"No he was doing what he said, concentrating the sunlight and pouring it into her. She was recharging fast and seemingly enjoying it. At first he seemed to be concentrating hard but then he seemed to get the hang of it because he no longer seemed to struggle but the sunlight continued to pour into her and she stored it until she was back up to full. After that he stopped and just fell over. She just sighed and seemed to sleep. I don't know. He could be just exhausted but why isn't she awake? She is obviously recharged." Klara said in a rush.
Paris added, "I did not see him do anything to harm her and he did save her earlier, if not from death then at least great harm. The weapon the kidnapper pointed at her would indeed have harmed her and might have killed her covered in gold paint as she was. For what my opinion is worth I think he was honestly trying to help here and an accident happened. I don't what could have happened though."
Ann stepped between the two and kneeling she laid a hand on her daughter's shoulder, "Honey wake up. Are you alright?"
"Yes mom. I'm fine." It would have been reassuring except that both Myra and Jason said it and at the same time.
Ann gasped, "Klara! How many minds do you sense inside the two of them?"
"Two, but connected in some way. They both scan the same now too, like identical mind twins or something."
Ann considered, "Aayla said something that may have relevance. She confessed that she tricked Myra into enhancing him and apparently was also considering some sort of Diaboli ceremony in the hopes of binding him to her to help further her plans. I don't know how almost killing him in the throws of Ples'tathy figured in her plans but I think we should get her out here to see if she knows what this is or maybe wants to to confess to a booby trap or two." Klara went off to get Aayla while Ann sat silently wondering where she had gone wrong with her eldest daughter.
A few minutes passed quietly then Klara came back up the hill prodding Aayla in front of him.
Ann turned to her, "Aayla what was that ceremony you mentioned? The Diaboli equivalent of a wedding?"
"You mean the Ceremony of Ultimate Commitment? Why do you ask?" She looked at the two stretched out unconscious and naked on top of the hill. "Have they...," her voice trailed off and her mind reached out to perceive for herself. She discovered that both of them now had the automatic defenses she had overcome in Jason's mind during his enhancement. As she overcame them again she saw that the two were not truly unconscious, it was just that their minds were so busy assimilating new data and memories that neither was much aware of the outside world. She tried to sneak mentally closer, maybe get a glimpse of what memories they were sharing, as it seemed like a lot and that made her curious, but as soon as she got close enough the two banded together to throw her back into her own head and layer more defenses against intrusion. As she blinked and reoriented on the physical world she noticed everyone was looking at her. "Well it certainly seems like the ceremony but I can't say for certain because he had only sketchy info on it himself. I got into his mind during his enhancement so I know everything he did on that subject but all I can tell you is that I think so."
"You got into his mind during enhancement?" several voices chorused.
Aayla smiled, she loved surprising them with the extent of her abilities. "Yes, you know I'm the best of us at mind reading and his defenses were scattered by the process. He was telling the truth about no danger to us. He was also falling in love with Myra. I found out he is to Diaboli what she is to Primes. He is an Atlantean Diaboli, the strongest clan. Thats when I decided he might be a good addition to my plans and attempted to impress him. From my latest glimpse before they threw me out I saw that they are now each equally Prime and Diaboli, or rather Ancient One and Atlantean. I am sure this was an accident, probably caused by my silly wench of a sister trying to be as "normal" as possible. I bet she refused to take orgone to heal and he offered some weird diaboli "magic" in its place right?" She looked at Klara and apparently read enough on her face to confirm her guess. With anger and frustration growin her tone she continued. "I knew it! You'd think a backfire would have fucked them both up or at least stop her from recharging but no, she's too damn lucky for that! She's fully recharged from the look of her and nothing is wrong with either one of them that time won't cure and when she's fully back among us she'll have all his abilities too. Still won't be able fly worth a damn though." She said with some satisfaction as if the idea cheered her up some.
She was still to upset at the way her schemes had turned out to stop shouting though. "I had plans for that power but fat chance of that now. Imagine the cultures I could fix if I had his powers as well as my own. All Myra will do with them is go on her stupid patrol and save kittens stuck in trees or something nauseating like that." She wound down and looked around at the ring of disapproving faces, "Well if you don't need for anything I still need to repair my house so I'll be going." With a final contemptous glance she turned and walked slowly back down the hill muttering to herself.
Paris looked up and asked, "What are we going to tell Ben?"
Klara replied, "We should let Myra explain."
Paris pointed, "I don't think we have time. I can see him on his way back with that bikini she asked him to get and the contraption as well."
"Oh shit. Is it too late to be called to Rostran for an emergency? Those problems I have some idea how to solve."
"Double shit. Look who is rising to meet him. She'll get to him first too."
Ann turned and looked and took off into the air. "Protect your sister. I'll be back."