### *Tobias: An Unexpected Encounter*
Tobias sat on a cold bench in one of the quieter sections of the Epsilon Nebula Outpost, his raven mask clutched loosely in his hands. The last protein bar Blueberry had given him had long since been eaten, and the growling of his stomach reminded him of just how dire his situation had become. His thoughts swirled with frustration and hopelessness as he stared at the flickering lights of the station ceiling.
The faint clinking of footsteps brought him out of his haze. At first, Tobias ignored the sound, assuming it was just another passerby. But then, a familiar voice spoke.
“Well, if it isn’t Raven,” the voice said, its tone teasing but not unkind. “Or should I call you Tobias?”
Tobias looked up sharply, his ears perking. Standing before him was Felicity, a fellow tuxedo cat Penitatas he had met briefly during his visit to the Starfleet base. Her bright eyes sparkled with a mixture of curiosity and concern as she crossed her arms and tilted her head at him.
“Felicity?” Tobias asked, his voice uncertain. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Felicity replied, sitting down beside him. “Last I heard, you were climbing the ranks of Starfleet. What happened?”
---
### *Explaining the Situation*
Tobias sighed, leaning back against the wall. “A lot’s happened since then. Too much, honestly.”
Felicity raised an eyebrow. “Try me.”
For a moment, Tobias hesitated. Then, with a deep breath, he began to explain everything. He told her about Miyu’s campaign on Evergrand Island, the election he’d won but lost due to his status, and the Penitatas ban that followed. He explained how he’d been forced off the island, left with no home, no money, and no direction. Finally, he recounted his ill-fated decision to stow away on a Starfleet ship and the fallout that had cost him his rank.
“I thought being an Ensign would mean something,” Tobias said, his voice heavy with bitterness. “But it didn’t. I wasn’t even getting paid. I was just... stuck. And now, here I am, no money, no food, and nowhere to go. Welcome to my life.”
---
### *Felicity’s Reaction*
Felicity listened intently, her expression shifting from curiosity to sympathy as Tobias spoke. When he finished, she let out a low whistle.
“Wow,” she said. “You’ve really been through it, huh?”
Tobias shrugged. “That’s one way to put it.”
Felicity leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “So what’s your plan now?”
Tobias let out a humorless laugh. “Plan? I don’t have one. I can’t get a job because no one hires Penitatas, I can’t leave the station because I don’t have the money, and I can’t even scavenge food without risking getting arrested. I’m trapped.”
Felicity frowned, her tail flicking behind her. “That’s... not okay. You shouldn’t have to deal with all this alone.”
---
### *A Glimmer of Support*
For a moment, the two sat in silence, the hum of the station’s systems filling the air. Then, Felicity straightened up, a determined look in her eyes.
“Alright,” she said. “Here’s what we’re going to do. First, you’re coming with me. I’ve got some spare rations, and you look like you’re about to pass out. After that, we’ll figure something out together. You’re not as alone as you think, Tobias.”
Tobias blinked, surprised by her sudden decisiveness. “Why are you doing this?” he asked. “You barely know me.”
Felicity smiled. “Because I’ve been where you are. Maybe not exactly the same, but close enough. And I know how much it sucks to feel like the universe has left you behind. So, are you coming or not?”
Tobias hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Alright,” he said quietly. “I’m coming.”
---
### *A Small Step Forward*
As Felicity led him toward her quarters, Tobias felt a faint flicker of hope reignite within him. His situation was still dire, but knowing that someone cared enough to help made the burden feel a little lighter.
For the first time in what felt like forever, he didn’t feel entirely alone.
“We’ll figure it out,” Felicity said over her shoulder, her voice confident. “One step at a time.”
Tobias nodded, clutching his raven mask tightly as they walked. “Yeah,” he said softly. “One step at a time.”
