31 Days of Sonic Prompt 15: Madness.

Countertheory

Evil existed in the world. It wasn't that Belle was so naive to ignore it, but acknowledging her father as a source of malicious cruelty made the electricity in her veins jolt. Dr. Eggman was a villain, a wicked, devious genius who endeavored to enslave the entire planet with theme parks and metallic monstrosities.

But Mr. Tinker was her father. He created her out of love and sincerity, inputting the entire spectrum of emotions into her to ensure she was real. Without his care and consideration, Belle wouldn't have been able to experience life's little wonders like painting or tightening a bolt. And her father stayed with her, smiling with eyes that twinkled and a belly laugh that filled the room.

Belle treasured those days when her father stayed the same. She played with peaceful friends and sunny skies. Every day was a new invention to build. Belle thought she could have happily lived out the rest of her lifespan with Mr. Tinker, their happy hut a haven for mechanical wonders and ingenuity.

However, all good things had to come to an end. One day, her father vanished, and Eggman reappeared. Then, the Metal Virus plagued the planet, and the villagers suffered. They blamed her and her father, Belle's exile being her personal decision when their rejection became too laborious.

The real world was equally pleasant and vicious. Belle had met friends and enemies alike. But as she recovers, the latter wins.

Her head hurts from where Dr. Starline prodded her. While the physical pain is palpable, the emotional agony is overwhelming. She cannot stop her tears. The information relayed to Belle, that she is nothing more than a construct crafted by an amnesiac builder, drives her sobs. She curls in on herself, weakly shaking her head as Starline's words loop, unable to cease.

Vector rubs her shoulder, his tone a gentle whisper. "It's okay, kid. Let it out. If Espio and Charmy can't get that slimeball now, we'll still make sure he gets what's coming."

She hiccups. The crocodile's kindness is undeserved. She had given Starline everything about herself, unable to temper the swell of emotions Mr. Tinker programmed for her.

Vector heaves out a quiet sigh. "Do you need me to call anyone? Tails? Tangle? Sonic? We're still gonna call them to let them know you're safe."

Their names elicit a gasp. Belle fidgets, her fingers drumming on the bars. "No, it's - that's - I'm fine," she chokes out.

Her lie is easily detected by one as trained as Vector. He shifts next to her, sitting cross-legged. As footsteps echo in the dark hallway, he says. "No. No, you're not. Belle, what did Starline do to you?"

Her jaw tenses. Her eyes well with fresh tears. The throbbing in her head returns, and she squeezes her eyes shut, letting them fall. Cheeks damp, she wipes her face, and the question itches through her servo, electricity sizzling throughout her wires.

But it's as if Vector already understands her. "It's about Egg - er, Tinker, right?"

"My father isn't a bad person! He's not Eggman!" she cries, jerking toward him. "What that platypus said couldn't have been true. No, I mean-!" She swallows. "I've read about Dr. Eggman. I know what he's done countless times over, but that's not my father. That's not who he is!"

Her voice cracks. If Belle was still connected to Starline's computer, she knows he would have gotten another dose of critical information. Her fingers dig into her cheeks, and she buries her face, her weeping warbling.

"Eggman is a different person from my father. Eggman wants to hurt people, but my father wants to help everyone," Belle sobs, ignoring the chameleon and bee creeping into the room. "There must be some way to save him. He's not the man everyone says he is. It's all Starline's fault."

Silence lingers. Only her sobs and Charmy's buzzing fill the room. Vector's hand is heavy on her back until he withdraws it.

"You know, I do get it. Mr. Tinker treasured you," Vector says as if choosing his words carefully. He draws in a breath and exhales it in a sobering sigh. "I'm not gonna deny your feelings. I'm sure what you shared with him was very special." He cocks his head. "For you, it's like a common theme in a mystery novel."

She blinks, surprise dawning on her features. "What do you mean?"

Vector extends his index fingers. "Your dad and Eggman are the same person, but one personality became stronger and overpowered the other." He tucks his left finger into his palm, keeping his right up. "Without Mr. Tinker in the picture because of Starline, Eggman runs the show and does dirty deeds." Dropping his hands, he grins at Belle. "But that doesn't mean Mr. Tinker can't come back. Whatever Starline did to him could be reversed. Maybe another hard bonk on the head will do it."

Belle lets his words sink in. It sounds too good to be true. But for now, she clings to his explanation. Hope blossoms in her chest, warming her servos. Her nodding is slow but quickly becomes more vigorous, fully accepting Vector's explanation.

Vector helps her stand. Belle thanks him, wringing her hands together. He laughs and nods, ushering her away from the various monitors left behind by Starline. He guides her toward Charmy, gesturing at the door, and the bee nods.

"I know the way out of here," Charmy chirps, and he takes Belle's hand. "C'mon! I'll race you to the top!"

She yelps as she runs, but a giggle quickly replaces it. Although she's still somber, she clings to a little thread of hope. Vector has given her enough reasoning to start believing again. She is reassured, trusting that the madness invoked by the doctors' mutual will shall not prevail.

Good always triumphs. Evil will not succeed. Mr. Tinker can come home and welcome her with open arms.

(Espio glares at his leader the moment Belle's footsteps start fading. "Vector, how could you promise such a claim? You can't possibly believe what you just said is true," he snaps. "This isn't one of your favorite mystery novels. It's Eggman. The crimes he has committed are-"

"I know, but reaffirming the truth would hurt her even more," he sharply interjects, surprising Espio. He drags his hand down his snout. "That girl has already been through enough today. She doesn't need a detective telling her the definite facts of the case or that Mr. Tinker coming back for good is slim to none." He crosses his arms and shuffles toward the monitors, Espio following beside him. "Eggman and Starline are gonna get what's theirs, Espio. We're gonna make sure of it."

Espio nods. "But when that time comes, what about Belle? She won't be easily swayed that Mr. Tinker will never return after Eggman is finally captured. She'll remember what you said."

Vector hesitates, and he quietly turns to the table where Belle had been strapped in place. "I guess all I can say is we'll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, let's finish our job. There's evidence to collect.")