### *Tobias: Lost and Found*
**The Search Begins**
Martha paced nervously in the common area of the ship. Her eyes flickered back and forth from the viewport to the console in front of her, a tracking map of the Epsilon Nebula Outpost flickering in the corner. Bruno stood by the console, his arms crossed, his face taut with worry. Luna leaned against the wall, her arms folded across her chest as she stared out at the stars.
“It’s been over a week,” Martha said, her voice shaking slightly. “We haven’t heard from him at all.”
Bruno shot her a glance. “He’s resourceful. He’ll be fine.”
But Luna didn’t look convinced. “That’s not like him. He would’ve checked in by now. I’m worried something’s happened.”
They had left Tobias behind on the station, trusting that he would be able to figure things out after their departure. He was an Ensign, after all. He had a future in Starfleet, a career he had once been proud of. But after his falling out and everything that had happened with Miyu’s election, he’d ended up stuck in a hopeless situation. They hadn’t expected things to unravel so quickly.
Martha looked up from the map. “What if he’s in trouble? We need to go back.”
---
### *Determined to Find Him*
Bruno stood up straight, turning to face his friends. “We’ve been over this. The mission is important. We can’t just drop everything. If Tobias was really in trouble, he’d have made contact by now. We’ve got to trust that he can handle himself.”
Luna shook her head, looking at him with determination. “But we can’t just leave him there. He’s alone, on that station. He’s been isolated ever since we left. He doesn’t have anyone.”
Martha nodded, her voice quiet but resolute. “We can’t just ignore him. He’s one of us.”
Bruno opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw the look in their eyes. He’d never been good at fighting when they all felt so strongly about something. They had to do this—for Tobias, and for their own peace of mind.
"Alright," Bruno said finally, "We'll go back. But we can’t waste time. We need to be careful."
---
### *The Decision to Return*
With the decision made, the trio worked quickly. They adjusted their course, rerouting the ship to head back to the Epsilon Nebula Outpost. It wasn’t far, but every minute felt like an eternity to Martha. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, her thoughts racing as the ship’s engines hummed beneath their feet.
What if Tobias was really in trouble? What if he was somewhere, starving, sick, or worse—caught by the authorities? They had left him in a place where he had no friends, no support, and no way to get help. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they had made a mistake by not bringing him with them, by assuming he’d be okay.
“We’ll find him,” Luna said quietly, as if reading Martha’s thoughts. “We just have to keep looking.”
Martha nodded, but it didn’t ease the growing worry in her chest. She had to believe they’d find him, that he wasn’t too far gone for them to reach. They had to bring him home.
---
### *Reaching the Station*
It took several hours to reach the station again, but when the familiar outline of the Epsilon Nebula Outpost appeared in the distance, a wave of relief washed over them. It wasn’t too late. They still had time to find Tobias.
As they approached the station, Martha contacted the station’s control center, hoping to get some information. The operator on the other end seemed disinterested at first, but when Martha mentioned Tobias’s name, his tone shifted.
“Are you his friends?” the operator asked, sounding almost weary.
“Yes,” Martha answered quickly. “We’re looking for him. He hasn’t checked in, and we’re worried.”
There was a long pause, followed by a sigh. “I’m afraid we’ve had reports about a Penitatas who’s been causing some trouble. We don’t have confirmation, but...”
Martha’s heart sank. "What kind of trouble?"
“Scavenging. Hiding. The usual, from what we understand. He’s been caught a few times, but we haven’t been able to get him to talk.”
Martha’s hand gripped the console tighter, her knuckles going white. “Where is he? Can you tell us where he is?”
The operator hesitated. “He’s been detained for his own safety, but it’s not looking good for him. He’s in holding right now. You’ll have to speak with Lieutenant Commander Hurst for access.”
---
### *The Encounter with Hurst*
Martha, Bruno, and Luna quickly made their way to the holding facility, their hearts racing with each step. They couldn’t shake the fear that Tobias was slipping further away from them with every moment they spent waiting.
Lieutenant Commander Hurst stood waiting for them when they arrived, her posture as stiff as ever. Her eyes briefly flicked to them before focusing on the data pad in her hands.
“You’re here for Tobias, I assume,” Hurst said, her voice cool and professional.
Martha nodded. “Yes. We need to see him. We’ve been looking for him. He’s... our friend.”
Hurst studied them for a long moment before finally gesturing for them to follow her. “Come on. I’ll take you to him. But be prepared—he’s not in the best state of mind right now.”
---
### *The Reunion*
The door to Tobias’s cell slid open, and the trio stepped inside. Tobias was sitting on the floor, his back against the cold metal wall. His eyes were distant, and his posture defeated. When he saw them, his eyes flickered with surprise, then quickly shifted back to a vacant look.
“Tobias...” Martha said softly, her voice breaking.
For a moment, Tobias didn’t respond. Then, slowly, he looked up at them, his expression unreadable.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he murmured. “I didn’t think anyone would care enough to come for me.”
Bruno’s voice was firm, but his face softened with concern. “We should’ve come sooner. We should’ve never left you here.”
Luna stepped forward, her voice gentle. “Tobias, we’re here now. You don’t have to go through this alone.”
Tobias blinked, as though hearing their words for the first time. His eyes grew moist, but he didn’t say anything more. Instead, he stood up slowly, his body stiff with exhaustion.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Tobias allowed himself to hope again. He wasn’t alone. His friends were here, and maybe, just maybe, they could help him find a way out of this.
---
### *The Road Ahead*
As they left the holding area, Tobias still felt uncertain about his future, but he was no longer completely lost. The road ahead was unclear, but he knew that with his friends by his side, it would be a little easier to face.
They weren’t sure how they would get him out of this mess or what the next steps would be, but at least they could figure it out together.
Martha placed a hand on his shoulder, offering him the kind of comfort she wasn’t sure he had gotten in the past week. “We’re going to help you, Raven. We won’t leave you.”
And for the first time since being stranded on the station, Tobias allowed himself to believe it.
