7:13pm
ABRAM'S DOCKYARD
Xia stood inside the living room area in her yacht. She wore a black robe, her hair hung loose.
Two lit incense candles were placed on the counter in front of her. They flickered in the darkness.
She held her most recent photo of Tan, which had been taken a couple
years before his death. He was wearing his business suit with dark sunglasses. She thought out loud, "Now, the Calling ritual must begin.." She then began humming a Buddhist mantra for several minutes. "I invoke the power of Wu, the Sorceress of Eternal Night: guide me now, as I call on your dark wisdom...is my father an earthbound spirit?"
A gust of wind blew through the windows, blowing her papers off. The candle flames danced violently in the wind.
"Yes..yes, he is here. I can sense him, I know now that he is trapped on this earthly plane. I feel his energy..faint, but I can feel it. Now, for the Contact. Espiritu, En Dominei!! Spirits of the dead, ghosts of the line of Tan..I call on my father..Dao Tan!! Hear me! Answer!!" She closed her eyes and spoke no more. Instead, she focused her chi towards her father. [..Father..I summon thee..hear me now. Answer my call.]
7:25pm
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA
STANLEY'S HOME
Mr. Cunningham was in his bedroom, lying down. The ghost within him was using this time to rest. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he quickly sat up. "What's this? I'm being summoned?!" He faintly heard a female voice in his mind..his daughter's. "Ah, Xia is attempting to contact me. She's done well in her art." He closed his eyes and concentrated for about five minutes. Then, the voice became clearer, more distinct.
[Father, do you hear me? Reply..please, I beseech you..]
Tan--in the teacher's body--used his mind to communicate with her. [Yes, Xia. I am here..]
[Father, you're an earthbound soul.]
[Yes, I figured that out. I died in combat, so I was pulled back to this realm.]
[You're in Pennsylvania?]
[Yes..South Philadelphia.]
[When did you awaken from your eternal rest?]
[Several weeks ago. I had strolled into a church, where I encountered a little boy. He could see me.]
[He *could*?]
[Yes..I assume he is one of those certain people..mystics, shamans, priests..like Caine!]
[I curse that priest.]
[Have you fought him yet?]
[Of course, but I lost..however, I gained a small victory over his son..]
[Peter, the cop? What did you do?]
[I sued him for police harassment, and charged him with rape. It took him a while to clear his name.]
Tan laughed. [Very good! Success in battle need not always be physical.]
Xia changed the subject. [So, who is this boy?]
[His name is Cole. He drew a picture that shows exactly what happened when I destroyed the Shaolin temple!]
[What?! How could he know?]
[He didn't. I think he had a vision..like Caine, again. He even *dresses* like the priest!!]
[Really, how so?]
[Carries a knapsack over his shoulder, walking confidently..]
Xia got to the point. [Look, I took a few days off. I decided to come to you. Then, with our combined strength, we can find a way to destroy Caine--AND his youthful twin!]
[Yes, I'd like that. Call Jack..I want him to accompany you.]
[Why?]
[I need him as a witness, so he can see our enemies destroyed. And because he has..'connections'. First, we punish Cole. Then, after Kwai Chang Caine and his son die, we will set up a base of operations in this city.]
[Why not Chinatown?]
[Because Bon Bon Hai rules it. And it's protected by other Shaolin priests besides Caine. This town is unguarded, naive. It will be easy to secure an advantage. Then, maybe later, we can be in a position to reclaim Chinatown...but *not now*.]
[Okay. I agree, father. I'll take a plane there tonight. I'll be seeing you.]
[Yes, Xia..I'll look forward to it.] Then, he broke his concetration as he quickly opened his eyes, the psychic link disconnected.
7:38pm
XIA'S YACHT
The incense blew out, immediately extinguished as the ritual was completed.
Xia took the picture and placed it back into the picture frame. She sat down at her desk and switched her computer on. "Okay," she said to herself, "I'll just order the ticket online. You'll have your revenge, father. Caine will pay with his life..*this* I swear."
ABRAM'S DOCKYARD
Xia stood inside the living room area in her yacht. She wore a black robe, her hair hung loose.
Two lit incense candles were placed on the counter in front of her. They flickered in the darkness.
She held her most recent photo of Tan, which had been taken a couple
years before his death. He was wearing his business suit with dark sunglasses. She thought out loud, "Now, the Calling ritual must begin.." She then began humming a Buddhist mantra for several minutes. "I invoke the power of Wu, the Sorceress of Eternal Night: guide me now, as I call on your dark wisdom...is my father an earthbound spirit?"
A gust of wind blew through the windows, blowing her papers off. The candle flames danced violently in the wind.
"Yes..yes, he is here. I can sense him, I know now that he is trapped on this earthly plane. I feel his energy..faint, but I can feel it. Now, for the Contact. Espiritu, En Dominei!! Spirits of the dead, ghosts of the line of Tan..I call on my father..Dao Tan!! Hear me! Answer!!" She closed her eyes and spoke no more. Instead, she focused her chi towards her father. [..Father..I summon thee..hear me now. Answer my call.]
7:25pm
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA
STANLEY'S HOME
Mr. Cunningham was in his bedroom, lying down. The ghost within him was using this time to rest. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he quickly sat up. "What's this? I'm being summoned?!" He faintly heard a female voice in his mind..his daughter's. "Ah, Xia is attempting to contact me. She's done well in her art." He closed his eyes and concentrated for about five minutes. Then, the voice became clearer, more distinct.
[Father, do you hear me? Reply..please, I beseech you..]
Tan--in the teacher's body--used his mind to communicate with her. [Yes, Xia. I am here..]
[Father, you're an earthbound soul.]
[Yes, I figured that out. I died in combat, so I was pulled back to this realm.]
[You're in Pennsylvania?]
[Yes..South Philadelphia.]
[When did you awaken from your eternal rest?]
[Several weeks ago. I had strolled into a church, where I encountered a little boy. He could see me.]
[He *could*?]
[Yes..I assume he is one of those certain people..mystics, shamans, priests..like Caine!]
[I curse that priest.]
[Have you fought him yet?]
[Of course, but I lost..however, I gained a small victory over his son..]
[Peter, the cop? What did you do?]
[I sued him for police harassment, and charged him with rape. It took him a while to clear his name.]
Tan laughed. [Very good! Success in battle need not always be physical.]
Xia changed the subject. [So, who is this boy?]
[His name is Cole. He drew a picture that shows exactly what happened when I destroyed the Shaolin temple!]
[What?! How could he know?]
[He didn't. I think he had a vision..like Caine, again. He even *dresses* like the priest!!]
[Really, how so?]
[Carries a knapsack over his shoulder, walking confidently..]
Xia got to the point. [Look, I took a few days off. I decided to come to you. Then, with our combined strength, we can find a way to destroy Caine--AND his youthful twin!]
[Yes, I'd like that. Call Jack..I want him to accompany you.]
[Why?]
[I need him as a witness, so he can see our enemies destroyed. And because he has..'connections'. First, we punish Cole. Then, after Kwai Chang Caine and his son die, we will set up a base of operations in this city.]
[Why not Chinatown?]
[Because Bon Bon Hai rules it. And it's protected by other Shaolin priests besides Caine. This town is unguarded, naive. It will be easy to secure an advantage. Then, maybe later, we can be in a position to reclaim Chinatown...but *not now*.]
[Okay. I agree, father. I'll take a plane there tonight. I'll be seeing you.]
[Yes, Xia..I'll look forward to it.] Then, he broke his concetration as he quickly opened his eyes, the psychic link disconnected.
7:38pm
XIA'S YACHT
The incense blew out, immediately extinguished as the ritual was completed.
Xia took the picture and placed it back into the picture frame. She sat down at her desk and switched her computer on. "Okay," she said to herself, "I'll just order the ticket online. You'll have your revenge, father. Caine will pay with his life..*this* I swear."