Chapter 106
As they dragged John to the medical lab Jack ran over what Hanso had said in his mind. He got the star thing, and it was a little too coincidental, but it was insane that the planets they had chosen to colonize laid out their story. "So what are you planning to do? Take over the universe?"
Hanso shifted Locke's weight so he could push open the swinging door; Locke was shaking uncontrollably and his muscles were spasming and twitching with increasing frequency as Hanso motioned to one of the scruffy nurses to open the steel bolted door. "The universe? No, no, that would be crazy. But I can take over parts of it." The door creaked open and they carried Locke into a padded, circular room, and as Jack took it in he noticed that even the inside of the door was rounded and padded, and they set John down gently before exiting; Hanso padlocked the door behind him, then turned his attention to Jack. "Let's go outside in the courtyard, Jack. It's stuffy in here."
They walked back through the swinging double doors and through the security lock out into the courtyard; Jack was surprised to realize that it was already getting towards dusk. His gaze was drawn to the center door and he left Hanso and walked up the stairs to it; across the top were the numbers. "What do these numbers mean?" He pointed to them, getting agitated as he felt the answers coming closer.
Hanso smiled, looking away. "They don't mean anything. They're just random numbers I chose from my head." His eyes were thoughtful as they gazed at Jack. "But they came to mean something, didn't they?"
Jack looked away, shaking his head. "Eko said they had meaning. Biblical meanings."
Hanso nodded. "Well, of course, Jack. Every number means something. What I meant was the numbers had no particular significance for me." He smiled, making the hair stand up on the back of Jack's neck. "Everyone makes their own meanings. It's just coincidence. Or fate, depending on your view. You see them everywhere, don't you? In fact, you look for them."
"Our flight number. The hatch. The button. Just random numbers." He shook his head in disgust. "Great." Ana popped into his head with their seat numbers, 23A and 42F; at the thought of her Jack forgot everything else. "My hour is up, Hanso. I'm leaving."
He turned to go and Hanso said, "Wait just one more minute." He caught up to Jack, putting a hand on his arm. "You could be a part of it, Jack. Exploring the universe, worlds that the Earth's best astronomers and astronauts can only dream about seeing. You can help us conquer them."
He shook his head in revulsion at Hanso's touch and his voice was dripping sarcasm as he said, "I thought you had a manpower shortage? How can you keep taking over planets, worlds, whatever? You're nuts."
Hanso sighed, and took his hand away from Jack's arm, making him breathe a little sigh of relief. "Do you know how the Romans kept their empire going for three thousand years even though they were spread across Europe? When they defeated a tribe or a city they didn't crush it, destroy it; they assimilated it into Rome. They made the people they subdued citizens and gave them full rights and benefits, including the right to trade and have protection under the Roman name. A powerful, powerful draw, is money," he said, smiling. "I do the same thing. I show them the power I have and I promise them a part of it if they join me." He grinned. "Force is rarely necessary."
"Then how come in twenty-something years you've only assimilated fifteen worlds? If it's so easy." He was itching to go after Ana but something held him in place, rooting him to the ground.
Hanso noticed his agitation and knew he wouldn't stay much longer. It was okay, a few more minutes could only help. "Because not all of them are inhabited, civilized. I don't want to waste my time on worlds that have nothing to offer, no incentive to take them over. So we pick and choose, letting our outposts take over the smaller, uninhabited or uncivilized worlds."
His feet were suddenly free to move and he glared at Hanso for a second before he said, coldly. "I don't want to conquer anybody." He started to leave. "I only want...I only want one thing, and I'm going to get her." He began to trot as he reached the door that led into the waiting room, his heart yearning for Ana.
Hanso let him go. It was too late anyway.
-----
Kate was getting tired and it was a novel sensation; she leaned heavily against Sawyer as the sun dipped beneath the tree line, casting the jungle in gray shadows. Usually her energy was boundless, she could go for days and not tire, she'd had to do it enough on the run. But now she was exhausted, her legs felt like lead and her eyes were heavy and she stumbled, falling against Sawyer.
"That's it," he said, catching her arm as she bounced against him. "We're stopping. This is fine for tonight." Kate was relieved, though she tried not to show it; she couldn't stand to think that she was too weak to continue and it was easier to let Sawyer make her stop. He eased her down to the ground and he sat next to her, letting her lean against him. "You okay, Freckles?"
She leaned over and kissed him, her tongue gently teasing his and he groaned a little before he pulled away. "Yeah. Just...yeah." That wasn't what she meant; she wasn't okay. The feeling had been growing all day, that something bad was coming, though she'd tried to ignore it, preferring to enjoy the day with him and Sara. She unconciously grasped Sawyer's hand, sqeezing it as he brushed a strand of sweaty hair from her face. She suddenly wanted to get away from this place as fast as possible; it was bad, something was coming and she was scared because it could be it. "Let's keep going, James. I'm fine."
She was pale and sweaty and there were rings shadowing beneath her eyes, though he supposed it could be the growing twilight but he didn't think so. He could feel it too, and the birds that flew by chirped warnings that he didn't understand, they kept saying something about Frank but he wasn't worried about him; Frank Sawyer had no power over him anymore. So what was it? He wondered where Kotori was, usually the little owl had news for him by now and his feeling of dread increased. Not for himself, this was not the battle he was destined for; he was worried for Kate, and Sara, and little baby James. They were the ones in danger, and it was close.
He considered running but Kate was too tired; he could see the fatigue on her face though she tried to hide it and he looked at Vincent for guidance. "Well, Fido, what do you think?"
Vincent woofed and Sawyer nodded. "I figured." He turned to Kate. "This is as good a place as any, Freckles. We camp here."
She tried to get up but he put his hand on her arm, pulling her back down. "We've got to gather wood and get some food, James."
"You don't." He held her eyes with his and said softly, "I can do it, Kate. Let me take care of you." The unspoken words hung in the air between them. While I still can. He broke their gaze and turned to Sara. "Stay here, both of you, and I'll be right back." Sara nodded and joined Kate on the ground.
Kate let him go, though she hated to let him out of her sight. She didn't understand why he wouldn't fight it, why he was so sure; she looked at Vincent, cocking her head. "Why won't he fight it? We can...he can change it, Eko said so." She was feeling a little desperate as she said it. "Why is he so certain?"
Vincent sat in front of her, panting. He woofed gently, then nosed her belly, snuffling a little as Kate pushed his cold, wet nose away; he rolled over, putting his legs in the air and closing his eyes. He held that position for a few seconds then jumped back to his feet, grinning with his tongue lolling out. Kate rolled her eyes, looking disappointed as her face hardened. "Fine. Don't tell me. But I'm not going to let him do it."
Sara's heart stopped for a brief second at the cold, harsh tone in her voice. She glanced aside at her and her stomach dropped; Kate was staring after Sawyer with love, but it was cold, hard and merciless love. She shivered in the evening heat as goosebumps popped up along her arms. She was sitting next to a murderer, a cold, ruthless killer, and she was terrified for a second; as she watched Kate's face softened and lost the hard, vengeful expression as her hand wandered to her belly and she smiled. Suddenly she was Kate again, and Sara's momentary panic passed. She needed Kate to know. "I know who you are, Kate."
She tensed and glanced at Sara from the corner of her eye. "You do, huh?" Her voice was suddenly cold but Sara smiled anyway. "So, who am I?"
"Don't get defensive. After the crash it was all over the news. I just wanted you to know that I know, and that it doesn't make a difference." She averted her eyes as she laid her hand on Kate's. "I...I don't care about that, because I know you. And I love you."
Kate relaxed and smiled at Sara with something like awe. "You do?" She shook her head, laughing a little ruefully to herself as she looked down at Sara's hand over hers. "It's been a long time since I've had a friend, Sara. A real friend." She reddened a little in the dusky twilight. "So, thanks."
Sawyer came bursting back through the bushes, fruit in hand and he handed it it to Kate, panting a little as he squatted next to her. She noticed a few fresh scratches along the side of his face and he was sweaty and smudged with dirt but he had never been more beautiful to her than in that moment, his eyes shining as she let him take care of her. She handed the fruit to Sara without looking and pulled him to her, kissing him softly as he tried to keep his balance without falling over on top of her. She finally let him go and he sat back on his heels, grinning at her flushed and reddened cheeks. "What was that for?"
She gave him a sweet, wicked smile. "For bringin' home the bacon, baby. Now get a fire started and I'll fry it up in a pan." She reached out and ran her fingers down the scratches on his cheek. "Did the fruit put up a fight?"
He stood up, rolling his eyes even as he chuckled. "No, but the damn bushes sure did."
Vincent suddenly leapt to his feet, growling and staring into the trees; without another yip he sprinted into the bushes and they could hear them shaking for a minute as he tore through the underbrush. They all exchanged scared glances, and Sawyer waved his hand as sticks and kindling piled themselves into a campfire before he shot a sizzling bolt from his hand, igniting it.
The glade was silent but for the crackling of the flames as the darkness grew deeper; from far in the distance there came a loud, drawn out howl and Sawyer glanced at Kate before waving his hands and piling more wood on the fire.
