Tobin lived on the colony world of Ordifica until it was attacked by the Time Lords, after which she and the rest of the survivors were evacuated and set up on another colony, Anathema. During the time it took for Anathema to travel to Earth through space, Laura Tobin's personality and biodata was copied into a Remembrance Tank, eventually resulting in the being known as Compassion. (PROSE: Interference - Book One, Interference - Book Two) Laura had a sister, Alison Tobin. (PROSE: Ship of Fools)