Chapter Zero: Regret (Part One)
A well to do Scientist, the envoy of his peers, was driving home drunk after attending a esteemed social gathering for gentlemen. As a member of the intelligentsia, he had a responsibility to make appearances, shake hands, and have a few bourbons and whiskies with the city's elite and socialites. This was... an investment in the future success of his career, he said to himself. The scientist drove down the empty street, the car swerving, barely avoiding collision with the passing street lights. A cop car's lights lit up momentarily, then shut off, the officer realizing who it was that was driving and wisely went back to his usual patrol, as if he had seen nothing. Fortunately, in this affluent part of town, everyone else had turned in for the night so there was no traffic that could pose a threat to the drunken scientist on his journey home. The scientist continued his drive home with minimum property damage. He drove ten miles under the speed limit. For him, this was normal as he was in no hurry to get home and the sun had long since set.
The man soon arrived in his neighborhood and brought his luxury car to a rough stop that had him rocking back and forth in his seat, nearly slamming into a gate that kept the drivilling masses out of the private community he and his family lived in. The man reluctantly lowered his window to speak with the armed guard.
"Dr. Robotnik, how are you at this hour? Long day at the lab again, eh?"
"Busy as always. I don't mean to be curt, but I have had a long day and must be home to see my wife and son."
"Oh, of course sir. Let me get that gate out of your way. You and your wife have a fine night… and sir, don't worry about the gate."
"What gate?" Robotnik says, a look of confusion on his face as he stared at the gate as it began to part. The metal had bent and warped partly, as if a car had slammed into it. "I didn't-"
"-It's quite alright sir. No worries at all. This is why we have insurance for such occasions as this." The guard said with an artificial smile.
"I'm… very drunk."
"That's all right sir. You're nearly home. You drive safely now."
"Thanks. You too."
With that tedious exchange finally over with, and the gate now fully parted, Dr. Robotnik drove home.
After exiting the car he wobbled to the door and after some trial and error managed to enter the keycode, and scan his handprint. He scurried inside and quietly closed the door when the entry hall light turned on.
"Well, look who finally decided to come home to his family. How was work? Burning the midnight oil again tonight? That's three days in a row isn't it? Or is it four?" A feminine voice said passive aggressively.
Mr. Robotnik grumbled and turned to face his wife who was sitting in a chair, her legs crossed, as she held a glass of wine. She wore a look of repulsion that Robotnik had grown to despise.
We'll, someone has to provide for this family, for the food you eat, the clothes you wear, all the wine you drink. The least you could do is smile and cease patronizing me. Chaos, after all I have done and all I do for you."
Mrs. Robotnik rolled her eyes as she delicately swirled the wine in her wine glass, "I'm sorry my nine months of carrying our child, giving birth to said child, and feeding our child with the milk from my own breasts this past year and a half is not enough to earn your good compliments and graces. Maybe if I dressed like one of those whores at your gentlemans clubs maybe you would come home at a reasonable time and pay your wife the compliments and attention I am due."
"How dare you. How dare you question me, you have no idea what I am dealing with. What burden I carry. The stress I manage. I have given you everything you have ever wanted in life. Fine food, a house, fine clothes, a child, and this is how you repay me? With this? This? This temper tantrum!"
"How dare I confront you for being unfaithful? You're damn right. You know, you've become just like your Father-"
Robotnik, livid with anger, raised his hand and was poised to strike his wife across the face.
His wife flinched, her wine glass slipped from her grasp and shattered on the marble floor. Her breathing hitched and she shut her eyes.
Robotnik caught himself before he went through with his strike, he then slowly lowered his hand as his wife opened her eyes. She was on the verge of tears, fearful, and appalled.
"I'm sorry. You know I love you."
"It doesn't feel like you do. Not anymore."
"I-I'd never harm you."
"It's far too late for that. Nowadays, every day with you is existential suffering."
"I… I don't know what to say to that."
"I do… goodnight."
Mrs. Robotnik returned to the master bedroom upstairs, as if on cue their child started crying.
As Mrs Robotnik went to feed their child, Mr Robotnik walked to the kitchen where he grabbed a cigar off the table, his mind filled with guilt, worry, and anger. He was about to light his cigar with a nearby lighter he had picked up when he heard a loud knocking on the door...
KNOCK
KNOCK
KNOCK
"Who the hell could that be at this hour?" Robotnik mumbled to himself as he put down the lighter and the cigar. "Is it a noise complaint? Impossible, no one could have heard us. Could it be some drunk delinquents pulling pranks, causing trouble for societies well to do?" He mumbled to himself.
Robotnik waited, and was once again about to light his cigar when the knocking continued.
KNOCK
KNOCK
KNOCK
Dr. Robotnik had a bad feeling in his gut. "A stranger at this hour? This was unprecedented. Could it be the guard?" He thought, trying to rationalize away the dread that was beginning to seep into his bones.
Mrs. Robotnik walked into the kitchen, their child hungrily suckling milk from her breast. "Is… is it a friend of yours?" She asked with nervous curiosity.
"I- I don't know. It might be the gate guard. I did damage the gate with the car after all."
"Why would he leave the gate to speak with us? They'd call in the morning if there was a problem."
"I don't know. That's what I'm wondering."
"Could it be a neighbor?"
"I don't know dear! I don't know who would bother us at this late hour." Dr. Robotnik said.
The knocking continued and got even louder.
"Look at the camera." The wife said.
"Yeah, I know, I was about to do that." Dr. Robotnik said as he opened his phone and clicked a house security app. "Huh? That's strange. It wont load."
"I think we should call the police?"
"Really? Calling the police because someone is knocking on the door?"
"I'm dialing now… oh chaos."
"What? What is it?" Mr. Robotnik asked.
"The phone has no signal."
"T-that should not be possible. Regardless, I'm sure it is just a coincidence."
"Dear, let's go hide in the bathroom. I have a bad feeling about this and I don't feel safe. Little Ivo is starting to get restless."
"I'm not hiding in a bathroom like some paranoid-" Robotnik slowly exhaled, calming himself before he continued, "I'm opening the door."
"Dear, don't! We don't know who it is!"
"You're being paranoid, we're in a private, gated community. It's just your sense of self preservation. A byproduct from more uncivilized times. The knocking on the door is surely just a neighbor who got locked out of the house by his wife. Wouldn't be the first time that happened in this neighborhood." Dr. Robotnik said as he turned to stare acusitorilly at his wife, then turned back and resumed walking toward the door.
"Robby!"
The Husband stopped and turned to look at his wife. He hadn't heard that endearing nickname of his in years. His tension went away and his pent up anger vanished from him as memories of fonder days flooded back to him upon hearing that name.
"Please be careful." Mrs. Robotnik said.
Dr. Robotnik smiled. "We'll be fine, there's nothing to worry about, and if there is, I'll protect you and Ivo."
"All right then. If you're sure."
Dr. Robotnik unlocked the door and opened it just an inch to peek at who was on the other side. His blood ran cold when he saw a Fox holding a revolver. Time seemed to freeze as he processed what was happening. He, his wife, and his infant son were all in danger because of his stupidity. He moved to close the door and lock it when a combat boot slammed into the door pushing it open far enough for the intruder's revolver to be put to his head, he then pushed both the door and Robotnik back until the fox was inside the home.
"Is this the Robotnik residence?" The fox asked as he tightened his grip on his gun.
"Y-yes."
"I am only here for one thing. Give it to me and I will be on my way.
"Please, anything you want. Just name it and it's yours."
"Give me your son."
Dr. Robotnik was stunned, he must have misheard. He looked away from the barrel of the revolver that was pressed to his head and stared into the fox's eyes.
"What did you say? I must have misheard you."
"I said, give me your son and I will leave you in peace."
"Over my dead body."
The fox's eyes glared at the human and his hands holding the revolver began to violently shake.
"I don't want to kill you, but I will if I-"
Before the fox could finish speaking, Dr. Robotnik took a massive gamble and grabbed the cylinder of the revolver with one hand, and the fox's wrist with his other hand. "Run!" He screamed.
The fox looked at where the man had shouted to see a woman with a baby running upstairs.
While both Man and Fox struggled for control of the revolver the amber furred fox shouted, "Stop… stop this! I need your son. He has to die. He cannot be allowed to live. Just let me kill him!"
"You're insane!"
"Let go of the gun!"
"Like hell!"
Neither party knew what happened, as after another few seconds of fighting for control of the revolver, it suddenly fired to everyone's shock and surprise.
Dr. Robotnik felt as if he had been punched in the rib cage. His grip weakened on the revolver and he fell back, collapsing onto the ground. He couldn't breathe anymore. He felt as if he was drowning. He tried to inhale but he choked on blood. His mouth filled with the metallic fluid. He realized he was going to die.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. He has to die. He can't be allowed to live. I'm so sorry." The fox turned, mumbling to himself all the while, and began to walk up the stairs. Revolver in hand.
Robert Robotnik watched in slow motion horror as the amber fox slowly walked up the stairs. He could not breathe, but he had to protect his family. He was a horrible husband. "But dammit," he thought, "I love my family… she called me Robby again, she… she must still love me too." His vision began to blur, as he crawled on the ground then crawled up the stairs, a trail of blood following him as he dragged himself along the ground, his heartbeat echoing like a thunderous drumming in his ears. Blood slowly ran down his mouth, tickling his chin.
He ignored everything. Nothing else mattered but one single train of thought… He had to protect them.
White spots filled his vision.
He thought of his wife and child as he began to lose consciousness near the top of the stairs.
He had been such a fool.