Bethany listened carefully as each one spoke. Many of their reasons for being here were similar. One, however, was very, very different.
"Retribution is something you will not find in this place," she said gently to the mechanical man. Looking out at the gathering, including the new comers, she continued.
"To do good works, to learn about the Force. To find peace, acceptance, belonging. These things are all entwined, interconnected. They spring from the same well within all of us. They spring.... from Hope."
Slowly, Bethany leaned over, reaching out into the center of the circle. Drawing on the Force, she opened her hand, palm down, resting it lightly on the grass.
"Monastery, like most planets, slumbers. It had little enough need for the comings and goings of the sentient creatures that scuttle over her surface. But certain things are noticed. Small things. Beautiful things."
Raising her hand slowly, in the space that grew between her palm and the grass, a half dozen small plants began to curl from the soil.
"The seeds were here, waiting- either to sprout, to rot, or to be eaten by other creatures- all possible futures contained in the shell of each individual seed. Despite the fact that two out of those three futures mean oblivion, the seed was still created. In hope that it would grow."
The Force flowed through her as she spread her fingers, the seedlings curling toward the filtered light that came in from the canopy above. "Their existence, their *own* existence, is for one purpose. To grow and flourish and exist."
She pulled her hand back, the seedlings continuing to grow at an accelerated rate. True leaves unfurled and they stretched, curling and twinning together as they stretched toward the light. Seeds of some kind of vine now, clearly.
"In this heavy forest, there isn't much light. But they seek it out. On their own, each one would grow thin and spindly, collapsing in upon itself long before ever reaching a height where the sun could fall on it's leaves unobstructed. But as they support each other, tendrils finding grip on tendrils, all of them find the strength necessary to climb higher than they could have alone."
Pausing, she looked up at the gathering, emerald eyes fathomless for a moment.
"The things you all seek are much the same," she said quietly. "And by reaching out, both in search of support but also offering support, you all will have a chance to reach greater heights than any of us can accomplish alone. I've asked you each already when you are searching for- what you hope to find here. Now I ask you- what do you offer? Not to me. Not to the Order. But to the people around you? You have said what you lack, but now find the strength you already possess and that you know makes you light itself."
Her smile was soft, encouraging. Her first question had been one of vulnerability, of admitting what was missing. Now she wished to hear their own affirmations of self- not because of what their abilities would offer her- but for the strength they would find within themselves.
[member="Darren Shaw"] [member="Elijah Henson"] [member="Caid Keller"] [member="Calder Icehammer"] [member="Andy Khor"] [member="Solana Murphy"] [member="Jolyn Vahr"] [member="Lt. Sage"]