REGIONAL DATE: AREA BEYOND TIME, SOL-3, UNIVERSE D-AV121 M-KK901 U-MRL50
On a desolate planet, with no sign of any life-giving feature, two curious-looking beings find ways to pass the time while they wait for something, on top of a mountain. They have humanoid appearance, and their bodies appear to be made of a metallic substance, in liquid form. Both are exactly alike, but with a small differential: one is white with black eyes, and has a black circle on the chest, while the other, black as the densest night, with white eyes and circle.
Seated on thrones, both stand before a golden table, where another throne, aligned exactly the same distance between the two of them is empty, waiting for who will sit.
The white man spends his time writing with a strange and colorful feather on a large sheet of parchment, while his companion is polishing a sword whose blade is almost as dark as he.
"Hey, Blur." Said the white being. "We are being watched."
"So what, Mark?" Blur answered, without taking his eyes off his sword. "I see no problem in that."
"It's just that I was thinking that since it's taking a while, we could do a bit of fourth wall break to pass the time."
Blur just shrugged. Mark looked at him with the thought that sometimes it would be good to be part of a species that had more than just eyes to make facial expressions. He then decides it's best to start talking to the reader right away.
"Well, as you may have noticed, I am Mark the Tactician." He then points to his conrade."And this is my twin brother, Blur the Bruiser."
Blur then bows.
"We're on an alternate version of planet Earth." Mark continues his explanation, with a smart aleck air. "In this place, all life was extinct a few billion years ago. We had not even been born yet."
"We're waiting for our sister, Sign the Fair. - Blur finally decided to join the conversation - There are not many of us, so when two or more of us meet, it's a sign that something big is about to happen.
"Exactly. As Blur said, we are extremely rare. We are from an ancient race called Nor'iash-ndr. But you can call us Supreme Beings, it's easier to pronounce, and a perfect description of how incredible we are."
The comment seemed to bother Blur, and he promptly contested his brother.
"What my wise-ass brother means is that we are very powerful, capable of distorting the fabric of reality according to our will, which makes us, let us say, a little convinced."
"I admit that we may be a bit arrogant at times, but we are nevertheless impressive. Mark sat on his throne, and set foot on the table. "However, immortality can be somewhat monotonous, so eons ago we both started collecting objects around the multiverse."
"Basically, we've became collectors of cosmic scrap." Blur then displays his black sword. "My Ebony Blade, for example, is one of the few remnants of a universe that has collapsed long ago. It's practically my favorite object."
"Please, you're practically a couple." If he had a mouth, Mark would certainly have a grin. "I can not wait to be uncle of a complete cutlery."
Blur just looked at his brother with much hatred, and then, out of nowhere, a cloud of green gas appeared around Mark, who began to cough because of the odor. Instead of retaliating, he laughed.
"Hahaha. I get it. It's because my sense of humor "stinks." Very good."
Sighing to see that his brother is a hopeless case, Blur turns his attention to the reader.
"I know he's an idiot, but what can I do? He's family." He then saves his sword in the scabbard. "But do not be fooled, despite the relaxed personality, he is a great strategist and manipulator. It was him who even created the Tournament."
"Oh, of course, my greatest accomplishment." Mark is now euphoric, like a child counting his day. "Over the millennia, even collecting became routine, without emotion. We were going to a universe, looking for objects that were forgotten by time and kept in our planets (yes, each of us has its own planet). And because of our looks and power, it has always been a challenge to interact with other peoples. Until, one day, I found the solution!"
Mark points to a spaceship, down a valley.
"Our powers do not affect ourselves or our species, so among the few things we can not do it is included shapeshift. With my advanced intellect and the resources I put together, I created a device that I called the Chamber of Incarnation. With this, I can create bodies that emulate the appearance, genetic structure and capacities of the inhabitants of the planet where we will go, so we just have to transfer our consciences to them through our astral forms and Voila, nobody notices that we are not from there!"
"At first it was fun, but it ended up getting boring.. Mark may like to learn and these things, but I exist to fight, and to perfect my battle strategies. For this experience to work, we would have to do something that appealed to both of us."
"And there came a day, unlike any other, when we've assembled to discuss our impasse. Then, in a near superfluous device, called television, we saw two groups of mortals fighting for the fate of their world. On one side, the so-called heroes, who protected the defenseless people of their world, and those so-called villains, who were dedicated to world domination."
"At that point, I suggested to Mark that we could be part of this. That we could get involved in the conflicts, taking a side, and decide the future of the world."
"I admit that was a good idea, but it would not be fair. If Blur and I took a side, they would surely win. So I came up with the idea of starting a competition. Our "Tournament of Champions", if you prefer."
"In short, every millennium we choose a universe, and we go to the version of the Earth from there." Blur could not explain why, but this was their battlefield in every match. "Each of us choose one side (I always choose the one of the villains), and choose a group of champions to help us."
"We bet items from our respective collections, and we give the winning side the right to make a wish, of unanimous choice, which will be granted by our joint power. This desire can shape the world according to their vision."
"Although Mark is a good planner, and I am a great warrior, we are still children to the standard of our people. So to avoid fighting, we need someone impartial to mediate the rules of the Tournament. And that's where our sister Sign comes in."
"Until when are you two going to talk to your imaginary audience?"
Finally, they noticed the presence of their sister, who, for some time, watched them, without saying a word. Like the twins, she looked like a human silhouette made of liquid metal, but it was silver with gold eyes, and instead of a circle, it had a golden diamond in the center of the chest.
"Seriously, since you've interacted with that crazy, red-clad human, you seem to have taken his craze to think they're characters from a silly story." She looked at her younger brothers with a mixed look of concern and authority. "You know there are other species out there, do not you?"
"Yes, we do!" Blur was deeply offended by his sister's remark. "But the humans are the funniest ones."
"Besides," Mark was staring at her like a pet begging for attention, "you really can not see the reader?"
Sign looked where Mark was pointing. As much as she looked, she could only see the dead landscape of the planet. Knowing that this would lead to nothing, she decided it was time to sort out what they were going to do.
"(Sigh) Never mind. Let's get on with it, I have some news to tell."
She sat down in her seat, her brothers were a little worried about what she was going to say.
"Very well, as you know, unlike you, who spend eternity having fun, I have many things to do in existence." She spoke calmly, though it was sometimes exhausting to be Sign the Fair. "Mortals speak about us, and eventually certain entities become aware of our presence. In other words, I have a "date"."
Both of the twins's eyes widened. If it were biologically possible, they would be jaw-dropping. Of all the beings with whom they met over the ages, her sister was the last one they would think of as being able to date.
Not that this was impossible, their kind tends to breed when beings of the opposite gender meet, but relationships of any kind are not common. In fact, the three of them relate in such a way was practically an anomaly, since not even spended much time with their parents. With some exceptions, only humans had demonstrated the ability to interact in such a way, to have the concept of "family."
It was not long before she was bombarded with questions like "Where is he from?", "What is his race?", "When are we going to meet him?". Lifting both hands, she gestured for them to calm down, and then resumed her announcement.
"I will not tell you what's his name, because I know you're going to mess with it. Just know that he is from another species, but he is biologically compatible, so maybe our family can grow. I've never yield to flattery, but I must admit I like the way he courted me."
"I'm happy for you, Sign." Mark, who had fallen in love with mortals, was a little worried. "But when you say compatible, it also refers to the life expectancy?"
"Mark, do not be rude." Blur scolded him, then took a mocking tone. "This is my job. But, I must admit Sign, we care a lot about your happiness."
"Do not worry about this." She spoke in a maternal tone, almost embarrassed at how much her brothers cherished her. "Actually, if I were you, I would worry more about how it affects your Tournament."
This left them both perplexed, Blur even more, as he had a perfect strategy for this Tournament. A deadly silence took over the table, Sign just stared at her brothers, waiting for them to speak. It was Mark who broke the silence.
"What do you mean, exactly? Do you want us to stop the Tournament?"
"No, no, I even like helping with your little game. The point is, in a few "weeks", I will begin preparations for my "guinea pig operation." I'm going to spend some time with him on a planet that I chose. So, based on the Earth calendar that you both admire, I would be back in 20 years."
Once again, the twins became discouraged. They have spent the last 2 millennia without being able to compete because their favorite multiverse has been destroyed, leaving only a nothingness and a planet made up of the rests of the universes that existed there.
Both twins spent a long time looking for another multiverse, which was as interesting as the previous one, and now that they could finally play again, their sister wanted to postpone the Tournament again. Even if were only 20 years, they were eager to play.
"Do not be like that. I just meant I thought of something different this time."
"What would it be, exactly?" Blur slowly recovered his good mood.
"You intend to change the rules?" Mark was not very flexible when it came to the rules of his Tournament.
"Just a few changes. At first, you two had established a longer period of time to recruit your champions, and I was thinking of doing it again."
While Blur was relieved by the idea of his sister being able to help his plan, Mark became uncomfortable about the old rule. He still had bitter memories of why they had to change that.
"I propose that you two spend the next 20 years recruiting champions, and then when I get back, we start with the Tournament itself. What do you think?"
"Well, I do not like that much, but if it means starting the Tournament soon enough, I think I should agree." Mark replied in a defeated tone.
"Well, actually, there may be a problem."
They both looked at Blur, who put a chest on the table.
"You see, I have nothing against your changes, the problem is that I was going suggest some myself."
Mark was now outraged. Suddenly he rose from the table and shouted at his siblings.
"I can not believe that, after all this time, you have decided to simply change the rules of the Tournament! I know that conditions have not been favorable for the last few millennia, but this is no reason to change the whole structure that I took ages to perfect !"
"Mark, please be reasonable! You know this Tournament is as important to Blur as it is to you. I'm sure he would not suggest a change if he did not think it was really necessary!"
He calmed down, realizing that his sister was right. At these times, she proved how necessary she was for them to make the Tournament without causing the end of a galaxy because of an argument.
"(Sigh) Sorry. I think I overreacted. What are you thinking about, Blur?"
Taking his cue, Blur begins to explain his vision of how to improve the Tournament.
"Like Sign, I was going to suggest a longer recruitment period. Not so long, of course, but I agree that to having only one year to pick a team of at least 7 champions is a risky bet. Besides, I wanted to propose that as long as we did the recruiting, we got into situations with them, just like in the old days."
"Hahahahaha." Despite the laughter, Mark was starting to get nervous again. "Do you, among the three of us, suggest that we fight again with our champions?"
"I must agree with Mark, Blur. Being the one who suggested the rule of non-intervention, it seems somewhat hypocritical of you to suggest that it is not a good rule."
"I never said it was a good rule, and you know very well why I suggested this rule. Since we instituted it, the tournament has become very mechanical, and has lost much of the fun. However, I think we've matured enough so we do not need this stick."
Despite agreeing with Blur at this point, Sign was looking at Mark with concern. She knew he had never forgotten what had been, ages ago, and made him cold and distant for millennia. Now that he seemed finally to have recovered, Blur suggested doing something that might haunt Mark for much longer.
"Okay, let's play your way, Blur."
Sign was surprised at how quickly Mark accepted the proposal, but both she and Blur knew that coming from Mark the Tactician meant that he also decided to dictate the new rules.
"However, I have 3 changes to make as well."
Blur was not pleased to hear this. He had devised a winning strategy, the prize he would wager was good enough to make his brother bet on an item he had been wanting for thousands of years. Something that would make his champions unbeatable in the future.
"And what would these changes be?" Sign had a bad feeling about the answer she would receive.
"Firstly, we can only take 5 items with us this time, and these items should not be used by the champions. Second, if we are going to fight along with them, then we will begin as ordinary humans, but nothing prevents us from acquiring superpowers. And lastly, they can not know what's really going on, we can tell them anything but the truth and what's at stakes. If they fight for us, it will be because they sympathized with us, not because of the promise to receive something. These are my terms, what do you say, Blur?"
"I could not agree more. So just need to decide what we're going to bet on, right?"
Blur could not be more excited. Mark's changes would not disrupt his strategy at all. The easy part if being the leader of the villains is that it is not difficult to motivate them.
"I can tell from your voice that you already have something in mind." Mark was starting to get angry again at his brother's audacity. "What do you want?"
"I want you to bet your Black Vortex!"
Suddenly, all of Mark's irritation was gone, and he started to laugh.
"Oh, and I suppose you've finally found something I want more than the Black Vortex to want to bet on?"
"In this chest is the treasure that you most covet, since we started the Tournament!"
He opened the chest, and there was a golden gauntlet with six beautiful gems encrusted in the wrist area. As soon as he set his eyes on the object, Mark nearly exploded with excitement.
"B-Blur, w-where did you find one of these?"
"While we were looking for a new playground to play with, I ended up finding this, and I remembered how much you wanted one. What do you think, brother? Worth the bet?"
Mark did not stop to think, simply snapped his fingers and then a sinister-looking mirror, contained in a transparent casing, appeared at his side.
"It's a fair bet." He could not take his eyes off the precious object. "If you had started with this, I do not think I would not have been opposed to any rules you might have made."
"Excuse me, boys." Mark's sudden joy made Sign worried. "Being the Fair, I must express my objection. Even I've heard of the infamous Infinity Gauntlet, and I do not think it's a fair bet, since the gems only work in their universe of origin."
At this, Mark simply laughed.
"Sign, of course I know that. But understand, unlike Blur, who perfects himself with the items he collects, I get mine just for the pleasure of collecting. Even if I do not go use it, I always wanted to have one of those just for myself, and I'd bet anything as a counter offer."
"(Sigh) All right, you two, it's time." Sign obviously was in a hurry to her date. "Choose your 5 items and send 3 of them away, you will start the game with only 2."
They both nodded, their eyes glittering, and the only apparent change was Blur's blade disappear. Sign approached them and handed a crystal ball to each.
"Since we have returned to some of the classic rules, I have taken the liberty of preparing these oracles for you. As before, it will show the champion who can be the key to your victory, and the moment to find him/her. Well, see you in 20 years. Good luck."
In a flash, she disappeared. Mark and Blur made their way to the ship so that they could incorporate their new identities.
Mark adjusted the controls so that the ship materializes on the designated planet in 20 years, and sent the capsules with the bodies to the coordinates he and his brother had chosen to begin with.
"Do you know what we'll be like?" The answer would not make much difference, but Blur wanted to know what awaited him.
"Do not worry. Our identities will be of brilliant academics, so it should not be difficult to get good champions without promising a whole world for them."
"If you say, that's fine with me. But keep in mind that I do not intend to pretend to be an intellectual. I'm a Bruiser, after all."
In a sporting gesture, they shook hands, and then made their way to their rooms in the ship.
Once in the rooms, they prepared to leave the physical form and to enter the astral plane, and then to be able to control their new bodies.
DATE OF THE EARTH: OCTOBER / 23/ 1997, SOME PLACE IN HAWAII, 23H55M
A man of medium height, blond hair, no older than 27, dressed in a floral shirt and shorts, woke up next to a suspicious cylindrical object, partially covered by sand.
Next to it was a metal crate, and next to it was a metal sphere about two feet in diameter. As he approached, a smiling face appeared on the sphere, and the object began to levitate.
"Greetings, sir!I see we're finally going to play again."
"Absolutely, Larry. I still have plenty of time, but I better get this started right away."
He took the oracle, which was in his pocket, and had a vision. He knew, now, when and where to find his main champion.
"Gee, it's practically 17 years." For a moment, he almost got discouraged. "Well, I better prepare well then. Lincoln Loud, I hope you're worth the wait!"
TO BE CONTINUED. . . .
The coordinates I put at the top are how I imagine reality should work.
"D" for Dimension, "M" for Multiverse and "U" for Universe.
So, you know exactly where you are.