"No powers." The Source growled. "He was vanquished before any of them could use their powers against him. This is intolerable!"

"Please, rethink this!" The Seer implored. "My vision has changed, it no longer shows just your demise, it shows the demise of all of us. No life, anywhere!"

The Source ignored her. "If they're so well protected in their home that I can't reach them there, I will just have to go after them elsewhere." He decided.

"You risk attracting the Cleaners if you do." She protested. "They're empowered by both sides to keep Magic hidden from the world at large."

"Stop questioning me!" He hissed at her. "The Charmed Ones have vanquished every demon that's gone after them. I know only a minimum amount about their allies, just that they have power and they have vanquished every demon that's attacked them as well! Your visions show nothing useful about them. Leave me, I must plan."

"Yes, Sire." The Seer left quickly thinking over what she hadn't told him, the strengths and weaknesses of the allies of the Charmed Ones. Or that Balthazar's human form still lived. Clearly the current Source's mind had broken and a new Source was needed. The Seer began making her own plans.

"I found him!" Phoebe pointed at a picture in the Book of Shadows. "This is the guy that attacked us." The others gathered around. "Guardians of the Hollow?!" Leo and Cole exclaimed simultaneously.

"That can't be right." Leo stared at the picture.

"I recognize him too." Cole said grimly. "He's the guy that attacked us alright, but I would have thought it was impossible too."

"What's the Hollow?" Prue asked. "And why are these two guarding it?"

"It's one of those things that upsets the balance." Leo explained. "No one knows who created it, but we do know what it does."

"It absorbs powers when used against it." Cole finished. "Neither side could destroy it and finally both sides worked together to imprison it. Each side assigned a Guardian to it. It's been undisturbed for thousands of years and reduced to a story that most demons don't even believe in."

"I doubt most people on our side have even heard of it, story or otherwise." Leo said grimly. "The Elders tell whitelighters about it, but not where it's hidden."

"So did he get tired of guarding it?" Piper asked.

"Or did the Source find out where it is?" Cordelia asked.

"There's no mention of a vanquish here." Phoebe said.

"It can't be vanquished." Leo informed them. "Only imprisoned. The last time it was unleashed it nearly decimated all Magic, all life."

Back in the Source's cave he summoned a darklighter, who knelt before him. "My liege, how may I serve you?"

"I need you to attack the Charmed Ones."

"But my arrows don't kill witches."

"But they do kill whitelighters. I want you to attack them, injure them and kill their whitelighter." The Source held the box in front of the darklighter and opened it, the Hollow rushed out to possess him. "Go." The Source ordered.

The Seer watched in disbelief, how to stop this Insanity?

"So if this thing absorbs powers," Xander said. "than we don't use powers against anyone that attacks until we're sure it's gone."

"We can use potions to replicate powers." Prue decided. "Let's get to work on mixing up some industrial size batches."

"Guns work on some demons." Xander pointed out. "Cole proved that very effectively just a couple of hours ago and they're definitely not a power this thing could absorb. I know you girls, aside from Cordy, are leery of using guns, but none of us guys are. So we stay armed at all times and don't hesitate to use them if attacked. It's a second means of defense."

"None of it will work outside the Sanctuary Ward." Andy pointed out. "But by now word on it's out, which means there's a good chance you guys could be attacked in public."

"That would mean the Cleaners would be called in to erase the knowledge from the public." Leo reminded them. "But if the Source is desperate enough to go after the Hollow, than he's desperate enough to attack in public."

"The Source vanquishing spell requires at least three of us to use." Phoebe said. "But it would pack more wallop if all four of us recite it. I suggest we stick together until this is resolved. We may not get a second chance at vanquishing the Source."

"I agree." Prue nodded and the others also quickly agreed

"We need to get your parents out the line of fire." Xander told Cordelia. "Orb them to Buffy, the Hellmouth is no place for your mother right now and Buffy wouldn't lose her powers of the Source some how knows about her."

"Good idea. I'll do that now." Cordelia hurried over to her parent's place and for once didn't get an argument from them about wanting to help. No way were they taking a risk with the baby! It took less than an hour to get them packed, orbed and to explain to a startled Buffy what was going on.

"I'll keep them safe." She swore. "Good luck."

"Thanks, if this thing is as bad as Leo and Cole think it is, it means we've got our very own apocalypse to deal with." Cordelia said grimly, before orbing back to stand with her family against the insanity the Source had unleashed.