DarkPriestess66: Crimes and Witch Demeanors, I don't own it. Here's the deal: If I Don't update right away, don't ask me to hurry up, I have to type with nine fingers, the one I broke is too sensitive to use to type.
Alexis stared at the crystal swinging above a map of England, as she was scrying.
"What are you scrying for?" Hermione asks as she came into the conservatory,
"I'm scrying for the Horcruxes if you can believe that," Alexis replies, "Since the one we have is a fake."
"And how do you except to get the Horcruxes if you're scrying?" Hermione asks, sitting down on the other side of the table
"Well I haven't planned it out but since I'm smarter then Harry, I think we should gather the Horcruxes first then figure out a way to destroy them. I'm done playing by ear or being lucky enough to survive." Alexis replies, "Got it, and I don't like where it is,"
"Where what is?" Page asks coming into the conservatory, she looked at the map and back at Alexis, "What are you doing?"
"Scrying for a demon in human guise," Alexis replies, "Well pieces of him,"
"So what is Harry doing?" Page asks,
"Most likely trying to find a way to convince me to leave, and I'm not doing it." Alexis replies, "I've played by his rules long enough the past six and a half years to be exact."
"You got the Halliwell determination," Page laughed,
"I learned from the best," Alexis state, "Grams."
Alexis finished writing down the places, she thought the Horcruxes might be, "I'm going to get ready for that stakeout,"
Page nods,
~~~~~~~later that evening~~~~~
Phoebe and Paige pull up in their car, and Darryl pulls up in his car on a side street. They get out.
"You sure this is the right place?" Alexis asks,
"It's just as I saw it in my premonition." Phoebe answers
"Yeah, but you kind of forced that premonition." Paige pointed out
"Darryl, will you hurry up, I got a date." Phoebe states,
"Where's he gonna be?" Darryl asks
"At a restaurant down town." Phoebe replies
"No, I meant where's the killer going to be?" Darryl asks
"Oh, he's going to be robbing a pawn shop in the alley." Phoebe answers
"So exactly how do we know that he's possessed?" Darryl asks
"When the phantasm comes out of him and tries to annihilate us." Alexis replies,
"Whoa, wait. So the perp's not responsible for the other killings? It's this, whatever you call it?" Darryl questions
"No, no, he is. The phantasm only possesses bad guys. To make them worse. Okay, shall we?" Phoebe replies, she heads for the alley
"She really wants this demon, doesn't she?" Darryl questions
"No. She really wants her date." Paige replies,
In the alley. Phoebe, Alexis, and Paige are hiding beside a dumpster, watching the burglar break in to the pawn shop. Darryl joins them.
"Okay, go, go." Phoebe states,
"Okay, just make sure you do your thing before any annihilating occurs, okay?" Darryl asks
"Have we ever let you down? Go." Phoebe replies
Darryl stands in the middle of the alley and points his gun at the burglar.
"Freeze! Police!" Darryl exclaims
The burglar turns around. Phoebe comes out from behind the dumpster.
"Wait. Not yet." Alexis states, The burglar pulls out his gun and shoots. Phoebe pushes Darryl out of the way just in time. The burglar shoots again. Darryl shoots at the burglar and hits him in the chest. He falls to the ground. "Throw the potion."
Phoebe throws the potion and hits the burglar. The phantasm rises out of the burglar's body.
"Mother of god." Darryl gasps,
"Now. Now." Phoebe states
Paige holds up a wand and sucks the phantasm into it. It screams as it gets sucked in. "Want it?"
"No." Phoebe answers
"You guys saved my life." Darryl states
"That's okay, we put you at risk. Again." Alexis states,
"You caught a killer and you saved an innocent. Not bad for a night's work. I gotta go. Tell Sheila I said hi, okay?" Phoebe asks
Phoebe, Alexis, and Paige rush out of the alley.
"Uh, yeah, I'll call it in. You guys better get on out of here before... somebody sees you." Darryl agrees
In the street. Phoebe and Paige walk towards their car. Paige sees a car parked near by.
"Hey, was that car there before?" Paige questions
"Geez, Paige, relax. You act like we've never done this before." Phoebe replies
The following morning, Alexis walked out into the kitchen and straight over to the coffee pot, Phoebe walks in and starts gathering potion ingredients,
Phoebe is there making a potion when Paige walks in.
"Morning. How was your date?" Paige asks
Alexis uttered a morning as she nursed her cup of coffee.
"Good. Other than the fact that he's not the man of my dreams." Phoebe answers
"You can tell that from one date?" Alexis asks confused
"I can tell that because I see nothing in the future for us besides sex, and I'm not interested in that." Phoebe replies
"Sex?" Paige asks
"No, wasting my time. Either you're the father of the child that I saw in my vision or not. So I'm moving on. Can you pass me the asphodel root?" Phoebe replies
"Yeah. What, are you demon hunting?" Paige replies as she handed her the asphodel root.
"No, lunch date. I want to make sure I get a hit off of him before the entrées come. No sense wasting those calories, right?" Phoebe asks
Alexis shared a glance with Paige "Wait a second. So now you're trying to force premonitions on your dates?"
"Well, it's the quickest way to find out who I'm looking for, right?" Phoebe question
"Does it even matter to you that you're breaking every wiccan rule that exists?" Paige asks, sharing another worried glance with Alexis
"I think after all these years, I know what I'm doing. Besides, with Piper in magic school, we're down a power. We could use the extra boost." Phoebe replies
"Maybe. I just hope we don't misuse it." Alexis states
Chris and Lynx orbs in.
"There's the book. Do you mind?" asks Lynx
"No, knock yourselves out." Phoebe answers
"We've been working some demonic connections. I think we have a new theory on who might be trying to turn Wyatt evil." Chris explains
"Oh, a new theory. What's that, the third one this week?" Paige asks
"What? Are you keeping score now?" Chris asks
"She's just grumpy because she hasn't had her coffee yet." Phoebe replies,
"That is if mom doesn't drink it all," Lynx teases,
Alexis stuck her tongue out at Lynx,
"I am not grumpy. Okay, fine, maybe a little bit, but you have to admit you've had a lot of different theories lately, and none of them have panned out." Paige states
"That's why they call them theories." Chris replies
"Do we even get along in the future?" Paige asks
"How's Piper? Have you seen her?" Phoebe asks
"She's good. Uh, big. You know, I keep thinking how weird it's gonna be to actually see myself being born." Chris answers.
"Speak for yourself. I'm way before my own conception and birth timeline." Lynx states, "I don't want to picture you being born, I've already witnessed Wyatt's birth, that's enough to scar me for my own lifetime."
"And how's Leo?" Alexis asks,
"Leo? Don't know. Haven't seen him." Chris replies
"That's because you're avoiding him still, aren't you? Chris, he's your father. You have to talk to him. How are you gonna change anything in the future if you don't?" Phoebe asks
"That's not the future Lynx and I came back to change. Thanks." Chris replies
Chris and Lynx orbs out.
"Hey, don't look at me. I'm grumpy." Paige states
The doorbell rings.
"Another one of your dates?" Alexis teases, as she and Phoebe went to the door,
Phoebe opens the door. Sheila is there crying.
"Sheila. What's the matter? Come in, come in, come in, come in." Phoebe asks,
Paige walks in. "What's going on?"
"It's Darryl." Sheila answers
"What about Darryl? Is he okay?" Alexis asks, worried.
"They just arrested him. For murder." Sheila answers
Phoebe, Alexis and Paige stand there shocked.
"What's going on?" Hermione asks as she came inside.
"Hermione, stay with Sheila, we have to go the Police station." Alexis states,
"Sure," Hermione replies
The trio of Charmed Ones got their stuff and left the manor
At the Police Station, Room. Phoebe, Paige and Darryl are there.
"I don't really know what happened. It's all kind of a blur." Darryl explains
"What are you talking about? It was self defense. He shot first. Several times." Alexis states
"He did?" Darryl asks
"You don't remember any of that? Did you get hit on the head or something? Maybe when you pushed him down." Paige replies
"No, he was fine after that. Something weird is going on here." Phoebe replies, before looking at Alexis, who had an idea of who and what was going on.
A lawyer walks in. "Lieutenant Morris. I'm sorry, but we really have to prepare for your arraignment."
"It's okay. They're my friends." Darryl replies,
"Yeah, and there's a problem here because this man is innocent." Phoebe declares
"Yeah? How do you know?" Lawyer asks
"Because I was there... driving around in the area." Phoebe replies
"Perjuring yourself isn't going to help any, lady. The prosecution's evidence is overwhelming, trust me." Lawyer states
"Evidence? What evidence?" Paige asks
"It's okay. Show them." Darryl states,
The lawyer inserts a CD in his laptop and a video of Darryl and the burglar shows up on the screen. Darryl is pointing his gun at the burglar.
"Please. Please don't kill me! No! Don't kill me!"
Darryl shoots his gun three times.
"That's not what happened." Phoebe states
They left,
"It's time to see an Inspector," Alexis states,
"I agree," Phoebe replies
Police Station's office. Inspector Sheridan is sitting at her desk. Phoebe, Alexis, and Paige walk up to her.
"Inspector Sheridan." Phoebe states
"Yes." InspectorSheridan
"We would like to talk to you." Alexis states
"Easy." Paige cautions
"Do you have a personal grudge against Darryl Morris?" Phoebe asks
"Morris?" Inspector Sheridan repeats
"Yeah. We know you faked the images on the tape, and we're here to let you know that we're not gonna sit around and watch you frame our friend." Phoebe threatens
"She's a little upset." Paige states,
"Yes, I can see that. And you are?" Inspector Sheridan asks
"Phoebe. Phoebe Halliwell." Phoebe replies
"Halliwell. Hm. Your name certainly pops up in his file plenty. For the record, I didn't fake anything, 'cause I was there, undercover, and I saw it go down with my own eyes. I've been investigating Morris for a few weeks now, trying to figure out why so many of his suspects over the last five years just vanish or mysteriously wind up dead. Now I know. He takes the law into his own hands. Excuse me." Inspector Sheridan states, She walks away.
"Well?" Paige asks,
"If she was lying, I couldn't sense it." Phoebe replies
"Then how do you explain what happened?" Alexis asks
Paige, Alexis, and Phoebe orb into middle the market place, They all run away frightened.
"Sure hope this works." Alexis states unsure,
"It will. Coffee cart." Phoebe replies
"Orb away." Paige commanded, the coffee cart orbs out.
"Flowers that bring desire, make them turn into fire." Alexis chanted, the flower stall goes up in flames. People scream. Suddenly the whole place freezes. The Cleaners appear. "I see you got our message."
"What do you think you're doing now?" Cleaner number one asks,
"Well, we didn't know how else to call for you. Figured you weren't listed in the yellow pages." Phoebe answers
"What do you want?" Cleaner number one asks,
"We want to know why you framed Darryl Morris. That was your doing, wasn't it?" Phoebe asks
"Magic was exposed. We were forced to clean it up."
"Change what was."
"To protect you."
"I thought we resolved this the last time you guys tried to intervene. We clean up our own magical messes." Alexis snaps,
"But you didn't even know about this one. You didn't realize you were being followed. Taped." Cleaner number one replies,
"Yeah, well, we always manage to fix these things somehow." Paige states
"No, you wouldn't have. That's why we were put on the case to begin with. It was anticipated."
"You know what? I don't care. If you don't free Darryl Morris, we're just gonna keep exposing magic and..." Phoebe states
Cleaner number one holds up his hand. "This will not be like our last encounter, Miss Halliwell. We're under strict orders not to negotiate with you this time."
"Strict orders from whom?" Paige asks,
"I don't know but I know who does," Alexis replies,
The trio go to Magic School, Leo, Carmela, and Gideon. After they were informed on what's going on.
"So who is it?" Alexis asks,
"The Tribunal. It's a council made up of Elders and demons to monitor magic, to make sure nobody ever finds out about its use." Carmela answers.
"At whatever the cost." Gideon seconds
"Which is why they created the cleaners and gave them the power to erase events, memories." Leo states
"Or in this case, to change them." Paige replies,
"Well, it's just part of the grand design, to allow magic to influence but not take over free will." Carmela explains
"It's the one thing both sides could agree upon." Gideon seconds
"Okay, so how do we find this tribunal?" Phoebe asks
Piper walks in. "Hey. What are you guys doing here? Uh-oh. What's wrong?"
"It's Darryl." Leo answers
"Our friendly Cleaners have struck again. He's in jail for murder." Paige explains
"What? Why? What happened?" Piper asks
Alexis glanced at Phoebe "Someone was in a hurry."
"Oh, wait. Are we blaming me for this? Did we or did we not catch the demon?" Phoebe questions
"Yeah, but you forced the premonition, so maybe we could've been more careful, and maybe we could've seen that somebody was watching." Alexis replies,
"And if I hadn't, we would've never caught the killer." Phoebe states
"No, you were just trying to figure out who's your baby's daddy is. That isn't about demons." Alexis snaps.
"Alright, guys, this isn't helping." Leo intervened
"I know, it isn't. There's only one thing that will." Phoeberepliesnotlooking at her sister
Alexis, Phoebe, Paige, Leo and Gideon orb into The Tribunal Council the floor was white. The floor is surrounded by black.
"Where are we?" Alexis asks
"Nowhere. Anywhere. You don't want to know. You should know that the tribunal is not like anything you've ever faced before. They are not a power to be trifled with." Gideon answers
"We understand." Phoebe replies, for her sisters.
"Do you? You might not like what's been happening to your friend, but be aware before you embark upon this journey that where it ends might just be worse." Gideon states
"Call them." Phoebe replies
"Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!" Gideon shouts into the vast nothingness of the chamber
The faces of Crill, Thrask and Aramis, the tribunal, appear in the black area.
"What reason have you to call the tribunal?" Crill demands
"To challenge the actions of the cleaners on behalf... of the Charmed Ones." Gideon answers
"The Charmed Ones? But there are only three." Thrask states
"The other is with child. I assume the sisters will speak for her in absentia." Aramis states
"Yeah. In absentia. Your... Greatness?" Phoebe agrees
"There's four of them. How do they break a tie?" Paige questions
"What she said," Alexis agrees, looking at Leo.
"You don't want to know." Leo answers
"Your request has been granted." Adair confirms
Barbas flames in.
"Barbas? What the hell is he doing here?" Alexis asks
"You missed me." Barbas replied
"Didn't we vanquish you?" Paige asks
"To the fires of hell. I've been granted a temporary leave of absence in order to act as your opposing counsel." Barbas replies
"We liked his pitch." Crill states
"Pitch? What pitch? How did he even know about it?" Leo asks
"We have the right to choose anybody we wish." Thrask answers
"Gideon." Phoebe states
"Your Honors, in the interests of facts..." Gideon states
"On that fairness issue, I submit that in order to expedite matters and to keep the Charmed Ones honest..." Barbas interrupts
"Us, honest?" Alexis repeats,
"Uh, for their own good, we graphically remind them as to what exactly is at stake here so they do not foolishly try some trickery in order to slip away like they did the last time they faced the Cleaners." Barbas explains
"It is done." Aramis agrees
"What is done?" Phoebe asks
"I'm not sure." Gideon replies
A hologram of Darryl and Sheila in a jail cell appears in the middle of the room.
"Darryl?" Paige questions confused
The lawyer stands at the cell doors.
"The governor denied the stay." Lawyer states
"What stay? What's going on?" Leo asks
"We have accelerated time. But only for the execution." Crill answers
"Execution?" Paige asks
"You have until midnight to convince us, or his sentence will be carried out." Adair answers
"Magic will be protected one way or the other." Aramis states
Phoebe, Alexis and Paige are sitting on chairs.
"We didn't know that signing up for this would put Darryl on death row." Paige states,
"I warned you about invoking the tribunal." Gideon replies
"Yeah, well, you didn't warn us that they would call upon our worst enemy." Alexis retorts
"Gideon, your case." Aramis states
"Yes, your honor, in just a few more moments, if you please." Gideon replies
"We don't. You're the ones who called for us. Proceed." Thrask states
"We called for justice, not the Demon of Fear." Phoebe states
"I don't see the problem with me being here." Barbas replies
"There's a conflict of interest, and we believe that the tribunal should recognize this. I think this is a setup." Phoebe states
"Phoebe." Leo warns
"How dare you question our integrity." Adair accuses
"Not yours. Theirs." Phoebe replies, she stands up. "Barbas has tried to kill us three times in the past."
Phoebe walks out onto the white floor. She steps on a round blue tile in the center of the floor. She quickly steps back and a hologram appears. The hologram shows:
Phoebe is there on a property.
"Mrs. Joffee. It's SWA Properties." Phoebe states
"Hello, dear." Mrs. Joffee's voice greets
Phoebe turns around to see Barbas.
"Thanks so much for coming out." Barbas states
Barbas waves his hand in front of Phoebe's face.
"I know how you kill, but there are no elevators around here." Phoebe states
"Elevators? That's what you think your greatest fear is?" Barbas asks,"You mortals need to look deeper, down where the real truth lies. Your greatest fear is losing a sister, and I get two for one."
The hologram disappears.
"Ha, the good old days." Barbas states
"What the hell was that?" Phoebe asks
"The circle of truth, it's enchanted. It reads thoughts and shows what needs to be seen. You must be careful." Gideon states.
"Maybe you better just sit down." Paige suggests
"If I may, it is not my past evils that's in question here. What is in question here is these four witches' so called right to be continually cleaning up after their own magical asses." Barbas states
"We have to get out of here. We have to figure out how this happened." Phoebe whispers
"You can't. If you leave, Lieutenant Morris dies." Gideon replies
"Does it really matter if we were set up? The point is, we were exposed." Paige states
"But if we can prove he orchestrated the exposure, it might." Leo replies
"Go find out what you can. Hurry." Phoebe states
"Get Lynx to help, she should be with Chris." Alexis suggests
Leo orbs out.
"Was I boring him?" Barbas asks
"With all due respect, if it truly is our case to present, may I? To better put this particular situation into its proper context, it bears reminding your honors of the long history, the long, successful history, the Charmed Ones have of shielding their magical tracks. If I may show you some examples..." Gideon states,
Leo orbed into Magic School.
"I'm going." Piper states after she learned back the Cleaners framing Darryl.
"No, you can't." Leo replies,
"Well, I can't just let him hang either, Leo." Piper states
"Piper, if it wasn't safe for you before, it's even less safe now with Barbas there. Please?" Leo asks
"Well, what about Darryl? Does he even know what's happening?" Piper asks
"No, and I'm not going to tell him either. I need to concentrate on proving that Barbas set him up." Leo answers
"How are you gonna do that?" Piper asks
"I was hoping that you would call Chris and get him and Lynx to use their demonic connections." Leo answers
"Why don't you ask him? Right. " Piper answers, "Chris?"
Chris orbs in with Lynx.
"Yeah, mum, what do you..." Chris states, then he sees Leo. "Need."
"We need your help." Piper replies
~~~~Tribunal Council.~~~~~
"The point being, the Charmed Ones have never once failed in their duty to keep the big secret. Witness." Gideon states then waves his cloak and hand into the circle of truth.
The hologram appears and it shows:
Cole's Apartment: Piper, Alexis, Phoebe, Paige and Darryl are there.
"I made an appointment for you at missing persons today." Darryl explains
"Wait, you want Phoebe to report Cole as missing?" Paige asks
"She has to. Otherwise somebody else will, and she'll become the prime suspect in his disappearance." Darryl replies
"So you want me to pack up his stuff so it looks like he left me?" Phoebe asks
"That's right. We cannot give the police any reason to suspect foul play. I mean, technically, you three did kill him." Darryl replies
"Let the object of objection become but a dream, as I cause the scene to be unseen." Alexis chants
The hologram disappears.
"As you've just seen, Lieutenant Morris whom the Cleaners would have die to cover magic, is here instrumental in keeping it protected." Gideon states
"Could you play that hologram just a tiny bit longer? Humor me." Barbas asks
"Do it." Crill orders
The hologram appears.
[The hologram shows:
Paige moves closer to Phoebe.
"I just wish we could make the rest of your pain go away that easily." Paige states
"So do I. You murdering witch!" Phoebe exclaims, and slaps Paige in the face.
The hologram disappears.
"That's not fair, I was under the influence of evil." Phoebe states
"Yes, you were, but then it seems like you girls so often are under the influence of one thing or another." Barbas replies
Another hologram appears.
Police Station.
"Your husband fits the classic profile of a deadbeat dad." Inspector Miles states, he turns away and a flame appears in Phoebe's hand.
"Make it go out." Leo states
"I can't make it go out." Phoebe replies, she throws the fireball into a trash can,
"Phoebe? I-I mean, fire!" Darryl exclaims
The hologram disappears.
"Wait, you're gonna love this one." Barbas states
Another hologram appears.
Manor, Foyer
"So glad you're home. We have some new floral sketches we'd like you to see." Marie states
"Now's not really a good time." Leo replies
Piper disagrees, "They're welcome to come in, Leo."
"I've revisited the dinner menu, Piper, and you are going to be thrilled. I have some dynamic choices that I..." Craigexplains
"I want pigs in blankets." Piperrequests
The wedding planners laugh.
"It's nice to see a bride who still has a sense of humor this close to the big day." Marie replies
"No, I want pigs in blankets." Piper states,
Craig turns into a pig wearing a blanket. Marie screams.
The hologram disappears.
"I frankly don't see the relevance of any of this. It's wholly beside the point." Gideonstates
"No, no, no. That is precisely the point. The Charmed Ones are so influenced by outside forces, how can we ever expect to continue to trust them to clean up after themselves?" Barbas questions
"We cleaned up after each and every one of those situations." Alexis states, "I've even cleaned up after mine in the wizarding world"
"But how close you came to not." Barbas replies,
"Continue, Gideon." Aramis states,
Phoebe looksto Paige and Alexis, "Where is Leo?"
~~~~underworld~~~~
Chris is holding a demon over a fiery pit. Leo and Lynx are standing beside him.
"Barbas escaped the fires of hell, and so did you. I know he helped you." Chris states
"Please, I don't want to back down there. Don't throw me back down there." the demon replies,
"Chris, I don't think this is the best way." Leo states
"Last chance, Phinks." Lynx snarled
"Okay, okay, okay, okay! Phantasms. We used phantasms." Phinks replies,
"How?" Leo asks
"Uh, Barbas buddied up to a couple of them down there. He used them to do stuff for him, you know, since they can travel back and forth and all." Phinks answers
"What kind of stuff?" Lynx asks
"I don't know. I swear I don't know! But whatever it was, he said it could resurrect him somehow. It could give him new life, permanently too, he said, if he won something." Phinks answers
"The case. He must have used the phantasm to cut a deal with the demon members of the tribunal. We need proof." Leo states,
"What do you think he is?" Lynx asks,
"He's a demon. They'll discredit him." Leo answers
"It's better than nothing." Chris states
"It's a waste of time." Leo replies,
"It's the best we've got." Lynx states, *Drop him. Better we don't deal with him later.*
"Then we need to do better." Leo replies,
"Look..." Chris states and accidentally drops Phinks in the fiery pit. "Shoot! Now look what you made me do!"
~~~~Tribunal Council.~~~~
They are watching another hologram.
Piper, Paige and Leo stand where the manor once was.
"Piper, what did you do with the house?" Paige asks
"Oh my god. What have I done?" Piper asks
"The spell, Piper. You need to reverse it fast." Leo replies
"I'm not sure I can." Piper replies,
"Well, then you'd better make us disappear, because this one's gonna be tough to explain." Paige states
"You can do it, Piper. Come on." Leo states
"Let the object of objection return, so that its existence may be reaffirmed." Piper chants
The manor appears around them.
"Nicely done." Paige applauses
The hologram disappears.
"So then, despite what Barbas would have you believe, regardless of outside influences, the sisters have always managed to protect magic, and therefore based upon all the evidence, we ask the tribunal, no, we demand that the cleaners be forced to reverse what they have done, that Lieutenant Morris be freed, and that The Charmed Ones be allowed to do what they have always done so well... cover their own tracks. Respectfully." Gideon states
Barbas claps. "Bravo! Really very compelling stuff, counselor. In fact, I think that you've just successfully argued my case for me."
"Now what's he up to?" Paige questions
"Now, obviously this whole thing has now become much, much bigger than just a simple case of whether the good lieutenant bites the dust, because as we have just seen, the recklessness displayed by these four witches has now become of epidemic proportion." Barbas states
"Objection! May I remind my counterpart that this is simply a question of whether or not the situation should be reversed. It is not an indictment on the Charmed Ones." Gideon states
"Maybe it should be." Barbas suggests
"This is what he's up to." Phoebe answers
Another hologram appears.
"Viola!" Barbas exclaims
Apartment building's roof: Superhero Phoebe is holding Edward Miller upside down over the edge.
"They don't have to move! They can stay for a year! Ten years!" Edward exclaims
"What about the cockroaches? Are you gonna do something about the cockroaches?" Phoebe questions
"First thing tomorrow. Just please don't drop me. Please!" Edward replies
Cole appears behind Phoebe. "Uh, Phoebe?"
Phoebe turns her head to Cole "Cole. What are you doing here?"
"Well, I got a call from one of the tenants saying that Wonder Woman was terrorizing the landlord." Cole answers, then looks down at the landlord "What the hell are you doing?"
"Well, I'm teaching my buddy here how important it is to be a better person." Phoebe answers
"I don't know what's going on here, but this is not you, literally." Cole states
"Are you kidding? This is better than me. This is new and improved me. Now not only can I help my readers, but I can help the entire city." Phoebe replies
"Careful. He's got ears." Cole states
"Oh, please, relax. The only thing he can hear right now is the blood rushing to his brain." Phoebe states, then pulls Edward up and throws him onto the roof. "Okay, Cole, I gotta go, because I've got a lot of loyal readers that need my help. Okay?"
"Okay." Cole agrees
Phoebe whizzes off and jumps from roof to roof.
The hologram disappears.
"And last, but by no means least, where were the Charmed Ones to clean up this mess?" Barbas asks
Another hologram appears.
In a Bar, Cole is sitting at the counter, unshaven, drinking a shot of whiskey. Two thugs with shotguns walk in.
"All your valuables, all your money! Hurry up! Watches, wallets."
The bartender reaches behind the bar and pulls out a gun. He points it at the thugs and before he can shoot, is shot down by Thug #1. "Come on, nothing's changed. Give me the money. Hurry up!"
A biker makes a run for the exit and Thug #2 shoots continually trying to hit the biker. The biker runs past Cole and a bullet shoots straight through his chest, breaking the glass of whiskey in his hand. The thug looks at his gun, wondering how Cole is still alive. The bullet wound in Cole magically heals. He turns to the thugs and telekinetically sends the thugs crashing against the wall. Everyone runs for the exit. Thug #1 reaches for his gun and Cole throws an energy ball, incinerating him.
The hologram disappears.
"That is absurd. That was Cole. We weren't responsible for that. We weren't even there." Phoebe states
"Ah, but you were there, Phoebe. It was your cold rejection of his love that drove him to that reckless despair. So I say that you were responsible. Hexes, possession, evil influences, affairs of the heart. I say we're lucky that all the magic has not been exposed beyond repair long before now. If we want to protect all that we are, all that this tribunal stands for, then I say we should not be just deciding the fate of some poor, pathetic mortal. No, we should be deciding the fate of these four, and whether they should ever be permitted to practice magic again." Barbas replies
"So be it." Aramis agrees
Alexis' jaw dropped, her whole life has been about magic. If they took her powers it would be like taking a part of her away. 'Come on, Leo, Chris, Lynx'
~~~~~Manor's Attic~~~~~
Leo is looking through the Book of Shadows. Lynx was pacing back and forth trying to remember anything about what was happening, that changed their future.
"Okay, I get the fact that Barbas used the phantasm to cut a deal so he could try the case. But that still doesn't explain how he set up the girls." Chris states.
"To get it to possess the killer, so the sisters would get onto him." Leo replies
"But that's only part of it. Alright? How did he even know Darryl was under investigation in the first place?" Chris asks
"There is nothing in here about phantasms that we don't already know." Leo answers
"Hey! Did you listen to a word I just said?" Chris asks
"What?" Leo asks
"Never mind." Chris replies,
"You know what? This is ridiculous, okay. It's obvious you hate my guts, Chris. I understand. I'm a horrible father in the future, okay, but there's nothing I can do about that right now." Leo states
"Will you two shut it so can we concentrate on working together to save Darryl and save the girls, please? Lynx asks, fed up with stuff that hasn't happened yet when it came with Chris' future father issues.
"Fine." Chris replies,
"Great. Alright, let's start with what we know. How about phantasms?" Leo asks
"Wait, that's it. Phantasms, plural. Phinks said Barbas buddied up to a couple of them, right? Well, that means there must be another one out there for us to find." Chris answers
"See? I knew we could work together." Lynx states beaming at both of them
~~~~Tribunal Council.~~~~~
"Are you sure about this?" Gideon asks,
Alexis nods, "Yeah. If they're gonna put us on trial too, it might be the only way to save Darryl. We have to stand on our record."
"If all the good we've done in the last six years isn't good enough, then nothing is." Phoebe agrees
"Very well." Gideon agrees then turnsto Barbas "Your witness."
"Now, let's see. So many holograms, so little time." Barbas states
"Barbas." Thrask warns
"Oh, well, I guess I should ask one of the cleaners a few quick questions." Barbas states
"As you wish." Crill replies
The Cleaner one appears in the witness chair.
"You have been assigned to watch The Charmed Ones since they first became witches, have you not?" Barbas questions
"That is correct." The Cleaner answers
"Would Lieutenant Morris be the first policeman to die in order to clean up one of their little magical messes?" Barbas asks
"No." The Cleaner answers
"Uh-oh." Phoebe and Alexis states
A hologram appears.
Manor's foyer: Piper, a smaller Alexis, and Phoebe are there.
"Are you okay?" Piper asks
"Yeah." Phoebe answers, while Alexis nods.They look in the living room to see Andy laying on the floor. "Oh."
They run over to Andy and Piper checks his pulse.
"Oh my god. He's dead." Piper gasps
The hologram ends.
"Truly tragic. That was their sister Prue's first true love. I wonder whatever happened to her." Barbas states
Phoebe and Alexis goes to stand up.
"Don't. It's not worth it." Gideon warns
"Anyone else?" Barbas asks
"Yes. Inspector Reece. We had to keep a close watch on him." The Cleaner answers
Another hologram appears.
Phoebe opens the Manor's front door. Inspector Reece stands there.
"Inspector. How can I help you?" Phoebe asks
"You can tell me where to find Cole Turner. I know he's alive, and I know he's in town." Inspector Reece answers
"Really." Phoebe responds
"Yeah, really. Want to know how? Because his former landlady was found brutally murdered at his address." Inspector Reece states
Phoebe gasps "Oh my god. That's awful."
"Awful like you can't imagine." Inspector Reece replies
"I know what you're thinking. And I know what this looks like. And I am, I am so sorry for what happened to..." Phoebe begins to apologize
Inspector Reece interrupts "You're sorry? Her eyes were frozen open in terror. Her skull was punctured in two places. And by the time the police got there, most of her brain had spilled out onto the floor. Be sick, be horrified, but don't stand there lying to me and say you're sorry. I'm gonna find him, Miss Halliwell, and then I'm gonna bust his ass. And then I'm gonna bust yours."
The hologram disappears.
"And did he find him?" Barbas asks
"No, he did not." The Cleaner answers
In a Church. A Seeker comes up from behind Inspector Reece and bites him on the neck. Phoebe and Piper stand behind locked gates.
"Open the gate!" Piper exclaims
The hologram ends.
"We were lucky one of those demons came along and tied up that loose end, aren't we? It's a rhetorical question. Never mind." Barbas states
"There was another. An FBI agent." The Cleaner supplied
"That's right." Barbas agrees,
Another hologram appears.
Manor's Dining room. Piper, Alexis, Phoebe, Paige and Agent Jackman are there. He slides a thick folder to the girls.
"In case you're wondering, that's just a copy." Agent Jackman informs
They flip through the file to find photos of them
"Nice way to engender trust, Agent Jackman." Phoebe replies,
"If I wanted to expose you, I could've done that six months ago when that file first crossed my desk." Agent Jackman informs,
"Expose us as what?" Alexis asks,
"Witches. It's the only logical explanation for all the unsolved cases, the missing persons, the mysterious deaths." Agent Jackman answers
The hologram ends.
"That is out of context. He was a witch hunter, he tried to kill us." Paige states
"The only context I'm interested in is what happened to yet another officer of the law. Witness." Barbas replies
Another hologram appears.
At the Park. Agent Jackman shoots his gun at Phoebe. The bullet flies through the air in slow motion. Cole nearby, uses one of his powers to switch Phoebe and Agent Jackman. The bullet hits Agent Jackman in the chest.
The hologram disappears.
"Seems like that stream of unsolved deaths left in the Charmed Ones' wake just keeps right on growing, doesn't it? So I guess the obvious question is how many more Inspectors must die before it comes to an end?" Barbas asks
"Another rhetorical question?" Gideon questions
"Actually, no. In fact, that is what I think becomes the salient question because the deaths could end with Lieutenant Morris. That's what I think. What do you think?" Barbas questions
Alexis rapped the table, "Objection. Why should we care what he thinks?"
"Alexis." Gideon warns
"I care." Crill answers
"Yeah, well, of course you care. You're a demon." Alexis states
"I care too." Adair replies
"Oh. Well, then never mind." Alexis changed her mind real quick
"I think that there will always be another Inspector Sheridan to pick up on their trail." The Cleaner states
"Wait a minute." Paige states,
"Unless..." Barbas began
"It ends with Morris." The Cleaner finished
Phoebe and Alexis turnsto Paige "What?"
"No further questions, rhetorical or otherwise." Barbas states, He waves his hand and the Cleaner disappears. "Oh, sorry. Did you have more questions of him?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact." Gideon answers
"No. We're fine. Carry on." Paige states
"Paige, what are you doing?" Gideon questions
"Unfortunately for us, ending the stream of deaths with Morris only solves our problem of the past. It does absolutely nothing to protect us against our future problems. So how much longer can we afford to tempt the gods of fate with the recklessness of the Charmed Ones, and at what point does that day finally come when it's just simply too late to clean up after one of their little magical messes? And then all of magic is exposed to the world forever because of them, and that is the question you're going to have to answer because I rest my case." Barbas explains
"Gideon." Aramis states
"Nothing further." Gideon replies
"We will return with the verdict." Crill informs
The tribunal council disappear.
"Okay, this better be good." Phoebe states
Paige nods. "Leo!" Leo, Lynx, and Chris orb in. "Hey, you guys are speaking now."
"Uh, let's not make a big deal about it, okay?" Chris asks
"Fine. What'd you find out?" Paige asks
"Okay, you know that phantasm you vanquished? Apparently Barbas sent it so you'd follow it." Leo answers
"And apparently he gets a get out of hell free card too if he wins the case." Chris continued
"I knew this was a setup." Phoebe states
"But we can't prove it, so we've been trying to find another phantasm, but we can't seem to..." Lynx began,
Paige interrupts "If it's anywhere, it has to be inside Inspector Sheridan. It's the only way Barbas knew she'd be in the right place at the right time."
"Okay, go get her. Bring her back here. Hurry." Phoebe states
Leo and Chris orb out with Lynx tagging along. While waiting for Leo, Chris, and Lynx to return, Piper appears behind Phoebe, Alexis, and Paige.
"How did I get here?" Piper asks
"Piper! What are you doing here?" Phoebe asks
"I don't know." Piper replies
"Why don't you go back? Go." Paige asks
"She can't. We have brought her to hear the judgment." Thrask answers
"Since it impacts all of you." Adair states
"This doesn't look good." Phoebe states
"Where the hell is Leo?" Paige questions
"As to whether or not the Charmed Ones shall be allowed to continue to practice magic, the judgment is... in favor of the sisters." Aramis informs
"But against the Lieutenant. The trail of exposure must end with him." Crill states
"You have got to be kidding me, right? I mean, you can't really be doing this." Alexis states angrily
"Alexis, they have already." Gideon replies,
"Look, he doesn't care about protecting magic. All he cares about is himself and getting out of purgatory. So not only did he set us up, but he set you up too." Phoebe states
"Always trying to blame somebody else, aren't you?" Barbas questions
"You son of a..." Phoebe began to curse.
Gideon interrupts "Listen to me, you have to stop this. Do you understand? They haven't taken away your powers yet, but they still can."
"Then let them. If this is the thanks that we get for all of our good work, if this is the way the system works, then you can keep our stupid powers." Paige replies,
Alexis nods in agreement, as long as she had her sisters. Powers or not, she would still be a Halliwell.
"Paige! Alexis!" Gideon exclaims
"No, they're right. If Darryl dies, that's it. We're done, we quit." Piper states
"You know, that would solve any of our future exposure issues, now, wouldn't it?" Barbas asks
"You'd have us erase your memories? Change all that you know?" Aramis questions
"All that you are?" Adair questions
"If necessary." Phoebe replies
"Very well." Aramisstates
Execution Room: 11:58. Darryl is strapped to a chair. A guard turns a machine on.
Tribunal Council. Leo, Lynx and Chris orb in with Inspector Sheridan.
"Get off of me! What is this? Wh-where am I?" Inspector Sheridan asks
"That's a nice act. It's very convincing." Chris replies
"Objection! He cannot bring a mortal down here. It is outrageous." Barbas states
"Sit down and shut up." Leo orders
"What is the meaning of this?" Crill questions
"Watch." Lynx replies, She pushes Inspector Sheridan onto the blue part of the floor and a hologram appears.
Police Station. Inspector Sheridan sits at her desk. A phantasm appears behind her and enters her body. She gets up and walks over to a filing cabinet. She pulls out Darryl's file.
The hologram disappears.
Inspector Sheridan turnsto Barbas "What now?"
"Oh, surrounded by idiots." Barbas replies
Leo throws a potion at Inspector Sheridan and the phantasm escapes her body. Chris holds up the wand and sucks the phantasm into it. Inspector Sheridan faints.
"Huh. Guess there's some cleaning up to do there." Piper states
"What do you have to say for yourself, Barbas?" Aramis questions
"I'm a demon. What do you expect?" Barbas replies
"Based on the evidence, I beg you to reverse the decision before it's too late." Gideon requests
Execution room. Only seconds till midnight. They put a needle into Darryl's arm. Darryl squeezes his fists and closes his eyes.
"Darryl." Sheila's voice calls
Darryl opens his eyes. He's no longer in the execution room, but sitting at his desk in the police station. Sheila stands in front of him.
"Did you forget we were gonna go out tonight?" Sheila asks
Darryl gets up and hugs Sheila. Inspector Sheridan walks past. The Cleaner walks in nearby and looks around. Satisfied with everything, he disappears.
~~~~The tribunal council.~~~~
"It is done." Aramis states
"And as for you, Barbas..." Adair states
"Oh, no. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Now just because I'm the one who set this whole thing up does not necessarily mean that I am not right. The Charmed Ones are reckless with magic." Barbas interrupts
"Oh, please." Paige sighs
"You've seen it, I've seen it, we've all seen it time after time, and it doesn't even include what got them into this whole mess in the first place." Barbas states
"Uh, I think that would be you." Phoebe replies
"Ah, Phoebe, that would be you, with your ongoing zeal to force your premonitions, to short-circuit the process, take the easy way, and for what? Each and every time, it was for personal gain. I don't know, but it just seems to me like selfish behavior like that, there's got to be some consequences, or, well... what's the point?" Barbas asks
The tribunal look at each other.
"Phoebe will be stripped of her powers." Crill states
"What?" Phoebe asks
"Just your active powers. Empathy, premonitions." Adair answers
"Levitation." Thrask adds
"You can earn them back, but only if you're more careful with your powers." Adair explains
"If you're all more careful." Aramis states
The tribunal vanish.
"You can't just say that and leave." Paige states
"Gideon, get them back here now." Piper states
Phoebe disagrees "No. It's okay. I mean, it might be kind of refreshing to not rely on my powers so much anymore, you know? Besides, they're not the only ones that think I've been misusing them."
"Are you sure?" Piper asks
"Yeah. Let's get out of here." Phoebe answers
They orb out.
Hermione ran to Alexis, and hugged her. "What happened?" she must have been with the others and remembered everything. Because Cedric's house had so many protection spells both from Alexis and Cedric, it was surprising no one could get in.
"Long story short. Darryl is safe. Phoebe lost her active powers." Alexis replies, "I have to stay here."