Hello, Everyone. It's been a few years. All I'll say is that life happened... sort of ish.

Recently, my inspiration for this character set off on his own (different) Adventure, and I wanted something to remember that by since I probably won't be seeing him for a few years. TRAoBL isn't over or anything (I don't know if or when it will ever be), but I'd thought it would be fitting to take it back to the near beginning when it all started. Or at least, as near to the beginning as I can without turning it into the origin story, but who knows. Maybe that could be next since I don't really have any projects I care to work on right now.

Anywho, you're not here to hear me blabber on so please enjoy going back to the past when Dick first set off on his first adventure.

Snapping his duffle bag closed, Dick straightened up with a slow, deep breath in.

It was finally happening. Everything he'd been hearing for the last two months down to the last two weeks… All the trouble he'd gotten into for wandering off, his reasonably decent sense of direction, his odd knack for finding places, his ability to pick up languages in passing… Senator Amidala had actually come through on her need for an explorer to navigate and assist intercultural negotiations.

He was leaving.

For real this time.

Staring at the closed duffle, Dick mentally ran through the list of things he'd packed from the supplies Amidala had seen fit to grant him based off what she had apparently researched. From his own research on the topic, it basically looked like specialized camping gear that any holosit adventure show lead would have been proud to use, even though it was far too modernized to be useful; still…. so long as it worked, he didn't care.

Canteen. Check.

Foldable mess kit. Check.

Compass. Check.

Multitool and at least three inch knife. Check.

Water pouches. Check.

Survival cord. Check.

First aid kit. Check.

Military flashlight. Check.

Tarp, tent, sleeping pouch, and sleeping pad to ward against evil rocks. Check, already on the Lodestar…

The Lodestar herself was already fueled and stocked up with MREs… ehhhh let's see…

Continuing down the list mentally, he glanced around the bunk room he'd shared with his three other squad mates from Calico's company, his heart sinking just a little deeper with each inch he took in.

It had sounded obvious at first, but now, it had started to dawn on him that he didn't know when the next time he would see his squadmates would be, or, if he would ever be lucky enough to see them again. They were probably going to be fine - at least… he hoped, with the war, and all… but - were they?

How were Mason, Viper, and Osprey going to do without him there to help watch their backs? Was Calico going to keep hounding them like before? Or now that he was gone, was the captain going to ease off since they wouldn't be causing as much chaos?

Dick shut his eyes.

What was going to happen?

He didn't know.

Sure, he knew the file Amidala had sent him. He technically knew his destination. He technically knew the mission he was going on had something to do with assisting archaeologists so he could get an idea of what to expect for his next missions if he passed this one…

But briefings and reality rarely went waltzing the same way.

He'd been waiting for as long as he could remember to go alone. And it was finally happening. Hmph. Just his rifle, his pony, and him… He was stepping solo into the galaxy, stepping with nothing but the stars and a clanky new compass to guide him.

Maker help him.

He had packed everything. He'd checked over the list three times and none of the supplies had jumped out of the duffle yet. All that was left really was his jacket, his hat, and willpower.

Opening his eyes, he hesitated before slipping on the fitted, moss green canvas jacket. It would be sturdy enough to last several years if he ever chanced lasting that long himself, he had no doubt. It wasn't waterproof, but it was warm and that was always something he could fix later with wax.

Finally, the hat. In all honesty, he couldn't figure out why Amidala had wanted him to have this… maybe she figured it would help him out to look the part or something like that. It was an old, used fedora. Even though it had been cleaned over, dust still clung to the cracks in the seams and it smelled of the forest. Picking it up, Dick tossed it over in his hands, letting loose a sigh before grabbing his duffle with his free hand.

It was time to go.

He stepped over to the door and gave the bunkroom one final glance over. The boys were waiting on the other side, he knew, but he wanted… what? To have a place to remember for when he was gone? To… remember before he was gone? To have one final memory flash before his eyes of the stressful yet exciting couple of weeks he and his brothers had spent in that room? Of the things they'd dared each other and the stories they'd told of places they would go?

He didn't know.

So he did what he did before. He straightened, pulled back his shoulders, and inhaled a slow, deep breath before stepping through the door to his new life.

Well, that's all for now. :) Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you at the next update (whenever that may be).