Part 284: The Shark Tank Part 1

The tension could be cut with a blade as it hung in the air. This stranger they had met not just a few seconds ago, had taken Locke hostage with a blade. Jack had a brief moment where he thought he recognized the man but the strange part came from the incident Marita said she DID recognize him. Kate stood by with Shanna by her side, not knowing what to do over the fact that this foreign man has their friend hostage. Tony slowly turned around, noticing that Marita was not letting go of his shirt. “Baby, do you know this man?” he whispered.

“Tony, don’t . .don’t let him . .” She said, stilling holding onto him.

“I am NOT BLOODY JOKING WITH YOU PEOPLE!!” the man screamed, “Now drop your weapons or this man dies-“

The stranger was interrupted by a thud to the back of his head coming from Sawyer’s shotgun. He landed on the floor, dropping his blade. Jack quickly rushed over and kicked it under a nearby chair. Kate gasped with ease as Sawyer, McKay and Sayid came into the room. “We got the bastard tied to a tree outside, “ McKay looked down, “He didn’t mention another one. Who is this?”

“He’s the guy that runs this place.” Sawyer said.

“I don’t think he runs it,” Locke mentioned.

“He’s got a stupid jacket like the rest of them, Locke. He’s a damn Liberator.” The redneck pointed.

“Tony, tie him up,” the Latina whispered, “Now . .please. .”

“Baby, how do you know him?” the blind doctor asked.

“Marita knows him?” McKay asked in shock.

“Guys,” Shanna whispered.

“Tony, he’s dangerous. Please, tie him up . . “ she begged.

The blind doctor then pulled out his gun and then collapsed on his knees, sliding to the body of the stranger. He then grabbed him by the collar and shook him away. “Hey, HEY!” Tony said, “ What is your name?”

“Who are you?” the man whispered, “You’re . .not with them.”

“Guys,” Shanna said in a higher tone.

“I asked first, man. Now tell me what is your name?” Tony insisted.

“Desmond.” He whispered.

Tony then pulled him up by the collar, forcing him to look at his girlfriend. “That woman there?” the blind doctor hissed, “Do you KNOW her?”

“Hell no, I never seen her before in my life.” He replied.

“No,” Marita hissed, tears forming in her eyes, “Don’t you lie now. You may not remember me but I remember you. You took me hostage and stole my car.”

“What?” Tony gasped.

“Guys,” Shanna tried to get their attention.

“What the hell is a carjacker doing on the Island of mystery?” Sawyer said, wondering what was going on.

“It was about four years ago.” Marita whispered, “You were on the plane and you were in a hurry. It disturbed the Air Marshal that was flying with us and when he tried to take you into custody, you took a hostage; me. Then after we got out of the plane, I led you to my car which you stole. You kept saying you were on some kind of race. You may not remember me but I remember you. I can’t . . .forget that day.”

Desmond squinted his eyes and then they began to bulge out of his head. He could not long deny that he knew the stewardess he took hostage those years ago. “Bloody hell, “ he whispered, “That WAS you!”

That was all Tony needed to hear.

Desmond grunted as he felt the bunt in of the pistol slam him in the face. Tony grunted in rage as he proceeded to beat up the stranger. Jack and Sawyer then grabbed him, forcing him up. Tony managed to kick Desmond in the chest by the time they got him up. “Whoa, Co-Cheese, simmer down!” the southern man replied.

“BASTARD!!” Tony fought, “I’ll kill you for doing that to her!”

“I didn’t meant too, it was-“ Desmond tried to say.

“GUYS!!!!” Shanna screamed.

The group then paused as the redhead finally got their attention. She slowly pointed toward the edge of the ceiling. “What is that?” she asked.

The group leaned around and looked at where she was pointing. Near the top of the ceiling, there appeared to be a countdown clock. It was ticking away numbers or seconds, they couldn’t tell. It was blinked and blinked, landing on 004:20. Jack was curious about why it seemed to be having such precision. Locke stared at, wondering it’s purpose. Kate was about to say something but then heard the scuffling of shoes behind her. She then turned abruptly and saw something she didn’t expect to see.

A small boy.

Kate quickly holstered her weapon and approached the child. The boy looked up at her with his ice blue eyes. He slowly smiled and held out his arms, awaiting to be picked up. The brunette gently picked up the child and held onto him. “Hello there, “ Kate smiled, “What is your name?”

Desmond slowly looked up. “Sebastian.” He coughed.

“Who’s kid is that?” Tony asked, hearing what was happening.

“He’s . .mine,” the strange man whispered, “Please don’t hurt him.”

“We ain’t the ones that just took a hostage, mister.” Sawyer said, stepping on his back.

Then the group jumped at the sound of a female screaming. Jack quickly turned but was alarmed when he saw that it wasn’t from one of the three in their party. The was a dark haired woman running up from the adjacent corridor, in a fast motion toward Kate. Kate turned around and by the time she realized what was happening, the woman had slammed a lead pipe down on her shoulder. The fugitive screamed as she collapsed, gently dropping the boy to the ground. Sebastian didn’t make a sound as he slowly stood up. The woman dropped the pipe and grabbed the boy, preparing to run. She was stopped abruptly as a shot gun blast ripped into the ceiling next to her.

The woman froze as she held the boy in the middle of the hallway. Sawyer cocked back the breech on his shotgun, letting the empty shell hit the floorboard. Shanna and Jack ran toward the fallen Kate, who was reeling from the pain in her shoulder. The doctor quickly ripped off her shirt where she was hit by the pipe, already noticing the swelling bruise. Shanna then reached over toward Kate’s gun, with the full intent on shooting the woman. The redhead then paused as she couldn’t help but notice the woman’s predominated stance of squeezing the boy, protecting him. Desmond said Sebastian was his son. Did they just meet his mother? “Please,” Desmond whispered, “do what you want to me but don’t hurt them.”

“SHUT UP!” Tony screamed, “Marita, what is happening? Who got hit?”

“Kate is down, “ she replied, “The other woman hit her with a lead pipe.”

“She was taking my son.” The woman whimpered.

“NO, SHE WASN’T!!” Shanna screamed.

“Jack, is she hurt bad?” asked the southern man.

“I can’t tell. I think her collar bone is broken,” Jack then looked to the woman, “ What is your name?”

“Isabella.” She whispered.

“Isabella, we are not going to hurt you. You have my word on that. But I need to help my friend. Do you have a medical facility here?”

“Y . .yes, there is . . .a medical room in the back . .”

“NO, WAIT!!” Desmond screamed, “Izzy, how much time do we have?”

Isabella then looked up to the clock. She then gasped, and looked like she was going to vomit. “Oh, God, Desmond, “she coughed, “it’s at the three minute marker.”

Then a loud beeping sound started to fill the room. Jack was alarmed as it sounded like a countdown clock. He turned back to the giant clock on the wall as it was at 3 minutes and counting. Desmond tried to get up but Tony grabbed him by the collar and shoved the gun barrel down on the top of his head. “Please, mister, “ he coughed, “I need to give Argos the code so Sebastian can get his medicine. After that, you can feel free to kill me. Because trust me . ..you don’t want that clock to count down to zero.”

“Why? What’s gonna happen?” the blind doctor demanded.

“They . . will be freed.” Desmond said with the utmost hint of fear.

Tony thought for a second. The words that the stranger echoed were clouding his mind. Argos. Code. They? Who is they? Knowing what Tony knew about The Outpost and the Liberation, he then felt it was better to keep things the way they are, and find out what it’s about later The blind doctor then hoisted Desmond to his feet. “All right, “ he coughed, “You come with me and enter the damn code. Locke, Sayid, Marita, you are with me. Jack, get Kate to the medical room, Shanna and Sawyer go with them. McKay, you watch the woman.”

The Australian pulled out his gun and walked over the woman, who held on her son for near life. “Lead the way,” he ordered.

The woman held back her tears as she walked down the tunnel. Sawyer and Jack gently picked up Kate off the cold ground. She grunted and yelled from the pain in her shoulder. Shanna stayed with her, holding her hand. Desmond grunted from the blind man’s treatment of him but if he wanted to make sure Sebastian and Isabella made it out in one piece, he had to do what they said. He then pointed over to a computer console. “I need to talk to Argos, please.” He whispered.

“Move,” Tony shoved him forward.

“Tony is that really necessary?” Locke asked.

“Until I determine otherwise, YES.” He hissed back.

Marita didn’t say anything about Tony’s reaction; she was in fact glad that she had finally received some justice. It was a traumatic experience in her life and watching Tony beat up the man made her feel like she received closure. Desmond sat down at a stool, letting it spray small dust from the rotting cushions. Locke moved over to look at what the stranger was doing. He then tapped onto the keyboard and the bald man was amazed; immediately reminded of Mia talking with Watchman. He typed in; “Argos, are you online?”

The screen then flickered onto green letters.

ARGOS IS ONLINE. HOW ARE YOU, DESMOND?

“Tony, the screen and the computer,” Locke whispered, “It’s acting just like Watchman.”

Desmond looked back at them both. The bald man could tell by the look on his face that he too knew Watchman and was wondering how they knew the super computer. The loud beeping reminded him to focus on the task at hand. The screen flickered again.

DESMOND
THE COUNT DOWN CLOCK IS REACHING CRITICAL.
DO YOU WISH FOR ME TO FREE SPECIMENS? Y/N

“Specimens?” Sayid, blinked.

“Is this just like the Jaeger Units?” asked Marita.

Desmond then typed in N.

THEN PLEASE ENTER RESET CODE.

Desmond then proceeded to type in a set of numbers. He pecked in 4, then 8, then 15, then 16, then 23, and then 42. “The numbers,” Marita whispered, “Tony, he typed in the numbers.”

Desmond then turned around and looked at the clock. It then started to flicker it’s numbers and it turned to 108:00. Sayid was extremely interested in what this all meant; a computer named Argos that acted in a similar manner to the computer called Watchman. Locke was flabbergasted by what he was seeing; he knew that there would be more mysteries revealed on this journey but he didn’t know it was this big. He half wished Mia was here to see this. Desmond took a deep breath, waiting for the clicking of the clock to resume. It was an awkward pause as the silence echoed the facility. Then the screen flickered on again.

MEDICINE IS READY.
COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN.

The 108:00 then became 107: 54 and so forth and so forth. A weird whisking sound then echo from the ceiling then to the side wall. Then the far distance against the wall was a tube coming from the wall. A small vial then jolted from the tube and landed in a red velvet cushion tray. Desmond then got up to retrieve it but Tony then shoved him back down on the stool. “Whoa,” he barked, “Where are you going?”

“I must give the vial to my son,” Desmond whispered, “He needs it.”

“Tony, there is not reason to drag the child into this,” Locke said, “Let him give the vial to his son.”

“Locke, when I want your opinion, I will ask for it,” Tony said, grunting, “And until I am convinced otherwise, this man is not leaving my grasp. Where is this vial he is talking about?”

“It’s against the wall, Tony,” Marita said, “on some sort of cushion.”

“You take it to the boy, Marita. Check up on Kate for us.”

Marita didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure if Tony was going to hurt the man more or not. She gently walked over to the wall and picked up the vial filled with the clear liquid. She then sighed and began walking down the corridor that the others went to. Desmond slowly turned and crossed his arms. He didn’t trust this strange group of people that invaded the facility but at the moment, he didn’t have a choice. “I understand your mean on against me, brother,” he said to Tony, “But your girlfriend is all right, ain’t she? I didna rape her or nothing.”

Tony slowly handed the gun in Sayid’s direction, who quickly took it. The blind man turned around and looked down at Desmond, despite that he couldn’t actually see him. “No, you didn’t rape her,” he said, coldly, “But you frightened her . . .Frightened her enough that she would remember you four years later and that’s already given you a black mark against me.”

Desmond squinted his eyes, looking at Tony. “Are . .are you blind?” he asked.

“Yes,” he replied, matter-of-factly.

“Bloody hell, “the stranger whispered, “I was beaten up by a blind man.”

“Sorry about that but like I said, you already have a black mark in my book,” Tony said, then leaned forward, “Now , I want to know everything there is to know about this place.”

“Let me see that my boy is okay and I will tell you everything.”

“Deal,” Tony said, “Sayid, bring him. Locke, you wanna help me out there.”

Sayid grabbed Desmond by the arm and let him walk down the corridor where the others disappeared too. Locke then took Tony by the wrist and began to follow the others. “I don’t think you handled that appropriately.” The bald man whispered.

Tony then grabbed the man by his wrist and then held him back as Sayid and Desmond started to walk down the hallway. The blind man whispered toward the older man. “I handled it the only way I knew how,” Tony grunted, “ We don’t have the answers yet, Locke. When it makes more sense, I will apologize to the bastard. But right now, we stay in control. We succumb to anything that man says and there is no telling where this will lead.”

“He seems sincere,” the bald man mentioned, “why are you truly upset with him? Because he caused Marita some pain four years ago?”

“I am upset about that but I am more upset that he is on this freaking Island!”

Tony took a deep breath, calming. Locke felt ashamed; he judged the blind man too quickly. The truth was he was thinking several paces ahead, and all these things they had went through had arrived at a crucial point, yet again. Tony took off his sunglasses and wiped the sweat from his face. “I believe in God, Locke and I even believe in fate,” he said, slowly placing them back on, “But there is only so much fate I can handle in a month.”