CHARMED
"The Face Of Evil"
By J. B. Tilton
With Teresa Thibeault
Email: K
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
(Authors' note: This story takes place between season 3 episodes "Death Takes A Halliwell" and "Pre-Witched".)
A spirit and a San Francisco city councilman put the Charmed Ones on the trail of a demon and help them deliver some long delayed justice for thousands of innocents.
ONE
Phoebe walked into the manor and dropped her books down on the sofa. Then she plopped down next to them. As she sat rubbing her eyes Piper came in from the kitchen.
"You're home early," said Piper.
"Yeah. My history professor gave us an assignment and we only have four days to get it done. So he gave us the rest of the afternoon to begin on it."
"Rough assignment?"
"Kind of. We're studying pre-World War II Germany right now. He assigned each of us some Nazi figure to research and present a five page synopsis of their biography on. I got some guy named SS-Sturmbannführer Johann Sperrle. He was the nephew of some German Field Marshal and supposedly Adolf Eichmann's personal assistant or something."
"SS-Sturmbannführer?" questioned Piper. "What kind of name is that?"
"Actually, it's not a name," said Phoebe, opening her history book. "The SS means he belonged to the SS. Sturmbannführer is a rank equivalent to Major or something. They all had titles like that. Most of them had the word 'fuehrer' in it somewhere. Eichmann himself was an SS-Obersturmbannführer, the rank of Lieutenant Colonel."
"So, research the guy and do the paper. What's the big deal?"
"I never even heard of him before. How am I supposed to get five pages of information on him in four days?"
"Three words," said Piper. "Research, research, research."
"That's one word three times. I don't know why my professor wants this anyway. What good could information on some guy who died fifty or sixty years ago be?"
"Maybe he didn't die?" said Piper. "The way I understand it some of those Nazi's were never captured."
"Who was never captured?" Leo asked coming down the stairs.
"Nazi's," said Phoebe. "I have to do a report on some guy named Sperrle."
"The Field Marshal?" Leo asked.
"No, his nephew," said Piper. "Apparently he worked on Hitler's staff or something."
"Eichmann's staff," said Phoebe. "Hey, Leo, you lived back then. Maybe you could give me some info on this guy."
"Sorry," said Leo. "I know a little about Field Marshal Sperrle but I never even knew he had a nephew."
"Great," said Phoebe. "I guess I'll have to do an Internet search and see what I can find out. I guess I'd better get started. I only have four days to get it done."
She picked up her books and headed for her room. She just knew it was going to be a long night.
They were all gathered around the dinner table that night and Phoebe was filling them in on what she had found out about Sperrle. She had even brought some pictures she had been able to locate on him. Even though none of the others were all that interested in it they let her talk.
"Apparently he was about twenty-five when his uncle, the Field Marshall, recommended him to Eichmann," said Phoebe. "He rose in the ranks pretty fast and in no time at all he had proven himself to extremely efficient. Eichmann made him his personal assistant and from what I can find out relied on him pretty heavily for a lot of his decisions."
"Didn't Eichmann come up with what they called 'the final solution'?" Prue asked. "The idea to exterminate the Jews?"
"Among others," said Phoebe. "He not only wanted to wipe out the Jews he wanted to wipe out everyone who didn't fit in with his idea of a Master Race."
"Blonde and blue eyed," said Leo. "That was Hitler's idea of the Master Race. Anyone who didn't fit into his idea of 'normal' was murdered."
"That's right," said Prue, "you lived through it, didn't you?"
"Kind of," said Leo. "Actually, if you'll remember I was on Guadalcanal. We were fighting the Japanese, not the Germans. But it was hard not to learn about other areas of the war."
"Japanese, Germans, what difference does it make?" Piper asked. "They were all bad guys."
"Actually," said Leo, "most of the common soldiers were just like we were. Just soldiers trying to do their duty and protect their country. Mostly it was the upper echelon that were the bad guys, as you put it. In fact, less than ten percent of all Germans were members of the Nazi party."
"Still, what difference does it make?" Phoebe asked. "This all happened, what, sixty years ago? Who cares what happened so long ago?"
"Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it," said Cole, walking into the kitchen.
"Cole," squealed Phoebe, getting up to hug him. "When did you get back?"
"Just now," said Cole. "Long enough to hear you complain about history. And like I said, those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it. It's important to remember what happened in the past so that it won't happen again. Especially something that happened sixty years ago. I assume you're talking about World War II."
"Yeah," said Piper. "Want to join us for dinner?"
"Sure," said Cole, taking a seat next to Phoebe. "I finally ditched the bounty hunters. I don't think they'll be able to find me for a few days. I can relax for a while."
"Well at least you didn't lead them here," said Prue, just a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"No, I didn't," said Cole. "So, why the discussion about World War II?"
"Oh, just some stupid report I have to do," said Phoebe. "I have to do a five page biography on some guy named Johann Sperrle."
"SS-Sturmbannführer Johann Sperrle?" questioned Cole. "Adolf Eichmann's personal assistant during World War II?"
"Yes," said Phoebe. "You know about him?"
"Some," said Cole nonchalantly. "I actually worked for him for a while during the war."