### *Tobias: Stowaway*
The station’s docking bay was bustling with activity. Starfleet vessels of all sizes came and went, their crews working tirelessly to load cargo, run diagnostics, and prepare for their next missions. Tobias—still calling himself Raven—stood in the shadows, watching the controlled chaos unfold. His cloak hung loosely around him, and his raven mask was tucked away in his bag.
He was out of credits, evicted from his quarters, and with nowhere else to go. Desperation clawed at him as he scanned the ships in the bay. If he stayed on the station, he’d starve or be thrown out into open space. He needed to leave, and there was only one option left: sneak aboard a ship and hope for the best.
---
### *Choosing a Ship*
Tobias spent hours watching the docking bay, waiting for the perfect opportunity. Finally, he spotted a medium-sized Starfleet starship preparing to depart. Its crew seemed busy but not overly vigilant, and the cargo bay hatch was still open. He noted the ship’s name: *USS Horizon.*
“That’s my way out,” Tobias muttered to himself. “It’s now or never.”
He waited until most of the crew had boarded, leaving only a few engineers and cargo handlers in the area. Taking a deep breath, Tobias slipped into the shadows, weaving his way toward the ship. He kept his hood low, his movements silent.
When he reached the cargo bay, he darted inside and hid behind a stack of crates just as the hatch hissed shut. His heart pounded as the ship’s engines roared to life, and the faint vibration of the deck signaled their departure.
---
### *Life as a Stowaway*
The first day aboard the *USS Horizon* was tense. Tobias stayed hidden in the cargo bay, moving only when he was certain no one was around. He found a small alcove near the wall, where he could sit unnoticed, and he scavenged a few ration bars from an open crate. It wasn’t much, but it kept him going.
As the hours turned into days, Tobias grew restless. He knew he couldn’t stay in the cargo bay forever. The ship’s destination, Epsilon Nebula Outpost, was still a few days away, and the longer he remained hidden, the greater the risk of being caught.
---
### *Caught*
On the third day, Tobias’s luck ran out. A crew member entered the cargo bay for routine inventory and noticed the open crate Tobias had scavenged from. They frowned, scanning the area suspiciously.
Tobias held his breath, pressing himself against the wall, but the crew member spotted him. “Hey! You’re not supposed to be here!”
Tobias bolted, dashing through the cargo bay toward the maintenance corridors, but the crew member was faster. Within moments, Tobias was tackled to the ground, and a security officer was called.
---
### *Facing the Captain*
Tobias was escorted to the bridge, where the captain of the *USS Horizon* awaited him. The captain, a stern-looking Andorian with piercing eyes, stood with their arms crossed as Tobias was shoved forward.
“Who are you, and what are you doing on my ship?” the captain demanded.
Tobias straightened, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity. “I’m Tobias Kain. An Ensign... technically.”
“Technically?” the captain repeated, their antennae twitching. “Explain.”
Tobias hesitated, then sighed. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go. My credits ran out, I was evicted from the station, and I... I didn’t see any other choice.”
The captain’s gaze hardened. “So you decided to break Starfleet regulations and endanger my crew by sneaking aboard my ship? Do you have any idea how serious this is?”
Tobias clenched his fists, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I know it was wrong, okay? But I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t mean to cause any harm—I just needed a way out.”
---
### *No Leniency*
The captain turned to the security officer. “Take him to the brig. He’ll remain there for the rest of the journey. When we reach Epsilon Nebula Outpost, he’ll be handed over to the local authorities.”
“Wait—please!” Tobias said, panic rising in his chest. “I can work, I can help—just don’t throw me to the authorities.”
The captain’s expression didn’t waver. “You’ve already made your choices, Tobias Kain. Now you’ll face the consequences.”
---
### *The Brig*
Tobias sat on the cold bench in the ship’s brig, staring at the force field that kept him confined. The room was small and sterile, with only a cot and the faint hum of the ship’s systems for company. He replayed the events of the past few days in his mind, kicking himself for being so reckless.
“This is what desperation gets you,” he muttered bitterly. “Locked up and handed over to strangers.”
---
### *Arrival at Epsilon Nebula Outpost*
When the ship finally docked at the Epsilon Nebula Outpost, Tobias was escorted off the ship in cuffs. The captain had filed a detailed report about his stowaway attempt, ensuring that he would face the full consequences of his actions.
The outpost’s security officers took him into custody without much fanfare. To them, he was just another problem to deal with, another name in a report. Tobias felt a sinking sense of dread as he was led to a holding cell.
---
### *An Uncertain Future*
Sitting in the outpost’s holding cell, Tobias stared at the blank walls around him. The silence was deafening, and the weight of his situation pressed down on him. He had no plan, no resources, and no idea what would happen next.
For the first time in a long while, Tobias felt truly powerless. Every decision he’d made had led him here, and now he was at the mercy of people who didn’t know or care about his struggles.
But even in the face of uncertainty, Tobias refused to give up. He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.
“This isn’t the end,” he whispered to himself. “I’ll find a way out of this. I have to.”
As the faint hum of the outpost’s systems filled the air, Tobias stared out the small window of his cell, the stars beyond reminding him that the galaxy was vast—and full of possibilities.
