DATE: FEBRUARY 15,2015, EASTER ISLAND, 03H00M

In the darkness of the night, a man is standing on the beach, watching the sea. Hours ago, he was in New York, organizing preparations to train his two new champions. Although they had not yet answered, he already knew that they had accepted his proposal.

Now, he only needed to solve a single problem and could proceed with his plans. Wearing only a lab coat over his red suit, he waits for the right moment.

"This planet is wonderful, is not it? It's almost a pity we can only stay for 20 years."

His concentration was not affected by the abrupt arrival of another man. He was exactly like Mark, except for his black hair and a few scars on his face. Strangely, even with the scars, he still looked like a handsome man as much as his blonde version.

"You're late." Mark said, still watching the sea.

"Sorry, but I had a contretemps with my new champion."

"Well, I hope it was worth it, Blur."

His twin did not seem to like the comment.

"Actually, if you do not mind, I'd rather you call me Nathan." He replied, determined.

Intrigued, Mark looked at his brother in disbelief. Having human bodies helped to express his emotions better, yet he could not understand what was going on with his brother.

"And why all of a sudden?" He asked, trying to sound neutral.

"Although I did not like it very much at first, I ended up getting used to being Nathan Garrett. And, since we will not be these versions of us for long, I want to enjoy it while I can."

"Well, if it is so, let it be." Mark accepted with a shrug. "However, "Nathan", we have not ended the terms of our little agreement. I hope you know what you're doing by recruiting Helmut Zemo to your group."

"Sure, "Dr. Pym." I have the situation under control. And should I imagine that you have been able to rescue the kids as planned?"

"Right. Although, I must admit I expected more from the henchmen of one of your champions. In fact, one of the kids, alone, knocked out 6 of them."

"Frost is still new to this line of business. I've already said that you have to hire quality henchmen, but she's very stubborn. I think she takes the pseudonym "White Queen" seriously."

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk about. I do not trust much your Emma Frost. Unlike other versions of her that we have already encountered, this one seems to be very anonymous, I did not get much of her from my investigation."

"That, my brother, because I molded her with my Siege Perilous. She was not "Emma Frost" before, and that's all I can tell you."

Mark would not admit it, but that was exactly what he wanted to know. Even after so long, his brother could still be deceived by his superior tactics.

"Well, that's understandable. However, in exchange for the information I was going to give you, I have to ask you a question about her performance before saying what I want."

"And what would it be?"

"Could she plant telepathic suggestions on someone without being close to the person?"

Blur was now confused. His brother offered the chance to have champions with advantage over his champions if he helped him with something, and he agreed to cooperate with him. However, it was not Mark's character change people's minds. He had his methods to manipulate them without resorting to it.

"What exactly do you mean?" He asked, intrigued.

"I want her to change the opinions of Lynn and Rita Loud and Roberto Santiago, the director of SHIELD."

Hearing this, he could not contain himself.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha..."

And he continued for a long time, until his brother got tired.

"Already laughed enough?"

"Wait. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha."

"You know we do not have all day, do you?"

"Hahaha, okay, okay, but admit it, if I told you that, I would also think it's a joke."

"If it was not necessary, I would not ask you to, but I really do need this."

"Do not know. I've got Zemo, and both he and Frost can not turn on me. If she's caught, how can I get another telepath? They are rare in this world, and even my Siege Perilous does not guarantee how one will get out of it."

After all, Mark knew his brother was right. They should not even meet and make a temporary truce. Much less ask your opponent to risk losing one of his champions to help train his champion.

"You're right, it's risky for your telepath, but I really need the Louds and the Santiagos to stop being so controlling with their children. I'm not asking her to change their personalities, I just need Frost to make them give their children more freedom, thinking that it came from themselves."

"I must admit, it sounds like a commendable cause, but I'd have a good job persuading Frost to do that."

It was all Mark needed to hear. So Frost could manipulate hard-to-reach people from a safe distance. It was only a matter of time.

"If so, when do you think she could do that?"

"Well, she's still in New York, so I guess until Tuesday morning. But there is still the question of payment. What's in for me?"

Mark sighed in defeat. He knew this moment would come, but it still did not feel right to betray his new champion that way.

"Right. Lincoln Loud is my key champion. You just need to follow his family and you will find people who can give you a psychological edge over him after they get into your Siege Perilous.

Blur was now forced to do something for his brother. If one of them revealed his strategy in exchange for something, the other had to do his part. No exceptions.

"You're playing a dangerous game, brother. I must suppose, then, that you will not object if I decide to attack him."

"I know you well enough to know you would not waste your time on this. At the moment, he poses no threat to your champions. Besides, I plan to train him in New York, since his parents can not be suspicious of what we're going to do. I just ask you to leave his sisters out of this."

"So I have the freedom to recruit anyone who knows him or a family member to have a psychological advantage in the Tournament, except for the sisters and the parents. Sounds good to me. Done deal."

With that, he held out his hand, and Mark promptly returned the gesture.

They then turned, each to one side, but Mark stopped.

"Before I forget, congratulations on your invasion of SHIELD. It did not look like you had not used a body like that for millennia."

His brother just smiled, and went on his way, toward his boat.

"Well, I promised that from now on I will not do anything against the Louds directly, but he did not say anything about my Masters of Evil." He smirked. "I'm sorry, Mark, but you're going to regret a lot this day."

TO BE CONTINUED...

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