The Botany Bay

[Sirella Valkner]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"] @Sirella Valkner

Sirella smiled at the young apprentice through the monitor. He was a nice enough boy, except for the fact that he’d tried to seduce her. She had no doubt that he was running away even now to talk to his idiot friends about how he’d slept with the Sith Master. A smile crossed her face, he was a moron. Sirella had warned everyone not to go into sector two. Told everyone it was dangerous, but as he crept off she suggested he take an alternate route. The boy was young, and hadn’t taken long to succumb to the potent chemical laced air around a strain of particularly volatile plants. A vine pulled his numbed body towards a large pud. Sirella giggled with glee and clapped her hands leaving the monitor and running down to sector two.

A minute or so after departing she arrived at the plant. She peeked over the top of the pod and looked in to see the hapless apprentice. “Sirella...” the apprentice said. “I think something is wrong.”

“No... no.” Sirella replied, “Everything is seems to be going well.” The meats voice revealed he was still doped up.

“But....” he said, “I can’t feel my legs.”

A soft giggle escaped the womans mouth, “Why my little boy-meat, you don’t have any legs.” She licked her lips while staring into the pod. “The plants digestion enzymes seem to be doing their job.” She arched up on her tiptoes to get a better look. “This will teach you not to kiss and tell.”

“But I didn’t tell,” he droned on. His voice was getting weaker, it would only be a matter of seconds now.

“No,” Sirella said, “but you were going to.” She stepped down off the pad and laughed a little skipping away. The pod closed behind her and she knew it would be over now. She had a destination in mind. Spencer was sleeping off her display of power on Mon Calamari. Sirella knew which room she had taken as her own, Sirella knew everything that happened on the Herd Ship, the planets told her.

Ashin deposited the girl and had left to manage the efforts on Mon Calamari. Now it was the perfect time for Sirella to have some alone time with the young Jedi Padawan.

She went to the Jedi’s room, it had a bed and all the furnishing of home, if it weren’t for the outrageous amount of flowers and vines along the walls, desk, and other extremities it may have even looked like an apartment found on dozens of worlds. Sirella didn’t knock, she merely entered the room cloaking herself in pheromones. It was time for the girl to learn, whether she wanted to or not.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer was exhausted and that was touching lightly on what she was feeling. The last thing she could fully remember was the heavy dose of anger coming from the red Twi’lek. It had given her a headache and it took whatever was left of her energy to try and push out the emotion. Ashin’s comforting hold disappeared and she fell onto a bed. On that bed is when she finally felt herself fall asleep fully. Her body started to regenerate and heal as she slept.

She had never exerted herself like this before, never in the training she was receiving from Ashin or from Phylis. Both of their training styles were different, but both gave Spencer the necessary skills to survive and to grow as a Jedi. As she slept, she rolled over once turning her back towards the door. It was like sleeping in the middle of a forest with all the plants around her. The air was refreshing and it helped her heal faster, her mind washed away all the emotions that surrounded the room…

Minus the thick cloud of fear and confusion that seemed to linger just over her.

Blinking, Spencer’s hazel eyes fluttered open. She was awakened by the new emotions that appeared to her. She didn’t move as the emotions faded as quickly as they had come. Something hit her nose though and her body grew hot for some reason. The young blonde figured it was just the vegetation that had warmed things up a bit. Rolling onto her back, she rested her hands on her stomach, it was getting warmer so she sat up and removed the heavy tunic. A slender frame revealed under the bulk of the usual Jedi uniform, she placed the tunic at the end of the bed and dusted off the skin tight undershirt. It was cooler now and she laid back down on her back and stared at the ceiling. Something made her heart race, but she decided to wait it out. Knowing her it was just her nerves getting the best of her.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Elsewhere, Ashin was attempting to befriend a cactus.

Sirella had been her tutor in the ways of alchemy, and one couldn't learn from Sirella without learning something about how to make plants grow. Ashin's specialties lay elsewhere, but she had always been a good generalist, able to pick up a basic familiarity with almost any art. The cacus bloomed gently before her, its flowers hard-edged -- natural flechettes, along with the needles. Useful things.

She was, for the moment, utterly oblivious to everything beyond the plants around her.

 

[Sirella Valkner]

Sirella looked at the sleeping girl and couldn’t help but smile. “Wake up,” she said softly walking to the bed. She sat down and put her hand on the girl. “There is no time to sleep.” Firmly now she planted a hand on the girl. “I have a task for you." If the girl was to play her part in Sirella's scheme then she'd need to learn, need to become a willing participant in the grand game. "We need to go to sector two." She decreased pheromone production, the girl needed to have a relitivly clear mind.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer laid there for a moment till Sirella laid a hand on her. She wondered how long it was going to take the woman to come into her room now that Ashin wasn’t around. Sitting up, Spencer shifted her body to get off the bed. She hadn’t gotten enough sleep, but it was enough to do whatever Sirella needed from her. Looking over at the woman, Spencer rubbed her nose for a moment sensing the decreased output of the pheromones. Thank goodness, she was going to be able to think straight this time around.

“Sector two? What for? Did Ashin assemble us?”

Hopping off the bed Spencer quickly followed Sirella wondering what was in this sector two and why she was needed to go with her. Spencer figured it was something to do with their next target or maybe something else.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"Lady Varanin?"

Ashin leaned away from the cactus and toggled her comlink. "Call me Master. What's the update?"

"Capital security forces have been reverse integrated in both the Mon Cala and Quarren strongholds. The Amphi-Hydrus population is still restive, but..."

"They're marginal, General. They also give the Quarren and Mon Cala a common threat to peace. Without a little Amphi-Hydrus unrest, we would become the common threat. Adjust your efforts accordingly."

 

[Sirella Valkner]

Sirella looked at the girl projecting a mix of emotions, confusion, anger, and affection being amongst them. “No,” she replied firmly. “Ashin-darling hasn’t called for you. And she knows better than to order me around.” She reached out an arm and, when the girl didn’t immediately take it, willed a plant to pull her up into her awaiting arms. “Ashin isn’t stupid, she knows that in my place of power she cannot defeat me.” The implication was very clear; if Ashin couldn’t defeat her here then Spencer didn’t have a chance. “Now will you come and learn.”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer was lifted from where she was and she quickly followed Sirella. Of course Spencer had no idea what to feel from Sirella, she hadn’t learned to adjust herself and pick out which feelings were being expressed to confuse her and make her feel a bit uneasy. Spencer used Sirella’s facial expressions to set the tone of the area. Spencer scratched the side of her cheek softly as she didn’t know really how to react to her comment about Ashin.

The young Jedi figured talking about Ashin wasn’t the best topic to bring up at the moment. She just decided to listen to what Sirella had to show her.

“What am I learning about?”

 

[Sirella Valkner]

"I will teach you many things." Sirella said. "Now follow me." The woman walked out the door checking to see if the girl was following her.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"...yes, General, I understand, but we need Mon Calamari to be a stable staging point for our next push. The reality on the ground needs to bend to that particular strategic reality. There's no question about that. I'm sorry to do this to you, but you will, in fact, need to make this happen, and in the rather short term. If necessary, I will intervene personally..."

Ashin was still rather thoroughly distracted from anything beyond the comlink and the plants.

 

[Allyson Locke]

The woman was short with her, which was odd from how she was when Spencer first met her. Spencer took a couple of quick steps to catch up to Sirella. Every so often she looked around seeing all the plants, but mostly she was looking for Ashin. On Mon Calamari, Spencer always had a visual on Ashin. The woman lurked close behind her so there was a possibility that Ashin was lurking somewhere.

“Is it just going to be me and you or is Ashin joining us also? I mean I –“

Spencer stopped herself as she looked around keeping her head on straight readying herself for anything Sirella had to offer. Thinking she focused on the force and searched for Ashin, though her skill with the force wasn't as perfected as the Masters around her she still attempted. Ashin was a security for her and she felt safe with her around, but Sirella took care of her too the more she thought about it. Her nerves settled and she focused on what she was going to learn.

 

[Sirella Valkner]

Sirella turned around as Spencer started to speak. "No!" The woman yelled. A chair grew up from the ground behind spencer. Sirella walked up to the girl and then said. "Sit down." Spencer sat down. "No!" She syelled again flicking her fingers and letting the chair crumble beneath the girl. "I did not phrase that as a request. You cannot just obey meekly, you cannot do what others tell you to do. You must think for yourself." Her facial features softened and she reached a hand down to the girl. "Now come on," she said, "please?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ashin's voice trailed off as she stood, abandoning the cactus. "Get it done, General," she said after a moment. The plants parted around her as she made her way through the Herd Ship, homing in on her almost master-apprentice sense of where the girl was.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer obeyed like she was taught to do. The Jedi wanted obedience because that prevented chaos. When Sirella yelled at her for obeying Spencer was caught off guard. The chair crumbled under her and she landed hard on her bottom. She was still sore from the fight earlier and she sat there for a moment. She listened to what the plant woman had to say, but nothing was really getting into her head. Spencer was tired and sore, this wasn’t the type of lesson she thought she would be getting.

In a fit of frustration, Spencer felt her eyes start to well up with tears. She was overwhelmed with everything that had happened and she looked away from Sirella and sobbed. Spencer saw the extended hand from the corner of her eye and ignored it. She stood up on her own and rubbed her eyes as she cried.

“I was taught to do what I’m told, obedience prevents chaos and chaos and disorder is the path of the darkside. I’m a Jedi…waaahhhhh”

She continued to cry as she used her tunic to wipe her face as she did her best to keep her eyes which were now turning green from her tears away from Sirella.

 

[Sirella Valkner]

Sirella smiled at the sight. "You are such an innocent girl," she said kneeling down. Reaching out a hand she gripped Spencers chin and pulled her face to hers. "Innocence has its place I'm sure, but this galaxy is dark. You cannot remain niave forever girl. You must learn to think for yourself." She wiped the tear from the girls eye and planted a light kiss on her forehead. "You have an important task."

Putting her hands on Spencers shoulders she said, "Now please get up, and I'll taech you something every woman should know. I'll teach you how to create life."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Spencer's sadness rolled over her, even through the miasma of life, and Ashin felt her face tighten. Her pace quickened. The kid needed a wake-up call or two, but that was just part of living, and it rankled that Sirella -- it would have to be Sirella -- was the one teaching Spencer those lessons.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer closed her eyes as she was kissed on the forehead. She continued to cry, but silently this time around. She made her statement with the loud sobs and it seemed she had gotten a bit of compassion from Sirella. Standing up she dusted herself off and rubbed her eyes. They were a vibrant green as she looked towards Sirella. She was expecting to get yelled again, but this was different.

Before Spencer could say anything Sirella surprised her. Automatically Spencer’s mind went to the only way she knew how women would make life. Her face grew bright red as she took a step back and gave a bright and curious look towards Sirella.

“C-C-CREATE LIFE?! H—how are you going to show me that?!”

 

[Sirella Valkner]

The girls embarrassment was amusing to the Sith Master. “There.” she said standing and helping the girl up. In the distance there was an empty patch of dirt. Sirella walked over to the patch, followed closely by a curious Spencer. “Let me introduce my Hylo.” She stood by the pile of dirt. “Come out Hylo,” her voice grew stern. “Now.”

The dirt patch started to move and suddenly a boy, much younger looking than Spencer, came out from under the ground. “Yes mother,” he said meekly. “Is this the one?” The boy had blond hair and shared his mother's green eyes. His skin was fleshy and soft.

Sirella didn’t smile as she saw her son. “Yes boy,” she said. “This is the one.”

The boy yawned, and stared at Spencer with brilliant green eyes. “Mother says I’m to lend you some of my seeds.” His face blushed green as he approached her and extended his hand. Inside was four small seeds. “She said you want to learn to garden. I like my garden, but mom tears it up and replants it elsewhere so I need to...” A stern look from his mother silenced him. “I hope you enjoy gardening,” he said averting his gaze from both the women.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ashin entered the room, catching Spencer's eye. No harm done, it seemed. She leaned against the nearest wall, folding her arms, as her mouth compressed into a thin line. She nodded slowly to Spencer, an assurance that she was here as something like a safety net.

 

[Allyson Locke]

The boy came out of the dirt and Spencer was caught off guard again. Taking a step back she looked at him for a good moment and if it was under different circumstances maybe she would think he was cute and they would hit it off. Though his first statement to her threw her off and mildly freaked her out. You don’t say that sort of stuff to a girl you just met! It was then his hand stuck out showing her the four seeds. Blinking, Spencer felt quite stupid thinking the aloof boy was thinking something else. Before she reached out for the seeds, Spencer looked over her shoulder. She had sensed someone else in the room and met eyes with Ashin.

Having the Master in the same room she felt a bit at ease. Putting her hand out she took the seeds and looked at them for a moment. They were so simple, but they produced pretty plants. Smiling she looked at Hylo and nodded quickly.

“Thank you! I do like gardening I look over the flowers back at the Jedi Temple! Did you plant all the plants on the ship they’re really pretty. My name is Spencer!”

Spencer was overjoyed to having someone her age on the ship also the boy didn’t seem interested in things most boys were interested when they met the opposite sex. This made Spencer sigh with relief, maybe she was wrong about everything. Also, the way Sirella was cold to him made her curious about their relationship…either way she was going to have something to do while they traveled.

“Where do I plant them?”