Tobias: The Message
Tobias sat at his desk, fiddling with a small model piece, when his tablet buzzed. He glanced at the screen and frowned. The message had no sender information, just a simple, cryptic note:
> “Come to the bunker under Ironsides Mall. Bring your rabbit friend. Take the broken elevator. – V”
Tobias’s ears twitched nervously. He didn’t need to guess who “V” was—Virtuoso was calling for him again. Setting the tablet down, he sighed. He would have to tell Martha.
---
Telling Martha
Tobias found Martha at the park, her floppy ears bouncing as she tinkered with a small drone.
“Hey, Martha,” Tobias said cautiously.
“What’s up, Rowe?” she asked, looking up with a curious smile.
“I... got a message,” Tobias said, holding out his tablet. “From Virtuoso.”
Martha’s floppy ears straightened as she read the message. “The bunker under Ironsides Mall? And she wants me to come too?”
“She said to bring my rabbit friend,” Tobias replied, his tail flicking nervously. “And apparently, that’s you.”
Martha grinned. “Well, obviously. What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
“You’re not even nervous?” Tobias asked, unsure whether her excitement was warranted.
“Nervous? Nah. Curious? Absolutely. This is gonna be amazing!”
---
The Seemingly Broken Elevator
Ironsides Mall was eerily quiet when Tobias and Martha arrived, the shops dimly lit as the last patrons exited for the evening. They made their way to a hidden door near the food court that led to the bunker entrance.
“This place has always been a little spooky,” Martha said as they descended a set of narrow metal stairs. “You sure about this?”
“I’m not sure about anything,” Tobias muttered, his ears twitching.
At the bottom, they found the elevator Virtuoso had described. Its doors were ajar, and the control panel flickered weakly as though on its last legs.
“This thing looks like it hasn’t worked in years,” Martha said, eyeing it suspiciously.
“It’s what she told us to take,” Tobias said, stepping inside.
Martha sighed, following reluctantly. “If we get stuck, I’m blaming you.”
The elevator groaned as it descended, shuddering as it carried them deeper into the depths of Ironsides Mall.
---
The Fallout-Style Bunker
When the elevator doors finally creaked open, Tobias and Martha stepped into a dimly lit hallway. The walls were lined with pipes, peeling paint, and faded signs pointing to various long-abandoned areas. The air smelled faintly of rust and dust.
“This looks like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie,” Martha whispered as they walked forward.
The hallway opened into a massive room that had been transformed into a bustling, makeshift base. Workbenches covered in tools and electronics lined the walls. Crates of scavenged supplies sat in neatly organized stacks, and old machinery hummed faintly, powered by salvaged generators. Screens flickered with maps and schematics, while mismatched lights cast a faint glow over the space.
Virtuoso stood near a central console, her Saiyan armor glinting faintly under the lights. Beside her were several other figures: a light blue rabbit who bore an uncanny resemblance to Blueberry, and Blueberry herself.
“Welcome to our little operation,” Virt said, smirking. “Not bad for a bunker everyone thought was abandoned, huh?”
“This place is incredible,” Martha breathed, her eyes wide as she took in the surroundings.
“It’s home,” said the light blue rabbit in a calm, almost otherworldly tone. “I am Saevi, companion to Mindy, and you must be Tobias.”
---
Introductions and History
As Virt stepped forward, she gestured to the others. “Let’s do this properly. You’ve already met me, but let me introduce the rest of the team.”
Virt gestured first to the light blue rabbit, Saevi, who stood with an air of quiet authority. “Saevi is our goddess Penitatas, a permanent-status one at that. She’s Mindy’s companion.”
Mindy, a tuxedo cat with vibrant blue eyes, gave a small wave. “Hey, newbie. Nice to finally meet you.”
Next was Rex, another tuxedo cat with piercing red eyes, standing beside a white rabbit with sharp features and a mischievous grin. “Rex and Rod,” Virt said. “They’re another pair of permanent-status Penitatas, and believe me, they know their way around trouble.”
Rod smirked. “Don’t let her scare you, kid. We’re nice—most of the time.”
“And of course, you’ve already met Blueberry,” Virt said, gesturing to the light blue rabbit. “She’s one of the longest-standing members of this team.”
Blueberry nodded with a small smile. “Welcome, Tobias and Martha.”
---
The Bunker’s History
Martha couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer. “This place is amazing. How did you end up with it?”
“This bunker was originally built as a safe haven for the people of Evergrand Island,” Virt explained, motioning to the flickering screens. “Back when the island was at risk of attack, this was where they planned to shelter civilians. But when the Pussyfoots built a larger, more advanced bunker under their HQ, this one was abandoned.”
“And you claimed it?” Tobias asked.
Virt smirked. “Something like that. It had everything I needed to start building this base, and the others joined me over time. Now it’s more than just a relic—it’s our home and our operations hub.”
---
A New Mission
Virt turned back to Tobias, her red eyes locking onto his. “I didn’t bring you here for a history lesson. Something is happening on this island—strange anomalies, unexplained activity. I’ve seen the signs, and it’s only a matter of time before it escalates.”
“What do you need us to do?” Tobias asked, his tail flicking nervously.
“For now, explore. Learn. Train,” Virt said. “This bunker has resources you can use to prepare for what’s coming. But most importantly, I want you to understand something.” She glanced at Martha. “You two aren’t just friends. You’re partners. Every Hero of the Penitatas has had a rabbit by their side.”
Martha blinked. “Wait, are you saying...?”
“Yeah,” Virt said. “You’re part of a legacy—a big one.”
---
### *Exploring the Base*
Virt let them wander the base, accompanied by Saevi and Rod. Tobias marveled at the armory filled with old but functional weapons, the recreation area with vintage games and books, and the training rooms equipped with everything from sparring mats to climbing walls.
“This place is amazing,” Martha said, her ears twitching as she examined a workbench filled with tools. “I could spend days just tinkering with all this.”
Tobias paused in front of a map of Evergrand Island, his tail flicking thoughtfully. “This feels bigger than us,” he murmured.
“It is,” Saevi said softly. “But you are not alone in this.”
---
A Mission Awaits
After hours of exploring, Virt escorted them back to the elevator. “You’ve seen enough for now,” she said. “When the time comes, you’ll know what to do.”
As the elevator ascended, Tobias glanced at Martha. “Do you think we’re ready for this?”
Martha smirked. “Probably not. But that’s never stopped us before.”
Tobias smiled faintly, his determination growing. Whatever the future held, he knew they wouldn’t face it alone—and they wouldn’t be the only ones fighting to protect the island.
