As we finished our meal and Obi-Wan and Ahsoka left to attend to their duties, Anakin turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"So, now that you've gotten to know us, it's time for you to meet the rest of the cavalry," he said, a grin spreading across his face.

I felt my heart skip a beat, fear creeping up my spine. "Do you really think people would want to meet me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Anakin rolled his eyes, but his smile remained gentle. "Oh, why not? You're pretty, and I know these lads would want to see a pretty woman now and then."

His words caught me off guard. Pretty? Me? I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, and I quickly looked away.

"I... I don't know, Anakin," I mumbled, fidgeting with the hem of my dress. "What if they react badly? What if they see my eyes and..."

Anakin's hand on my shoulder silenced my doubts. I looked up to meet his intense blue gaze.

"Hey," he said softly, "they're good men. They've seen all sorts of beings across the galaxy. Trust me, okay?"

As I stared into his eyes, I felt my resolve wavering. Could I really do this? Could I face a group of strangers and hope for acceptance?

"Okay," I finally whispered, surprising even myself. "I'll try."

Anakin's face lit up with a brilliant smile. "That's the spirit! Come on, let's go introduce you to the 501st."

As we stood up and began to walk, I couldn't help but wonder: was I making a terrible mistake? Or could this be the beginning of something wonderful?

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Anakin led me to the hangar bay, a vast space filled with the buzz of activity. Clones were everywhere - some staring curiously in our direction, others focused on their duties. As we passed, many snapped to attention, saluting Anakin with a crisp "General."

I kept my head down, letting my dark hair fall over my eyes like a protective curtain. The sunset-colored dress I wore suddenly felt too bright, too noticeable. I regretted not having other options - Count Dooku had only allowed me tight-fitting skin suits, which now felt too uncomfortable, too much like my old life.

As we walked, I could feel the weight of curious glances on me. My heart raced, and I fought the urge to turn and run.

"It's okay," Anakin whispered, sensing my discomfort. "They're just curious. You're doing great."

I nodded slightly, not trusting my voice. How could I explain that every stare felt like a threat, every whisper like a judgment?

Suddenly, Anakin stopped. I nearly bumped into him, my eyes still fixed on the floor.

"Rex!" Anakin called out cheerfully. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. This was it. The moment of truth. As I slowly raised my head, I wondered: would this 'Rex' see me as a person, or just another experiment gone wrong?

I lifted my eyes to see a blonde clone with blue and white armor. He was smiling friendly, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Oh, hello there," he said, offering his hand. "I'm Captain Rex."

I took his hand, feeling the roughness of a soldier's palm against mine. "I'm Nyx," I murmured, quickly turning my head away. But not before I caught a glimpse of curiosity in his eyes.

Through the Force, I could sense only curiosity from Rex, tinged with amusement and even a touch of concern. It was... unexpected.

"Is, uhh... she alright, sir?" Rex asked Anakin, his voice laced with genuine concern.

Anakin let out a chuckle and, to my surprise, wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I stiffened immediately, the touch foreign and alarming. Count Dooku had never touched me unless it was to slap me across the face.

"She's just a bit shy, Rex," Anakin said, his voice warm. "But she's got a story to tell, don't you, Nyx?"

I looked up at Anakin, then at Rex, feeling caught between two worlds. The urge to flee battled with a strange new desire to stay, to be a part of something.

"I... I'm not from around here," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Rex's eyes softened. "Well, none of us are, really," he said with a gentle smile. "But we're all family here."

Family. The word echoed in my mind, foreign yet alluring. Could I really be part of a family?

As I stood there, surrounded by the buzz of the hangar and the warmth of Anakin's arm, I couldn't help but wonder: was this the beginning of a new chapter in my life? Or was I setting myself up for heartbreak?

I managed a slight smile, and I could sense a spike of emotion from both Anakin and Rex. They'd noticed, and somehow, that made the smile feel more real.

"Well then, come on in and you can tell us all about it," Rex said, straightening up. I nodded, giving Anakin one last look before the Captain guided me away to a group of men either bickering or laughing together.

As we approached, they all snapped to attention. "At ease, soldiers," Rex said. "Boys, this is Nyx, our new friend."

Rex offered his hand, probably hoping to make me feel safer, but I didn't take it. I was still new to handholding and touching people in general. Instead, I lifted my gaze, meeting at least 20 pairs of honey-brown eyes, all filled with kindness, curiosity, and concern.

"Hello there," said one of them, wearing a kama across his shoulders just like Rex. "I'm Fives, and this is Echo. It's nice to meet you, Nyx." His smile was warm and genuine. "How about we take you around the cruiser and let you get to know us better?"

Through the Force, I could sense that this soldier was strong and brave, the kind who would do anything for anyone if the right reason came to mind - especially for his brothers.

I hesitated for a moment, overwhelmed by their openness. These men, who had seen so much war and pain, were welcoming me without question. It was... unexpected.

"I... I'd like that," I said softly, surprising myself with my own answer.

As Fives and Echo stepped forward, ready to begin the tour, I couldn't help but wonder: was this what it felt like to belong? To be accepted? And more importantly, how long would it last before they discovered what I truly was?