More thanks to Cas85, kate and jack, rain1657, Oreata, Evermore, FanOfLOST, litgal, showmethehobbit, CharlieClaireforlife, and smilez4eva for their reviews!
Cas85: The site I looked on said that Lyle meant "of the island", but I'm not sure how completely accurate it was. As a student of some foreign languages, what you were saying definitely makes sense. However, at this point making it Delyle would be kind of pointless and would sound strange, so Lyle it will remain!
Due to work overload, I'll unfortunately have to say that I'll no longer be able to promise updates on a specific day. I will try to get the next three chapters up in no more than four weeks, however.
Also, I would like to just explain that this chapter is going to be in a unique format – you will see everything from the p.o.v. of a slightly nosy man who is recording the events of a government inquiry into the plane crash. After this chapter, the story style will go back to normal. In addition, I will make up last names of some characters. If I unintentionally make up a name that is already known, feel free to let me know so I can go back and edit it.
Disclaimer: As you know by now, I do not own any of these characters.
Spotlight
FBI Official Transcript: Oceanic Flight 815 Crash Investigation
As recorded by Agent Frank Pierson
15:00
2/25/05
In a competent, joint project, the governments of the United States and Australia will proceed to investigate the circumstances which led to the tragic crash of Oceanic Flight # 815. Today, the crash survivors have been assembled to discuss the occurrences that day in order to both create a logical sequence of events as well as to clear up the circulating rumors concerning a dream connection on a lost island.
At this point, fourteen of the survivors have been located and are seated before a panel of investigators from both countries. Also in attendance are some of the area's leading pioneers in the fields of medicine, psychology, technology, and aeronautics. Perhaps most notable is Dr. Ethan Rom, who The proceedings begin at exactly 15:04.
Chief Investigator Howard Robson (henceforth known as "CI"): Thank you all for coming here today. As you know, it has been a month since the fatal day of the crash. We have decided that you have had some time at this point to deal with this trauma and answer more detailed questions. We have no choice at this point but to begin a thorough investigation. We will do this with the full participation and cooperation of the government of Australia. Now, if you do not mind, I will begin by asking each one of you what you recall of that day up to the point when you lost consciousness. I begin with Dr. Jack Shepard.
Each survivor gives an account of their recollections – nothing new or valuable is learned. Now, we get to this interesting part: the dream.
CI: As you probably know, there have been numerous rumors buzzing around concerning an odd dream that all fourteen of you claim to have experienced during your comas.
CI: Is it true, Dr. Shepard, that as a result of "recollections" from this dream, you paid the hundreds of thousands in bail for Ms Bradley's release?
Shepard: Yes, sir, it is.
CI: What caused you to do this?
Shepard: Well, I had really gotten to know her and I felt, and still feel, that regardless of her past she is a good person at heart and I thought that she deserved another chance.
CI: And how did you come to know her so well?
Shepard: We worked together closely on the island.
The CI raises his eyebrows, as do all others on the panel and in the audience. Dr. Shepard looks down, obviously embarrassed by their reaction to his statement. It seems that he has thought many times about the seeming lunacy of this action, and it gives him much worry. Ms Bradley blushes red, slightly upset that she has caused the doctor to be put into this situation.
CI: Dr. Shepard, as a result of this supposed "dream island" connection, do you feel that you are actually in love with Ms Katherine Bradley, an alleged murderess?
The doctor hesitates a moment, then clears his throat. Ms Bradley looks up at him with hope and wonder clearly written on her face.
Shepard: Um, yes.
Incredulously, the CI turns to Ms Bradley.
CI: And you feel the same?
Bradley: Yes.
She speaks softly, cut off when the back door bangs as Nurse Lorraine Reiners abruptly leaves the room. Ms Bradley winces and looks down, abashed, until Dr. Shepard takes her hand under the table and squeezes it. She looks up at him and he gives her a sad smile. Interesting dynamic there. I Those in attendance wonder what exactly is going on here. It seems as if the couple themselves aren't completely sure.
Meanwhile, the CI is shaking his head in wonder, then moves on to the woman and man seated on Ms Bradley's right. He is gently stroking her hair, as she taps her fingers nervously on the table. As her left hand moves, a gold ring with a small diamond catches the light.
CI: Miss Claire Littleton, what effect has the dream had on your life?
Littleton: I'd have to say that it has had many effects.
CI: Let me get more specific. Firstly, why did you run away from the hospital when you were due to have your child in just days?
Littleton: The doctor in charge of me was not a good man. He had been virtually holding me prisoner there. I had to get out. Charlie was the only one who could help me.
CI: Mr. Pace, you helped this woman to leave a hospital though she required intensive care?
Pase: In my view, I had no choice. The doctor was very threatening and cold – I knew that he was a bad man. He even tried to kill Claire and I!
CI: When was this?
Pase: It was on… on the island.
Halfway through his statement, Mr. Pase seems to realize how absurd his statement sounds. He mumbles the last part softly but audibly. The CI makes a great effort not to roll his eyes as he turns back to Miss Littleton.
CI: After you left the hospital, what happened with your baby?
Littleton: Charlie and I went to stay with Hurley and Sawyer. In Hurley's apartment, Dr. Shepard delivered my son, Lyle, four weeks ago. Since then, Charlie has moved to adopt the baby so that we can raise him together.
The CI makes a note, then turns to the man on Charlie's right. He is a large man who has an earnestness about him that is inviting.
CI: Mr. Hugo Victor, do you believe that you know the people you are currently seated with because of a dream island?
Victor: Yes.
CI: Is this why you took people who were otherwise complete strangers, including a very pregnant woman on the run from a doctor she had no previous knowledge of and a known killer, into your home?
Victor: It is.
The CI refrains from commenting. All are impressed by Mr. Victor's straightforward, honest manner despite the craziness of what he is actually saying.
CI: Next,Mr. Sawyer? Is that your real government name?
Sawyer: Frankly, its nobody's business but my own what my name used to be. To your question, it is my name now, sir.
The CI looks slightly taken aback, but decides to drop the issue. After all, we already have a murderess seated here, why pry into a petty forgery?
CI: Do you believe that you know the people you are currently seated with because of a dream island?
Sawyer: Yes, I do.
CI: Mr. John Locke, do you believe that you know the people you are currently seated with because of a dream island?
Mr. Locke looks wary. It seems that he has figured out that the CI and the audience all think that the people who claim to know each other from the island are a little insane. He cocks his head thoughtfully, seemingly trying to come up with an acceptable yet truthful answer.
Locke: I do remember all these people from an island that was stalked by a monster and a seeming group of savages. Somehow, I was able to make good judgments of people from this that seem to ring true. How this is possible, I cannot fathom. However, I am confident that the dream was just caused because our minds had hoped beyond hope that we would crash onto an island and not into the sea. In addition, we would have noted our fellow passengers and formed impressions of them, which is why they appeared in the dream. In conclusion, I feel that the entire event was due to a series of complex psychological factors.
Mr. Locke looks quite satisfied with himself. The CI nods his agreement.
CI: That is an extremely good point, Mr. Locke. It is precisely because of those psychological implications that I am recommending all seven of you that have spoken thus far to go to some heavy psychological counseling.
Mr. Sawyer raises an eyebrow and winks at Dr. Shepard when he hears this pronouncement. The doctor shoots him a dirty look back.
After noting a recommendation for psychological counseling for them, the CI turns to Michael.
CI: And you, sir. When you awoke, did you recall knowing these people from an island haunted by monsters?
The CI sounds incredulous, as if he is sick of hearing about the psychological afflictions of crash survivors dreams. He seems to be hoping that at least some of the passengers had come to their senses concerning the dream. Michael Bond seems to sense this from the judge. He looks back into the audience at his young son, Walt, and comes to a decision. It seems that he has decided that what he thinks he experienced is not worth being declared possibly unfit for caring for his son.
Bond: Neither my son nor I know anything about an island or monsters or the like. Except on the plane and in the hospital, I have no knowledge of these other people.
The other survivors look at him in shock. They had obviously not been expecting that as they seem to think they know him. However, it seems that among those who have not yet spoken, this seems like quite a good tactic. The Korean couple seated next to Mr. Bond, named Jin and Sun, deny any knowledge of the incident. Rather, she denies for both of them as he apparently cannot speak English.
CI: Mr. Boone and Miss Shannon Rommely, do you believe that you know the people you are currently seated with because of a dream island?
B. Rommely: Absolutely not, Sir. My sister and I both have no ideas about any dream island.
Miss Rommely looks hesitant, but begins to nod accordance with her brother after he kicks her in the shin. The CI moves on, glad to have found what seems to be a more down-to-earth group of survivors who are not under the influence of some strange island dream.
CI: Mr. Sayid Rahim, do you believe that you know the people you are currently seated with because of a dream island?
Rahim: Yes. I know all of these people.
CI: You know them, or you dreamed about them? There is a great difference, Mr. Rahim.
Rahim: I am aware of that. I know them.
There is a murmur through the audience. It seems that everyone had thought that we were done with the psychos people who still believed that they had had a connection on a dream island. Miss Rommely's mouth drops open and she blinks in surprise. The CI notes this and turns back to her.
CI: I would like your statement, Miss. Do you believe that you know the people you are currently seated with because of a dream?
Miss Rommely looks frantically from her brother's wary face to Mr. Rahim's pleading look. It seems as if these two had some sort of romantic relationship, either in real life or on the fictitious island.
S. Rommely: I… I… I don't know. I don't remember. I don't… I;m sorry.
Both Mr. Rommely and Mr. Rahim look down, hurt. Miss Rommely glances back and forth between them and looks pained.
CI: That is all. I ask the people who mentioned recalling others from the dream island to follow my instructions and get some help. Otherwise, everyone seems to be in good shape. Also, please recall that all of your presences will be required in Australia for their hearing in exactly three weeks time. We will provide transportation, do not worry about that. AT this time, this interview is at an end. Thank you for you time and cooperation.
The fourteen move to rise and collect their bags and papers. In the audience, renowned obstetrician Dr. Ethan Rom hurriedly gets up and quietly leaves the room, as if he does not want to be noticed.
As they exit the building, press photographers quickly snap their cameras. The fourteen survivors here are greeted by flashing lights and noisy reporters. Ms Bradley winces and seems to nearly shy away, but Dr. Shepard takes her and pulls her close to him, attempting to shield her with his own body. Mr. Pase places his arm around Miss Littleton and escorts her rapidly away from the crowd, presumably to get her back to her son, Lyle Littleton.
Each group goes their own separate way. We will see them again in Australia. The question of the validity of the dream island still hangs in the air, unanswered. It is unlikely, of course, but still… Some of these people acted in ways completely inconsistent with their previous characters in order to aid people who should have been complete strangers to them. Perhaps this did result from some sort of psychological need to bond, as Mr. Locke suggested. Or, perhaps, something strange really did happen to the survivors of that plane crash. Either way, we may never know.
This is the conclusion of the United States Government Investigation of the Oceanic Flight #815 crash.
Next chapter: Kate's trial is finally here and Ethan is back on the trail. After this, only two more chapters to go!
Please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter.
