The small figure playing on the floor- well, technically speaking it had to be a 'floor', as it was underfoot and served the purpose of working against gravity's effects for the benefit of those on it; but with the lack of walls, ceiling, or any lighting other than the single spotlight picking out the young girl as reference, it had to be pretty much taken on faith- was singing softly to a doll. The girl was very familiar, too.
"You were the sweetest thing... that I ever knew..."
Gadget placed her after a moment as a rather small version of LaWhinie- wait. No. This would be her, wouldn't it? She had an odd notion her double never wore anything as modest as the child's nightgown, and never looked that innocent even at this young age.
"Since you abandoned me... my whole life has crashed..."
Gadget knelt by her, studying the- again, awfully familiar- doll curiously. "Aren't you a bit young to be singing lyrics like that?" she asked curiously. "Gosh- that's years before your time, I'm pretty sure. Where did you even learn them?"
The girl giggled, hugging the doll to her chest. "'s okay. Daddy doesn't know I know them," she said, grinning in delight at having a Secret. "And Hack taught me. Hack knows a lot of things!"
The older mouse was abruptly aware she absolutely, positively did not want to meet Hack. "If Dad wouldn't like it, you shouldn't really be doing it," she explained reasonably.
The child sighed, and nodded. "I know. Just- every once in a while-" she looked around the absolutely barren darkness surrounding the two of them in the spotlight, then leaned close to whisper. "Once in a /very little while/, I want to do something... naughty." She sighed, getting up. "Daddy wouldn't like it, though, you're right. I'd never do ANYTHING to hurt Daddy," she said solemnly, her wide eyes gazing into Gadget's as she nodded seriously.
"... besides," she squeaked cheerfully, "that's Hack's job. You know you have to meet her before you go. You have to meet EVERYONE. It's in the rules!" She leaned up and kissed herself on the nose, giggling. "Tag! Your turn!" she turned and fled into the darkness, her laughter lingering.
Gadget had frozen the moment Hack's name was mentioned. Her legs didn't seem to work properly- she couldn't get up from her kneeling position in the spotlight, next to where the younger her had been sitting.
The laughter started coming back towards her.
The octave seemed to start changing at random, breaking up the sound's smooth flow, as if tapes of dozens of people laughing separately had been made, then clumsily spliced together, a few split seconds devoted to each person.
Something sharp ran slowly down along her spine, twirled around the base of her tail.
Hack leaned close, whispering into her ear from behind, claw still tracing her tail base. Around... and around.
"tag yOU'RE it"