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[reneggadetinkerer]

Attention! This is Dr. Ivo Robotnik speaking and, as I assume I'm not the only one stranded on this wretched world, I am opening up communications for some proper answers. It appears my abductors can't be reached at the moment and I've already spent enough time familiarizing myself with what little information that is available.

If you have received this transmission, make yourselves known. Rest assured, if there is a way off of this world, then I will be the one to find it!

[And he may even let you tag along. Maybe.]

Comments

[reneggadetinkerer]

Anything can be made secure with enough planning and scrutiny.

...Powers, you say? Now...when you say "powers" what exactly classifies one as such? I'm gifted with a genius scientific mind and an expertise in all things mechanical, but would those be quantified as a "power?"

Or are we talking something more conventional? Something more...physical?

[Like super speed, for instance...]

[crystalmaster]

Hmm. If you say so.

[Radley is definitely curious to see what he'll come up with.]

... That's a good question. I haven't heard of that kind of thing going loco in an energy storm. I've only seen a couple of them, though. My clothes started falling off when I ran across someone whose powers involve controlling thread.

[reneggadetinkerer]

That's certainly...

Hrm.

Control over thread you say? Interesting.

[He'll have to compile a database of powers and who wields them.]

You've been most enlightening...whoever you are.

[crystalmaster]

Radley.

[He resists the urge to say he knows who he's talking to.]

[reneggadetinkerer]

Radley. Yes. Fine. Is there anything else I should be made aware of? Has there been a proper threat assessment made of the city and its surroundings?

[crystalmaster]

There's a lot of dangerous animals and monsters around. Sometimes they come out and claw people or try to eat them. We just had a volcano go off and we're still picking up the pieces from that. There was less damage than we were afraid there'd be, but there's still some. A few of the buildings are more dangerous now than they were before. I'm not sure every one of them's been looked at.

[reneggadetinkerer]

A volcano? This city was built over a geothermal vent?

[A possible energy source?]

[crystalmaster]

Apparently so. The thing just started forming over a handful of weeks and then went off.

[reneggadetinkerer]

A handful of— impossible! That's not how volcanoes work.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley smirks darkly.]

Nothing seems to work here the way it's supposed to.

[reneggadetinkerer]

Wonderful. Another variable to consider.

No matter, I've handled far more and far more difficult setbacks.

[crystalmaster]

Really? Like what?

[reneggadetinkerer]

Usually they involve interlopers trespassing in my numerous bases and cities. Or former subordinates that decide they're better than me at what I do best and try to usurp control of my Empire.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is inwardly amused, but tries not to show it.]

Oh, I see. How frustrating for you.

[reneggadetinkerer]

It is, but necessity is the mother of invention and I necessitate the destruction of those that oppose me!

So, it works out to be a net positive.

[crystalmaster]

Well, it's nice you're able to turn it to something that works for you then. It almost sounds like you enjoy the trouble.

[reneggadetinkerer]

Frankly. it's dependent on my mood at the moment.

[crystalmaster]

I can relate to that on some level. I often enjoyed messing with my rival's head. Other times, he was just too much.

[reneggadetinkerer]

Ah, playing cat and mouse with one's rival does afford a decent level of entertainment, doesn't it? Especially when you control the game.

There's no greater pleasure than watching one's hated nemesis dance to your tune and play right into your hands while struggling to gain an advantage.

[crystalmaster]

Oh yes, exactly.

[Radley had never thought he'd find common ground with this guy, and yet here they are.]

Particularly if he's the type who flies off the handle at every little thing. It's just so amusing to push his buttons.

[reneggadetinkerer]

Yes, the brash ones are often the most fun to play. Their need for action affords us the advantage of patience and careful thought.

They make it so easy, don't they? They present their buttons as if they were badges of honor; personal quirks rather than weaknesses that can be exploited.

[crystalmaster]

So true. I was always astounded by his lack of patience and careful thought. He thought brute force was the answer to everything.