Just as Sayori's words settled into the stillness of the room, a group of red-striped clones entered, their armor gleaming under the harsh lights. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized the leader — Commander Fox, his helmet adorned with the distinct red markings of the Coruscant Guard.

Fox's sharp gaze locked onto Sayori, and she felt a twitch in her muscles as he advanced, flanked by his men. The weight of the moment was palpable, the air growing thick with the scent of betrayal.

"Fox..." Sayori breathed, her voice barely more than a whisper of disbelief. She had known him for so long — a once-trusted comrade, now a shadow of that person. Her eyes hardened as she spoke again, her voice colder than before. "What have they done to you?"

Fox didn't flinch, his expression unreadable beneath his helmet. But his next words were like a slap in the face. "You're under arrest, Velmont. The same goes for your squad, Commander." His voice was crisp, devoid of the camaraderie they once shared. It was the voice of someone who had been broken, twisted by the orders he had followed without question.

Sayori's breath caught in her throat, her six eyes narrowing in disbelief. This is not the Fox I knew, she thought bitterly. She had seen him in action during countless battles, a loyal soldier with a sharp mind, but this — this was not him.

Her fingers twitched around the hilt of her lightsaber, but she kept it by her side, knowing she couldn't act recklessly. Fox's presence here wasn't just a threat to her — it was a sign that they were losing. The Republic, the clones, everything they had fought for was slipping away.

"You don't understand, Fox," she said, her voice quiet but full of venom. "They've corrupted you. They've turned you into a puppet. The same as the others."

Fox's expression hardened further. He gave no indication of recognition, no flicker of the man she once knew. His voice came out clipped and cold. "This is for the good of the Republic. You're a traitor now, Velmont. The Jedi betrayed us all."

Sayori's breath quickened, her frustration bubbling up like a rising storm. How can you say that? she wanted to scream. But instead, she let out a low growl, her eyes blazing with a quiet fury. "You're blind, Fox. You've been blinded by a system that's broken. You're following orders from a puppet master, and I won't let you destroy any more lives."

The red-striped clones behind Fox stiffened, weapons raised, ready for any signs of resistance. It was clear that they wouldn't hesitate to fire if given the order. But Sayori stood tall, her chest rising and falling steadily, even as her mind raced. She couldn't let them take her or her squad. Not when they were this close to the truth.

Fox's hand moved to his blaster. "You're coming with us, Velmont. And your squad's surrendering, too."

Sayori's heart pounded in her chest, her tail flicking behind her in agitation. She could feel the tension mounting, a storm ready to break. She had no intention of going quietly, but she knew that fighting here would only result in more bloodshed. Not just for her, but for the clones who were still struggling with the programming that controlled them.

Fox's eyes locked onto her with an unblinking gaze. "I won't ask again, Commander Velmont." The finality in his tone was chilling.

But before Sayori could respond, Hunter stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "We're not going anywhere with you, Fox. You can't arrest us. Not now."

Fox looked back at his fellow clones, his posture stiffening, and his hand hovered over his blaster. "Then you're coming with us by force."

Sayori's eyes flicked between Fox and her squad. She knew they were outnumbered, but her mind was already working, formulating a plan. She couldn't lose this fight, not when everything was on the line.

"You can try," Sayori said, her voice steady despite the rising tension. "But it's not going to be as easy as you think."

The clones raised their blasters, but before anything else could happen, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. The doors behind them opened with a heavy thud, and the figure of the Prime Minister of Kamino appeared once again, his elongated features drawn into a frown. His voice rang through the room.

"Enough," he said, his tone cutting through the standoff. "There will be no fighting here, not on my station."

The clones, still tense, hesitated at his command. Sayori took a small step back, her tail swishing behind her, but she didn't let her guard drop.

The Prime Minister's eyes flicked to Fox and then to Sayori. He exhaled through his nostrils, irritation clear on his face. "You will leave, Commander Fox. And you will return to your duties. We have more pressing matters to deal with than this... disagreement."

Fox stood stock-still for a moment, then nodded stiffly. "Understood, sir." Without another word, he turned and gestured for his men to follow.

Sayori let out a silent breath, her six eyes narrowing at the Prime Minister. "This isn't over," she muttered under her breath. "Not by a long shot."

Fox and the red-striped clones retreated, and the tension in the room finally started to dissipate — but only slightly. The battle was far from over. Sayori and her squad would need to stay vigilant, because if there was one thing she knew for sure, it was that the war wasn't just being fought on the battlefield. It was being fought in the shadows.

SCENEBREAK

"Oh boy," Wrecker grumbled as he flopped back into the barracks, his massive frame sinking into the bed with a soft creak. "After this ordeal, I need something huge from the mess hall, but first..." He stretched his arms out, and in seconds, he was snoring like a chain of earthquakes.

Sayori couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle at the sight of him. She knew Wrecker well enough to recognize that he had a way of making light of even the most intense moments. But she couldn't shake the weight of what had just happened — the confrontation with Fox, the Prime Minister's cold indifference, and the looming sense of danger hanging over all of them.

Her eyes flicked around the room as she absently ran a hand over her lightsaber hilt. The place was... a bit chaotic, not that she was surprised. Life on the run was never organized.

Hunter caught her gaze, his brow furrowing slightly. "Sorry, it's... ah... a bit unclean here," he said, gesturing to the disarray around them with an apologetic shrug. His usually sharp, calculating demeanor was softened by the exhaustion creeping into his voice. Despite everything, it was hard to ignore the concern in his eyes as he looked at her.

Sayori shook her head with a small smile. "It's fine," she replied, her tone light. "I've seen worse." She crossed the room to sit on a nearby crate, letting the tension in her muscles slowly ease as she allowed herself a moment of rest.

Hunter was silent for a moment, and when she turned to meet his gaze, she could see the weight of what had transpired reflected in his eyes. He, too, was trying to process everything — the reality of their situation. Fox. The Prime Minister. The relentless hunt for Jedi. The clones' sudden betrayal.

The room felt heavy with the things unsaid, but in this moment, Sayori could feel a quiet understanding pass between them. They were survivors, each in their own way, and no matter how much the galaxy tried to break them, they would always find a way to keep fighting.

She let out a long breath, her gaze drifting toward the barracks door. "I think we've earned a bit of rest," she said, her voice soft but determined. "Tomorrow, we find a way forward."

Hunter nodded, settling onto his own bed with a weary sigh. "Yeah. Tomorrow."

And as the sounds of Wrecker's snoring filled the air, Sayori closed her eyes, trying to block out the weight of the war and the endless uncertainty. For now, they had peace — however brief it might be.