(Eh.. thinking on it, I didn't like the future skip. I want to explore the growing generation. So here's the story a year or so later.)
It has been another year, since the disappearance of that plane, and the loss of Lilly's father. Lucas had not been heard from since his promise to return after finding them. Though his last words were never forgotten, by anyone. Lilly always believed that Lucas was looking for them all.
Jen's family also grew, with the appearance of Madeline. The new slug girl was very cute, and Jen put a lot of attention onto her. Ernestine was willing to help 'toughen' the girl up, when she was older.
Things were grim, but life carried on.
The magic circle would try to use all manners of magic to find their lost friends, but to no avail. It was even more difficult, that the magic girls had lost their ability to transform. It was because of this, Lilly and Jenny devoted more time to creating the 'artificial' totem, that might be used to power a normal human... but it was no use. The secrets of creating a magic girl from scratch, seemed to be an impossibility.
Despite the internet going crazy, life was still continuing for the government agencies.
Hawkins knew the agency was re-shaping itself into... something else. He wasn't sure quite how it worked now, or where the chain of command started... it still ended with him, and he still spoke to the same people... they still spoke to the same people, all the way up to the top...
... but something was different.
He had been getting some very strange assignments. All of them curiously insightful, into preventing what could have been local catastrophes as a few small but highly gifted individuals attempted to use the force of 'magic' and manipulated those around them.
They had to shut down various corporations who had some of the most craziest ideas...
Hawkins had seen enough in the world to know magic was real. Hell- 'everyone' has felt it's touch, if not personally then to a loved one... but up until now it was like a force of nature. It was impossible to utilise, as one might try to use the sun for more then simply heating... one needed 'knowledge' to make solar cells... maybe magic was like that.
Hawkins had never seen it... but he was starting to suspect a 'safe' list of magic users had been constructed by one of the higher ups. This included the magic girls, which were still under an incredible amount of protection especially now that they had no power of their own. Everyone agreed that their safety was paramount... even with the destruction of this 'alien' force six years ago, there were still many unknowns in the new age. There may well be another... threat and until the power of magic was understood, they were the vanguard to protect their national- no- worldly existence.
Hawkins was going into a hospital. "Okay Ceclia, what do you have on the mark?"
"Dr Ellot Heider... Age 35. It is suspected he has been using magical abilities. We are to investigate for any evidence of this, and detain him."
"But he's human still?" The agent said looking at the file. If that was the case, this should be a piece of cake. The shadowy agent was easily capable of taking on a 'mere' human...
"According to the files he a bit of a maverick doctor... highly skilled, and has generally been an asset to those he has helped. However, if he is using magic in the ways alleged, he is in breech of several laws..." The pink gynoid's eyes looked a little sadly. It was a shame really. This guy had so much... potential. But some of the things he did...
Hawkin's looked over the file. "Got a family member to 'shut up' by sealing his lips... causing paralysis to a woman who was resisting treatment... made a child cry by making their mother's skin look green... no reason for that one though- and... a.. forced nudity spell?" It all looked like minor stuff really- except that last one (the file didn't go into any details though). But it did appear that this man... whoever he was, had a gift of magic... likely drawn from the internet.
That was probably an interesting thing in this new age. An ordinary person, 'could' do magic if they had the intelligence to understand the alien code, or the rare translation program that floated about.
Hawkins frowned as he looked over the rather young doctor, with a cheeky smile on his profile. Though Heider had the gift, he was on the way towards abusing it. While he could 'justify' everything in some form that it was necessary, the fact that it was 'magic' being used erked him greatly, as well to the general population- the people Hawkins swore to protect. This doctor took a similar oath... why was he treating people so lowly? Hawkins used a gun, but he did not use it to establish he was 'superior' to those he tried to help... only as a tool. This again, was one of the great discussions on magic, and its protection under the amendment, as well as the right to bare arms- be they magic, or any armament.
These magic users were not gods... nor did they have the right to be assholes, any more then a strong person could victimise the weak. The law was going to catch up with them quickly.
Hawkins entered the hospital, with Cecelia. They brushed past the secretary after showing their badges, and went inside.
Finally they saw Dr Heider, looking quite lazily in his office. "eh? Who the heck are you?"
Hawkins provided his identification. "Paranormal investigations.. Dr Heider... I'm afraid you are under arrest."
The doctor blinked. "You got to be kidding me. Just what am 'I' under arrest for?"
"Under the guidelines of civil behaviour between changed and unchanged, it is suspected you are using 'abilities' not conductive to the public good."
The doctor bolted upright. "Well you got a problem there. I'm human. Not a changed being. You have no jurisdiction!"
Hawkins and cecelia approached closer. This was the only one the law had updated recently, and was the only thing they could use for now. "We'll talk about this in close custody-" At least he tried to finish... but he found himself completely and utterly frozen.
Cecilia also tried to move, but found herself unable to. Worse, she seemed to be losing power. What the hell was going on?!
The doctor circled around them. "You guys really picked on the wrong guy," he said. "I do stuff because I have to and I really have no time for this. Now be good little 'kids' and forget about this incident... forget about me. You were... eh I dunno... what do you MIBs claim when you do a mind wipe? I know. You were having ice cream. Yeah that will do. Go have an icecream. Chop chop."
Hawkins found himself in the empty office. It was like waking up from a day dream. Was he... talking to somone? He glanced to Cecelia. "What.. happened?"
"I have a protected memory file... with a message to myself. Doctor Heider, attempted to erase our memories with a 'magic spell'... I am detecting definite manipulations of power here..."
Hawkins frowned. "Is that why I feel like I want to go for an ice cream?" He asked. The suggestion was still inside his head! God!
"Affirmative... hm... I think we have grounds now to incapacitate him. He has essentially interfered with his arrest, and used magic against a federal agent..."
Hawkins nodded, taking out a taser. This just became... a little more difficult.
Heida was stunned with ease, behind the back- on their second meeting. He didn't even get a single word out.
The federal agents tossed him into the car, and bound his hands and mouth, to prevent him casting any more of the strange 'magic'. They got him into the police station. There was some initial struggling but eventually he settled down.
"Strip him. We need to find out how he's doing magic," said Hawkins... with just a little edge. If it's one thing he didn't like, it was another person changing his memories.
They stripped the doctor completely, looking at his possessions. They found a bag of a very strange substance... it looked to be a kind of dust? There wasn't a lot of it...
"Where... did you get this?" asked Hawkins.
"Like hell I will tell you!"
"You're in a lot of trouble doc. With the things you have done, I could make inducing paralysis the equivalent of common assault, to mind reading or any induced transformations as rape. Co-operate, and you'll only get resisting arrest by assault of a federal agent."
The doctor looked stunned as Hawkin's words hit home. These stupid cops! Heider was the doctor! The real doctor! A doctor that used magic to treat the sick and dying. "Just who the hell do you think you-"
Hawkins glared at him. "Just who do you think you are? You found a bit of magic... I get that. Do you honestly think you can do the things you have done with it and not be in breech of the law?"
"... The law never made magic illegal..." said Dr Heider. He kept an eye on what was allowed and was not.
"Maybe not specifically. But there is still just basic common sense, and good manners. You've treated magic like your own personal play thing, and those around you the same way. People have complained about you, feeling helpless before your abilities... you treat people like they were just toys. now tell me, were you exposed to the sunlight?"
"...No. I am human. I just.. found something. But you probably wouldn't believe me."
"Tell me," said Hawkins calmly.
Suddenly another person came out of the shadows. "Agent Hawkins... thank you for bringing us the doctor. You are relieved."
Hawkins looked annoyed at the sudden interruption. "What?"
"You are relieved... I will be taking over."
Hawkins frowned. "Under who's authority?"
"The president..."
Hawkins frowned again. "... I will be talking to him later about this."
Dr Heider looked at the strange figure in the dark. "Let me guess... you want to know how I did magic? You want the secrets I have found on the internet?"
"Dr Heider... you have been requisitioned by the government.
"Requestioned? If I refuse?"
"We take you as any other criminal... and you'll likely be found guilty by your peers."
Heider frowned. So this is what it comes down to? Did they even know what he was? He was a freakin' magic doctor! Still these guys did look serious. He'll play along for now. "... what's the job?"
"...I want you to treat, Hiro Hibiki..."
