Eggmanland Shooting Range - Eggshells

[Jammerlee]

It was a typical day at the Eggmanland firing range. Standing at their respective booths were human, thrope and robot alike, each testing and honing their skill against dolls modeled after various enemies of the Empire. Some wore the uniform of the Eggman legion, while others were clearly civilians. Among the throngs however, one patron, in particular, seemed to stand out.

"OHHHH HO HO HO HO!"

... a little girl cackled loudly from her booth as a doll based off of Sonic the Hedgehog was quickly dismembered. A ballhog sat on the ground next to her.

[Val]

In the stall beside the cackling child stood a lavender coyote sniping any plushie he could see. He found this place oddly relaxing, something he was comfortable in knowing he was actually good at.

Seeing another royal blue stuffed animal pop up, he took aim, squeezed the trigger aaand…The plushie erupted into a cloud of stuffing launched in all directions as the bolt from his blaster flew through the snowstorm of cotton and hit the back wall.
Blinking, Milo glanced to the smoking barrel of his own gun and then stepped back to peek around at who had just outshot him.

“H-Hey, nice shot there.”

[Jammerlee]

"Thanks!" Ada said, spinning her pistols around on her fingers and blowing on them as though there was smoke on the barrels. "This is one of my favorite types of homework~" she paused for a moment, contemplating what she'd just said. "Well, if I was actually at home working. Heads up!" a doll of Knuckles had just appeared. Giving her pistols another spin, she set about making quick work of it as well.

[Val]

Blink….Blink, blink…A child? What was she-Whoa!

Still facing in the direction of the mystery kid, Milo threw up his arm, closing his left eye as he aimed down the sights. In that split second he held in his breath and took the shot.
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[Jammerlee]

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But Ada's shots were just a split second faster. The doll exploded into a ball of stuffing. Ada giggled at the would-be carnage.

[Val]

He released his held breath as a weak sigh. This was disheartening if his supposed skill could be outmatched by a kid.

“Uh..I’m Milo..” He uttered, trying to start some smalltalk so he wasn’t left alone with his own growing sense of inadequacy. “I g-guess you must practise here a lot huh?”

[Jammerlee]

Holstering one of her pistols, the young girl offered a hand to Milo. "I'm Ada. My friends sometimes call me Omelette tho. Yeah, my daddy has me practice here a lot. He wants to make sure I can protect myself."

[Val]

Still half staring out at the range, Milo gently took the girl’s hand and shook it slightly. “Omelette? Kind of a f-funny name.” He blurted out, “N-not that I mean that in a bad way.” Scratching at the back of his head, the coyote glanced around, “Your dad trusts you here alone? I mean I w-wouldn’t wanna end up on the wrong side of you in a gunfight b-but you still seem pretty young to be around g-guns without supervision.”

[Jammerlee]

"Eh," Ada gave a wide shrug. "I've been around guns since I was born. Daddy knows I know how to handle myself around them. In fact," she gave another spin of the pistol she still had unholstered, "He custom made these just for me."

As if in emphasis she turned, shooting at another doll as it popped up. "Besides, Daddy's often busy with work. My brother might have come with me but he's off somewhere right now. To be honest it's kind of nice to be on my own."

[Val]

Being completely honest Milo had no clue if he was more impressed or terrified of the girl right now. Raised around guns since she was born? And her father custom built her pistols when she looked like she still needed parental company to get into a PG movie? He was genuinely thankful she was alone now as the idea of her brother potentially being just as gun happy worried him…the irony of his concern while he stood in a shooting range being utterly lost on him.

“If you like being alone for a ch-change..” He began, “Am I bothering you? I can shut up if you w-want?”

[Jammerlee]

"Naahhh, not at all!" Ada waved a dismissive hand. "No, I mean like, it's nice being able to leave the house without someone having to be with me. Daddy's pretty protective of me. He knows I'm safe here though." Unbeknownst to Ada, her ballhog had been sat there eyeballing Milo with uncertainty the entire time.

"So," Ada said, changing gears as she motioned toward Milo. "How long have you been in the Egg Legion?"

[Val]

“W-With a gun arm like that, you should be safe anywhere.” The coyote muttered as he looked down, meeting the small pig robot’s eye and staring back with a raised brow. Something about it…unsettled him.

“Oh, uh..” Milo snapped his attention back to Ada at her inquiry. “A while now. Since bef-fore the whole alien invasion…thing.” He rolled his wrist as he tried to think of the right word, ‘Thing’ being the best he could manage. It still felt so odd to say that aliens were real and actually had invaded. It was like something right out of one of his comic books and of course Dr Eggman had launched his fleet in retaliation. It still irritated him how anyone could insult the Doctor after he fought to defend the planet, just like any other “Hero.”

[Dr. Mechano]

"ATTENTION, LADIES, GENTLEMEN, AND ROBOTS!" The PA system of the firing range creaked to life with a blare of noisy static, "WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A VERY SPECIAL VISITOR TO THE EGGMANLAND FIRING RANGE! THE BIG EGG HIMSELF... HIIIIIIS HIGHNESS... DOOOOOCTOR EGGMAAAAAN!"

The doors flung open, and in rolled a long red carpet bearing the Eggman Empire insignia. Next, a procession of Badniks marched in, each dressed in little red hats, playing different musical instruments - performing a rather bombastic rendition of "E.G.G.M.A.N.", their dear leader's self-penned theme song.



Then, the man himself entered the firing range. He swaggered forth upon the red carpet triumphantly, waving to his subjects and smiling wide. As he reached the end of the carpet, he threw his head back and laughed.

"OOH HO HO HO HO!"

The doctor glanced around the firing range, "I see that you're all putting in some extra practice hours here! Excellent! Not aliens, not GUN, not even Sonic himself would dare take on our mighty metropolis - not with you all staying at the top of your games! Keep it up!"

It was then that Eggman - still scanning the room visually as he spoke - caught sight of Ada. In truth, he had actually come down to the range to check up on how she was doing. But of course, he couldn't let his subjects know that. So naturally, he decided to play it up as a public appearance in order to discretely (well, as discretely as someone like Eggman could be) visit his daughter during firing practice.

"That will be all! So just..." Eggman shrugged and kind of waved dismissively with his hands, silencing the Badnik band, "...continue training as if I'm not even here! I'll simply be milling about and observing your results! Make me proud, everyone!"

His announcements concluded, Eggman grinned and headed over to Ada's booth.

[Jammerlee]

As the precession blared and Eggman announced his presence, Ada peeked out from her booth. A wide grin spread across her face. She bounded up as he approached. "Hi Daddy!" she announced cheerfully. "I didn't expect to see you here today!"

Bacon turned, having a look at the source of all the racket, but then turned back, continuing to eye Milo with a steely glare. He made a synthesized oink as if making a warning.

[Val]

Milo’s jaw dropped as the PA system proudly announced the Egg Emperor himself. He so rarely got to see his sovereign in person and as Eggman entered, the coyote straightened up, rigid and saluted.
He felt butterflies in his stomach as his heartbeat increased. He wanted to make a good impression, he always did. He wanted the Doctor to know he existed, that he was loyal and would serve wherever he was needed.

And then Ada blurted out who she truly was. Milo felt a cold wave rush over him. Was she insane? Was she joking? Or was she really and truly Eggman’s child? He’d never heard of Eggman being a father before.
If she was then…he could be in trouble. He’d been so informal, so casual with her, not shown her the respect he would show her father. And she had mentioned a brother?! Did Eggman have more than one child? How many?

Feeling panic start to claw at him, Milo stared down at the Ballhog glaring at him, as if his oinking held any answer.

[Dr. Mechano]

Eggman grimaced, and very conspicuously waved his hand in front of his neck in a dismissive "no" motion, obviously gesturing to the coyote standing next to her. Even though Eggmanland was full of loyal citizens to the Eggman Empire, he knew he couldn't be too careful... His identity as Ada's father being discovered could compromise her safety, as well as jeopardize the empire as a whole. But Ada was always... enthusiastic, to say the least, and struggled with keeping a low profile. Eggman snickered to himself at the thought; Guess he knew where she got that from.

"Ah, greetings... young citizen!" Eggman said, winking - an action that was rendered completely pointless thanks to his opaque glasses. He glanced down at the score display at Ada's firing booth, and beamed with fatherly pride at her high accuracy score, "Hoho! I see someone's got quite the skill with a blaster!"

He grinned, and in a lower voice, added, "Heh. Keep it up and you might even be as good a shot as your old man... someday. Hohoho!"

[Jammerlee]

Pausing at the gesture, Ada puffed up one cheek before she sighed with exasperation. She hated playing the secrets game. It wasn't as though she didn't understand the importance behind it, she just found it so difficult to put up with.

"Right, right... that's what I am, just a young citizen of the empire!" she said in a manner reminiscent of a bad actor reading lines off a script. As she did she winked back, a gesture equally lost by her own opaque glasses. At Eggman's praise, however, her chest swelled with pride. "Thanks!" a large grin spread over her face. "Gotta have only the best skill if I wanna hit any irritating blue hedgehogs that decide to break into the Empire!"

That statement floated in the air for a moment, before Ada finally lit up with a thought. "Oo, oo!" she waved a hand, holstering her other blaster. "Wait, hold on! I need to get a selfie!" at that, she pulled out a polaroid camera, aiming it at herself and her father.

@sebacon@ Bacon, meanwhile, continued to stare at Milo and oink lowly.

[Val]

Ada’s Oscar worthy acting wasn’t working on Milo, who had spent the past few seconds in a blank minded haze, the actual conversation between father and daughter just being white noise to him as he struggled ever on to comprehend that Eggman had a child at some point. When did it happen? Only a few years ago based on the girl’s age. Where was her Mama Robotnik? What was she like? WAS Milo about to be lined up on the firing range himself for insubordination? All questions rushing like a torrent through his mind too fast to consider each one.

Of course he understood why Eggman seemed to want to keep Ada a secret and he of course would never tell anyone who could be a threat to the Empire. It was just a sudden revelation and the idea that he may be one of a very small group of people aware who Ada was gave him a slight tingling feeling of superiority…briefly.
He did wonder if anyone else in the range had heard this conversation between the sound of gunshots.

[Dr. Mechano]

"Hohoho! Say 'cheese omelette!'" Eggman said, and struck a series of poses - some casual, some serious and poised, and some silly - letting his daughter snap away with her camera.

Seeing Ada so cheerful always warmed the doctor's heart, and he genuinely enjoyed spending time with her like this. It was funny... Twelve years ago, he would have never imagined being a dad. He had always been so engrossed in his work that the very idea of having a family seemed like a ridiculous waste of time. Now? He couldn't imagine not having his adorable little girl - to say nothing of the fatherly bond he had developed with Metal Sonic. His family meant the world to him, and that was precisely why he had to keep Ada far away from the sorts of danger that his career as a world-conquering supervillain naturally encountered.

The doctor's smile faltered slightly as he noticed Bacon oinking defensively at the next booth, resulting in a rather strange-looking, blurry photo as he turned his head to see what all the hubbub was about. It was then that Eggman noticed the coyote next to them. He seemed... nervous, and also slightly familiar, though Eggman couldn't quite place where he'd seen him before. Either way, he was looking at them. Had he heard anything they'd said? Eggman's mind raced, and he knew he had to play this off to avoid raising any suspicions, so he quickly stood up and tried his best to act casual. Of course, Eggman's idea of acting "casual" was to point directly at the coyote and shout at him.

"YOU THERE!" Eggman bellowed, "...Er. You, esteemed operative of the Eggman Empire, I mean! Good to see you putting in extra combat training! I could use more people as dedicated as you are in my forces! What is your name? ...I'm Dr. Eggman!"

"Ergh..." Eggman frowned, reflexively placing a palm on his own face, "You know that, obviously. I just enjoy saying it. Reminds everyone of who's in charge around here, right?"

His eyes darted around uncertainly behind his glasses, and he cleared his throat loudly, "Ah-heeem! Anyway, your name was...?"

[Val]

OHCHAOSWHAT?!

It felt like he’d been struck by lightning, a sudden jolt shot through the lavender coyote as his heart rate jumped. It felt like his stomach was turning inside out as he suddenly found himself panting from the burst of adrenaline.

He felt cornered, as if a single wrong word would see him facing down a firing squad. Eggman seemed flustered…or maybe he just appeared more eloquent in his broadcasts. Still Milo knew that he should not know about Ada and the fact he did put him at risk. He had one chance to prove his loyalty and ease his Emperor’s mind.
…that said amidst the sheer panic gripping at his chest, Milo did still feel a swell of joy at the praise the Doctor threw his way.

Milo straightened up into his salute once more as he finally found his voice, albeit coming out weak and trembling at first. After letting out a strained squeak he cleared his throat and was able to answer properly. “M-M-Milo…My name is Milo…sir. Uh..Thank you. I’d like to cons-sider myself a good shot..” His earthy green eyes darted to Ada for a brief second. “And yet Ada here was able to outshoot me more than once..”

[Jammerlee]

@sebacon@ Snorting the whole time, Bacon looked between Eggman and Milo a couple of times. With an unsatisfied huff the badnik turned, placing himself at Ada's side and continued to eyeball Milo with a healthy look of uncertainty.

Having shaken off her last polaroid photo, Ada took notice of the blurring of her father's face. She looked up, placing both the photo and the camera away, and placed a hand on top of Bacon's noggin. "Milo and I met a couple of minutes before you came in!" she seemed to beam. "He couldn't help but notice my mad skills~"

[Dr. Mechano]

"She did, eh?" Eggman smiled proudly down at at Ada, "Well, then, young lady..."

"Hmm. I wonder..." Eggman smirked confidently and drew his own Egg Blaster, taking aim at a series of Sonic dolls that had just popped up on the firing range, "...if you've got what it takes to best me!"

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With impressive accuracy, Eggman fired a barrage of blasts at the dolls, hitting most - but not quite all - of them.

"Hoho! I wonder if you can top that," he said, playfully egging Ada on.

[Jammerlee]

Ada grinned at the idea of a challenge. Oh boy, a chance for her to show off! Drawing her blaster again, she took aim...

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... and sadly missed half of the dolls. A crestfallen look washed over her. Her big chance to show off and she blew it. Her brows pinched together and she muttered a small "Fooey..."

[Val]

For a brief moment Milo’s heart shot to the back of his throat as he thought Eggman’s blaster was meant for him.
He just stood back and watched Eggman and Ada competing for the better score, all the while that little voice in the back of his head telling him he could give it a try, if he could actually outshoot Doctor Eggman himself…He’d either be praised or shot.

He was starting to feel very third wheel-ish, especially with the judging stares from the porcine machine stood beside Ada.
Clearing his throat again Milo simply shuffled over to his booth again, making sure the pair could still see him but trying to make it look like he wasn’t actively trying to get them to notice as he drew his own blaster and tried his luck.

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[Dr. Mechano]

"Ohoho, don't worry, Omelette," Eggman chuckled slightly at her grumpy reaction, "You think I was a genius inventor and expert marksman when I was your age? ...I mean, I was, but that's not the point. It still took years to get as good as I am now! You'll get there, don't worry."

Eggman glanced to the side and noticed Milo's score - higher than both his and Ada's. Eggman crossed his arms and furrowed his own brow slightly, grumbling, "Lucky shot..."

Despite their age difference, perhaps Eggman wasn't that much more mature than Ada, in some regards.

[Jammerlee]

"But I wanted to show you I can take care of myself!" Ada pouted. "I don't like having to be secretive all the time!"

[Val]

At Eggman’s grumbling comment Milo scratched at the back of his head and chuckled nervously. He hoped he hadn’t accidently shown up his hero. Leaning back around to the Eggpair he found himself blurting out an idea the moment it hit him.

“I can help!” Immediately regretting opening his mouth, the coyote began to fidget, pressing his index fingers together as he meekly shuffled back towards the father and daughter. “That is to say uh…I c-can..I was going to offer to help…W-With teaching Ada what I kn-now about marksmanship…But that’s probably overstepping my p-place, huh? S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to insinuate you needed help.”

A heavy blush had crept onto his face as at that moment Milo resisted the urge to just run away and hide.

[Dr. Mechano]

Eggman hesitated, thinking about it for a moment. How reliable was this guy? Could he trust him to teach Ada? It was true that he was remarkably skilled with a blaster, and Eggman did want Ada to get out more and actually get to meet other people. Nonetheless, he was wary... but he didn't want to tell her "no" if this was something she really wanted to do.

Tentatively, Eggman asked, "Mm, what do you think, Omelette?"

[Jammerlee]

"I don't think it's a bad idea," Ada adjusted he glasses and peered at Milo, as if inspecting him. "Intelligente doesn't know anything about this stuff and it's more fun than learning alone since you and Metal can't always be here."

@sebacon@ One of Bacon's ears twitched. He looked back at Ada with a quizzical arch of his brow.

[Dr. Mechano]

"Well, that settles it then!" Eggman grinned and threw up his hands in a celebratory gesture, "Milo here will be Ada's new sharpshooting tutor. Congrats on the promotion, my boy! Ohh hoo hoo!"

Eggman laughed, patting Milo on the back, before suddenly pulling him in close and whispering, "If anything happens to her, I'll make you 'disappear.'"

"Hoo hoo hoo!" Eggman nonchalantly continued laughing, "Let's celebrate the occasion, shall we? Who's in the mood for ice cream?"