Part 468: Point of View Part 2

6:55 pm

“Mrs. Riggs,” Kamiyama smiled, “What a pleasant surprise.”

“I’m sure.” Mia said, striding into his office.

The Asian man stood up from his prayer stance and walked over to his desk. He calmly sat down in his chair. “Would you like some tea?” he asked, non-chanlantly.

“How about you tell me where the children are and I don’t kill you?” the Lakota woman said in all seriousness.

“The children are in a same place,” the Asian man whispered, pouring himself some tea, “ And soon they will be on a great adventure and they will be the one thing they are not; Happy.”

“You don’t know squat!” Shanna grunted, “Those children ARE happy.”

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t believe you.” He said, placing the tea-pot down.

Mia then looked at the tea-pot, remembering a conversation that she and Brendon had in the dream world. It’s ironic or fate, that a certain aspect of that discussion came up at that moment. “The spout doesn’t point to the guests.” She pointed at the ceramic object, “ It’s a sign of disrespect.”

“I’m impressed, Mia. Some westerners don’t know certain Japanese quirks. You must have had a good teacher.” He sipped his tea, “I can only assume that would be . . .Brendon Battle?”

Mia raised her eyebrow.

“Yes, I know quite a lot.” Kamiyama smiled, “However, what happened do Brendon? I understand he killed his own brother? Did such a low life take his own life?”

Then amazingly enough, Shanna pulled out her pistol and shot at Kamiyama. The bullet barely missed his shoulder. The Oriental man then raised up both his feet and slammed them into his desk; making it shoved toward Mia and Shanna. The two woman grunted as the large object slammed into them, sending them back. Within a second, Kamiyama was on his desk and then roundhouse kicked Shanna. The redhead slung her head toward the right, spitting out blood from the assault. The Asian then slammed his foot into Mia’s side and she screamed; as he aggravated her bullet wounds. Kamiyama then walked over and disarmed Shanna’s gun. “You shot me immediately after I insulted your Brendon.” He smiled, “You must have loved him. How noble.”

Shanna couldn’t respond because her mouth hurt incredibly. Kamiyama then moved toward her but could feel Mia fast approaching him. He then blocked her as she tried to slam the ax into him. He then thrust his fist into her shoulder and she screamed in agonizing pain. She immediately dropped her axe and backed off; seeing the blood seep through her fingers. Kamiyama was quick to point it out. “You came to fight me . . .WOUNDED?” he laughed, “What bravery.”

“I WANT MY DAUGHTER BACK!!” Mia screamed.

“She’s not your daughter anymore.” The Asian said, then kicked her directly into the stomach.

Mia collapsed and coughed, trying to get the air back into her lungs. Kamiyama then snatched up a sword from a nearby wall and then walked back over; placing it around her neck. The Lakota gasped as he grabbed her hair. “I’ll make sure Shelley grows up to be a beautiful woman,” he smiled, “Who knows? Maybe I’ll make her my concubine.”

“You won’t get the chance . . .Gaijin.” Seth hissed.

Kamiyama then looked up and saw the leader singer approach him. Seth gently twirled his sword, looking at the Asian man. The business man then backed off from Mia and then started to walk over to him. The Lakota took a deep breath; seeing her adoptive brother staring down the villain. She knew Seth did it on purpose; called Kamiyama a Gaijin. For an Oriental to be called a Gaijin, it would have been the same as a black man being called a nigger. And watching Seth twirl a sword, in Kamiyama’s eyes, that he had no business possessing. It was Seth’s way of getting him away from Mia and Shanna. And Mia loved him for it.

Seth then struck his sword against Kamiyama’s and they fought. With every blow, the Asian blocked it against the lead singer. The musician grunted with every blow, trying to hold his own. It had been some time since he had fought with a sword, so he was a little rusty. However, he did practice whenever he could but not against a real opponent. Seth then jumped onto a nearby table and swiped at Kamiyama’s head; which he was able to block. The older Asian then swung at the singer; managing to cut him on his upper arm. Seth grunted and jumped down; but felt the sword sting him again across his back. He yelped as he landed on a nearby, hitting his chin on the top seat portion. Kamiyama them moved to attack him.

He then jolted as Shanna grabbed him across the legs. He got ready to swing his sword down but Seth stopped him with a kick to his chest. The Asian man screamed as he fell down onto the floor. He tried to brace his fall, putting his arms out. Mia then took this moment to thrust her axe down on his wrist; severing his hand from his arm. “AAAAAHHHHH!!!” he screamed as blood starting gushing every where, “YOU WHORE!!! My hand!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!

He stood up to try and swipe her with the sword. Then another sword ruptured through his chest, sending a glop of red liquid onto the floor. Seth pulled Kamiyama’s head down and whispered into his ear. “That’s my sister you just insulted.” He coughed.

The singer then pulled out his sword, letting the man fall to the ground. Shanna dabbed the blood on her swollen lip, then rushed to the man’s desk. Mia slowly walked over and stared down at the body. She gently patted Seth on the arm, proud of his actions. Seth took a deep breath and then looked over at his adoptive redhead sister. Shanna was looking at all the papers and then came across one. “Here is a list of all the kids.” She gasped.

“What does it say?” Mia turned to face her.

“It looks like some sort of medical analysis.” She looked at it closely, “ I think they took the kids’s blood for . . . .ROOM 216! THEY ARE IN ROOM 216!”

Mia, Seth and Shanna then ran out of the room and back down the hallway. Locke had just gotten done checking out the other corridor but by the shrugging of his shoulders; it told them he found nothing. The Lakota woman then stopped at the directory mounted on the wall. She quickly scanned it for room numbers. She then pounded the picture when she found what she was looking for. “It’s seven more floors up!” she told them.

The bald man followed the young three Brat Pack to the nearest stairwell. They quickly ran up the stairs as fast as they could. Locke had to pause to a take a breath; Mia then quickly stopped, came back down, grabbed him by the arm and ran back up with him.

After they managed to reach, the seventh marker; Seth peered out of the hallway first. He looked down one end and then back to the other. He thought he saw some movement toward the right, but wasn’t sure. “DOWN!” Jack screamed.

Seth then gasped, as he heard his friend scream only to be followed by a gunshot.


---------------------------,

Jack paced back around, wondering how he was going to get out of his situation, along with the children. The doctor looked at them as they were huddled together on the bed. Aaron kept his arms around Shelley and Bridgett, while Mandy’s daughter held Brendon’s hand. The doctor then coughed, and rubbed his hands together. He then came over to the kids, especially Seth’s son. “Brendon, I need you to do me a big favor.” He said, kneeling in front of the boy.

“What’s that, Uncle Jack?” the little boy looked at him.

“When they come in here to take us away, I’m going to tell them you are very sick. And when I tell them that, I want you to pretend that you have a bad tummy ache.”

“Then what are you going to do?” Aaron then asked.

“Don’t worry about that, guys. Brendon, can you do that for me?”

“Sure.” He said, shaking his head.

Then the door opened. Jack looked back abruptly and saw it was a single soldier. The doctor silently blessed his fortune. One soldier he might have a chance to disarm. The redheaded soldier walked over and held his pistol against Jack. “End of the line, doctor.” He whispered.

“You really going to shoot me in front of these kids?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Yep,” the man smiled, “It’s okay. Their memory will be wiped anyway.”

“I don’t think that is a good idea. You can’t take them away especially when one of them is sick.”

“What?” the Liberator’s eyes went wider, “Which one?”

“AOOOHHHH!!!” Brendon screamed, collapsing onto the bed. The other kids then leaned over to check on him. All it did was add to the ruse.

The Liberator looked over at them. “I think his appendix is getting ready to burst.” Jack told him.

“WHAT?” the man gasped.

“DOWN!!!” Jack screamed as he grabbed the soldier’s wrist.

The Liberator then grunted as he fought off Jack; realizing he fell for the oldest trick in the book. The doctor plunged his hand into the man’s face as he tried to wrestle the gun out of his hand. The soldier then thrust the doctor into the wall and then back to the counter. By the time they got back to the door, the gun went off and the bullet ripped throw Jack’s left arm. The doctor screamed as he fell into the hallway. The soldier grunted and then walked over; pointing the gun directly at the doctor’s head. “It’s a shame you don’t get to say goodbye to your brats, do-“ the Liberator tried to say before the left side of his head ruptured.

Jack closed his eyes as the small amounts of blood dropped onto his face. He then heard someone running toward him. “JACK!!” Kate screamed.

“Kate?” he raised his body, struggling with his arm going limp.

“JACK!!” Seth screamed as he ran down the other side of the hallway running toward him.

The kids then flocked out and surrounded Jack. The doctor sighed as he the kids did their best to comfort him, in a mixture of crying and sympathy. “Brendon!” Seth screamed.

“Dad!” the young boy then jumped into his father’s arms.

“Mommy!” Shelley said, opening her arms for Mia.

The Lakota kneeled down and embraced her daughter. She kissed her and held her close; happy she found her before the Dharma people had any chance to do anything to her. Locke then kissed her on the forehead, happy to see her alive as well. Kate then began to help Jack on his feet with Natasha. Aaron and Bridgett were a little scared, considering they didn’t see their own parents with the group come to rescue them. “Don’t be scared.” Shanna said, comforting the kids,” We’re going to get you out of here.”

“Where’s my mom and dad?” Aaron cried.

“Aaron, don’t cry, honey. “ Natasha said, taking his head, “Your mom and dad are okay. They are waiting for you down in the parking lot.”

“Which we better get going right now.” Mia ordered the rest of them.

Two soldiers then came flying down the opposite end of the corridor. The group gasped at the soldiers landing hard on the floor and sliding; like discarded trash. The Jaeger Unit they had adopted into their family strode into view. He saw the others and smiled under his mask. “JACK!” he said, with glee.

“I knew they couldn’t bring you down.” The doctor replied with a smile and holding his wound at the same time.

“Do you know where Jenny is?” Raven asked.

“No. How many floors have you checked?”

“Everything below us. So she is still above us. Can you guys make it back down?”

“Where is John and the others?” Mia quickly asked him.

“They ran down that adjacent hallway,” Raven told them, “Head that way and you can’t miss them.”

“Raven, please get Jenny out of here.” The doctor begged.

“I’m not leaving without her, Jack.” The cyborg promised.

Raven then leaned down and then jumped straight up; making a hole in the ceiling. “WOW!” Brendon laughed with joy, seeing his idol do such incredible feats.

“Raven can take care of himself, let’s go!” Seth said, carrying his son.

The group then rushed down the hallway. Locke covered the rear as he held onto Aaron. Kate and Natasha stayed with Jack; making sure he could walk with his wound. Shanna held onto Bridgett’s hand as they continued to walk. Seth pushed aside the double doors and they wound up inside a lobby. It was a internal lobby, mostly enclosed in glass. Then it took him three seconds to realize they were being shot at. The group then took cover behind a large potted planet. Mia covered her child while she screamed in her ear. Kate and Natasha quickly dove down while a hail of bullets destroyed some paintings on the wall. The one of a corn field collapsed and struck him in the shoulder. “AW, DAMN!” he said, already feeling the pain from his gunshot wound.

“Doc, keep your ass down!!” Sawyer said, as he ran over.

“Sawyer!” Kate screamed, “Where’s our boys?”

“Cochise, Curly and Robin are over there. They kept trying to get to that Queen Bitch but she’s got us pinned down!”

Sawyer began to shove shot-gun shells into his shotgun as fast as his fingers would let him. Mia then looked up and saw her husband with his two best friends. They were hiding behind a couch, while the bullets ripped into them. Then from above, another range of bullets began to hit the woman and her two soldiers. Mia looked up and saw Eddie with his two friends; helping them out. “That’s Eddie!” Aaron pointed.

“He’s covering us!” Jack grunted, “We should leave now!”

Seth then looked around as the sprinklers burst open above them. There was another stairway exit toward their right. He then jolted as an explosion ran out from above, sending the debris and glass all over them. Sawyer grunted as a chuck scratched him behind his neck. “We can’t stay here!” Locke screamed.

“This way!” Seth said, as he picked up his son and then rammed his shoulder into the door of the stair way.

The group then quickly followed. Mia stopped for a second to look at her husband. John flashed a silent message with his eyes; something she could only understand. She knew he was telling her to go down the stairs. She hoped that he knew she was telling him that she loved him. She then rushed in with her friends, as Shelley was screaming for her father. The group quickly plummeted down the stairs as fast as they could go. More explosions echoed above them, sending down small chunks of debris. Seth skipped a few steps and then landed on his side; making him grunt. “Slow down, daddy!” Brendon said.

“I’m okay, boy,” he coughed, “I just . . .I just got to get you out of here!”

Seth then kicked open the door and they were back onto a side street. They had managed to find the service stair way. Mia then looked around and saw the parking lot they had come from toward their right. She pointed and everybody else could see it as well. The group then proceeded to run up the side street toward their friends. The moment they got to the edge of the building; chunks of concrete began to rupture under a hail of gunfire. Seth grunted as he pulled back, making the group stop. Kate jolted out taking a look. Down the street, past several humvees were even more soldiers. They fired their rifles at them and at their friends in the parking lot. “We got to get to the vehicles and get the children out of here.” Mia gasped.

“Get ready to run!” Sawyer said, “We’ll cover you!”

Natasha ran over to a fallen Liberator and grabbed his rifle. The group got ready to move. Seth waved to his friends across the street. Mandy patted Hal on the shoulder and pointed. The cop then saw his friends arming themselves and the children were by their side. “They are getting ready to come to us!” he told them, “Cover them!”

Jack shook his head violently; tried to stay awake from his blood loss. Kate then took him by the arm, getting ready to help him run. Natasha armed her rifle and got ready to run along side, protecting the children. “HEY!!” Kellye said behind them.

The group turned to see Ana-Lucia and Kellye quickly running to join them. “Where the hell have you been?” Sawyer demanded.

“We couldn’t find Jenny!” Kellye replied in a panting of breath.

“Don’t worry . . . Raven will get her.” Jack winced.

“GET READY, DAMN IT!!” Sawyer screamed.

Seth then ran out first with Brendon; holding his son in one arm and firing with his other hand. Ana-Lucia ran out and did the same thing with Aaron. Shanna and Kellye then ran out covering Bridgett. Jack ran as fast as he could with Kate pulling onto him. Sawyer and Locke fired at the Liberation from behind them. Charlie fired with Claire right behind him in the parking lot. The blonde woman was screaming for them to run as fast as they could. Seth held onto Brendon as bullets ricocheted around him; smacking the potted tree plants. Up head, Dutch then screamed as bullet struck him in the shoulder. Hurley grabbed him and pulled him back. They moment they arrived, they took cover. Bridgett ran into the arms of her mother and Aaron did the same thing with Charlie and Claire.

Back at the building, Mia finally ran with Shelley; holding her by the hand. The Lakota girl held up her arm in some vein attempt to protect herself. Shelley had a white-knuckle grip on her mother’s hand, running with her. Locke then looked up and saw the Liberator’s pulling out bigger weapons. Two of them pointed an RPG directly at the running girls. “MIA, GET DOWN!!!” the old man screamed.

The soldier’s fired the weapon and the rocket propelled grenade soared through the air like a screaming train. The weapon exploded one of the potted tree plants near Mia and Shelley; making them both fly through the air about three feet. Bullets then began to pop into the ground around them. The Lakota fought to the dirt and smut out of her face to see where Shelley was. Her daughter was back by another potted tree; crying for her mother and father. Mia then got up to run toward her but then they fired another RPG at her. The explosion nearly destroyed the giant concrete pot she was hiding behind. Her ears were ringing and she could barely see for the flying dirt. Mia wasn’t sure but she thought Seth was calling her name but she wasn’t sure. The young Lakota girl looked at her daughter crying in the distance. “MOMMY!!!” she screamed, “DON’T MOVE!!! THEY’LL SHOOT YOU AGAIN!!!”

Mia then blinked through her watery eyes. She was experiencing a momentary sense of deja-vu. Then it occurred to her she had seen her daughter crying and sitting in the exact same stance before. It was in her dream where Brendon, Boone and the other’s she had lost were showing her things on the Island. Her dearly departed friend’s words then echoed in her ear about he told her about her daughter.

She’ll be fine. Besides, it’s not your decision to make.

If it wasn’t her decision to save her daughter, then whose was it? Her answer came in the form of Sawyer screaming. “LOCKE, GET BACK HERE!!!” the redneck screamed.

The old man ran toward his adoptive granddaughter. He fired his pistol at the Liberation as he ran toward Shelley. When he got toward her, the young girl then held up her hands. Locke threw down his pistol and then snatched up his grand-daughter. He then tilted her to the side and then grunted as bullet struck him in the back. Locke screamed again anther bullet struck him again in the back and then the chest. The old man collapsed on one knee and took a deep breath. “Grandpa, keep running!” Shelley begged.

Mia then managed to get up and run toward her family. She grabbed Locke by his arm and helped him get up. Sawyer then ran over, firing his shotgun to cover them. The others helped them out best they could. After a few more feet they managed to get toward the cover of their vehicles. Locke collapsed on both his knees but he managed to put Shelley down gently. Jack looked at the old man while Kate was tying up his wound. “Locke.” He coughed.

The bald man then collapsed onto this back, coughing up blood. Mia then checked on him best she could. His back was covered in blood and one small hole was starting to pour up into his chest. The doctor then grunted, as he crawled over and tried to help him with his hand that wasn’t numb. He then checked the wound on his side and then looked at the blood on his hands. It was red and black; meaning his kidney had been shot. Jack looked at Mia in complete distress. She could tell in his eyes that he knew Locke wasn’t going to make it. “Locke, you have to hold on.” Mia whispered, “You can do this.”

“It’s okay . .” he coughed, “You made it . . . .Shelley made it . . . .That’s all that matters.”

“No, please!” the Lakota girl begged, “You can hold on!”

“Locke . . . .” Jack whispered, “I’m so sorry . .”

“Don’t be . . . .a young girl lives . . . an old man dies . . . that’s okay trade . . in my book “

“Grandpa, please don’t die.” Shelley wept.

“Shelley . . .listen to your mother . . .grow up . .to be a beautiful woman . . .”

“NO! No, please hang on!!” Mia grunted, gripping his shirt.

“Thank you . . . for giving me a family, Mia . . .You take care . . .of everybody for me. .”

“Please.” She wept.

Locke looked at her directly. A small trickle of blood slid out his mouth and tears flowed down his cheeks. “I love you, Mia.” He coughed.

Mia’s face squinted up in pain. She didn’t know how much longer he had. She gently rubbed his bald head. “I love you, daddy.” She whimpered.

Locke laughed a bit and smiled at her. “I always love it . . . .when you call . . .me that.” He whispered.

Mia stared at him. The old man’s head then slumped to the side, as more blood came out his mouth. The Lakota girl then shook him but he didn’t respond. Seth, Shanna, Jack, Kate and Sawyer all looked at the man they held the most respect for. He died defending his family. “DADDY!!!” Mia screamed, “PLEASE!!! DADDY!!!”

Mia dropped her head on his chest and started to cry. Shelley turned around and embraced Shanna. The redhead stroked her hair as the young girl cried into her chest. Jack slowly took his good hand over to Locke’s eyes and closed his eyelids for him. The group didn’t know how to react. Locke was one of the best and if there was a few people they never though they’d lost; it would be him. “GUYS!!” Hal screamed.

The crowd then turned and saw the bulk of the Liberation running toward them. Their moment of grief cost them the advantage. The soldiers quickly surrounded them. Hal gently held up his guns and dropped them. Karleigh held onto Dutch as he covered his wound. Mia slowly looked at all of them. The Lakota then stood up and faced them. Red laser sighting dots covered her body along with the others. Sawyer breathed deeply through his nose, hoping he earned a shot at redemption with his friends. Marita leaned up, covering her belly. She hoped Tony knew that she loved him. Shanna then gently gave Shelley back to Mia. Despite the fact that she was in pain and bleeding, she held onto her daughter regardless. “Close your eyes, baby.” She whispered, placing her head onto her shoulder.

The soldiers then leaned up all their rifles and got ready to fire. Seth took one step out and spit in their direction. Brendon hugged Tanya as she held her husband’s hand. Libby cried as she buried her face in Hal’s back. Joscelyn covered her face as she held onto Hurley. How they met death was how they lived; standing side by side to the people they cared about. The soldiers then cocked back their weapons, and prepared to fire.

Only to be bathed in black smoke.

The soldiers then screamed as a weird acidic fume began to eat them alive. The survivors took cover and anyone who was near a child; covered their eyes on instinct. The black smoke engulfed all of them, eating away at their skin. Several soldiers fired in vein at the smoke, only to have the bullets pass harmlessly through it. One soldier then screamed as the smoke solidified enough to pick him up and then slam him into the asphalt road. The Liberators tried to run but how could they fight a creature that ignored the laws of physics?

Mia opened her eyes and looked. The entire outside lobby was filled with Liberators who were either dead or dying. The Lakota woman looked up at the black cloud hovering above them. Within seconds, the smoke produced two giant blue eyes. It was all the proof they needed that the magic of the Island was still with them. “Monoxide.” Mia whispered.

The cloud creature then floated upward and then shot away in a puff of smoke. Shelley held up her hand and waved. “Bye, bye, Smokey.” She said.

The survivors looked around. Once again, they had cheated death when the odds were stacked against them. Charlie held onto Claire and Aaron, crying that they were okay. Seth kissed his wife and held onto his son. Alexander was comforted that Bridgett was safely returned to his mother. Kate held onto Jack, happy that he was alive. Natasha was upset that she lost Ecko and Sawyer comforted her the best he could. Mia hoped that John would make it out alive. She needed more than ever now. The Lakota then gasped as a sound ripped through the building above, as it pillowed out smoke and fire. It was a sound that she recognized, as did the others survivors. A familiar noise they hadn’t heard in seven years.

The roar of the Polliwog.