NINE
The next morning Paige was escorted to the cafetorium where a meal had been prepared. At least she figured it was the next morning. There really was no way to determine time in this place. Piper and Phoebe were all ready there when she arrived.
"How did it go?" Paige asked.
"Great," said Piper. "I was able to get hold of Cole. He's waiting for a signal from me. As soon as I freeze the room he'll shimmer in and get us out of here."
"So, what are you waiting for?" Paige asked.
"Patience, dear sister," said Piper. "First we lull the guards into a false sense of security. We chat for a moment until they are bored enough. Then I freeze the room."
"Good idea," said Phoebe. "I'm sure they were told to keep a close eye on us."
"My thoughts exactly," said Piper. "Just keep an eye on them. When they look like they're bored I'll make my move."
The girls spent several moments talking about nothing in particular. As they talked they would occasionally glance at the guards to see what they were doing. After a while the guards began to whisper among themselves. They stopped paying as much attention to the sisters as they had when they had first come into the girl. Suddenly Piper flexed her wrist.
"Okay," she said looking around. "I'm not sure how long the freeze will last. I've never frozen such a large area before."
"So, what's the signal for Cole?" Phoebe asked.
"You are," said Piper. "I cast a spell that allows him to hear you if you call for him. Just like Leo can hear us. All you have to do is call to him and he should hear you."
"Cole," Phoebe called into the air. "Cole, we're ready to get out of here now."
Almost immediately Cole shimmered into the cafetorium. Phoebe hugged him close thankful that he was safe.
"Let's get out of here," said Piper. "Once my freeze wears off they're going to know what happened."
Before any of them could move the four doors that led out of the cafetorium suddenly burst open and armed guards rushed in, taking up positions around the room. Finally, Wellington entered the room smiling.
"Really," said Wellington, "did you think it would be that easy? The video cameras in your rooms aren't the only surveillance we have on you. We also have microphones in your rooms and in here. There isn't anything you can do we don't know about. We were quite aware of your little plan from the beginning. Now that we have Mr. Turner, we have the entire group. And I'm sure being half demon he will be able to increase our knowledge extensively."
"You don't have the right to do this," Paige screamed. "There are laws."
"Laws which may often be suspended for the greater good," said Wellington. "Do you think this is the first time something like this has happened? It happens all the time. Take World War II, for example. After the heinous attack on Pearl Harbor tens of thousands of Japanese in the United States were ushered into camps. For the good of the American people. To prevent them from sabotaging the American war effort."
"I was there," said Cole. "It was wrong then and it's wrong now. Most of those people were loyal American citizens. They had no intention of performing any sabotage. It doesn't justify what you're doing here."
"But some of them were spies and saboteurs," said Wellington. "Because of those camps we were able to ferret out a great many traitors to the United States. And look at the 1950s. Senator McCarthy helped to expose a great many people with very un-American ideas. Sure, a few had to suffer. But that's nothing when compared to the good it helped do."
"Good?" Cole questioned. "Thousands of people were blackballed simply because they wouldn't say what the so-called House Committee on Un-American Acts wanted them to say. To implicate their friends and family in a conspiracy that was largely in the minds of those hunting these so-called enemies."
"There's a name for what you're doing here," said Piper. "A witch-hunt. In this case, literally. You think we're going to help you? Dream on. You're as bad as the ones we fight. You're worse. At least they acknowledge their evil. You're doing all this under the guise of the greater good."
"It is for the greater good," said Wellington. "It's not pleasant but it has to be done. Do you have any idea what would happen if we just ignored the demons? Let them run rampid as they pleased?"
"Yes," said Paige. "People like us would be there to stop them. Without violating anyone's rights."
"Paige is right," said Cole. "What you're doing here violates every tenant the law was established to protect. It's a direct violation of several sections of the Constitution not to mention I don't know how many federal laws."
"That's right," said Wellington, "you're a lawyer, aren't you? A former district attorney, if my information is correct."
"It's correct," said Cole. "And if you think we're just going to stand around and let you do this to us, you're crazy."
"You don't seem to have a choice," said Wellington. "Piper was able to prevent us from rendering her powerless. But we'll correct that little oversight soon enough. And once your powers are rendered useless, whatever those powers actually are, there won't be much you can do about it."
"That's not going to happen," said Cole. "You're going to let us go."
"You're very amusing," said Wellington. "I don't see any reason I should do that. And, as I said, you're very useful to us. There's no telling what we'll be able to learn from you. No, Mr. Turner, I'm afraid you aren't going anywhere."
"Bad decision," said Cole. "You see I took out a little insurance policy before I came here."
"Insurance?" questioned Wellington. "What type of insurance?"
"Leo Wyatt, to be specific," said Cole.
"I'm afraid Mr. Wyatt is quite dead," said Wellington. "When he, I believe the term is orbed, the collar he was wearing would have killed him instantly."
"It seems your information about White Lighters' is sorely lacking," said Cole. "White Lighters can't be permanently harmed by something like that. He's immortal. And he has a natural healing ability that helps protect him. He's quite safe, I assure you."
"That's impossible," said Wellington.
"No, he's right," said Paige. "White Lighters' can only be harmed by Dark Lighter poison. Now, unless you included some Dark Lighter poison in your little bomb, it can't kill Leo."
"And unless we leave here right away," said Cole, "Leo and I have arranged a little surprise for you. Something I know you aren't going to like one little bit."
"What kind of surprise?" Wellington asked.
"Well, I know where this place is," said Cole. "And in less than an hour every major news organization in the country is going to be informed of your little outfit here. Not to mention some federal authorities that would be very glad to know exactly what you are doing here. Being a district attorney I have quite a few contacts in any number of federal police organizations."
"They won't find anything here," said Wellington. "Our cover is perfect."
"Except," said Cole, "that some of those federal authorities I mentioned are also witches. Their White Lighters can orb them directly into the complex past any security measures you might have. Along with live video feeds to the outside. There's no way you can stop them all. And I've even arranged for a live broadcast of those feeds on three major television networks. Everyone who has their television set on will see exactly what you're doing here."
"You fool," said Wellington. "Do you have any idea what you've done? If you expose The Initiative you'll render us powerless to fight the evil that assaults innocent people every day. Are you so blind that you can't see the good we do here?"
"The ends justifies the means, is that the idea?" Phoebe asked.
"Exactly," said Wellington. "This is a war we're fighting. And in a war normal rules go out the window. You've jeopardized everything."
"Then I guess you have a decision to make," said Cole. "Let us go and no one needs to learn what you're doing here."
"I have a better idea," said Wellington. He turned to a military man standing next to him. "Shut down the entire complex. Everything goes. Once the news media gets here I don't want them to find so much as a paperclip left."
"Yes, sir," said the man. He looked at Cole and the girls. "What do we do about them?"
"Kill all of them," said Wellington dispassionately.