(Okay, you know, its cool. Dont review. I'm just the author, Idon't care. But to those of you who are actually taking time to read this, thanks, and please review and tell me what you think so far. I'd greatly appreciate it.)
CHAPTER 3 – TABULA RASA
Charlie made his way up to Sayid, who was alone, sitting on the beach staring at the waves. It wasn't until Charlie got closer that he realized Sayid was, in fact, not so very much alone. The baby Aaron lay in his arms.
"Wha' are you doing?" Proclaimed Charlie, trying and failing to sound casual.
Sayid looked up. "Claire asked me to watch him while she went on her walk. Why? Has The Other waken?" He paused, "because I can kill her, too," he said painfully.
"Erm. Yeah. Wants to talk to you actually. Won't give the time of day to anyone else. I can uh- watch Aaron until you or Claire comes back. Can't have wee ones in front of Others. He'd be gone in an instant… and Claire would never forgive you."
Sayid stared at him. "…Excuse me for saying this Charlie, …but I would sooner trust this baby in my arms with an Other… than a baby in your arms at all."
4.8.15.16.23.42.
Alex was anxious to get off of her surveillance computer watching shift to go out and help the elders. And, most importantly, to possibly be in the presence of the people on the island that she had been intently watching for so long. The event of seeing Sayid an entire week ago had made an unfathomable impact on her. She became intent on feeling as much and as well as he did, though she didn't know how to make this possible. The hope of receiving answers on her birthday had completely escaped her mind, replaced by the hope that someday, sometime soon, just being near Sayid, or even one of them who were capable of feeling as much as he did and could.
4.8.15.16.23.42.
Sayid had left the baby with Sun, because he, in fact, knew the troubles of bringing a baby into the vicinity of Others, and was not crazy.
He entered the kitchen area of the Hatch, where the Girl was kept. She sat in the chair along the bar just as their last Other had been. Sayid sat in the one across from her, and placed his gun on the bar parallel from them.
She was smiling brightly looking from the gun to him. She tried to contain her evident giddy-ness as she said, " I am not afraid of you. Did you know that? Is not that good to hear? I am really not afraid. Even with that gun there, even though I know what it does, and my hands tied behind me such that I am inc- incapable of moving them. I-I-" She was talking faster and faster, tumbling over her words in excitement. "I am not scared of you! Them maybe, yes, but not you."
"You might, I think," Sayid said calmly, "have a reason to be scared of me very soon."
4.8.15.16.23.42.
Alex sat across from Zeke, more than ready to receive instructions on today's business with the run away Michael they were attempting to keep away… or capture. Alex didn't know.
"Alex…" he said, "you are a sixteen today. Congratulations."
"Thank you, sir." And obviously he could not sense her readiness, excitement, or even need to know what was going to happen this evening on her first mission with the other, fascinating, people following along right after Michael, as because he paused for a very long time, leaving her in impatient agony.
Then at last, he looking almost reluctant, placed an object on the floor between them. Alex recognized it to be similar to the one the woman on the computer screen held.
"Do you know what this is, Alex?" she shook her head. "This is called a gun. It kills people." Alex stared at it apprehensively. She remembered what death really was. "Alex, would you ever even - even slightly begin to think of pointing this at someone and killing them?"
Her eyes went wide and she shook her head. With her mouth she formed a 'no'.
"No answered Zeke for her. "No, I don't think you would… that is the difference between us and them."
She stared in confusion. He continued in response. "They are able to, they allow themselves to do things. Bad things. You would never kill anyone. That is because we have brought you up. They, at one point, like you, wouldn't have considered killing anyone. But then something or someone told them different. Be it another person, or a TV show, or-"
"A what show?"
He leaned in close. "A very bad thing. Bad things influence these people, Alex. And make them into bad people…But if one is surrounded by good influences, the one will become a good person. And will never have a need for these… guns." He picked it up and put it behind him. "That is what we had to do for you Alex."
"What did you have to do for me?"
"Take you away."
"Away from where?
"… Your mother." Alex, to her disappointment, felt nothing. "She would have molded you mind. And we didn't want that to happen. We had to get you away when you were young. So we could influence you. Does that make sense?"
She paused. "Sir? You said that they aren't survivors. To not call them that. They survived a plane crash, sir. I should think-"
"No, Alex! They are not survivors. They could not survive in their real world. That is why they are here."
"Why are we here?"
He smiled. "Ah, such large questions at such a young age," he chuckled. "We are here to infiltrate the system. To make things right and good."
She nodded, unable to tell how much confusion she had obtained during the conversation so far.
Zeke went on, "These are bad people, Alex. Our decisions are what make us who we are, and they have made, and are able to still make, bad decisions. Thus, they are bad people. And we are better than them." She nodded.
He stood up, changing the deep subject quite suddenly. "You will follow the rest of us into the jungle. When indicated you will light a torch. You will be given the supplies to do so on the way." And then, also quite suddenly, he handed her the gun. She held it in her hands, unsure of how to hold it and afraid to even touch it. "To be used only when and if needed." Zeke said, and then he left the room, leaving Alex with something she knew was more than capably able, because Alex had seen it with her own eyes, to cause the type of feeling she truly desired.