T h e AE t h e r i u m S a g a
Gopher possesses heightened senses that have developed naturally to compensate for his poor vision. Primary among these is his "Radar Sense", which may be similar to Hellion's, although it is not as accurate. Gopher's brain has several regions which are able to consciously sense that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that his brain constantly generates. The signals emanating from the "sending regions," bounce off objects around him, and return to the "receiving regions" of both hemispheres. In this way, he synthesizes a very close analogue of third-dimensional human sight, which supplements his own weak natural vision. Indeed, the combination of the Gopher's sight and his radar sense makes his awareness of what is around him somewhat superior to the average human's. He can use his radar sense to detect the presence of objects behind him, or in total blackness.
Gopher has the ability to consume and digest matter at a level exceeding that of normal humans, bordering on superhuman speed. This includes enhanced eating abilities, physically chewing and swallowing matter that would be impossible for most human mouths, and internally processing matter that would not be suitable nutrition for a normal human.
Content Analysis: Gopher's enhanced taste buds can instantly analyze the compositions of various foodstuffs and even detect substances which are poisonous to normals (a term he uses for those who are not him). As well, he can determine the nature of various chemicals in substances.
Digestive Enzymes: Gopher's power to eat hard objects, like steel, without having Superhuman Strength or Invulnerability, stems from his ability to produce a variety of digestive enzymes that act on specific substances, making them easier to chew and digest.
Metabolism Induced Superhuman Speed: Gopher can metabolize food almost instantaneously, and if needed, he can consume tons of food in minutes. Gopher does not normally possess Superhuman Speed but as soon as the digestion process begins, the matter consumed is immediately transformed into food energy by his "stomach". That energy fuels him to move at a faster and faster rate of speed, as long as the energy supply keeps coming. When he stops eating, the excess energy is collected and stored, in concentrated form, in cells very similar to human fat cells. Over the course of a couple of days, this stored energy is micro-diffused out of the body through pores in the skin.
Fighting Skill: Gopher has developed a means of fighting using his staff that resembles the martial art of kendo.
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic)
Super-Genius Intelligence: Gopher is a scientific genius, who has mastered the principles underlying the ancient Amaranthine technology that he discovered in Ember and has even made radical improvements upon much of it.
Visor: Gopher wears a protective visor that reduces the intensity of normal lighting to comfortable levels.
Staves: His staves appear to be an aid to the visually impaired Gopher. However, he is quite skilled in their use as a weapon. On occasion, he has used a stave that launches a concussive blast. He has also used "Zero-Point Energy" staves that increase the center of gravity of anyone, making people heavier the more they struggle. A mental force field, like Mirage's, nullifies this effect.
Light Sensitivity: Although Gopher has adequate vision in dark places, he is blinded by normal light.
Taste: To his appetite ray-guns taste "good", iron chains are "like chocolate cake", robot fingers are "just as tasty" as ladyfingers and polymeric fibers "taste like taffy". Certain jewels, however, while edible are not as favorable to his palate and are an "acquired" delicacy.