Part 319 : Mark of The Beast

Most of the survivors had gathered together inside the living room of the Broadway station. Libby tried her best to suppress her psychologist training, but old instincts die hard. She couldn’t count all the emotions she was seeing in the room. Sadness. Rage. Hate. Despair. Worry. Concern. She hoped that the men who became the defacto leaders of their group could figure out a way to help all those involved.

Jack had just gotten finished telling the story of what has transpired. A man named Goodwin had kidnapped Eddie and Sebastian. His only demands was access to the Argos computer and two other children Walt and Aaron. Goodwin claimed they were special and Eddie and Sebastian were not. It was like a slap in the face to Barbara; who buried her head in hands as she sat on a chair crying. Jilly tried to console her best she could under the circumstances. Micheal was in near shock; wondering who Goodwin was and how he knew about his on. But then again, didn’t Colonel Fender kidnap Walt for the same reasons Goodwin wanted him now? Yolanda sat with Walt and Micheal on the couch with her hand around the young boy. She didn’t know what to do. But like most everybody else, she kept her eyes on Jack; wondering what he was planning on doing. “Desmond?” Jack asked him.

The stranger was consoling the mother of his son as she wept in his arms. He too let mild teas streak down his face; upset that his boy was in mortal peril. “Desmond.” Jack said, trying to get his attention.

Desmond finally looked at him but said nothing.

“Does Sebastian . . . have a time limit that he can go without the medicine?” the doctor asked him.

“He . . uh . ..uh . .” Desmond tried to talk and coughed, “My boy . . .he’s . .he’s only got four days. The limit is four days.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yeah, we . .uh . . found a safe in the back. It contained further notes on the medicine. Not the project, the medicine. In four days, the saturation of the bloodstream will be ceased and all proteins of the medicine will be gone through Sebastian’s natural bodily fluids. If he hasn’t received the medicine by then, his body will reject it.”

“What happens at that point?” asked Natasha.

“Sebastian’s brain functions will break down and eventually he’ll have a nervous breakdown,” Locke answered, “He’ll become like Cedric . . .and the rest of the Black Faction.”

“THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!” Desmond screamed.

“No one is saying it is, Desmond.” Jack countered, “We are trying to figure out a time table for what we need to do and what kind of a person Goodwin is?”

“He’s a liar and a kidnapper,” Barbara whispered, “What more do we need to know?”

“We need to know a lot more, Barbara. When Ecko and Raven get back, we’ll ask them cause they probably encountered him before. They can tell us how he thinks and that is what we need right now. I know you are upset about Eddie-“

“You don’t know squat, Jack!” the redheaded older woman hissed, “You’re in here discussing possibilities but we don’t need that right now. We need to get out there and find my son.”

“We’ll get Eddie back, Barbara but we can’t go off half-cocked.” Yolanda pointed out.

“The more we wait, the more danger Eddie gets place in. We need to leave now!”

“Barbara, we don’t even know where he is!” Jack said.

“Yeah, well, you’re not sending Locke out to find him, are you , Jack?”

“Barbara, that is not fair!” the black stewardess said.

Barbara laughed briefly through her tears, at the absurdity of what she was hearing. “No, you want to know what is not fair?” she cried, “What is not fair is that Tony, John and McKay went on that boat instead of Jack, Locke and Sayid.”

“Barbara, what are you-“

“If they were here, they would have been out there, trying to find my boy.”

“Barbara, please, believe me; we’ll get Eddie back!” Jack pleaded.

“The difference between you and them is that they loved my boy,” the redhead wept, “Not one was there to take care of my son but they were. You . . .bastards . . .”

“Okay, Barbara, that is enough,” Jilly replied, “Let’s get out of here to let them think.”

The redhead slowly stood up and followed the deaf girl out of the room. Jack watched her closely as she left. Her words struck him deep; and for a brief second, he wished Tony, John and McKay were here. It would have been easier for them to take control of the situation and he just followed. But they weren’t here; and he had to decide what to do. “She didn’t mean it, Jack,” Kristy said, touching his arm.

“I know,” He sighed then turned toward the resident cop, “Hal . ..you handled a hostage situation before?”

“Not personally but I was there when the actual negotiator was on the scene.” He admitted.

“Any advice would be helpful.” The doctor pointed out.

“Well, first thing you can’t give into his demands. Trading hostages for other hostages is not acceptable by any means.”

“What about the computer?” Locke asked.

“If you give him access to the computer, you’ll have to watch him. That might be able to by us some time and possibly keep him occupied while we find the other kids.”

Jack then noticed that Sayid finally came out of the side hallway. The Iraqi was in there trying to console the young lost girls with Shannon but judging by his face, he didn’t seem to have had much luck. “How are Flower and Andra, Sayid?” Jack asked.

“Scared out of their wits.” The Middle Easterner took a deep sigh, “Apparently, this creature they have seen before. Even killed some brothers in their tribe. They say that wherever this beast goes, the whispers are to follow.”

“The whispers?” Yolanda raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, apparently this monster communicates in whispers. I am . . .relunctant to admit I myself heard the whispering once in a while. From what they suggest, this beast has been watching us for some time.”

“That’s possible,” someone said, behind Jack, “The Fleshmonger was designed for absolute stealth.”

Jack turned and saw Raven walking toward them with Ecko in tow. Jack felt relieved to have Raven back, especially since it seemed he must have fought the creature and even knew it’s name. “This thing . .is called Fleshmonger?” asked Jack.

“Yes, it’s a wolf/human hybrid with camouflage ability, like a chameleon” the masked warrior told him, “If it doesn’t want you to find it, it won’t be found. The only time it gets visible is when it is ready to kill something.”

“When did you fight this thing before?” asked Micheal.

“Three years ago. The Fleshmonger had came in and attacked both tribes, killing at least four kids. It was stronger and faster than anything they could have seen. Both Alexander and Cedric had to put aside their differences in order to defeat him. They came very close too but Alexander was trapped by holding onto an access hole to the lower levels. I leaped in and did my best to fight it off.”

“You failed?” Jack asked in disbelief.

“I must have. It survived the fall.”

“Fall? What fall?”

“I fought it to a standstill,” Raven mentioned, “My only advantage was that I was quicker. When we got to the cliff, I dropped kicked it over and it plummeted into the water. I should have gone down to make sure it was dead but that was my fault. It never reared it’s ugly head until recently.”

“What can you tell us about this Goodwin bastard?” asked Desmond.

“He came it with the others,” Ecko piped, “With Ethan and the other scientists that Fender brought here to understand the Island. They became obsessed with the information they found. To create what they called the Herrenvolk.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Natasha clicked her fingers, “He did mention that. Herrenvolk. What does that mean?”

“It’s German,” whispered Locke.

“What does it mean, Locke?” the brunette asked, eager to know.

“The rough translation is Master Race. It was a term utilitized to describe what the Nazi’s hope to accomplished.”

“Ethan and Goodwin . . .are Nazis?” Kristy gasped.

“I don’t think we have to worry about the symantic argument over it, “ Jack rubbed his head, “We have to figure out how to find them and get them back.”

“If Goodwin doesn’t want to be found, then he can’t be found.” Ecko said coldly.

“Well, we have to figure out a way!” the doctor countered loudly, “We can’t leave those poor boys out there with this mad-man!”

“We won’t, Jack,” Raven assured, “ The Watchman Proticals are still effect. The Computer still scans the Island for Eddie’s presence.”

“What does that mean?” asked Hal.

“The moment Eddie is within sight, the computer will know. When the computer knows, I will too.”

“You have to get him back, Raven,” Jilly said as she came back into the living room, “I don’t think Barbara could live with losing both her husband and her only son.”

“How is she, Jilly?” Jack asked.

“She didn’t mean what she said, Jack.”

“I’m not worried about that. How she is?”

“She’s just . . .crying. She laid down on her cot and just started to cry. She . . .damn it! I can’t believe Bobby turned out to be a spy!”

Jack approached her and gently touched her shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Jilly,” the doctor assured her, “Ethan played us too to get close to Claire.”

“He was so nice,” she said, wiping her tears, “I feel . . .I feel so stupid! I mean, he even gave me this little piece of metal, saying it was a good luck charm to keep me from being scared. That . . .bastard!”

Jilly threw the small piece of metal against the wall and it bounced from it, landing on a nearby end table near Locke. By instinct, the bald man looked at the little piece of metal. He was curious about, expecting a coin or something. He then picked it up and took a closer look at it. The bald man then whispered a curse word. “Locke!” Jack said, reminding him of his language.

“I’m sorry, Jack but this piece of metal that Jilly had . . .it the top half of a broken key!” Locke pointed out.

“Yeah, so?” the deaf woman asked.

“Broken key . . .” Jack then blinked, “The Green cabinet.”

“What green cabin-“

Before Jilly could finish her sentence, both Locke and Jack ran toward the entrance to the underwater observation. They quickly ran down the stairs and Locke jumped to avoid the last three steps. He quickly grabbed the top half of the cabinet and then Jack grabbed the bottom half. The two men grunted as they began to ascend the stairs back up to the top. Kristy, Hal and Jilly were there waiting on them to see what they were doing. They moved out of the way when they finally reached the top. Jack and Locke quickly scurried back into the living room area, where the others were waiting dumbstruck by their behavior. The two men panted as they dropped the cabinet onto the floor. “Raven,” Jack coughed, “This cabinet . . .has a broken key in the lock . . .please . . .get it over for us.”

The masked warrior then stepped forward and kneeled down toward the cabinet. He reached to the lower bottom and then braced his other hand on the top. With one jerk, the lock popped off and the bottom drawer opened. Jack then reached down and pulled it all the way out. He pushed the folder catchers toward the front and saw an object in the back. The doctor reached in and picked it up, blowing the dust off it. “A video tape?” Isabella looked from the back.

Jack showed the tape to Locke. The label read Black and Red Project: Fleshmonger. “Everything happens for a reason,” Locke smiled, and then winked at Jilly.

The deaf girl was a little amazed that finally fate seemed to include her in the bunch. Perhaps it was simply her time but she figured she would leave the theological discussions for Locke and Mia. Desmond came over and held out his hand for the tape. Jack blew the rest of the dust off of it and gave it to him. He walked over to the rolling cabinet of the TV and VCR. He gently popped open the top and slid the tape in; pressing play.

The group stared at the TV screen but all they saw was static. Then it burst into a series of words but it was looking like gibberish. Then it showed an image of a man but the screen was so jumpy; no one could hear was he was saying nor tell was he looked like. “What’s wrong, Desmond?” asked Isabella.

“The tape is bloody old, Izzy,” Desmond replied, “I hope the VCR doesn’t eat it before we learn more about Fleshmon-“

“Genome therapy was successful,” the man on the screen finally came into clear view, “Once we were able to combine the wolf DNA with reptilian DNA, the Fleshmonger was able to be incubated into birth. Unlike Monstro, The Fleshmonger’s sole purpose is to provide an obst (zzzzz) at the children can work united (zzzzzzzz). The creature will be hard to defea(zzzzzzz) but it’s not supposed to be (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)means . .”

“COME ON!!” Desmond banged the VCR.

“The Flesh (zzzzzzzzzzz) attacks will force the kids to think. If they find the clues, they can find his weakness. We have program(zzzzzzzzzz) simple means. Fleshmonger can be disposed (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) whenever it (zzzzzzzzzzzzzz) If (zzzzzzzzzz) questions, direct them toward the Hanso (zzzzzzzzzzzzz) . . . . . “

The screen then went black. Desmond gulped as he looked at the VCR. He then pressed the eject button and the door only popped up half way. He then pulled the video tape out only to have the tape part slide out in ribbons. Isabella then started crying as the only piece of evidence to aid her in getting her son back was eaten by the VCR. Desmond slowly dropped it onto the floor, feeling like he was going to have a nervous breakdown. Jack came up to and placed a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’ll get them back,” he promised, “We’ll get them back.”

Part 318: Day 67

Libby slowly opened the door to the outside. The metal made a clanking sound and she wondered for a few seconds if Desmond had any WD40. She looked around the clearing outside the Shark Tank and found the person she wanted to see. Hal was standing on the peer looking out into the distance of the ocean. The sun was creeping over the horizon very slowly. The therapist smiled as she proceeded to walk out toward the peer.

Hal turned when he heard her approaching. The cop offered a smile at her arrival. Libby slowly slid her arms around his right arm and leaned her head onto his shoulder. “Good morning,” he whispered.

“Good morning,” she replied.

“You’re up early.” He mentioned.

“You wake up every morning to see the sun rise. I figured I’d start joining you.”

“Thank you.” He replied, “Sun rises are best shared.”

“Yes,” she smiled back at him.

“I think Ian would have loved this one. Notice how the orange becomes gold just above it’s zenith.”

“Yes. It’s quite beautiful.”

Hal paused for a moment, then gently moved his arm away from her. Libby then smirked as he positioned it around her waist. The therapist enjoyed being close to him. It was like what Joscelyn said that Hurley called her; she was real. To Libby, Hal was very real. He wasn’t hiding behind innuendo or false bravado; he was a man who stood for his beliefs and stood behind his action. “Hal,” she whispered.

“Libby,” he smirked.

“You think . ..the cost of living is decent in San Francisco?” she smiled.

“It’s pretty decent. Provided you have a good paying job.”

“Like a Clinical Psychologist?” she giggled.

“Like a clinical psychologist.” He agreed.

The two then turned to face each other. Libby smiled as she put her arms around his neck and Hal held onto her waist. The cop then gently moved her hair and tucked it behind her ear. “What are you thinking right now?” she whispered, rubbing the back of his head.

“Oh, I was just thinking,” he smiled, “When my son died and my wife left me . . .I never thought I would be able to care about anybody again . . .that I would never . . .love again.”

Libby felt her head pounding slightly at his world.

“Let me ask you something, doctor,” he smiled, “Do you think it’s possible for a cop with a hole in his soul . . .that he could find some joy to refill it and move on with his life?”

“On this Island,” Libby whispered, “Anything is possible.”

The couple gently shared a soft kiss until the glare of the rising son. Libby had only know Hal for a few weeks. She had fallen for him in a short days time. By her training in psychology, it made no sense to her. It shouldn’t have been happening. In fact, had she been on the other side of the desk, she would have told she was rushing it; it was going too fast. However, Hal once told her that she should embrace the magic of the Island. At that moment, Magic was all she could think about.

Until she heard girlish laughter.

Libby parted from Hal and looked toward her left. Flower and Andra were hiding behind a tree, giggling at them. Hal winced his face, slightly embarrassed. Libby just sighed, dropping her head into his chest. The girls continued to giggle until they ran back into the Shark Tank. “They’re going to tell everybody.” Hal whispered.

“Yes,” Libby agreed, giggling herself.

“Kids,” the cop scoffed.

“Worse,” the therapist sighed, “They’re teenagers.”


As the afternoon had arrived, most of the survivors were just doing their best to stay busy. Jilly was buried deep in an old book she found; apparently the Shark Tank was equipped with it’s own library. The man called Ecko had been welcomed by most of the core group, especially when it was revealed that he was a priest. Natasha enjoyed speaking with him cause she mentioned Bernard and how he was their pillar of faith. Locke had spent the majority of the time at the bottom of the observation station; still sorting through old papers and books. Claire and Kristy were laughing and telling stories in the main living room area. Aaron laughed as he was with his mother on the couch. Then they heard some yelling down the hallway. “You are completely off your rocker, brother!” Desmond screamed.

“Look, Des, I am in the sodding industry,” Charlie countered, “I would like to think I know what I am talking about.”

“It was the bloody Beatles!!” Desmond screamed in his face, “You are bloody wrong!!”

“How is it you and I are from the same continent?” the singer said in disbelief.

“Charlie, that is one of me favorite songs. I don’t think it was sung by them. I would never be a fan of THEM!!”

“I’m just saying-“

“Look, there are three records of their songs in the broom closet,” the stranger pointed, “I will get them and prove it to you.”

Charlie shrugged his shoulders as Desmond disappeared down another adjacent tunnel. He walked over toward the couch as the baby started to laugh at his presence. Claire laughed for a second, then looked curious. “Goodness, Charlie,” she asked, “What were you two arguing about?”

“Desmond doesn’t believe me that Last Train to Clarksville was sung by The Monkies.” Charlie said in all seriousness.

“What??” Kristy laughed, “THAT . .brought up the yelling?”

“Music is a serious business, luv,” Charlie smiled.

“Hey, guys,” Jack walked into the living room area.

“Hey, Jack,” Kristy whispered with a grin.

Jack laughed for a two seconds, looking slightly embarrassed. “Have any of you seen Hal?” he asked.

“He’s out side with Micheal,” Claire pointed, “They were trying to repay some of the cabins for people to live in.”

“Hal and Libby were macking this morning,” Kristy giggled.

“Macking?” Jack laughed, “How many times do I have to say it? We are not in high school.”

“You were the high school nerd, weren’t you, Jack?” the model smiled.

Jack laughed and then said, “And who were you, Kristy? Captain of the Glee Committee?”

“I was the captain of the Cheerleaders and we ate guys like you for breakfast,” she said, trying to her right leg in between his legs.

Jack immediately jumped back and paused, his cheeks flushing red. “I think I’ll go find Hal now.” He laughed.

Then a blood curling scream echoed out of the hallway.

Everybody stopped one they were doing and looked at the hallway where Desmond went too. Soon the curly brown haired man walked out of the area, almost in a daze. He slowly began to walk the other way, ashamed to show his face. “What the hell is Desmond’s problem?” Jack asked.

Charlie sighed. “He just became a Monkies fan.” He whispered.

Jack just shook it off and proceeded to walk back outside. He maneuvered past the boxes in the main hallway to the exit door and pushed it open. As he did, Eddie turned around to look at him briefly; gently tossing around his duct tape ball in his hands. Jack sighed and then proceeded to walk past him. “Uh . .Jack?” Eddie asked.

Jack stopped and turned to look at him.

“I’m . . .uh . . . .sorry I kicked you.” The little boy said, still staring at his ball.

Jack then smiled at the boy’s apology. It was a great effort on Eddie’ part, he could tell. “Your mother told you apologize?” the doctor asked.

“Yeah, kinda,” Eddie finally looked up at him, “I also kinda thought . . .Tony wouldn’t have wanted me to act that way.”

“You’re very mature for your age, Eddie,” Jack said, twisting to face him, “And I am sorry too.”

“What for?” the kid raised an eyebrow.

“I never should have judged Raven,” the doctor admitted, “He’s . . .something I couldn’t comprehend but when I sat down and talked with him, I finally understood . . .he’s as human as the rest of us.”

Eddie smiled. “Thanks, Jack.” He replied.

“You off to play ball?”

“In a minute. Walt went to go walk Vincent so he could . . .you know . .poop.”

“Oh,” Jack smirked.

Then the two friends heard a small clapping sound. They turned to look up on the ridge where Sebastian was jumping up and down; clapping to get Eddie’s attention. The little boy then pointed in the distance excitedly. “Looks like Sebastian can’t wait.” The doctor pointed out.

“Yeah, I guess not,” Eddie ran and laughed, “Hey, Jack! If you see Walt, tell him we are over here!!”

“Have fun, Eddie,” Jack waved to him as he finally walked over to see Hal and Micheal on the cabin, repairing the roof.

He looked up to the two men. Micheal was wiping his sweat, while Hal was hammering in a section of the roof from split bamboo. “Hey, guys!” Jack waved.

“Afternoon, Jack, “Hal smiled, “What’s the good word?”

“Came to see you, Hal,” the doctor admitted, “ It’s been damn difficult to get Locke out of the Observation Station but he agreed to come out for a while later this afternoon to hunt boar. You are pretty good with a firearm, I was wondering if you’d come with us to help snag a few.”

“Been a while since I’ve been hunting, “ the cop smirked, “Yeah. I’m in.”

“Good. In the meantime, you guys need a hand?”

“Yeah, Jack, “ Micheal pointed, “Hand us some bamboo, will ya?”

Jack reached down and grabbed two split bamboo planks. He then grunted as he shifted them upward toward the two men on the roof. They weren’t heavy; just ackward to hold. Micheal took one plank and shifted it aside as Hal began to hammer it in. “Hey, Jack, “ Micheal called down, “You think Hal is good enough for Libby?”

“Shut up, man,” Hal laughed.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Jack played along, “I think Libby is a sucker for the tough cop with rugged good looks.”

“You guys are too much.”

“Go for it, Hal. If you think it’s right.”

“Oh, I plan too, trust me,” Hal grabbed another nail, “Now what do you plan to do about Kristy, Jack?”

“Kristy?” Micheal said confused.

The doctor below blinked in surprise. He thought of the little trick she tried to play on him not five minutes ago, by playfully touching his inner thigh. “Is there something going on I should know about?” Jack asked.

“Jack, you got to be blind not to notice,” Hal laughed, “You got this model serving you coffee and making sure you have breakfast in the morning. Not to mention, Libby overheard the girls talking at night. Kristy has had a crush on you since you two met.”

“Really?” Jack asked.

“Yeah and since Kate and Ana-Lucia are away on that boat, Kristy thinks she’s got a decent shot at getting closer to you.”

“Ooooohhh,” Micheal said with wild eyes, “Looks like it’s open season on Jack!”

Jack took a deep sigh and picked up another bamboo plank. “I take it back, “ he said to himself, “We ARE in high school.”



Elsewhere in the jungle behind the Shark Tank, Ecko stood alone. He was taking in deep breathes; breathes he could not have achieved a few days ago. Raven gave him more than his life back; he gave him a new appreciation for life. He vowed to himself and the soul of his brother that he wouldn’t take any thing for granted any more; least of all his new friends. The large black man gently rested his hands on his Penance Stick, taking in another deep breath. He paused when he heard a familiar perfume scent. “Hello, Natasha.” He whispered.

The brunette giggled as she held up a makeshift gun-hand and pulled the trigger on him. “Got you.” She laughed.

Ecko laughed as he faked being shot, grabbing his chest. The two people laughed, sharing their personal joke. “What are you doing out here alone?” she asked.

“I wished to be with these trees.” He pointed.

“Why?”

“They are my favorite.” He pointed to all three of them.

Natasha found the man intriguing. He had told them his story over dinner. Ecko said he was once one of Nigeria’s notorious drug dealers. Then he tried to smuggle a large quantity of them out of the country but it was dressed as priests. In the event of them leaving, his brother was shot dead. Then as they soared into the sky, a large dark cloud engulfed them and then the next moment they appeared on the Island. Ecko then began to scour the Island for a place to live and food to survive. “You’ve really been on this Island for 11 years?” Natasha asked.

“Yes,” he smiled.

“I can’t imagine it. I mean . . .were you lonely?”

“I was . . for the first three years. For the longest time, I only had God for company . .until he sent me Raven.”

Natasha smiled. “You really like him, don’t you?” she asked.

“We are both orphans and brothers by fate. I thought that it was my fate to die on this Island and it was Raven’s fate to die by his own hand. Raven’s fate has been changed and thanks to God’s will and Raven’s hand, my own fate has changed as well.”

“It was Watchman that rebuilt Raven,” Natasha pointed out, “Not God.”

Ecko smiled at her. He gently put his hand on her shoulder. “EVERYTHING . .is God’s will.” He said proudly.

Natasha sighed, shaking her head in agreement. “You remind me of Bernard.” She whispered.

“A friend of yours?”

“Yes,” she whispered, “He didn’t judge me on who I was. He treated me with kindness. He and his wife . . .were executed by the Liberation.”

“Bernard was strong in his faith?”

“The strongest I had seen . . until I met you.”

“Would you like to hear my favorite bible verse?” Ecko smiled.

“No,” she grinned.

“Remain in me and I will remain in you. John 15:4.”

“What does it tell you?”

“It tells me that as long as I have my faith . . .everything will be all right.”

Natasha smiled at the man. He may have looked like a pro-wrestler but the way he quoted scripture, she felt safe around him. Before she could say anything else, their attention was grabbed by a female screaming in the distance. Ecko turned swiftly, wondering what was going on. Before Natasha could say anything, he was already running into the jungle to follow the sound. “ECKO!!” Natasha screamed as she ran after him.


Up on the ridge, Eddie and Sebastian were tossing the ball back and forth as they ran along the clearing. Sebastian then got a little playful as he threw the ball as hard as he could making it soar over the other kid’s head. Eddie laughed as he ran to get it into the wooded area. He paused for a second, wondering when Walt would arrive. The boy was happy that he had friends to play with. He missed Tony, Uncle John and Uncle McKay but it didn’t change the fact that they were older than him. It felt good to be with kids his age. Eddie then turned to join Sebastian.

Only to find him missing.

“Sebastian?” Eddie called.

The boy then panicked when he realized Sebastian couldn’t answer him cause he didn’t even speak. Eddie dropped his ball and ran toward the bushes area where the child was. He knew he would be in massive trouble if he lost the sick little boy. By the time Eddie got over to the area, he was then blanketed in a pale green smoke. He coughed and coughed, as he felt the smoke affecting him someone. The stinging sensation in his brain and the fact that his limps all of a sudden became useless, he knew he was getting knocked out. By the time he felt onto the ground; all he could see was a giant gray blur reaching down a massive clawed hand at him.



Barbara laughed as she and Jilly emerged from the woods. Barbara had been telling her fond stories of her husband and how he would make her laugh when they first met. Both of the women had been going into hardship and through the magic of The Island, found each other. Barbara began to view the deaf girl as a daughter she never had. They stayed with each other through thick and thin during their capture of the Liberation. It was fun to be walking in the woods, picking fruit for the others. It gave them something to do plus it was nice not to be shot at or chased by people they didn’t know. “Barbara,” someone said behind her.

The redheaded woman gasped, dropping her fruit. She turned around and as she did, Jilly turned around with her. Barbara was frozen for a second, seeing a man she hadn’t seen in weeks. “Bobby?” she gasped.

“Hello, ladies,” the man smiled.

Barbara and Jilly ran to embrace him. Bobby laughed as both the ladies hugged him. “Bobby,” Jilly laughed, “We thought you were dead!”

“No, I only got the wits scared out of me. Once the Liberation started firing on me, I hauled butt toward the woods. They said I was dead?”

“Yes!” Barbara said, kissing him on the cheek, “I am happy you are alive, Bobby!”

“Nor more than I. How is Clay and the others?”

“Oh, Bobby, you got to come with us, “ Jilly said, pulling on his hand, “You’re never gonna believe this. The other survivors of the flight came and rescued us. They are a great bunch of people! You’ll love them.”

“Is that a fact?” Bobby smiled, “Where are they?”

“This way,” Barbara said, then stopped to pick up her fruit, “You have to meet them. You have to meet my son. He’s alive, Bobby.”

“That’s nice to know.”

“He was watched over by a wonderful group of guys.”

“Yeah, I am sure those three are something.”

Barbara put one more fruit in her basket, then stopped when she finally thought about what Bobby had said. She then slowly stood up and looked at him. “Bobby,” she whispered slowly, “How is it . . .you know that Eddie was taken care of by THREE men?”

Bobby just stared at her, shifting over in his swagger. “Why don’t you just take me to Argos and I’ll tell you there?” he sneered.

“How . . .How is it you know about the computer in the Shark Tank?” the older woman replied.

“What are you guys talking about?” Jilly asked, realizing they were talking.

Then in a split second, Bobby grabbed Barbara and twisted her around, putting her in a headlock. The redheaded woman then screamed when she felt a knife poking her ribs; making her scream. “Don’t struggle, Barbara, “he ordered, “I don’t think dear doctor Jack can heal a punctured lung.”

“Bobby, what are you-“ Jilly looked confused.

“BACK OFF, JILLY!!!” He said pointing the knife at her, “You want Barbara to remain safe, you stay where you are.”

The deaf woman held up her hands, showing Bobby that she wasn’t moving. Barbara held onto his arm, grunting. “Why . .why are you doing this?” she hissed.

“It’s also cause and effect, Barbara. Maintaining the balance. I got something you want and you got something I want.”

Barbara then felt her heart sink into her chest. Bobby said he had something she wanted and she could only think of one thing precious to her. “Eddie?” she whispered.

“He’s safe for now,” Bobby warned, “Whether he stays that way is up to you.”

Bobby then tightened his grip when he saw two figures emerge from the woods. Ecko paused for a second while Natasha stayed behind him. Jilly still didn’t move. Bobby saw the new arrivals and then began to laugh. “Ecko,” he chuckled, “Why am I not surprised?”

Ecko glared at the man with a hate he only reserved for a few. Natasha saw his face and the face of the stranger. “Ecko, you know this guy?” the brunette asked.

“I know him.” Ecko whispered plainly.

“Oh, my God,” Barbara whispered hearing what the black man just said, “If he knows you, then . . .then YOU WEREN’T ON THE PLANE!!!”

“Doesn’t it feel nice to put it all together, Barbara?” Bobby laughed in her ear.

“But that’s . ..you . .you were in the water with us.” Jilly pointed out.

“I was nearby when you crashed. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to make you trust me, than to make you think I was one of you. I jumped into the drink and you were none the wiser.”

“Did the Liberation really shoot at you . .or did they let you go?” Barbara grunted.

“No, the Liberation shot at me. Luckily I escaped. They were never really fond of our experiments. They were more interested in that damn computer and the psychic amplifier.”

“Our experiments?” the redheaded woman jolted.

“Him. ..and Ethan.” Ecko answered for him.

“ETHAN?” Natasha gasped.

Ecko slowly raised up his stick and began to approach them. Barbara then held up her hands, forcing him to stop. “No, Ecko, please!” she begged, “He’s got my son!”

“That’s right, Ecko,” Bobby smirked, “Barbara and I are partners. She’s going to insure I get what I want.”

Bobby then shoved her forward, as Jilly quickly caught her. She helped Barbara back up. Ecko then maneuvered himself in front of her, looking directly at Bobby. “And what is it that you do want?” he asked.

“Ah,” Bobby sighed, “A timely question. Well, listen up, the lot of you. Cause you are going to explain to your fearless leader my demands. I want the exceptional ones and access to the Argos computer.”

“Exceptional Ones?” Barbara asked.

“Yeah, Barbara. I got the two worthless ones so I could trade them for the exceptional ones. I have Eddie and Sebastian . . .and I will trade them for Walt and Aaron. The ruler of the army and the high mountain.”

“What?” Natasha asked confused.

“You bastard,” the older redhead hissed, “There is no way Desmond and Micheal will give up their children.”

“Then you better convince them, Barbara. I want access to the Argos computer too. And just to make sure, you understand my threat is real . . . “

Bobby then pulled out a device from his pants pocket. It was shaped like a whistle and then he put it in his mouth and blew hard. However, no sound came out. Then the women gasped as the sound of a massive roar. Ecko then blinked in fear, recognizing the sound of the bestial roar.



Walt finally came back from the woods. He looked around and didn’t see Eddie or Sebastian anywhere. Shannon was laughing with Flower and Andra in the clearing around the cabins. Jack, Hal and Micheal were finishing up the roof on the cabin. The little boy then walked over toward them, with Vincent following behind. “Hey, dad,” he called from below.

“Hey, buddy,” Micheal laughed, “Vincent finally found a spot to do his business?”

“Yeah. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was getting picky.” Walt giggled.

“Eddie and Sebastian are up in the ridge, Walt. They sat to meet them there.” Jack said, as he wiped his sweat.

“Cool. Thanks, Jack.” He said, grabbing his dog to go join his friends.

Then Raven landed on the ground not more than four feet from him. “WHOA!!” Walt screamed as he fell back on the ground, making Vincent bark.

“Raven, what the hell do you think you’re-“ Jack demanded.

“Where is Eddie?” the masked man as he slung down the bananas he was out collecting.

“He’s up on the ridge, playing with Sebastian. Why?” Jack asked.

“I felt a twitch in my servos,” he said, turning around to stare in to the jungle, “The last time I felt was when the Watchman Relay Access was telling me Eddie was in danger.”

“Eddie’s in danger?” Walt blinked.

Then a loud roar echoed through the valley. Raven squinted his eyes at the sound of the monster, knowing he heard it before. Jack blinked and began to swell up in a fit of panic; knowing full well that was NOT the roar of the Polliwog. Hal and Micheal immediately stopped what they were doing at the sound. Walt then held onto Vincent who didn’t stop barking. “What the hell was that-“ Micheal tried to ask, until he was interrupted by the screams of Andra and Flower.

The two lost girls then dropped what they were doing and ran inside the Shark Tank. Shannon looked confused, then ran in after them. Raven then proceeded to run into the jungle. As he did, he left a blue trail of light behind him. Jack then dropped his plank, and ran toward a duffle bag near a tree. He quickly reached in and grabbed three pistols. Hal and Micheal were already jumping down off the cabin. The doctor quickly put a pistol in each of their hands. “Get back in the bunker, “ Micheal ordered his son, “And don’t come out till I get back! Move it, boy!”

Walt wanted to help Eddie but he didn’t want to argue with his father. Besides, he thought it would be a good idea to tell Locke. He saw his father and the two men run into the woods right on Raven’s heels. They couldn’t keep up with him but luckily, he left a blue trail of light to follow.



Ecko blinked as the monster stopped it’s howl. Barbara was incredibly afraid but she felt more rage than anything. Jilly held onto her trembling friend. Natasha just stood behind Ecko, not knowing what to do. The black man then slowly turned toward Bobby. “You have awakened the beast.” He said, making statement than a question.

“Your pet ninja couldn’t finish him off, Ecko,” Bobby giggled, “Now he’s back in my pocket.”

“Of course. Who else could control the beast . . .but the devil himself?” Ecko said coldly.

“You don’t know anything about me, Ecko. You call me Evil but I am not evil. I am merely doing what I know is right for the human race. The Herrenvolk shall rise and Walt shall lead them with Aaron as his high priest.”

“You are a mad man, and a coward.”

“Perhaps, but I am also the one who has Eddie and Sebastian. Think about it.”

Bobby turned to walk away. “Oh, Robert?” Ecko said, getting his attention.

Bobby turned and looked him, nonchalantly.

“I swear to this woman,” Ecko said in all seriousness, “If you harm those children in any way . . .I swear there will be no place on God’s green earth you can hide from me.”

“You were always such a bad ass, Ecko but it’ll take more than biblical threats to scare me. You make sure you tell Jack my demands and here, “ Bobby said, pulling something out of his back pocket, and tossing it to the black man, “Give him that, so he’ll believe I actually exist.”

Ecko caught the object with one arm, putting at her chest. Barbara gritted her teeth, trying to talk through her rage. “Bobby,” she hissed, “You tell me . . .you tell me my son is all right.”

“I told you, Barbara, he’s fine for now. If he stay that way is up to you. Ciao.”

Bobby turned around and proceeded to walk into the jungle. Ecko tried to stifle his rage, trying to maintain his focus. He wanted to chase the evil man and punish him with the Penance stick but the boys lives were at stake. He had to play by Bobby’s rules for now. He slowly turned and began to motion for the women to move the other way back toward the shark tank. By the time they got a good ten feet from their original spot, they saw someone approaching up on the hill. Barbara blinked when she saw it was Jack, Hal and Micheal. “JACK!!!” she screamed in tears.

“Barbara!” Jack said, running up to her and embracing her, “It’s all right. Are you okay? What is going on?”

“He’s . ..he’s got my baby,” she wept.

“What?” Hal blinked, “Who does?”

“This man,” Ecko held up the object to Jack, as further inspection showed it to be a passport.

“What is this?” the doctor asked.

“His passport,” Ecko said, “ To prove to you his threat was real. Where is Raven?”

“We . .were . .following him up here, “Micheal panted, “But we couldn’t keep up with him.”

“I will find him and return soon,” Ecko said, proceeding to walk back into the jungle.

Jack then grabbed him by the arm stopping him. “Wait, Ecko,” he demanded, “I need to know what is going on.”

“They will explain everything.” The black man calmly replied, “Please, Jack. I must find Raven, for he is the only one who stands a change of stopping the beast.”

“Beast?” the doctor blinked.

“Please, Jack, let him go,” Natasha begged, “He knows what he is doing.”

Jack slowly let go of the man’s arm. Ecko gave a smiling glance toward Natasha and then proceeded to run into the woods to find his friend. Jack looked at the others with a bewildered look. Someone they didn’t know had come out of nowhere and took Barbara’s son and at that moment, they were too upset to explain why. Jack was hoping the bad stuff was over but it clearly wasn’t. They had a new threat and that man had taken two of their own. Two children who did no harm to anyone. Jack slowly looked at the passport so he could remember the man’s name. He had to explain what was happening to Desmond and Isabella. He wiped out the dirt from the passport to get the man’s full name.

It read Robert Franklin Goodwin.

Part 317: A Story about Jenny

The night was slowly creeping on them. The sun was starting to touch the horizon. Locke stood up and stretched his back. He had no idea that Raven was talking for that long. Jack sipped on his water, thinking back to all the stuff the mysterious man had told him. Everything from Watchman to the other Jaeger Units to finding Ecko. Raven took a deep breath and sighed. He gently wiped his eyes of his tears, thinking of all the painful memories. Jack felt more sympathy for the man at that moment than he ever did. To have those things done to a person and have their brain experimented on to the point when he didn’t even remember his own name, it was horrific to think about. “I’m sorry for that you’ve gone through, Raven.” The doctor whispered.

“Thank you, Jack,” he sniffed.

“Yes, no more questions.” Locke said, patting him on the shoulder, “I have all I need to know.”

“I hope it’s what you wanted to hear.”

“It was,” the bald man smiled his warm smile, “Now you had some questions for me?”

“Actually, no. The question is for Jack.” Raven looked at the doctor.

“Me?” Jack whispered.

“I’ll leave you to it, then.” Locke said, walking away from them.

The bald man continued his walk back toward the metal bunker. As he came the door, he noticed the motioned coming from the bushes toward his left. Sayid soon appeared with Shannon and both looked tired. “You’re back.” Locke pointed out.

“Yes,” The Iraqi smiled, “And we are quite hungry.”

“Did you find a rendevous point?”

“Yes. About 7 Clicks down that way there is a small beach. When Tony and the others bring our rescue we’ll meet up with them there.”

“Perfect,” Locke smiled.

“One of these days you’ll have to tell me what a Click represents,” Shannon sighed, then blinked at the sight straight ahead, “Who is that with Jack?”

“Raven,” the older man smiled with joy.

“Raven? The Security System . . .is having a conversation with Jack?” Sayid said, almost hardly believing he just said such a sentence.

“There’s more to him than you know, Sayid. You should probably have a conversation with him. He’s quite . . .stimulating.”

“Is he . . .gonna leave with us?” Shannon asked.

Locke looked back toward the two men sitting on the ground by the fire. He looked to the ground briefly and then opened the door to go inside. “I don’t know.” He whispered.


Jack didn’t know what to do. It was an incredibly awkward situation. He was sitting three feet from what science fiction would classify as a cyborg. Yet, his scientific and intelligent brain was telling him it was impossible . . .yet there he sat. And Raven had a question for him. The doctor was fidgeting wonder what it could possibly be. Jack finally shrugged his shoulder; slapping his knees in the process. “So,” he said, nonchalantly, “ What did you want to ask me?”

Raven said nothing. He simply stared into the fire, his eyes emitting a soft blue glow. He gently massaged his chin and shifted his mask back around. “Tell me about her.” He whispered.

“About who?” Jack replied.

“About Jenny,”

Jack grew even more curious about Raven at that very moment. Was it because of the Blonde in the picture that this warrior became smitten with someone he didn’t even know? But Raven’s question also made him a little sad. He understand that Jenny cared deeply for him and they had no time to really talk about one another. Jack understood why Raven wanted to learn more. “What do you want to know?” he asked.

“Everything.” He whispered softly.

“Okay,” Jack said, “I met Jenny . . .when she was just 11 years old. By then she was already well on her way to becoming a Jeet Kune Do master.”

“Jeet Kune Do?” Raven finally looked at him, “That is her fighting art?”

“Yes. And damn good at it too. I’ve seen her . . .smash cinder blocks in half, whereas a guy twice her size couldn’t do it with a sledgehammer. She’s been able to take apart guys twice her size, as evident with . . .Texas.”

“You are her family?” Raven asked.

“I . .well . . .not technically but . . .this adventure we’ve had here as brought us back. Jenny was . .upset about what I did to her sister. Sarah and I were married for the longest time but I . . .screwed it up. I kissed another girl named Danielle and . . .well, I drove Sarah away into the arms of another man.”

“Did Jenny ever forgive you?”

“Yes. Yes, she did. After me taking a few punches by her.” Jack chuckled, finding the comment funny.

“Does she have any other family besides her sister?”

“Her mother is still around.”

“What else can you tell me about her?” Raven asked.

“Um . .well, she loves soccer. Her favorite movie is . . .uh . .was Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I don’t know if that has changed. She . .uh . . .she will make a great leader one day. Her other girlfriends in her Jeet Kune Do class look up to her. She’s got a great strength that her family relies on. Sarah would protect her but most of the time, it went the other way.”

Jack paused for a second, then rubbed his chin. He stared into the fire recalling a fond memory. “There was this one time,” he smiled with a slight teary eyed look, “Sarah had to stay at her office later because of a budget concern. So I volunteered to pick up Jenny at soccer at practice. When I got there, she complained that she was starving so I took her McDonalds. When we arrived, I was about to order but she ordered a Big Mac meal and ordered me . . .a kids meal.”

Raven chuckled slightly as did Jack. The doctor smiled as he continued his story. “When we sat down, she switched our meals back of course. She said, she enjoyed making fun of me, cause I knew she didn’t put any malice behind it. She told me . . .if she could have picked a brother-in-law, she would have picked me.”

Jack wiped his tears slightly. He smiled as he continued his tale. “She told me the most God awful joke that night,” he chuckled, “But the way Jenny told it, it was very funny.”

“Let me hear it.” Raven whispered.

“No, it’s . . .stupid.” Jack smiled and politely protested.

“Please, Jack. If it came from Jenny, then it must be special if you remembered it.”

Jack looked at the mysterious man, thinking of his statement. The doctor smirked; how could he refuse such a request. “Okay, I warned ya,” he said, scratching his forehead, “Okay . . .two guys, Sam and Bob escape a Looney Bin. Sam manages to take a flashlight from a security guard in the facility. The two crazies make their up toward the roof, looking for a way out. Sam then runs and takes a flying leap, jumping onto the next building. Bob looks at the distance and screams, I can’t make that jump! Sam comes back over and says, I got an idea. I will shine this flashlight toward the other building and you walk across the beam to get over here. Bob replies, What do you think I am, CRAZY?

You’ll turn it off before I get to the other side!”

Raven then burst out laughing. Jack laughed as well, almost so hard it made his side hurt. The masked man kept laughing, wiping his eyes. He continued to laugh slightly, until he took a deep breath. He gently wiped his eyes and even through his mask, Jack could tell he was smiling. “Thank you for that, Jack,” he grinned, “It’s been a long time since I laughed.”

“But it was stupid though, right?” Jack grinned.

“Yes, yes it was.”

“Jenny told it perfectly. She could even make the worse jokes funny.”

“I wish . . ..I wish I had more time to talk with her.” Raven said in all seriousness.

Jack looked at the man, almost starting to view him as Jenny’s Guardian Angel. The doctor then paused for a second and reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He opened it up and shifted through one of the inner sleeves. Raven watched him, wondering what he was doing. Then he pulled out two credit cards and then pulled them apart, revealing something underneath. He unfolded a long strip of paper but as Raven looked closely, he understood it was photos from like a photobooth. Jack looked it and then tore off a section. He then handed it to Raven. “My gift to you,” he said.

Raven took the photo and looked at it. It was a picture of Jack, Jenny and another woman who he assumed was Sarah. They were all squeezing in the photo of the booth. Jack was hugging Sarah by the neck while Jenny was smiling brightly, and sitting on his lap. “You look so happy,” Raven whispered.

“We were.” Jack sighed.

“Thank you for this, Jack.” Raven said, then unzipping the arm pocket and pulling out his own photo, “This is my photo.”

The doctor took it and gently unfolded it. It was exactly as he described; a beautiful blonde running down a peer, while looking back with a wonderful smile. The crazy part was that the blonde looked almost like Jenny. “Now I can see why you were interested in Jenny,” Jack smiled, handing the back to him, “She looks just like her.”

“Yes, she does.” Raven said, proudly.

“Hell, it’s probably her grandmother.” Jack scoffed with a chuckle.

Raven and Jack then paused, looking at each other. For a brief second, they actually entertained the possibility that the woman in the photo looked like Jenny cause they were related. Then they both laughed, waving it off. Jack then stood up, and brushed the dirt off his jeans. Raven stood up as well. The doctor was the first to hold out his hand and then Raven shook it. “Thank you for the kinds words, Jack, “ the masked man whispered, “I feel closer to Jenny now.”

“I only wish she was hear talking you as I did.” Jack said, then letting go of his hand.

Jack proceeded to walk back to the metal bunker but noticed his new friend wasn’t following him. “You coming?” Jack asked.

“I do not want to frighten to your people.” Raven said, shaking his head in disagreement.

“Okay, then,” Jack said, “But you’re not scary, Raven. People just don’t know you but now I do.”

“Thank you, Jack,” Raven bowed slightly.

The doctor turned and then paused; turning back around again. “One more thing, Raven?” Jack mentioned.

Raven paused before he leaped up into the sky. “Yes?” he asked.

“When we leave this Island, are you leaving with us?”

Raven blinked and then looked to the ground. The thought had never occurred to him, until Jack mentioned it. Could he ever leave? The fact that now he was a security system prevent him from doing such thing? He didn’t know but the thought of going back to America was intriguing. “I don’t know,” he whispered, “I’ll . . .think about it.”

“Okay,” Jack smiled, “You gonna be here when we wake up?”

“I’ll be above. Let Ecko know if he needs me.”

“Good night, Raven,” the doctor said, turning around.

“Good night, Jack.” The warrior whispered as he leaped up into the sky landing on a tree with the grace of a bird.

Jack stared briefly at the disappearance of the man before going inside to join the others. He had one hell of a dinner conversation to tell them.

Part 316: The People of The Hatch

The darkness echoed a horror movie, showing an unseen level of Hell. For the occupants of the Hatch, it was hell. The lights flickered because they were over 50 years old. The electricity still pumped into their circuits but the lights flickered nonetheless. The people of the Hatch were called Jaeger Units; promised to become super soldiers fighting for their country. But they were unaware that the process was flawed. Not all of them became super soldiers; others became the only word they new to describe themselves.

Freaks.

The large group that was rejects in the process were forced into the hatch and then sealed from the outside. They were tricked; the soldiers who guarded them told them a disease was sweeping the world and they would be safe in the Hatch; marking the outside door by Quarentine. That was forty years ago.

The process was to hold the genetic makeup for the enhancements had one process that it was able to beat; death. The cells became self replicating at 100 times their normal speed. Human being shed and re-grow cells daily; wounds take longer to heal. For a Jaeger Unit, a wound would heal in under seconds. But the drawback was the skin didn’t know when to stop healing. It left most with constant pain. And it kept them from starving to death, despite the fact that the food ran out 29 years ago.

Priest slowly moved the arms of the man he found a few minutes ago. The Unit had the designation of Monarch but he did not die a king. His body had finally burned out and a blood vessel in his brain popped. Priest made a cross across his forehead, removing the dirt in the process. “Blessed be the father, the son and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” the man whispered, “Ashes to ashes, Dust to Dust.”

“Save your prayers, Priest,” Arthur whispered, “God doesn’t live down here.”

“I will not ignore my teachings, despite what has been done to me. Monarch is dead, Arthur. He is one of the lucky ones.”

Then a group of Jaegers came down the long hallway. They were led by the one called Blaster. The large man with no hair on his body whatsoever stopped in front of the Priest. “Hand him over.” He grunted.

“No,” the Priest replied.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Priest but I will if I have too . . .now give me Monarch’s body.”

“I thought we agreed not to eat our kind?” the Priest said, wrapping the dead body up in plastic.

“WE’RE STARVING!!!” Princess screamed in tears, “Monarch would understand.”

“We are not going down that route, child,” Priest replied as he picked up the body, “That way lies damnation.”

“Open your eyes, Priest!!” Blaster screamed, “We are already damned!!”

The one called Priest ignored there screams. It wasn’t the first time they demanded one of the dead and it won’t be the last. The small group that was led by Blaster even attacked on of their own and feasted on his corpse for food. The stronger ones who were left fought back and they agreed that no longer would they feast on the living. The Priest didn’t approve of them feasting on the dead either. In fact, he disapproved completely.

The half-man/half hybrid walked down and made it to the underground well. The area was circular in nature, with their only source of water. No one knew how long it would last or how even long they had been there. Priest paused for a second when he noticed someone alone down in the well area. He relaxed his fears when he saw it was one of the stronger ones left; the one called Raven. “Hello, my friend.” Priest whispered.

Raven looked at him. He wanted to tell him Hello. He wanted to tell the Priest many thing but he could no longer; the procedure to make him a Jaeger unit replaced his human vocal cords with that of a raven’s. He made a chirping sound toward the Priest. “Why are you all alone?” he asked.

Raven made a motion toward his ears and then motioned for a sign, meaning nothing. “Ah, it’s quiet,” the Priest smiled, “Yes, I can sympathize. The constant sounds of death and dying can do a number on one’s mind yes. In fact, Blaster requested that he eat Monarch.”

Raven then stood up abruptly and looked down the tunnel leading back up to the main shaft. “No, no, no,” Priest said as he walked over to a sliding door, “Blaster is mostly all talk. It’s not like the Pegasus incident.”

Raven then walked over toward the Priest, knowing full well what he was planning. He strode past him and then opened the sliding door, the access to one of the man silos in the area. “Thank you for your help, Raven,” Priest sighed as he dumped the body into the giant shaft, “I only wish more of them were like you.”

Priest looked like he was going to collapse. Raven grabbed him by the arm and proceeded to help him up the ramp. “I’m so tired, Raven,” he coughed, “So . .tired.”

Raven made a chirping sound. He wanted to tell the Priest he was tired too but he couldn’t form the words.


How long had it been? Weeks? Months? Years? The passage of time wasn’t immaterial down the Hatch. A few of them would make markers on wall, signaling the passage of time but people were unsure what date it was. Some would celebrate their birthdays or Christmas without ever knowing the actual date.

Raven laid on the ground like he had done so many times. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate; nor what that particular food was. He wondered if he had a stomach left at all. Was that the reason hunger pains didn’t effect him? The masked man curled up in his makeshift bed with the others in the hallway with him. Most of them just stopped moving; they sat down and never got up. Raven often looked to Helen. She stopped moving a few years ago; just sat in the corner. One time a rat came out of the woodworks, taking a small chunk out of her leg and leaving. She never moved a muscle.

The masked man then shifted over on his back, reaching into the back pocket of his pants. The one piece of himself he managed to keep, and it was also one of the few things that kept him sane. He slowly unfolded the picture and looked at it. It was the picture of a young girl, running along a peer. Her blonde flowing hair looked like streaks of gold, even though it was a black and white photograph. She was looking back at whoever took the picture with such a bright smile, emitting so much joy. On the back of the photo, it read in scribbled letters I will wait for you.

Raven knew this girl meant something to him. But what would destroy his happiness and make him anger was that for the death of him, he could not remember her name. It made him even more upset when he couldn’t remember his own name. She said she would wait for him. But how long ago was that?

Raven.

The masked man then jolted as he felt a stinging sensation in his brain and realized someone was calling his name.

Raven.

Raven looked up and understood that it was Helen. The old woman was looking at him with such sadness. She was crying but no tears were in her body. Then she looked to her left, meaning Raven’s right. The masked man looked toward the right, seeing that she was pointing toward one of the adjacent rooms. The warrior stood up, placed his picture back into his back pocket and walked toward the room. He looked back toward Helen and she motioned gently with her head, pointing toward the room.

Raven walked into the hallway and then turned toward his left. He slowly opened the rusted metal door and looked inward. The light fell upon the face of Princess and judging by her eyes, she was clearly dead. Someone was kneeling over the side of her legs and what made Raven disgusted was that it was a munching sound. The masked man then clicked on the lights into the room, making the culprit turn around; blood caked on his cheeks. “Raven!” gasped The Priest.

The masked man squinted his eyes; this was the man who preached about not eating their own kind less than two weeks ago. Raven’s eyes slowly bent inward at the man. He wanted to scream at him; call him a hypocrite. Priest began to cower back behind the body of Princess. “Please, Raven, it’s not what you think.” He begged.

Raven slowly began to walk over to him, pulling out his silver nunchuks from his back belt. Priest began to crawl backward toward the other door. “Raven, don’t do this!” he begged, “I don’t want to die . .not like this . . .I’m not a monster, I . .”

By the time the Priest stood up, he felt his jaw break as Raven slammed his weapon into his face. The super soldier reject fell onto the ground, coughing up his own blood. He jerked when he felt the nunchuks hit him the back of the head. Raven pressed his hand against his shoulder blades and continued to beat him.

All that could be heard was the hard, wet packing sounds of Raven’s assault down the hallway. The creatures and freaks gathered together listening to the sounds of the attack. Then it stopped; filling the shaft with an eerie silence. Helen slowly closed her eyes and smiled, as tears finally dropped from her eyes. Raven slowly emerged from the room, his right hand and nunchuks dripping in blood. The freaks just stared at him as he slowly approached them. They quickly backed off, scurrying down the hallways. A few of the stronger ones left like Blaster and Yosemite stood their ground. Raven then turned toward his left and proceeded to write on the wall in Priest’s blood. He stayed there for a few seconds, then when he was done; he turned and pushed past them. Blaster looked back at him and then toward the wall with the words dripping in blood.

ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DIE A MONSTER,
COME SEE ME.

Raven walked back down the ramp toward the well where it was quiet. No one followed him. And after his threat, there were no more incidents of cannibalism. Raven wasn’t sure if they wanted to hold onto to their humanity. However, he knew for a fact he wanted to hold onto his.


Raven opened his eyes, wondering how much time had past. Was it a week or a year? He honestly didn’t care anymore. He knew was going to die in this Hatch. Eventually he would grow too weak to defend himself and the need for food will overdrive his fellow reject’s common sense. He gently felt of the photo in his jacket, making sure it was still there. As along as she was with him, he knew he could survive. Raven also knew if they did come for him, they wouldn’t take her. The only source of purity left in his life.

Raven then blinked when someone came scurrying down the ramp; his first visit since the Priest incident. The small man stopped as he approached the warrior. Raven only knew him as Squeak, one of the ones that was like him; combined with animal DNA. In this case, Squeak was infused with rat DNA. He looked like a small dwarf man with whiskers like a rat and his ears even grew outward. “Raven,” he twitched his mouth,” Helen says it is time for your release.”

Raven gave him a confused look.

“Come, come,” he motioned, “Follow Squeak.”

The rat man scurried back up the ramp. Raven paused for a second, then followed him. He walked up the ramp and looked around, noticing most of the specimens were asleep or dying. Squeak walked over to Helen and sat down next to her for a brief second, then ran off. Raven walked over to her and kneeled down, looking at her in the face. He slowly took her limp, rotting hand and held it in his own. “Raven,” she whispered inside his head, “You are a kind soul. Everyone else has succumbed to their fate but you . . you have fought it. You are the only one strong enough to do what is needed.”

Raven shook his head in confusion.

“You must kill us.” Helen said, psychically.

Squeak then came back into the room with an old army backpack. He sat it down and pulled out a book. He then handed it to Raven and pointed toward the scribble at the bottom. “Raven read, Raven read,” he squeaked.

Raven looked it over. It read, “The Jaeger Units expiration date will be set in place. Commence with the reset code to . . and then it stopped. Raven shrugged his shoulders.

“The reset code must be locked into our cyanide capsules in our bodies,” Helen whispered, “It’s the only logical explanation. Find it, Raven. Please.”

“Squeak learned that the book talks of a being called Watchman,” the rat man pointed, “Find the Watchman and find the code, Raven.”

Raven put the book into the backpack and then placed it on his shoulders. He motioned with his hands, using sign language and stated the obvious question; how was he going to get out of the Hatch? “In a moment,” Helen whispered psychically, “There are . .soldiers that have arrived on the Island. They have discovered the Hatch. In five minutes, an arc welder will open it. Only you, Raven . ..have the agility and the strength to get up the Hatch. Squeak will show you.”

“Raven follow Squeak.” The rat man jumped past him and skipped down the hallway.

Raven gently touched Helen’s cheek. She smiled and managed to cry again. “End our suffering, Raven,” she whispered, “Please . . . . . “

The masked man then got to his feet and ran off down the hallway. His boots splashed on the collection of water as he ran past all the pylons that ordained the large hallway. Squeak continued to run until he stopped at the Hatch exit. He quickly pulled out a flare and ignited it, looking upward. Raven stopped and looked upward. “Soldiers should be here any minute,” the rat man peeped, “ Then Raven escape through exit they make.”

Raven shook his head, understanding what he had to do.

“All freaks in Hatch want to die, “ Squeak pointed out, “Priest wanted to die. Helen wants to die. Even Squeak want to die, so Squeak can join family in heaven.”

Raven gave him a look as if he was saying why are you tell me that?

“Helen said she chose Raven cause Raven wants to live. Squeak wanted to know why?”

Raven paused for a second, then kneeled down and removed the picture from his back pocket. He unfolded it and handed it to the rat man. Squeak looked it over and read it, then handed it back to him. “Raven believes pretty lady is still waiting for him?” he asked.

Raven shook his head in agreement.

“Squeak doesn’t know if anybody waits for him but if Raven believes in pretty lady’s promise, then that is all Squeak needs to know.”

Then sparks and a screeching sound began to erupt above. Raven looked up at the metal dome of the tunnel, seeing white and orange sparks falling from above. “Soldiers have come!” Squeak pointed, “Squeak leave now.”

Raven gently patted him on the head.

“Good luck, warrior,” he said as he left the flare and ran off into the distance.

Raven then looked skyward as the welding had already carved out half of the dome. He then placed his right hand on side and then his left hand on the other side. Using his skills of balance, he gently began to push himself up. One small scoot at a time, raising his right foot and hand, then his left foot and hand. Within minutes, he was already up toward the top of the shaft. He turned his head as the hot sparks bounced off of him. Then the welding at stopped. Raven looked up and saw that someone was prying off the rest of it with a crowbar. The masked warrior squatted down then thrust himself upward.

He collided with the dome, sending it to the side along with two soldiers. There were three more but by the look on their faces, they had no ideas there would be some alive down below. Raven rolled on the ground and the moment he found his footing, he ran into the jungle. “SHOOT HIM!!!” some one screamed.

Raven ran, hearing the bullets smack the trees as he escaped into the jungle. He was trying to stay focused without being intoxicated by the clean air. The masked man then looked up and saw the Moon for the first time in over 40 years. He remembered that they changed about him and decided to put it to use. He quickly grabbed a vine and scaled the tree with the grace of the raven that he got his namesake from. The soldiers down below fired at him until he disappeared into the darkness. One soldier lowered his rifle and looked back toward the soldier in command. “How do we explain this to Belmont, Frakes?” he asked.

Frakes looked into the night sky and took a deep breath. He gently pulled out a cigarette and lit up. “Re-seal it.” He ordered.

“What?” the arc welder gasped.

“We just saw a freak emerge from this hatch and fly through the damn trees like Tarzan!” Frakes pointed out, “we are not going back down there until we learn more. Belmont will understand.”

“Yeah, but will the Colonel?” asked another soldier.

“He’s got the computer. He ain’t gonna care,” Frakes tossed his cigarette inside, “Seal it.”

The soldiers moved it back into place and began to reseal. High above beyond their scope of hearing, Raven watched from above. They mentioned names that were associated with the military faction that ran them; Frakes, Belmont and the Colonel. They mentioned a computer and Helen mentioned a reset code. Is that possibly where he would find it? Raven didn’t know but he needed to get a better layout of the Island. He quickly soared through the trees to get faraway from them as possible.


The morning sun finally began to rise. The sky had stopped being dark and went to becoming a light blue. Raven’s clothes were swaying the breeze on the line of vines he fastened. The warrior sat in the sand alone and naked for the first time in a long time. The sunrise was probably the most beautiful thing he had seen since the moon last night. The little things he took for granted, he appreciate them with every single breath he took.

He looked at his scarred hands and then gently felt of his scarred face. He couldn’t change who he was but he knew Helen could have told anybody about the approaching soldiers but she told him. Raven slowly stood up and walked back over to his clothes. Near the bottom on the sand was the collection of coconuts he found along the way. He cracked one up and drank it’s precious milk. Raven felt a headache coming on cause it was the first nourishment he had had in so many years. After he finished his coconut, he then picked up his pants and began to place them on. Then his shirt and his jacket. He gently pulled the photo out and looked at it again. The lovely blonde stared back at him, reminding him of her words.

I will wait for you.

Raven tucked her back safely his pocket. She kept him going. He didn’t remember who she was but she kept him going. Helen gave him escape and at that moment, he knew his purpose. To find the reset code, find the being called Watchman and end their suffering once and for all.

Raven slowly donned his mask and tied it shut. Then he jumped up into the trees and proceeded to find a place he could call home, while he continued his search.

Part 315: Quote The Raven Part 2

Jack took a deep sigh as he followed Locke down the hallways toward the exit of the Shark Tank. He was relunctant to speak to Raven after the outburst they shared not ten minutes ago. Locke assured him that everything would be okay. Jack didn’t even know how to take that. Locke pushed the door to the outside. In the middle of the open field, Raven was sitting cross legged facing the opposite direction. Locke looked to Jack, then started walking toward him. The doctor took a deep breath and then followed him.

The two men walked up to Raven, looking down at him. He was just staring out into the distance of the jungle then the ocean beyond it. “Sit down,” he said.

Locke slowly sat down, and crossed his legs as well. Jack crouched down and then leaned on one hand. Raven slowly looked at him, flashing blue light from his eyes. “Thank you for coming, Jack.” He whispered.

“I’m sorry . . .If I upset you, I just . . .” Jack considered his words carefully, “I don’t fully comprehend what made you . . .you.”

“Quite frankly I don’t either, Jack. But perhaps through our little discussion we can figure it out.”

“Do you remember dying?” Locke asked.

“Yes. The cyanide capsule implanted in my chest was activated the moment the expiration code made it down the list of active Jaeger Units. My heart stopped and then I was gone.”

“Do you remember what happened afterwards?”

“Yes, I woke in an underground chamber, bathed in a blue light. When I was able to move, I was more than I ever was. Watchman remade me.”

“No, I mean . . .what happened between dying and waking up?” Locke asked again.

“John . . .are you trying to ask Raven if he went to Heaven?” Jack asked in amazement.

“I just wanted to ask him if he remembers anything, Jack.”

“To answer your question, Locke, no, I do not remember.” Raven said bluntly.

Locke lowered his head, taking a deep sigh. Jack watched him closely, wondering what type of answer he was looking for. The old man decided to leave certain things on faith; faith in himself and especially faith in Mia. He had grown so close to the young girl and her stories of her dreams with her grandmother. He thought Raven could solidify what Mia already know but his faith in her would have to be enough. “Okay, next question,” he whispered, “That man in there, Ecko . . .Jenny said he was old. But that guy is clearly young; is he the same man Jenny talked with?”

“Yes, he is.” Raven said in a cold tone.

“How . . .how is he young?” Jack asked.

“Ecko, as you probably know, came over here in a bi-plane from Nigeria. As he entered the sky over his country, he was wrapped in a dark cloud vortex. When they emerged from the storm they appeared here. Ecko was spared.”

“What do you mean, spared?” Locke asked.

“The vortex had an unnatural side-effect.” The masked man looked at Locke, “It was designed to be the first teleporter the world had ever seen. But it couldn’t hold celluar structure; it aged it’s subjects rapidly.”

“The advanced decompistion.” The bald man whispered, as Raven was filling in all the blanks.

“Ecko was aged slowly. He emerged from that plane a youthful man of 23. Then in the span of 11 years, he became an old man.”

“Eleven years?” Jack held up his hand, “Jenny said that he said he was on this Island for 22 years.”

“Another lie. He was worried . . .that she wouldn’t understand the situation.”

“Is there anything he told her that was truthful?” Jack demanded.

“The fact that he and I are friends.” Raven stared at the doctor, mildly insulted.

Jack was getting unnerved by Raven’s glare. His eyes were cold and yet hot at the same time; with the slight blue light emitting from them. The doctor just slowly lowered his head. Locke broke the tension immediately by continuing the questions. “So he is young again?” the old man asked, “How did that happen?”

“The Vortex that brought him here, has an Energy Wash Chamber where it’s design to hold it’s residue. I brought him there and placed him in it. Like I thought it would, the chamber took the foreign energy out of his body. I didn’t know it would de-age him.”

“Where is this chamber located?” asked Jack.

“Underground. About 500 feet.” Raven pointed down.

“Could you take us to this chamber?”

“I would advise against it.” The masked man pointed out,” He doesn’t like to be disturbed.”

Jack blinked in confusion. “Who doesn’t?”

“The creature Eddie named The Polliwog.”

“Wait a second,” Locke threw up his hands, “Why would the Polliwog be in the teleporter chamber?”

“Every creature needs a nest, Locke.” The masked man whispered as if it was obvious.

“A nest?” Jack scoffed, “The Polliwog turned . . one of the most advanced pieces of machinery the world as every seen . . .INTO A NEST?”

“Irony appears in many forms, Jack,” Raven seemed to be smiling under his mask, “The celluar structure of the Polliwog is unique. The energies of the vortex bathe themselves into the creature once a month. Those energies have stayed with it, to the point where the Polliwog can now teleport at will.”

“Why have we not seen the Polliwog? Why does it hide among the trees and shadows?” Locke asked.

“Near as I can figure, it stems from it’s creation. The Polliwog was born in an incubation chamber; a mixture of circuits and animal DNA from over 60 animals. It was watched and monitored all it’s life. I don’t think . .it likes to be looked upon.”

Jack heard Raven’s words and then lowered his head, starting to chuckle. Locke smirked looking at the doctor who was upset ten minutes ago at Raven’s statements but at that moment, was finding them amusing. “What’s so funny, Jack?” Locke asked.

“It makes perfect sense.” He said, with an expression on his face that said he didn’t believe he was saying it.

“What does?”

“The Polliwog,” Jack laughed, “Raven said, that creature didn’t like to be looked upon.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Why else . . .would it befriend a blind man?”

Locke then started to chuckle himself. “And here I thought that was just coincidence.”

“I guess Desmond was right.” The doctor whispered.

“Are you saying you are starting to believe what I am saying, Jack?” Raven inquired.

“It’s hard for me to understand this stuff . . .but I don’t think you are lying, if that is what you mean.”

“No, I am not lying,” the masked man sighed, “Whether you understand what I am saying is up to you. But I swear . . .it is the truth.”

“I think we can all agree you are not lying, Raven,” Locke mentioned, “Now the next question I want to know might be a little sensitive . . .and if you don’t want to answer it, that is fine.”

“What question, Locke?” Raven looked at him.

“Tell me about the other Jaeger Units. Tell me about Helen. Tell me about . ..the day you escaped the Hatch.”

Raven shook his head in agreement. “I want to tell you about them.” He whispered, “If I do tell you . ..it will be as if . . .they truly existed and they weren’t . . .discarded.”

Jack finally felt sorry for the strange man. The doctor couldn’t imagine it; he tried but every time he though about, he failed. The possibility of a large group of people who were experimented on left in an underground bunker to die, but yet they didn’t. How did they live? What they did they eat?

Jack waited patiently as Raven began the tail of the beings in the Hatch.

Part 314: Quote The Raven Part 1

Micheal laughed as he was enjoying his conversation with Isabella and Claire. It never occurred to him but he thought that the reason they were all getting along so well was the fact that they had all become parents recently. Isabella seemed like a lovely woman, who wanted only the best for her son. She hoped they wouldn’t stay long enough for Aaron to get infected by the airborne particle that comes from the mysterious Plant. The black man wanted to know more about the Island and what type of plant could do such a thing. Until he heard Walt calling his name.

Micheal turned to see his son running toward him, followed by Vincent. Eddie was right behind him, carrying Sebastian; running toward them. “Dad!” Walt called, “You got to get Jack!”

“What?” he coughed, “What for?”

“Mr. Raven’s friend is hurt!” Walt pointed behind them.

“Raven?” gasped Claire.

Up on the trail, the masked man finally came into view; holding a large muscled bound man with one arm secure in a fireman’s cradle. His other hand held a large thick pale stick. Isabella began to panic over people she had never seen nor their strange name. “Who is that?” she gasped.

“No, Isabella, it’s all right,” Claire said, “Raven is a friend.”

“What, but he-“

“Trust me, Isabella. He saved my life.”

“Where is the doctor?” the masked man asked again.

Claire and Micheal didn’t respond; because they were under the impression that he didn’t speak at all, just chirped like the bird of his namesake. Eddie looked at them and realized he would have to take charge; cause they were too busy being awestruck. He quickly sat down Sebastian, then reached over and tugged on Raven’s shirt. “Come with me, Raven,” he said, “There is an infirmary in the building as well.”

Raven then followed the young boy toward the metal door. Micheal finally snapped out of his awe and ran to help them. Isabella held onto her son while Claire held onto Aaron. Raven could speak? The young Australian had so many questions for him but she didn’t think it was the right time.

“Where’s Jack?” Eddie called out toward the people as he walked in, followed by Raven.

Everybody then stopped looking at him and looked at Raven. Eddie rolled his eyes and sighed. “I SAID WHERE IS JACK?” he screamed.

Kristy finally stopped blinking at Raven and then walked toward Eddie, kneeling down to face him. “He’s down below with Locke.” She said.

“Get him to meet us in the infirmary, Kristy,” Eddie patted on her the shoulder, then turned toward the masked man, “This way, Mr. Raven.”

The group was still looking at him and the large black man he had over his shoulders. Eddie started to walk toward the hallway that led toward the infirmary but his fellow survivors were just still staring at Raven. “MAKE A HOLE!!” Eddie commanded.

The group finally complied and moved out of the way for Raven and Eddie. The little boy motioned him down the hallway. Raven shifted between them and followed the child toward the end of the hallway, where he pushed open the swinging double doors to the medical room. Raven walked in and strode over toward the nearest gurney, placing down his large friend. The black man moaned, and coughed. “Raven?” he coughed.

“I am here, my friend,” He said, “The doctor is on the way.”

“My chest hurts.” He coughed.

“I hope it will fade in a few minutes.”

“Thank you . . .for what you did.” The black man whispered.

He then moved his head toward the other side and looked to Eddie. The young boy stared into the face of the man for a few seconds. Then he finally whispered, “Hello.”

“Hullo.” He smiled back.

“Eddie, this is Ecko.” Raven introduced him.

“Ecko,” Eddie smiled, “Cool name.”

“Thank you,” the man chuckled, then felt of his chest, “Raven . . .the pain . . is going away.”

“That is excellent news.” The mysterious man smiled under his mask.

Jack finally arrived after pushing his way through the double doors and the group of people standing outside. The doctor looked at Raven and then looked toward the black man on the gurney before him. He immediately walked over toward the sink and proceeded to wash his hands. “What’s wrong him?” he asked.

“His chest was hurting but the pain is going away.” Raven asked.

“Heart attack?” Jack blinked, “But he looks like he is in great shape.”

“He is now.” The masked man said coldly.

“What does that mean?” Jack asked him but Raven didn’t reply.

Ecko remained still as Jack lifted up his wrist to check his heart rate. As he continued his diagnosis, the double doors slowly came pushed inward. Charlie slowly walked in, followed by Claire. The young couple stood nearby, looking at the masked man. Raven slowly turned to face them. They looked at him with a mixture of fear and interest. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.” He told them.

“Raven . ..how is it you can speak?” Claire asked.

“When I was reborn . . .Watchman fixed problems about me. He removed the Cyanide Core in my chest and gave me enhanced reflexes and strength.”

“Watchman is gone,” Jack said, “I was there when he was downloaded to Mole.”

“His core memory is gone but his basic functions remain. That is why he sent us toward the beach to assist you and your people.”

“Us?” the doctor blinked.

“The Security Systems, Jack.” Raven said.

Jack continued to check out Ecko, but Charlie noticed the look of utter contempt on his face. Raven noticed it also, flashing a small blue light from each of his eyes. Claire then slowly moved away from Charlie and looked closer at the black man. She remembered him; from the cave. She only saw him briefly cause she was in a fit of panic but it was clearly him. Based on the story Jenny told her, there was a few things that were confusing. “You said his name is Ecko?” she looked to Raven, “I thought Jenny said his name was Emeka.”

The black man looked toward Claire, with a slight mixture of sadness. “I didn’t mean to lie to the young girl,” he said, “I wasn’t . . . .I wasn’t . .ready.”

“Ready for what?” Jack said, checking his eyes.

“Ready to accept my fate.” He whispered, “I told her my name was Emeka, cause it was the name of my father. There are many things I’ve done in my life . ..that I am not proud of. My arrogance . . .my sin, cost me the life of my brother.”

“Rest, Ecko,” Jack told him, “You can tell us your story later.”

Ecko shook his head, feeling very tired. “My Penance Stick?” he asked.

Raven took his hand and guided it toward the large stick resting near the gurney. Charlie tilted his head look at the stick. It had carvings into the side of it, mostly bible scripture. The musician was kind of confused about the status of the black man. Was he a priest or was he just simply a religious person? Jack walked back over toward the sink, washing his hand again. As he took a gray towel, he began to try his hands, then looked at Raven. “I want to talk to you outside.” He replied.

Raven squinted his eyebrows inward, not sure where Jack’s tone was coming from. As the doctor threw the towel to the side, Raven then turned to follow him. Eddie was confused about Jack’s tone as well. Charlie and Claire decided to follow as well but the young Australian woman comforted the black man before they left. Ecko calmly took a deep breath and went to sleep.

Jack walked past the people that were flocked in the hallway. Raven walked past them as well but kept his cybernetic eyes focused on the doctor. Eddie scurried quickly to keep up with them. Charlie walked with Claire for a few feet and then tugged on his arm. “Charlie, that is the man I saw in the caves.” She whispered.

“But . . .I thought Jenny said he was old?” the singer replied.

“He was. I can’t . . .explain it.”

“Maybe Raven can.” Charlie replied.

Jack walked into the living area and then turned around. He crossed his arms as he looked to Raven. “I want you out of this building.” He commanded.

“Why?” Raven immediately demanded.

“Because you are making this people upset.”

“Them . . .or you?” the Masked man hissed.

“You’re outta line, Jack!” Eddie grunted.

“Stay out of this, Eddie,” Jack ordered.

“Eddie, come over here,” his mother then demanded.

“Mom, Raven didn’t do anything wrong!” the boy replied, “He’s just trying to help his friend!

The Masked man then put his hand down on Eddie’s shoulder. Barbara was a little worried about him doing something but everything pointed toward this man being a hero. He looked down at the young boy, flashing his blue eyes. “Thank you for standing by me, Eddie,” he said, but then looked toward the others, “But I will leave. I don’t wish to . . . upset anyone else.”

As he parted from the young boy, he turned toward Jack briefly. “However, I am not leaving my friend behind,” he said, staring at the doctor, “I will be outside. You let me know when he is well.”

“Fine,” Jack replied.

Raven then walked down the other hallway area, past the control room toward the exit. Eddie looked at the masked man as he left the company of the group. The little boy then turned around and kicked Jack in the shin. “Ow!” the doctor grunted.

“EDDIE!!!” Barbara yelled in her disapproving voice.

Eddie waved them off and ran to follow Raven. Jack massaged his leg, leaning against the wall. The older redhead walked over to check on him. “I’m sorry, Jack,” she replied, “I don’t know what has gotten into him.”

“It’s not a problem.” He said, walking on his leg.

“But Eddie does have a point,” Charlie said, “Why did you come off on Raven like that, Jack? He bloody saved our lives.”

“I’m not arguing with that.” He grunted, sitting down.

“Then why did you-“

“Because he’s an abomination!!!” Jack screamed back, “He’s a walking dead man, plugged in by wires! He was trapped in a damn hatch for 50 years, rotting from the inside out. He’s . . .he’s . . .he’s . . . “

“He’s the opposite of everything you believe in.” Locke answered for him.

Jack looked at the older man who had finally come out of the Observation Room below. Locke rested on the side wall as he looked toward the doctor. Jack rubbed his face, and sighed; not having an answer for what the bald man asked. Then again, his silence was all the answer the Locke needed. “Pretty soon, Jack, you are going to have to embrace the wonders this Island produces.” Locke told him.

“We’ll be off this Island before that ever happens.” The doctor countered.

“And what if we are not?” the bald man shrugged, “We don’t know how long it’s going to take Tony and them to find a ship to rescue us. It could be another mouth, it could be a year, we don’t know.”

“What the hell do you want from me, Locke?” Jack asked back.

“What I’ve always wanted from you. What Mia always wanted from you,” he sighed, “A leap of Faith.”

“If it wasn’t for Raven and the rest of the Security Systems, “ Hal mentioned, “We might not have been able to stop the Liberation that captured us on the beach. Don’t we at least owe him the courtesy of Shelter?”

“Well said, Hal,” Locke smiled as he began to walk toward the exit.

“Where are you going?” Jack asked.

Locked paused for a second then smiled even brightly. “I’m going to go talk to him,” he said, implying it should have been obvious.


Locke opened the door leading to the outside. The group of people who had made their camps outside were all gathered together in a group staring upward. The bald man then looked upward, and saw Raven perched on top of one of the cabins. Eddie was sitting on the ground, holding his legs; looking up at the masked man. Locke looked down at the little boy, who just sighed with sympathetic eyes. “I think his feelings are hurt.” He whispered.

“Jack is just having difficulty accepting the Island,” Locke smiled, “He didn’t mean to lash out at Raven.”

“Then why won’t Jack apologize?”

“Maybe he will. Maybe he just needs time . . .like Raven.”

Locke walked over toward the cabin, looking upward. Raven stared off into the distance, squatting at the edge of the cabin roof. “Raven, could you come down, please?” Locke asked him.

“Why?” he asked.

“I would like to talk to you . . .ask you some questions,” he admitted.

“Why?” Raven repeated.

“Because I want to understand the Island and now that you can talk, perhaps . . .you could educate me.”

Raven finally moved his head, looking down at the older man. He could tell he was serious and not upset at his presence. However, the masked man already knew this older man could be trusted. Raven then flipped forward, twirled in the air and landed on the ground with the grace of a gazelle. He slowly stood upright, then looked toward the older man. “You are trustworthy, Locke,” he whispered, “Helen knew that.”

“Helen, “ Locke sighed, “The . . .Jaeger Unit?”

“Yes. Her brain was altered to increased her already natural psyonic abilities. She scanned your mind when you were high above.”

“And downloaded her knowledge of me into the Watchman computer.” He shook his head, “That much I figured out on my own.”

“Then what do you wish to know?”

“You for instance,” he pointed, “How . . .how did you come back to life? Are the security systems sentient? That man in there, Ecko . . . from what Jenny described, he’s an old man but clearly he’s not. Raven, what is-“

The masked man held up his hand to stop Locke from talking. The older man paused, wondering if he said something wrong. “I will answer your questions, Locke but I will do it only on one condition.” Raven said.

“And what would that be?”

“You bring Jack out here to listen, “ the masked man flashed his eyes, “Because I have questions of my own.”

Part 313: Day 66

The area known as the Shark Tank was finding it’s morning. The water caressed the empty dock, splashing slightly with enough force to wet it. The Broadway lights were still blinking, amid the three cabins outside the main metal structure. This is where the survivors had found their new home. A few decided to stay outside but the majority went inside. Desmond and Isabella welcomed them into their home because it meant for the first time in a long time, they were not alone.

Inside one of the many room that had been converted into sleeping quarters, Eddie slowly rose awake. He scratched the morning mucus out of his eyes. The young boy then slowly stood up, and paused to scratch his left armpit. He looked over to the cot where his mother slept. Barbara was enjoying one of the first of many restful nights. Eddie pulled the covers closer to her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek; prompting a smiling moan. The kid turned to look at Jilly who had slept on the floor with him under her own sleeping bag. She too was still asleep. Eddie then walked up to the door and slowly opened it, then left his family to their morning dreams.

The young boy began his walk down the cold hallway, looking for the bathroom. Once he found it, he jumped in and quickly relieved himself. The floor in the bathroom was colder than the hallway outside. He quickly jumped back out and sat down, massaging his feet. He then pulled his socks out of his jeans and put them on to help out. Tony taught him that trick; so his socks would never get sand in them. Even though they were no longer on the beach, old habits die hard.

Eddie found himself at the end of the hallway hearing all the others snore and wheeze in various rooms they commandeered. In the main living area, Libby slept on her couch with Hal below her on the floor. Eddie smiled at the couple when they walked past them. He turned a corner and got into the kitchen, walking to the large reflective metal refrigerator. He gently opened the door and pulled out one of the many orange juice bottles. As he opened it up and took a swig, he began to hear the familiar beep of the countdown.

Eddie walked into the control room area, seeing that no one was in there. He wondered who was supposed to be on duty. He then turned around when he heard a pat of familiar small feet. Sebastian came into the room, smiling at Eddie. The little boy returned the smile of his new friend, taking a another drink of the juice. “Relax, Sebastian, “ Eddie said, grabbing the stool on wheels, “I got this covered.”

Eddie hopped on the stool and got in front of the computer console. Quickly, he began to type into the computer. “Good morning, Argos,” he said to himself, “This is Eddie.”

The monitor began to flash it’s familiar green letters.

GOOD MORNING, EDDIE.
THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN.
DO YOU WISH FOR ME TO DISPENSE THE VIALS OR RELEASE THE SPECIMENS?

Eddie typed in for him to release the vial.

PLEASE ENTER ACCESS CODE.

Eddie looked up and typed in the numbers that were taped with a piece of paper to the monitor and pressed execute.

ACCESS CODE ACCEPTED.
COMPLYING WITH COMMMAND.
STAND BY.

The numbers on the wall above clicked past their sections and landed back on 108:00. The machine toward the left began to whirl. Eddie slid off the stool and walked over to the counter. Within a few minutes, the pneumatic tube hissed it’s gust of air and a small vial slid out into the silky catcher. Eddie picked up the vial and unscrewed it; handing it to his smaller companion. Sebastian quickly drank the liquid and smiled. “Feel better?” he asked.

Sebastian shook his head in agreement.

“Easy peasy,” Eddie said, feeling like he was in control.

Then someone came running into the control room. Desmond paused for a second, then looked at his son and then looked up the clock that now read 107:23. He looked at his son, who was smiling and happy. Then the adult turned his gaze toward Eddie. “Did you type in the code, little man?” Desmond asked.

“Yes, sir.” Eddie saw proudly.

“Bless you, son,” Desmond said, picking up his son and kissing him on the cheek, “My bloody alarm clock finally died on me. But what can you expect? Damn thing was built in 1972.”

Eddie then followed Desmond and Sebastian into the Kitchen for morning breakfast. Pretty soon the rest would be waking up. The little boy couldn’t remember if it was his mother’s time for kitchen duty or not.


Jack tied on his shoes and stood up. He reached over and pulled the sleeveless flannel from the counter, sliding it over his body. As he buttoned it up, Micheal then walked past him in nothing but a towel. “Morning, man,” he replied.

“Never get used to community showers,” Jack smirked.

“Hey, Jack, you are missing the point.” The black man said, standing behind a side wall.

“What’s that?”

“WE HAVE SHOWERS.” He laughed as he turned it on.

Jack just shook his head as he exited the shower room. He walked down into the hallway and made his way toward the living area. Hal waved good morning to him as he and Libby were on the couch, sharking their breakfast. The majority of the ground were forming a buffet line in the kitchen area. Walt was feeding Vincent some of processed eggs they cooked. “These taste awful but he likes him.” The young boy said.

“That’s probably cause after living in freeze dried bags for 20 years, they closely resemble dog food now.” Jack laughed.

“The fruit is good though, Jack. You should get you some.”

“I will. Say, have you seen Locke?”

“He’s down below.” Walt pointed toward the access door to the lower observation area.

Jack was a little curious, cause Locke was down there yesterday. Did he ever come up? The doctor then made his way toward the door but Kristy stopped him before he went in. She handed him a white coffee cup with the Dharma logo on it and filled to the brim with steaming coffee. She handed him his required two creamers and six sugars. Jack smirked as she held the door for him as he descended the stairs. It almost seemed since Jenny was gone, Kristy took it upon herself to look after Jack. From someone who was his younger ex-sister-in-law’s friend, he would expect no less.

Jack descended the stairs and found Locke where he left him last night; up to his neck in ancient papers. The bald man looked up at the sound of the doctor and smiled. “Morning, Jack.” He grinned.

“Did you get any sleep?” Jack replied, sitting down on one of the few office chairs in the area.

“No. I’ve been down here all night.”

“You’re like a kid on Christmas morning.” The doctor smirked as he dumped his creamer in his coffee.

“Good metaphor,” Locke said, examining an old green folder cabinet, “ I was so excited about this place, I couldn’t sleep.”

“You know what they say about the curious cat, Locke?” Jack sipped his coffee.

“Good thing he’s got nine lives,” the bald man smiled.

Jack smirked as he sipped more into his coffee and set it aside. He picked up one of the many notebooks he found yesterday and began to breeze through it, trying to learn more about the Dharma Initiative and the Hanso Corporation. “You think this Hanso company is still active today?” Jack asked over his shoulder.

“Hard to say. And if it was,” Locke grunted, “I’d sure like to hear what they have to say about this place.”

“What are you doing?” Jack finally asked.

“This old cabinet . . .I thought it was just locked but there is a little more to it.”

Jack saw where Locke was pointing. The lock that held the area where one could put it a key, already had a key in it. “It’s broken off?” Jack asked.

“Yeah.” Locke smiled, “Now why would anybody break off a key in old filing cabinet?”

“Maybe Desmond did it.”

“I honestly doubt it.” Locke continued to work on it,” He needs everything to keep his son alive. No logical reason why he would not only lock it but break off the key.”

“Yep. You are too curious for your own good,” Jack sipped his coffee.

“And you Jack . . .are not curious enough.”

“I got all the answers I need.”

“Uh, huh. Yeah. Sure you do.” Locke laughed sarcastically.

Jack didn’t answer him. He just went back to reading the massive amounts of notebooks they found. As he read and sipped his coffee, he looked up at the blast shields to the outer ocean area. The doctor thought for a second, then reached over and flipped the switch to let the shield raise up. The metal then began to climb and Jack could see on into the ocean.

What he wasn’t expecting was one of the Sharks to already be there.

Locke turned around and looked at the massive great white. The shark slowly swam closer, twisting it’s body around so it could stare at them. It slowly raised it’s lips so it’s teeth would be visible. Then it swam away abruptly, sending the floating small debris and seaweed to bounce against the glass shield. Jack then slowly clicked the switch back and let the metal covering slide back down. “What do you think that shark meant by that?” he asked.

“It was a warning, Jack,” Locke sighed, “I am certain if that shark had the chance it would kill us.”

“We’ve done nothing to it. It was the Liberation and the Hanso Corporation.”

“I don’t think it cares, Jack.” The bald man continued to work on the filing cabinet, “All it knows is that we are the men throwing the switch to cause it pain.”


Above on the surface, the majority of the survivors were out and about; helping with laundry and other things. A group of the survivors were planting seeds, creating a garden for Isabella and Desmond in the event their food ran out. Claire and Isabella were walking together as the Spanish woman held onto little Aaron. “Oh, he’s so adorable.” She cooed toward him.

“Yeah, he’s our little mascot.” The Australian woman laughed.

“He’s a special baby, like they all are,” Isabella said, “I hope your friend who left come back in time.”

“Before that plant stuff affects Aaron?” Claire asked, “Jack told me about that.”

“You are all such good people, Claire. I would hate for you to be trapped here like me and Desmond.”

“Well, we got a year,” the small blonde said, rubbing her child’s hair, “I am sure my friends will come back before that.”

“I hope so. I love my son dearly but I would not wish his condition on anyone else’s child.”

Eddie then ran past them, followed by Walt, Vincent and Sebastian. The young three year old was keeping up with the older boys by holding onto the dog’s leash. Isabella looked in slight concern for her son’s safety, not to mention he needed his medicine every 108 minutes. Walt then threw a large gray ball, allowing Eddie to catch it. They played catch back and forth for a few seconds, as Sebastian and Vincent followed them. “I made them a ball out of duct-tape and old papers,” Micheal said with pride.

“Thank you, Micheal,” Isabella smiled, giving Aaron back to his mother, “I know Sebastian has been taken to Walt.”

“Actually, I think he is having more fun with Vincent.”

“The first dog he ever saw in real life. It’s amazing the things you take for granted.”

“Yeah, “ Micheal sighed, smiling, “It is.”


Eddie ran up the trail and threw the ball back to Walt. The black boy caught it, temporarily falling on his knees. “Eddie, go long!” he screamed.

Sebastian laughed as he and Vincent finally caught up. Eddie continued to run into the jungle. Walt got ready to throw it but stopped, looking in the distance. Vincent started barking rapidly and Sebastian looked up in the distance in fear. Eddie then started to slow down. “Guys, what’s wrong-“

Eddie grunted as he slammed into something hard, falling back onto the ground. He twisted and turned, realizing he couldn’t have hit a tree cause he was still on the trail. The young boy then gasped as he saw a familiar masked man that he didn’t think he would ever see again. “Raven.” Eddie whispered.

Raven stood there, then slowly looked down at Eddie; a small blue flash shooting from his eyes. The security system gazed down at the young boy with a sense of seriousness. Eddie then finally noticed that Raven was carrying one. A large muscular black man was on his shoulders in a fireman’s cradle. Raven looked up toward the other two young boys and then back down to Eddie.

“Where is the doctor?” he whispered.