*Tobias: The Meeting with Virt*
Tobias wandered through the park near his home, his plushie tucked under his arm. The soft breeze ruffled his fur as he strolled aimlessly, lost in thought. The past few days had been overwhelming, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready to go back to school. Even the idea of facing his classmates and the whispers about the **The Incident** made his stomach churn.
As he reached a quiet clearing surrounded by trees, he froze. A figure stood in the shade, leaning casually against a large oak. The faint glow of red eyes pierced the shadows, sending a chill down Tobias’s spine.
It was her.
The black tuxedo cat in Saiyan armor. The one he had seen at the mall. The one who had been watching him.
---
*The Encounter*
Tobias tightened his grip on the plushie, his tail flicking nervously. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice wavering. “Why have you been following me?”
The figure stepped forward, the sunlight catching the metallic sheen of her Saiyan armor. Her red eyes glowed faintly as she smirked, her tail swishing lazily behind her.
“So, we finally meet,” she said, her voice smooth and calm. “I was starting to wonder if you’d figure it out on your own.”
“Figure what out?” Tobias asked, his ears flattening. “What do you want?”
The cat chuckled softly. “Relax, kid. I’m not here to hurt you. Quite the opposite, actually.” She extended a hand. “The name’s Virtuoso. But you can call me Virt.”
Tobias didn’t move. His eyes darted to the strange armor she wore, then back to her glowing red eyes. “You’ve been spying on me.”
Virt shrugged. “Guilty. I had to see if you were worth my time.”
“Worth your time?” Tobias’s fur bristled. “What does that even mean?”
---
*The Truth Revealed*
Virt crossed her arms, leaning back against the tree. “The Ironsides Mall Incident? That was me. Well, sort of.”
Tobias’s jaw dropped. “You’re saying you planned the robbery?”
“I hired those ‘actors’ to stage a fake heist,” Virt said, her tone matter-of-fact. “I needed to see how you’d react under pressure. Of course, I didn’t realize they were actual criminals. That part wasn’t in the plan.”
Tobias’s tail lashed behind him. “You endangered all those people—for what? A test?”
“Yes,” Virt said bluntly. “And you passed. With flying colors.”
“What are you talking about?” Tobias asked, his voice rising. “Passed what?”
Virt took a step closer, her red eyes locking onto his. “I’ve been watching you, Tobias Rowe. You’ve got something special—something that sets you apart from the others. You’re the Fifth Generation Hero of the Penitatas.”
Tobias blinked, his ears twitching. “The what?”
Virt chuckled, shaking her head. “Figures no one told you. Every so often, a Penitatas rises above the rest. Someone who embodies resilience, courage, and the ability to lead. They become a symbol, an inspiration for others. You’re that someone, Tobias.”
---
*Virt’s Story*
Tobias stared at her, his mind racing. “Why do you care? What’s this got to do with you?”
Virt’s expression softened, and she folded her arms across her chest. “Because I was once in your shoes. Sort of. I’m not exactly... ordinary.”
“What do you mean?” Tobias asked cautiously.
“I’m an android,” Virt said. “Built by the Paladins—an evil group that thought they wanted me to mislead and kill Danny and to get people against the Pussyfoots. I was their experiment, designed to follow orders without question. But things didn’t go as planned. I was rescued by the Pussyfoots, a rebel faction who saw me as more than just a machine.”
Tobias’s eyes widened. “You’re... a robot?”
“Android,” Virt corrected. “I’m more than circuits and metal, thank you very much. The Pussyfoots gave me a purpose: to test, to guide, and to find those who can rise above the system. That’s where you come in.”
---
*Exceeding Expectations*
Virt leaned closer, her voice lowering. “I didn’t expect much from you, to be honest. Fraudster turned Penitatas? You didn’t exactly scream ‘hero material.’ But at Ironsides Mall, you didn’t just pass my test—you exceeded every expectation. You showed bravery, leadership, and compassion.”
Tobias shifted uncomfortably, clutching his plushie tighter. “I just did what I thought was right.”
“And that’s exactly why you’re special,” Virt said with a smirk. “You don’t see it yet, but you will. You’re destined for bigger things, Tobias.”
“I don’t want to be some ‘hero,’” Tobias muttered. “I just want to get through this cycle and move on.”
Virt laughed softly. “You don’t get to choose, kid. Fate’s already picked you. All you can do now is decide how you’re going to handle it.”
---
*A Parting Gift*
Virt straightened, her red eyes glowing brighter for a moment. “I’ll be watching you, Tobias. But don’t worry—I won’t interfere. Not unless I have to.”
“Wait,” Tobias said, stepping forward. “What happens now? What am I supposed to do?”
Virt tilted her head, her smirk returning. “Just keep being you. The rest will fall into place.”
With a flick of her tail, Virt turned and disappeared into the trees, her armor gleaming as she vanished from sight.
---
*A New Resolve*
Tobias stood in the clearing, clutching his plushie as his mind raced. He didn’t know what to think about Virt’s revelations. Part of him wanted to dismiss it all as nonsense, but another part—the part that remembered how he felt at Ironsides Mall—couldn’t ignore her words.
“The Fifth Generation Hero,” he murmured to himself, his ears twitching. “Me?”
As he turned to head home, a small flicker of determination sparked in his chest. He didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in days, he felt ready to face it.
