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-Chapter 26-
First Arrival

2004
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Harlan Hatcher Library

The glass door triggers open as Jack steps to the rubber padded entrance. He's dressed in tshirt, jeans, and a backpack casually hanging from one shoulder; blending into the atmosphere of students visiting campus for late night study.

He meanders to the quiet rear corner of the library and finds the section of books for Anthropology. He checks his watch then pulls a random book from the shelf to pass the time. A woman from the next aisle peaks through the gaps between the books and tries to get his attention.

"Psssss," she sounds, breaking the library silence. "Over here," she whispers.

He places the book back and walks to the next aisle to meet her. "Hey," he whispers back. She's wearing a baseball cap to conceal her red hair and carries a backpack like Jack's.

"How does it feel being a college student again?" she whispers, tilting her hat to show the Michigan logo.

Jack pinches and pulls the stylish design on his tshirt. "Actually, this shirt looks more like I'm in high school." He looks over her head to see if anyone else is with her. "Where is he?"

"Who?"

"The guy you kidnapped in the back of your car that saved your life."

She places her finger to her lips. "Shhhh. I wasn't kidnapping him," she whispers softly. "Follow me, Jack." They walk together into the elevator; she holds down the stop button so they can continue their conversation. "His name is Daniel Faraday; and if he ever stepped foot on that Island, he would surely die; so I took him to save his life. He's somewhere safe; at least for now."

Jack twitches his brow. "And how did he save your life?"

"Twenty seven years ago, he came to me while I was playing on a swing set. He warned me never to come back to the Island or else I would die a horrific death."

Jack chuckles beneath his breath. "That's a pretty heavy conversation for two kids on a playground."

"Yes, it certainly was," Charlotte snickers. "Except, I was the kid in the playground; he was the same age he is right now."

"Same age?" Jack nods while rubbing the back of his neck. "But how is that possible?"

Charlotte smiles and holds up a key engraved with a Dharma symbol. "I'll show you." She inserts the key into a slot next to the button panel and twists; a Dharma logo button lights up on the panel, and the elevator starts to ascend. "The Dharma Initiative stores its most secretive documents on the top floor of this library."

The elevator doors retract as they reach the top floor. It's pitch dark; Charlotte takes back her Dharma key and flips a light switch near the elevator. The ceiling is low and the floor is uncarpeted. The structural beams and electrical wiring above them is uncovered to maximize ceiling space. Dozens of rows of steel cabinets store thousands of documents deemed important to the Dharma Initiative.

Charlotte leads Jack to a desk against the wall stacked high with ancient books and other documents. "Welcome to my office," she says, gesturing her hands outward. Jack tries to pick up one of the dusty books, but Charlotte holds him back. "Please, don't touch. That book is over a thousand years old." She opens the desk drawer and hand him a pair of latex gloves. "Now you can touch."

Jack slips the gloves on and carefully thumbs through the pages. The ancient writing is incomprehensible to anyone not an expert in languages. "It's Aramaic; third century Persian Empire," she explains.

Jack turns the page and sees an ancient schematic drawing of a large wheel connected to a system of mirrors and pulleys. "Kind of looks like a donkey wheel," he says.

"It's a mechanism that moves the Island," explains Charlotte. She fits on a pair of gloves and turns the page to a detailed terrain map. "Whenever the Island is moved, it shifts time and opens a portal off the Island."

Jack studies the map and recognizes the shore of water on the northern portion. "That's the Mediterranean," he says, tapping the shoreline with his finger.

Charlotte nods to congratulate his quick recognition. "Very good, Jack." She points to the region where the map designates the portal location. "And that's Tunisia, where the first exit point is located."

Jack also recognizes the symbol signifying the exit point; it looks like a cross but with looped top. "And that's an Egyptian Ankh."

"You are correct," remarks Charlotte, fully impressed with Jack's understanding. "Do you know what the Ankh represents?" she asks, quizzing him further.

He shrugs his shoulders and gives the first answer that comes to mind. "Heaven, or Hell, maybe?"

"Very close," she responds, encouraging his effort. "Loosely translated; it means reincarnation. Living after death." She reaches in her pocket and hands Jack a small wooden Ankh. "Here; it's yours to keep."

Jack smiles and admires the tiny wooden carving in the palm of his hand. "Thanks."

"I have one too." She adjusts the collar of her shirt, and shows an Ankh hanging from her necklace. "If you ever make it to the Island, perhaps you will witness what this symbol represents."

The Hydra, 1977

Locke holds out his hand to keep the group from leaving. "Not so fast," he says. "I said, all of us must go." He points back to Sayid. "We'll need to bring him too."

Hurley freezes in stance and looks to the group. "Uh, what did you just say dude?"

"You heard me Hugo." Locke walks to the bed and situates himself to carry the body. "I'll carry him. But I'll need somebody to help me place him over my shoulder." Locke reaches down to Sayid's hand which loosely hangs over the bed. It's cold and as stiff as wood.

Suddenly, the skin becomes warm; then hot. A feeling like static electricity transfers from Locke's hand. "What was that?" asks Locke.

"What was what?" grunts Sawyer.

A high pitch sound steadily grows and echoes off the walls. "That," says Locke.

Kate's eyes widen as she looks to Sawyer to see his reaction. "Do you hear that?"

"Ya," grunts Sawyer, clenching the toothpick between his molars.

A yellow glow illuminates beneath the sheet over Sayid, brightening to the point where they shield their eyes. The light and sound suddenly stops. Locke continues to hold Sayid's hand; it suddenly tightens it grip, like he's responding to a handshake. Locke looks up and sees Sayid's eyes are wide open.

He sits up in bed and throws the bloodied sheet to the side. His wounds are completely healed and his clothes are fresh. "Where am I?"

Locke smiles and nods his head. "Tell me first, Sayid; where were you?"

Sayid looks around to the group then narrows his stare at Locke in accusatory fashion. "I was sitting next to you on the plane."