Fantasma

March 11, 2014

We got interrupted briefly by Skye and Crimson Dynamo going all 'For the Emperor!' on the monkey zombie servitors, but after that Mikhail, Vanguard, and May got into full swing talking about team formations.

Which left the rest of us to kind of drift off.

I'm not a general. I'm a fighter, nowadays, and that has been a journey and a half. So, out of curiosity, I started wandering around on my own.

With a pair of armed Russian guards, of course. I didn't mind. They weren't going to just trust a random American with their base after all. After all, I could do a lot of damage inside… well, inside anywhere.

The Russian base of the Winter Guard was freaking badass. Tagansky Protected Command Point had apparently once been a secret military base at the height of the Cold War. It was completely underground in the middle of Moscow, right next to the metro lines. Of course, it wasn't a secret nowadays, since a google search had told me all that, but real estate is real estate. And honestly, it was a sweet base.

I ended up stopping near the bottom of the base when one of the guards stepped in front of a door, preventing me from walking in.

"Classified," he said in heavily accented English.

"Oh?" I hesitated. Man… classified is such a tempting word. Maybe there was something cool behind the door. Or something illegal. Or both. Maybe it was where Dynamo kept some of his suits.

"It's where we hold the generator," someone said, cutting off my train of crazy ideas with the harsh blade of reality. We all turned to see Fantasma walking up to us. The scantily clad woman walked over in her high heels. Seriously, she looked just like Kalinka Fox, which was blowing my mind. I'd get over it, same as I had with Steve and Nat looking like Chris and Scarjo. She stopped in front of me and smiled. I was surprised to realize she was a head shorter than me. Didn't seem the least intimidated by the height difference though. "You want to see? It's quite interesting."

"Ma'am!" the guard who had stopped me from entering protested.

Fantasma rolled her eyes and switched to Russian. "Get out of the way. I will guard him."

The pair of guards shared a look. After a moment, they walked away, still looking dissatisfied.

"Урод!" one said. A slur the Omnitrix translated as something similar to freak. Someone born unnaturally.

I stared after them in shock, then looked at Fantasma. She bit her bottom lip, pain in her eyes. When she saw me looking, she quickly recovered, turning and entering the room I'd been barred from.

The room we entered was big, almost house-sized. In the center was something that brought me to a standstill. "Daaayum. That is impressive."

A gigantic machine was humming in the center of the room. It looked like a giant and squat letter H, with that little line in the middle replaced by a big glowing metal ball with wires and some pokey sections coming off of it. I walked down some steps to join Fantasma, who smiled up at me. She was standing near a set of comfy chairs that had been set up around a beat-up wooden coffee table.

"Dynamo made it. It's based on the same technology as his armor, as well as some notes from Tesla. I'm not sure how it works, but it's quite beautiful, isn't it?"

"Hell yeah," I said in awe, watching the glowing blue orb.

I grunted, walking down the last of the steps to join her. She sat down on a chair and put on leg over the other, watching me while I did the same.

"So, does that happen often?" I asked her. "The guys you work with, calling you a freak?"

Fantasma let out a surprised huff. "You're rather blunt, aren't you?"

"It's part of my charm."

She shook her head. "It's annoying."

"So is you avoiding the question."

"...Sometimes," Fantasma admitted. She looked over at the reactor as it continued to hum. "We are gifted with incredible abilities," she lifted a hand and twisted it. Purple lights flowed off her fingertips, turning into intricate sigils set in a violet circle. A google search later told me it was something similar to mandalas in Eastern cultures, but with Russian lettering and symbols. The light shone against her face as she watched it thoughtfully. "But they separate us from the rest of humanity. It is only logical, for them to covet our abilities. To be jealous."

I rested my head against my hand. "Sure. Sometimes. But it sucks too, right? Getting called that by people who're supposed to be your allies."

"It is the nature of people," she raised a hand and watched the purple sigils float away from her. "To fear and covet these abilities."

"Yeah. It's human nature. And it sucks."

Fantasma clenched a fist, destroying the sigils. "Yes. It 'sucks'," she looked over at me. "How long have you had your abilities, Mr. Schahed?"

I leaned my head back to look at the ceiling, thinking. "I don't know… six, seven months? Since October, maybe?"

She laughed. "You don't remember?"

"It's been a bit of a roller coaster," I grinned. "The last few months sort of flew by."

Fantasma nodded slowly. "I have had my powers all my life. Since I was a little girl in an orphanage. I was forced to hide them. We Russians aren't very friendly to that which is different. Later when the Russian government took me in for training after BRIDGE was created… I was happy. Happy to prove my abilities were a gift for the people, to save and help my country."

"They didn't mistreat you?" I couldn't help but ask.

"If they had, Mikhail would have beaten them to a pulp," she smiled fondly. The image of Ivan Drago glaring down at me saying 'I must break you' filled my mind. Yeah, can't imagine anyone messing with her withthaton her side, putting aside her own abilities. "He has been a father to me. Kept me safe, taught me to love these gifts."

We sat quietly for a moment, listening to that massive engine hum in the center of the room. "I can't pretend to know what you went through. I mean, I didn't have these powers for long. But I know what it's like to find a home. A place where people have your back."

Fantasma leaned forward in her seat. "But if you had to leave them? To help them elsewhere. Would you?"

I stared at her, unthinking. "Uh… how long are we talking?"

"Unspecified," Fantasma said.

"Oh, so this is a heavy type question," I rubbed the back of my neck. "...I'd hate it. It would suck. For multiple reasons. But if it's for my," I hesitated on the word to use. "For my team? Yeah. I mean, I'm here, right?"

Fantasma bit her lip thoughtfully. "And if they were the only family you had? The only ones who had ever trusted you, to have treated you as more than a freak or a weapon?"

For some reason, I could tell that answering too quickly would be to my detriment. That it would seem like I was treating this very important question with careless brevity.

I looked back at the glowing orb in silence, thinking. When I spoke, it was only after some thinking. "You know? I think, as long as it's to keep them and the world safe? I'd head out. For their sake… Being a superhero sucks sometimes."

"There, you have more experience than I do," Fantasma joked. "But thank you. It helps, a little, to talk about this."

"No problem. Funny though, I kinda thought you were hanging out with me to get secrets or something James Bond type," I said with a chuckle.

She smirked. "No. I'm not exactly the spying type. Do I look like a woman from a James Bond film?" when I cocked an eyebrow she looked down at her purple outfit and rolled her eyes. "Fair enough."

"Don't you get cold?" I asked.

"No. My powers protect me. Let me express myself as I wish," she wiggled in her seat. "I spent a lifetime hiding myself and my powers, pretending I wasn't different. This is just me standing out at last."

I nodded. "Yeah. I know someone like that," I said, thinking of Jen. Suddenly, it became hard to breath. I looked up at the door at the same time as Fantasma.

"Oh?" a living shadow strode into the room, teeth of black smiling down at us. "You look cozy. I'm disappointed. I was hoping he was planning on fighting you."

"I'm not the combative type," I glared up at the guy as he walked down the stairs.

"Ahhhh, but you are," Chernobog huffed out a laugh and I felt my heart clench and release with each puff of laughter. "I can smell it on you. Blood and pain, like wine dripping off a knife. It's almost hilarious."

"Chernobog, did you need something?" Fantasma said in annoyance.

"I just came to annoy you."

Well, what the hell was I supposed to say to that?

"It's fun, you know? Seeing how people react in my presence. Used to be so boring. All the knights in shiny armor, screaming about they'd 'destroy the evil god and remove all darkness!' It was fun, at first. Killing them off had its own fun appeal to it. But then, they were boring," he scoffed. "Idiots. As though I was the reason they all killed and raped across the land."

He sat down at a chair with us with a loud sigh of pleasure. It made for a ridiculous image. "I like this century better. You all have more fun reactions, so much more varied. And Netflix! What a concept!" he laughed while I looked at Fantasma, who was slowly moving her fingers around to make more magic purple sparks. "I always rewatch the Office. Can't help it. It's just intoxicating."

"Are you always this ridiculous, or are you still looking for a reaction?" I asked.

"Can't I do both?" he smiled at me.

Seriously, that doesn't… everything about him made me feel as though I was dying. Like he was seconds from ripping my throat out. Every word made my heart clench, and the second he walked in I had to squint to see, like all light that had been illuminating the room was headed toward him instead.

"See? Interesting," the darkness in gold armor purred. "I'm curious, Dial. That watch of yours. Can it defeat me?"

"You wanna give it a shot?" I growled.

He laughed. "No. See, the reason I'm curious is, well… the Russians, as they call themselves now. They made us to reflect you Avengers. I'm sure you've noticed.

"Sorta obvious. You got a point there, bud?"

"Oh yes. Well, Vanguard and Dynamo are obvious. Hunter, he's just a killer, like your Black Widow and Hawkeye. I'm the one who is supposed to represent your Hulk and that pondering oaf Thor," he looked over at Fantasma. "But who is Fantasma? In our little group."

"Chernobog," she said warningly, more purple sparks flowing. "If you say another word!"

"You know, she was eager to meet you," he hissed softly. "They warned her to be ready. She needed to be versatile, to have a counter for every trick… every alien. Sonic spells, illusions, shields, poisons. How often did you train, Fantasma? For the day you might need to kill your new friend?"

"Enough!" with that shout, she swung a hand at him. A purple line of energy blasted him in the face with enough force that I was rocked back in my chair.

He sat for a moment, he snapped to the side from the impact of her blow. He slowly turned to look at her.

"..." Chernobog smiled. "Oh? Does it shame you? To sit across from a man you thought you might have to kill, while he's being so friendly?"

"You've got issues," I said softly.

"Dozens," he chuckled. "But then, that is my life."

Fantasma spun and walked out. I gave Chernobog a glare, then went to follow her as he laughed eerily.

After some walking, she stopped and looked at me. "I had to."

"Had to?" I asked. Honestly, I'd expected an apology. Instead, she was eyeing me fiercely.

"We all did," she spat out. "All of us had to be ready in case the Avengers would invade Russia. A worst-case scenario. And I don't regret it. It was necessary."

"A bit of a hurtful statement, considering I'm right here, ya know?" I pointed out.

"You scare people," she crossed her arms looking up at me. "That is unavoidable. I don't want to kill anyone-"

"Okay, that's more on the right track, back to friendly ground," I said.

"But I also needed to be ready to kill you despite that."

"And you've derailed. Back on enemy territory."

Fantasma stopped for a moment. Then she looked at the watch. The Omnitrix. "You keep getting stronger. We keep getting records of more and more aliens. All so powerful… can you blame them for wanting me to be ready? In case those were turned against the people of Russia?"

To that, I could only open my mouth and realize I didn't have much of an answer. I had thought about it.

What if… I mean, what if, somehow, someone got the watch off of me, used it on others? Or if I got brainwashed? Or if some evil version of me got shat out by a mirror dimension ala Star Trek? I could do a lot of damage. All of us could. Hawkeye was considered one of the weakest of us. He was also one of the most skilled killers on Earth, and he'd been getting stronger. If he got turned somehow… well, I didn't like the idea of feeling cold steel slicing through my throat.

"So, is that why we were talking?" I asked. "So you could get a read on me?"

"...I was curious," she said with obvious reluctance. "And your advice was helpful."

"Heh," I sighed. "Well, you're welcome."

"...You aren't responding how I thought you would," Fantasma uncrossed her arms.

"Yeah, well, I've gotten more death threats than most," I shrugged. "Your's is the most polite so far."

She blinked, then smirked. "That's not funny."

"It's hilarious," I rubbed the back of my neck. Was I not taking this seriously enough? Russia had been training people specifically to be able to kill me. How the hell was I supposed to take that? "Look, I'm just processing."

"...If it helps, it's all a worst-case scenario. Mikhail always told us to ignore the idea of fighting the Avengers. To remember our priority is the people of Russia, the people of Earth. That is what we fight for, train for," she sounded earnest. Not asking for forgiveness, but at least understanding.

I looked down at her. She met my eyes without fear. "You know I'll have to tell my bosses."

"I expect it. And Chernobog will be punished for telling you."

"But you really don't want to kill me?"

"Not unless I have to."

"Well. Do you think you have to?"

She thought about it for longer than I was comfortable with before shaking her head. "No, I don't. I never did… but I'm not the only one who was trained to kill you," she nodded behind me. I turned around.

Sergei was watching us from the end of the hallway. He was flipping a knife in the air, catching it, then flipping it into the air again. When he saw that we'd noticed him, he gave a nod, then walked away. Flipping his bowie knife all along.

"He's been training for weeks, for the chance," Fantasma said softly.

I gulped nervously. As I said, I don't like the idea of cold steel slicing through my throat. But then I narrowed my eyes and breathed. Nat had trained me better than to be intimidated by this. "That's the thing. I've been training too. So I'll tell my bosses. But you should letyourbosses know," I turned to look at her. "I'd rather work with you guys. I'm nice like that. That said, if you do try to kill me, no amount of training in the world will be enough to finish me."

She didn't seem to know how to take that.

"Until then," I held out a hand. "Frenemies?"

She frowned, cocking her head in confusion. "F-Frene-Frenem, what is that?" she asked, giving up on saying the word midway.

"Friends who might kinda be enemies. Like Tom and Jerry?" she stared, still not understanding. "Er, a cartoon where a cat tries to eat a mouse, but they're kinda best friends too?"

"Oh, like 'Ну, погоди?'" she asked.

"Uh, if that helps you?" I said, wondering what the hell 'Well, Just You Wait' was.

She bit her lip again, then nodded and took my hand, shaking it. "Friends that are enemies, then."

"Great," once our handshake was done, I looked behind me. "Now, as my new frenemy, what the hell is with having the darkness on your team?"

"Do not get me started," she said with a shake of her head. "He is powerful, dangerous, and a completesvo-lach'."

"I hear that," I grumbled.

Just then, my stomach growled. The two of shared a look. Fantasma giggled, and I chuckled.

"Come," she turned and led me away. "I have threatened you with death enough. Now I will feed you."

"Do I get a chance to try that borscht stuff?" I joked.

"Bleh," she stuck her tongue out, disgusted. "No, I hate beets. We will have pirozhki."

That last was said with an excited skip in her step. With that, she led me away