Warnings: Character Death, Mild Language, Violence and sensitive theme, AU

A/N: Thank you for reading my story. This plot bunny had been really bugging me for quite some time and I have finally decided to write it down. Hope you all like it. Enjoy!

The Awakening

"Team Ankh reporting! Ground floor, left wing clear!" A voice crackled through Sergeant Willis' earphone.

Willis pulled the microphone close to his mouth and turned on a switch. "Roger that!" He flipped the switch back to broadcast mode. "All teams proceed to the next floor. All eyes on the scanner! Make sure none of those devils escape your attention or else the consequences would be severe."

He heard a chorus of 'Roger!' as his team quickly ascended the stairs with guns on the ready. They were on high alert. They knew that even a moment of hesitation or carelessness could cost them their lives. From their previous encounters, they had learned that those bastards were rather fast and ruthless. They never stayed in one place and catching them was almost impossible. Having inhuman powers didn't help matters.

Earlier, Sergeant Willis and his squad had been scouting the perimeter of the colony. It had been a quiet week for them, without any incident. The sergeant actually wanted it that way. It may have looked that he was not a man of action but that was not the case. Their enemy was too strong, and with their unfathomable bag of tricks, his forces didn't stand a chance.

Last week had been terrible for his squad when they had ended up fighting against the other kind. It didn't turn out too well for his team. Those black cloaked devils had taken out three of his men while two others suffered severe injuries. And disturbingly, Willis had nothing to show for the sacrifice of his men. Those cloaked killers vanished without a trace, leaving them smarting over their loss.

That incident had been really gnawing at him for quite some time now. His blood boiled in vengeance but he knew that deliberately running into them would do more harm to his squad and would never sate his hunger for revenge. However, he was aware that a confrontation was unavoidable under the current circumstances and another moment would come when their forces would clash against their enemy. That moment had finally arrived.

Their MDRV (Magic Doppler Radar Vehicle) had detected a stationary source, sensing the frequency that resembled the presence of a magical aura. They neared their target only to find that the transmissions were coming from an abandoned hospital.

The troops were deployed in a flash, fanning out and surrounding the building and then quickly activating the EM pulse to disrupt an escape attempt. They had found that electromagnetic waves interfered with magic and hence gave them a chance to fight back.

At this very moment, they were scouting the first floor, keeping one eye on their infrared scanners. Turning invisible was another one of their impossible abilities and their infrared scanners were their only way to detect them.

"Sir! The reading is getting stronger. I think our team is the nearest to the source. I don't detect a second presence but we cannot rule that possibility out. Estimated distance to target is fifty four metres." Willis turned around and nodded to Smith, their Communication specialist.

The sergeant pressed the switch on his microphone again. "Squad, hold your positions! Target has been located and Team Cross is going in. Be on standby and maintain radio silence. Is that understood?"

After getting the acknowledgement, Willis switched the radio into standby and turned around to face his team. "Our team will be leading this mission. Better be careful. If anyone dies, you will have me to answer to." There were a few subdued chuckles as Willis met the gaze of each of his men. "You know the drill. Let's go!"

They moved forward silently through the dark passage, their rubber boots making minimal sound. The soldiers peered through their infrared scopes of their automatics with one finger on the trigger. There was a nervous energy among them as they prepared themselves for a clash with the demon. They had a few bad experiences before and they hoped that this didn't go the same way as well.

As they turned a corner, Smith spoke up in a whisper. "Target on the move! Distance to target is twenty one metres."

Their progress became slow and rigid as they moved along the walls. The passageway was almost dark, a flashing tube light being the only source of illumination. Their black outfit helped them to blend into the darkness, making their movements almost undetectable to the naked eye.

"Movement!" Willis heard the point man's urgent whisper.

The sergeant quickly raised his fist, halting their progress. He switched the lenses on his gun and peered through his night vision scope. A door opened had with a loud creak. Dim light came through the open doorway, blocked by a shadow.

Everyone was ready, and waiting with their automatics lined up with their soon to be target, their numbed finger almost pressing down on the trigger.

Someone appeared in the doorway, dragging something along with him.

Sergeant Willis called out sharply. "Freeze! You move, you die!"

The target stopped obediently and showed no signs of any further movement. Willis raised his hand and signalled his team to move forward. Turning on the flashlight of his gun, he focused it on the target.

What he saw surprised him. It was a man wearing patient overalls with a stand of saline bottle in one of his hands. A tube was running from the bottle into his arm. There seemed to be iron braces on his leg and forearm.

Three of his men surrounded the target while two moved past him and entered through the door. The others flanked either side of the passageway, actuating directional EM pulses.

"Sarge! I don't know what has happened but somehow we have lost our target. The MDR scanner is not picking up a signal anymore." Smith spoke from behind him.

Willis frowned as he eyed the person before him. "Gray. Use the body scanner."

"Roger" The person in question pulled a long thin plate from his rucksack like a sword and moved it over their target's body. There was not even a beep.

Was it just an equipment malfunction or something else entirely? He looked at the man before him who was blocking his face from the powerful glare of the flashlight.

"Room clear!" One of the soldier reported as he left the room, followed by the other one.

Willis felt disappointed as well as relieved at the same time. He turned to look at Smith who shook his head, sharing his disappointment.

His eyes returned to the mystery patient. What was he doing here all alone in this abandoned hospital?

"Take him"

***B***

"Well Craig, what have you found?" Willis asked with his back to the person in question as he looked through the one way glass of the Interrogation room.

"Nothing much really. Whatever evidence we found in the patient's room has been rather inconclusive."

Willis sighed in frustration as he observed the patient sitting on a steel chair with his hands on the table. The chair opposite him was still empty.

"Go on" Willis requested, as he held his hands behind his back.

Craig cleared his throat before resuming. "The patient had been admitted with severe injuries to his limbs and head four months ago. The medical report mentions that the patient had met with an accident while travelling in a cab. After his complete diagnosis, the report indicated his condition to be critical with multiple fractures in his left leg and forearm, and a life threatening crack in the skull. He was immediately placed In ICU and it took nearly two weeks for his condition to stabilize but he was stuck in a comatose state. The last report which was recorded two months and twenty nine days ago says that his condition was stable but there was still no progress in their attempts to revive his mental state." Craig took a pause before continuing. "That sums up his medical history which seems clear and accurate enough even though it's a bit short. However, beyond that, we have just drawn a blank. The patient didn't have any identification or any belongings on him when he was admitted. No relative had come to claim as well. Even a police report was filed but it didn't help."

"So what you are saying is we don't know anything about him?" Willis said when Craig had stopped speaking.

"You could say that." Craig said with an apologetic tone. After a pause he went on. "If you don't mind me asking, why the sudden interest in this guy? He doesn't look suspicious to me even though we don't have an ID on him. He seems to be of our kind, unlucky enough to wake up in this war ridden time."

Willis observed the patient who was in the process of examining his palms and flexing his wrists. He seemed innocent, but still... "Have you read the report for mission B163?"

Craig shook his head but after realizing that the sergeant wasn't looking in his direction, he voiced his negative answer.

Willis went on. "I was on that mission, which took place yesterday evening. We had detected a magical presence and had gone in to investigate with intent to either capture or kill, only to find him all alone in a hospital which had been evacuated three months ago. And when we found him, the magical presence suddenly disappeared. We didn't even find any traces on him after a full body scan."

"It could be probably a malfunction." Craig suggested.

"Yes, it could. However, it could also be possible that the scanner was working properly." Willis finally turned around with a troubled look on his face. "I don't like to leave things to chance. The odds are unknown and I don't want to be held responsible for letting one of the enemies into our colony." His face turned resolute as he finally made up his mind about the next course of action. "Send Johnson in after filling him in with the details. We need some answers."

Craig nodded and left. Willis turned around and looked back through the glass.

Who the hell are you?

***B***

Willis turned on the microphone as he noticed Johnson entering the room. The patient looked up with a neutral expression. Willis ensured that the speaker was online and the lie detector activated.

"Good evening!" Johnson greeted with an inviting smile on his face. The patient responded in kind, without the smile though.

Willis mentally chuckled. Johnson was one real badass when it came to interrogation. His two-face act and his brilliant and uncanny questioning skills placed him apart from the rest. His abilities were well known in the AMF (Anti Mage Force) with the highest success rate in breaking through the suspects. He readied himself as the show began.

Johnson took a seat before him and gently placed a small bag on the table. The smile on his face made it look as if he was having tea in his most favourite restaurant. The patient looked at him curiously, waiting for Johnson to begin the conversation. So was Johnson.

The silence stretched on for few minutes before the patient lost his patience. "Umm... where... am I?" He croaked and coughed, reaching for the glass of water.

"All in good time, all in good time." Johnson said cheerfully, smiling widely.

Willis couldn't hold back the chuckle but Johnson didn't give any indication whether he heard the laugh through his earpiece.

When the patient seemed ready to speak again, Johnson said. "Before we begin, I would like you to clasp these bands around your wrists."

The patient eyed the rings with trepidation and then looked back at Johnson with a question gaze. "What are those?" His voice was clearer this time.

Johnson chuckled. "Nothing to worry about" He handed the bands to the patient who grudgingly wore them. After a pause he resumed with a sickly smile on his face. "Those are lie detector bands. They give a shock each time the wearer tells a lie." The patient's eyes widened as he looked down at his shocking manacles. He tried to pry them off but they seemed to have locked in place. His attempts to force it out of his hand didn't work as well. The patient looked up with an irritated look on his face but before he could protest, Johnson continued as if nothing happened. "Also, each time you lie, the charge in the shock increases."

"What the hell is going on?" The patient raged with a furious look in his eyes. "Who are you?"

"My name is Carl Tombstone. You could call me Timmy if you want though. I prefer that pet name much more." Johnson answered with the wide smile on his face. Willis chuckled again. Johnson was certainly living up to his expectation. The patient on the other hand was looking at Johnson dubiously, most probably wondering if the man sitting before him was crazy. If he was, then he was very far from the truth. "What is your name?" Johnson asked sharply, his face suddenly becoming hard with cold eyes boring down the patient.

The patient first looked surprised and then frowned as he clutched his head with his hands. He looked up with a lost look in his eyes as he said "My name... I... I don't know..."

Willis quickly looked at the lie detector but there were no spikes, no fluctuations that could indicate the patient was lying.

The patient suddenly jumped as a jolt went through his wrist. "Wa...!" He was on his feet as he rubbed his wrists in slight pain. He glared at Johnson. "I didn't lie!"

"Everyone says that." Johnson said with an indifferent look which turned into amusement as he said "Watch out for the next one."

"This is completely ridiculous." The patient glanced in the direction of the glass and returned to his seat, folding his hands. "Just get on with it, will you?"

Willis was mildly surprised. Why did the patient get a shock when he actually hadn't lie? His eyes went to Johnson who was smiling again. Did he have something to do with it?

"Right. So let me ask you again. What is your name?" Johnson had put back his cold face mask over his face.

"I don't know." The patient answered, balling his fist as if readying himself for the inevitable shock. This time nothing happened. Willis noticed no major fluctuations either.

"Ah! So you were telling the truth after all." Johnson declared, dropping his fist into the palm of his other hand. "Must be a malfunction then. No damage done." He said with a happy smile. The patient looked extremely annoyed at the moment. Willis almost felt pity for the allegedly innocent patient.

"Are you for real?" The patient said with frustration as he was again back on his feet, slamming his palms down on the table. "I get dragged from a hospital to an interrogation room where I find myself being both mentally and physically tortured. What the hell is wrong with you guys? I am sick and tired, waking up after... after… I don't know how long... What's worse is I don't remember anything. Nothing at all. Do you know how that feels?" The patient was basically ranting here. He seemed to suddenly lose his energy and dropped back in his chair with a dejected look on his face.

"Johnson, go easy on him. There is a high chance that he might be actually telling the truth. The lie detector hasn't gone off yet." Willis spoke in the microphone. Johnson again didn't give any indication but the sergeant was sure he heard him.

"So you don't remember anything?" Johnson questioned with a neutral look, dropping his act.

"No, I don't."

"Too bad" Johnson said, but without pity. "I have got some stuff here I would like you to identify."

He opened his bag and pulled out a long thin wooden conical stick with a feather poking out of the thicker end and placed it before him.

"A stick?" The patient guessed.

"Is that what you think it is?" Johnson asked curiously.

The patient bent forward to examine it more carefully. "What else could it be? A cane? Or..." Suddenly the patient's face lit up. "Or a wand?"

Johnson narrowed his eyes, as he pried. "Wand you say?"

"Yeah, it looks like one, doesn't it? It even has a feather at the back… I… seem to remember watching a show on the television..." He held his head as if in pain. "My... my head hurts." A groan escaped his throat as he clutched his head, rubbing his fingers on his temple. He quickly looked up and exclaimed. "I... I just remembered something! I used to live with my aunt. I... I can't remember her name... Why was I living with my aunt anyway?" He seemed to ask himself.

Johnson didn't say anything as he observed the patient carefully. After a pause, he resumed. "Let us hope you remember your past very soon. Now, the next object I would like you to identify is this." He pulled out a white mask and placed it beside the wand.

"A mask?" The patient said with confusion. "It does look repulsive though."

Johnson didn't question him and went on. "What do you make of that?" He said, pointing his finger behind the patient towards the corner of the room.

The patient twisted in his chair as he followed his finger. "A broom? And that too an old fashioned one. What is that doing here?" He said as he returned his eyes on Johnson with an incredulous look on his face. "And what, pray tell me, is the reason behind these strange and pointless questions? Are you trying to test my saneness or proving your insanity?" The patient taunted.

Johnson had an unreadable look on his face. His head slightly shifted towards the glass while his eyes moved to the spot where he expected the sergeant to be standing.

"Nothing" Was Willis one worded response.

Johnson glanced back at the patient and studied him for a few seconds. The patient met his gaze with a raised eyebrow.

Johnson pulled out a sheet of paper along with a pen and started writing down on it. The patient bent forward to try and read what he was writing. Surprisingly, Johnson didn't make any attempts to hide the paper from him.

Name: Unknown

Age: Unknown (Possibly in the early twenties)

Current Address: Unknown

Education/Work: Unknown

Class: H

Physical condition: Weak with signs of malnutrition

Mental condition: Amnesiac

Identification mark(s): Lightening shaped scar on forehead