"So, do we have a plan?" asked Paige.
"We kick some demon butt," said Piper. "And if those things are as afraid of White Lighters as they appear to be, Leo or Philip might be able to keep the lower ones away long enough for us to take out momma."
"I'm guessing one shot from this won't do it," said Amy, picking up the crossbow. "It might hurt it, though. Maybe distract it long enough to finish it off. Assuming it gets out before we get to it."
"We'll get our chance soon enough," said Piper. "Now, let's figure out a way to stop this thing once and for all."
"Okay," said Piper, "the plan is simple. Leo and Paige will orb us in where Phoebe was attacked. With Leo there, we're betting those lower level demons will keep their distance. That should get us close enough to the container to destroy it. Once there, I blow it up. That should destroy whatever is inside. Kind of like breaking an egg before it hatches."
"What if it doesn't destroy it?" asked Marcus.
"Then Piper will use her explosive power on it," said Amy. "At the same time, I'll use the crossbow and Paige will use the potion. That should be enough to kill it even if we have to hit it several times."
"What about the lower demons?" asked Philip. "Are they going to just stand there while you kill their creator?"
"With me watching their back," said Leo, "I think they will. They seem to be afraid of me. I don't think they will want to go past me to get to them. Even if they do, I can warn them of the attack."
"You still have the rejuvenating affect of the White Lighter DNA," said Marcus. "Won't that allow it to overcome the damage you do to it?"
"Not with the crossbow," said Leo. "It will poison the White Lighter portion of that thing. Once the White Lighter DNA is dead, the rest will die from the attacks. It won't have any way to rejuvenate the damage."
"After we're sure it's dead," said Paige, "we'll take out the ones it's converted."
"Sounds like a plan to me," said Marcus. "We're compiling a list of everyone who was in the complex when this all started. Once we do that, we just make an accounting of everyone we can find. That should give us a list of how many of those things there are."
"Good," said Amy. "Philip, I need you to stay up here. Just in case any of those demons get up here again."
"Okay," said Philip. "But I'll listen for you. If you need me, just call."
"I will," promised Amy. "Well, the sooner we get started, the sooner this will be over."
Leo and Paige orbed Amy and Piper out of the conference room leaving Marcus and Philip alone. The two just looked at each other. They had known one another for a very long time. Both were worried, not only about Amy, but Piper, Paige, and Leo as well. Leo and Paige orbed into the same spot where Phoebe had been attacked. No demons seemed to be around at the moment.
"They're probably expecting us to come down the elevator," said Amy.
"I'll bet the container is in there," said Piper, pointing at a door farther on. "The demons were between us and that door. And the drag marks lead in there."
"Okay," said Leo, "I'll lead. That should keep the demons at bay. Let's get in there and finish this."
Amy held the crossbow close to her body. Paige pulled out two vials of the potion, holding one in each hand. Piper was prepared to use her power at a moments notice.
They approached the door unhindered. This both relieved them and made them apprehensive. They were relieved since they didn't need to fight their way to the door, which might alert the demons inside. They were apprehensive since it seemed as if no demons were guarding the door at all. A very strange occurrence considering their creator was supposedly inside.
Leo stopped at the door and looked around. Nothing moved around them. There wasn't a sound except for their own breathing. Nervously, he checked the door. It wasn't locked.
"This is too easy," whispered Paige. "Where are all the demons that were protecting it earlier?"
"Maybe we destroyed them all," whispered Piper. "Let's just get in there and get this over with."
Leo reached for the doorknob.