"Will the two of you sit down and relax. I'll never get my work done if you don't stop hovering over me and leave me alone."

"Awww, come on, Wedge. Hurry up. You promised," a voiced whined.

I gave Wes a look that said stop it or you won't go.

"Yeah, you promised that if Wes, Tycho, you and I vaped both the Rogues and the Wraiths in the sims you'd take us to Wal-mart." Hobbie, whose usually mournful features were anything but, was practically beside himself with his eagerness of wanting to get out of my office and go to the local Wal-Mart located near our base on Coruscant.

"Hobbie, just what is this sudden fascination you've developed with that nasty place? Let alone with shopping?"

"I think it's the cute little cashier at the chocolate counter," Wes Janson needled his friend.

Hobbie crossed his arms over his chest and slumped down in to the cushions of the couch in my office where the four of us were sitting, "Is not, Wes," he stated the tone of his voice resonating with hurt.

"They're right, Wedge. You did promise to take them to Wal- Mart after the exercises."

"I know, Tych, but you'd think the way these two are behaving, I'd promised to take them to the amusement park and take them on all the rides and buy them corn dogs and cotton candy and let them have their holos taken with that giant mouse that lives there." I sighed and turned back to my computer and reviewing the data from the sims the Rogues and Wraiths had gone through earlier in the afternoon.

Fifteen minutes later, "Aren't you finished yet, Wedge? It's getting late," declared Wes, walking over to peer at the chrono on my computer. He was beside himself in anticipation and eagerness to go to what I consider to be the nastiest place on the planet, in the galaxy for that matter.

Finally, not being able to take anymore of his and Hobbie's fidgeting, "Fine. We'll go. Now." I put my computer into the standby mode and stood, stretching my tight muscles. Grabbing my leather flight jacket and the keycard to my personal speeder and with Tycho by my side, I headed out of my office. "Well? Aren't you coming you two," I called back over my shoulder. I heard them scurrying to catch up.

"I call shotgun," Wes declared as we took the turbo lift up to the level where my speeder was parked.

"You can't do that, Wes. You road shotgun last time we went someplace; it's my turn," Hobbie cried.

"Too bad Hobbs, I called it first I get it. Don't I Wedge? That's the rule, whoever calls it first, gets it," Wes countered.

I rolled my eyes and looked at Tych, "You brought this on yourself, you know," he said in a low voice. "You know better than to take them anywhere where they are not in their own X-Wings."

"I know. I know," I replied as we approached my speeder, putting on my dark sunglasses. "Ok, official command decision - Wes, you can ride up front there and Hobbie on the way back. Now shut up and get in, the lot of you."

Wes turned to Hobbie and stuck his tongue out at his friend. Hobbie responded by making a face of his own. I just sighed, started the speeder and took off in the direction of Wal-Mart.

I have to admit, I drive a speeder much the way I fly a X-Wing - fast, very fast. If it were hyperdrive equipped, I use it. I take corners tight and if you're not strapped in you run the risk of either being hurt or thrown out if I have the top down. I raced through the lower lanes of Coruscant traffic and s short time later; I pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and found a space to park the speeder.

Wes and Hobbie jumped out and Tycho followed them.

"Hey, Wedge. Come on. You're paying for this little excursion you know," called Wes.

"Yea, that was part of the deal," Hobbie echoed.

Tycho looked at his CO, "Please, Wedge? Don't make me go in there alone with these to 'children'."

I heave a heavy sigh as I stand up and vault over the edge of the door, taking the keycard with me. "Can't I just give Tych my Debit Card to my checking account. You know how much I hate this place and I don't know why I said this is where we'd go other then you two," I pointed to Wes and Hobbie, "Insisted that this is where you wanted to go so I agreed just to shut you up." I walked around the speeder and joined the trio of my pilots. "Let's hurry and get this over with, shall we," I said as we headed towards the store.

As we entered, we were greeted by one of the ubiquitous blue aproned clones with the plastic smile, I shudder anytime one of them comes near me - can't stand that ever present smile. Sometime I think it is their permanent expression and the only one they are capable of- personally, I hate it. And what's worse, they fawn all over you (shudders at the very thought of that). I hang to the back, letting Wes and Hobbie take the point.

"Come on, Wedge," Wes calls out as he grabs me by the arm, "Up here with us. We've got things to show you."

"Wes, just let me bring up the rear. I could see just fine from where I was," I tell him, trying to pull out of Wes' bone breaking grip on my wrist.

"No, you're staying up here with us. Tycho can watch our backs, can't ya Tych," Wes stated as he dragged me to the toy department and headed straight to the model X-Wings, Y-Wings, B-Wings and A-Wings, passing the Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo, assorted dolls of other Rebellion hero dolls, and Darth Vader.

"Wes, what do you want with a model 'Wing? After all, you do have a real one of your very own."

"Oh, that's a secret, Boss," Wes answered. "And one I intend to keep, at least for awhile."

A chill runs up and down my spine at the thought that what Wes wanted was a secret; that was not a good sign.

"Hey Hobbie, why don't you take Wedge-boy here to the chocolate counter and pick out something," Wes declared, "Tycho, stay with me please?"

Tycho who has been quiet up til now spoke up, "It's ok Wedge, I'll stay here and keep an eye on Wes."

"You sure about that, Tych? I feel really bad leaving you alone to deal with Wes," I give him one of my best Commander's stare.

"Yea, go on, we'll be fine here. Go with Hobbie and make sure he doesn't break you buying too much chocolate and candy."

I let Hobbie lead me away, all the time wondering what Wes is up to. We reach the chocolate counter, "Oh pretty, what do we blow up first," Hobbie cooed and then he begins to pick out chocolate X-Wings and pilots, caramel and nut clusters covered in chocolate, chocolate covered legume clusters and chocolate mint melt-aways along with a variety of other assorted chocolates and candies. "Hobbie, I think you've got enough there. I don't want you puking in your X-Wing because you tried to eat all that at once."

"Don't worry, Wedge, I won't. I promise," Hobbie answered me and continued to pick out more assorted sweets, including something that looked like that Death Stars.

While Hobbie was loading up on chocolate and candy, Wes and Tycho were busy in the toy department with Wes picking out a multitude of toy models and stuffed animals.

About thirty minutes later, we met up again at the check out. I gave Wes a quizzical look; what ever he picked out in the toy department was already bought and bagged. "Tycho paid Wedge, you're off the hook on this one."

"Uh huh," I replied, even more worried and suspicious about what Wes was up to than I was before. We headed out to the speeder with Wes and Hobbie in the lead; I walked with Tych behind them, "What did you let him buy Tycho?"

"Sorry Wedge, I promised him I wouldn't tell. You'll find out soon enough."

I looked to Tycho and glared at him, "What do you mean by that," I demanded.

Tycho held my stare, "Don't worry, Chief, I didn't let him get anything dangerous."

"Ok, I trust your judgment, Tych," I said as we reached the speeder. I clicked the automatic door release and we all piled in. I didn't say a word on the drive back the base while Tycho, Wes and Hobbie had a very animated conversation; Wes' keeping secret what he bought was eating away at me. Whenever he got like this, I knew it meant trouble in some form for me.

Squadron duties, patrol and escort duties kept the Rogues fairly busy over the next two weeks and then we finally got some downtime. I headed to the Officer's Mess on the second day I went to get something for breakfast but both Hobbie and Tycho blocked the way; Wes was nowhere to be seen. "Sorry Wedge, the chow hall is off limits to everyone right now. Just tell us what you want and we'll have Entrey bring it to your office," Tycho stated matter of factly.

"Ok, Tych, why is it off limits to me and everyone else?"

"Can't tell you Wedge, sorry, but the orders came from Ackbar's office directly to me."

"So why wasn't I told," I demanded. "I am the commanding officer here!" I was beginning to get very angry over this whole thing.

"Wedge, just tell Hobbie what you want for breakfast and lunch, he'll get it ordered and see to it that is it delivered to you office. In fact, let me walk you back to your office. The mess will be open for dinner at 1800 hours tonight. As to why you weren't notified, I don't know," Tycho uncharacteristically lied to me. "Come on, let's go back to your quarters," he said leading me away from the chow hall and back to my combined office and living quarters. As we walked back to my office, Tycho commed Hobbie and told him to bring us something for breakfast, we would comm him back later with a lunch order. Other than that, we walked in silence, I was in no mood to talk to anyone, not even one of my best friends. We spent the rest of the day working in my office; every time I wanted or needed something, Tycho insisted that he be allowed to go and get it. Something was afoot and Tycho, Wes and Hobbie did not want me to know what was going on. At about 1500 hours, I finally told Tych he could go, I needed to lie down before dinner; really what I wanted to do was think and talk things out with myself; Corellians are known for talking to themselves and I am no exception.

Meanwhile in the Officer's Mess, Wes was busy, with the help of the rest of the Rogues and all of the Wraiths, transforming it into looking like my boyhood home on Gus Treta, only with some changes and modifications.

About an hour later, after tossing and turning and talking to myself, I got up only to be met by Tycho are the door of my office, "You need something, Chief?"

"No, just was going to go the mess to get something to eat. There's nothing in my food prep center that I am interested in."

"So what do you want me to go and get you?"

"I donno what I want Tych, I'll decide when I get there."

"No can do, Wedge. The chow hall is still closed until 1800 hours. Sorry. Either I go and get you something, or comm Hobbie and have him bring you something to you. What's it going to be?"

"Nothing. I'll just wait until dinner."

"Ok, but if you decide what you want, I'll be right here working off of Wes' computer. If not, I will get you at 1800 hours to go to dinner."

I retreated back into my office and flopped down on the couch; soon Emote** toddled out of the bedroom and climbed up on to me and laid down stretched out on top of me, "Wedge not feel good? Broken hand hurt? Emote help make better," he said in his sing-song Basic.

I wrapped my left arm, the one with the orange and blue*** cast on it, around him and ruffled his fur, "No, I'm fine Emote, just trying to figure out what Wes is up to. He's up to something and I don't know what it is. Whadda say we take a nap until Tych and Emic get here for dinner and forget about Wes for a while?"

"I like idea. Take nap now. Wedge close eyes," Emote said placing his paw in my face. We feel asleep, me holding him and he sleeping on my chest.

At exactly 1800, Tycho came walking into my quarters with Emic. "Come on Wedge, wakey, wakey," he said tickling my bare feet, "Time to go to dinner, buddy." Emic decided to help, crawled up on top of Emote, and woke him up and they began to play with each other, on top of me, finishing what Tycho had started.

"Alright already," I said as I pushed the two Ewoks off me, "I'm awake, I'm awake." Once they were on the floor playing with each other I was able to sit up. "Let me pull my boots on Tych and I'll be ready for dinner." A few minutes later I stood up, "Ok, let's go see what Wes has been playing at all day." I took Emote by a paw, Tych did the same with Emic, and we headed to the chow hall.

As we approached the still closed doors, "One more thing before you can go in Wedge, you've got to be blindfolded." With that, he whipped out of one of the pockets of his flightsuit, a black silk scarf that he proceeded to place over my eyes. Then I felt and heard the doors open, but there was absolute dead silence within. "Come on Wedge," Tycho said taking my hand and leading me into the mess. I felt the presence of two more people around me.

"Hey Wedge. Come sit down."

"Wes, what's this all about?" I was beginning to lose my temper.

"You'll see Wedge. Just a few more minutes."

"Yeah, Wedge. Relax," Hobbie chimed in.

"Alright, but if you three don't get this thing off my face soon, there will be hell to pay for all of you."

Two of them, I felt like Wes and Tych, took me by the arms and led me to a chair. I could smell dinner cooking and it smelled as if everything was Corellian. I sat down and Tycho pulled the blindfold off. As he did, lights came up and all the Rogues and Wraiths yelled "Surprise," to me at once. Wes was the first to speak individually, "Surprise Wedge. We noticed how down you've been lately and every time you see something broadcast for Corellia, you look all homesick and stuff so we decided to recreate your parent's fueling station on Gus Treta." Then everyone began to hand me packages wrapped with bows and crinkled paper.

"Ah, Wes, Tycho, Hobbie, I don't know what to say."

"Say nothing Wedge, and just open up your presents so we can eat," Wes declared. "Here's mine. Open it first."

"Ok, but what's gonna jump out at me?"

"Nothing Wedge. Trust me."

With Wes's famous last words ringing in my ears, I opened the box he handed me. Inside lay a collection of model X-Wings and TIEs of varying kinds and little pilots for them. "Uhm, Wes? What am I to do with these?"

"You play with them Wedge, what did you think you did with them? You want me to show you how?"

"Hmmm, not right now Wes. Not right now."

Next came Hobbie gift, a box of all the chocolates he bought the other day at Wal-Mart. "Hobbie, you know I'm not big on chocolates and candy."

"I know Wedge. So that means you'll share, right?"

I looked at him, the expression on his face so pleading, "Of course I'll share Hobbs. Here, you can have the first piece," I said handing him the box.

Tycho thrust a box, wrapped better than all the others, "Not you too, Tycho?"

"Yes, me too Wedge."

I opened up the box and inside was a stuffed bantha. "Yours is looking kind of ratty Wedge, I thought I would get Bamfa a companion."

"Thanks, Tych," was all I could choke out. And it went on from there, everybody giving me some sort of kid's toys. Finally, after opening all the boxes and thanking everyone, I looked around; Wes did an amazing job, it did look like my home on Gus Treta. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes until Wes grabbed my good arm, "Come on, Boss, let's go get something to eat," he said as he walked me to the buffet of all Corellian food.

Finis

**Emote is a charcoal grey Ewok droid that was given to me. Tycho has a brown one called Emic that I gave him. If you want to find out more about our Ewok droids, go to http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/wedgesroguesandwraithsrpg

***Had to go with NR Orange, their idea of Rogue red was just too gross and blue is for the Wraiths.