Ember stretched luxuriously on the sun-drenched perch near her window, her fiery wings unfurling in a languid arc. The golden light streaming through the tall windows danced across the iridescent feathers, setting them aglow like a living ember. She let out a wide yawn, her sharp teeth glinting briefly before she shook herself awake.

The faint creak of the door made her glance over, just in time to see Rex stepping into the room. His armor caught the light in muted flashes, the blue markings a sharp contrast to the worn, silvery sheen of his plates. He paused in the doorway, his helmet tucked under one arm, the other hand resting casually on his belt. There was an ease in his posture that Ember had come to appreciate—a soldier's calm that masked the weight of countless battles.

"Morning, Rex," she said, her voice warm and lilting as she folded her wings neatly behind her. The room still carried a faint scent of cedar from the carved bed Obi-Wan had gifted her, a tangible reminder of the Jedi's generosity.

Rex's lips quirked into a small, familiar smile. "Good morning, Ember. Sleep well?"

She nodded, padding softly toward him on taloned feet, her smile mirroring his. "Well enough. Though I kept dreaming I was flying over the desert again." Her gaze flicked toward the window, where the horizon stretched wide and golden, reminiscent of the endless dunes she'd once soared above.

Rex chuckled, his voice rich with camaraderie. "Better than dreaming of battle. You've earned a little peace."

Her laughter was soft but genuine, the sound filling the room like a warm breeze. "And so have you, Captain."

Rex chuckled dryly, the sound low and self-deprecating. He shook his head as he leaned casually against the doorframe, his sharp gaze meeting hers. "You and I both know that won't happen," he said, his voice tinged with wry amusement.

With a deliberate motion, he stepped forward and placed a tray of tea on the polished surface of the table near the window. The delicate cups rattled faintly against the tray as he set it down, their earthy scent wafting into the room. Ember tilted her head, watching him curiously.

Rex straightened, his brow furrowing slightly as if he were trying to decide whether or not to laugh. "By the way," he said, his voice carrying an almost casual tone that didn't quite mask his skepticism. "There's a guy downstairs asking for you. Says his name is... Spider-Man. Wants to talk to you."

Ember blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Spider-Man?" she echoed, the name rolling off her tongue with equal parts confusion and intrigue. "What in the stars is a Spider-Man?"

Rex shrugged, the movement easy but his expression remaining guarded. "Beats me. Weird name for a guy, but he didn't seem hostile. Said it was important."

Her wings rustled slightly as she moved toward the table, pouring herself a cup of tea. She took a thoughtful sip, her golden eyes narrowing. "Sounds like trouble."

"Could be," Rex admitted, his hand resting on the hilt of his blaster. "Want me to go with you?"

Ember set the cup down and flashed him a small, knowing smile. "No need. I can handle a Spider-Man."

SCENEBREAK

Spider-Man winced as a blunted arrow grazed his shoulder, the force of the impact sending him stumbling slightly. "Seriously, guys!" he called out, his voice tinged with exasperation. "I'm here to see your friend, not hurt anyone!"

The clones stationed around the perimeter chuckled, their amusement tinged with a soldier's wariness. One of them, his helmet slightly tilted as if sizing him up, smirked. "Ember doesn't want to see you, idiot. Get out!"

Spider-Man straightened, brushing imaginary dust off his suit as if to maintain a shred of dignity. "Yeah, well, that's not exactly up to you, now is it?"

Before another arrow could fly, a firm, commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade. "No."

The clones froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the voice. Spider-Man turned, his senses buzzing, to see a striking figure emerging from the shadows. The first thing he noticed was her hair—an otherworldly cascade of red and white, shimmering faintly as if kissed by sunlight. A crown of golden particles hovered around her head, glowing softly like a halo, shifting and dancing with every step she took. Her presence was magnetic, regal, and undeniably powerful.

Her lips curved into a calm, enigmatic smile as her golden eyes locked onto him. "You must be Spider-Man," she said, her voice warm but laced with an unspoken authority that made the clones step back instinctively.

Spider-Man blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. "Uh, yeah," he stammered, his usual quips deserting him under her steady gaze. "That's me. Spider-Man. You must be Ember, I'm guessing?"

She inclined her head gracefully, her smile widening just enough to soften the moment. "You guess correctly. Let's talk, shall we?"