One - Jordan's Past

Jordan POV

With life draining from my tired body, I had all but given up on life. My family was broken, my kidneys battered and the joy of life had evaporated, just gone! The chemotherapy used to save my life from leukemia was taking me from this world before I even met my real father.

But I was woken from my sleep late one Friday night, mom led down the stairs. And there, in my grandmother's living room, a very nervous man slowly approached. There was no doubt in my mind, even in my dazed state, I knew who the stranger was before mom introduced us.

There were only three other people present that night to witness Jimmy and his unexpected daughter, me, meet for the very first time. Now that is a memory I hope never fades!

I knew it! I knew he loved me before he even stepped into Mama's home that night. I wonder if he knows how much that meant the world to his young teenaged daughter. Even before a test confirmed it, he loved me! Now that is the power of love, and how my future was possible. So if you wonder why I would not think twice about helping this man...wonder no more. He is a crazy man, I know, but he has the heart of a lion and a left cross of a heavy weight boxer.

It took me a long time to figure out who he was and the discreet work he performed, though he liked to keep everyone in the dark. Jimmy, operated with stealth in the 'underbelly of society' as he put it. He never intended having a kid be exposed to what he does. I really wanted to be part of whatever he was doing but first had to find a way to calm this freaking time bomb mind I have.

I flew to China with Mama, boy what a love story her and Grandpa Martin had! I really miss you Gramps. You really were amazing! I know you and Jimmy's mother are sharing stories about all of us down here. Don't judge Jimmy too harshly, okay?

Well, I thought just being in China was going to help. Yeah, right! My brain was seriously overloading. Even this woman opened her door and just stared at me. It was freaky when she asked if I needed help. I ran from her like she was crazy.

My friend, Gembira

Then I met this rebel, a real life rebel. A few years older than I am and she was in this Chinese performing troup like, Cirque du Soleil. Except I think better! Well, there was this "sphere of death" where a dozen motorcycles would race around inside. Freaky, eh? Well, one more crazy rider showed up outside the metal ball demanding in.

Then the sound guy played the Emporers March from Star Wars. You knew it was going to be epic! They let that crazy rider dressed all in black inside. I thought, wicked we might see these guys wipe out and it would really be entertaining. No such luck. The riders then began to exit one by one lining up at the front of the huge stage.

Then they ripped their helmets off one by one to the roar of the crowd. They would punch their helmets into the air for even more applause until it came to the rider dressed all in black. The crowd waited, then they began to chant in Chinese, "take it off, take it off!" Until the rider relented. The helmet came off and her hair flowed in the fan generated breeze. She looked like a superhero! Unbelievable!

Yep, that was Gembira! Crazy, right?

So, I wanted to run from my seat and bow at her feet. She was gorgeous! I could tell she had attitude and played the crowd like Olena at my dad's wedding reception. I had to meet that rider dressed in black.

After the performance all the performers were available to talk with and were required to sell DVDs to the crowd in the lobby. Gembira never seemed interested in selling. I offered to buy the whole box of damn DVDs in exchange for riding lessons. Deal!

Master Liu (Spiritual Master)

Yeah, that woman I blew off on the streets of Shanghai. Well, she was Gembira's landlord and teacher/master. Good luck being master of Gembira! Even teaching her was next to impossible but the woman never did give up.

That master was Liu, a true master of the mind. My mind was so screwed up by this time that I had to trust in her. First she taught me how to breathe. Then to trust in meditation. Soon I was meditating the whole day, like I was born to meditate.

Liu came to me one morning and sat quietly with me. She told me that she believed I had 'the thousand years of knowledge' gift that had occurred with a very select few in history. No pressure there, huh? I think she felt more pressure.

Then she introduced me to the ancient practice of QiGong. I began to feel a shift inside and a balance in my mind I never felt before. I must admit that I feel in total control of my mind and body. The Qi I feel is unbelievable, thanks to my master I believed I was actually communicating with the ancient masters.

I was very surprised when Liu told me she had no more she could teach me. She had one warning. "Qi is a very powerful weapon on its own. Use it wisely."

It was up to me to continue the journey with another master here in China. I was sent to see Master Huang.

Master Huang (Kungfu Master)

Liu had Gembira take me to the young master in the heart of China. Huang Yong (Tony) was considered a recluse by all who knew of him. He was the celebrated master of the 'short fist' Chinese kungfu. To master Huang there was only one form that could master all. His fighting techniques were highly sought after when his early pupil, Li Longwei was crowned the champion in a true mortal combat tournament.

Tony was reluctant to take me on but Master Liu made her way to his home to discuss me being his student. In the two days it took Liu to travel to the garden village, I meditated outside his home to show him I was as strong as any. Even when Liu arrived I did not break. Eventually Liu left with Gembira on her motorcycle leaving me.

The world was just coming into focus for me. I just turned seventeen waiting for master Huang to accept me as his student. Eventually Tony did accept me but he did not speak directly to me for three weeks. Later he would tell me that his students required a still mind to absorb his techniques. Seriously? I was there and my mind was hungry.

I was so still I heard the ripples of water in his lotus pond. With my eyes still closed, I heard his silent approach on the grass. "Master, your feet are so heavy for the grass. Why not use the path?"

"So you speak to the grass?" Master Tony spoke to me for the first time. "That is quite a feat for anyone."

"I do not speak to the grass. I feel the grass, master." I opened my eyes to see my young master. "Why the hesitation with me? Because I am a young girl?"

"It was because you were not ready when you arrived. Your mind was clouded knowing you were here to learn." Tony sat cross legged in front of me. "That is not why you are here."
He continued to speak, I guess it was bottled up in him for weeks. "A sculptor can not add marble. A sculptor can only take away what is not needed. That is why a still mind is required."

For two years master Huang chipped away at his masterpiece, me. I trained harder than any before me. My body changed from the pudgy soft teenager to a lean athletic young woman. Truly a lethal weapon. The clean eating, meditation and the mountain workouts made me strong in mind, body and spirit.

"Weidan, it is time." Tony spoke to me as a student for the last time as a master.

I knew it was time. There was no more my sculptor could do. The training in the 'short fist' style of Kung fu fighting was complete. The time in the garden village changed me forever.

"Where will you go first, master Weidan?" Tony spoke softly knowing it was plenty loud enough for me. "To see your family? Home?"

"My path is set, master Huang. I will contact my family from master Liu's letting them know I am well." Out of respect I bowed, hooked my backpack over my shoulder and left. I knew I would return so this was not goodbye.

Gembira met me at the door of Liu's home. After two years of silence between us she could not contain her excitement and her joy was heard by her master.

"Hearing Gembira scream could only mean the gifted one has returned. Oh my! Come, I will make the tea." I know Master Liu was as excited as Gembira to see me but she could hide her emotions completely.

A desperate call from Jimmy triggered a chain of events no one could have predicted. That brings me the right here. Right now!