"Okay," said Prue. "We've talked it over. We're not sure exactly what's going on here. You haven't given us any reason to trust you but you haven't given us a reason no to, either. You seem sincere enough. So we're going to help you. But if this is a trick don't think we won't hesitate to vanquish you in an instant."
"It is no trick, I assure you," said Kris.
"So, what do we have to do?" Phoebe asked.
Kris reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Simply relax," he said. "My magic will enhance your power. It will allow you to hone in on the person I need to find."
Phoebe stiffened slightly and gasped, a reaction the rest had witnessed many times. It meant she was having a premonition. They waited patiently, Prue and Piper ready to vanquish this stranger if he proved to be a threat.
"Oh, that was intense," said Phoebe finally. "I saw a young girl of about nineteen or so. She works at the grocery store down the street. I recognized her. She's one of those people who's always happy and upbeat that I mentioned."
"Precisely the type I need," said Kris. "Now, we must hurry. Time is very short. We must get to the store straight away."
"Well, it's not that far," said Prue. "I suppose we could drive. It might look suspicious if we orbed in in the middle of the afternoon."
"Not at all," said Kris. "No one will ever notice us. Leo can orb us there. My magic will shield us from all prying eyes."
"Okay," said Leo. "I guess it will be all right."
Kris just smiled as they all linked arms. Then Leo orbed the entire group to the store where the girl worked. The store was very crowded when they orbed in. Leo orbed them into a corner near the meat market that would accommodate them all. No one seemed to notice their appearance.
"See?" Kris questioned. "No one witnessed our arrival. Now, we must hurry to the checkout. In a few minutes our window of opportunity will have passed."
They all hurried to the checkout behind Kris. It was strange as people greeted them and moved aside to let them pass. No one had witnessed them orb in but they also didn't seem to have any trouble seeing them now.
When they got to the register the young woman was busily ringing up a woman's purchases. She was smiling and cheerful and had her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. Prue noticed Kris glance over at a man wearing a very expensive suit picking some items off of a shelf.
"No," Kris whispered to Piper, touching her on the shoulder, "you must use your power to freeze time. Can't have mortal witnesses the infusion. It would be too difficult to explain."
Hesitantly Piper raised her hands. She glanced around but no one seemed to notice what she was doing. She activated her power and a rush went through her. It passed within moments and she looked around at the people all frozen in place.
And more than that, she noticed that everything outside was also frozen. As far as she could see people, cars, animals, everything seemed to be frozen. Nothing stirred. Nothing moved.
"Wait a minute," said Piper. "I'm not capable of freezing that much at one time."
"With my power augmenting yours, you are," said Kris. "You know that your powers will grow over time. My power simply allows you to see how much your power is capable of growing."
"Whoa," said Phoebe. "And I thought freezing a single person was cool."
"What now?" Prue asked.
"Take my hand," said Kris extending his hand. Prue reached out and took his hand in hers.
"Now, you simply have to touch the young woman," said Kris.
Hesitantly Prue reached out and placed her free hand on the girls' shoulder.
"Now," said Kris, "concentrate on you power. Use it to move the magic in me through you and into her."
"I've never done anything like that before," said Prue. "I'm not sure how to do it."
"Just concentrate," said Kris. "Like all your abilities you instinctively know how to use it. It's just a matter of focusing your attention on the matter at hand. Go on. It will be easier than you think."
Prue closed her eyes and concentrated. At first nothing seemed to happen. She was beginning to thing this was all a waste of time. Suddenly she felt a surge go through her. It came from Kris and moved toward the young woman at the register who stood frozen in place.
The others watched as Kris began to glow. As he did that glow passed to Prue and then to the woman at the register. It was a brilliant white light that strangely didn't hurt their eyes to look at. All but Cole. He had to shield his eyes slightly from the glow although it seemed to cause him no harm.
The glow continued for several minutes. Prue felt exhilarated. The power passing through her seemed to charge her completely. It was nearly intoxicating and she found she didn't want it to stop. But as quickly as it had started the transfer began to subside. Within minutes it was gone completely.
"Man what a rush," said Prue looking around at the others. "I've never felt anything like that before."
"Excuse me," said a man behind them. "Are you checking out?"
Prue noticed it was the same man Kris had glanced at.
"No, no, by all means, go ahead," said Kris stepping back to allow the man to the register.
"Did you find everything you needed?" asked the woman cheerfully as she began to ring up the mans' purchases.
"Yes," said the man. "I'm glad I did. I'm on my way to the airport. I've got to go to seven countries in the next two days. But I seemed to have rushed out of the house without some essentials. I'll have just enough time to make my flight."
"Great," said the young girl. "I hope you have a safe flight. Here's your change."
As she handed the man his change a small spark shot between them. They both jumped slightly.
"Sorry," said the girl. "The carpets they give us to stand on sometimes build up a static charge."
"No harm no foul," smiled the man. He handed the girl a ten-dollar bill. "This is for you. You have a very merry Christmas."
"Thank you," said the girl. "You, too. And come back again soon."
"I will, said the man, taking his purchases and heading for the exit.
"What just happened here?" Piper asked.
"The beginning of the infusion," smiled Kris. "Let's go back to the manor and I'll explain everything."