Tobias: The Package’s Secret
The night dragged on as Tobias paced Virtuoso’s base, his tail flicking anxiously behind him. Virtuoso worked silently at her console, pulling together any threads that might explain the shocking arrest of Tobias’s parents. Despite her calm demeanor, Tobias could sense the tension in the air.
“This doesn’t make sense,” Tobias said, his voice breaking the silence. “My parents wouldn’t betray Starfleet. They wouldn’t even come close to something like treason.”
Virtuoso’s claws paused over the console as her red eyes fixed on him. “You’re right, Tobias. Which means someone has manipulated the situation to make it look like they did.”
Tobias clenched his fists, frustration bubbling to the surface. “But how? What could they possibly have done to deserve this?”
Virtuoso gestured to the monitor, where a summary of the charges appeared. “‘Unauthorized communication with a known adversary of Starfleet.’ The adversary is unnamed, but there’s more here—”
She zoomed in on a specific entry: Salibad Transport Logs.
Tobias’s eyes widened. “That’s where I just delivered the package!”
---
A Suspicious Connection
Virtuoso’s claws tapped rapidly as she accessed the transport records. “It’s here,” she said, her voice sharpening. “The package you delivered to Danny was flagged for suspicion after it left Evergrand Island. Starfleet claims the package contained classified materials and that your parents were complicit in its transportation.”
Tobias froze, his fur bristling. “What? That doesn’t make any sense! I didn’t even know what was in it until I brought it to you.”
Virtuoso nodded. “And that’s the key. You brought it to me, and we defused the GPS bomb. But the mere act of transporting the package—even unknowingly—allowed someone to frame your family as conspirators.”
Tobias’s ears flattened as realization sank in. “You’re saying the package—the bomb—was part of a setup?”
“Exactly,” Virtuoso said. “Whoever orchestrated this wanted to implicate not just you, but your parents as well. They knew the package’s connection to your family would draw attention.”
---
Piecing It Together
Tobias’s mind raced as he thought back to the events leading up to the delivery. “Starfleet gave me that package,” he muttered. “They told me it was important, but they didn’t say what was inside. They trusted me to deliver it because they wanted it to reach Salibad—and when it didn’t detonate, they had to change their plan.”
“Framing your parents was a contingency,” Virtuoso said. “It’s a calculated move to sow chaos and weaken the Dolmen’s position.”
Tobias gritted his teeth, his tail lashing angrily. “This is all about the Grand Cross Trade Route, isn’t it? They’re trying to take over Salibad, and they’re using my family as pawns.”
Virtuoso’s red eyes glowed faintly as she nodded. “Yes. And now we have to prove it.”
---
Finding the Evidence
Virtuoso turned back to the console, her claws moving with purpose. “If the package was logged as suspicious, there will be a record of its origin and handling. We need to trace it back to its source.”
Minutes felt like hours as Tobias watched her work. Finally, a new screen appeared, displaying the package’s shipment details. Virtuoso highlighted a line of text: **Authorized by Commander Meryl Quinton.**
“Meryl Quinton?” Tobias asked, his ears perking up. “Who’s that?”
“A high-ranking officer in Starfleet,” Virtuoso said. “She oversees logistics for the Grand Cross Trade Route. If anyone had the authority to manipulate the package’s contents and transport, it would be her.”
Tobias’s claws curled into fists. “Then she’s the one framing my parents.”
Virtuoso shook her head. “It’s not that simple. Quinton may be involved, but we’ll need direct evidence to prove she orchestrated this. Without it, your parents will remain the scapegoats.”
---
A Determined Resolve
Tobias stepped forward, gripping his hammer tightly. “Then we’ll get the evidence. Whatever it takes, we’re clearing my parents’ names.”
Virtuoso placed a hand on his shoulder, her red eyes softening slightly. “This won’t be easy, Tobias. Quinton is powerful, and whoever she’s working with won’t let the truth come out without a fight.”
“I don’t care how hard it is,” Tobias said, his voice firm. “My parents are innocent, and I’m not letting them take the fall for something they didn’t do.”
Virtuoso nodded, her expression resolute. “Then we’ll do this together.”
As Tobias left the base that night, his resolve burned brighter than ever. The package had been the key to framing his parents, but it would also be the key to their freedom. With Virtuoso’s help, he was determined to uncover the truth—and bring those responsible to justice.
