SEVENTEEN
"That's the entire situation, Mr. President," Victor said after he had briefed the President on what had happened. "It appears that the third Charmed One has surfaced and the three are now on the loose. Along with someone named Cole Turner."
"This is terrible," said the President. "You're sure they didn't die in the fire?"
"There was no evidence of any bodies in the rubble, sir. The only conclusion is they somehow figured out how to escape the camp. I don't think we have any choice, sir. We have to implement Program 7. With them on the loose there's no telling what they will do or when. We have to find them right away."
"You're right," said the President. "I'll sign the order immediately. This has to remain completely covert, you understand. If word should get out it could have disastrous repercussions."
"Don't worry, sir. That's what we have the special unit for. They'll be able to take care of this quietly. They are going to want additional compensation for this one. These aren't ordinary witches they're going after. They're the Charmed Ones. If even half the prophecies are true they will be quite formidable."
"What do you think? Are they really that formidable? They are your daughters."
"Two of them are. I'm not sure about the third one. She's definitely their sister but we haven't done any tests to see if I'm her father. To be honest, it doesn't matter who her father is. The lineage is normally passed down through the mothers' side of the family so she'll still be a Charmed One whether I'm her father or not."
"Don't you want to know?"
"Why?" questioned Victor. "She's been positively identified as a witch and as a sister to the known Charmed Ones. That makes them a threat to national security. Whether she's my daughter or not is beside the point. I don't think my loyalty to your administration or to the United States can be questioned, sir."
"No, not at all, Victor. I'm not questioning your loyalty. If I had even the slightest question about your loyalty I would ask for your resignation. As you say, your loyalty is beyond question. But this does involve your daughters. A lot of people wouldn't understand how you could order their deaths so easily."
"It's anything but easy, sir. But this is bigger than any single person. They're a threat to our entire way of life. If we don't stop them they could destroy everything this country has built for the last two hundred years. I can't just sit back and let that happen."
"Good enough. Do you have any idea where they'll go next?"
"I'm not sure, sir. I think they'll try to stay out of heavily populated areas. There's too much of a risk they could be recognized. My guess is they've found some out of the way place to hold up at. But we both know that won't last for long."
"What about the manor?" asked the President. "This Phoebe was captured there. Do you think she was after the Book of Shadows?"
"I don't know. We've never been able to locate the book. The manor was searched as soon as the sisters were arrested but it wasn't found. We think their grandmother may have hidden it somewhere but after she was killed trying to rescue her granddaughters we lost any leads we had to its location."
"Do you think they know where it is?"
"I don't know. I doubt it. Penny didn't have a chance to tell them before she died. Wherever she hid it it's probably still there. We just don't know where to look for it."
"Okay," said the President. "As for additional compensation, offer whatever you think is reasonable. I'm sure you can make suitable arrangements in that respect. How long do you think it will be before the special unit can take care of this?"
"I'm not sure, sir. It shouldn't take long. As you know they have certain unique skills that will be especially useful in this situation. I will of course keep you fully apprised regarding all developments."
"Thank you, Victor. I hope this is over quickly."
"As do I, Mr. President. As do I."
"Why did you come back here?" Piper demanded.
"As I said," said Cole, "it's in our best interest to hear her out. After I left here I had a little chat with Tempus. He had some interesting ideas on the situation. Ideas I thought you might like to hear."
"What kinds of ideas?" Phoebe asked.
"The kind that alter timelines," said one of the demons in the cabin.
"Baldasor?" Phoebe questioned.
"Do I know you, witch?" questioned Baldasor. "I don't recall ever meeting you."
"In another life," said Phoebe. "Literally."
"What did Tempus tell you?" Leo asked.
"You really want to know?" questioned Prue.
"Tempus is the only one – good or evil – who can effectively manipulate time," said Leo. "He's been around for a long time. It's possible he has insight that no one else has."
"And we should trust him because?" questioned Piper.
"Because if what your sister says is true," said Cole, "he's the one best able to help put things right."
"So where is he?" Phoebe asked.
"He's waiting for us in the underworld," said Cole. "For obvious reasons we think it's best if we went there to discuss this. It's likely to take a while and no one wants to risk being detected by the satellite system."
"You said that was unlikely," said Prue.
"Unlikely but not impossible," said Cole.
"And you just want us to go with you to the underworld?" Piper asked. "I'm thinking that's not going to happen. What's to keep you from just killing us once we're down there?"
"You have my word," said Cole. "If you accompany us to the underworld I will personally vouch for your safety while you're there and that you will be safely returned here when we're finished."
"You also have the word of the Brotherhood of the Thorn," said Baldasor.
"If you know us as well as you claim," Cole said to Phoebe, "you know that our word is our bond. You have our word you won't be harmed. What do you say?"
"I believe them," Phoebe said to Prue and Piper. "If the Brotherhood are anything like they are in my timeline they'll keep their word."
"If," said Prue. "We have no proof they are."
"They are," said Leo. "The Brotherhood is known by the Elders. The one thing that sets them apart from most other demons is their code of honor. But they aren't the only ones we have to worry about. There are a lot of different demons in the underworld. Any one of them would be glad to try and take out three witches."
"We have given our word that they will not be harmed," said Baldasor. "That includes allowing them to be harmed. As long as they are in the underworld they will be under the personal protection of the Brotherhood of the Thorn. Any demon who attempts to violate that protection will answer to us."
"Does that go for the Source, too?" Leo asked.
"He has promised he will not make an attempt on the witches," said Cole. "If he breaks that word he's violating the oath that binds the Brotherhood to his service. He won't risk that."
"What say you?" Baldasor asked. "Is the word of the Brotherhood of the Thorn enough for you?"
"I think we can trust them," said Phoebe. "We don't really have a whole lot of choice."
"Okay," said Prue. "But just remember we're far from helpless. You try anything funny and I promise you that you won't live long enough to see the outcome of it."
"I'm going too," said Leo.
"White Lighters aren't exactly welcome in the underworld," said Cole.
"These three are my charges," said Leo. "If they're going down there I'm going with them to make sure they're all right."
"Suit yourself," said Cole.
"And we expect him to be under the same protection that we are," said Phoebe.
"We should be going," said Baldasor. "The sooner we get off the mortal plane the better I will like it."
Within seconds the cabin was once again empty.