After a few hours of space travel, the trio finally reached the infamous Planet Bacchus. As they descended, large, luminous, multicolored lights illuminated the concrete buildings below. The ground bore a sooty appearance, the water a sickly green, and thick smoke heavily covered the sky, creating an ominous atmosphere.

“So, this is Planet Bacchus,” Rito remarked, taking in the disconcerting sights.

“Yep, worst planet in the galaxy right there,” Rayla added, her tone carrying a mixture of disdain and familiarity.

“Why’s that?” Rito asked, peering down at the numerous casinos that dotted the landscape.

“Bacchus is full of the sickest of scum, people who use and abuse each other. All they care about is money, drugs, and their stupid gang wars,” Rayla explained, her voice laden with a bitter truth.

“It wasn’t always like that. It was once a beautiful paradise, the universe's first fully terraformed planet,” Tobi stated, gazing out at the transformed world. “Then tourism took over, and money became their bottom line.”

“Same problem as the rest of the universe,” Rayla sighed, acknowledging the pervasive issue.

“Well, I suppose we should check in with your old man,” Rito suggested, breaking the solemn moment. The prospect of facing the harsh realities of Bacchus and reconnecting with Tobi's father loomed ahead as the spaceship descended toward the gritty surface of the planet.

The light flickered on their ship's screen, and Tobi tapped the answer button, revealing the face of the familiar alien – his 'father.' The large deer-like creature, covered in fish-like scales, antlers, and hair, looked shocked at the sight of the almost hairless ape that was Tobi. "Tobi?" he asked, his confusion evident.

"Hi, Dad," Tobi greeted nervously. "We need to talk."

"I would think so. Land on the large port below you, and we will."

As the ship slowly descended, the weight of explaining his sudden departure to the man who had raised him felt daunting. Rayla turned to Rito with a whispered inquiry upon seeing Tobi's father, "Adopted?"

"How'd ya guess?" Rito replied sarcastically, acknowledging the obvious difference in their species. It was a revelation that had been hanging in the air, and now, as they approached the port, Tobi prepared to face the inevitable conversation.

Descending to the loading bay, Tobi approached his adoptive father with a mixture of nervousness and determination. "Hey," he started off.

"Hey," the older alien replied awkwardly, the tension palpable. "I see you got a ship." He knocked on the metal with his hoof-like fingers.

"Yeah," Tobi rubbed the back of his neck. "I know what you're going to say, but I need answers. I'm going to The Bureau of Xeno Relations to get them."

"And if they don't have them?"

"I'll take your advice and give up."

"You know I didn't say what I did to hurt you," his father gently placed a hand on Tobi's shoulder. "I've tried so hard to find your home; I just want to save you from heartbreak."

"I know," Tobi acknowledged, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air.

His father cleared his throat nervously before asking, "And if they have the answers?" His eyes weren't focused on anything as the question left his lips.

"I will go home and find them. I'll tell them that I'm alive, but don't worry, you'll always be my dad."

"And you'll always be my son," his father smiled softly. "And I hope they have the answers you're looking for. And sorry I couldn't find them for you."

"You raised me; that was more than I could ask for," Tobi hugged the large alien. "I'll call whenever I can, and if I meet my family, I'll introduce you to them."

"I'd like that," his father replied, a mix of pride and sadness in his eyes as they shared a moment before parting ways.

Rayla observed the touching display between Tobi and his adoptive father with a sad smile, while Rito focused on his tasks, diligently going over the supplies checklist. "So, that's his dad?" Rito inquired, seeking confirmation.

"Yep," Rayla nodded. "I remember when Axiam brought Tobi home. He was so little—well, he was still bigger than me, but he was very different looking. The poor kid couldn't speak Junuik, was so scared and nervous all the time. We quickly became friends, and watched him grow. I was so proud when I helped him learn something new, and now he's teaching me things."

As Tobi waved off his father and turned back to the ship, picking up a package in the cargo hold, Rito excused himself to restock. Assuming Rayla wasn't watching, Tobi carted off the package. However, Rayla's suspicion led her to follow him, curious as to why he hadn't explained himself.

Tobi scratched his head at the address. "Where's that?" he said out loud.

"What are you up to?" Rayla's voice made him jump.

"Ah! Oh, it's you. Just delivering a package, that's why we're here," Tobi stammered.

"Really? No one mentioned one." Rayla looked at the address. "Let's make a deal. I take you here if you explain to me what's really going on."

"Ummm, lead the way?" Tobi replied, sweat seeping from his brow. She led him down twisting roads, through alley shortcuts, and the lot, with a clear idea of where she was going, never second-guessing herself. "You seem to know where you're going. Have you been here before?"

"I used to live here," she replied simply before stopping before a building. "This is the place. I'll wait here," she added, looking away from the building and leaning against a lamppost.

After a few minutes, Tobi rejoined her. "You know, I honestly thought you'd be different." Rayla remarked her expression one of sad disappointment. 

"Excuse me?" Tobi asked taken aback by her sudden statement. 

"Come with me. I want to show you something." She led him down a cracked and broken street, run down and long past its prime. Bullets decorated houses, and the homeless lived on the sides of roads. Before long, they stopped before a large building called 'Yotep's Orphanage for Unwanted Accidents.'

She breathed a shaky sigh, struggling to keep her emotions down as she looked at the building. "Do you know the type of people you helped?"

"I was desperate," Tobi replied, his voice tinged with remorse. The dilapidated state of the orphanage brought a stark reality to his actions. Rayla's silent plea for understanding lingered in the air as they stood before the embodiment of the consequences of desperate decisions.

"We all were. This is where I grew up. After I was homeless, Yotep took me in at a young age. It wasn't out of the goodness of his heart either. Kids are so easy to manipulate. He turned them, turned me, into thieves and drug mules. These are the kind of people you helped today."

"I know, and I feel terrible. You think I liked doing it? It went against every moral I stood for. But I was left with no choice. Look at me, no one wants me. He was the first to hire someone like me, to look past what I was."

"Why should I stay with your crew? Is this what the ship was for? To break the law I fought tooth and nail to protect?"

"All this was was one big, stupid mistake. I told myself this was it before it even began. And if you give me another chance, I can show you the real me—the man I want to be, instead of who I was pushed to be." Tobi's words hung in the air, his plea for understanding and redemption echoing through the dilapidated streets around them.

"Alright, I'm not one for second chances, but I'll make an exception, on one condition." She said pointing a finger on his chest. 

"Anything." Tobi said determined. 

"I get to choose the next mission." Rayla's demand cut through the tension, a firm stipulation that would guide the path of their newfound alliance. Tobi nodded in agreement, a sense of relief washing over him as he realized the potential for redemption and a chance to shape a different narrative.

"Oh, and Rayla, can we not mention this to Rito?" Tobi asked earnestly. "I don't want to drag him into what I've done."

Rayla considered his request, understanding the weight of the situation. "Fine, but you owe him the truth eventually. Secrets have a way of surfacing, and trust is a delicate thing. Don't let it break because of something left unsaid." She gave him a stern look, emphasizing the importance of honesty in their fledgling partnership.

"What took you so long? I had to restock the ship all by myself," Rito grumbled.

"Uh, we got a bit lost," Tobi replied a little embarrassed.

"Figures, you've never had much of a sense of direction," Rito joked before he opened up the Astrolabe, a device used to map out stars. "So where are we headed next?"

"Planet Chione, we are running a supply mission," Rayla replied.

"Planet Chione? Isn't that where Jullikinite comes from?" Rito asked, referring to the well-known rare metal.

"That's right," Rayla confirmed.

"Sheesh, trust it to you mammals to pick the coldest habitable planet," Rito said, hugging himself like he could already feel the cold. The banter continued as they prepared for their next journey, the ship's crew finding a semblance of camaraderie despite the complex secrets lingering among them.

As the ship lifted off, Rayla felt a weight lift from her shoulders. This planet held too many nightmares for her, a past she never wanted to revisit. The distant lights of Bacchus faded away, replaced by the vastness of space, and she found solace in the cold expanse that separated her from the haunting memories below. The journey ahead was uncertain, but the stars held the promise of new beginnings, and she clung to the hope that redemption was possible for both herself and Tobi.