Wedge walked into his office and began to start the morning reports. He sat his Caf on the desk and read his messages on his terminal. Nothing new, same old messages he got every morning. He sipped the warm amber liquid and swirled it gently in the cup before setting it back down. He hated paperwork but there were updates that needed to be made. He made a mental note that he needed to make a couple of important changes to the unit roster and send it to Admiral Ackbar's office for approval.

Wedge took out a few data cards from a drawer and began his daily routine as the office door opened and Emtry, the squadrons protocol droid, marched in. The droid gave his usual morning salutation to Wedge as he deposited a few data disks on the desk as he normally did. What was not normal, was that instead of leaving, he just stood there. Wedge looked up.

"Is there something I can do for you Emtry?" Wedge asked the silent 3PO unit.

"Sir, I felt it better that I draw your attention to this disk in particular." Emtry stretched out a metal hand grasping a data disk. "Colonel Celchu specifically asked that it be delivered to you this morning. He entrusted it to me when he left last night."

Wedge's eyes widened as he reached up to take the disk. "He left?"

"Oh yes Sir" Emtry replied. " Very late last night I might add."

Wedge slipped the disk into the holo reader on his terminal. "I'm sure it's nothing Emtry, you're dismissed." Wedge smiled as he waved the droid away.

"Oh it is more than nothing Sir." The clamshell headed droid remarked as he exited the office. The office door slid shut as Wedge turned his attention to the monitor. He hit the play button and the screen came to life. Tycho's image took shape and the audio came through...

"Hey Boss. I hope you got more sleep than you usually do. I know you have a lot of work to do so I'll make this short. You and I have been friends for many years Wedge. We have risked our lives for one another and the ideals we believe in for more times than I care to count but I'm sure you could."

A knowing smile played across Wedge's face at his Executive Officer's comment but it soon faded into shock as the Holo continued.

"The other day, based on what you and I discussed, I took Wes on the Redemption Scenario in the Simulator. Using our good old combat psychology I had us fly the Imperial parts against Blue Squadron. It did not go as planned and Wes cracked. Wedge, Wes is my friend and now, well now it does not look good. I take full responsibility for this incident. I was at fault and took it to far in order to try and snap Wes out of it. Wes's Doctor has ordered that I am in no way allowed to see Wes. She feels I am a threat to his recovery and quite frankly, so do I."

Wedge continued to listen but dread began to fill his gut.

"Wedge I can't be here for Wes. I tried to help but it seems now that the best way to help him is to leave him alone. Please tell him I will miss him if you are allowed to. I am resigning my position in Rogue Squadron and in the New Republic. I need to get some things right in my mind. I have other reasons for my departure as well but I will not burden you with them. Suffice to say that I don't have much time left in my life. While I'm sure I'd rather be spending it with my friends, I need the time to myself. One day I will rejoin my family and I want to be able to do it with a clear mind. Please tell Winter I love her very much. She has a great life to live Wedge, please don't let her live it searching for me. Don't bother trying to figure out where I have gone as I don't even know myself. The flight plan I filed with control was sliced and not exactly accurate."

Wedge didn't know how to react at this point. Emotions began to flood into his mind and thoughts hyped back and fourth across his brain as he struggled to comprehend what he had just heard. The message continued.

"I'll miss you Boss, it's been great. I would not have traded my time with Rogues for all the universe. I would have told you all of this in person but we have been friends and brothers for so long, that I don't think I could bear the good-bye. Take care Wedge and please, get some rest tonight...you deserve it. Good-bye."

The image of Tycho smiled then faded to nothingness. Which is exactly what Wedge felt, nothing. A big void had opened in the pit of his stomach and it threatened to consume him. What would he do? How would he tell the others? Should he tell the others? So many questions began to converge on him at once that he could feel a throbbing in his head.

I have a bad feeling about this.

*******END*******