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; id: fractales

[fractales]

[Don't mind the oddly misty background or the blue flowers it's fine it's just a controlled environment greenhouse set-up. Lil bit foggy—]

I see you have made the step to go through with this idea after all- and I am interested to know how well it goes for you.

[Genuinely so.]

[reneggadetinkerer]

Ah, Turo!

Yes, I've never been one to rest on my laurels when there's progress to be made. Unfortunately, I can't be as charitable as I would like with these.

Still, my hope is that I can be a...pillar of the community and show everyone I'm not such a bad egg.

[fractales]

It is as good a place as any to start- I did similarly after all, even if my own constructs are on the more plush side of things.

[Meant to take a beating or just distract from merely existing.]

I still earn from each one sold, which has been enough to help support certain endeavors with other forms of income.

Audio; id: spinsandneedles

[spinsandneedles]

[No way.

There's no fucking way. There has to be a catch. There's always a catch with Eggman!!

Sonic has to watch this a few times before he's able to actually articulate an answer. He doesn't bother with video, mostly because he's uhhhhhh not really at his best thanks to that one giant monkey thing, but surely Eggman can picture the look on his face]

...You're calling them Radniks. I mean, I know you're old...

not here

[catsgothistongue]

[See! He gets it!]

[reneggadetinkerer]

A necessary rebranding!

Isn't this what you wanted?

[spinsandneedles]

[SIGH yes okay it kind of was, but it just sounds so FAKE when Eggman says literally all of everything. Sonic just doesn't trust it, but it could just be a bias because of their history? Maybe Eggman is trying to be serious about this. Big maybe, but nothing's impossible, right?

Radnik is a fucking terrible name though. Nobody can change Sonic's mind about that!]

Can you blame me for being surprised that you'd play along? I assume you'd be willing to let someone make sure you haven't secretly built guns and junk into them, then?

video; un:catsgothistongue

[catsgothistongue]

[Oh, cool, this bozo again. From the brief instance he saw him on the network, Ranma already pegged him as an earache. A verbose one at that...

Can't lie though, whatever "Dr. Eggman" is advertising (what kind of name is that anyway??) does get him curious enough to not immediately put his phone on silence and ignore what the doctor's selling.]

So what're these thingamabobs [Sorry doc, you cannot get him to shred his self-respect and call them "Radniks" unironically. That name sounds like you're trying way too hard to be "hip" with the kids.] good for, exactly?

[reneggadetinkerer]

Radniks.

And they have multiple uses across various fields. The better question is, young man...

What do you need one to be?

[forwearemany]

Query: intelligence?

(How advanced are these things, anyway? Are they fully sapient AI or regular nonsapient VI?)

[reneggadetinkerer]

[Ah yes! His favorite sentient machine!]

Limited enough to allow comprehension of directions, naturally. Simple commands and the like.

Or were you perhaps looking for more of a kindred mechanical spirit?

Video | un: wherethereislight

[wherethereislight]

[Missteps he calls them.]

Could you provide a visual of their construction? [You know, to further prove to everyone you're a good egg now.]

[reneggadetinkerer]

Ohoho my dear Shadow. Your distrust wounds me.

Of course, I will happily comply. I will document the process completely and thoroughly for full transparency.

Text, UN: 🖕nunya🖕

[telepathicignorance]

I'll pay 100 Dubloons for one of the flying ones.

(They want to take it apart. That's their entire motive. Unless it turns out to be fucking sentient. Then they'll have to look into ways of taking it apart without hurting it. And also swing a punch at Eggman.)

[reneggadetinkerer]

Oho! A buyer! Do you have a preference? Customization options? Do you have an intended use or is it because you find them so charming?

[It will have limited artificial intelligence but nothing inherently nefarious in its mechanics~]

video; un: weishappened

[weishappened]

How durable are these ... constructs?

[reneggadetinkerer]

That depends on what your intended task is. The flying ones are more lightweight but I have some armored bad&mdash er...Radnik designs I can still recall from my earlier years.

Text; un: Pers

[scooba]

[.............WELL THEN!]

I didn't know you could make mechanical companions as well.

[reneggadetinkerer]

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

video; id: planetwhisperer

[planetwhisperer]

Oh. Those are...kinda cute.

[She smiled warmly. She was new here and had no clue who Dr. Eggman was, but he sounded like maybe he was turning over a new leaf? That was nice.

She hoped. Because otherwise she did not want to deal with Shinra-like creations.]

A little sharp in places though? Maybe you could round out a few spots when you make them?

[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.]

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?

[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!

video; id: havenofear

[heyyourenotsonic]

[ Amy looks less than impressed as she stares tiredly at the mustachioed man amd his shit eating grin. Ugh. ]

A peace offering, huh? Never thought I'd hear those words coming from you, Eggman.

[ She pauses, though, honing in on what is probably the most important detail here-- ]

Radniks, though? Really?

[reneggadetinkerer]

[Of course another one of that Hedgehog's friends is here. What is this, a convention? When will that pea-brained Echidna show up? Why can't someone he tolerates show up? Like Metal? Or...]

[...Metal.]

[He lets out an exasperated sigh.]

Yes, well...as you can clearly see I'm at a disadvantage without my Eggfleet, resources, factories, and allies. So I am attempting to make the best of it.