Hypno-Gear

The **Hypno-Gear** is a device created and used by Dr. Starline. Since losing the Warp Topaz, the doctor has worn a glove with this device threaded into it. With it, Starline is capable of hypnotizing others and making them open to suggestion.

## History

It is unknown precisely when Dr. Starline created the Hypno-Gear. While his first known use of it came after he lost the Warp Topaz, he already had prior knowledge and skill in the art of hypnosis since he had previously used hypnotherapy to treat an amnesiac Dr. Eggman.

Starline's first known use of the Hypno-Gear was when he used it to hypnotize the guards and Warden of Everhold Prison, convincing them to grant him access to the main detention block so that he could free Zavok, Mimic, Rough and Tumble.

After seizing Egg Base Sigma for himself, Starline would later conduct an assault on White Park. He would use the Hypno-Gear to mesmerize Rouge the Bat and have her kidnap Tails, tie him up on a roller-coaster, and then lose consciousness so that Starline could tie her up. Although the doctor's plan did not turn out exactly as intended, he still came away with new data and samples to proceed with the completion of his latest project. First, he would require test subjects, and kidnapped two who he felt would best serve his purposes. These subjects would undergo repeated sessions with the Hypno-Gear until they were completely bent to Starline's will.

While preparing Surge and Kit for their part in Operation: Remaster, Starline made extensive use of the Hypno-Gear to placate the duo whenever they got out of line, which was frequently. Whenever the cyborgs recovered from the hypnosis, Starline would claim that they over-exerted their cybernetics and blacked out. However, they would also experience moments of confusion where they questioned the reasons why they were working for Starline at all, leading to the doctor hypnotically rebooting them. In spite of these "reboots", Surge and Kit continued to question their purpose, eventually hacking into Starline's computer and viewing his video journals. When Starline caught them in the act, the duo attacked him and Surge was able to take his glove from him and use his own Hypno-Gear against him. When Starline regained consciousness, Surge claimed that he had put himself to sleep monologuing about his plan to seize control of the Eggman Empire.

Following the collapse of his plan to take over Eggperial City and losing a giant robot battle to Dr. Eggman, Starline attempted to hypnotize the doctor. However, Eggman lowered his goggles over his eyes and their special lenses protected him from falling under Starline's sway. Eggman then beat Starline to the floor and took his glove from him, tossing it aside and leaving the platypus to wallow in the humiliation of his defeat.

## Properties

The Hypno-Gear is threaded into a black glove with golden caps on the fingertips. With it, Dr. Starline can place a single target under a hypnotic spell, making them susceptible to commands. The hypnotic effect is temporary; the time it takes to wear off varies depending on the willpower of the affected victim. The device is also a precision instrument and cannot affect multiple people at once.