The agony was all-consuming, like a thousand tiny needles piercing my flesh. I teetered on the edge of sanity, barely clinging to consciousness as the doctors injected their supposed "calming" serum. But I knew better. Their efforts were futile, doomed to fail against the tempest raging within me.

I thrashed against my restraints, my body convulsing as the doctor stepped back. Just then, the imposing figure of Count Dooku entered the room, his presence filling the air with a palpable tension.

"How is our subject progressing?" he inquired, his voice cold and calculating.

"She is taking this surprisingly well," a cold voice interjected. As I forced my eyes to focus, a dark-haired man stepped into view. My lips curled back, baring my fangs at the sight of Dr. Wu. That snake would pay for his treachery.

Count Dooku nodded, his eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. "Good. I want her battle-ready within the month. The Republic forces are drawing nearer."

He then turned his steely gaze upon Dr. Wu, who seemed to shrink under the weight of it. "See to it that she does not die under your watch," Dooku growled, his tone leaving no room for failure.

Wu swallowed hard, bobbing his head in acquiescence. "Yes, sir," he stammered, his earlier confidence evaporating like mist in the morning sun.

I writhed against my bonds, my mind racing with thoughts of vengeance. They would regret the day they decided to make me their weapon. Little did they know, the fire they were stoking would soon consume them all.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

A month had passed since Count Dooku's visit, and I found myself curled up in my cage, drifting in and out of a restless slumber. The sudden rattle of metal bars jolted me awake, and I lifted my head to see the feeder—the fool who dared disturb my rest.

"Come on, scum. Come, come," he taunted, backing away from the grate as the door swung wide open.

My wings rustled, stretching out as I rose to my feet. This new form they'd given me still felt foreign, my paws shaking as I steadied myself. But deep within, beyond the anger and hatred that had sustained me for so long, I felt something stirring. A fire, not of rage, but of something deeper, darker.

As I stared at the open door, a primal urge surged through me. This wasn't just about survival anymore. No, this was about power—a power they couldn't begin to comprehend. They thought they had created a weapon, but they had no idea what they'd truly unleashed.

My eyes locked onto the feeder, and I felt my lips curl into what might have been a smile. Soon, very soon, they would learn the true meaning of fear.

I kept my newfound power under wraps, padding out after the human who dared to make a fool of me. My black fur bristled slightly, a physical manifestation of the rage simmering beneath the surface. I could sense Dooku's presence nearby; no doubt he was here to witness me devour this man. A smirk played across my lips—finally, something I could do without failing.

The feeder's fear was palpable, its scent hanging thick in the air. I curled my lips back, revealing fangs longer than his fingers and sharper than any blade. The low murmur of Count Dooku and Dr. Wu's conversation reached my ears, but their words were mere background noise. My focus was solely on the man before me, trembling as he dangled a piece of goat meat in his hands.

Time seemed to slow as I stalked towards him, each step bringing me closer to my prey. The fool thought he was in control, but I knew better. This wasn't about food—it was about power, about showing them all what I had become.

As I drew nearer, I could see the sweat beading on the feeder's brow, could hear the rapid pounding of his heart. Little did he know, his fear was only making me stronger, fueling the dark fire that burned within me.

A whisper slithered at the edges of my consciousness, a single word repeating like a mantra: Attack. I froze, my gaze drawn to the one-way mirror where I knew Count Dooku stood watching, his amber eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Attack.

A smirk curled my lips as I surrendered to the command, letting instinct take over. Without a moment's hesitation, I leaped. The young man's scream pierced the air as I bowled him over, my paws pressing hard against his chest, pinning him to the ground.

Time seemed to slow as I bared my fangs. In one swift, brutal motion, I tore into his throat. The metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth as the man's struggles weakened. Within minutes, he lay still beneath me, his life extinguished.

As I stood over my prey, I could feel Dooku's approval radiating through the glass. But beneath the satisfaction of a successful hunt, something else stirred—a realization that I had become the very weapon they desired. The question that remained was: could they truly control what they had created?

"Tranq her and make sure she's ready for travel," Dooku's voice echoed from beyond the glass, followed by the sound of his retreating footsteps. I barely registered his words, consumed as I was with devouring my prey.

Suddenly, a shout pierced the air. "Shoot her!"

Before I could react, tranquilizer arrows whistled through the air, piercing my fur. Pain erupted across my body, and I howled in agony. Staggering, I tried to maintain my footing as feelings of betrayal and rage coursed through me. My leathery wings flared out instinctively, a futile attempt at intimidation as more arrows buried themselves deep within my flesh.

"No..." I whispered, my vision beginning to blur. The word caught in my throat, transforming into a defiant roar. "No!"

But even as I fought against the encroaching darkness, I could feel my strength ebbing away. The world tilted and spun around me, my limbs growing heavier with each passing second. As I collapsed to the ground, one thought burned in my mind: they would pay for this betrayal. All of them.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Consciousness returned slowly, bringing with it a throbbing pain and unfamiliar surroundings. As my vision cleared, I realized I was in a cell—larger than my cage back at the lab, but a prison nonetheless. This wasn't home, not that the lab ever truly was.

"Ah, you're awake at last. I was wondering when Master's new pet would stir," a feminine voice cut through the silence.

I turned, my movements sluggish, to find a pale-faced, bald woman leaning against the bars of my cell, arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips.

"Who... who are you?" I managed to gurgle, my throat dry and voice hoarse from disuse.

She blinked, surprise flickering across her features. "Ah, so you can talk. Thought that was just another of Master's myths." Her smirk widened. "Well, for your information, I'm Asajj Ventress, Count Dooku's apprentice."

The name Dooku sent a shiver down my spine, memories of pain and betrayal flooding back. I struggled to my feet, wings rustling as I tried to appear less vulnerable.

"Where am I?" I growled, eyeing Ventress warily.

"That's not for you to know, pet," she replied, her voice dripping with condescension. "All you need to understand is that your life is about to get a lot more... interesting."

I snorted derisively, curling back up on the cold floor of my cell. My wings wrapped around me like a protective cocoon, a futile attempt to shield myself from this new reality.

"My life has been nothing but misery and pain since I hatched," I growled, my voice laced with bitterness. "Why would Dooku treat me any differently than those who created me?"

The words hung heavy in the air, a testament to the suffering I'd endured. I could feel Ventress's eyes on me, probably gauging my reaction, assessing my worth to her master.

"You speak as if you expect kindness," she said, her voice a mix of amusement and something almost akin to pity. "In this world, creature, power is the only currency that matters. And you... you have potential."

I lifted my head slightly, meeting her gaze. There was a hardness in her eyes that spoke of her own struggles, her own pain.

"Potential for what?" I asked, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice. "To be another experiment? Another weapon?"

Ventress's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, you'll see soon enough. Rest while you can, pet. Your true trials are only just beginning."