[center][color=Gold][h1]M a n t r A[/h1][/color][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/J6PeZuq.jpg?2[/img][/center]
[sub][hr][/sub][COLOR=Gold][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=Gold][I]Canoga Park, California
[/I] - [I]Night[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Issue #1.04:[/b] [COLOR=Gold][I]Perception Check[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub]

[indent]At last Mantra's eyes got used to the bright lights, or perhaps she had managed to magically tint her eye sight to deal with the psychedelic colors.  What had only been a bright shape, had now formed into the visage of a young, blonde woman.  Mantra had to do a double-take as she saw a fashion she had never expected to see ever again.  A short, white top with puffy sleeve, a brown, cord necklace with a gold peace sign attached to it, and purple, white, and green zebra patterned bell-bottoms, complete with brown, strap sandals.  With her exposed midriff, rings on her fingers, and a white belt that looked like it was made of connected disks, she could only be described as a pretty hippie.

Lukasz remembered hippies from decades prior, he had always found them to be useless bums that were high 9 times out of 10 and could manage to annoy you 10 out of 10 times.  The other problem with hippies is he found out they tended to mess around with things, other than drugs form time and time and made good disguises for Boneyard's minions to work with.  Now why a hippie had suddenly appeared and seemed to have the power to make him have the vision of an LSD addict was most certainly something he needed to figure out.  That stupid peace sign was a sham!

[color=Gold]"Alright girl, I don't know who you think you are but you are between a man and his bed!  One does not get between a man and his bed if they know what's good for them!"[/color]  Mantra was pissed and tired with a stupid hippie between him and paradise.  Being in such a state Lukasz had completely dropped his persona as a woman, but much to his annoyance, the hippie was not about to let him forget who he was at the moment.

"[color=f7976a]I[/color] see [color=fdc68a]you're[/color] still [color=fff79a]a[/color] bit [color=c4df9b]stuck[/color] in [color=7bcdc8]the[/color] past [color=6ecff6]sister[/color]!  [color=8882be]You[/color] best [color=bc8dbf]join[/color] the [color=f49ac2]revolution[/color] before [color=f6989d]you[/color] fall [color=f7976a]down[/color] like [color=fff79a]a[/color] drunk!"  The blonde beamed at him and seemed to just skip through the air without a care, those annoying prismatic colors radiating off of her like a figure skater on ice.

[color=Gold]"The hell are you blabbering about?  Just get out of my way!"[/color]  Mantra pointed and fired a stream of flame at the girl, who merely spun out of the way without breaking stride.

"I [color=f6989d]see[/color] you've [color=a187be]got[/color] some [color=7bcdc8]flare[/color] for [color=c4df9b]sure[/color], but [color=f7976a]you're[/color] not [color=fff79a]dazzling[/color] like [color=f49ac2]me[/color]!  Kismet [color=bc8dbf]Deadly[/color] is [color=8493ca]here[/color] to p[color=82ca9d]lay[/color], let's [color=c4df9b]ride[/color] this [color=fdc68a]wave[/color], perhaps [color=f9ad81]to[/color] your [color=f6989d]grave[/color]!"  She laughed as she flitted around like an annoying fairy while Mantra gained a pulsing vein on her forehead.  Just like every other hippie, she had managed to get under Mantra's skin with ease.

[color=Gold]"You little bitch!  I'll roast you alive!"[/color]  Mantra opened up both palms and a wave a fire enveloped Kismet, but instead of setting her ablaze, the fire was somehow absorbed into her hand.  Without even trying, Kismet had completely nullified her magic.

"[color=f7976a]Tch[/color] tch, [color=fdc68a]you're[/color] acting [color=fff79a]just[/color] like [color=a2d39c]the[/color] establishment!  [color=6ecff6]Trying[/color] to [color=8493ca]bring[/color] this [color=bc8dbf]sister[/color] down [color=f49ac2]but[/color] I've [color=f6989d]got[/color] a [color=f7976a]secret[/color] you [color=fdc68a]don't[/color] got!  [color=82ca9d]I'll[/color] show [color=6ecff6]you[/color] some [color=8493ca]real[/color] free [color=a187be]thinking![/color]"  The self proclaimed [i]free thinker[/i] pointed back at Mantra and the same flames that she shot out were returned in full force. 

With no time to dodge, Mantra wrapped herself up in her cloak for protection.  The flames washed over her but thankfully not a hair on her head was singed by the fire.

[color=Gold]"Well guess I'll just have to go back to the basics."[/color]  Mantra scowled, then without warning, rushed Kismet with an elbow to the stomach. 

Mantra felt a satisfying crunch as her arm rammed into her body with a look of surprise on Kismet's face, the problem was Kismet didn't move at all despite all the force Mantra had put into the blow.  A blow like that should have at least knocked the air out of her, but all Kismet did was hunch over Mantra's elbow with a quizzical look.

"Yikes, [color=fff79a]sister[/color], I [color=82ca9d]didn't[/color] expect [color=8493ca]you[/color] to [color=a187be]fall[/color] back [color=bc8dbf]on[/color] tradition!  [color=f49ac2]Guess[/color] you're [color=f6989d]trapped[/color] by [color=f7976a]your[/color] old [color=fdc68a]way[/color] of [color=fff79a]thinking[/color]!  How [color=a2d39c]tragic[/color]."  Kismet somehow managed to flip over Mantra and then gave her a really strong kick to the back.  Mantra crashed to the ground and as quick as she could, rolled over so she could counter attack.  Kismet did not go after her so Mantra retaliated by firing a blast of air at her, hoping to catch her off guard.  The blast hit, but like the fire blast before, Kismet soaked it up, but instead of firing it back just absorbed it into her body and sudden grew in size.

"[color=f49ac2]Ummm[/color], that [color=82ca9d]breeze[/color] will certainly help me [color=f49ac2]sail[/color]!  [color=f9ad81]Thanks[/color] for the lift [color=f49ac2]sister[/color]!  You've yet to [color=f9ad81]learn[/color] to [color=82ca9d]embrace[/color] your [color=7bcdc8]power[/color]!  Guess I'll just have to [color=a187be]embrace[/color] you instead!"  Kismet laughed as grew to a giant's proportions and then grabbed Mantra to squeeze her like a dog's chew toy.

Mantra tried to free herself from Kismet's grasp but there was no way her body had the strength pry herself free.  She could feel her bones start to creak and was trying desperately not to have the air crushed out of her.  How could Kismet be such a bad match for her?  She absorbed any magic she sent at her and despite hitting her in the stomach with enough force to double her over, it was as if she didn't even feel it; in fact, she didn't even seen out of breath despite taking a blow that should have knocked the air out of her lungs.

Mantra looked up at the now giant hippie trying to crush her, her apparent invulnerability to physical pain, the ability to absorb magic and instantly increase in size, it had all come together.  Kismet Deadly was not real, but a magical construct.  As a being completely made up of magical energy it made sense that throwing magic at her would just allow Kismet to become stronger.  Well, Mantra's body could gather magic too, so hopefully Eden Blake had the ability to take back her magic.

[color=Gold]"Alright giant lady, that's enough!"[/color]  Mantra gripped onto Kismet's hands and concentrated as hard as she could.  She just had to reverse the process of expelling her magic, to bringing it back in.  It wasn't just like flipping the switch on a vacuum cleaner though, but Mantra tried her best to visualize the process to help.  At first nothing happened, but then she could feel her magic being drawn back into herself, it kind of felt like a tingling, electrical current but without the pain.  She could feel Kismet's grip quickly diminish as her body starting to shrink back down to normal size, but instead of stopping at her normal size, the absorption process kept going.

"[color=f7976a]Ok[/color], [color=fdc68a]ok[/color]!  Stop!  You've [color=c4df9b]learned[/color] how to be a [color=7bcdc8]free[/color] [color=8493ca]thinker[/color]!  Kismet is [color=f6989d]sorry[/color] for hurting you!"  Kismet pleading as she found herself held in Mantra's hands this time.  Mantra couldn't help but smile at the magical entity's helplessness; it felt good to win in a magical contest. Still, she was surprised that she was able to also absorb Kismet's own magical energy; it must have been really compatible with her magic or something.  Now that she was small and weak that stupid psychedelic light had finally stopped which was a breath of fresh air.

[color=Gold]"Alright I'll stop, now you can tell me who and what you are.  Also, why did it look like you came from my house?"[/color]  Mantra glared at the mini blonde as she trembled in her hands.

"As I appear, I am a [color=fff79a]magical construct[/color] created by the [color=f7976a]great[/color] Archimage.  I was placed in Eden Blake's house to [color=bc8dbf]watch[/color] over her while the [color=7bcdc8]master[/color] prepared for the [color=f26522]transition[/color].  Well, since Archimage got [color=6ecff6]captured[/color] it then became my [color=fdc68a]duty[/color] to help [color=bc8dbf]train[/color] whoever he chose to inhabit her body once you reached a certain [color=f6989d]level[/color] on your own.  You're kind of a [color=f9ad81]fledgling[/color] when it comes to [color=c4df9b]magic[/color] so I was made to help [color=6ecff6]support[/color] you.  Anyway the Archimage left a [color=a187be]message[/color] for you with me, guess I'll just [color=f49ac2]play[/color] it for you now."

Mantra released Kismet who proceeded to project an image of the Archimage for Mantra to see and hear.  Mantra almost forgot that it was just a recording and not the real thing with how real it looked.  She wanted to ask as many questions as possible but kept her mouth shut.  She was pissed as she watched the old wise face give her a final message, how she wanted to blast that look of wisdom off of his stupid face, but she needed any help she could get if she was going to survive this ordeal.

[color=6ecff6]“Greetings Lukasz, if you are hearing this message then I must assume I have been defeated and my forces destroyed.  There is no doubt that you are having, difficulties with your new female body-“[/color]

[color=Gold]“Well that’s the understatement of the millennium.”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“-but I can assure you that her powers will be needed in order for you to succeed.  To help train your powers I created this magical construct to aid you.  Hopefully you have already learned much with its help.”[/color]

[color=Gold]“More like I almost died, but do tell!”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“Over the centuries you inhabit that body, you will be able to better foster your powers.  In time I surmise you will be more powerful than I.”[/color]

[color=Gold]“Crap, sounds like he has me pegged to stay in this body for a long time if he bothered to mention [i]centuries[/i]!  It would have been nice if he left me an instruction manual at least.   Now I really need to save him so I can get out of this body as soon as possible!”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“In the meanwhile, to help protect you, I have arranged for an ancient relic, the Sword of Fangs to be on display in a nearby ancient history museum.  It is under a false name but you should be able to recognize it when you examine it.”[/color]  An image of an ornately designed blade, with a ceremonial looking golden handle suddenly appeared.  It was a very unique blade with the inside edge having very jagged features, frankly it didn’t look all that practical but that was just the way it was with magical stuff it seemed.

[color=6ecff6]“While a powerful weapon its true worth can only be used by a master of magic, I pray that one day you will master it's use.  May you avenge us all, Lukasz.”[/color]  With its piece said, the Archimage recording disappeared into the night, leaving Mantra alone with the mini Kismet Deadly.

[color=Gold]“Of course he couldn’t just hide it in a safe or something, had to be sneaky about it.  A sword is gonna be a far cry from an AR-15!  Don’t think I’ll ever really get used to this magic business.”[/color]  Mantra grumbled as she turned to start heading home.

“Well it’s been a [color=f6989d]party[/color] but I’m gonna [color=fdc68a]peace out[/color] now!  Gonna take a while to [color=8882be]recharge[/color] my reserves!  Welp, [color=a2d39c]bowing[/color] out now [color=f6989d]sister[/color]!  See you some other [color=f7976a]time[/color]!”

[color=Gold]“For the love of…stop calling me Sister!”[/color]  Mantra yelled but Kismet had already disappeared to wherever she had been hiding, though she assumed it was either near or even in her house somewhere.  A magical entity living in her house, not the most comforting thought even if she was the Archimage’s creation.[/indent]

[hr]
[indent]Eden Blake walked the rest of the distance home so no one could trace her back to Mantra.  Eden just wanted to collapse onto the bed and sleep until noon, though of course that wasn’t actually an option.  Still, the bed called to her like a Siren luring a sailor to his ultimate resting place.

Eden fumbled with her keys until she found the right one, but as soon as she had heard the sweet click of a deadbolt unlocking, she realized she was not alone.

[color=Gold]“Who’s there?”[/color]  Eden spun around and saw a well dressed man in a black suit step out of the shadows.

[color=Gray]“Eden Blake I presume?”[/color]  The figure asked which put Eden on her guard.  Suspicious individuals waiting near someone’s home for them to arrive was certainly on the creepy side.

[color=Gold]“Yes?”[/color]

[color=Gray]“I am here to announce that your application has been accepted and we have already informed your current employer that you will be quitting.”[/color]

[color=Gold]“Errmmm what?”[/color]  Eden couldn’t help utter in confusion as the man suddenly offered her a lanyard with her name, photo, and information already on it.  It was a little too dark to easily make out any other information on the lanyard.

[color=Gray]“Eden Blake, welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D.  We accept to see you at our Los Angeles facility for orientation at eight sharp tomorrow.  We look forward to working with you.”[/color]

Eden watched with a blank stare as the man promptly left the premises without even giving his name.  There was a lot more to Eden Blake than met the eye apparently.  Just what kind of background did Eden Blake actually have?

[color=Gold]“I’ll have to look at Eden’s background more in depth when I have a chance.  I never would have expected her to have such high aspirations.  If I ever get out of this body I’ll have to thank her for applying for a real job.  I might be able to pick up some good info while I work there too.”[/color]

Things had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.[/indent]