Catlula opened her eyes and felt she was sitting in a large, rocky cave. She looked down at her body and saw that she was naked. The twi'lek felt the cold rocks against her butt as she shivered for warmth. She covered her chest with her arms as she stood up, shaking uncontrollably. The Imperial sniper started walking through the cave, with the cold rocks colliding with her bare feet with every step. The wind hit her curvy body with every gust and gave her chills. She looked around the cave to identify her location. The twi'lek looked at the smooth walls, which seemed to ooze with a slimy substance. She grew curious about the liquid, walking to the rocks for a better view. Catlula touched the slime and felt its cold feeling infiltrate her nerves. The substance had a disgusting green hue, but when it was on her hand, it was a crimson red. Then, the liquid became viscous like blood. She shuddered at the sight, but suddenly, she heard a roar that filled her ears and corrupted her mind with dread.

She looked toward the origin of the roar and saw a massive Rancor looking down at her. A moment felt like a million as Catlula thought, "Will I go out like this, like my mom before me? It cannot be my time to die. They must have caught me in some sort of mistake. Was I betrayed?" Then, she screamed in response to the sudden fear of her mortality. The twi'lek started running from the beast, but she slipped on the liquid, now covering the floor, and fell on her hands and knees. Then, she felt the big meaty hand of the rancor wrap around her stomach and lift her off the floor. The twi'lek cried out in fear and started releasing tears of mourning. She hit her hands against the restraining hand, but her weak protests did little to change her fate.

The rancor transported the crying, screaming, naked twi'lek to its mouth and closed its jaws on the twi'lek. Catlula felt the beast's teeth sink into her body and pierce her skin, and she screamed in pain as the Rancor's lips blocked her eyes from the light. The twi'lek blood leaked out the beast's mouth and dripped from its chin. The monster applied more pressure on the naked girl, and her luscious breasts exploded under pressure. Catlula's body cried out in pain as she felt her blood leave her body as the beast's teeth crushed her body. Then, two of the Rancor's teeth sunk into her head, and her mouth was wide open in a blood-curdling scream. Blood leaked from each side of her temple, and the streams joined the rest of her blood, flowing down the monster's throat. Then, the twi'lek heard a cracking sound, and her vision went black. Her skull caved into her brain, and the remnants of her thinking self leaked out the cracks in her skull. The pink substance oozed out of what was once her head. Her lekku were lying, lifeless in the Rancor's mouth.

Catlula's consciousness transferred outside her body, and she saw what her body had become. Her body was once her vessel for greatness, but here it was lying, covered in blood, in a Rancor's mouth. The brain she once prized was now leaking out of her crushed skull. She could not imagine how this could have happened to her but knew this was always possible. Eventually, the Rancor's throat discarded the twi'lek's lifeless body. Then, the world went black again.

Catlula opened her eyes and saw that she was in a bright, white room. She thought, "How am I still alive? I saw myself die. The Rancor ate me.". Then, she paused and thought, "Was that all just a dream? That wasn't the first time I dreamed about getting eaten by a creature, but that seemed more real. I must be losing my mind. Does this have to do with my childhood? I don't want to die like my mother. She deserved much better than over a decade of torture. She died saving me from some evil men. At least Jabba killed those men with my mother. It was almost like Jabba treated her like she was less than nothing. She deserved more than that. She deserved to be free. I will use the Empire to glorify my mother's heritage. My work will honor the twi'lek species." Then, she looked down at her body, lying in a hospital bed. A thin, light-blue blanket covered her curvacious body, dressed in a modest blue fabric shirt and pants of the same color and substance. She grabbed one of her lekku, still feeling the piercing pain in the appendage. It felt like every nerve connecting her head to the wound was on fire. The twi'lek moved one of her lekku to her face and saw the bandaged tentacle. A black cloth covered the slash, which Catlula assumed was filled with gauze.

Then, she thought of what caused her injury and continued, "What good do my accomplishments achieve if they only serve others? Have I gone from one owner to another? My life has always been a tug-of-war between multiple powers who wish to control me. If I fully submit to the Empire, I may be able to flourish in their ranks. I succeeded in the academy, and I don't know why my career would be a failure. I don't know if I am playing into my stereotype, but I believe that getting slashed in the back of my head increased my loyalty to the man who ordered it. I don't know if he knows about my biology, but that could have been fatal. I could have died on the floor of the Imperial Palace. It would have been a noble death for a twi'lek, an end anyone from an upbringing like mine could only experience in their dreams. I'm sure I will have many more great experiences in my life. I am only 18 years old. If I am lucky, I have a long life ahead of me. Although, for a soldier, I cannot guarantee that I will even survive to see tomorrow. I could cry out in revolt for those who hurt me. I could denounce the Empire for their unquestioning hatred of me. Though would that do any good for me? I am replaceable for the Empire. They could cut my head off and get a brand-new marionette to enjoy. I might as well make a career as one of the greatest marionettes. I can give them my loyalty, but I will always keep my mind. I will always be able to judge situations for myself. They may have strings on my arm, but they do not have any on my mind. I can still feel the pain on my lekku. My head hurts when I think, but I still do it. My mom was able to survive in slavery based on her thoughts alone. The difference between her and me is that I can materialize my thoughts. I worked hard to get where I am. The New Coruscant Database, my life's work, is a result of my hard work. Without devoting all my free time and free thoughts to the project, it would never be the success it became. Now, they call it the Twi'lek Database because of me. I did that and was also able to become a skilled sniper. I wonder if my lack of social activity at the academy will come back to bite me. Everyone seemed to have fun in their little cliches. I'm sure that I could have joined one, but I always focused on my studies. Anyway, who needs to socialize? Life is about hard work and innovation. If someone does not cultivate either, they are a liability. I don't care if people like me; I want people to respect me. I want people to acknowledge me as a great figure. I do not want to be in the trash compactor of the forgotten to be crushed and discarded by forces greater than me. When I die, I want people to mourn me. I want to be more than a drop in Imperial deaths in this war against the rebels. I'm sure I can accomplish that. Many influential people already revere my accomplishments. I only hope Ackerson will be able to bring out the best in me and my chaotic mind."

As Catlula was lying in silence with her thoughts, the door leading outside the room opened and revealed a man wearing a full Imperial officer uniform. The symbols and medals on his outfit showed the prestigious result of years of service within the Empire, while his face showed his experience. He had a scar below his right eye, and his wrinkles added questions about when he got that wound. The rank insignia on his chest signified that he had the rank of general, and his accolades showed that his position was more than just a rank and title. Catlula laid her eyes upon the man and recognized him as General Ackerson.

The General looked at the wounded twi'lek and said, "I heard you were at the hospital, and I knew I had to come. What happened to you?"

Catlula looked at her father figure and said, "The Emperor ordered some guards to slash my head tails, and I passed after they cut them. They still hurt."

Ackerson looked at the girl without any hint of surprise and kneeled beside her bed, saying, "The Empire is a cruel place, and in most circumstances, there will be no one to help you through the pain. The Emperor did that because he believed you could take the pain and wanted to ensure you were strong enough to last in this Empire. I know that from my experiences, and I understand everything will be much more difficult for you. You're a smart girl; I'm sure you understand that."

Catlula nodded at what the General said and replied, "Yes, sir. I understand what it takes to last here."

Ackerson smiled and said, "That's my girl. Sometimes, I wonder how I was the one to guide you into the Empire. You have surpassed my training, and I am proud of you."

Catlula smiled back and replied, "I'm just trying to get as far as I can with the tools I have, but I would never have been able to get as far as I have without you."

Ackerson embraced the twi'lek and walked toward the door, but before leaving, he said, "See you around, Catlula. Remember that the Imperial Ball is in 5 days. Get yourself healed; I would love to see you there. Goodbye."

Catlula replied, "I will make sure to go if I'm able by then; I'll let you know I'm unable to go. Goodbye, sir." Then, Ackerson left the room, leaving Catlula to her thoughts.