The Brothers of Light sat radiant in their shared bond, and in the glow emanating from a globe of light sitting in an eye at the top of the one idol they've allowed to be rebuilt..a great statue in their likeness, mirror image twins holding up a pyramid, one with his left hand and one with his right. The statue was allowed for security reasons, in case the brothers needed to forcefully use their talents to gain control. In the past, the globe of light reinforced their powers, back when they had many followers adoring them, mesmerized by the allure of their bond. When the brothers were separated, resting or otherwise distracted, the light helped them hold it all together. Now that their sanctuary was restored and their guests were willing, they didn't need to use it that way, -and they wouldn't, they promised they wouldn't and truly meant it- but it was reassuring to have in case of urgent need, just in case of trouble..to avoid the danger of all options being exhausted.
The brothers relax in the comfort of their desert Oasis, but know that soon their serenity would be shaken up by a visit from Dr. Mindbender the man who held them captive against their wills, tortured them and used their psychic abilities to manipulate others in a way they never intended...or wait. Guilty memories pass and forth through the minds of Tomax and Xamot; the strength of their empathic bond making it difficult to know who thought of what first.
Just recently, The Six had departed after a difficult...er that is instructive two month stay. Their biggest ally among them, -and how everyone knew they didn't deserve her support- was Victorya of the Six. She had set them a challenge, "You are to heal Dr. Bender's psyche genuinely, without manipulating him," she had said, "There is something broken in him, and by facing him, you might fix something broken in you." She had warned the apprehensive brothers that if they were to destroy Dr. Bender with their bruised egos and desire for revenge, then she would have no choice but to call in some favors. She would call on the Six to (babysit) lend them support for an entire year, two months for each member. It was a touching honor they felt both threatened and shamed by, so much so that facing the sadistic and amoral doctor seemed an easier road to go down. Still...after their time with him, they were so filled with fear that they wished to end him before he could get close. Flummoxed, the Brothers of Light attempted to find guidance from the parting advice of The Six.
From Aurora the Generous they got, "Open your doors to everyone. Any person who shows up at your door after traveling through the middle of nowhere will have a good reason to be there. It could be as profound as seeking the light of your talents or as little as needing provisions and treatment for exposure. Remember, we put up with a lot from you two, so don't be too good to do the same for others."
"Fair enough, brother.." Tomax thought, then Xamot finished with, "..we've always done that." -Although in the past, once they opened their doors, nobody had ever been allowed to leave. They had to work on that.
Mishael the Nurturing told them in a patronizing tone, "Help anyone who seeks help, even if they don't seem to need the kind of help you are good at giving." He was encouraging this because the Brothers of Light had falsely passed themselves off as something Mishael and Aurora had devoted their whole lives to doing successfully, being healers of both psyche and soul.
From easy-going Donte the Solid, they heard, "Don't be victims. You can get into peoples' heads and read their intentions. Do it, and if you see trouble, don't give into your fear. Remember always that your biggest adversary is yourselves."
While Donte was solid of physique, his partner Petra the Shrewd was solidly built of heart and mind. Her parting advice was, "If people choose to leave, be sure they leave with everything they came in with. Don't accept gifts in your honor, more idols to build upon your egos."
From Mick the Salty, forever the jerk, they got a rare gift of humility. "I'm sorry I made all the sick, perverted jokes," he apologized with his sideways grin, "Your bond is love, both pure and innocent; love each other without shame."
Right before The Six departed, Tory the Loving held them in a long embrace and said, "Don't take it personally if some people choose to leave you after healing. Let them go." The brothers felt sad to see her leave, but the moment The Six were out of sight, the wistfulness had quickly turned to relief. Now they were getting word of Mindbender's approach to the gate. Fearful thoughts passed back and forth through their minds as they remembered back to their escape..
Tomax had come to awareness seconds before Xamot. It was the first long lucid awareness they had experienced in (weeks? months?), and the first thing they saw was a frantic Dr. Mindbender, and the first thought they could hear in his mind was that he was losing control of the helmets that had been pushing them further and further into a waking dream. ...Quickly brother... they thought to one another and focused their wills into the minds of anyone they could sense in the room. "Now you will show your obedience," Xamot said. ...Quickly, quickly.. they both thought, ...Release us... The doctor removed the bonds from their arms and legs, all the while gazing at them adoringly. They could see that projecting their psychic energy with the helmets still on was doing something to the computers, then remembered snippets of what the doctor had planned for them, understanding.
The woman stood off to the side, staring passively into nothingness. They had seen her observing them during their fleeting moments of awareness. She had looked at them coolly, without emotion, seeing them as valuable objects to be used, never knowing first-hand how dangerous they could be, like the doctor knew. ...They should die..die... the brothers thought, as much out of fear as desire for revenge, but they didn't have it in them to murder anybody outright, especially when they saw adoration in their eyes. "Only one of you..." "...shall leave this room alive," Tomax and Xamot commanded, trying to imagine what they would do when one was left standing.
Before the woman and doctor could begin hurting each other, the Brothers of Light could hear sounds of approaching military and became desperate to escape. They kept a calm face while departing, but inside they passed fearful thoughts back and forth, building upon the terror of one another until they could barely breath. How much did the authorities know about them? Where they there because of them? Mindbender had understood their value and made the effort to keep them healthy during their captivity. They had memories of how he used the helmets to stimulate them back into awareness for some basic function, like putting a straw to their lips so they could drink. Most of the time they had retreated deep into themselves, into a dreamlike trance where they were wrapped in each others comforting presence, but could only flail around with numb fingers and stare blindly through a haze of darkness.
The government though..what would the brothers be to any nation that took them into custody? What kind of value would they have to a faceless, impersonal entity that primarily existed to accumulate power for itself? What wouldn't it feel justified in doing in the name of national security? A frenzy of fearful scenarios passed back and forth through the brothers' minds as they ran for their lives. ...Disappear...never to be seen again, brother..torture...testing..pain...machines..permanent machines..never would be able to leave on our own...euthanasia..carved up...dissection..
Coming out into daylight, hoods pulled tightly over identical heads, the brothers willed themselves invisible among the crowd of dignitaries using various modes of transportation to leave the area. Tomax and Xamot calmed themselves and planned their escape. They needed to find a safe place to stay where they could lick their wounds and make sense of what had happened to them during their lost time with Mindbender. Tomax in particular was excited about the idea of transmitting the power of their wills through telecommunications. Xamot had mostly ..safetysafetysafety.. on his mind but was forever enthusiastic about the happiness of his sibling and had eagerly completed his thought. They mutually decided their best bet was to seek the aid of The Six, their psychic peers who had mentored them in the past. They were closest to Tory and Mick but didn't want to face them in their current state. They sensed that, while the couple was most sympathetic to their problems in the past, they'd be most disappointed in them now. -Best to avoid them until strong again. -Best to avoid Petra and Donte as well. The first would lecture and the second might overestimate their physical conditions, accidentally killing them on the way to throwing them out. He was pretty easy-going, but didn't have sympathy for weakness and failure. The safest bet would be Aurora and Mishael. They ran a private university and hospital in the United States. The Brothers of Light weren't well liked or respected by them, but Aurora and Mishael were psychic healers who never turned away anybody in need.
As the brothers walked among the departing dignitaries, they mingled with their minds as well, seeking out the one traveling in the direction they needed to go. Finally they found a man taking his private jet to Texas. "Close enough, brother," Tomax said. Xamot replied, "We'll have them drop us off on the way." They captivated everyone on board with their hypnotic charisma. "We will rest in the back.." Tomax said, while Xamot finished with, "..and you will not notice we are here." Then they tried to relax themselves, embracing for comfort, though they could hardly bear the smell of each others filthy robes and unwashed bodies. They fell into a fitful and nightmare plagued sleep during the long flight.
After their return to the United States, Tomax and Xamot had the ability to travel directly to Aurora and Mishael's current location using their psychic abilities to feel out their thoughts. To be polite, however, they acted in the same way they'd expect guests to their sanctuary to act, letting the staff at the university campus and hospital know of their presence and asking to be seen at Aurora and Mishael's convenience. As the Brothers of Light wandered the grounds, waiting, they experienced the uncomfortable sensation of being perceived solely as they looked at the moment. Without seeing their light, their glamor, their temples and devoted followers, and without knowledge of their bond, many who encountered them backed slowly away thinking they were identical nuts, mad priests, -transients- and got the creeps. Finally, they were summoned to Aurora and Mishael's home off campus. When they arrived, after being escorted to their doorstep by campus security, Tomax and Xamot did their best to appear as weak, piteous and downtrodden as possible. Speaking softly, eyes down, heads bowed, subservient, they pushed their suffering at the hands of Dr. Mindbender to the forefront of their minds, hoping for some commiseration. Nothing prepared them for the open hostility they saw in Aurora's eyes. Mishael, upon seeing them, left the room, came back, then left again. "He does that to keep from throttling both of you on sight, or could he get by with just one of you?" she asked, making a reference to their shared empathy. It was absurd to imagine the willowy Mishael causing them physical harm, but they took what ridicule they had to with all seriousness. Finally, as they expected, she invited them in. "You two are rank. You may come and rest yourselves, get clean." she said, disgusted.
Tomax and Xamot were given a hot meal, clean clothes to wear while their robes and things were in the wash, and access to a shower and spare bedroom. Later, staring at each other smugly, they said, "This will be a good place to stay..." "..to renew our strength so we can spread the seeds of our faith again." Safe, they fell into a deep, healing slumber.