Insert a long, deafening pause. The computer considered this, and must have figured out what Mako meant, because it began analyzing potential issues.

"The reactor core cannot be disabled," it declared. "Reactor control rods are being manually removed by an intruder. Electric turbines are now offline to avoid damage. All safety valves are open. However, core temperature is rising, and will soon reach critical levels. Control rods should be replaced immediately to avoid a potentially-catastrophic core melt accident."

"... Barring the obvious issues raised by that command," the computer said, again, with a long, almost sarcastic pause, "reactor maintenance and supervision systems have been compromised by the intruder and cannot function, anyway. Structural damage from heat, hazardous build-up of hydrogen gas, and possible resultant explosions should be anticipated."

"If by 'big kablooey' you mean the first explosions, the estimated time frame is... ..."

Calculating.

"Zero seconds to twenty minutes."

In computer-speak, that meant I don't really know, maybe now, maybe a few minutes from now.

Meanwhile, a pair watched silently from the top of the stairs. One, sooty, burned, and half-blown up, but otherwise identifiable as a white primate, was being helped along a little by the other, redder one.

When had Rock gotten there? Long enough to hear what was going on, because he immediately began to hobble and turn the opposite direction.

"Okay, back down the stairs — back down the stairs," his echoing voice could be heard urging Jam from across the vast platform. "Thing's gotta have escape pods somewhere..."

Jam was either in a surprisingly good mood considering the circumstances, or else, her labored chuckle simply served as a flimsy disguise for her taxed grunts of hobbling effort as she shuffled about, and began a less-than-graceful, hasty descent.

"What's really funny," she huffed, nearly missing a step. "Izzat they prolly still think he's doin' a better job'n you would, f'only on account o' him not trying to blow us all t'hell."

The floor opened directly under Mako, dropping him haplessly into the seat of a waiting Egg Mobile, which rose up and out of the deck of its own accord, hovering silently. It was open-topped, but one could only assume that Eggman's escape vehicle of choice had the necessary equipment for spaceflight.

Mako was utterly dwarfed by the big, leather seat. He could easily fit a few friends inside (both next to him and behind the seat), but nobody like Big, obviously.

"Drop-pod-equipped escape chutes are available throughout the 'Grand Eggtrium,'" replied the computer.

"... You may wish to remember that you have thirty-seven more Egg Mobiles at your disposal, if they are required," it added quietly, gently bumping the current Egg Mobile with another from underneath.

*Bonk.*

The computer had a hard time coping with the fact that Mako (AKA Dr. Eggman to it) did not know anything he was supposed to know. Nonetheless, it dutifully answered him.

"Egg Mobiles are equipped with your most advanced navigational systems and will go where you direct them, sir," it answered. Preemptively, as if detecting its master's growing incompetence, it added, "If you wish, all Egg Mobiles can be routed to the nearest safe facility where you may... recover."

From your gratuitous head injuries went unspoken.

"To answer your other query: One human departed in escape pod #117 from reactor core corridor 4 approximately 1 minute ago. Another human is currently boarding escape pod #20 in the 'Grand Eggtrium.' Two sapient primates are descending the stairs from this platform. A sapient feline is at the bottom of the stairs. Another sapient feline is ... inside the 'Grand Eggtrium' floor, fifteen meters away. Two other unidentified sapients, one avian and one mustelid, are at the base of this platform, 7-o'clock position. Shadow the Hedgehog is also near the aforementioned's position. ... Sonic the Hedgehog is seated next to you."

Even now, there was still some confusion about Geoff's identity.

"Would you like to reactivate combat units and terminate Sonic the Hedgehog?" it inquired politely.