It had been months since I last visited the Garden of Life, and my longing for my sisters had grown more unbearable with each passing day. Now, I found myself en route to Kamino, assigned to investigate an impending Separatist attack on the planet. I was aboard a shuttle with a group of esteemed companions: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a contingent of clones from the 501st Legion, including Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Broadside, Echo, and the ever- observant Fives.

As I lay on the floor of the shuttle, the chill of the metal seeped into my bones, prompting me to stand and stretch my limbs. Fives, his armor shimmering in the dim light, approached me, his voice low and inquiring. "Hello, Commander. How are you feeling?" he asked, his gaze piercing through the gloom.

I offered Fives a warm smile, one that nearly went unnoticed in the dim light. "Just fine, thank you, Fives. A bit cold, but that'll wear off once we reach Kamino and I finally get to stretch my limbs," I said, twitching my calves and adjusting my stance.

Broadside, seated nearby, let out a hearty laugh. "Yeah, now you're talking, Commander!" I shot him a happy glance, but my expression quickly shifted as I caught the look from Obi-Wan, my master. I bowed my head in apology, my tone turning cool. "Sorry, Master, but it's fun to make the men happy," I said, my voice even.

Obi-Wan sighed, his expression tinged with concern. "I know, but you worry me sometimes, Padawan. You keep putting your life on the line, after... everything you've been through. Twice, you've faced death, and yet you continue to take risks that make my heart stop."

I glared at him, my tail lashing out in annoyance and knocking into Cody's shin. He yelped in surprise, but quickly steadied himself, giving me a surprised look. "Oh, don't listen to him, Commander," he said, reaching up to pat my hip. "He just cares for you."

I snorted out a smoke ring, my jaws cracking open to reveal my teeth. Echo shuddered, and I gave him a narrowed-eyed look, my gaze lingering on him for a moment before my jaws snapped shut again.

"Sometimes being for myself was the best option," I muttered under my breath, but my head snapped up when the shuttle lurched and twisted, clearly taking a detour to circle the landing platform. Soon, it rumbled and we were free to disembark. I was out right after Anakin, who looked up at me with a grin. "You look excited," he said, and I gave him a gentle nudge with my shoulder.

But my excitement was short-lived, as a Separatist fleet arrived on the scene, and we all began to either duck blaster fire or fight back against them. Obi-Wan peeled off and ducked down under the same uprooted floor panel as I was, his eyes scanning the chaos. "Something's not right here," he muttered, mostly to himself, but I heard him and looked at him, my calves twitching with anticipation. "Well, go on then, Master. Go and check it out. Anakin and I can keep the fort here."

I gave him a reassuring nod, and he gave me a worried look before slinking off into the fray. I watched him go for a moment before leaping over the debris and tearing down a droid, my movements swift and deadly.

I froze, my gaze locked on the stun garze that had suddenly materialized in front of me, its hot, molten laser staring menacingly at my throat. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as I realized I was at the mercy of the one holding the device. My heart racing, I tried to process the unexpected turn of events. And then, I heard the voice, husky and familiar, yet laced with a hint of uncertainty.

"Ventress," I growled, the name feeling strange on my lips. It had been a long time since I'd seen my old associate, and the sight of her now was jarring. Her pale blue eyes, once cold and calculating, now seemed to hold a glimmer of curiosity, of uncertainty. Her gaze roamed over me, as if searching for something, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"Nyx, is that you, Master?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of shock and curiosity. The title, once spoken with such deference, now seemed to hold a hint of irony. "I thought you said you died on the blade of that blasted Jedi?" The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken questions and unresolved emotions. Ventress's eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if searching for answers, and I felt a surge of unease.

I let out a slow breath, my eyes never leaving Ventress's face. "Well, I've been stabbed twice in the chest by those blasted sabers, so I'd say we're even now," I said, my voice low and even. I nudged the stun garze away from my face with a talon, my gaze boring into hers. "Now, you're on the opposing force, but since we were... friends, back then, I won't stop you that much. Not killing you is mercy enough."

I turned to leave, but not before giving Ventress a piercing look. I could see the calculation in her eyes, the weighing of options, but I didn't give her a chance to respond. I leaped into the fray once more, my movements swift and deadly as I tore through the droid army. My talons swiped through the air, slicing through metal and circuitry with ease, sending droids crashing to the ground.

The sound of blaster fire and clashing steel filled the air as I fought my way through the enemy lines, my senses on high alert. I was a whirlwind of motion, my body a blur as I dodged and weaved between the droids, taking them down with precision and skill. The rush of battle was exhilarating, and I felt alive, my heart pounding in my chest.

I leaped out of the way as massive, octopus-like machines rose out of the water and slammed their tentacles into the hangar doors. "Damn it," I growled, jumping back as the super battle droids poured out. I took down a few before Anakin shouted for me: "We need to fall back!" he yelled, sprinting towards me and deflecting blaster bolts with his lightsaber.

I followed him, our footsteps pounding the deck as we retreated from the hangar. The machines were relentless, their tentacles smashing through the doors and sending debris flying everywhere. I could hear the sound of blaster fire and screams of the clone troopers as they fought to hold off the droid army.

Anakin and I fought our way through the chaos, our movements swift and coordinated as we took down droid after droid. But there were too many of them, and we were vastly outnumbered. I knew we had to get out of there, and fast, before we were overwhelmed.

We soon found a quieter corridor, relatively free from the chaos and blaster fire. I panted heavily, catching my breath, before shaking my head and gingerly touching the gash one of the blasters had left on my skin. "Oh, you're hurt," Anakin exclaimed, concern etched on his face as he gazed at me with his bright blue eyes.

I gave him a warning glance and pulled away as he reached out to touch the wound. For a moment, he looked taken aback, but then he nodded in understanding. "Right, sorry." His eyes still lingered on the injury, but he didn't push the issue.

Echo and Fives dropped down beside us, their breathing labored and their armor scarred from the intense battle. Fives's voice was strained from exertion as he reported in. "Commanders, we've got a situation here. Those new machines that just showed up are tearing us apart." He gestured to the corridor behind him, where the sound of blaster fire and crashing metal echoed through the air.

Anakin's expression was grim as he asked, "Are the others okay? How many did we lose?" Echo's face was somber, his eyes clouded with concern. "Too many to count, sir. Those machines are relentless. They just keep coming, no matter how many we take down." He paused, his chest heaving with exertion. "We need to get out of here, now. We can't hold out much longer."

I nodded in agreement, my own breathing still ragged from the fight. I could feel the cold seeping into my bones, a lingering reminder of my time in the Garden of Life. I had thought that my visits there would make me more stable, more resilient, but it seemed that the chill of the garden would never fully leave me. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the battle at hand. We needed to get out of here, and fast, before those machines overwhelmed us.

We all looked up as an old clone, 99, hobbled towards us, his movements slow and labored. "H...here," he panted, and handed us a cache of ammunition. "Thought you might need some." Fives smiled and clapped the deformed clone on the shoulder. "Thanks, 99. We owe you one."

I sniffed the air, my senses on high alert, and Anakin and the others stared at me as my pupils narrowed and my head twitched from side to side. "Uhh, Nyx?" Echo asked, his voice laced with concern. Anakin raised a finger, his blue eyes never leaving mine.

Suddenly, I sprang up onto my hind legs, my claws clicking on the floor. I raised my front paws and tapped them three times, the sound echoing through the corridor. "That's the signal, out, out, out!" Anakin shouted, and we charged forward, the droids falling like dominoes around us.

The sound of blaster fire and crashing metal filled the air as we made our way through the corridors, taking out droid after droid. I could feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins, my senses on high alert as we fought our way through the enemy lines.

I leaped over another tentacle as it slammed into the ceiling, and growled at it before bounding down the corridor, leading Echo, Fives, and 99 to the barracks. "You're safer here," I growled as Fives tried to resist, wanting to stay out and fight to help his general and the others. But my teeth closed around his shoulder, and I dragged him into the barracks, dumping him roughly onto the floor.

I froze as I saw a group of clone cadets, their young faces pale and frightened. "Uhh," said the one with blond hair, and I sniffed the air, my senses on high alert. Children, I thought, my instincts screaming at me to protect them.

The cadets stared at me, their eyes wide with fear, and I could sense their uncertainty. I knew I had to reassure them, to make them feel safe. I took a step forward, my movements slow and deliberate, and let out a gentle growl. "It's okay," I said, trying to sound calm. "I'm here to protect you."

The young cadets nodded, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. I swished my tail against 99's leg, a silent command. "Find a safe place for them to hide and get them ready to fight. The droids will find us here soon," I ordered, my voice low and urgent. 99 nodded, his eyes darting towards the cadets before he turned to lead them away.

Fives gave me a look, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "What?" I asked, my ears perked up. "You sound like a real commander again, sir," he said, his voice laced with amusement. Echo elbowed him, a gentle reminder to focus.

I sighed, my eyes closing for a brief moment before snapping open again. Fives and Echo froze, their eyes fixed on me as I growled and spun around, my jaws snapping shut around a droid that had tried to sneak up on them. "Run!" I barked, my voice echoing off the walls as the droid collapsed under me, its servomotors sparking and sputtering.

The sound of blaster fire and crashing metal filled the air as the droids closed in, their cold, calculating eyes fixed on us. I stood my ground, my teeth bared in a snarl, ready to defend my comrades and the young cadets who were counting on us to keep them safe.

The battle raged on, a relentless and exhausting blur of blaster fire and clashing steel. I was starting to lose my edge, my patience wearing thin as the droids just kept coming, like a never-ending tide of metal and wire. It was infuriating, and I could feel my anger and frustration building, simmering just below the surface.

Suddenly, Commander Cody appeared at my side, his voice calm and steady as he put a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, hey," he said, his tone soothing, but firm. I was crouched down, my eyes fixed on the floor, my growl building in my throat. Foam was starting to froth from my mouth, and I could feel the bloodlust rising in me, a hunger that seemed to grow more insatiable by the minute.

Cody's hand on my shoulder was a gentle reminder that I wasn't alone, that I had friends who cared about me, who were counting on me to keep them safe. I took a deep breath, feeling my heart rate slow, my senses come back online. I looked up at Cody, my eyes locking onto his, and I knew that I had to get a grip, for my own sake, and for the sake of those I cared about.

I shook my head, clearing the haze of battle from my mind, and launched myself at a droid that was still firing at us. With a swift swipe of my paw, I sent it crashing to the ground, its metal body crumpling into a twisted heap. I nodded to Cody, and then flew back into the fray, my senses on high alert as I took down the remaining droids.

Finally, the last droid fell, and I let out a sigh of relief. The young cadets, who had been watching from the safety of their bunks, cheered and shouted with joy. But I knew that the battle was far from over. The droids may have been defeated, but the Separatists were still out there, and I had a feeling that they were after something - or someone.

I lifted my head, my pupils narrowing as I scanned the area. Cody and the other clones turned towards me, their eyes questioning. "What is she doing?" one of the cadets asked, his voice full of wonder. Cody tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "She's looking for someone," he said, his voice low and serious. "But I thought she was supposed to stay with us."

Just then, Rex burst into the barracks, his helmet under his arm. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me, his eyes widening in surprise. "Commander?" he asked, his voice hesitant. I turned towards him, my eyes wide open, and my jaws began to tremble. Rex's expression changed from surprise to alarm, and he quickly put his helmet back on. "Arm yourselves," he told his brothers, but they barely had time to react before I took off, racing out of the barracks and down the corridor.

"Umm, what just happened?" Echo asked, scratching his head in confusion. Fives shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe she sensed that the general was in trouble. We all know they have a strong bond." I could hear their voices fading into the distance as I ran, my heart pounding in my chest. I had to find the general, and I had to find him now.

I burst into the room, my eyes scanning the scene before me. The general was locked in combat with Ventress, their lightsabers clashing in a flurry of sparks and light. I let out a screeching roar, a sound that cut through the air like a knife, making Ventress flinch and stumble backwards. I took advantage of the momentary distraction to bowl her over, my paws swiping out in a swift and deadly arc.

"Thanks!" Anakin shouted, his voice filled with gratitude, as he got back on his feet, his lightsaber still blazing with energy. I glared at Ventress, my eyes blazing with fury, my growl low and menacing. "You had a chance to escape, Ventress," I snarled, my voice dripping with contempt. "But like all Separatists, you're too stupid to take the opportunities you get." My words were laced with venom, my tone dripping with disdain.

Ventress struggled to her feet, her eyes flashing with anger, but I could see the fear lurking behind them. She knew she was no match for me, not now, not when I was in this state. I took a step closer to her, my paws making a soft crunching sound on the floor, and she took a step back, her eyes darting towards Anakin, hoping for some kind of rescue. But Anakin just stood there, his lightsaber still humming, his eyes fixed on Ventress with a cold, calculating gaze.

I sprang into action, pinning Ventress to the ground. Her lightsaber flew out of her hand and she shrieked as I buried one of my claws in her shoulder blade. "Fly, little mark, fly!" I barked, letting her go or rather, throwing her towards the door, away from the DNA of all the young clones. Anakin and I watched as she scrambled to her feet and ran for her life.

I let out a sigh of relief, my chest heaving with exertion. Anakin turned to me, a grin spreading across his face. "Good job, Nyx. You saved me and got Ventress to fly. Now that we've taken care of her, let's gather the troops and head home." I nodded in agreement, my ears perking up at the sound of his voice.

As we made our way back to the barracks, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. I had protected Anakin and the young clones, and I had sent Ventress running for her life. It was a good day to be a warrior.