In 2014, a young man calling himself "Michael Hanover" was arrested in Hanah, OH for armed robbery. Though he escaped custody just four hours after booking, police documented Hanover having a barcode tattoo on the back of his neck. Upon examination of his mug shots, Max identified "Michael Hanover" as Zack. He later showed up under the assumed alias of 'Sam,' a guy looking for a job at Jam Pony. He and Max escaped Manticore once again when they found his location. He split shortly after, telling Max that it would be best if she did too. Also, he will not give Max the location of their other siblings.

Zack showed up again after Brin was captured, they kidnapped Lydecker and used him to get to Brin. They escaped lock-up because Max played dead. Brin, who was suffering from spontaneous aging due to Werner's Syndrome, had chosen to go back to Manticore for treatment instead of dying. Afterwards, Zack split again, only to be heard from when Max was framed for the murder he commited of Dan Vogelsang, the private detective who double-crossed Max. He and Max went fled for Canada. Max came back to save Logan Cale's life, only to get caught and released when Zack came forward and admitted to the murder.

The helicopter in which Zack escaped in crashed, gunshots were fired; Zack was taken back to Manticore and tortured. Zack refused to tell them the whereabouts of the missing X5. The doctor faked Zack's death so that Zack could get away and lead them to the X-5.

While Zack was on the run, he told Max where most of them lived, and then discovered that they were being listened to from a transmitter in Zack's head. Without a way to contact the X-5, Logan aired an 'Eye's Only' announcement warning them that their positions had been discovered.

Zack and Max rescued Tinga, who then left with Zack for Canada.

Tinga was captured later on by Manticore when she had to choose between her son's life and her freedom. She chose her well-being and went to Manticore. She was killed during expirements performed on her at a secret base. Later on, during a great battle to take down Manticore, Max was captured with a gunshot wound to the heart.

Captured along with his sister, Zack offered himself to save her life.