### *Tobias: A Familiar Reunion*
The orbital station’s metallic halls hummed softly with the constant vibrations of engines and life support systems. For Tobias—still going by Raven—each day felt heavier as his options dwindled. He had tried to find a purpose, a new home, but nothing had worked out. Worse still, the credits he had to his name were running out. The reality of his situation was becoming painfully clear: staying on the station was no longer sustainable.
Then, out of nowhere, a familiar message appeared on his communicator. Tobias’s heart skipped a beat as he read the names of the senders: **Mr. and Mrs. Rowe—his former parents.** They were on the station and wanted to meet him.
---
### *The Meeting*
Tobias sat in a small café on the station, his hood pulled up and his raven mask resting on the table. His heart pounded as he waited, unsure how he felt about seeing the Rowes again after everything that had happened.
When they finally arrived, Tobias couldn’t help but feel a wave of conflicting emotions. Mr. Rowe, a black-and-white tuxedo cat like Tobias, approached with his usual calm demeanor, while Mrs. Rowe, a gray-furred feline, smiled warmly despite the tension in the air.
“Tobias,” Mrs. Rowe said softly, sitting across from him. “It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah,” Tobias said, his voice guarded. “It has.”
---
### *Catching Up*
For the first few minutes, the conversation was polite but strained. They asked him how he’d been, where he was staying, and how he was holding up. Tobias gave them the basics but avoided going into too much detail.
Eventually, though, the topic shifted to Evergrand Island and what had happened after they left.
“You probably heard about Miyu becoming mayor,” Tobias began, his voice steady but tinged with bitterness. “But you don’t know the whole story.”
Mr. Rowe tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
Tobias took a deep breath. “Miyu didn’t just win. She ran a campaign full of lies and manipulation. She made promises she had no intention of keeping, and she used the blackout as an excuse to turn people against the Penitatas. I stood up to her. We had a debate—me, a kid, going up against her. And... I won.”
Mrs. Rowe’s eyes widened. “You won the election?”
“Yeah,” Tobias said, his voice growing quieter. “But it didn’t matter. They disqualified me because of my status. Miyu won by default, and her first act was to ban all Penitatas from Evergrand.”
The Rowes exchanged a shocked glance, and Mr. Rowe leaned forward. “Tobias, we had no idea. You stood up to her like that? That’s... incredible.”
“Incredible?” Tobias said, his tail flicking irritably. “It didn’t change anything. All it did was give her an excuse to exile every Penitatas, and now I’m stuck here with no money and nowhere to go.”
---
### *The Rowes’ Concern*
Mrs. Rowe reached across the table, placing a gentle hand on Tobias’s. “You’re not stuck, Tobias. You’ve been through so much, and you’ve handled it better than most adults would.”
“That doesn’t help me now,” Tobias said, pulling his hand back. “The credits I have are running out, and I can’t afford to stay on this station much longer. I’ve tried to find a way forward, but nothing’s worked out.”
Mr. Rowe frowned, his brow furrowing in thought. “What about Starfleet? You’re an Ensign, right?”
Tobias shook his head. “I tried applying for missions, but they want experienced officers. I can’t even join a cadet program because I’m already technically enlisted. I’m... stuck.”
---
### *A Difficult Conversation*
The Rowes fell silent for a moment, clearly grappling with what Tobias had told them. Finally, Mrs. Rowe spoke.
“Tobias, I know we’re not your parents anymore,” she said gently, “but we still care about you. Let us help.”
“How?” Tobias asked, his voice sharp. “You’re barely getting by yourselves. What could you possibly do?”
“We can talk to people,” Mr. Rowe said firmly. “There are still people in Starfleet who respect us, and they might be able to find a place for you. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s something.”
Tobias hesitated, his pride warring with his desperation. He didn’t want to rely on them—not after everything that had happened—but he also couldn’t ignore the fact that he was running out of options.
“Okay,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “If you can find something... I’ll listen.”
---
### *Looking Ahead*
As the Rowes left the café, promising to reach out soon, Tobias sat alone, staring out the viewport at the endless expanse of stars. The conversation had stirred up old emotions, but it also gave him a faint glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was still a way forward.
Pulling his raven mask over his face, Tobias stood and made his way back to his quarters. The path ahead was uncertain, but he was determined to keep moving.
“I’m not giving up,” he muttered to himself. “Not yet.”
