"So what would a demon be doing at the paper?" Piper asked after they had explained what had happened.
"Nothing," said Cole. "Like I told Phoebe and Paige, Cartrack isn't your normal type demon. He doesn't involve himself in the battle between good and evil directly. His job is to train demonic children to take their place in the demon hierarchy."
"Cole's right," said Leo. "Cartrack is considered a mid-level demon. He runs a demonic nursery for demonic children. There's no reason for him to be at the paper."
"Then why was Cole so certain it was him?" Phoebe asked.
"I wasn't," Cole said. "I told you it looked like him. Well, his human form anyway."
"Mid-level demons have a human form?" Paige asked.
"Some," said Cole. "A demon's level in the hierarchy isn't what necessarily dictates if they have a human form or not. High level demons, like Belthazor, almost always have a human form. But some mid and low level demons also have human forms. Some have a form because of genetics. Others have human forms because of their function in the demonic underworld. Since Cartrack helps initiate demonic children into human society it's necessary for him to have a human form so they can blend in more easily when he brings children to the mortal realm."
"He trains demonic children to fight against good and you don't think he's a threat to us?" Piper questioned.
"I didn't say that," said Cole. "I simply said you have nothing to worry about from him. He won't confront you. That's not his function."
"Well, I agree with Paige," Piper said. "If he trains young demons that's one demon we should definitely take out. Without him maybe there won't be so many demons trying to kill us."
"It wouldn't make a whole lot of difference," Leo said. "Cole's right about one thing. He won't confront you. And even if you manage to take him out one of his underlings will simply step in and replace him. There are nurseries all over the underworld for training young demons. Cartrack's is simply one such nursery."
"Whose side are you on?" Phoebe asked.
"Yours, of course," Leo said. "But Cartrack is not a major threat. It would be like killing a high school teacher. There would always be another teacher to step in and take up the slack. Besides, as Cole said, he's not even on the mortal plane. He spends most of his time in the underworld. Even assuming it was him that Cole saw he's back in the underworld now. And you certainly can't go down there after him."
"I don't know why not," Paige said. "We are the Charmed Ones. We could destroy this Cartrack and maybe some aspiring demons as well."
"They aren't aspiring demons," Cole said. "They are demons. Just young ones. But like I said earlier, you'd never even get to the nursery. And even if you did one or more of you would probably be killed in the process. That would end the Power of Three forever.
"Look, I know how you feel. And it if were possible I'd be the first to say let's go get them. But it's just not worth the risk. Even if you managed to take out the entire nursery without getting yourselves killed, there are still many others that operate all over the underworld. Some demonic children take much longer to grow to maturity than others. I'm half human and I grew as a normal human child. That's why I matured so quickly.
"But not all demonic children mature at the same rate. Some take decades before they are able to take their places in the demonic hierarchy. The nurseries are designed to make sure they understand their place in the demonic world. And they are very well guarded. Not to mention the numerous demonic parents who are there.
"But I'm not even sure it was Cartrack I saw. I've seen people all over the world that looked like people I knew. Only to find out it wasn't them. I'm sure you've all had the same experience. You thought you recognized someone only to find out it wasn't them."
"He's right about that," Phoebe said.
"Well," said Piper thoughtfully, "it doesn't seem like we have much choice in the matter. And if what you say about this Cartrack is true, then I guess he's not a direct threat to us. Lord knows we have enough demons coming after us without us trying to go find new ones."
Just then there was a knock at the front door.
"I'll get it," said Paige, rising from the kitchen table and heading for the entryway.
"Trust me," said Cole, "Cartrack's only interest is training demonic children. As Leo said, he's only a mid-level demon by demonic standards. Oh, against an innocent he'd be considered extremely powerful. But against the three of you he'd be more of an annoyance than a threat. Even Phoebe without any active powers would be more than a match for him. You really have nothing to worry about from him. I doubt we'll ever see him again, at least for quite some time."
Suddenly Paige called from the living room. There was a note of urgency in her voice. The four got up from the table and hurried to the front door to see what was going on.
Standing on the front porch was a man that appeared to be in his early fifties. He had black/gray hair that was thinning and was wearing a casual shirt and a pair of slacks. He stood smiling at the other as they walked up to Paige.
"He asked to see Cole," said Paige not taking her eyes off the man.
"Ah, good you're here," said the man, looking at Cole. "I need your help. When I saw you at the paper today I figured this would be where I would find you."
Cole simply stared at the man in disbelief.
"Cole, who is this?" Phoebe asked.
"Someone I just said we'd never see again," said Cole. "This is Cartrack."