As you returned to the base, the twin suns of Tatooine casting long shadows across the desert landscape, Captain Anakin Skywalker was already there, his silhouette sharp against the fading light. The moment your starfighter touched down, he rushed over, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and frustration. "Nyx, Nyx, oh my gosh, you scared me! Don't do that again," he exclaimed, his voice carrying a hint of the boy he once was.

You let out a snort of smoke in his direction, the acrid scent mingling with the dry desert air. Your gaze, however, was fixed on the dugs as they assembled their forces, their movements precise and disciplined. The clanking of their armor and the hum of their machinery filled the air, a stark contrast to the serene twilight.

With a raised eyebrow, you turned to Anakin, the weight of the situation settling heavily between you. "They're going to force it out," he said, his voice tense and resolute. "The Chancellor was pretty adamant about having the Zilo Beast on Coruscant." His words hung in the air, a reminder of the political machinations that often dictated their missions.

A hiss escaped your lips as your tail lashed out, striking a Dug soldier who dared to pass too close. He scrambled to his feet, but you were faster, whirling around and sinking your teeth into his chest. The sickening crunch of bone echoed as the cavity caved in. "Nyx, what are you doing?" Anakin's voice rang out, panic lacing his words. He grabbed your tail, desperately trying to pull you away from the Dug. But your teeth were locked in deep, and with a fierce shake of your head, you performed the death shake, much like a wolf tearing into its prey, ripping away a chunk of flesh.

With a final, powerful shake, you let the Dug fly, his body hurtling through the air before crashing into another platoon of his own soldiers, killing them on impact.

Turning to face the tower, you raised your voice so the Dug leader could hear. "Your soldiers die by the teeth and claws of me and the Zilo Beast! Just wait and see, bastard!"

Without a second thought, you shot away from Anakin, from your friends, from everything. You headed straight for the sinkhole, dropping down and landing on the ground with a thud. Sniffing around, you followed the scent trail that the Zilo Beast had left behind, determined to track it down.

"You came at last," said its rumbling voice, and he emerged from the darkness, towering over you. Your tail lashed in agitation. "I don't have time to talk, but you and I need to leave," you said, glancing around the dark cave. It was already littered with bones, likely from the clones that had fallen in and been devoured by him.

The beast sighed and rose to his full height. "No, I'm not leaving without a fight. You're joining me, or are you going to stand by your mate's side?"

I blinked up at him, confusion evident in my eyes. "What are you talking about—a mate? I don't have such things."

Zilo sighed deeply, his massive form shifting as he nudged me gently toward the cave opening. "Go out there and be with your people," he said, his voice a low rumble that echoed through the cavern. "I will be fine. It'll take more than a few dozen Dugs to kill me, my friend." His eyes softened as he looked at me, a rare moment of vulnerability. "But thank you for being here and trying to warn me." The weight of his words hung in the air, and I felt a pang of sadness as I turned to leave, knowing this might be the last time I saw him.

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I could only watch as the Dugs drove Zilo out of the sinkhole and onto the ground. "Now!" shouted Anakin, and the laser beams all lit up, targeting him. The beast roared and swiped at the tanks, his massive claws tearing through metal. I just stood there, staring up at him, my hands folded before my stomach. Anakin stood near me, not going to let me out of his sight again—not after what I did here. Mace stood nearby too, his presence a silent reminder of the gravity of the situation.

"We better hope that the Chancellor doesn't want to kill this beast," Mace said softly, walking back to the office where you all were. You didn't follow him; you stood there, staring as the Zilo Beast began to weaken. Your heart shattered as his roars of anger turned to pain, and soon the roars died altogether, replaced by whimpering. Despite his agony, he still managed to crush a few tanks.

"Draw back," Anakin ordered, and the tanks drew back, their beams still shooting at the Zilo Beast. The mighty creature teetered, then fell forward, his eyes closing.

Anakin looked at you, then laid a hand on your shoulder. "Come on, we're going home," he said.

I turned away from the downed beast and walked out of the room, leaving it all behind.

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The oppressive stillness hung heavy around us as we boarded our ship, the air thick with unspoken tension. Amid this silence, another vessel approached—a formidable sight—bearing the Zillo Beast. It was a monstrosity tethered by thick, metal wires that glinted ominously in the stark light. With measured steps, I found my way to a crate in the hold and settled down, the cool surface offering no comfort.

Anakin spared me a glance, his cerulean eyes brimming with a turmoil of concern. It radiated from him in palpable waves, washing over me, yet I remained an island unto myself. I offered no acknowledgment, no sign that I registered his worry. Our wordless exchange hung suspended between us—an invisible thread taut with all that was left unsaid.

"Commander, here," Rex's voice cut through the stillness, a hint of warmth in his tone as he extended a ration bar towards me. Yet, I could only muster the strength to turn my head away, offering him nothing but the cold shoulder—a silent fortress of solitude.

I heard the soft exhale of his sigh, a sound that carried the weight of resignation. There was a subtle shift in the air as his presence deflated beside me, yet with a steadfast resolve, he gently laid the ration bar on the crate next to me anyway. It sat there, a quiet testament to his unwavering loyalty amidst the cold draft of my indifference.

The ship jolted, a telltale shudder that rippled through the hull as we made contact with the surface of Coruscant. I rose, my movements mirroring the clones' disciplined exit, and together we disembarked into the heart of the Republic.

There, amidst the grandeur of the capital, we were met by Chancellor Palpatine. His gaze found mine, sharp and piercing. "Still opposed to having this beast here, Commander Nyx?" he inquired, his voice dripping with a cold, arrogant disdain.

I met his challenge with a glare as steely as durasteel, my response unspoken yet loud in its silence. Leaning in, I allowed my whisper to carry the weight of a promise laced with venom. "One day, Palpatine, you will be lying before my feet, dead. We will see who begs for mercy then."

With those words left hanging like a guillotine's blade, I turned on my heel and departed. The sight of the Zillo Beast, now a pawn in the Chancellor's game, being strapped to machines and subjected to whatever torturous devices this weasel had concocted, was more than I could bear to witness.

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Back in the solitude of my chambers, I lay sprawled across my bed, my gaze fixed vacantly on the ceiling above. The world outside felt distant, a muffled echo until a knock at the door stirred me from my reverie, coaxing a weary sigh from my lips. I already sensed who it was before his name even grazed my thoughts.

"Come in," I called out, my voice devoid of emotion, as if the very act of speaking was a burden too heavy to bear.

The door creaked open, and Obi-Wan stepped inside, his presence a familiar comfort in the stark room. In his hands, he carried a tray of food, an offering of sustenance and perhaps, solace.

"Hey there, Nyx. Are you doing okay?" he asked, his voice laced with a gentle concern that seemed to fill the space between us.

I coughed, the sound harsh and abrupt in the quiet of the room. "Once the Chancellor is dead, I will be," I stated flatly, my words hanging heavy with a dark resolve.

Obi-Wan started at my declaration, his features etched with shock and disapproval. "Padawan, don't say things like that," he scolded, his voice firm yet tinged with an undercurrent of concern.

I returned his admonishment with a hollow gaze. "How many more must suffer before you see the atrocities he commits, Master?" I sneered, my tone bitter as I challenged his allegiance.

"Nyx, this is not you who's talking now," he said shakily, taking a seat at my bedside, his blue eyes searching mine for a glimmer of the person he knew. "This... this is the dark side of you. You don't hate Chancellor Palpatine."

That was the catalyst, the spark that ignited the fury within me. I shot up with such force that Obi-Wan nearly toppled off my bed. In a swift motion, I seized his cloak and yanked him close to me until we were mere inches apart, his body pressed against mine in an unintended intimacy. But I didn't care; my anger eclipsed all else.

"You don't know that!" I barked at him, my voice cracking with the intensity of my emotions. "He wanted me, Master. He wanted to test me too," I confessed, shaking my head as I held his gaze with a fierce glare.

"When I was flying a few weeks ago, I was downed by netting, and the Coruscant Guard took me to a warehouse so they could ship me off to that false Chancellor. Who knows what he would've done with me... And now he's doing the same to the Zillo Beast," I continued, my words laced with desperation and disgust.

I stared intently at my master, imploring him to understand. "Don't you see? This is wrong."

I released him when he remained silent, a wordless void where I had hoped for understanding. Withdrawing from him, I stood up, distancing myself from the man I had once leaned on for guidance.

"Of course, you wouldn't understand. You're human," I spat out bitterly, my words tinged with a venomous edge. "You guys never understand the torment we 'monsters' go through for your enjoyment."

The accusation hung in the air, a chasm growing between us, filled with the unspoken pain and resentment of being seen as the other, the outcast—misunderstood and maligned for simply being different.

"Nyx, I..." Obi-Wan's voice trailed off, his shoulders sagging as he grappled with the weight of my words. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration and contemplation, before resting his hands on his knees.

"I trust you, and I believe you," he said earnestly, locking eyes with me in an attempt to bridge the gap that had formed between us. "But the Coruscant Guard capturing you... Sure, Commander Fox and his squad can be a bit quick on the trigger, but they would never intentionally harm another living being," he continued, his tone firm yet laced with an effort to reassure and reason.

Silence was my only response as I stood there, gazing out at the bustling cityscape of Coruscant, a sea of lights and life that felt so distant from my own turmoil. Obi-Wan rose to his feet, his movements deliberate and cautious as he approached me.

His hands found their way to my shoulders, and instinctively, I stiffened under his touch. When I turned to face him, my eyes were void of emotion, a stark contrast to the vibrant city behind me.

"Please, Nyx," he implored, his voice soft yet insistent, "help me understand why you're so angry at this Chancellor. Palpatine just wants what's best for the Republic." His plea was earnest, seeking to comprehend the storm raging within me, to find the root of my disdain for the man who held the galaxy in his grasp.

My lips slowly drew back to reveal fangs as sharp as thorns, a physical manifestation of the inner beast that words alone could not convey. "If he truly wanted what's best for us, he wouldn't have dragged this war out so much," I said, my voice low and laced with bitterness.

I stepped away from Obi-Wan, creating a chasm of space and understanding between us. "But no, Obi-Wan, you will never understand, so I won't bother with you—or Anakin or Ahsoka, for that matter. You're human, and that's bad enough. I can't believe I thought that you guys could be my family."

With those final words hanging in the air like a death knell, I walked towards the door. My hand rested on the handle, pausing for a moment before I turned to deliver one last warning. "Just heed this: watch out for Palpatine. Before long, he will poison this Republic you all love so much. And then, don't come crying to me."

And with that, I left the room, leaving behind the shattered illusion of camaraderie and the unbridgeable divide between species and beliefs.