Characters: Mongoose Khan
Real name: Kauberi Shetty
Occupation: Student
Identity: Unknown to the public
Legal Status: Citizen of India with no criminal record
Place of Birth: Tadepalligudem, India
Known relatives: Ajitaab Shetty (father, deceased), Sameera Shetty (mother, deceased), Daksha Shetty (brother), Chaaya (aunt)
Group Affiliation: T.A.S.K.
Powers and Abilities: Mongoose Khan possesses superhuman senses, strength, speed, agility, reflexes, coordination, balance and endurance. She also possesses accelerated healing abilities that allow her to regenerate damaged or destroyed tissues with far greater speed and efficiency than an ordinary human. As the Avatar of the Mongoose Spirit, she grew razor sharp claws and fangs that are capable of rending cinderblock and is an Olympic level gymnast (though never trained).
Brief Personal History: Former Indian Army soldier Ajitaab Shetty and his wife Sameera lived in a farming village miles away from the city of Tadepalligudem in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A son, Daksha, was born to the young couple soon after they married but further attempts at conceiving another child met with heartbreak. Sameera prayed to many Hindu gods to bless her with the treasure of a baby girl but received no answer for many years. One night she was visited by Kubera, the Hindu God of Wealth, god-king of the semi-divine Yakshas of the Hindu pantheon. Kubera is in fact a [REDACTED]. Seeming to take pity on Sameera, Kubera promised that he would enable her to conceive and give birth to a girl child, a child she and her family would in turn dedicate to him in name and fate, a child who would grow to be his avatar in this world. Joyously, Sameera accepted the "god's" terms and nine months later gave birth to beautiful baby girl, who she named Kauberi.
A month after Kauberi was born, the family's village was invaded by thousands of snakes. This is when the Shetty family learned that gifts from god's often come with unknown consequences. Little Kauberi, chosen avatar of Kubera, was being hunted her mortal enemies -- snakes. This serpentine invasion became a yearly event for the village, which in turn became very adept at combatting and ridding themselves of reptilian invaders. Indeed the villagers prided themselves on their ability to keep Kubera's chosen one safe. Kauberi lived the life of a happy and very safe child until her 11th birthday.
On Kauberi's 11th birthday, Kubera once again appeared to the Shetty's and told them that he had come to claim his avatar. Sameera pleaded with the god to no avail and stood helplessly as Kubera turned to her daughter and began her transformation. The child grew rough animal hair over her body and fearsome teeth and claws. Her features transformed and she took on a mongoose-like visage. When his task was complete Kubera welcomed his new avatar of the mongoose spirit and warned the family that they should leave the village. His last words to them before fading away were ... "the snakes are coming."
That night, the village was attacked by snakes and warriors belonging to the Kala Naga, an ancient demon-snake worshipping cult. The village was lost and the Shetty's barely managed to send their children, Daksha and Kauberi into the forest before they were cut down. Ajitaab had planned for this day for some time and Daksha had been instructed to seek out members of his father's old military unit in the port city of Visakhapatnam, who would help him send Kauberi to his aunt in America.
After a couple weeks on the run and many clashes with the Kala Naga, the siblings arrived in Visakhapatnam and made contact with Ajitaab's comrades. Within days a frightened and heartbroken Kauberi was bound for New Jersey, hidden away in the hold of a cargo ship.
A day later Kubera appeared before John Henry of T.A.S.K. to inform him that as per the ancient accords, he was sending a representative of his people; his own personal Avatar of the Mongoose Spirit, to serve the Earth as a member of T.A.S.K.
Written by Damion Gonzales
Character design by Sean Isaakse