Antarius Prower
Doctor Antarius Prower (a.k.a. Tails the Fox)
"How many times do I have to tell you, this is a deadly weaponized fighting robot. Do not touch it!"
The fox asked his hedgehog companion.
The hedgehog, named Sonic, backed away from the table.
"Well SORRY! It's literally a robot! I couldn't resist. Besides, it's not even activated. What, is it gonna just grab my arm outta nowhere?"
Just then, the robot's eyes flashed blue and its arm raised. Luckily, Sonic was fast enough to evade this sudden attack.
"Pretty much. Remember, even though he's deactivated, he can still hear you. I programmed him to be able to hear anything and everything, just in case I call out a command. Right now I'm just tweaking his armor. It's too heavy for him to fly efficiently with."
Dr. Prower held up a large plate of metal. It was orange, with the letters ATLAS spray-painted in white on the side.
"This piece of armor right here is the main problem. It weighs 10 kilograms or 22 pounds. I know it seems a bit insignificant, but if I just left it on, ATLAS's engines would be working harder than they need to. A proper thrust to weight ratio for a piece of machinery of his size is about 10.7. Right now, he has a TWR of 10.9."
Sonic yawned and tapped his foot on the floor.
"Let's just say that I had no idea what you just said. I do, but just in case."
Dr. Prower rolled his eyes.
"It basically means that if ATLAS gets too heavy, at a certain point in his flight, he will run out of fuel too early and fall back down to the ground."
Sonic winced.
"And that's no good."
The fox nodded in response.
"Indeed. I'm trying my hardest to remove something of lesser importance to lower the weight, but everything here seems to be of equal necessity!"
Sonic quickly saw what was going on, and did what he had to do.
He placed his hands onto Antarius' shoulders and gently rubbed them back and forth.
"You seem to be stressed out. I think you need a break. You've been down in this lab for 7 hours now. Come upstairs with me."
The hedgehog said.
Dr. Prower sighed and took off his glasses.
"Yeah, I think I do need a break. I'll return later."
Sonic smiled and leaned over the back of the chair. Placing his nose in Antarius' face, Sonic planted a kiss on the fox's lips.
"And that is for all the hard work you've been doing. Now let's get going."
The both of them held each other's hands as they walked upstairs, ready to eat dinner, enjoy a movie or two, and go to sleep for the night.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Antarius is a classic example of everyone's most-desired body type. He has strong arm and leg muscles, quick reflexes, and above everything, he's tall for a Mobian. Antarius was born with twin bushy tails due to a strange and incomprehensible mutation. They are mostly orange in color, and have white fur on their tip.
Body Features
Dr. Prower has two large and fluffy tails that he was born with. At first, he was ashamed of himself for having such a weird body, but now he's proud of it. On the front of his torso, he has a large patch of white fur that goes from just above his crotch to just below his chin.
Facial Features
Dr. Prower's face is mostly covered by white fur on his muzzle, which extended to about three inches back and outward. His eyes are large and expressive, and his irises are a beautiful shade of light blue. There are three bangs of fur hanging from his forehead. His nose is small and oval-shaped and his mouth sits right below it.
Identifying Characteristics
The main feature that Antarius is known for, is, of course, his twin tails. He is also identified by the brown backpack that he carries everywhere for seemingly no reason.
Physical quirks
A physical quirk of the Doctor's is that he plays with the three bangs that sprout from his forehead so often that they've grown in all messy and lopsided. He also walks with a slight limp, but you wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it.
Special abilities
Dr. Antarius is a unique guy. He is trained in the art of Chaos mastery, which means he can use his own life force to empower him. He knows how to use several weapon types, including firearms and swords! AJ has considerably increased strength; with the ability to easily lift 40 kilograms with one hand. He has access to a divine transformation known as Super, which is brought about when all seven mystical Chaos Emeralds are brought together.
Apparel & Accessories
Antarius likes to wear dress shirts wherever he goes. He has a specific favorite grey one that I think he just bonded with. Dr. Prower also likes cargo pants. They make him feel nice and snug with all their pockets. He wears his red and white sneakers that were a gift to him from Sonic. And of course, the Doctor always wears his favorite white lab coat, which has decreased in condition due to years of constant use.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Antarius "Tails" Prower was born on the 23rd of December, 2086, to a well off family, obviously called the Prowers. The parents of the Prower family dabbled in the mining business, working for the government to mine Green Hill gold for coin-making. Pretty soon, the family was quite wealthy.
Antarius' childhood was one of enjoyment and sadness. It was discovered that his intelligence was higher than average, so he was sent to a prestigious school for the gifted at the age of seven. There, he was unfortunately bullied relentlessly for his rare mutation of two tails. Quickly, he spiraled into severe depression and began to neglect himself and everyone around him. During this time period, he met his lifelong best friend, Sonic the Hedgehog.
He was the only person who dared speak to him. Antarius self-harmed and didn't get help for his condition for a long time. This unfortunate series of events had no effect on his academics, however! Antarius graduated high school as the valedictorian and gave a rousing motivational speech at the graduation ceremony.
After high school, he was accepted into a very prestigious college: the Reddfoxe School for Physics and Aeroastronautical Sciences. This school was where Antarius earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in aerospace engineering. Later on, he finally earned that Doctorate degree. He discovered his true love for this particular branch of science and later went to work at the Interplanetary Space and Air Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He worked there for five years until he was laid off due to budget cuts. After that, he was a college professor for a year, and now, he is self-employed, creating devices for the people of the world to use and enjoy. His most well known piece of work is called FoxCom. It is a communications device that provides 4G wifi to the entire world, along with a great way to share videos, games, files, and other electronic media. Antarius has earned most of his wealth from this invention.
Gender Identity
Dr. Prower identifies himself as male, and will always be male.
Sexuality
Dr. Prower is bi. Despite what he may look like, he has never dated anyone before. When he was in college, he had a short period of infatuation with a girl from another dorm but that whole thing was going nowhere fast. So he dropped it and went back to being single and lonely. He met his now best friend Sonic the Hedgehog in high school. They quickly developed a very close bond. At the moment, Sonic is who his heart is set on. He wants to ask him out one day but doesn't exactly know how to word it when the time comes around. He discovered his love for Sonic after he offered up his house to the homeless hedgehog after college. Their friendly bond was stronger than ever, and pretty soon, they had developed obvious romantic feelings for each other. They spend so much time with each other that one might say they're dating.
Education
It was discovered that his intelligence was higher than average, so he was sent to a prestigious school for the gifted at the age of seven. There, he was unfortunately bullied relentlessly for his rare mutation of two tails. Quickly, he spiraled into severe depression and began to neglect himself and everyone around him. During this time period, he met his lifelong best friend, Sonic the Hedgehog.
He was the only person who dared speak to him. Antarius self-harmed and didn't get help for his condition for a long time. This unfortunate series of events had no effect on his academics, however! Antarius graduated high school as the valedictorian and gave a rousing motivational speech at the graduation ceremony.
After high school, he was accepted into a very prestigious college: the Reddfoxe School for Physics and Aeroastronautical Sciences. This school was where Antarius earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in aerospace engineering. He discovered his true love for this particular branch of science and later went to work at the Interplanetary Space and Air Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Employment
Currently, Antarius is self-employed. It wasn't always that way, however. After college, he went to work at the Interplanetary Space and Air Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He worked there for five years until he was laid off due to budget cuts. During his time at the ISAJPL, Antarius helped built about ten spacecraft and rockets that were all sent into space. He perfected the art of perfect aerodynamic design, and in doing so, he improved his ability to draw. How useful!
Accomplishments & Achievements
As stated above, Antarius has accomplished much in his life. He has three degrees in aerospace engineering, he worked at the world's leading space company for five years, he once was a college professor, he has invented something that helps the entire world over, and to top it all off, he's gotten rich off of it!
Failures & Embarrassments
Just as Dr. Prower has lots of successes in his life, he also has had a lot of failures. As you know, Dr. Prower suffered from severe depression at one point in his life. All this stemmed from the constant harassment from others, just because he was different from the rest! He tried and tried to get it to stop, but no matter what he did, no matter who he talked to, nothing came of it. So he eventually stopped trying and just accepted it as his life for the time being.
Mental Trauma
As evidenced, Antarius is mentally scarred. He would get beat on and abused constantly at school, and it took a toll on him, physically and mentally. He would no longer fight back if he saw a beatdown was coming. He wouldn't even make a sound as his body was beaten upon. After the fact, he'd just get up, assess the damage, and carry on. The sheer amount of beatdown he had to endure made him numb to the pain and it no longer mattered to him. Despite not feeling any pain, there surely was damage done to him. The bullies made sure to take care of him off of school grounds, and as such, whatever went on was no longer in the school's jurisdiction. Antarius's parents did everything they could. They tried hiring a bodyguard, but no bodyguard would spend their time protecting a kid. His parents tried going to the school but the leadership team told them that legally, they could not do anything about fights that happened off school grounds.
Intellectual Characteristics
Dr. Prower is very strong-willed and will persevere through any hardships that he is faced with. He is also trustworthy. He is empathetic, especially to victims of bullying. He can relate to them, and try to seek out a solution to whatever problem they have.
Morality & Philosophy
Being a person of the Neutral Good alignment, Antarius believes in freedom, but with some regulation. He respects all laws but is not afraid to speak out against them if he thinks they are unfair. He is devoted to helping others, as evidenced by the countless things he's invented for the good of the world.
Taboos
One thing that Antarius considers a taboo subject to speak about is when someone asks where he got his arm scars from. They are each about three inches long and they're visible because no fur grows where they sit. Whenever asked about the scars, Dr. Prower usually goes the easy way and just says that he got hurt. He would not specify how or when, he'd just say that and move on. Thinking about his days of self harm gets him feeling depressed.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Dr. Prower's motivation to do what he does is in order to increase the quality of life for all on Mobius. He knows full well that some people have to live in conditions that not even a street rat would want to live in, and that repulses him. Antarius has dedicated the rest of his life to making life on Mobius great for everyone.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Dr. Prower is very tech-savvy. He has all the latest released technology and can easily repair a computer or something if asked to. He is also very familiar with most forms of complicated math. He is very easy to talk to, but it might take a bit of effort to get him out of his defensive shell, so to speak. Dr. Prower is inept in most social instances. He can carry a conversation, but it is hard for him to keep people's interest, and it is equally hard for him to stay interested in topics being spoken about that he doesn't care for. At times, he completely spaces out and needs a bit of metaphorical jolting to bring him back to the real world.
Likes & Dislikes
Antarius loves to draw. He likes to just grab a paper, a pencil, and just sit outside, sketching away. He draws people, the landscape, buildings, even animals that are around. He also likes to swim at the beach. When at the beach, surrounded by the peaceful waves and frolicking people, he feels like he actually belongs.
Antarius dislikes conflict. He finds that people tend to conflict over rather stupid things, and the world can do without that kind of nonsense. He was never a fighter and instead took whatever beating was being doled out. Antarius hates seeing or hearing about violence, although he's grown to accept that the world is an imperfect place, and stuff like that is everywhere.
Virtues & Personality perks
Antarius's virtues are that he is trustworthy, empathetic, strong-willed, and has perseverance.
Vices & Personality flaws
A flaw that Dr. Prower has is he constantly doubts and second-guesses himself. He can't take a single answer as the correct answer and always seeks more proof of its correctness. This sometimes leads to problems working with other people, as they cannot handle his skepticism.
Personality Quirks
A tick/quirk that Antarius has is that he chews his fingernails a lot. Another one is that he hyperventilates when presented with a daunting task. This rarely happens anymore, though.
Hygiene
Dr. Prower's hygiene is impeccable. He likes to stay clean at all times. He enjoys taking hot showers. The feeling of steamy water running down his back and through the various crevices on his body is purely heavenly.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Dr. Antarius is in contact with several people of influence, which includes: Sonic the Hedgehog, the Director of the ISAJPL, the Assistant to the Director of the Defense Department of the Mobian government, and other people of science that he can call if he is in need of something.
Family Ties
Dr. Prower is still very much in contact with his family. In fact, he speaks to his mother and father about once a month and visits them once every two months. He has no siblings but does have one uncle that lives on the other side of the world.
Religious Views
Dr. Prower does not believe in a religion, but he doesn't denounce those who do. He believes that it is any person's choice to think what they want and follow whatever religion they want.
Mannerisms
Antarius gestures with his hands when he speaks to emphasize the point he's trying to make. He also uses his facial muscles to kind of set the mood for what he's saying, so to speak. Behind closed doors, he is very animated and less stoic.
Hobbies & Pets
Dr. Prower has no pets. He loves to draw and take swims at the beach.
Speech
Dr. Prower's speech is refined, and he tends to omit word shortages and slang when speaking in public. He has a hint of a British accent and uses his hands to help get a point across. Dr. Prower rarely, if ever, raises his voice. When he is angry, he will simply growl under his breath, clench his fists, and breathe heavily.
Relationships
History
Antarius met Sonic in his second year of high school. They instantly got along, and they became the best of friends pretty soon. Sonic and Antarius were similar in some ways. Both of them were unique from everyone else, and they both learned to embrace their differences. After high school, the two of them had to separate for college. Those four years were hard for both of them, but they still kept in contact with each other. After college, Sonic became homeless, and he had to live in the streets. Antarius somehow managed to track him down, and he offered his home to the homeless hedgehog. Sonic graciously accepted the offer and he bunked with his best friend for a year until he could get his own house. To this day, Antarius and Sonic are still lifelong best friends, and in fact, they have fallen in love with each other.
Nicknames & Petnames
Due to Antarius's stoic nature, and his tending to not obviously show his emotions, he doesn't have many pet names or nicknames for Sonic. He just calls him 'Sonic' most of the time. But sometimes, not too often, he affectionately calls Sonic "my love". Sonic loves hearing that because he knows that Antarius isn't usually one to outright say affectionate things like that, so he feels like he's a special case.
Relationship Reasoning
Antarius's reasoning for his relationship with Sonic is because Sonic actually made him feel wanted and loved at a time when nobody made him feel that way. It was only natural for the relationship to progress to where it is now.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
They both love reading a lot, so what they do sometimes is curl up on the couch, dim the lights to an acceptable level, and just read together. No need to speak. They also both had a similar childhood, with both of them losing something or someone important to them, and experiencing harassment for the uniqueness of their body.
Shared Secrets
They both are open about their lives to each other, and as such, there aren't any secrets that need to be kept.
Shared Acquaintances
Both Antarius and Sonic are obviously part of Team Sonic. They are friends with Knuckles, Silver, Shadow, and Blaze. This team frequently comes together to just talk about life.
Legal Status
Legally, the two are not recognized as having any familial ties, but within the two families, they are one and the same.
History
Sonic the Hedgehog met Antarius Prower in his second year of high school. They instantly got along, and they became the best of friends pretty soon. Sonic and Antarius were similar in some ways. Both of them were unique from everyone else, and they both learned to embrace their differences. After high school, the two of them had to separate for college. Those four years were hard for both of them, but they still kept in contact with each other. After college, Sonic became homeless, and he had to live in the streets. Antarius somehow managed to track him down, and he offered his home to the homeless hedgehog. Sonic graciously accepted the offer and he bunked with his best friend for a year until he could get his own house. To this day, Sonic and Antarius are still lifelong best friends, and in fact, they have fallen in love with each other.
Nicknames & Petnames
Sonic often calls Antarius "his sweet fox", which derives from the fact that Antarius is a fox, and from his generous nature. He also calls him AJ, which is most people's nickname for him. The specially crafted nickname given to Antarius by Sonic is "Tails" because he has two tails, and Sonic thinks it is cool. Sonic also calls Antarius the usual pet names that people call each other when in a relationship, that includes "babe", "baby", and "honey".
Relationship Reasoning
The reasoning for Sonic and Antarius' relationship is that they have been friends for a really long time, and they have realized that the key to a truly good relationship was right in front of their faces, inside each other. They are devoted fully to each other and will defend one another if the time comes.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
They both love reading a lot, so what they do sometimes is curl up on the couch, dim the lights to an acceptable level, and just read together. No need to speak. They also both had a similar childhood, with both of them losing something or someone important to them, and experiencing harassment for the uniqueness of their body.
Shared Secrets
Both of them are pretty open about their lives to each other, and there aren't any secrets that need to be hidden from anyone.
Shared Acquaintances
Both Sonic and Antarius are obviously part of Team Sonic. They are friends with Knuckles, Silver, Shadow, and Blaze. This team frequently comes together to just talk about life.
Legal Status
Legally, the two are not recognized as having any familial ties, but within the two families, they are one and the same.
Wealth & Financial state
Due to his family ties and his inventions, Dr. Prower has inherited a substantial amount of money. His net worth is estimated to be 3.6 million Rings. He has used a lot of money to buy himself a large house on an isthmus on the northwestern point of West Side Island.
Antarius Prower is a very proud, self confident, 35 year old fox. To people he doesn’t know, he can be a little standoffish, even kind of a jerk. The reason for all this is because he has lasting issues with his self esteem.
Character Location
Dr. Antarius Prower is one of the smartest people on the planet, and he has several degrees in aerospace engineering. He is a vital member of Team Sonic, and serves as their intel guy.
Alignment
Neutral Good
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Doctor, Sir, Mr. Prower, and Master.
Age
35 years old
Date of Birth
23rd of December, 2086
Birthplace
Westpoint Hospital, West Side Island
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
1123 Northwest Point, West Side Island
Gender
Male
Eyes
light blue
Hair
(fur) dark orange, white, and black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
hidden under fur
Height
5 ft, 9 in.
Weight
180 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
Dr. Antarius Prower is known for being quite a philosophical man when he wants to be. Here are some of his most known quotes.
"I am all for following the rules, don't get me wrong. But if you ever see a better way to go about doing something, by all means, do it."
"From one fellow bullying survivor to the next, I tell you: cast off those iron chains of bad thoughts and low self-esteem, because you can do better. You are better. Now go and do something great!"
"I've dealt with idiots my entire life. They don't go away, you can't make them go away, so all you need to do is tune the downers out."
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
The Strange Visitor's Inquiry
18th of November, 2120
A few months ago, a visitor came to my house. I didn't know who they were, but I had a strange feeling that they had a connection to me. I'm not really sure about how that is, but I guess it doesn't matter now. He came to ask me a few questions about my life and whatnot. I love being asked personal questions, so I invited him in. I actually recorded everything that was said, so I'll put it here for you all to read. Enjoy.
[Visitor: *asks me a question*
Me: *answers question*]
Visitor: Good afternoon, Dr. Prower. My name is [redacted], and I'm just here to ask you a few questions if you don't mind. It's for my thesis paper. I'm a huge fan of your work, and I appreciate all the contributions you've made to the physical sciences.
Me: Of course. It's nice to meet you, [redacted]. Would you like a refreshment?
Visitor: No, thank you. Let's begin, shall we? These questions might get a little personal, just a warning beforehand.
Me: Oh alright. That's fine.
Visitor: Who was the first person, excluding either of your parents, that you held hands with?
Me: Well now, going straight into the personal stuff, eh? Well, excluding my parents, I've never held hands with anyone before.
Visitor: Alright. Are you loud, outgoing, or shy?
Me: I find that lately, I've become less quiet and reserved than I used to be. Despite this, I wouldn't say I'm loud or outgoing. I guess I'm in the middle then.
Visitor: Who do you look forward to seeing most every day?
Me: I'd have to say my best friend Sonic the Hedgehog. Even with his hero work, he still finds time to come and visit me often. Sometimes, I imagine what it would be like if he and I were heroes working together.
Visitor: Are you easy to get along with?
Me: I'd say that I am. My outward appearance may give people a different idea, however. I've been told that I look...intimidating. I don't mean any harm, really. There have only been two people in my life that I've grown close enough to show my true self around them, and unfortunately one of them has passed away.
Visitor: I'm sorry for your loss. If you were ever to get drunk, which person would be most likely to take care of you?
Me: Hmm, that's a hard one. I would normally say either Sonic or my parents, but I wouldn't want to bother any of them with my own problems. I'd prefer to just stay in here and wait until the drunkenness wore off.
Visitor: Do you think you'll be in a relationship two months from now?
Me: I... Look, relationships have never been a part of my vocabulary. Figuratively, that is. Throughout high school, I watched as people left and right were getting into short term relationships, and I won't lie, I was jealous of them. I knew that I wouldn't be in that situation for a very long time, and, well, I was right. Look at me now. 34 years old and I've never dated anybody. I digress, the answer to your question is no.
Visitor: Who from the opposite gender is on your mind right now?
Me: Well, my mother for one. I haven't visited my parents in a while. I wonder how they're doing.
Visitor: Ooh, here's a spicy one. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?
Me: I can't say that it doesn't, but I've grown to tolerate it a bit more. It's a natural part of life, and it's pretty much unavoidable.
Visitor: Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?
Me: The last person I had a deep conversation with was probably Sonic. The last time we hung out together, we got into a long conversation about what we wanted our futures to be like. He sure seemed to have his life all figured out.
Visitor: What does your most recent text say?
Me: *pulls out phone* Let's see. Oh! I don't think you want to hear this one.
Visitor: Oh come on, tell me!
Me: Fine. It says, 'I love you', but the message wasn't delivered.
Visitor: And who was it for?
Me: I'm not going to tell you that.
Visitor: Okay then. Do you like big crowds of people?
Me: Well, yes I do. I feel very...cozy... when I'm surrounded by a sea of people.
Visitor: Do you believe in luck or miracles?
Me: I can't say that I do. I firmly believe that whatever happens in the universe, happens because of pure coincidence.
Visitor: What good things happened this summer?
Me: Well, Sonic and I went over to my summer house and we spent a month there. It was nice, and Sonic and I got to connect even more with each other.
Visitor: Do you think there is life on other planets?
Me: Yes, I do. In fact, three years ago, the ISAJPL sent a space probe into deep space in search of extraterrestrial life, and they have yet to hear a response.
Visitor: Do you still talk to your first crush?
Me: I'd rather not answer that.
Visitor: Do you like bubble baths?
Me: Eh, they're not my thing. I prefer showers.
Visitor: What are your bad habits?
Me: I tend to overwork myself often, which leads to many sleepless nights and stressful days.
Visitor: Where do you like to travel?
Me: I'll go anywhere, really. If there's a beach nearby, you can count on me to be there.
Visitor: Do you have trust issues?
Me: Yeah, I do. Because of my rough childhood, it takes a lot for me to be able to trust someone.
Visitor: What's your favorite part of your morning routine?
Me: I'd say that it's the waking up part. That's when I feel at my best, and looking outside my window every morning at the sea to the west and the entirety of West Island to the north, puts me at ease.
Visitor: Which body part are you most uncomfortable with?
Me: My stomach. There's a rather large scar streaking across it diagonally, and it's not exactly photogenic.
Visitor: What do you do when you first wake up?
Me: The first thing I do when I wake up is get a cold glass of water to snap me back to reality. You can't go wrong with a bit of H2O in the morning!
Visitor: If you could change the color of your fur, would you? If so, which color would it be?
Me: Y'know, I really like my fur color. This shade of orange fits me. I have my father to thank for that. When I get older, however, my fur will turn grey, and eventually, it will look white.
Visitor: Who are you most comfortable around?
Me: Of course I'm most comfortable around Sonic. Since he and I are around the same age, he can relate to a lot of what I'm going through, and we've been best friends for several years now.
Visitor: Do you ever want to get married?
Me: Well, maybe. I just don't think I have the emotional strength to be able to hold up a successful marriage with anyone, but if given the chance, I would like to give it a shot.
Visitor: Do you play sports?
Me: Well yes. I participate in Crew, which is basically a competitive canoe rowing sport. I like it, it keeps me in shape, and my teammates and I are all very coordinated when working together.
Visitor: Would you rather live without TV or music?
Me: I'd rather live without TV. Television was a revolutionary invention, and I have a rather large one as you can see, but I just don't find myself watching television often. Listening to music calms me, and in a world without music, I'd go insane!
Visitor: Have you ever had a crush on someone and not told them?
Me: As a matter of fact, I have. The thing is, if I tell this person, I don't know what their reaction would be. I don't want to risk it.
Visitor: What do you say during awkward silences?
Me: I usually just sit back and read or start browsing Reddit on my phone.
Visitor: Do you think age matters in relationships?
Me: Yes it does. It looks very wrong if you have a ten-year gap between the two parties, now doesn't it?
Visitor: Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?
Me: I believe in a fair chance at everything for everyone, but some people make it really hard for me to have sympathy for them.
Visitor: I apologize if this is dragging along. I have more questions for you, though. Would you like me to go faster?
Me: It's quite alright. But let's skip to the more important questions, please.
Visitor: Will do. *flips through pages* Alright, here's one. What is the worst thing that has happened to you?
Me: Um, well, it is quite graphic. Are you sure you want to hear this?
Visitor: I'm sure I can handle it.
Me: I really don't like talking about this particular portion of my life, but there's no use in letting it boil inside me until it erupts violently one day. It happened in my last year of high school. I had been walking back to my parent's house at around 8 PM. It was dark. I distinctly remember feeling on edge about everything during that night. Suddenly, I was grabbed from the back. Turning around, I received a punch right to my nose. It bled profusely. At that moment I knew what was up. The bullies from school had caught up to me and were about to give me the thrashing of a lifetime. And that they did. They grabbed me by the arms and dragged me to the side of the road, and through the trees. I thought I was about to die. I tried to fight back, but all they did was keep punching me. Each one hurt more than the last, and blood dripped from my mouth. Then, they took off my shirt and one of the guys produced a switchblade from his pocket. I pleaded for them to stop, but none of my screams got through to them. They carved a foot-long gash in my stomach which poured blood out. I was in a puddle of it on the ground. I could barely move, but I mustered the willpower to drag myself to the middle of the road and I just sat there, hoping for a car to come by and see me. I went unconscious and woke up in the hospital, waist wrapped in bandages. I... I never felt more emotionally hurt than that time. They really tried to kill me because of a birth defect. I swore to never forgive them, and I wanted to make them pay dearly for what happened to me, but as I got older, I realized that payback wouldn't do any good. So I begrudgingly let it go and moved on. All I wanted when I was younger was to be accepted. But that wasn't going to happen. Even now, I'm made fun of because of my tails and the only people that I can turn to are my parents and Sonic. I just...I just want it to end...
Visitor: Are...are you okay, Dr. Prower? Do you need a break? I can come back another time.
Me: Yes, that sounds like a good course of action. I truly apologize for this, and I do hope your thesis paper is a success. I just need some time to myself.
Visitor: *wraps arms around me* It's alright, Dr. Prower. I understand. It'll be okay. I hope you don't mind this. It seems that you need a hug right about now.
Me: No no, it's fine. Thank you. Have a safe journey back home. And watch your back out there.
The visitor left my house, and I sat back in my chair thinking about my past. My stomach wound began to ache. Yet another reminder that I was unwanted in the world, no matter how many times my inventions have improved life on this planet. I went into my bedroom and laid on my bed. Closing my eyes, I tried to relieve myself of the stresses of life by escaping into my dreams.
Red Eye's Revenge, Part 2
23rd of December, 2120
It has been a week since my capture. I've been tortured, beat, spat on, dehumanized. I don't think I can hold on much longer. This man, Red Eye, refuses to let go of his grudge. I offered everything to him. I offered my money, the patents to my inventions, even my house. But all he wants is to make me suffer before he kills me. I haven't slept in days; in too much pain to do so. Lost...so much blood. It's in black pools on the floor of my cell. He took all my clothes, well except for my underwear that is. He wants to chip away at my dignity until there's nothing left. But worst of all is what he does with food. He gives me wonderful meals but places them just out of reach. I can't take off my chains, and I can't make any noises lest I get whipped.
"Get up, you dog! You don't get to be comfortable here!" said a voice.
It was him.
He swung the door of the cage open and sneered at me.
"You look terrible. On your feet, now!!"
I staggered to my feet, swaying from side to side as my head swam due to extensive blood loss.
"There we go. You know, lately, I've been growing tired of having to keep you alive. You're just so...boring. I want to continue making you suffer, I really do. I love it. It amuses me to see you grovel at my feet, but it's getting old. One of these days, I might just- BAM -put a bullet in your head," he told me.
He looked me up and down. He saw my half-open eyes, my lacerated and emaciated limbs, he could see my ribs through my chest. My head sagged.
"Hey now..." he began, as he tilted my face up with his finger.
"...don't be sad. It'll all be over soon. Who's my filthy little slave?"
Tears dripped from my eyes.
"I-I am. I'm your filthy little slave."
He chuckled.
"Yes. Yes, you are."
He began to walk out of the cage, but I stopped him.
"Wait, no. P-please punish me, so I can be better. The-the only way I can truly be your obedient slave is if you punish me...without mercy."
My spirit was completely broken. Nothing could save me. I was hopeless.
Red Eye's eyebrow raised.
"I see you've finally accepted your fate. Although I didn't quite expect you to beg."
I fell to my knees with a blank look in my eyes.
"HeheheheHAHAHA!!! Yes! I've broken him! Gehehe... and now I can do what I want, without him fighting back..." he said to himself.
He kicked me in the ribs, forcing me to lay on my stomach. I could barely feel the pain anymore. Must've fried my nerves in the last session. He kept kicking me in the side, each strike from his steel-toed boots cracking my ribs even further. Then he slammed on my back with his foot, which knocked the breath out of me. The stomping seemed to never end as each time I collected myself, the breath would be knocked out of me again.
"I think that's enough for today. I'm exhausted. Get up and clean this blood off the floor. You have two minutes. If it's not done in two minutes, I will personally ram a sword through your abdomen."
Red Eye opened the door to the cell and walked off, leaving me alone once more. I broke down and cried. I couldn't believe I was being reduced to this level of indignity.
The two minutes he gave me whizzed by, and I noticed a tad too late.
Red Eye opened the door and walked towards me.
"You've done nothing since I left you. Absolutely disgraceful. I'm afraid I'll have to make good on my promise."
He looked at his table covered with torture weapons and picked a sword. It was a beautifully crafted longsword, with a blade about four feet long.
"I would say that it's been nice knowing you, but it hasn't," Red Eye said.
He tilted my chin with the tip of the blade and smiled wickedly.
"If only those you love could see you now. Oh, wait. Nobody loves you! And with that, YOU DIE!!"
The hand with the sword in it rushed forward and I closed my eyes. This was the end.
The blade thrust into my abdomen and came out the other end. My eyes turned blank, and blood poured from the wound. In my dying breaths, I uttered one more thing.
"I'm sorry."
My body fell to the side, and that was that.
"So, what'd you think of it?" I asked Sonic.
He took the virtual reality goggles off his face and sat back in the chair.
"Is this really what goes on in your head all day? Are you really that scared of your past?" he asked.
I looked down and nodded.
Sonic got out of the chair and gave me a tight hug.
"You have nothing to worry about. I've got you. You're safe with me."
I rested my head against his furry chest and sighed. Luckily, that whole ordeal was a simulation, but it still had me thinking. What if, one day, Red Eye actually did kidnap me? One thing's for sure, I could rely on Sonic to help me out.
Red Eye's Revenge
23rd of December, 2120
An Alternate History.
It was an unusually frosty night. I had my winter coat wrapped around my body, and gloves on my hands. It had been a good day visiting Sonic and his parents, and I was on my way home. Snow had begun to flutter down from the sky, but it melted the moment it touched the ground. I could feel the wind through my coat, and it chilled my skin, through my fur. I saw my breath in the form of vapor clouds in front of my face. Suddenly, a van rushed by me, spraying snow to its side. I paid no attention to it. The street I was on had no houses; it was mainly an industrial area. The van from earlier had swung around and was now driving on the same side of the street as I was walking. This set off my internal alarms just a bit. My pace quickened, and I put my hand in my pocket, ready to dial Sonic's number for help.
The van's door swung open and a large guy hopped out. He bounded towards me. That's when I ran. I could barely feel my feet making contact with the ground. Suddenly, I was grabbed by the tails. That sent a wave of immense pain rippling through my body. I screamed out loud. The man dragged me back to the van, whose door was still open, and threw me in. There were two other men inside the van, not including the driver.
"Who are you and what do you want from me?" I asked.
The man who had grabbed me smiled with a crooked mouth.
"You don't need to know that just yet. The boss will be very happy once he sees that we've got you."
Then, a huge blow to the back of my head, and I was out.
Sometime later...
I woke up in a rather lavish room. I sat in a wooden chair with red cushions. The men from earlier were sitting in front of me, smiling evilly. One of them had a baseball bat in his hand, setting it repeatedly in the opposite palm. They saw my eyes open.
"Before you say anything, welcome to my master's house. He sends his regards. We know that you two have had a history."
Immediately, my mind went over anyone in my past who might still hold a grudge about something I did to them. Nothing rang a bell.
"Who is your master? What does he want with me?" I asked.
The brute just laughed, all the while getting up from his seat.
"Our master? Ha! I'll give you a hint. His nickname has a color in it, and you two used to work together at the ISAJPL. Hehehe....you'll never get it."
I racked my brain, thinking of anyone I knew that fit the criteria. Suddenly, it all came back to me. A man that hated me ever since I began working at the ISAJPL.
"No...it can't be... Red Eye?"
The brute nodded, and a door behind him slid open.
A tall man; another fox, walked into the grand hall where I now sat. He wore business attire, with a black eyepatch over his left eye.
"Good evening...Antarius," he said.
Saying my name seemed to make him uncomfortable.
"Long time no see."
He turned to speak to the brute who had taken me here.
"Thank you, Icedus. I'll handle it from here."
Icedus and the rest of the men bowed and walked out of the room. It was down to just me and Red Eye.
"Heya, Red. How's it going?" I asked him.
His brow furrowed in anger.
"Don't you dare say my name! Have you any idea how much ridicule you've caused me? No? Then I'll pay it back. One hit at a time."
He cracked his knuckles and grabbed the chair I was tied to. He began to drag me down the hallway, all the while chuckling in an unhinged manner.
"Wait! Red, please reconsider what you're about to do! I'll pay you!" I offered.
He twisted around and punched me in the nose. My eyes watered profusely and blood dripped from my nostrils.
"I told you to not say my name. Now shut up!"
He continued to drag me down the hall. We came to a small closet. I thought he was going to lock me in there and forget about me, but what he did was much worse. He opened the door, which led to a set of dark and grimy stairs. He dragged me down those stairs, and into a room.
It was so dark that I could barely see my hand in front of my face, but I could roughly determine the size of the room. With a metallic clang, the light turned on.
The room was filled with various torture equipment, and a cell, presumably where I was to be held.
"Welcome to the end of your life. And I promise you, it's going to hurt," he said.
I was terrified.
He untied me from the chair and dragged me by the tails to the cell. I screamed in agony the whole time.
He threw me into the cell and closed the door behind him.
"Now then. Because you won't make it out of here alive, I'll tell you what's about to go down. To put it simply, I'm going to torture you."
My eyes widened as I processed what I just heard.
"Ah, I see your reaction! I could just kill you now. Put a bullet in your head and be over with it, but I just need somewhere to release my hate for you! Going on a killing spree just doesn't do it for me anymore. Hehehe... After today's session, you might be a bit exhausted. So, I've prepared a wonderful meal for you. I'll have it brought in when we're done. This is going to be fun!" He clapped his hands with glee.
In resignation, I uttered one last thing.
"You're sick. Always have been, always will be."
Red Eye turned around with a twisted smile on his face.
"Oh really? I'm sick? Well, someone better call a doctor! Ahahaha!"
He left the cell and grabbed a small piece of leather, shaped into a ring. I recognized it as being a shock collar.
"See this thing? It can deliver a shock of 5500 volts! All with the press of this button! If you misbehave or are in any way out of line, I will shock you. I will press this button, and never let go. Do I make myself clear?" he asked.
I spat at his feet and growled:
"Go to HFIL, you monster."
He smiled twistedly again.
"Oh, I will. But I'm taking you with me! From now on, you will address me as 'sir'. You will not speak to anyone unless spoken to. You will obey every order I give you. You will say 'thank you sir' after every beating! You may not touch your food unless given permission! For the remainder of your puny little life, you are my slave, and I will do what I please with you. You have no rights in my house, and nobody will come to save you. Hehehe... Enjoy what little time you have left."
He grabbed my wrists and attached handcuffs to each one. I no longer had the energy to fight back, so I witnessed myself being manhandled as he hung me by the wrists, attached to the ceiling bars of the cage.
"I hope this is comfortable, you mangy dog," he said.
He looked me in the eyes.
"You made me suffer immense ridicule for five years. You invalidated all of my work. And for that, this basement will one day be your final resting place. Try not to hate me too much, hm?" he said as he touched the side of my face.
Why was this happening to me? I didn't mean any harm.
"We shall begin your punishment posthaste! Hehehe... Which device would be perfect for today?" Red Eye pondered.
He looked over his shelf full of various torture devices and finally picked one. It consisted of a large flat wooden board and four ropes.
"This device is one of the more simple ones. I tie you up with these ropes, attached to the board, and then I will beat on you...mercilessly."
He turned around and flashed a smile once more, and took off the eyepatch. A long, white scar crossed over his eye, which was just halfway open. Even then, I could see his blood-red iris and a black dilated pupil.
He grabbed me by the shoulders and lifted me up, onto the board. As he tied my wrists and legs to the cold, flat surface, tears dripped from my eyes. Sonic would never know where I was, or how to get to me.
"There. Is it comfortable? Don't answer that; I don't care!" he said.
Suddenly, his fist lashed out and slammed into my stomach. I temporarily lost my vision. I saw white sparkles in my eyes. He punched me again and again.
"Hahaha!! Do you like this? This is how it feels to be me! Every single day!" he said.
The pain was immense. I could barely stay conscious. Finally, the assault stopped. I slumped over, blood dripping from my mouth.
"Don't you dare pass out! You will stay awake and endure the rest of your punishment. Got that?!" he asked.
I looked into his eyes, with a gravelly breath.
"Y-yes, sir."
I had lost all hope. I accepted my fate. From now, to the unforeseeable future, I belonged to Red Eye.
He slapped me across the face viciously. I cried out in pain.
"What do you want from me? I can give you money!" I told him.
Suddenly, Red got serious.
"I don't want your money, I don't want your pity. I want pure, unadulterated revenge. You stole my ideas, you stole my fame, you took everything I cared about from me... I can't let that slide. Your punishment for the day is over. Suffer down here, and think about what you've done."
And there he left me, bruised, battered, and bleeding. My pride was shattered. My dignity, nonexistent. And to think that all this was brought about by a stupid grudge.
When the Past Comes to Haunt You...
21st of November, 2120
5:30 PM, Northwest Point, West Side Island. Sonic and I sat on one of my many sofas, reading a book, and enjoying each other's company. It was supposed to be a relaxing day, but that soon proved false. It was growing dark outside, and it was quite chilly. That didn't affect us, though, as we were inside my large house.
"Hey, Tails? Can you get us some snacks? I'm starved!" Sonic asked.
Tails was my nickname. Ever since I met Sonic, he insisted on calling me that, due to my rare genetic disorder, giving me the curse of two tails. At first, I hated the name and hated the sound of it. But over time, I'd grown to appreciate it, and see that Sonic was trying to make me feel as if I was no different from anyone else. Nowadays, I think the name's kinda cute.
I looked at him, unamused.
"Fine, but you'd better not touch my books with cheesy fingers!"
I stood up and stretched my muscles. It had been a few hours since I'd gotten off the couch. Walking to the kitchen, I passed by a large floor-to-ceiling window facing the west side of my house. From there, I could see a beautiful sunset. The orange, red, and yellow colors were splayed out over the rippling waves of the sea. I opened a cabinet to access my snack stash. There were varieties of chips, candy bars, boxes upon boxes of microwave popcorn, and much more. I grabbed a handful of random items and went back to the couch.
"Here you are, your highness. Anything else I could do for you?" I asked mockingly.
"Nah, that's fine. Whaddya say we watch some good ole TV, huh? I'm sure there's some good movies on..." he said.
Without skipping a beat, he grabbed the TV remote and pressed the power button. The screen flashed with a white line momentarily, and the screen lit up.
"Umm, be my guest. I'm sure we can find something." I said.
"What? You don't feel comfortable with me touching your stuff? I get the whole 'introvert' thing, but c'mon! I'm your best friend! Been that way for a long time now! You're not getting rid of me that easily!" he said. He had a furrowed brow and his mouth was twisted into a frown.
"No no! It's not that! It's just that...it's happening again..." I said. The emotion in my voice was gone.
My gaze grew dull and distant, and my arms hung limp.
"Tails. Tails, buddy, look at me! Don't go into that place!" Sonic shouted. He grabbed me by the waist and began to shake me.
I was having flashbacks to a very violent time in my life. My teen years. I had been shot at, stabbed, sliced open, and nearly hung. Just for being different from everyone else. They didn't want such a...such a mistake...to be sharing the world with them.
"Please don't go there! It's not good for you or me! Snap out of it!"
Those horrible memories kept playing back in my mind, over and over again. Sonic carefully lifted me off the ground and deposited me onto the couch. My body laid still, and very stiff. He kept shaking me, but my body wouldn't respond.
"Come on. I don't need this happening to me right now. Can you even hear me?" he asked.
I could barely hear him, but the grating noise of the voices of the past were much louder. I saw his lips moving, his eyes pleading for me to return, but I couldn't. For the time being, I was trapped.
"I know this has happened before, but it's never been this bad. I'm not sure if you'll even come back from this. I need you with me, Antarius. You're my best friend, and I don't know how I would go on without you. I care about you so much, one could even say that I loved you." Sonic pleaded.
That had been the first time in a long time, excluding serious conversations and the occasional argument, that he had used my real name. I could tell that he was dead serious.
Tears began to drip down his face, and wet the fur on his muzzle. They rolled down the side of his face and fell onto me. He carefully climbed over my still body and placed his face in the crook of my neck. Wrapping his arms around me, I could feel the warmth of his body, and the fast beating of his heart.
Abruptly, my mind escaped the wretched clutches of the past, and I returned to my normal self. My vision faded back in, and my hearing was fully restored.
"Sonic? What're you doing?" I asked, heaving myself to a sitting up position.
He lifted his head and gasped.
"Tails! Are you alright? Oh Chaos, you gave me a good scare!"
I nodded.
"Yes, I'm alright, but did you mean everything that you said about me?"
A red tint appeared over his muzzle, and he diverted his eyes.
"You heard all of that? Well, yeah, I did mean it. I had nobody to tell it to, and I wouldn't dare tell you in person. I guess I took my chance. Don't be mad at me." he said.
"Why would I be mad? I'm happy that you care about me so much. Thank you for all your support, Sonic!"
I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him for what seemed like hours.
"It's about time you finally admitted it."
Sonic and I slept on that very couch for the rest of the night, knowing that our friendship had just reached new heights.
A Typical Day with Sonic
3rd of December, 2120
The sunlight streamed into my bedroom through the curtains. I felt the heat on my body and saw the brightness in my eyes. It was yet another morning. I woke up slowly, stretching my arms and legs in the process. Looking at the nightstand next to me, I checked the time. 9:47 AM. I got out of my bed and opened the door to my room. The hallway was full of bright yellow light, and dust particles floated in the air. I crept across the hallway and knocked on the guest room door. My best friend, Sonic the Hedgehog, was staying at my house for a couple of days, and I wanted to make him as comfortable as possible.
"Sonic, are you awake? It's morning," I told him.
All I heard were grunting noises and soft snoring.
"Well, I'm about to make breakfast, so come on down when you're ready. I've got bacon..."
Sonic sure loved his bacon, and wouldn't turn down an opportunity to get some.
I heard the rustling of sheets, a loud thump, and Sonic opened the door. His quills were messy with individual sharp spines sticking out in odd ways. He had bags under his eyes.
"Good morning, buddy! I heard the word bacon and I just had to investigate!" he said.
I smiled and hugged the hedgehog.
"Good morning to you too. Yes, I was about to cook some. You know you want it," I said to him.
He nodded.
I walked down the hallway and descended the staircase. The kitchen was to my right. As I walked into it, I eyed the refrigerator. Opening it, I found what I was looking for. Eggs, mini sausages, and of course, the bacon. Sonic stood behind me, licking his lips.
"Calm down, Sonic. You'll get your food soon. While you're waiting, pass me the egg beater."
Sonic crouched down and opened a cabinet underneath the serving counter. He rooted around for almost two minutes until he found what I was looking for.
"Here ya go. One egg beater. Hehe, I dunno why, but egg beater sounds funny to me," Sonic said.
"I'll never understand your humor."
As I got to work, Sonic turned the TV on.
"Heya, FoxHelper! Turn on the TV, will ya?" he said.
My artificial intelligence assistant recognized Sonic's voice.
"Yes, Mr. Hedgehog. Right away," it said.
A white screen flashed on the TV's screen and it showed the normal channels.
"What shall I watch today?" Sonic said as he flipped through channels at a fast rate.
I, on the other hand, continued to work hard on our breakfast. Yes, I know. There's no need to put that much effort into some simple scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage. But I wanted it to be perfect. Sonic had arrived at the news channel.
"Reports of hundreds of aggressive attacks on citizens have just come through. If you are in the downtown West City area, stay indoors. Lock your door, barricade your windows, and take stock of your food supplies. The police department has been dispatched and they should be taking care of the problem," said the reporter.
A small screen behind her showed a scene of vicious people with extraordinary strength overturning cars, throwing people across the street, breaking windows.
"AJ, you'd better take a look at this. The city's being overrun. We gotta get out there!" Sonic said.
He jumped off the couch and dashed into the guest room, slamming the door behind him. I followed quickly behind. Sounds of things hitting the floor and fast-moving things came from behind the door. He opened the door, his leather jacket hanging from his shoulders.
"Let's do this! Grab your backpack!" he told me.
I went over to a metal hook in the wall, with a grey backpack hanging from it. I slung it over my shoulder and went out the door.
To be continued...
Comments