The search didn't take long. The group, moving like shadows through the dim corridors, tracked the faint signs of life until they reached the chamber where Master Piell was held. The stale metallic air buzzed with tension, and the distant hum of droid servos echoed ominously down the narrow passageway. With swift precision, they dispatched the patrolling droids—blades flashing in arcs of plasma, sparks erupting with each strike.

Nyx, the hulking creature of sinew and fur, pressed her wet nose against a rusted durasteel door. She sniffed deeply, her ears twitching, then stepped back and slammed her head forward. The door groaned and buckled under the force, hinges snapping, and it crashed inward with a deafening clang.

Inside, a single spotlight cast a cruel, sterile beam on Master Piell. He hung suspended in the center of the room, his wrists bound high above his head by thick chains. His one good eye was closed, his face drawn with exhaustion, yet his presence still carried a quiet defiance. Around him stood an overwhelming cluster of droids, their proton weapons crackling with lethal intent, the green glow of their charge pulsing like a heartbeat.

Nyx didn't wait. A guttural snarl ripped from her throat as she lunged forward, her claws tearing into durasteel plating as though it were paper. The air filled with the screech of rending metal and the staccato pop of severed circuits. One by one, the droids fell, their lifeless husks scattered across the floor in a tangle of wires and limbs. Smoke curled from the ruined machines as Nyx stood over them, her chest heaving, her jaws slick with oil and grime.

Piell's good eye flickered open, a weary but wry smile curling his lips. "Ah," he said hoarsely, his voice dry as old parchment. "They send a monster to fetch me."

Nyx stiffened, her lips curling back to reveal glistening teeth, a low growl trembling from deep in her chest. Her gaze bore into Piell, sharp and unyielding, her entire body taut as a drawn bowstring.

"Nyx," came Obi-Wan's calm voice as he stepped into the room, the blue glow of his lightsaber fading as he deactivated it with a soft hiss. His tone was measured, but firm. "That's enough."

For a moment, the air held its breath. Nyx's growl subsided into a faint rumble, and she shifted her weight, lowering her head. Obi-Wan's eyes flicked briefly to Piell, taking in his injuries, his chains, the resolve still burning in his weary expression.

"We're here to bring you home," Obi-Wan said quietly. Then, glancing back at Nyx, he added, "Even monsters have their uses."

Piell hummed as he rubbed his raw, reddened wrists. "Sure, they do aim to kill people," he remarked with a dry chuckle, his tone as light as if he'd just returned from a leisurely stroll rather than hours in captivity. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he added, "Well, let's get out of here. I've spent far too long in this rotten cell."

He stepped toward the stairs without hesitation, his gait steady despite his ordeal. Obi-Wan and Anakin followed closely, their sabers at the ready, eyes scanning the dim corridor for any sign of reinforcements. Nyx lingered behind, her quills rattling like an uneasy wind chime as she prowled the cell's perimeter, sniffing the cold air for anything out of place. Satisfied, she snorted, her hot breath steaming in the chill, and padded after them, her talons clicking against the floor.

As they made their way down the corridor, the rest of the group—Rex, Ahsoka, and a contingent of clones—joined them, their blasters held high. The sound of synchronized boots and the quiet hum of ignited lightsabers filled the hall.

"We need to find my officer," Piell said suddenly, his tone brisk and commanding despite the fatigue lining his face.

Nyx's reptilian head snapped toward him, her amber eyes narrowing. "Why?" she grunted, her voice a gravelly snarl that scraped through the tension like a blade on stone.

Piell's good eye sharpened into a glare. "He's the one with the other half of the Nexus route information," he replied curtly, his voice bristling with the kind of authority that dared no argument.

Nyx froze mid-step, her talons skidding slightly on the smooth floor. Her quills flared like a forest of needles as she twisted to face him. "What?" she barked, her voice echoing down the corridor. "Are you stupid?"

The group stilled, their movements faltering. Ahsoka exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Anakin, who groaned softly, already bracing for the explosion.

Piell's face darkened, his hand snapping to the hilt of his saber. "Don't speak to me like that, you overgrown lizard," he snarled, his blade igniting in a sudden flash of magenta light.

Nyx bared her teeth, her jagged jaws parting as she lowered herself, muscles coiling as if ready to strike. The air crackled with the unspoken promise of violence.

Before the tension could snap, Echo and Fives moved like lightning. They planted themselves between Piell and Nyx, their armor clinking softly as they raised their hands, palms outward in a gesture of restraint.

"Don't talk to her like that either, old man," Fives quipped, his voice dripping with insubordinate sarcasm. His helmet tilted ever so slightly as he gave Piell a pointed look. Echo nodded in agreement, his body language calm but firm.

Rex sighed, his expression a mask of exasperation. "Stand down, all of you," he barked, his authoritative tone cutting through the brewing chaos. Cody, standing just behind him, pinched the bridge of his nose beneath his visor, muttering, "Take it easy. We've got bigger problems."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat loudly, his presence a stabilizing force amidst the fraying nerves. "That's quite enough," he said, his calm yet firm voice brooking no argument. His eyes moved between Piell and Nyx. "We're not here to fight one another. Our priority is the Nexus route—and getting out alive."

Nyx's quills settled, though her glare remained locked on Piell. With a final snarl, she turned sharply, her claws clicking as she stalked ahead. Piell deactivated his saber with an annoyed grunt, muttering something under his breath as he fell back into step behind the clones.

"Lovely," Anakin murmured to Ahsoka, his voice dripping with irony. "Another harmonious rescue."

Ahsoka smirked faintly, shaking her head. "Just another day with the Jedi."

The group pressed onward, their focus shifting back to the mission, though the lingering tension sparked like static in the air around them.

SCENEBREAK

It didn't take long before they reached the control center. The air grew heavier, tinged with the faint hum of active machinery behind the sealed doors. Nyx sniffed around the edges, her nostrils flaring as she took in the faint traces of life lingering within. Her quills rippled, and a deep growl rumbled in her throat.

"There are still people in there," she grunted, her amber eyes narrowing at the seams of the reinforced door.

Master Piell didn't even bother glancing at her. He rolled his eye with visible irritation, his patience thinning by the moment. "Just cut it open," he snapped, pointing his ignited lightsaber toward the lock.

Nyx's growl deepened, the sound vibrating in her chest like distant thunder. She shot a glare at Piell but stepped forward, her claws unsheathing with a sharp, metallic shk-shk. With deliberate force, she drove them into the durasteel casing of the lock. Sparks flew as she carved through it, the groan of tortured metal echoing through the corridor. The lock gave way with a loud pop, and the door slid open with a reluctant hiss.

The group rushed inside, weapons raised and ready for a fight. The room was dimly lit, consoles flickering with green and blue light. Standing in the center was a commando droid, its matte black frame gleaming in the low light. Beside it stood a tall figure clad in the blue-gray robes of the Techno Union, his long face furrowed in a scowl.

Nyx immediately lowered herself into a crouch, positioning her massive frame between the intruders and her protégés. Her jagged teeth bared in a threatening snarl, and her eyes locked on the commando droid.

"Leave," she growled, her voice guttural and dripping with menace.

The droid stiffened, its photoreceptors flickering briefly. It hesitated for only a moment before its combat algorithms overrode its loyalty protocols. Backing away slowly, it turned and marched out of the room without a word. The Techno Union official's lips curled in irritation, watching his supposed bodyguard retreat.

"Coward," the official muttered under his breath. He turned to the commando droid, his expression darkening further. "What's going on? Who is this?" he demanded, gesturing toward Nyx with a dismissive wave.

The commando droid tilted its head slightly, the servos in its neck clicking faintly. "You haven't heard of the Jedi called Nyx?" it asked, its monotone voice carrying a faint note of incredulity. "She was one of ours before the Jedi took her."

Nyx's snarl grew louder, the muscles in her shoulders tightening. Her claws clicked against the floor as she shifted her weight forward, ready to strike.

"I was never a true Sith," she snapped, her voice low and venomous, "and Khandrook knows that."

The name hissed through her teeth like a curse, and the Techno Union official flinched slightly at the venom in her tone. For a moment, the room seemed to still, the tension thick as smoke.

Behind her, Obi-Wan stepped forward, his calm voice breaking the silence. "Nyx, stand down. He's not worth it." His hand hovered near the hilt of his saber, though he made no move to draw it yet.

Nyx shot him a glance, her lip twitching in irritation, but she relented, taking a step back. Her quills slowly settled, though the low rumble in her chest didn't cease entirely.

The Techno Union official's frown deepened, and his gaze darted between Nyx and the Jedi. "You'll regret this interference," he muttered, reaching for a concealed communicator at his belt.

Anakin didn't give him the chance. With a quick motion, he used the Force to yank the device from the official's grasp and crushed it in midair, the fragments clattering to the floor.

"Not today," Anakin said flatly, his eyes narrowing.

The official paled, backing away toward the far wall, while the commando droid shifted uneasily.

Nyx crouched low again, her eyes gleaming with predatory intent. "Shall I handle him?" she growled, glancing back at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, Nyx. We need him alive—for now."

The corner of Nyx's mouth twitched into something between a smirk and a snarl. "If you insist."

Nyx's growl deepened, her quills flaring once more as she stalked closer to the Techno Union official. Her voice rumbled like distant thunder, low and dangerous. "Why did you kidnap Master Piell?" she demanded, her jagged teeth bared. "He's got nothing for you."

The official straightened, his chin lifting defiantly despite the predator standing before him. He crossed his arms, his long face twisted into a scowl. "He has the information to the Nexus route," he said plainly, his voice clipped. "We need that route just as much as you Republicans do. Actually, we need it more." He stepped forward, emboldened by his own desperation. "My people are suffering."

Nyx snorted, a sharp, derisive sound that echoed off the cold durasteel walls. "And whose fault is that?" she snapped, her tone laced with venom. "Not ours, at least. Don't you dare pin that on us."

The official's lip curled, but he remained silent. He glanced down for a moment, his hands twitching, as if searching for a retort, but Nyx wasn't finished.

"You don't take care of your own people," she growled, her amber eyes boring into him like molten fire. She loomed closer, forcing him to take an uneasy step back. "You hand them over to scavengers like the Techno Union and hope they survive. And most of all—" she let the words hang for a beat, the temperature in her tone dropping like a blade "—Count Dooku doesn't take care of them either."

At the mention of Dooku's name, the official flinched, his face flickering with something between guilt and anger. Nyx's lips curled into a grim, humorless smirk. "Oh, yes. I know him better than anyone," she continued, her voice heavy with disdain. "He may have been a good Master once—patient, wise, even kind when it suited him. But he was never a good Count. Never a leader worth following."

Obi-Wan stepped closer, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. "And he's certainly no savior," he added, his tone quiet yet cutting. "Whatever promises he's made to your people, I can assure you, they're hollow."

The official's gaze darted between Nyx and Obi-Wan, his defiance faltering. "What choice do we have?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Republic... the Jedi... none of you have helped us. You don't care about the Outer Rim—about our survival."

Nyx let out a harsh laugh, her quills rattling with the force of it. "Don't mistake me for a preacher of the Republic," she snarled. "I've seen its flaws up close. I know how many lives it's failed. But Dooku doesn't care about your survival any more than the Republic does. He's just better at pretending. And when he's finished using you, he'll discard you like the rest."

The official's face hardened, though the flicker of doubt in his eyes remained. He opened his mouth to speak, but Anakin stepped forward, his tone sharp and uncompromising. "You kidnapped a Jedi Master, put lives at risk, and you expect sympathy?" He raised his saber slightly, the blue light casting shadows on the walls. "You're lucky we don't end this right now."

"Enough," Obi-Wan interjected, placing a steadying hand on Anakin's shoulder. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of warning beneath it. "We're not here to debate politics. Our mission is the Nexus route, and that's what we're leaving with."

Nyx leaned back slightly, her gaze still locked on the official. "I'll give you this one chance," she growled. "You walk out of here alive, but only because your people don't need another corpse weighing them down. Do better for them." Her quills lowered slightly, though her glare remained sharp enough to cut steel. "Or someone else will finish what I started."

The official hesitated for a long moment, then nodded stiffly. "Fine," he muttered. "Take your Jedi and your route. But when your Republic forgets us again, don't expect our help."

Nyx snorted, stepping aside and gesturing toward the door with one clawed hand. "Get out of my sight," she said coldly. The official and the commando droid moved quickly, their footsteps retreating down the corridor without another word.

Behind her, Rex gave a low whistle. "Remind me never to get on your bad side," he said, his tone half-joking.

Nyx turned to him, the faintest hint of a smirk curling her lips. "You'd have to try really hard to be that stupid, Captain," she muttered. Then, with a shake of her quills, she turned to Obi-Wan. "Well? What's next?"

"Onward," Obi-Wan said, his tone laced with both weariness and resolve. "We still have an officer to find."

SCENEBREAK

It took nearly two grueling hours of navigating dimly lit hallways, slicing through patrols, and evading traps before they finally found Officer Tarkin. The cell reeked of burnt circuits and rust, the flickering red lights casting sharp shadows on the cold walls. Tarkin was strung up in electro-handcuffs, his expression tight with discomfort but unyielding as ever.

"Tarkin," Master Piell said with a rare hint of relief, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. "You're all right."

Tarkin nodded stiffly, his face a picture of composed irritation rather than gratitude. "I should think so," he replied dryly, his gaze shifting beyond Piell to where Nyx loomed near the doorway, her quills rattling faintly. "But I will not be all right if that thing eats me." He inclined his head toward her, his tone sharp and cutting.

Nyx didn't so much as flinch. She had long stopped caring about how officials like Tarkin viewed her, their narrow minds clinging to fear of what they didn't understand. Her focus was elsewhere—on Anakin, Obi-Wan, and the clones who had fought beside her, the soldiers who saw her not as a beast, but as an ally. She had Cody's loyalty, Rex's respect, and most of all, the bond of the 501st.

Cody's voice broke the tension. "We'd better get out of here," he said, his blaster trained on the doorway. Rex nodded in silent agreement, stepping into position beside him. Both clones stood watch as Master Piell freed Tarkin, along with another captive clone commander, their movements quick and precise.

Once freed, the group wasted no time. They rushed down the long, labyrinthine halls toward the docking bay, boots pounding against the metal flooring. The bay was vast and dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the faint orange glow of the planetary atmosphere spilling in through the open hangar doors. Their shuttle stood waiting at the far end, its ramp down, and R2 and another astromech were already aboard, beeping anxiously, their whistles sharp and frantic.

But before they could reach it, a sudden burst of energy whizzed through the air. A proton blast struck the ground inches from their feet, the force of the explosion rattling the durasteel floor. Echo stumbled, his footing faltering as he cried out, but Nyx was there in an instant, her powerful tail steadying him as she nudged him upright.

"Careful!" she snapped, the deep growl in her voice cutting through the chaos. With surprising gentleness, she nudged him toward Fives, who caught him by the arm.

"Yeah, careful, Echo!" Fives said, his voice carrying a teasing edge despite the situation. Echo only grumbled under his breath, his limp slowing him as the group pressed forward.

The whine of repulsorlifts filled the air, and the sound of clawed feet scraping against metal sent a chill down the spines of all present. The astromechs let out panicked whistles, rolling back into the shuttle, their beeps echoing in fear. Nyx understood why in the next heartbeat. A massive claw tore through the air, slamming into her side with bone-crushing force.

Pain lanced through her body as the claw raked across her scales, and a crimson streak of blood spiraled through the air. Her red stripe glowed brighter with the heat of her fury, her roars shaking the entire bay. She twisted, thrashing against the claw's grip, and in the chaos, her form shifted. The hulking Indoraptor seemed to vanish, replaced by a hulking, primal beast—a half-giant rex, her scales bristling and teeth glinting like daggers.

The creature gripping her—a massive falcon trained to hunt and kill—let out a screech of rage, but Nyx lunged. Her jaws closed around its neck with a sickening crack. The falcon's wings flailed uselessly as she flung it against the floor, the impact breaking its bones like twigs. The lifeless beast sprawled across the ground, but Nyx staggered from the effort, her legs trembling. She collapsed to the floor, her talons scraping against the cold metal as she roared in pain.

"Nyx!" Echo and Fives shouted in unison, rushing to her side. Anakin and Ahsoka were close behind, their faces etched with concern.

"Careful!" Nyx snapped, her voice filled with pain and warning as she struggled to rise. She pushed them away with a swipe of her tail, her red eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

"Nyx!" Anakin's voice was sharp, filled with both concern and authority as he drew his lightsaber. Before anyone could react, another falcon and a bloodhound barreled into the bay, their growls echoing like thunder.

Nyx's body stiffened, and her quills rattled in warning. Then, with a sound that seemed to shake the very air, she unleashed a roar so powerful that it rippled through the hangar. The force of it sent the falcon spinning mid-flight, its screech turning into a panicked cry as it turned tail and fled. The bloodhound let out a sharp whine and bolted, disappearing into the shadows. Even a stray proton torpedo detonated under the force of her rage, the explosion lighting up the bay.

The echoes of the chaos faded, but Nyx didn't move. She stood frozen, her massive frame silhouetted against the red-orange sky now crackling with lightning.

Obi-Wan approached cautiously, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Nyx... are you all right?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with worry. He stepped closer, his hand brushing against her hip.

"Get off!" Nyx snarled, jerking away from his touch. Her red eyes burned like twin suns as she turned to face him. The air around her seemed to ripple with barely contained rage.

"Oh no," Fives muttered, backing away with Echo limping at his side. "Not this again..."

Ahsoka stepped forward, her twin sabers igniting with a sharp snap-hiss. Cody and Rex exchanged a knowing look, their hands tightening on their weapons.

"Nyx," Obi-Wan said softly, his hands still raised. "Don't do this. Don't give in. I don't want to..." He hesitated, his voice breaking slightly. "I don't want to stab you again. I don't want to see you on your deathbed. Please."

Master Piell and Tarkin exchanged a glance, Tarkin's expression one of mild annoyance. "Does this happen often?" he asked, his tone devoid of sympathy.

"More often than it should," Anakin replied coldly, his gaze locked on Nyx. His saber was already in his hand, though he had yet to ignite it.

Nyx stared up at the storming sky, the lightning illuminating her scales. Her breathing was ragged, and for a moment, she seemed to hesitate. But the glow in her eyes didn't fade.

Nyx's body trembled, her quills rattling faintly as the crimson glow of her stripes pulsed brighter and brighter, like a living heartbeat. Her head lowered, her claws curling into the ground as a deep, guttural sound emerged from her throat—less a growl and more a predatory rumble that set every nerve on edge.

But when she raised her head again, it was no longer Nyx staring back at them. Her glowing red eyes burned with a cold, unrelenting malice, sharp and calculating, devoid of the familiarity her companions knew. There was no warmth in that gaze, no flicker of restraint—only the raw, unbridled power of a predator unleashed.

The creature's lips curled into a snarl, revealing rows of jagged teeth glinting in the flickering light. "Nyx is gone," she said, her voice a low, resonant growl that reverberated through the docking bay. Her words came slow, deliberate, like a hunter savoring its victory. "I have been inside of her all this time... waiting. And finally, I am free."

Obi-Wan's face paled, his outstretched hands lowering slightly as he stared into the monster's eyes. "The Indominus..." he murmured, realization dawning in his voice.

"Yes," the creature growled, her massive frame shifting as she straightened, standing taller, more imposing. Her scales glinted like obsidian under the storm's light, her crimson stripe glowing brighter, searing into the minds of all who looked at her.

Fives took a step back, his rifle shaking slightly in his hands. "That's not Nyx," he said, his voice wavering. "That's not her anymore."

"No kidding," muttered Cody, his grip tightening on his blaster as he exchanged a wary glance with Rex.

Ahsoka stepped forward, her sabers still ignited, their green blades casting streaks of light across her determined face. "Nyx, if you're still in there—fight it! Don't let this thing take over!"

The Indominus let out a deep, chilling laugh that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present. "Nyx was weak," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "She clung to your ideals, to your fragile codes of loyalty and restraint. But I am not Nyx." She stepped forward, her claws gouging deep grooves into the metal floor with each step. "I am what she tried to suppress. What she couldn't suppress. I am strength. I am survival."

"Indominus, listen to me," Obi-Wan said carefully, his voice calm despite the dread tightening in his chest. "This isn't who you have to be. Nyx fought for us—she fought with us. She is a part of you. You can't just—"

"Silence!" the Indominus roared, the force of her voice shaking the air. Her tail lashed out behind her, smashing into a nearby wall and sending sparks raining down as the durasteel crumpled under the impact. "Nyx is gone! And you..." She bared her teeth, her glowing eyes narrowing at Obi-Wan. "You will not stand in my way."

"Stand down, now," Rex barked, his voice cutting through the growing tension. He and Cody raised their blasters in unison, the clones behind them following suit, though their hesitation was clear.

But the Indominus didn't flinch. Instead, she let out a low, mocking growl, her gaze sweeping over the group. "You think those toys can stop me?" she hissed. "Go ahead. Try."

"Enough," Anakin said firmly, stepping forward, his blue lightsaber igniting with a sharp snap-hiss. His expression was dark, his voice heavy with authority. "We're not letting you walk away from this—not like this."

The Indominus tilted her head, her lips curling into something that resembled a smile but was far too predatory to be anything but menacing. "Oh, Skywalker," she purred mockingly. "You think you can stop me? You couldn't even protect your own apprentice from her darkness."

Anakin's grip on his saber tightened, his jaw clenching as her words struck a nerve. Ahsoka moved beside him, her sabers raised, her expression one of steely resolve. "We can still save her," she said quietly, though her voice carried a desperate edge. "We just have to reach her."

"Nyx isn't in there," Fives muttered grimly, shaking his head. "Not anymore."

"She has to be," Ahsoka insisted, her eyes never leaving the Indominus. "She has to be."

The Indominus growled, her massive frame shifting as she crouched slightly, her muscles coiling like a spring. "If you want to save her, Jedi," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom, "then come and take her."

Without warning, she lunged, her massive claws tearing into the ground as she charged toward them with terrifying speed.

"Move!" Rex shouted, diving out of the way as the Indominus's shadow loomed over them, her roar shaking the walls. Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber, the blue blade barely intercepting one of her claws as it slashed downward, sparks flying.

Ahsoka and Anakin flanked her, their sabers spinning as they moved with precision, but the Indominus was faster, stronger. Her tail whipped through the air, forcing them to leap back, and her jaws snapped dangerously close to Obi-Wan, who barely managed to duck in time.

The clones opened fire, their blaster bolts searing through the air, but the Indominus moved like a force of nature, each shot deflecting harmlessly off her hardened scales.

"Fall back!" Cody ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Regroup at the shuttle!"

"No!" Anakin shouted, his blade clashing with the Indominus's claws as he tried to hold her back. "We're not leaving her!"

"We don't have a choice!" Obi-Wan countered, rolling out of the way of another strike. "If we don't fall back now, none of us are leaving this hangar alive!"

The storm outside intensified, lightning flashing through the open hangar doors and casting the scene in stark, flickering light. The Indominus roared again, her glowing eyes locking onto her prey, and for a moment, it seemed as though all hope was lost.