The neon glow of 79's pulsed around us, the bass of the music vibrating through the floor as Anakin and I made our way toward the exit. The drinks had left me pleasantly warm, a bit woozy but still firmly in control. Anakin, ever the lightweight, was in a similar state—looser, more relaxed, but far from drunk. We were laughing about something, the details already fuzzy, when the doors slid open and a squad of clones marched in, their armor gleaming under the club's lights.

Rex led the group, his helmet tucked under his arm and his expression a mix of surprise and mild disapproval. The rest of the clones—Fives, Echo, and a few others—followed close behind, their gear still on and their blasters slung over their shoulders. They looked out of place amidst the flashing lights and thumping music, like soldiers who had stumbled into the wrong battlefield.

"Generals," Rex said, his tone a mix of formality and awkwardness. He glanced between Anakin and me, his brow furrowing slightly as he took in my dress and the faint glow of my eyes. "Uh... we didn't expect to find you here."

I leaned against the wall, a teasing smile spreading across my face. "What's wrong, Rex? You look like you just walked in on something scandalous."

Rex shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting to Anakin as if seeking backup. Anakin, for his part, was trying—and failing—to suppress a grin. "We, uh, got word that there might be some... activity in the area," Rex said, his voice stiff. "Intel suggested a possible Separatist sympathizer meeting here. We were sent to check it out."

I raised an eyebrow, my smile turning sly. "And you thought the best way to do that was to march in here looking like you're about to storm a droid factory? Subtlety isn't your strong suit, Captain."

Fives snorted, earning a sharp look from Rex. "Hey, we're just following orders," he said, his tone light. "Though, if I'd known you two were here, I might've suggested a change of plans."

Anakin chuckled, clapping Rex on the shoulder. "Relax, Rex. We were just blowing off some steam. Umbara was... a lot."

Rex's expression softened slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I get that, sir. But you might want to keep a lower profile. The Council's already on edge after... well, everything."

I pushed off the wall, stepping closer to Rex. My smile was still teasing, but there was a hint of seriousness in my tone. "Don't worry, Captain. We're not here to cause trouble. Just two war-weary soldiers trying to remember what it's like to have a life outside of battle."

Rex met my gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read me. Then he sighed, shaking his head. "Just... be careful, General. Both of you. The war doesn't stop just because we're back on Coruscant."

I nodded, my smile fading into something more genuine. "Noted. Now, if you'll excuse us, we were just leaving. Try not to scare the locals too much, yeah?"

Rex gave a small, reluctant smile. "We'll do our best."

As Anakin and I stepped out into the cool night air, I glanced back at the clones, their white armor standing out against the neon backdrop. "You think they'll be okay in there?" I asked, my tone light but with an undercurrent of concern.

Anakin shrugged, his hands in his pockets. "They're clones. They can handle themselves. Besides, Fives will keep them in line."

I smirked, looping my arm through his as we walked toward the speeder. "True. But I can't help feeling like we just left a bunch of tookas in a room full of rocking chairs."

Anakin laughed, the sound carrying through the quiet streets. "Come on, Nyx. Let's get out of here before someone else decides to crash our night."

As the speeder hummed to life and the city lights blurred past, I leaned back, letting the cool air wash over me. For a moment, the weight of the war felt distant, like a shadow that couldn't quite reach us. But as Rex's words echoed in my mind, I knew it was only a temporary reprieve. The war was always there, waiting. And sooner or later, we'd have to face it again.

But for tonight, at least, we could breathe.

SCEMENREAK

The speeder glided smoothly into the Temple hangar, the hum of its engines fading as Anakin brought it to a stop. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of Coruscant's endless cityscape—fuel, metal, and the distant tang of something floral. I stepped out, my heels clicking against the polished floor, and stretched, feeling the pleasant buzz of the evening still lingering in my veins. Anakin followed, his hands in his pockets and a relaxed grin on his face.

But our moment of calm was short-lived.

Obi-Wan stood near the entrance, his arms crossed and his expression a mix of irritation and mild concern. Ahsoka was beside him, her arms similarly folded, though her montrals twitched in a way that suggested she was more amused than annoyed. The moment they saw us, Obi-Wan's brow arched, and Ahsoka's lips twitched into a smirk.

"I told you not to drink too much," Obi-Wan said, his tone dry as he stepped forward. He reached out, gently pulling me away from Anakin's side with a firm but not unkind grip. "Honestly, Nyx, you look like you've been dragged through a Hutt's palace."

I huffed, crossing my arms and glaring at him. "We didn't, Master. Trust me. I'm perfectly fine. Anakin, on the other hand..." I trailed off, shooting a teasing glance at Anakin, who held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Hey, I'm not the one who ordered the third round," he said, his grin widening. "That was all you."

Obi-Wan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You two are impossible. Do you have any idea how much trouble you could have caused tonight? The Council is already on edge after Umbara, and if they find out you were out drinking—"

"Relax, Obi-Wan," I interrupted, my tone softening. "We were careful. No one saw us, and no one cares. Besides, we needed this. After everything that happened on Umbara... we needed a night to just be."

Obi-Wan's expression softened slightly, though his irritation didn't fully fade. "I understand that, Nyx. But you can't afford to let your guard down, not even for a moment. The war isn't over, and neither are the dangers that come with it."

Ahsoka stepped forward, her smirk turning into a genuine smile. "He's right, you know. But... I get it. Sometimes you just need to blow off some steam." She glanced at Anakin, her tone teasing. "Though next time, maybe invite me along? I could use a night out, too."

Anakin laughed, ruffling her lekku. "Not a chance, Snips. You're still too young for 79's."

Ahsoka swatted his hand away, her grin widening. "I'm not that young."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat, cutting through the banter. "Enough. Both of you, get some rest. We have a Council meeting first thing in the morning, and I doubt they'll be as understanding as I am."

I nodded, my teasing demeanor fading as I met Obi-Wan's gaze. "Understood, Master. And... thanks. For looking out for us."

Obi-Wan's expression softened further, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Someone has to. Now go. Before I change my mind and report this to the Council."

As Anakin and Ahsoka headed off, still bickering good-naturedly, I lingered for a moment, my gaze drifting to the Temple's towering spires. The weight of Obi-Wan's words settled over me, a reminder that the war was never far away. But for tonight, at least, I could hold onto the memory of laughter and neon lights, a fleeting moment of peace in a galaxy that seemed determined to tear itself apart.

With a final glance at Obi-Wan, I turned and followed the others, the echoes of the night still warm in my chest. The war would call us back soon enough, but for now, I could rest. And that was enough.

SCENEBREAK

After that night, I finally found myself lying in my bed, the weight of the day pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. The room was dimly lit, the faint glow of the moonlight seeping through the curtains, casting long, ghostly shadows across the walls. I had taken off my dress, the fabric slipping from my body like a second skin being shed, and I folded it carefully, placing it on the chair by the window. The air was cool against my bare skin, a stark contrast to the heat of the evening that still lingered in my memory.

I slid under the covers, the sheets crisp and cool, and closed my eyes, hoping for the sweet embrace of sleep. But sleep, it seemed, was not my friend that night. As soon as my mind began to drift, the dreams started to come—no, not dreams. They were nightmares, vivid and unrelenting, each one more horrifying than the last.

The first one came swiftly, a dark, suffocating vision that wrapped itself around me like a vice. I was in a place I didn't recognize, a labyrinth of twisted corridors and endless doors. The walls seemed to breathe, pulsating with a life of their own, and the air was thick with the scent of decay. I could hear whispers, faint and insidious, coming from all directions, but when I turned to look, there was nothing there. Just shadows, shifting and writhing, as if they were alive.

I tried to run, but my legs felt heavy, as if I were wading through molasses. The doors began to slam shut, one by one, the sound echoing like gunshots in the silence. I could feel something behind me, something monstrous, its breath hot on my neck. I didn't dare look back. I knew if I did, I would see something I could never unsee.

And then I woke up, gasping for air, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was still dark, the shadows still dancing on the walls, but at least I was awake. I told myself it was just a dream, just my mind playing tricks on me. But deep down, I knew it was more than that. It was a warning, a glimpse into something darker, something that was waiting for me.

I closed my eyes again, hoping for a reprieve, but the nightmares were relentless. They came one after another, each one more twisted than the last. In one, I was drowning, the water cold and black, pulling me down into its depths. In another, I was being chased through a forest, the trees closing in around me, their branches like claws reaching out to grab me. And in the worst one, I was standing in front of a mirror, but the reflection staring back at me wasn't mine. It was something else, something with hollow eyes and a mouth stretched into a grotesque smile.

By the time the first light of dawn began to creep through the curtains, I was exhausted, my body trembling, my mind frayed at the edges. I had barely slept, and the nightmares had left me feeling hollow, as if they had taken something from me. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the images from the night still fresh in my mind. I knew I wouldn't be able to forget them, not easily. They were etched into my memory, a series of horrors that would haunt me for days, maybe even weeks, to come.

And as I finally drifted into a fitful, uneasy sleep, I couldn't shake the feeling that the nightmares weren't just in my head. They were something more, something real, and they were waiting for me to close my eyes again.