Part 3 Scene 6
Lo Si finished watering and talking to the plants on the balcony. Despite Peter's fears, the plants were no worse for wear while in the young Shaolin's care.
He used his time alone to think about his upcoming confession to Peter. He had previously committed himself to revealing the truth, at least as much of the truth as Peter needed to know, about the past.
The elderly man sat the watering can on the workbench and entered the meditation room. Lighting the candles, he settled himself gingerly on the floor. Closing his eyes, he allowed his mind to empty. Before he could complete the process, he heard the sound of footsteps entering the apartment. "Mr. Si?" a nervous but familiar voice said from behind.
Lo Si opened one eye and turned his head toward the sound. "Ah, hello."
Donny Double D entered the room, hands clasped in front of him as if he were entering a church. "I'm lookin' for Pete. Is he here?"
Lo Si climbed back to his feet. Donny watched the elderly man's struggle for balance and reached out a hand offering help. It was ignored. "No, he is not. He had to go to the precinct."
"The precinct? I thought that he had terminated his association with the law enforcement community."
Lo Si listened to the confusing words. "Yes. But they have asked for his assistance."
Donny's eyes grew wide with worry. "But I am in need. . .that is, uh, I seem to find myself in a bit of a situation here, in which his assistance would be highly beneficial to my person."
Lo Si placed a comforting hand on the scared man's shoulder. "Ah. . .you need help. May I be of service?"
"No. . ." Donny answered quickly.
The Ancient grinned. "I am old. . .but I am. . .spunky."
"Thank you for your most kind and generous offer, but I really need to find Pete. I'm in. . ."
"You are in trouble," Lo Si completed.
Donny looked into the elderly eyes with shock. "How did you. . .?"
"I am also quite wise" was the answer. "I can help you."
"No. . .I have to go."
"You should not. You should stay here," Lo Si said factually. "It is not safe for you to leave this place."
Donny took a step back. "I can't stay here. I have to find Pete." He turned and headed back to the hallway. The ancient man followed.
"I will walk you out." Lo Si could feel the electricity in the air indicating danger was waiting for the young man.
Several sets of footsteps approached from the stairway. Donny's eyes lit up with worry, "That doesn't sound like Pete."
"It is not," Lo Si answered. He grabbed Donny by the arm and pushed him toward the balcony. "You must leave through here."
Once on the balcony, the Ancient pointed to the fire escape stairs that ran down the back of the building.
The sounds from the hall grew louder. "You have to come with me." Donny grabbed the old man by the arm and pulled.
"No. I will be safe. You must go."
Donny looked as if he was going to argue, but then fear took over. He ran down the metal stairs. Guilt gnawed at his stomach for having left the old man behind.
When he was still twenty feet from the bottom of the stairs, he saw a familiar blue Stealth pull up to the building. The sight of the car allowed Donny to breathe a sigh of relief.
Peter Caine looked at the scurry of activity on the staircase. Climbing from the car he immediately recognized Donny. "I've been looking all over for you," he shouted.
Donny ignored the comment as he made his way down the last of the steps. "Pete! They're gonna kill me!" he screamed. Peter looked up and saw three masked men in dark clothing staring back down at him from his father's balcony. Then two small objects fell from the sky and landed below the stairs, each rolling to within a few feet of Donny's location.
Peter recognized the objects instantly. Screaming at the top of his lungs, he threw himself at Donny and pushed the terrified man away. "GRENADE!"
Dual explosions roared around them and the force of their energy leveled both men. The rusted metal stairs couldn't handle the stress and were torn away from their mounting on the building. The first flight collapsed to the ground on top of the two men.
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Part 3 Scene 7
"Father!" Peter cried out, the heat of the fire searing his skin, the pain of abandonment searing his heart. He watched in agony as the parent he cherished turned his back and walked away.
"Don't leave me, Father!" Peter cried out again.
He tried to take air into his oxygen-deprived lungs, but the weight of the pillar across his body prevented success. He was going to die. He closed his eyes and allowed darkness to overtake him. "I will help you, Peter." The familiar voice penetrated the black. The weight was lifted from atop his body. Hands grabbed under his arms and started to pull. Peter forced his eyes open and found himself looking into the elderly eyes of Ping Hi. But something was not right. It was Ping Hi. . .but it wasn't. . .but it was. Peter blinked again, forcing his eyes to focus, pushing the blurred vision away. He wasn't in the temple. He was outdoors, in an alley. Then it all rushed back to him: Donny coming down the stairs, the men on the balcony, the grenades and subsequent explosions.
The young Shaolin looked into the soft brown eyes again. "Lo Si?"
"Let me help you, young Peter," the man whispered as he tugged at Peter's arms.
Peter felt a lump in his throat grow as he looked into the eyes of his rescuer. "Ping Hi?" he whispered, his voice a mix of astonishment and fear.
The old man said nothing. He finally cleared enough of the debris from Peter's chest to allow the young man to sit upright. "You are all right. But I am afraid your friend is not." Lo Si stood and moved to Donny's motionless body.
"Ping Hi?" Peter repeated, the fear in his voice now replaced with a hint of anger.
"Peter!" Lo Si said again, his voice sharp. "Help me with your friend or he will die!"
Peter shook his head, redirecting his attention to the elderly man's words. He looked at the form next to him and saw blood streaming down one side of Donny's face.
He pushed himself to his feet and felt a twinge of pain in his chest, knowing immediately that he had bruised a rib. Disregarding the pain and using all of his strength, he lifted the metal grating from its position on top of his friend, freeing the man. Lo Si knelt next to the unmoving form and placed a hand on Donny's chest. "He is breathing, but he is hurt. We must take him from here to a place where he will be safe."
"Where?" Peter's voice was oddly cold and harsh.
"I can treat him at my home. There we can take steps to protect him from those who would harm him."
"Fine," Peter answered curtly. Sounds of sirens approaching in the distance caused him to hurry. He lifted Donny from the ground and brought him over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. Voices could be heard from the alley entrance.
"We must leave." Lo Si pushed Peter in the opposite direction and then into a doorway of the adjacent building.
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Part 3 Scene 8
Mary Margaret and Jody climbed from the unmarked police sedan. The uniformed officer approached them, knowing they would want a detailed report. "An unknown explosion appears to have caused the stairs to collapse," the young man said, pointing to the pile of rubble on the ground.
Both women were overwhelmed with sinking feelings. "Anyone hurt?" Mary Margaret voiced first.
"No one here. There is fresh blood on the ground, but no body. Who ever was hurt apparently walked away."
Jody took a step toward the fallen metal staircase. "What caused the explosion?"
"Not sure. Witnesses heard two explosions."
"Did they see anything?"
"Yeah. One man said he saw three men in dark clothing leaving from the front of the building. They took off in a black van. No one was able to get the license number."
"Descriptions?" Skalany pressed.
"Nope. They wore masks."
The women nodded. Jody turned to her partner. "Do you think Peter was involved?"
"Any doubts?" the dark-haired woman answered.
"Let's go up." Jody pointed to the balcony.
Turning, the women left the alley and made their way to the building. Upon entering Kwai Chang Caine's apartment they found no indication of what had occurred. All was in order. Of course, they also found no sign of Peter.
"Where do you think he is?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I don't have a clue."
"Doesn't the Captain have Peter looking for Donny?" She was silent for a moment. "You think this is related?"
"With Peter, it's hard to tell. Could be Sing Wah assassins for all we know," Jody pointed out.
"No. . .not with bombs. I think this is something else entirely."
"Something to do with Donny?"
Mary Margaret nodded. "I bet if we find Peter, we find Donny. . .and we find out what really happened here."
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Part 3 Scene 9
Lo Si drew the blanket over Donny's chest. The injured man had not yet regained consciousness. After a cursory examination, the Ancient concluded that there were no internal injuries.
Eyes were drilling a hole into his back. . .Peter's eyes. The young Shaolin had said nothing since leaving the alley. Once in Lo Si's quarters he had taken up position in the corner, leaning against the wall, arms crossed in front of him, silent. This worried Lo Si, although he would never reveal his concerns to the younger man.
The elderly man rose from Donny's side and shuffled his way over to the buffet, where tea leaves were steeping in hot water. He felt Peter's eyes follow him, but he did not acknowledge the action. Finally the younger man spoke. "Why?" was the only word, whispered and strained.
"Why?" Lo Si repeated. "It will help to heal your friend."
"Damn it, don't play games with me Lo Si; or should I call you Ping Hi?" The man growled the words.
"The name no longer matters. And I do not play games, Peter. . .not with life and death," Lo Si whispered.
"Like hell you don't." The anger had a life of its own.
Keeping his back to the younger man, Lo Si continued his work. "You are wrong, my friend."
"Don't call me that. Friends don't lie to each other. . .hurt each other like you hurt me. How could you?"
Lo Si took a deep breath, but said nothing.
Peter pushed himself away from the wall and grabbed the older man's arm, spinning him around roughly. "How could you?" Peter repeated the words, his voice louder.
Lo Si did not fight the rough treatment, choosing instead to allow his calm brown eyes to confront the fire of the hazel ones facing him. "There is much that you do not understand."
Peter couldn't help the cold laugh that came to his lips. "So enlighten me with your wisdom," he spat.
He released his grip and turned his back on the man. Lo Si circled Peter to stand before him again. "In life there are choices which must be made, choices between life and death. . .choices between the future and the past. . .choices between hope and despair."
Peter spun violently away from the old man, walking away. "Don't talk in riddles! I deserve better than that. You owe me more than that."
Lo Si nodded. "Yes, I do."
Peter, taken aback by the man's admission, was speechless. Lo Si turned back to the table and finished preparing the tea. "If you are willing to listen, I am willing to tell you what you now need to know."
The anger within Peter rose. Lo Si's choice of words was carefully selected, clearly designed to manipulate the emotions of the young priest. "Nice try. You can go to hell."
The ancient eyes showed despair. The elderly man's heart was wounded. "Peter, please."
Peter faced the man once again. "Just answer one thing for me."
"Why?"
"I know 'why'. I want to know 'how'. How could you stand there next to me, when my heart was breaking over my father's grave and allow the charade to continue?"
Lo Si said nothing. His silence only caused the rage to grow. Peter continued, "How could you do that to my father? How could you leave me after having created such a mess of my life? How could you freely choose to manipulate me as you have?"
Lo Si pondered the answers. He had asked these questions of himself more times than he could count. "It is written that the good of the many outweigh the good of the few," he whispered.
"Don't give me that philosophical crap," Peter shouted.
"You wanted an answer. That is the best answer I can give to you, Peter."
"So, the end justifies the means, is that it, *Master*?" Peter's sarcasm bled through the words.
Lo Si looked down at his own clenched fists. "Yes."
The young priest could not help but think back through the previous three decades. Every detail of his life had been controlled and maneuvered: from his early days in the temple, to its destruction, to the lie which had separated father from son, to the placement in the orphanage. As an adult, the reintroduction of Kwai Chang Caine into his son's life brought the manipulation back. Every day, every week was lived by someone else's design.
Peter caught sight of the healing burns on his wrists and once again remembered the conversation between him and Lo Si right before the act of taking the brands.
**Peter frowned at the words coming from the Ancient's mouth. "You're talking about two Caines. . .you don't mean physically separate?
Lo Si responded with a slow "I do."
Cheryl stepped up from behind. "Both at war with each other."
"Okay, okay so we find my father and we put the two souls back together again." Peter's doubt was evident in his voice.
"When that happens, Kwai Chang Caine will engage in the most desperate fight of his life. . . with himself. The only person who will be able to save him is you, Peter. But to do that you will have to face your own destiny."
Peter's patience was pushed to the limit. He couldn't keep his anger from penetrating his words. "Do you know how many times I've heard that. . .my 'destiny'. . .what is my 'destiny'? I suppose I'll know that when I find it."
"It is to become a Shaolin priest," Lo Si responded, factually.
"I had that opportunity and I chose not to take it." Peter could hear the shame in his tone. "I'm a Shaolin Cop; it'll have to do."
He couldn't face the old man any longer. He left the small apartment without waiting for a response. He never heard the Ancient's quiet answer, "It will not do."
Later, Peter returned to Lo Si's home. He needed to help his father. Lo Si was the only place to start.
Breathless, Peter entered the apartment. "Lo Si, I found my father but he destroyed his apothecary room and he attacked me. I gotta help him. What can I do?"
Lo Si seemed almost excited. "Ah, finally, you must become truly Shaolin."
"Truly Shaolin? I. ..I completed my training."
"But. . . you did not receive the brands," Lo Si added.
"The brands are symbols."
"No, Peter. With them you ascend to a higher level. . .one in which you will be able to transfer the strength of your renewed chi into your father," the old man explained.
"Lo Si, I don't have time to go to Northern California to the temple to get my forearms branded." Peter's lack of patience was evident.
"There is no need for that," Lo Si completed, triumphantly.
Later, Lo Si led Peter to a room in the basement. A caldron of burning coals were waiting. . .waiting for him. Lo Si had known that Peter would do this thing. Peter heard the words in his mind again.
"I've made the decision. But can't you save him Lo Si?" Peter asked, pushing up the sleeves to his robe.
"I cannot."
Peter thought he understood. Finally, it all seemed to make sense. "It must be me. It's my destiny. . .it always has been. . .that's what my father was trying to tell me."
"Yes."**
Peter closed his eyes. "Was that a lie, too?" Peter whispered. "It was never my decision. . .it was yours. . .based on your lies. . ." Tears pushed out the corners. Suddenly he rose to his feet and made his way to the door. "It's over, Lo Si. I will never allow you to do that to me again. Never."
"Peter, where are you going?" Lo Si asked, placing a hand on the younger man's arm.
Peter pushed the hand roughly away and exited, slamming the door behind him.
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Part 3 Scene 10
Peter felt the dampness of the cold grass leak through his jeans. He didn't care. No amount of physical discomfort could compare to the pain in his heart. . .in his soul.
He closed his eyes, trying desperately to attain the peace of meditation but the anger of his recent revelation prevented any attempt. "Why, Father?" The words echoed through his mind. "Why didn't you tell me? You allowed it. You could have told me the truth but you didn't. Why? How could you do that to me."
A voice, so subtle that Peter wasn't sure he heard it at first, drifted through his brain. "Because there was nothing to be gained from the truth." Peter's eyes flew open and he looked around. He was alone. "Father?"
There was no response. Then the young Shaolin realized that the communication with the elder Caine was in a form other than physical. He closed his eyes and fought to regain the mental state he had previously found. "Father?" His mind whispered the word, desperate to make contact.
"I am here, my son."
"Where?"
"With you."
"How?"
"We are one."
"Have you. . .have you found Mother?"
"No. But that is not the real question on your mind right now."
"No. No, it isn't." Peter felt ashamed for not caring more about the search for Laura Caine, but Lo Si's lies occupied his being.
"You have discovered the truth." It was a statement, not a question.
"Why didn't you tell me? How could you keep something like this from me?"
"You were not ready to hear the truth. If you were, you would have seen Lo Si for who he was from the beginning."
"No, Father. That answer is not good enough. I find out that everything I have believed, everything that you and the Ancient have taught me has been a lie. And now you want me to just accept this and move on?"
"You have no choice but to accept what has happened. No benefit comes from fighting the truth."
Peter looked down at his hands, each resting on a knee. He could see the edge of the tiger burned in his arm. "I have been a fool," he whispered out loud. "Everything I have done, every decision I have made has been the result of that bastard's manipulation."
"No, Peter. The decisions you have made have come from within you."
Peter shook his head as if his father could see the movement. "I'm sorry, Father, but this time you're wrong."
He felt the tone of Caine's thoughts change, from counselor to parent. "Peter, that is enough."
Peter angrily broke the contact. "No, it's not enough, Father. It'll never be enough."
He opened his eyes, rose from the ground and wiped away the unshed tears in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he refocused his thoughts on the other issue at hand: Donny's safety.
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To Part 4