"More like energy amplification. These crystals at their source can boost power. When it comes to something like technology though, it's a toss-up as to whether it will still render it useful or not. Now, the crystals themselves, like these, do not quite do the same thing as they are now, and whatever energy they hold slowly degrades over time. They can however be recharged if they're in the vicinity of unharvested crystals."

Oh, he's in infodump mode. But Robotnik strikes him as someone willing (maybe too willing?) to listen, and Donnie is only all too happy to indulge. Sorry Sonic, he's a middle child and all he wants is attention.

"Circling back to the charge itself- it's not just energy that it juices. The crystals can amplify supernatural abilities, which is when I first heard about the Chaos Emeralds from Sonic, and that was before we ever expected one to just come and bean him from the sky. Waiting for a storm to happen is going to be the real pain, but in the meantime you're welcome to these."

Ah, but then comes a question unrelated to science but one Donnie supposes he should have expected. His face scrunches slightly as he thinks about it.

"Well...only that you are apparently his mortal enemy and- wait, are you the one who left an entire army of robots on an island and forgot about them??!"