An emberassing bit of luck.

[Logan]

Well, I just got my ass royally kicked by a six year old who kicked me half way across a room when I went to lead one of the monks here out of the roomso I could ask the brat some questions.

Oddest thing, is that after getting to the ER, and getting an MRI, turns out that all of the injuries and bruising are minor and will pass, the thing I don't get is how the little brat could hit that fast, and that hard without doing any permanent harm to anything but my prosthetic, which the little bastard bent 90 degrees, right in the middle of the forearm.


Anyhow, any of you people good with kids? From what I understand the kid walked into this temple in Seatle, and started performing training excersizes that are useually limited to highly trained individuals, or whatever "students who are no longer students" means.

What I got from the monks is that the kid does not speak english, only tibetan and japanese. I hope this didn't ramble too much, the meds they gave me before the MRI are being a little slow to fade.

[Eilonwy Solstice]

Hannah’s always been good with any of the kids that dare come to our house. Despite difficulties with her own age group, Hannah’s been very popular with the younger generation.

As for the . . . advanced martial art techniques, you might want to contact Sifu Long. He can handle anything.

[Willie Long]

Well, I just got my ass royally kicked by a six year old who kicked me half way across a room...

Precocious.

Anyhow, any of you people good with kids? From what I understand the kid walked into this temple in Seatle, and started performing training exercises that are useually limited to highly trained individuals, or whatever "students who are no longer students" means.

I sometimes teach the children's class at the local temple. I would love to work with that kid. The language barrier might be a problem, though.

[Hannah]

Hi Logan,

Wie's right that I'm good with kids, but I don't know Kung Fu, Tibetan or Japanese.

Hannah

PS: I also have summer school to go to.

[Willie Long]

...I don't know Kung Fu...

That reminds me, I gotta talk to your dad about fixing that.

[Logan]

A Sifu, isn't that one of those guys in robes that teaches Kung fu? (sorry all I learned on the subject was movies) You might be just the person to clear up something the guy who takes care of the kid told me. Never understood the riddles religious people use, why can't people just shoot straight?

Anyway, the bald guy with the yellow robes at the temple, who takes care of this kid said something about "he must walk his former path if he is going to awaken to himself again" along with a bunch of nonsense sayings that made my head hurt while I listened to them.

Oh, Long, do little blue circles tatooed in a circle around the head mean anything? I know that organized crime in the far east has a language in their tatoos, do the monks have something similar?

[KonThaak]

I'm not good enough with Japanese to be much help directly, but I am usually good with kids... I do speak *some* Japanese, but whether or not it's good enough is highly in question.

It sounds to me like the monk in question believes the kid to be a former martial arts master from a previous life, who is re-awakening to his abilities. That's what I gather from "walk his former path to awaken to himself again"...

[Willie Long]

Basically, what KT said.

A Sifu, isn't that one of those guys in robes that teaches Kung fu?

That's a workable definition.

It means "master" but it's written as "teacher-father", and Chinese sometime use it as "veteran tutor" or "experienced elder".

Anyway, the bald guy with the yellow robes at the temple, who takes care of this kid said something about "he must walk his former path if he is going to awaken to himself again" along with a bunch of nonsense sayings that made my head hurt while I listened to them.

Sounds like he thinks the kid is an immortal. See, one of their religious beliefs is reincarnation. For regular people, that means their spirit gets recycled. Not all of it comes back at the same time, to the same person. One baby might get your martial arts talents, another might get your karaoke urges. That's why each incarnation of the Dali Lama have different personalities.

OTOH, an immortal that chooses to come back returns spirit intact. Of course, they're a little rusty at first since they've been gone for a while.

Oh, Long, do little blue circles tatooed in a circle around the head mean anything? I know that organized crime in the far east has a language in their tatoos, do the monks have something similar?

Some do. I'm not very familiar with Tibetan monks.

[Logan]

Thanks for the intel, the monks showed up at the hospital and picked up the tab, as well as apologizing for the brat. According to the nurse the one with the ywllow robes and the tatoos sat in the waiting room and mumbled gibberish to humself until the hospital staff decided I was stable enough to have guests.

I hope to be able to get back to the kid soon, but I have to go to ground for a bit again, hospitals leave records, and I am surprised I haven't gotten a visit yet.

[Ethan Skinner]

Good luck man.

[Logan]

Anyone got a good place for a couple of people to get themselves "dissapeared"? This kid seems to be an "article of interest" for several nasties that we have had our eyes on for several years, including a Mr Xiahou "long" Yixian.

Anyway, I will be picking up the kid in about 3 weeks, hopefully I'll be able to get the kid deep enough to ground that he will drop off of Yixian's radar.

[Shadowstalker]

I may have a place, or two. If I can be of help let me know.

[Eilonwy Solstice]

There was also “D.E.U.S.,” if they are still around. They had safe houses somewhere, and I believe Susan even stayed at one? Maybe she can give them a good word . . .? I don’t know; I’ve never tried their services.

[Ethan Skinner]

Deus were the ones to give Clarity a new home, too.

[concrete_Angel]

Actually, Ei, they were the ones that helped me give James a real funeral after Halloween. They're not too bad, kind of a halfway house/United Way kind of vibe with vampire awareness pamphlets.

[Shang Li]

Appologies I offer. Final I hoped last one was. Frustrating this is. Know better I did, how know, not sure, but to remember words in language difficult.

Tea with friends soon? Not sure how I know friends, but see enemies here still too.

Sifu Long, Master Chen Lung Wei, helping I understand what happen to mind and body?

[GhostSpider]

Confused still am I.

[KonThaak]

Ron, I hope this doesn't mean you're leaving...

[Shadowstalker]

You have got to be kidding.

[Ron Caliburn]

Agreed Shadow.

[Shang Li]

I am not sure I understand. Does my presence discomfort you? Have I offended someone in some way? If so I do offer my apologies. I will depart as soon as I understand what is happening to me, how can I remember being an old man, when I am young?

[KonThaak]

It was kind of a joke, Li-sensei... Celeste Darken's and Gabriel's accounts have recently become active, and noone can figure out why. Ron made the joke that if someone started posting as Shang Li, he would leave. It's a matter of having a western sense of humor. I'm sure no offense was intended; put it down to us having a different mindset, Li-sensei.

I--and, I'm certain, others here--are quite anxious to hear your story, as to how you survived...

[Shang Li]

Survived? Why would it be necessary that I survived? And what did I survive? How is it that I knew, when someone set their hand on my shoulder a quick twist of their wrist would topple them? I had never seen such before. I am sorry if I am confusing any of you, it is a bit confusing to me as well.

[Chen Lung]

It was not necessary that you survived. In fact, you most likely died; however, as you had become enlightened to the nature of life (death), you were aware of how to return to life once again. The vow of the bodhisattva, in the Buddhist belief, says that you will continue to return until the last blade of grass has achieved nirvana. If you have become a bodhisattva then you are here to continue your teachings.

The Tao allows for the properly enlightened to return to life as well. This is the first refined elixir of life -- the path to enlightened immortality. I congratulate you on this achievement and I stand ready to be of aid in any way, Jiaoshi Shang. *bows head slightly*

[Hannah]

Hi Shang!!!

I'm so glad your back, I missed our talks.

Well we didn't really talk, we just messaged back and forth, but it was still communication.

Anyway, if you're going to be at the BBQ I'll come and give you a big hug.

Hannah

PS: I bet your so cute as a young guy.

[Shang Li]

You honor me too much, Miss Caliburn. I am both pleased and impressed with your devolopment. You appear to be growing into a fine young lady.

As much as others here may disagree, I believe your time on the compound from which you were rescued did you well. you have a courage that many brave soldiers would be hard pressed to match, an acceptance that something does not need to be seen or measured to exist, the conviction that one must live life doing right, the strength of will to carry out your convictions, and a resiliance to emotional trauma that would cripple most men for life. Since your departure from that place you gave grown, but unlike many, you did not castaway these things that came from difficult times in your past, you have nurtured and increased these attributes. Were things as they once were, you would doubtless have been a preistess, your strength and compassion guiding the fates of many.

[Greydawn]

It is good to hear from you again Mr. Li.

[Hannah]

Hi Shang,

I don't think I did as well as you think. I have hardly any friends, I'm unable to dress normally (I'm still having problems getting used to pants) and I randomly collapse and foam at the mouth.

Then theres that whole fragment of my imagination that used to walk around trying to kill people.

Hannah

PS: You were always really good at making me blush, though. Thanks.

[KonThaak]

I...must be really slow. o_o; I only now got that Logan was talking about Li-sensei at the beginning of this thread...

[Shadowstalker]

No worries Josh, you have a great deal on your mind right now.