The Zootists are a powerful tribe who worship a reborn Zoot. Believing in "Power and Chaos," they seek to create disruption throughout the entire city and instil fear into all.
However, the Zootists were nothing more than a pawn for both Mega and Java's plans to force those in the city to accept their safety zone. Though publicly led by Ebony, it was Java who pulled all the strings, and who continued to keep Ebony in check with virtual reality illusions and with Darryl's help.
In The Tribe: A New World onwards, the Zootists were resurrected as a tribe when The Collective tasked their commander Eloise to use them to further their goals. She would later find The Guardian on a slave ship and enlist his help, manipulating him for her own selfish gain. The Zootists become more fanatic then before, as they praise Eloise for drinking Bray's blood and wanting her to conceive a child with Bray to continue Zoot's bloodline.
Originally stationed on an island, the Zootists travel to the city where they held their base in the Mall with the captured the Mall Rats. But they were defeated mostly due to Ebony's manipulation of dividing the Zootists in half, causing a civil outbreak. However, forces of The Collective would recapture the Mall Rats and free the Zootists. They are currently living in the northern provinces.
After working with the Mall Rats in defeating Ram and the Technos, a shocked Ebony sees Zoot, which was actually a hologram powered by Mega, but Ebony does not realise this. The Zoot Hologram tells her the Technos brought the power and the chaos is coming, to which she must obey.
Series 5
Using holograms and implanting fake dreams with the Reality Space Headsets, Ebony is manipulated by Java and Mega into believing that Zoot has really come back. With the help of Siva and Java, she organises the Zootists into terrorising the city, not realising this is all part of Mega's plan to scare the city into obeying him.
They took residence in their old high school, back where it all first began when Martin began the transformation into Zoot. They also took control of the local Zoo, using it as a cage for all disbelievers. The Zootists are outfitted in gear and clothing which resemble Zoot. Goggles, wigs and leather jackets are all used to help create this illusion. They scream "power and chaos" and drive through the City in a replica police car like Zoot used to do.
The Zootists were eventually disbanded once both Slade and Siva helped Ebony to discover the truth. The situation was finally settled with a showdown between both Ebony and Java in Liberty. Only Ebony walked away from that encounter, but at the cost of losing Siva also.
The Tribe: A New World
On an island, the Zootists are revealed to have been revived by The Collective, who made their commander Eloise as the new Zootist leader. The Guardian is also somehow among them. The Zootists were able to capture Bray from slavery and subject him to Reality Space experiments. Eloise even drinks his blood as the Zootists shout in praise, showing a more fanatical side to them. Eloise wants to have Bray's baby to continue Zoot's bloodline and cement herself within the legend of Zoot. Bray manages to escape with the help of the scientist Judd, who is shot by Eloise for his betrayal. Eloise and the Zootists are not seen again for the reminder of the book.
The Tribe: A New Dawn
It's revealed that Eloise found The Guardian on a slave ship and recruited him to form the Zootists, but also manipulating him to her advantage. [1] Eloise is revealed to be pregnant and claims it is Bray's child, as a result the Zootists proclaim her as "Mother Divine" and her unborn as "Child Divine".
The Zootists were able to capture most of the Mall Rats and hold them prisoner in the Mall. Ebony was also recruited again due to her past connection to Zoot. But upon seeing that The Guardian had truly lost it, she claims she had a vision from Zoot that Eloise and The Guardian are liars. This causes a civil outbreak that erupts into a fierce battle resulting in the deaths of Jay, Gel and Darryl. The Guardian is locked up and the Mall Rats attempt to deprogram the Zootists.
Eloise and her men were also captured by Bray, Amber, Jack, Ellie, Lex and Lia. Her child is also revealed to be Kami's child and not Bray's. Eloise swears The Collective will be back for her as she is carrying their leader's child.
The Tribe: (R)Evolution
The Collective forces were able to storm the Mall and free Eloise, The Guardian and the Zootists. Most of the Mall Rats are captured and shipped off to Eden, the base of The Collective. The Zootists go to the Northern Provinces and are not seen for the reminder of the book. Eloise however, is revealed to be from a tribe called The Privileged and her child is not Kami's as the enigmatic leader is revealed to be a female. Meaning Eloise had slept with someone pretending to be Kami, as she had never met the leader until that point, or so she thought. The true father's identity is still unknown.
Gallery
Trivia
Zoot's return was promoted as "The 2nd Coming" which is seen on various posters in Series 5. This term is borrowed from Christianity. The Bible refers to "The 2nd Coming" as the return of Jesus, who will reign as king and punish the wicked at the end of the world.
When Ebony escaped to Liberty, Java mentions that the remaining members were "released into the wild." [2] It's possible some might have fled to the island where Eloise was stationed and revived the movement. The Guardian was taken on a slave ship to this same island as well, and Eloise used him to further the Zootists.
Similar to The Chosen who worshipped Trudy and Brady as the Supreme Mother and Divine Child, Eloise and her unborn child is worshipped as "Mother Divine" and "Child Divine" respectively.
With the Zootists, Lex has been added to the Zoot mythology as he was the one who killed Zoot. Series 5 did show Lex fearing for his life as the Zootists blame him as Zoot's killer, but in The Tribe: A New Dawn there's a mural with Lex creeping behind Zoot. The Zootists even fear Lex when he approaches them.
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