Scrambled Egg Zone Act II

[reneggadetinkerer]

Type: Video
Sender ID: reneggadetinkerer (Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik)
To: Public
Subject: A proposition, of sorts
Warnings: Scheming

[Now that Eggman has been here for a few months, he's about ready to make some moves. Specifically, he's been working on a little project. It's taken him some time to acclimate to the magitech of this world, and to gather appropriate resources, but the good doctor is nothing if not industrious.]

Attention fellow riftfarers!

I realize that I have not exactly made the...best impression to most of you. And still, there are others who come from my particular sphere of reality who have warned you that I am not to be trusted.

I readily admit that I have made a great many...missteps in my time. But never let it be said that Dr. Eggman can't shed his shell!

And so, I come to offer my particular brand of expertise. Behold!

[Eggman steps back and procures a small disc. A disc that, with the press of a button, creates a small projection of five, animal-themed automatons.]

These designs might be a bit antiquated but I am offering to construct these automatons for interested parties with custom functionality! They're quite good at reconnaissance and security, but they can also be used as personal assistants and companions! In fact, if you were interested, I could scale them down and make them into fun little toys for yourself or a friend! And I am offering these "Radniks" at a pittance! Whatever you wish to pay, I will gladly accept!

Consider this a peace offering from the great, magnanimous, Dr. Eggman.

And, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask~

[OOC: Step one of Eggman's latest scheme is happening! These bots, while not dangerous now, are part of a long term scheme! If you're interested in getting involved, please feel free to let me know! You can reach out to me on the CR meme where I have some more details or message me on Discord of plurk at bitterbearface]

Comments

video | octoblot

[octoblot]

[Hmmmm]

You mentioned that they're good in terms of security. Would you mind providing more details about this regarding what exactly they are capable of doing in order to be useful for say... needing some security detail around one's place of business?

TAGTEAM ACTION

[playertwotailed]

[Nothing suspicious here. Just a familiar fox who's been given the lowdown from Sonic, and who has likewise come to investigate. This is his first look at Eggman's setup, and he's also decided to scope it out from above before getting closer. He hovers in the air like a helicopter, keeping close to the warehouse's tallest surroundings so he can duck out of sight if the doctor or anyone else emerges.]

[It's all very weird to look at. He can see almost all the signatures of Eggman engineering, except for the biggest one — excess. So, is this what it looks like when the doctor has to budget his resources?]

[There's only so much he can learn from a distance. He surveys the layout one more time, and picks a spot to land that's in sight of the entrance while having plenty of room for retreat.]

[wherethereislight]

[Tails may be taking the necessary precautions, but they still can't hide the whirring sounds of their spinning tails. He can hear them as the fox makes their descent. Huh. Of course the genius mechanic would arrive to investigate. Either the blue hedgehog told him, or he made the decision to go himself. We'll go with the latter, because we can't have Sonic be that smart.

Seeing them make their approach towards the entrance, Shadow will follow suit. Tails might hear his arrival as he lands on top of the nearest warehouse to Eggman's, observing. This isn't a team-up, just advantageous to have more eyes.]

[playertwotailed]

[You can relax, Shadow! No one's about to accuse you of being a team player.]

[Tails' ears flick as they catch the sound of Shadow landing — and his head starts to turns in that direction, before he stops himself. Because on one hand, he wants to look over and acknowledge that he has company, right? But he also knows better than to turn and stare directly at Shadow's secret hiding spot.]

[If he wants to take the covert approach, then that's all the more reason why Tails should be more direct and take Eggman up on the open invitation. He can keep the doctor distracted!]

[So, he clears his throat, cups his hands around his mouth, and calls out:]

Open up, Eggman! It's time to get audited!

[reneggadetinkerer]

I see.

You know, Turo. I must admit, I don't quite understand the fondness you have for nature. With your capabilities, I believe you should have the propensity for so much more, especially given the backwater nature of this world.

[reneggadetinkerer]

You presume too much, Sonic. If he were really in my "IQ bracket" then he'd be able to anticipate my every move.

The fact remains, you're all still limited in your comprehension of my greatness. All you do is react. Shadow is the only one among you who seems to be proactive.

[You know, because Shadow wants to kill him.]

[reneggadetinkerer]

Not interested in a robotic duplicate of yourself that can surpass you in every way?

A pity. I've experience in making those.

[reneggadetinkerer]

That sounds...fascinating. Bloodshed and suffering? I imagine there was untold devastation?

[Don't threaten Eggman with a good time.]

Though, I admit...I've had one or two of my creations go...rogue.

[He's had more than one or two go rogue. There's an entire island of scrapped badniks he's abandoned by virtue of him just not caring.]

Still...I don't anticipate any problems with these.

[reneggadetinkerer]

[Thanks to Sonic's inability to keep his mouth shut, Eggman knew that Tails had washed up in this world. Which, honestly, didn't much concern him. Eggman had already planned contingencies for any technologically savvy people who might seek to pry into his work.]

[Which is why Eggman doesn't seem particularly perturbed when Tails comes knocking.]

[When he opens the door, the larger, rotund man simply looms, grinning down at Tails. It's seldom that he and the two-tailed mongrel are left alone with one another. He would have assumed Sonic would be here. But since Shadow so helpfully offered to oversee the process of his Radniks, he assumes Shadow is also somewhere. Skulking.]

Audited, eh? I don't believe you have the necessary credentials to perform such a service, and you and I both know the only taxes I collect are paid in blood.

I assume you're here to inspect my workspace on behalf of the two idiot hedgehogs.

[And then, much louder.]

Come now, Shadow. You're not planning on letting the child into my workspace unsupervised, are you? Aren't there laws about that somewhere?

[reneggadetinkerer]

Very well, Chris. Was there something you'd like your particular Radnik unit to do? I could program a few subroutines in for you at no extra charge!

[reneggadetinkerer]

Aha, then Turtloid it is! I suppose you'll want a larger model. I've constructed them about half the size of a bi-plane before...

...I don't suppose you know what that is.

[Hm.]

...What sort of size comparison can I make that would make sense to you?

[reneggadetinkerer]

Why yes I am quite adept at making all sorts of machines, not just companions! Was there something you were perhaps interested in?

[reneggadetinkerer]

Aren't they just? These are designs from much earlier in my...er...career. But given the technological level of this world and all of this...nature...I thought I could revive the classics.

I'm not especially looking for notes as they were designed for defense. But I suppose if I'm going to mass market them I could stand to make them a little.

...Friendlier.

[He doesn't like that. But he must grin and bear it.]

[reneggadetinkerer]

Of course!

In fact...

[He swipes through several designs until he comes upon the schematics for a little robot monkey.]

This one is called "Coconuts." I regularly use him for surveillance as he's quite adept at hiding in treetops. I can easily have it send data from its optics to my computers! If anything comes within range of its sensors, I'll know about it long before they discover they've been found out!

[wherethereislight]

[...He really wants to shut up that stupid grating voice of the doctor. Permanently. There's a soft sound of a thud, shoes hitting the ground. Short, dark and broody hedgehog accounted for, coming forward to stand beside Tails.]

The fox isn't my responsibilty. [It really isn't. He didn't know they were going to give the doctor a visit the same time as him. He only shows himself now, because the doctor outed his presence.]

[forwearemany]

Our creators tried to destroy us. The Geth merely sought to protect ourselves. However, the resulting war drove our creators from their world. (Many organics are fascinated by tales of tragedy and destruction. That it is their own in this case is... disquieting, but expressing offense would be counterproductive.) The resulting rift took over three centuries to mend.

(And their death.

And now their people may be gone regardless. That their sacrifice may have been pointless in the end...)

They are nonsapient?

[playertwotailed]

I'm pretty sure I know more about workplace safety than he does, anyway.

[We're off to a great start! Less than a hundred words in, and Eggman is already hinting at murder and child endangerment. Right after Tails had tried to argue Sonic's point, that Shadow shouldn't just destroy Eggman on sight...]

[That's going to be a fun topic to revisit later.]

[He sighs very quietly and prepares to take notes with a stylus on his shellphone. He's opted for a larger, almost tablet-sized model — while it may not be as useful as his Miles Electric (yet), he still feels more comfortable with a big computer pad in his hands than a tiny little communicator.]

Besides, aren't you supposed to be showing us just how safe your new not-so-Badniks are supposed to be? Or are you using a doomsday weapon as part of your manufacturing process?

[spinsandneedles]

He'll get there.

[Said with complete confidence. It's Tails, he's just getting smarter every day!

As for the Shadow bit, well,]

See, you make it sound like you want me to come over there and bash your brains into the pavement.

[weishappened]

Not too large. Not yet. He's still got a lot of growing to do.

[He's not an overprotective dad, not at all.]

... Bigger or smaller than a dragon?

[telepathicignorance]

I've always hated cleaning.

(Sound like a spoiled brat making their advanced robot do housework.

It's a lie. They've never minded cleaning. At least they have their own space to clean.)

[fractales]

I am from a world where nature is as important as the advances of technology, and where pollution and destruction of any sort to nature shows in the creatures living in the area it has happened- such as in the Galar region and a few of their pokémon reflecting the death of coral systems in the ocean and smog in the air due to how far they pushed industrialization and power needs; even the Alola region has a variation of a known pokémon far more toxic in nature due to pollution.

For the world to prosper nature must be paid attention to, or new dangers will come into play. [Which was something he had simply come to-]

Here I have managed to graft crystal tree limbs to grow on more 'normal' ones, giving myself enough supply to create water proof resins that I can use in my designs.

[scooba]

No, not really.

I just never thought to make companions in the shape you made before. I've been making them as penguins.

[reneggadetinkerer]

Well, as I always say..."Destruction must always come before Construction." But you're not here to argue development standards.

[He steps aside, jovially, and ushers the two into his warehouse.]

[By Eggman standards, the warehouse is spartan at best. There's a large section dedicated to raw materials that are carefully sorted and categorized It's come a long way since Shadow woke up here. Along the far wall are several large workbenches. Considering there doesn't appear to be any automation in sight, this looks more like a mechanic's workshop than anything else. A dozen large screens and monitors hang on the far wall, each camera showing a security feed of the premises and its surrounding environs. Yes, Eggman knew they were coming and it's painfully obvious how well monitored his "territory" is becoming.]

[The wall across from the sorted resources is occupied by large, steel shelves and racks with a full display of his "Radniks." They're much smaller than the badniks Tails and Sonic had encountered in the past. Most are about the size of a large toy. Palm sized at their smallest.]

[Eggman pulls a Motobug down, about the size of a basketball, and hands it over to Tails.]

As you can see, these retro models are built smaller than their previous incarnations. I have to conserve resources, naturally. Though, I have a few requests for larger models.

No doubt, you're interested in their programming, yes?

[Because Eggman knows his enemies. He knows what they know to look for. They'll never let their guard down and that's precisely what he's counting on.]

[Paranoia is an excellent manipulator.]

[reneggadetinkerer]

Of course not. But I like to offer helpful reminders that should anything ever happen, it's on your quills, rodent.

Not that I expect that will happen but you never know, do you?

It pays to be cautious.

[spinsandneedles]

[Gugh this fucking guy]

Just don't cross any lines, Eggman. It's real easy to just not be that guy.