. Zed assumed leadership of the Biotope Company as he had planned, and over the next ten years, sent research teams led by his aide {{OBP|Karen|M23}} to survey the Forest of Okoya. One day, {{OBP|Ash Ketchum|M20}} arrived at the Biotope Company's headquarters with Koko in tow, having discovered the feral boy's apparent connection to the organization via an old photograph of Chrom and Rin wearing lab coats with the Biotope Company's logo on them. Zed was surprised by the presence of Koko, who he quickly realized was actually the long-believed-deceased Al Molybden. After explaining Koko's parents' background to him, Zed admitted that they had died in an accident ten years prior and proved Koko's identity by scanning the boy's pendant. This scan produced a partially corrupted data file from which an image of the Great Tree was recovered, and when Koko reacted to the photograph, Zed realized that he knew where the Great Tree was. He asked Koko to tell him its location, but Koko pushed him away and fled.

 

However, Zed had covertly placed a tracking chip on Koko's shoulder, and he used this information to follow Koko to the Great Tree with his research team, several trucks and a giant spider tank in tow. As he started causing destruction to the jungle, he was confronted by Ash and Koko, who tried to stop his actions. He restrained them in his {{p|Ariados}}'s {{m|String Shot}} and imprisoned them in one of the trucks, leaving them in the custody of {{TRT}}, who had disguised themselves as researchers to infiltrate the Biotope Company. Zen then led his team to the Great Tree, and upon confirming the presence of an enormous energy source within the tree itself, ordered the tank's pilot to fire missiles into it. This act enraged the Zarude troop and led to their staging a counterattack. The resistance of the Zarude coupled with the unexpected cruelty and violence of Zed's plot caused Karen and the rest of the team to begin doubting their leader. He broke down again, initially pleading with them that his decisions were correct but soon realizing they would not agree with him. When Ash and Koko caught up with them, Zed ejected the tank's pilot and took control of it himself, confessing his role in the deaths of Chrom and Rin and calling Koko's survival unplanned but convenient for his cause. Ranting that he would prove his choices to be correct, he piloted the mech to engage in a fierce battle Ash, Koko, and the Pokémon of the jungle, whom he derided as weak.

 

Although he was able to hold out against his enemies for a lengthy period of time, Zed was ultimately defeated when {{AP|Pikachu}} destroyed the mech's control system using {{m|Iron Tail}}. He tried to flee from the scene of the battle, but was spotted by Koko, who gave chase and cornered him on a fallen tree overlooking a river. He and Koko got into a physical struggle and Zed tried to escape by jumping into the river, only for Koko to ensnare him with a vine, leaving him trapped hanging over the water.

 

Later, while the Biotope Company worked to restore the Forest of Okoya and restructure in the wake of the incident, Dr. Zed was arrested based on his confession and other evidence leaked to the public by Team Rocket. He was last seen on a television broadcast as he was led into a police van by [[Officer Jenny]], glaring angrily at the cameras as the doors were closed.