"Let me start at the beginning," said Marcus. "In 1908, the Attorney General of the United States set up a special group of agents. In 1909 they took the name the Bureau of Investigation. In 1933 they were reorganized under J. Edgar Hoover into the Division of Investigation. In 1935 they adopted the name the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"In 1942, the Office of Strategic Services was established because of World War II. When the war ended in 1945, the OSS was dissolved but most of those who worked for it went on to join a new group in 1947. This newly formed agency was called the Central Intelligence Agency.
"In 1947 the National Security Act was established. Under this act, the National Security Council was established and it became a part of the Executive Office of the President in 1949. These three agencies, the FBI, the CIA, and the NSC, make up the majority of the intelligence agencies sanctioned by the United States Government. Their primary responsibility is the security of the United States."
"I assume this little history lesson is leading somewhere?" asked Piper.
"Be patient," said Amy. "This is all important so you'll understand what we're up against."
"Yes, it's leading somewhere," said Marcus. "In 1938, the FBI broke up a German spy ring operating in the United States. Part of the information they discovered was a reference to a NAZI program called Operation: Embryo. Very little was learned about this program. There were only references to it, nothing about it directly."
"In 1953," continued Amy, "a CIA operative reported a Soviet project by the same name. Operation: Embryo. They weren't able to learn much about it only that it was the same NAZI project the FBI had learned about. Apparently the Soviets had also learned about it and were very interested in it. They did learn that it had something to do with genetic engineering. It was such a closely guarded secret that the United States was never able to learn much about it."
"In 1972," said Marcus, "the NSC was reorganized. Under the reorganization, several reports that had previously been thought separate incidents were discovered to be interrelated. They all made reference to Project: Embryo or a top secret NAZI project dealing with genetic engineering.
"Each of the reports seemed innocuous by themselves. But when they were categorized and cross-referenced, they discovered some quite disturbing. It was a well-known fact that Hitler was fascinated by the occult. He devoted a great deal of German resources to it. This Project: Embryo was the most important of those projects."
"Then," said Amy, "in 1976, a secret bunker was discovered in Germany. A thorough examination of the bunker and its contents showed that it was the home for Project: Embryo. Most of the records on it had been destroyed, but enough had survived to identify it and its' purpose."
"So now you know what this Project: Embryo was," said Paige.
"Is," corrected Marcus.
He reached into a folder on the table and pulled out a photograph. He slid the photo across the table so the sisters could see it. The photo showed a cylindrical object filled with a greenish-black liquid.
"That," said Marcus, "is Project: Embryo. It was brought here shortly after it was discovered so that we could study it."
"Exactly what is it?" asked Phoebe.
"A demon," said Amy. "Or it will be when it's finished. The scientists here have identified at least twelve different DNA strains in it. That means it's made up of at least twelve different demons. And there's DNA in it they haven't identified yet. The container is almost eight feet long and three feet in diameter. The green fluid is a form of amniotic fluid. The same type that an unborn fetus is suspended in. What's more, the lid is a very intricate locking mechanism. It can only be opened from the inside."
"You mean they're incubating a demon in there?" asked Piper.
"Exactly," said Marcus. "And no ordinary demon. According to the records we found, Hitler had made a deal with some demon. In the deal, he received the genetic material of a number of demons. Exactly how many is a matter of conjecture. He then genetically spliced the material together to form a single, new form of demon."
"Oh, lovely," said Paige. "Demon squared."
"Something like that," said Amy. "But that's not all. The scientists made a miscalculation. They estimated it would take only months to grow their new demon. Instead, it's taken decades."
"And now it's getting ready to hatch?" said Piper.
"That's a good analogy," said Marcus. "Yes, our scientists think that it's about ready to open. They think it's only days or maybe even hours before that container opens. When it does, there may be a new form of demon. One that doesn't have just the characteristics and abilities of a single demon. One that has the characteristics and abilities of at least a dozen demons, probably more. As powerful as a normal demon is, this one would be magnified. It could well be unstoppable."
"Just destroy it," said Paige.
Marcus pulled out another photograph. He slid it across the table to the sisters. This one showed what looked like a primitive human-like creature. Only this creature was wearing what looked like the remains of a military uniform.
"That," said Marcus, "is one of the guards assigned to the container. Somehow, that thing inside was able to change him into a demon. And he's not the only one. Every guard assigned to the container has been changed into one of those."
"So you can't get near it to destroy it," said Phoebe.
"The group that tried ended up the same way," said Amy.
"And now you want us to destroy this thing for you," said Piper.
"Piper, you don't understand," said Amy. "Everyone those demons attack are transformed into another one of them. They're slowly making their way up to the surface."
"We've sealed off the lowest three levels of this complex," said Marcus. "But it's just a matter of time before they break through to the upper levels. They're getting stronger. They're already at a point where Amy can barely stop them. If we don't stop them soon, they'll get to the surface."
"When they do," said Amy, "everyone they come into contact with will become infected. Turned into one of those things. They will, in turn, infect others. It will spread exponentially."
"Our best estimate," said Marcus, "is that when the first one of those things reaches the surface, everyone on the planet will be infected within one hundred seventy one hours. That means that if even one of those things gets out of this complex, within one week there won't be a human being left on the Earth."