In the Beginning
Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine: Walking To War

Kate walked out of the cave she was currently sharing with Jack only minutes after Jack himself left camp. She was told to stay put at the caves and help watch over things there, but no way was she just going to sit there when everyone else was doing the work. She glanced around the caves to see who all was still there. Sawyer had reluctantly stayed behind, but Kate had a feeling that he too was planning his escape. Finally she spotted Alex sitting by herself. Silently, Kate approached her, careful not to startle her. Instead of starting a conversation, she just sat down beside Alex, and waited a few moments before speaking.

I know this is a bad time, Kate started off, looking at the ground as she spoke. But I was wondering if you could tell me where Jack was.

Alex was silent for a few moments before answering softly.

I'm a psychic not a human compass, she replied bitterly, and you're right, this is a bad time.

Kate sighed.

Jack told me what happened, she admitted.

Of course he did, Alex muttered.

Two of our people are missing, Kate said, one of them being your mother. Don't you care? Alex answered in a cold but soft tone.

Why not? Kate couldn't help but to ask. Where did you go? What happened to you?

Alex was quiet for another moment or two, and then looked at Kate to answer, but not her last questions.

(space)

After only a few moments Sawyer grew restless sitting in the caves, so he decided to leave, and form his own search party. He really had no clue where he was going, but he figured as long as there was a trail, he could have a little hope.

What are you doing out here?

Sawyer almost tripped in hearing the voice, which belonged to Sayid.

Sawyer said sarcastically, what, do I have a tracking device on me or something?No exactly, Sayid muttered in response, I thought Jack told you to stay at the caves.Since when do I listen to Jack? Sawyer kept going down the trail.

Since when do you listen to anyone? Sawyer heard Sayid mutter under his breath.

If you're gonna say somethin' you might as well said it out loud, Sawyer said, a little louder than his normal tone.

Sayid kept following him. Sawyer didn't complain because he knew he'd eventually get lost out here by himself, but he didn't exactly welcome a walk through the woods with Sayid either.

You're looking for Michael? Sayid assumed out loud.

Sawyer shrugged, You're too far inland, Sayid said, if they washed up on shore, they would've walked the beach, not the jungle.So I guess you know everything then?

Suddenly there was a rustle in the bushes along side the trail. Both men stopped. Sawyer held his breath as whatever it was stepped forward. One echo, then another until the creature stepped out. It was another bear.

(space)

Danielle's head spun as she regained conscious. The room was blurry and black as she lift her heavy eyelids opened, and she could move when she tried.

You can stop struggling, a voice told her, you're tied up, and by the way, you're inside, but it's night.

Danielle finally found her voice.

Who are you? She demanded. What do you want with me?

Her eyes finally adjusted to the darkness and Danielle could see that she was talking to a middle-aged man, maybe forty-five, with short hair, though she was unable to tell what color it was. She followed him around the room with her eyes as he walked over to what looked like a desk, pulled out the chair, and slammed it back down inches from the cot she was tied to. Some kind of heart monitor beeped beside her. Catching her glance towards it, the man switched off the monitor, or at least turned it down.

Don't worry, he said in an unreassuring voice, you'll live. I got what I needed.

Danielle looked at him in disbelief.

'What you needed'? She repeated.

Do you remember.. the man scratched his chin, as if trying to remember himself, back sixteen years ago?Of course, Danielle replied.

Your team was infected with a disease, the man went on, and someone kidnapped your child?

Unsure if she was supposed to respond, Danielle remained silent, staring at the man in hatred.

All of that, he continued with a mischievous smile, was me.

(space)

Sawyer's first instinct was to reach for his gun, which was in his back pocket, but Sayid saw the move.

he hissed quietly.

Sawyer snickered. Afraid it won't like your accent?Make a move and it will charge, Sayid informed him.

It's not a dinosaur, Sawyer said, kind of like standing and watching the train head right for you, ain't it?

Without wasting any more time, Sawyer reached for his gun in a quick motion that caught the bears eye. Just like Sayid said it would, it charged straight forward.

(space)

Danielle was speechless. After a few moments of opening her mouth and then shutting it, and repeating the process, she was able to pronounce one word:

The man said, as if amused by something. Back then. Just a kidnapping. We needed proof.Proof of what?

Glancing around the room, Danielle noticed a bag sitting on a table. The name on it read You're American? Danielle asked, slightly surprised, before could Adams could speak again.

You sound surprised, Damon commented.

He stuck out a hand.

Adams finished, oh, forgot.

Damon snorted as he took out a pocket knife and cut where he had bound Danielle's hands together. Her first instinct was to escape, but then she realized that this was the one man who could answer all the questions she ever had about the island. So instead of running, Danielle tried to relax, and rubbed her sore wrist together.

Damon continued, waving the interruption off, we needed proof of life. That someone survived the crash.

Danielle stared at him, unsure if she should believe the story, but at the same time, she was trying to piece the puzzle together in her head.

She asked for the second time.

So they'd stop looking, Damon replied, so they wouldn't find the island. Wouldn't find out what we were doing.And exactly what were you doing? Danielle's eyes narrowed at the last bit of information.

We were on hiatus at the time, Damon recalled, we must've discovered the island a few dozen years ago. Damon replied simply, a part of the army was stationed out here. Our plane was thrown off course. Walk a few miles west of here and you'll find it. We set up a radio tower up here, I'm assuming you know what I'm talking about. We were able to get a signal out- Damon's voice grew darker, but rescue never came. The remains of what we assumed to be a rescue boat washed up on shore.

He paused briefly, as if lost in a traumatic memory.

No survivors were ever found- Damon paused again, and then continued, that's when we started exploring the island, Damon went on, and we found this place- he glanced around, it was amazing. Like an underground society. But it was abandon. Left alone. Supplies were stocked in storage cabinets. It was like we had found Heaven.

Damon stopped again before picking up his story.

So we made camp, Damon said, got drunk, didn't really give a damn where we were. And that's when we found these formulas.

As a scientist, the word formulas' caught Danielle's attention.

She inquired.

Formulas, notes, drawings, Damon sounded obsessed, papers stacked everywhere in this adjacent room we had only just discovered. So we decided to make something of it. Started doing test, experiments with what little we had. But we had no luck. That's when we found a notebook- somewhat of a lab journal- wedge between some files. On the back of the journal was one word: hatch. We immediately knew that that would be the answer to all of our questions.I don't know anything about the hatch, Danielle said quickly.

That's not what I needed you for, Damon said flatly, we found the hatch a few months later after scavenging the island. We escavated it blew it open. Later we would use a machine to close it back.But why would you want it closed down? Danielle asked curiously.

What we found, Damon continued without answering the question, was beyond belief. Even more so than this underground hideaway. It was a machine. We used the code we found on the side of the hatch to turn it on, and we eventually learned to cue in the formulas and codes. Most of the information we found was on the island, but that wasn't what we were looking for. We were hungry for more. That's when we started hearing the voices- voices in our heads that weren't ours. Then we began creating theories on it's relationship to neurology. And that- Damon stood from where he was sitting on the wooden desk.

The entire story had gone over Danielle's head, but as soon as she was mentioned, she promised herself that she's figure out the puzzle later.

When we took your child- Danielle informed him.

Damon nodded, we held her down in the hatch while we waited for the others. As I understand it, weird things started happening.She's psychic, Danielle confirmed in slow realization, but then why do you need me?Did you know that over thirty percent of special abilities and disorders are inherited genetically? Damon didn't wait for a reply. So I decided to get you to..lend me your brain. But don't worry- he smiled, all test came out negatively.

Danielle was so furious, so confused that she couldn't talk. Everything she had ever wanted to know about the missing links to her past, the island, was just told to her in one long lecture. Her entire life had been ruined for some science experiment.

Danielle sat up and began unplugging the wires attached to her, asking for no assistance, I hope you got what you wanted.

She reached behind her where a gun sat on a table, and tightened her fingers around the trigger.

(space)

He was dead. He could already see the light. He was dead and the stairway to heaven was welcoming him and frankly, he was surprised to have been accepted down that route. Surely there was a mistake? Just as Sawyer was going through this once again in his mind, he was grabbed and thrown to the ground. The polar bear ran right passed him. Sawyer watched in awe as it disappeared into the jungle. Someone grunted beside him and Sawyer realized he had fallen on Sayid's arm.

he muttered, sitting up.

The backpack Sawyer had brought along with him was on the ground behind him and the few contents had fallen out. He began picking up the items when a piece of paper was shoved in his face. Sawyer realized it was a wanted picture of Kate he had found at a local bank in Sydney. He met Sayid's eyes. The man looked ready to kill. But he didn't even throw a punch.

Does Jack know? Was all he asked.

Sawyer sighed, at least, I think.

Sayid stood up and looked off to the side for a few moments before speaking again.

Do you know what he did? He asked.

I don't even think Jack knows what she did, Sawyer admitted. But look- he lowered his voice, you can't tell anyone that you know. You can't even tell Kate that you know.

For a moment Sayid looked like he wanted to oppose, but finally agreed.

All right.

They shook on it and Sawyer turned around.

You're giving up? Sayid seemed surprised.

Thought you said they'd be walking the beach, Sawyer pointed out.

And by the way, Sawyer figured now would be a good time to bring the situation back up, Jack was the one who broke the transceiver.

Sayid looked like he didn't want to believe him, but Sawyer had a feeling that he really did. With that he left, heading back towards the beach.

Author's Note: Okay, I know that had to be really confusing and if you have any questions about the chapter at all, please tell! Thanks so much for all the reviews! You guys rock!

Next time, on In the BeginningTill Death Do Us Apart: I think this will be the last chapter. Danielle escapes but the rescue team doesn't know that, and they end up getting themselves into even more trouble with at least one more kidnapping and a death, and questions will be answered such as why the hatch was reburied, the difference between the others and Damon's crew(no, they're not the same people), and how Alex's father died. And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Danielle's flashbacks.

Thanks again!

Until next time..

+ October Sky