PENNY'S BOAT

CHAPTER 13: PAST MEETINGS

Jack stood over the unconscious man laying in the sick bay. Ray had said that Martin would be fine, but would probably have trouble walking for a while. He was lucky to have been wearing so much padding, otherwise his kneecap might have been shattered. Ray had also noted that the healing process had seemed unnaturally fast at first, but had slowed down as the freighter's journey went on.

Jack sat down on a chair by the door and put his head in his hands. What is he doing here? I thought all of that was behind me. I thought once I got out of Thailand they'd…

Martin moaned. Jack stood and walked to the bed. The mercenary's eyes slowly opened and he stared up at Jack for a moment before reaching out and clasping Jack's neck in his hands.

Martin squeezed tightly, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jack was standing in the street. Cars and bicycles flashed by as he walked toward the club. It was the same place he'd met Achara three times this month. She seemed to go there for inspiration. He had no idea what for though. How long can I go on living this twisted dream? He wondered to himself.

The nightclub's name was unreadable to Jack, but he walked in past the bouncer anyway and scanned the crowd for Achara. She was nowhere to be found. As he turned to walk out, a large figure shoved him back in.

"I've seen you here a lot lately, friend." The man's gruff voice stated menacingly.

Jack recoiled, "Where I go is my business."

The man leaned in and grabbed Jack by the collar. He lifted him clean off his feet and into the air.

"I don't like your tone."

"I don't like you."

Jack cringed as a fist crashed into his ribs and he fell to the floor. The blow was like being hit by a car and Jack found himself unable to get up. A kick followed up the punch and he was knocked further away from his attacker.

The man leaned down and looked Jack in the eye, "You don't want a taste of destiny, my friend. She told me I'd be a great warrior. Do you know how much pain I've caused because of this mark?" The man swept his sleeve aside, revealing a tattoo, "Don't let her drag you into this. You've still got a choice. Well… Not really. I'm making this choice for you." He leaned in and he and Jack's eyes were an inch apart, "Leave this place and never come back or I'll kill you."

Jack spat, "Who the hell are you?"

The man frowned, "Name's Martin Keamy. Let's hope you never hear it again."

CRACK!

"What the heck is goin' on in here?" Frank demanded. He ran over to the bed and forced Martin away from Jack with a grunt. He looked from Jack to Martin and back again.

Jack stood staring at Martin, "I know this guy."

Frank frowned, "What are you talkin' about?"

Martin coughed, "I see you didn't listen to me, Jack. Stupid. Now we're both going to hell."

Jack tilted his head in confused interest. A hint of bitterness showed through the expression, "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean you're a marked man now. Just like me. Achara really did a number on the both of us I guess." Martin laughed, but the laugh masked the sort of pain that a man sitting on death row feels when he knows he's done wrong.

Jack stepped forward and leaned in, "How do you know her? What did she-?"

"Tell me? She told me I was a warrior. A hunter. She told me I'd kill many men and die on the battlefield. I loved her for it. I reveled in the bloodshed and I've never looked back. But… there's always been this feeling…"

"What feeling?"

"The feeling that maybe my life wouldn't be this way if she hadn't marked me. Did my life make the mark or did the mark make my life? I don't know, Jack. I really don't know. That's why I tried to stop you that night in Phuket. Because I knew that if you were marked, you'd start running down that same road of destiny and you'd never be able to go back. She told you that you'd be a great man. I assume she neglected to mention that you'd end up on some godforsaken island in the middle of nowhere."

"Yeah, she left out that bit. I just got another ass-kicking."

Martin turned away and looked out the porthole, "It's been nice talking to you. It's a shame you'll be dead before you ever get home."

Jack's expression hardened, "What the hell is going on here? What do you mean?"

Martin smiled a toothy grin, completely devoid of genuine emotion, "There's a man. His name's Widmore. He wants you dead. All of you. Especially your little boyfriend, Desmond."

"Why would you tell me this?"

"Because I don't give a damn. I'm not gonna be able to off you while strapped into a bed am I? There's no reason to keep it to myself anymore. Just keep a close eye on your friends, Jack. Even I've got no idea if one or more of them work for Widmore."

"Why does he want us dead, Keamy?"

Martin reached for Jack. For a moment Jack thought he was trying to attack again, but he realized the mercenary was gesturing for him to come closer. Reluctantly he did.

Martin whispered in his ear, "Because you've seen too much."

Juliet watched the passengers file toward Mr. Abbadon. One by one, he wrote a note on his clipboard and let them go. Sometimes he asked a few questions or commented that a family member or friend was waiting for them back home, but mostly he just nodded and waved them away.

Juliet silently prayed that he wouldn't pay her much attention. She went over her cover in her head over and over. Shannon Rutherford from California. In Australia with a man named… dammit… Brian! I was a-

"Name?" Matthew asked. Juliet realized she'd come to the front of the line and began to panic. She counted to five in her head and tried to calm down.

"Shannon Rutherford."

"Ah, yes, Ms. Rutherford. Your stepmother helped finance this expedition. I'm told your brother is onboard?"

"Uh… Yeah. Boone. He's with Mr. Widmore on the top deck."

"Well it's good to see you alright, Ms. Rutherford." Abbadon leaned in and a dark tone replaced his previous amiability, "I hope your good health continues."

Juliet smiled nervously and nodded, "Yeah. Me too." She stepped away slowly until out of sight, then began running toward the brig.

Kate walked quickly, keeping up with Charlie and Locke. Locke seemed determined to get to the mountains at the center of the island, but Charlie was nonchalantly striding along without any real motivation. Kate pondered the strange change in his demeanor. One minute he's funny, happy-go-lucky Charlie, and now he's all… uncaring? Is that it? He was always mellow, but this is downright detached. And Locke… He's definitely up to something. What's going on here?

Locke paused and looked around. He sniffed the air for a moment and gestured for Kate and Charlie to halt. Kate glanced about in confusion, "What?"

Locke put a finger to his lips and gave her a stern look. He slowly picked up a rock and pitched it into the woods.

"Aw! Son of a bitch!" A familiar voice shouted in pain.

Kate smiled, "Sawyer? Thank God you're alright."

Sawyer stepped out from the trees, followed closely by Miles, "Well well. If it ain't Freckles and the Hobbit."

He gestured to Locke, "But you, Colonel Kurtz? You got some explainin' to do."