The New Comrade

It was almost a welcome party when the pilots of Rogue Squadron were gathered around their new comrades. Hours later Nomi and Tarik finally went to their respective quarters.

Both felt tired but happy and were curious what the next day might hold for them. Nomi was eating breakfast in the mess hall when Wedge Antilles entered and walked over to her table where she sat together with other pilots. She looked up from her meal, but didn't bother to rise and salute her commander. The young woman remembered that Antilles put no value to it.
"Good morning, Ensign Darklighter," he said and Nomi realized that there seemed to be the plan to make her an officer of the Alliance. "Are you ready to see your fighter and the astromech which are assigned to you?"
The new Alliance member swallowed the sip of caf she just took before she answered the question.
"Of course, Sir," she said and rose from her seat.
"Good, then follow me to the hangar bay."
The commander headed out of the mess hall followed by his new pilot, who had some difficulties keeping pace with him. It seemed Antilles was very eager to show Nomi the fighter.

Finally they reached the hangar bay, where mechanics worked at battle damaged X- and Y-wing fighters. The whole place was teeming with life and everyone there was busy. Nomi looked around with awe, while Wedge walked over to an X-wing without any markings. It was shiny as if it came fresh off the production line. Almost tenderly he touched the fighter's hull and smiled.
"This is your fighter, Ensign. It's beautiful and deadly with the right person at the yoke. I'm pretty sure you are the right one."
Nomi blushed slightly and approached the X-wing to touch it as well.
"It's really a beauty, commander. May I ask where you got it?"
The commander leaned against the fighter and folded his arms in front of his chest, before he answered the ensign's question.
"We have supporters who are providing us with fighters, fuel and ammunition. They know the risk, but are doing it nevertheless. You have no idea how many are working against the Empire from within." Before Nomi was able to react, there was an excited sequence of beeps and chirps to be heard. A red and silver domed R2-unit chased two mechanics out of the way as it rolled toward the X-wing where Nomi and Wedge were standing.
"Ah and here's your new comrade. May I introduce? This is Fuzzy. He will be your astromech." The young pilot went on the droid's level and touched its dome which caused it to give a long, surprised warble, since Fuzzy wasn't used to being treated this way. Most of the pilots it had served with saw only a machine, a useful tool and nothing else. This human seemed to be different. "Hello, Fuzzy, nice to meet you. I'm Nomi," the young woman said as she patted the astromech. She knew that her life could depend on this little guy and she wanted to be on good terms with her new comrade, as the commander had called it. Fuzzy didn't look as shiny as the fighter they both were assigned to now, but this only meant that the droid was a seasoned one and knew its stuff. "It seems Fuzzy likes you, Ensign," Antilles remarked with a smile. "He doesn't go along with everybody and can be quite stubborn." Nomi chuckled and stood up.
"I hope we will be a good team, Commander," she said and wiped her greasy hands off at her coverall. The young woman smiled at the droid which gave happy beeps. It seemed as if Fuzzy was very excited to have a new task. The astromech engaged its thrusters, flew toward the X-wing and settled smoothly in its socket. Wedge chuckled seeing this.
"It seems Fuzzy wants to fly with you now," the squadron commander remarked and winked at Nomi. "You've permission for a test flight, so you two get to know each other." "It seems to be a good idea, Sir," she responded, turned and headed for the ready room to change into her pilot gear.

It didn't take long and Nomi came back with the helmet under her arm. Fuzzy welcomed her with a complicated sequence of beeps and warbles when she climbed up the ladder, after she donned the helmet. She lowered in the seat and buckled up, while the astromech was still beeping excitedly. When Antilles gave her a thumbs up, she made the pre-flight check and started the engine. On the display the translation for Fuzzy's utterances showed up. Nomi smiled as she cast a glance at it, since the droid told her how happy it was to have a new pilot and that it would do its best to gain her trust.
"I bet you will," she responded while she flew toward the magcon field which sealed the hangar's atmosphere against the vacuum outside. Minutes later the X-wing passed the field and they floated in the vastness of space.
The young pilot put the fighter through several maneuvers and realized to her satisfaction how smoothly it reacted to every single touch at the yoke and the rudders. It was almost like back in Beggar's Canyon. Her astromech worked flawless, making adjustments on its own. Another hint how experienced it was. After half a standard hour she made her way back to the frigate and landed smoothly in the hangar bay where Wedge Antilles was waiting for her. Nomi cut the engine, unbuckled, opened the hatch and climbed down the ladder. She removed the helmet and smiled at her commander, while Fuzzy activated its thrusters and flew down to the floor. He rolled over to Nomi, beeping excitedly. Antilles laughed and patted the droid's dome.
"How was the flight, Ensign?" He asked after he shifted his attention back to Nomi.
"Oh, it was quite good, Sir" she responded and cast a glance at Fuzzy. "It did a good job out there." The astromech's mood seemed to change since its beeps sounded a bit frustrated. Antilles raised an eyebrow, but then he became aware why there was a change in Fuzzy's behavior.
"Fuzzy doesn't like to be referred to as a thing. Believe it or not, some of our astromechs have developed a personality over time."
"Oh, I didn't know, Commander." She smiled at Fuzzy. "He did a good job." This remark caused another happy beep by the droid and a chuckle by Nomi's superior. "I see you will be a good team," Antilles said. Then he turned and left the hangar bay, leaving his new pilot and her droid behind.
When Nomi had changed in her coverall she walked back to her quarters followed by Fuzzy. It seemed the droid had decided to be her shadow from now on.