"You got some luck," Soni said leaning in the doorway of Wyb's quarters as he packed his bag.

"In my experience there's no such thing as luck, just good and bad timing." Wyb said, trying not to sound too excited. But had to admit it, he was. A chance to finally get out of the core world and be a part of something. Free from drills and social politics, a sense of purpose, and more importantly closure to home.

"I don't understand how you talked your way into the Adelphi Squadron after being away for a month," Soni muttered. "Seems like you'll do anything to get out of the core. You truly are an outer rimmer."

"I wish you were coming with me," Wyb replied. "At least I'd have one friend on base."

"You're a pilot now, Wyb. Making friends shouldn't be your priority. Following orders is now," Soni sat on the bed watching him pack. "But you never know. Maybe I'll pass my exams with flying colors and put in a request to follow you."

"You'd consider leaving the core? But it's your home," Wyb asked, surprised. He knew Soni was well educated growing up in the Core Worlds, but she also had traveled little beyond the prospering republic planets. He had sometimes wondered how she would manage if they were stationed together in the rim.

"Yeah well, maybe I need to see more of what you've seen," Soni grabbed his hand as he turned to leave. Wyb was startled. He never knew her to be so direct. "I'm sorry I didn't stick with you back at the jail. Everything that my father did, I just can't afford any more heat while I'm making my way in the Republic. Are we good?"

"Of course," Wyb put her mind at ease. "You're my family."

"That's nice to know," she said sadly. "Just won't be the same without you."

Wyb said, placing his hand on her shoulder. He realized Soni was not only sad but frightened of facing the next phase of military life without him.

The two looked down at their boots knowing things were about to change for good. They clapped their hands twice together and then bumped fists before parting ways. Wyb's heart felt heavy. He was going to miss his only friend in the New Republic.

Wyb arrived in Adelphi by transport carrying supplies and a number of administrative personnel preparing for a base audit and droids. He thought it best to follow the administrators until they promptly shooed him away from their circle, leaving Wyb wandering through the scattered Quonset huts. After an hour he wandered into the lounge bar where most of the pilots were congregating over drinks.

"Hello," Wyb approached the bartender. "I'm looking for the Adelphi base unit."

"Kid, this is Adelphi," the bartender chuckled. "The whole base is the unit."

"Right, I guess I mean the pilots," Wyb replied awkwardly. "I'm supposed to check in with…actually I'm not sure who to check in with. Captain Teva just sent paperwork to report to base and await further instruction."

"Orders are orders. Have a seat," the bartender pulled out a bottle of beer and placed it in front of him. Wyb didn't usually drink like the other cadets. He always wanted to be sharp and ready at a moment's notice. But he also didn't want to be impolite to the kind gesture. He took a sip and leaned against the bar, beginning to scan the room.

"Who's this?" a pilot wandered over to him and placed his pilot's helmet on the bartop. "Fresh meat?"

"What's Carson dragged in now?" another pilot shouted across the room from a table. "Not as shiny as his last recruit."

"Dodger, woof, lay off. Can't you see the kid's just wet behind the ears," a woman chimed in taking the seat next to him. "Are you one of Carson's recruits?"

"Yes. I'm Wyb Tersu," Wyb tried to sound friendly but not too gullible as he extended it to the woman to shake."Captain Teva told me to report to Adelphi to join the rangers."

The pilots exchanged looks and laughed. Wyb felt embarrassed and confused as he lowered his hand. What was so funny? What had he missed? Perhaps he shouldn't have come at all. If he left tomorrow morning he could make it back for the second part of his exams and forget he had ever been introduced to the Captain and that protocol droid.

"Well kid, you're in the right place. Carson's out with Lieutenant Reed doing a final sweep of the Arkanis Sector. Hang with us until then so we can get better acquainted. Barkeep, pour a shot for the prospect here. I'm Dodger."

"I don't really drink," Wyb admitted as he felt overwhelmed by the pilot guiding him toward the ranger's table.

"Well that's disappointing," Wolf sarcastically mocked. Wyb was not amused. They were full fledged soldiers who were acting worse than his cadet mates during the Liberation Celebration.

"Don't pay any attention to Wolf here. He's only howling. Come have a seat," Dodger offered.

"Spotchka?" The bartender asked, picking up some shot glasses.

"A round on the cadet," Wolf ordered. "And keep them coming."

"Slow down, geese," the woman said, annoyed. "I'm Sash Ketter by the way. Nice to meet you, Wyb."

"Wyb, what sort of name is that?"Wolf chuckled.

"On second thought, I– think I'll just wait outside," Wyb said, stepping away from the trio.

"Look, you scared him," Ketter remarked.

"Ahuoooo!" Wolf playful howled as he took his shot of spotchka in one gulp.

Wyb frowned, disappointed. He didn't expect the pilot to be as brazen and cocky as rumored. How was he ever going to do any good in this group? He would have been better off doing traffic training with Denz back in the core from the look of things. He exited the lounge as the three pilots' laughter faded in the background. As he came through the door he walked directly into a tall lasat. "Urgh!"

"Watch where you're going small fry," the lasat scolded. Wyb had had enough. His head was throbbed from his lack of sleep and he could feel his temper rising as he glared up at the lasat in full New Republic uniform. "Haha, didn't your mother ever tell you not to stare?"

"She told me a lot," Wyb said as he continued to glare at the soldier.
"Well now," the lasat grinned. "Perhaps she didn't tell you when to back down."

"I'm from the outer rim," Wyb said proudly. "We hold our own."

"So am I," Zeb grunted. "And I'm bigger."

The lasat smirked and lunged at Wyb who quickly moved causing the lasat to bump into a post. Wyb winked gloatingly. He at least was making an impression on someone on base, even though it was a bad one. Enjoying his short victory, he missed the lasat's second pass at him and was now three feet off the ground dangling in the grasp of the veteran soldier.

"Hey! Come on! I was only kidding?! Put me down!" Wyb demanded.

"Listen here small fry, I have enough to deal with, especially that lot in there and along with their shenanigans. Don't add to it." the lasat said. As he inspected Wyb he sighed, "You better not be one of the new recruits."

"What if I am?" Wyb sassed struggling to release himself. He swung his legs at the soldier hoping to kick him.

"Ha, I'm gonna have to chat with Carson about the New Republic requirements again. You are definitely not what we're looking for at this outpost,"the lasat replied begrudgingly.

"You do that," Wyb strained. "He's the one that sent me here from Coruscant. Along with General Syndulla."

"Oh Hera. Always collecting strays. Look, this is not the Core World, Fry. Best start acting like you are from the rim, or you'll crisp up the first run we're out, x-wing or not."

"My name is Wyb!"

"I'm Zeb Orrelios, your training officer. And you're not making a good first impression."

"Put me down you big purple oaf!" Wyb managed to land a kick on Zeb's side.

"I think it is better to start your training to adjust your attitude." Zeb winced and growled.

"Put him down," said a familiar voice. Wyb looked behind Zeb and saw Din Djarin standing behind him with a small child-like creature who was frowning at the situation.

"Mind your business tin can," Zeb said. "This is a training exercise. You'd know that if you weren't a part timer."

"I'm not going to ask again," Din repeated sternly.

"I got this! Move along Mando," Wyb interjected. Zeb looked at the Mandalorian and then at Wyb. He shook his head and dropped Wyb suddenly.

"Welcome to Adelphi," Zeb muttered and entered the bar as he kicked dirt toward Wyb as he passed. Wyb sneezed as the dust cleared and felt a small hand touch his. He looked up and saw the small pointy ear creature who looked at him with sympathetic eyes as if to ask if he was alright.

"Nice to see you again" Din said, helping Wyb to his feet.

"I could say you're a sight for sore eyes but from the shine of your beskar you're more of an eyesore," Wyb dusted off his uniform. "I didn't need you to save me. I was handling that."

"Clearly," Din chuckled as he watched Grogu look up at Wyb concerned. "Don't worry too much about the rangers. They're harmless. Just sizing you up to see how much you can take or if they can push you around."

"Yeah well I didn't come here to be bullied," Wyb stated as he watched Din pick the kid up. "Since when do you worked with the New Republic? I thought you were a bounty hunter."

"I am. On a case by case basis for the New Republic," Din said as he adjusted his hold on Grogu who was fidgeting.

"Didn't know the Republic used bounty hunters. Seems they'll do anything these days to weed out the lingering imperials. How long you've been at it?" Wyb asked, rubbing his elbow which he had landed on.

"Just after the liberation of Mandalore." Din explained. He studied Wyb seeing how much he had grown since he dropped him off at the Naval Academy.

"You've been busy," Wyb said wittily and took a seat on one of the outdoor benches.

"I can say the same for you. By my guess you've finished your studies early," Din remarked. Wyb was shocked Din had kept track of his progress. "Lenore must be proud."

"Sly way to bring her up," Wyb teased. He was still convinced there was something between the two, even after all these years. "She's ok by the way."

"Glad to hear it," Din said as he placed Grogu down on the bench.

"Have you heard about Dune yet?" Wyb asked. He knew Din was friends with the shock trooper for a while.

"Yes," Din said sadly. "She was a good soldier."

"Last time I saw her, Lenore and Unit 56 had taken out a Star Destroyer on their way back to Lothal. I can't believe she's gone." Wyb said. He hadn't told much to anyone but he knew he could trust Djarin.

"Is Lenore working for the Republic as well? Taking out a star destroyer is no easy task. But with her imperial knowledge it would be a great asset to them."

"Nope. She's not that lucky. Always had bad timing." Wyb said. He watched Din join him on the bench. Maybe the Mandalorian could help. He still hadn't heard anything back from Senator Organa, and he was beginning to worry he had made a poor choice. "She was helping someone. Oh at least trying to. They got caught by the Imperials hiding in the Outer Rim. As they were escaping they found information. The Empire has been capturing force sensitive kids for a mission called Project Harvester. She should have told Dune to avoid her arrest, but she gave the information to me..." Wyb sighed. "I gave it to a Senator, Senator Organa. I thought it was the right thing to do, but now here in the outer Rim just waiting…. and those kids are no closer to being found."

"Do you know why the Empire wants them?"Din asked. He looked over at Grogu who had hopped off the bench and was playing with a grasshopper.

"Not sure, to train them? Brainwash them? Sell them?" Wyb began to guess. "That would be my guess."

The two sat in silence for a moment. Wyb hated to admit it but he was glad to see Din. It gave him a sense of protection, and he felt he could finally relax and process everything that happened in the last few weeks.

"This is Grogu," Din finally said, introducing his kid to Wyb. Grogu's ears twitched and he turned his head and smiled at Wyb at the mention of his name. "A grand moff named Gideon took him captive a few years ago. Wanted to study his blood to try and clone a force sensitive version of himself. Lady Bo-Katan and I saw it first hand. I worry he wasn't the only one interested in these strange experiments. After hearing what Lenore found, I'm afraid I was right."

"You ever get the feeling something's going on? Like something's about to happen?" Wyb asked, hoping the answer was no.

"From the sound of it, something already has," Din said. "Which is why the New Republic can't afford to humiliate its new recruits who are willing to put their life on the line to protect the peace they fought so long and hard for. You are peacekeepers."

"Jedi were once called peacekeepers, so were imperial troopers," Wyb stated. "Wonder what rangers will do with it. But I know I'm going to save those kids one way or another."

"In the mandalorian creed, saving foundlings is the highest honor there is," Din shared as he looked at Wyb. "You look tired. I'll stand watch if you want to rest. Make sure you're not disturbed."

"Thanks but no thanks. I'm good," Wyb yawned. "So…did you ever find a ship?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"Custom built, modified N-1 Starfighter."

"Nice…" Wyb leaned back and closed his eyes. "Peli must have pulled all the stops out to land that for you?"

"Jawa connections," Din chuckled.

" That's the thing about the outer rim, friends in high and low places, and enemies on the ground."

"True," Din agreed.

"Din," Wyb said softly as he felt sleep start to settle in. "Thank you…..for everything."

"This is the way," Din said as he sat watching over Wyb. It was nice to see the kid again, grown and making his way in the galaxy.