Disclaimer: The Sixth Sense is owned by M. Night Shyamalan, Hollywood Pictures, and Spyglass Entertainment. Kung Fu: The Legend Continues is owned by Michael Sloan, Ed Spielman, and Warner Brpothers.
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9:35pm
South Philadelphia
Cole Sear had just returned home from a trip. His new friend, Malcolm Crowe, had assisted him in his 'gift'. Cole could see ghosts.. dead people who walk the earth, unseen by others. They, the Wanderers (as Crowe called them), remained in our world because there was unfinished business in their life. Whether they were abandoned, hurt, afflicted with disease, abused, or whatever. They all had one thing in common, though: they had all died in an accident or were murdered. Before, Cole was always afraid of them, fearful that they wish him harm. Dr. Crowe, the child psychologist, explained in the church that they just want help..and maybe if Cole helped them, they would leave. So far, it was working. He helped a girl named
Kyra Collins, who died of a 'bed-ridden sickness' deliberately caused
by the mother. He had given the father a videotape to the father, revealing the truth. The girl was then able to leave in peace. When Cole got back, Malcolm went home to his wife.
The boy was in his room now, wearing Spiderman pj's, sitting under the red-blanket tent. He held a flashlight while reading a comic book.
Suddenly, the room got cold. He shivered at the change in temperature, breathing out cold air, the vapor was visible..uh-oh. 'Someone' was here. He slowly opened the curtain of the tent, shaking in fear.
No one was there.
He ran out and turned around, when he saw it.
Or rather, *her*. A young Chinese woman, wearing clothes similar to the 1940's era. She had a bleeding wound across her chest, possibly made by a blade.
Cole approached her, trying not to show fear. "Excuse me. Is there
something..you want to tell me? I'm Cole."
The woman spoke, holding her wounded chest. "I am Su Ling. I was
murdered..my child taken by my killers, Red Guard officers. I know who my murderer's *really* were. They were 'Tigers', part of an ancient sect. A cult based on causing destruction and suffering, hurting people different than them. Communist bastards!!"
Afraid, he stepped back. "Please, don't hurt me. I'm American."
She shook her head. "No, do not fear me. My husband taught me the
value of life..peace and tranquility is our path. We must honor life. 'There is always another way', he always said."
"Your husband?"
"Yes..Matthew Caine. He was a priest."
Cole walked up to her. "I think I can help. Maybe you need to find your lost love. Do you blame him for your death?"
"No, though I feel his emotions when he has thoughts of me. He always thinks of me with great sorrow and turmoil. But he couldn't have saved me, he was in France during the Second World War. I don't hold him resposible, even though he carries the guilt."
"Maybe you need to reassure him, Malcolm can find out where he lives-"
"Sorry, I don't think it's possible now."
"Why not?"
"After years of wandering, listening to people's conversations..my Matthew died in the Himalaya Mountains, sometime during the 1950's."
"What about his family? Maybe we should talk to them. Did he have any kids?"
"I recall...yes! My son Damon was stolen and raised by these assassins. I wouldn't advise talking to him. But Matt had an older son. Kwai Chang. If he's still alive, he's about 50 and a priest like his father. He may have a son also."
"Where would this 'Kwai Chang' be?"
"Perhaps at a Shaolin temple."
"Okay. Well, I can talk to Malcolm tomorrow. We'll try to help you."
She smiled. "Thank you.." Then she disappeared.
---The next day---
1:49pm
St. Anthony's Academy
Cole sat at his desk, waiting for the time to go by. He looked at the clock. 1:53. Darn, time always seemed to go by slowest when you wait for it.
The teacher, Stanley Cunningham, was standing near the blackboard. He was speaking about war history, China, and World War II. "So, Mao Zedong came to power in those days, forming the People's Republic of China in 1949. His agents, secret police known as the Red Guard fought to keep countrol of their country."
Cole raised his hand. "Uh..Mr. Cunningham?"
He pointed at the student. "Yes, Cole? You have a question?"
Cole put his hand down and asked, "The Red Guard, were they like Nazis? Because that sounds like what secret police are like."
"Yes, that's correct. Like the KGB. It was worse then, Communism was taking hold of the world. It wasn't a safe country to be in, almost as bad as the Soviet Uniuon, which we now call Russia."
"I heard they stormed and raided villages, looking for illegal kids. Wasn't there a law about having a number of babies?"
"Yes. Only one or two. This was to control overpopulation. The Great Wall kept the occupants tightly packed in there, no ream to leave."
"I also heard that they don't like religion. They tried to destroy some temples."
"Right! The Communists are atheists. They don't beleieve in religious issues. They didn't just persecute Christians, other religious followers were killed as well."
"Yeah, but some temples survived, right? Their momks--who were butt-kicking kung fu masters--fled to safety, but not before many were executed."
"Yes." Stanley stared at him with interest. How did he know so much? A boy his age didn't know as much in-depth detail as this. "How did you know all this, Cole? The library?"
"No, uh..my grandma used to tell stories."
"Oh."
"Did anybody in China talk of these Commies, of them being in some old sect?"
"Sect?"
"Yeah. Like a cult. Someone told me they were Tigers. Maybe not a religious cult, but it could be about fighting. A karate cult or something."
"Huh..no." He shook his head. "No, Cole, there's nothing like that. Who told you this story?"
"No one, just someone I met."
"Oh..oh, okay."
Some of the students began to stare, Tommy in particular. The kid whispered, "Karate cult? What have you been smoking, Freak?"
Cole whispered back, "Nothing. Just a friend, that's all."
"Uh-huh..SURE."
Cole didn't like ridicule, especially when no one believed him. They usually thought he was weird when he got like this. "Stop looking at me."
Tommy laughed, "Fine, kid. Try not to cry." He turned back, facing the front.
Then the bell rang. Everyone grabbed their stuff and left the room.
Cole was last. As he got up, he saw Su Ling near his desk. He also noticed that the air wasn't cold now, which was a good sign. That meant she wasn't mad. "Oh, you're back."
She nodded. "Yes. Did you learn anything?"
He looked around, to see if it was safe to talk. It was; the other students left already and the teacher was preoccupied with erasing the blackboard. "Not yet, I think I'll meet Malcolm in the park. We talked about Communists in class today. I tried to ask about this Tiger-cult, but they don't know anything. Nobody does."
"Very few do. It's very secret. I'd be careful if I were you, they don't like being advertised, and they usually kill anyone who exposes them."
"Don't worry. No one believed it. I just said it was a tall tale or something."
"Good. You're safe, then. What will you do now?"
"I'm supposed to have another appointment with Dr. Crowe. He's a good doctor, he works with kids. He can help us. I'm going to ask him about the Caine family. Don't worry, he can't see you."
"Very well. I will stay at your side."
Cole got his stuff together, then they walked out of the room.
4:30pm
Hershey Park
Cole was in the park, with Su Ling about several feet behind. After walking around for a bit, they found Malcolm, who was sitting on a bench.
The psychologist looked up from his notes. "Hi, Cole. How are you?"
The boy replied, "Okay, I guess. I've been thinking about what you said to me before, in the church.You said the ghosts knew I was ONE of the few people that can see them."
"Yes?"
"Well..I'm curious. Are there others?"
"Yes, it's possible. Maybe a few handgfuls out in the world."
"Did you ever meet one, besides me?"
Malcolm leaned back, trying to remember. "Well..besides Vincent Gray? No, but I believe I met one of their kids. This was when I was just starting out..I'd say nearly seventeem years ago. I counseled a young boy at this orphanage, in a small town called Braniff. This boy..
Peter. He lost his mother at a young age and his father died in an explosion. His father was some kind of priest..mystical, very mysterious..what did they call it? Ah! Shaolin. They wear orange robes, shave their heads, meditate a lot. They live in these Oriental temples. He and Peter lived there, before it was destroyed by some crazy kung fu priest named Dao."
Cole was listening attentively. "So, what happened to Peter?"
"I heard he was adopted by a police captain, Paul Blaisdell. I don't know what happened after, I lost track. Anyway, Peter claimed that his father couldsee things, know things..kind of like you can. He had visions, premonitions, that kind of thing. I didn't really believe in that mystical stuff, until I met you. But even so, these people are unusual. They can probably see ghosts also..maybe their descendants have it, too. I think they either learn it or it's part of their nature. Or maybe they inherit the trait, I can't say for sure. Shamans, priests, mystics. I guess if his father had lived, Peter would have the gift also."
"Well, that's a great story. Oh..I saw someone last night."
"Who? A ghost?"
"Su Ling. Yes. She was killed about fifty years ago, during the war. Her son was stolen, then they killed her. Ling's husband Matthew was away in France at the time."
Malcolm paused. "So, what does she think of her husband?"
"She doesn't blame him, but he still feels sorrowful, he's very grievous and regretful about her death. But she heard he had a son."
"She did?"
"Yes. Kwai Chang."
The doctor raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. "What? You mean..Kwai Chang Caine?"
"Yeah, a priest lke Matthew."
"Cole, I don't believe it. It's such an interesting coincidence!"
"What is?"
"That's Peter's father."
Cole stared with amazement. "Wow. Do you know where Peter is now?"
"I think so. I heard his name in the news several times. He stopped a robbery at a nightclub. He's a police detective in Metro, near Chinatown. I think he works out of the 101st Precinct." He nodded, remembering the details. "Yes, that's it. Blaisdell retired, spo they have a new captain..Karen Simms. From what I heard, Peter is a real hot-shot cop. A bit of a media hero."
"Great. I think we can help Miss Ling. We should go to Chinatown to find Peter. And tell him there is no need for regret, so that she can move on."
"That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Let's go get a bus ticket..."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:35pm
South Philadelphia
Cole Sear had just returned home from a trip. His new friend, Malcolm Crowe, had assisted him in his 'gift'. Cole could see ghosts.. dead people who walk the earth, unseen by others. They, the Wanderers (as Crowe called them), remained in our world because there was unfinished business in their life. Whether they were abandoned, hurt, afflicted with disease, abused, or whatever. They all had one thing in common, though: they had all died in an accident or were murdered. Before, Cole was always afraid of them, fearful that they wish him harm. Dr. Crowe, the child psychologist, explained in the church that they just want help..and maybe if Cole helped them, they would leave. So far, it was working. He helped a girl named
Kyra Collins, who died of a 'bed-ridden sickness' deliberately caused
by the mother. He had given the father a videotape to the father, revealing the truth. The girl was then able to leave in peace. When Cole got back, Malcolm went home to his wife.
The boy was in his room now, wearing Spiderman pj's, sitting under the red-blanket tent. He held a flashlight while reading a comic book.
Suddenly, the room got cold. He shivered at the change in temperature, breathing out cold air, the vapor was visible..uh-oh. 'Someone' was here. He slowly opened the curtain of the tent, shaking in fear.
No one was there.
He ran out and turned around, when he saw it.
Or rather, *her*. A young Chinese woman, wearing clothes similar to the 1940's era. She had a bleeding wound across her chest, possibly made by a blade.
Cole approached her, trying not to show fear. "Excuse me. Is there
something..you want to tell me? I'm Cole."
The woman spoke, holding her wounded chest. "I am Su Ling. I was
murdered..my child taken by my killers, Red Guard officers. I know who my murderer's *really* were. They were 'Tigers', part of an ancient sect. A cult based on causing destruction and suffering, hurting people different than them. Communist bastards!!"
Afraid, he stepped back. "Please, don't hurt me. I'm American."
She shook her head. "No, do not fear me. My husband taught me the
value of life..peace and tranquility is our path. We must honor life. 'There is always another way', he always said."
"Your husband?"
"Yes..Matthew Caine. He was a priest."
Cole walked up to her. "I think I can help. Maybe you need to find your lost love. Do you blame him for your death?"
"No, though I feel his emotions when he has thoughts of me. He always thinks of me with great sorrow and turmoil. But he couldn't have saved me, he was in France during the Second World War. I don't hold him resposible, even though he carries the guilt."
"Maybe you need to reassure him, Malcolm can find out where he lives-"
"Sorry, I don't think it's possible now."
"Why not?"
"After years of wandering, listening to people's conversations..my Matthew died in the Himalaya Mountains, sometime during the 1950's."
"What about his family? Maybe we should talk to them. Did he have any kids?"
"I recall...yes! My son Damon was stolen and raised by these assassins. I wouldn't advise talking to him. But Matt had an older son. Kwai Chang. If he's still alive, he's about 50 and a priest like his father. He may have a son also."
"Where would this 'Kwai Chang' be?"
"Perhaps at a Shaolin temple."
"Okay. Well, I can talk to Malcolm tomorrow. We'll try to help you."
She smiled. "Thank you.." Then she disappeared.
---The next day---
1:49pm
St. Anthony's Academy
Cole sat at his desk, waiting for the time to go by. He looked at the clock. 1:53. Darn, time always seemed to go by slowest when you wait for it.
The teacher, Stanley Cunningham, was standing near the blackboard. He was speaking about war history, China, and World War II. "So, Mao Zedong came to power in those days, forming the People's Republic of China in 1949. His agents, secret police known as the Red Guard fought to keep countrol of their country."
Cole raised his hand. "Uh..Mr. Cunningham?"
He pointed at the student. "Yes, Cole? You have a question?"
Cole put his hand down and asked, "The Red Guard, were they like Nazis? Because that sounds like what secret police are like."
"Yes, that's correct. Like the KGB. It was worse then, Communism was taking hold of the world. It wasn't a safe country to be in, almost as bad as the Soviet Uniuon, which we now call Russia."
"I heard they stormed and raided villages, looking for illegal kids. Wasn't there a law about having a number of babies?"
"Yes. Only one or two. This was to control overpopulation. The Great Wall kept the occupants tightly packed in there, no ream to leave."
"I also heard that they don't like religion. They tried to destroy some temples."
"Right! The Communists are atheists. They don't beleieve in religious issues. They didn't just persecute Christians, other religious followers were killed as well."
"Yeah, but some temples survived, right? Their momks--who were butt-kicking kung fu masters--fled to safety, but not before many were executed."
"Yes." Stanley stared at him with interest. How did he know so much? A boy his age didn't know as much in-depth detail as this. "How did you know all this, Cole? The library?"
"No, uh..my grandma used to tell stories."
"Oh."
"Did anybody in China talk of these Commies, of them being in some old sect?"
"Sect?"
"Yeah. Like a cult. Someone told me they were Tigers. Maybe not a religious cult, but it could be about fighting. A karate cult or something."
"Huh..no." He shook his head. "No, Cole, there's nothing like that. Who told you this story?"
"No one, just someone I met."
"Oh..oh, okay."
Some of the students began to stare, Tommy in particular. The kid whispered, "Karate cult? What have you been smoking, Freak?"
Cole whispered back, "Nothing. Just a friend, that's all."
"Uh-huh..SURE."
Cole didn't like ridicule, especially when no one believed him. They usually thought he was weird when he got like this. "Stop looking at me."
Tommy laughed, "Fine, kid. Try not to cry." He turned back, facing the front.
Then the bell rang. Everyone grabbed their stuff and left the room.
Cole was last. As he got up, he saw Su Ling near his desk. He also noticed that the air wasn't cold now, which was a good sign. That meant she wasn't mad. "Oh, you're back."
She nodded. "Yes. Did you learn anything?"
He looked around, to see if it was safe to talk. It was; the other students left already and the teacher was preoccupied with erasing the blackboard. "Not yet, I think I'll meet Malcolm in the park. We talked about Communists in class today. I tried to ask about this Tiger-cult, but they don't know anything. Nobody does."
"Very few do. It's very secret. I'd be careful if I were you, they don't like being advertised, and they usually kill anyone who exposes them."
"Don't worry. No one believed it. I just said it was a tall tale or something."
"Good. You're safe, then. What will you do now?"
"I'm supposed to have another appointment with Dr. Crowe. He's a good doctor, he works with kids. He can help us. I'm going to ask him about the Caine family. Don't worry, he can't see you."
"Very well. I will stay at your side."
Cole got his stuff together, then they walked out of the room.
4:30pm
Hershey Park
Cole was in the park, with Su Ling about several feet behind. After walking around for a bit, they found Malcolm, who was sitting on a bench.
The psychologist looked up from his notes. "Hi, Cole. How are you?"
The boy replied, "Okay, I guess. I've been thinking about what you said to me before, in the church.You said the ghosts knew I was ONE of the few people that can see them."
"Yes?"
"Well..I'm curious. Are there others?"
"Yes, it's possible. Maybe a few handgfuls out in the world."
"Did you ever meet one, besides me?"
Malcolm leaned back, trying to remember. "Well..besides Vincent Gray? No, but I believe I met one of their kids. This was when I was just starting out..I'd say nearly seventeem years ago. I counseled a young boy at this orphanage, in a small town called Braniff. This boy..
Peter. He lost his mother at a young age and his father died in an explosion. His father was some kind of priest..mystical, very mysterious..what did they call it? Ah! Shaolin. They wear orange robes, shave their heads, meditate a lot. They live in these Oriental temples. He and Peter lived there, before it was destroyed by some crazy kung fu priest named Dao."
Cole was listening attentively. "So, what happened to Peter?"
"I heard he was adopted by a police captain, Paul Blaisdell. I don't know what happened after, I lost track. Anyway, Peter claimed that his father couldsee things, know things..kind of like you can. He had visions, premonitions, that kind of thing. I didn't really believe in that mystical stuff, until I met you. But even so, these people are unusual. They can probably see ghosts also..maybe their descendants have it, too. I think they either learn it or it's part of their nature. Or maybe they inherit the trait, I can't say for sure. Shamans, priests, mystics. I guess if his father had lived, Peter would have the gift also."
"Well, that's a great story. Oh..I saw someone last night."
"Who? A ghost?"
"Su Ling. Yes. She was killed about fifty years ago, during the war. Her son was stolen, then they killed her. Ling's husband Matthew was away in France at the time."
Malcolm paused. "So, what does she think of her husband?"
"She doesn't blame him, but he still feels sorrowful, he's very grievous and regretful about her death. But she heard he had a son."
"She did?"
"Yes. Kwai Chang."
The doctor raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. "What? You mean..Kwai Chang Caine?"
"Yeah, a priest lke Matthew."
"Cole, I don't believe it. It's such an interesting coincidence!"
"What is?"
"That's Peter's father."
Cole stared with amazement. "Wow. Do you know where Peter is now?"
"I think so. I heard his name in the news several times. He stopped a robbery at a nightclub. He's a police detective in Metro, near Chinatown. I think he works out of the 101st Precinct." He nodded, remembering the details. "Yes, that's it. Blaisdell retired, spo they have a new captain..Karen Simms. From what I heard, Peter is a real hot-shot cop. A bit of a media hero."
"Great. I think we can help Miss Ling. We should go to Chinatown to find Peter. And tell him there is no need for regret, so that she can move on."
"That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Let's go get a bus ticket..."
