The Botany Bay

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer felt him take her hand. She didnt react much except grip his tightly back. The tree loomed over them and Spencer was unsure if she was going to be able to grow a tree like this. She had the force power, but she didnt have the plant knowledge that Hylo had. Sighing softly she looked over at him and nodded.

"I know, but im really unsure if I can do it. Together we made this, but alone? I doubt it."

She suddenly remembered what Ashin had said. As a force user she needed to be well rounded. Having multiple avenues that she could take made it more likely she would survive anything. A new determination filled the young blonde as she held out her empty had.

"Lets get to work hmm?"

 

[Sirella Valkner]

Smiling Hylo gripped her hand in response. “You can do it,” he said staring her in the eyes. “You just need to start small.” Lightly he pulled her over to a spot of fresh dirt. Still holding her hand he kneeled down into the dirt. “Good soil,” he said. “Should help make things easier.” The boy pulled Spencer down next to him. “And I’ll be here, if you start to get in trouble, start to get tired. I’ll help direct you. You only need to make it sprout for now.”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer was pulled down towards the dirt; she didn’t know the difference between bad dirt and good dirt to be honest. So she trusted Hylo and tilted her head as she took his direction. Biting her lip, she poked a little seed into the dirt and focused on bringing it to life. She thought about how she transferred her energy into Hylo and did the same to the little seed. The dirt started to move as she felt her body being stressed once again. She felt her life being pulled from her and entering the little seed. A sprout emerged and spiraled upward only growing a few feet. Spencer stopped and took a deep breath then released it as a sigh.

“Still difficult, but I treated the seed like I helped you earlier.”

Looking over at Hylo, she wondered what it was like being caged here.

“Do you go anywhere besides here?”

 

[Hylocereus]

"Remember what a plant needs," Hylo said, humming the song. "It needs more than just your life force, it needs to absorb earth from the roots, get nutrients. It needs water, and sunlight. When you're growing the plant think of these things. Without knowledge you can't manipulate the plant and instead it will grow wild." He resumed his position behind the girl with his arms around her. He was suddenly aware of her scent, her warmth, her being. "Here," he said. The boy began to direct her energies. "It isn't about raw power." The force flowed into certain cells hyper activated those needed to grow. "It's about using your power more effectively., Subtly." The plant surged suddenly into the air. It's branches shot out in perfect symmetry. "In order to be useful you need to direct the growth." His hands left hers and he slowly pulled away from the girl. "But I think they are pretty even if you just let them grow." The boy wore a morose expression. "But pretty things aren't necessarily useful."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer nodded understanding what he was saying about the plant. It wasn’t the fact that she needed to give it life, she had to make sure it would be able to provide life when she leaves it or moves on. The plant had to be able to sustain its new life. He touched her and she felt every inch of her skin catch flame, she didn’t understand why his touch was doing this though it felt nice. She focused on the plant and its entire essence he guided her and she understood. When she realized they had made it grow again she smiled and looked at him.

Despite the success he seemed upset.

“Pretty things do have a purpose Hylo. They are there because they are pretty, you can look at them and they bring joy to people when they see something beautiful. It’s the beautiful things in life that make us want to keep living. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”

She kept smiling; she figured that was his answer to her question. Seemed Sirella kept him here to mind the plants on the ship. She looked back towards the plants and sighed softly. They seemed to be in the same situation, both had no freedom. Unlike him, Spencer could venture out though there was a consequence when she returned home of course. The blonde shook her head; she didn’t want to think about that just yet. Looking back towards Hylo she leaned her head onto his shoulder.

“Why does your mother keep you here?”

 

[Hylocereus]

"It's for my own safety," Hylo said softly looking away from the girl. "Mother says its dangerous out in the world. She says I'm not ready for that." Looking around the boy smiled. "Besides I have the garden to tend. And I wouldn't know where to go. I've read about Coruscant, there isn't alot of plants there. I'd like to see it someday though. I heard Ossus has a big jungle, and Dac has garden islands, and there are plains and forests and even deserts!" He spun around playfully. "I'd like to see a desert." It was an odd comment for a plant to make, and he knew it. "Do you think you could show me the desert?" he asked. His mind was not completely off track. "Oh please, mother likes you I can tell. She'd let me go if you took me. I know it. It would make my year it would." Both his hands held Spencers and he bobbed them up and down as he asked her again and again. "I'd very much like to see a desert with you.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer watched as her arms were taken control of and bobbed about playfully with the boy. The feelings they were having with each other’s touch was faded when she listened to him. They were both children, but it seemed he was farther away from maturity then she was. Though, she was just as impressionable. Laughing little she nodded. A part of Spencer never wanted to set foot in a desert, she had been to Tatooine on a field trip once and it was a horrid and dry place. Still she wanted to make him happy especially since he was always alone here.

“Of course! We can see everything one day, the desert, the stars, different planets. I want to explore too maybe we can do it together one day. See every star and planet…meet strange creatures and make millions of friends.”

She let go of his hands and closed her eyes, there was so much she wanted to do in life, and so much living she wanted to do.

“Yeah we’re going to explore the entire galaxy!”

 

[Hylocereus]

Hylo smiled as Spencer returned his excitement. “Together traveling the space lanes?” he asked. It was of course just a fantasy. Mother would never let him leave, but he stayed in the moment, “It would be a great adventure.” He stared over at the girl and felt his face flush. Hylo knew he had just acted far too childish and considered how to repair his image. It wasn’t possible in the short term most likely, he was still too excite, too riled up. “But are we going to do it?” Suddenly he was back down to earth.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Childish fantasies thats all this was. Spencer knew deep down she wouldn't have that luxury to just explore. The young woman was being trained to defend order. Remembering that she began to question what true order was. To her the order was the ideal that there would be no more fighting, but what would that leave the Jedi? They wouldn't have a purpose. Sighing softly Spencer looked at Hylo.

"I want too. If I ever get the chance you're going to go with me. We can run away and see everything this galaxy has to offer. Our own playground."

Her voice trailed as she tried her best not to promise anything. She knew deep down that it was again a childish dream.

 

[Sasha Santhe]

"They said there was a Jedi." Sasha said stalking into the room. It was forbidden, but that didn't matter to her. She was special, and could go where she pleased. "But I didn't know she was a baby playing gardener with her little boyfriend." The girl was walked toward Spencer with a nasty grin on her face. "I don't know why master Ashin keeps something as pathetic as you around." The tree was in front of her and she reached out and touched it with her hand. She felt the bark with her palm and smiled grabbing the ornate lightsaber at her side. In a smooth motion she sliced the tree quickly dividing its trunk into two. "Pathetic."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer turned and watched as the tree was split in half by the other girl. They were supposed to be left here alone. For the first time since she was a youngling Spencer felt anger that was fueled by her own emotions and not influenced by others. Her hands balled into fists as she stared at the girl's disgusting grin.

She was the first to question Spencer's existence to her face. The padawan could sense it from the others, but they seemed to be afraid of voicing it. This one though, she was different.

"I'm not a baby! I worked really hard on that tree! who are you?"

Her hands opened and Spencer felt her fingers twitch. Her body was swelling with anger and her mind tried its hardest to calm her. Taking a deep breath she flicked her arm upward as she tossed some of the soil at Sasha.

"Go away!"

 

[Hylocereus]

Hylo ran over to the tree and gave it a quick hug. The broken trunk was pulled together and he focused the whole of his being into it. The tree slowly started to form back together, but the boy was exhausted by the time he was complete. "You," he said. He couldn't croak out any other worlds "Why would you do that?" The girl ignored him and stalked toward Spencer. Hylo dropped to his knee and put a hand on the ground. There was so much light here. As the girl walked he lifted up a root in her way tripping her as she approached Spencer.

 

[Sasha Santhe]

Sasha toppled slightly falling into Spencer's arms. Quickly she recovered standing up and pushing the girl aside. "Don't touch me," she snapped. "I am Sasha Santhe of the noble House Santhe." She spit the words out with pride and venom. Clearly she was superior. She looked over at the boy who tripped her and walked towards him. He was tired from his exertion healing the tree. "And you shall never do that again." The young woman smacked the boy sending him sprawling across the ground. "I am a Princess. I am to be treated with the utmost respect." With the boy out of the picture she could now direct her full attention to Spencer. "I am Ashin's apprentice, and you are nothing but a pet, a plaything, a toy. You are a lowly nothing to be scraped off my boot." What did Ashin see in this, girl. Perhaps the rumors were true. She approached the girl with dark eyes. "You are nothing, and when I am done with you you'll be in the dirt with your little boyfriend." She undid her leather belt and smacked the leather straps together. "I can't kill you, but I can put you in your place."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer didnt know what to do when the girl fell into her arms. It was a good thing Sasha reacted, she did the thinking for Spencer. It was sudden but the shove caught Spencer off guard and she stumbled back. Sasha announced her self and Spencer turned her face away. This was no way for a princess to be acting, sort of ruined those childhood fairytales.

She stood up again and fixed her stance as Hylo was tossed aside. He was tired and now Spencer was left alone to deal with the terror.

"Hylo you'll be okay I can handle her."

The insults and the snap of the belt made Spencer gulp, she was really determined to beat some sense into her it seemed. Still, Spencer had the force and the things that Ashin had taught her. The padawan wondered if Ashin had shown Sasha these things also.

"I am something. Im not a princess or anything. My name is Spencer Jacobs and Im a Jedi!"

Centering herself Spencer closed her eyes tightly and expelled the force from within her. The Force push was centered towards Sasha who she wanted as far away as possible. Prepared for the worst Spencer drew her saber but didnt ignite it.

"Im something because I am the will of the Force."

 

[Sasha Santhe]

Sasha was pushed back several feet by the sudden burst of force energy. She steadied herself the best she could. The truth was, she hadn't been trained by Ashin at all. Everything she learned, had been from a Dark Jedi tutor Ashin had suggested to her family before she was selected for apprenticeship. As best she could she remembered the defensive technique and raised her arms in defense. She channeled the force and resisted Spencer's shock-wave, grounding herself. When the wave dissipated Sasha walked forward looming. She lifted up her belt and beat down rapidly striking the girl. "I amt he apprentice, not you." She said as the leather strap struck skin. "I was chosen, I was the best, I was the brightest." With each declaration she swung with the strap.

 

[Allyson Locke]

The first strike hit Spencer's arm as she attempted to block her face. The belt was longer than she had expected and the end lashed against her soft cheek. Wincing in pain, she did her best not to show it. Emotions flooded into Spencer, she could feel every ounce of jealousy Sasha was feeling. Of course Spencer couldnt figure out why beyond the fact of Ashin showing her things.

The part Echani girl reverted to the teachings she received at the temple. Lowering her frame, she knelt down and focused the force to speed up her foot that was sweeping at Sasha's ankle. Again Spencer allowed and pushed the force from ber attempting to shove the dark jedi away. Spencer took the lashings as she went on the offensive. The flesh of her arm started to become raw and crack releasing droplets of blood.

"What were you chosen for? All I feel from you is jealousy! What are you jealous of?!"

 

[Sasha Santhe]

Sasha fell on her ass and stared up at the girl. It wasn't a position she was used to being in. "I am not jealous of a common wench like you." The girl shot back as she stood up. "Why would I be jealous of you?" Focusing on her hand the girl sent a burst of telekinetic energy at Spencer which elicited laughter from Hylo, who was still on the ground. "Shut up!" the girl yelled refocusing her efforts. Anger swelled in her and suddenly the force started to build up. It took less then a second before the girl was flinging a shockwave of her own at Spencer.

 

[Allyson Locke]

The surge of anger hit Spencer hard. She hadn't gotten used to the way Sith were. At the temples the Jedi were trained not to feel, not to use emotion to fight back. So this was different and she wasn't able to focus fully on what she was trying do.

Spencer was blasted with the shockwave and she tumbled backwards and landed on her ass this time. Standing up she looked straight at Sasha. It was getting annoying how she continued to put Spencer down. The Jedi had pacified an entire village! Narrowing her eyes she forced herself into the meditative state

Knowing what to expect when she entered this state she found the thick strands that connected Sasha to the force. Pulling on the threads Spencer attempted to pacify Sasha into submission so that when she left the meditation she could over power her.

 

[Sasha Santhe]

The blast was, for her, immense. She had never preformed a fear like that iwth the force before, just basic practice with telekinesis. Her tutor was right, anger fueled her, made her stronger. She smiled a superior smirk and looked down on her handiwork as Spencer lay prone on the ground. The minute Spencer started to narrow her eyes, the minute she calmed herself Sasha charged. She ran at full speed and tackled the girl back to the ground. The two teens rolled around for a second before Sasha gained the dominant position and started to whip at Spencer with the leather cord in her hand.

 

[Hylocereus]

Hylo watched as the two girls wrestled back and forth. He scrunched his nose as he gawked and then frowned. Spencer was his friend. He started forward and tackled Sasha off of Spencer. The two rolled around for a moment, rolling over Spencer twice, before Sasha slapped the boy across the face. Sasha grabbed Spencer and Hylo grabbed Sasha and the strange three-way wrestling match commenced...