PENNY'S BOAT

CHAPTER 15: EMPTY ANSWERS

Kate watched her mother pace back and forth, stopping and staring out the window from time to time, but generally moving in the same circle over and over. Her behavior was becoming frightening.

This is my friend, Wayne, Katie. He's coming to stay for a while. She'd lied. He hadn't stayed for a while. In fact he hadn't left. He looked at Kate from time to time with an expression of pure hatred. She couldn't comprehend why.

Diane stopped pacing and walked toward the doorway, "Katie I know you're there. Come out darlin'."

Kate stepped slowly through the door to meet her mother. Diane was sitting on the couch now, trying to smile. She waved Kate over.

"Did I do something wrong?" Kate asked.

"No, honey." Diane answered with all the warmth she could muster.

"Then why does he hate me?"

"Because…" Diane paused and looked down at the floor, "…Because I did something wrong."

"You did?"

"Yes, Katie, I did. Do you think I'm a bad person?"

"Why would I think you're a bad person?"

"Oh don't… don't pay me any mind, dear."

Kate stared at her mother, now upset and confused. She'd come to her with questions and she wasn't finding the answers she felt she deserved. She got up off the couch and walked toward the door.

"Don't hate me." Diane begged.

Kate turned her head, but didn't go back. There were no answers here. Just more emptiness. She'd felt enough of that. An emptiness that couldn't be filled with anything other than the truth.

Kate could barely believe her eyes. Ahead stood four towers, each emerging from the ground about a quarter of a kilometer from the other. They were connected to another, central tower that dwarfed the smaller four.

"What is this?" She asked.

Charlie gave a mocking smile, "Well it's not bloody Big Ben is it?"

Locke gestured for Charlie to be quiet, "This, Kate, is what we're looking for. Do you remember what we found in the Swan station? What Desmond was protecting?"

"You mean what was behind that wall of concrete?"

"Exactly. I believe the people manning this station may be able to lead us to it. To the light that I saw in the eyes of the beast."

Miles rolled his eyes, "Look, nutjob, I've got primary protocol right here," He pulled a small booklet from his backpack and waved it, "The channeling station hasn't been operational in years."

Sawyer jabbed him, "For such a smartass you sure are an idiot. That wheel sent us time travelin' remember? We could be anytime right now."

Locke grinned, "Precisely. Now how about you give me that book, Miles?"

Miles held the booklet away, "Why would I do that?"

Locke held out his hand, "Because if you do, I can tell you what made you the way you are. I can tell you where you came from."

Miles looked conflicted, confused, and angry, "What made me like this? How could you- UGH!" He grabbed his head and fell to the ground, screaming in agony, "OH GOD! THEY'RE ALL DEAD! THE WHISPERS… THE WHISPERS ARE SCREAMS!"

Kate tried to pick Miles up from the ground, "What's wrong?" She turned to Locke, "What's happening to him?"

Locke frowned, "I had hoped we wouldn't need to see this. Miles has a secret. A power unlike anything you've ever seen."

Miles was shaking in terror, "Don't you dare tell them what I am! Oh God! What is this?"

Locke looked down in pity, "This, Miles, is the borderline between life and death. A line I've walked for many, many years. You're experiencing an… evolution of your powers."

Sawyer shoved Locke, "You're talkin' nonsense, Baldie! What the hell does this mean?"

Locke turned in a circle, staring through the jungle, "It means, James…" The trees began to rustle wildly, "…that we need an exit strategy."

Claire and Hurley sat at the edge of the ship, watching the water pass by. They had only four hours left until they made port. It was a strange experience and Hurley found himself with butterflies in his stomach.

"So… Where do you go next?" He asked in interest and mild concern. Claire continued to stare out at the ocean, looking quite troubled.

"I'm not sure…" She responded, "…I had meant to go to Los Angeles and give Aaron up for adoption, but I can't bring myself to do it now. Not after all we've been through." She looked over at Sun and Charlotte, who were playfully teasing Aaron.

Hurley smiled reassuringly, "Look, Claire, if you ever need anything, I've got you covered. How about this, I'll pay for you to stay in LA."

Claire was obviously shocked, "Hurley you aren't- That's too-"

Hurley waved his hand dismissingly, "It's no prob. I've got way more money than I want or need and it'll be nice to give something to a friend. Maybe this is my way of paying back Charlie for saving our butts back there."

Claire didn't know what to say, but smiled warmly at Hurley in gratitude. She felt a hundred times better knowing that she'd have a fresh start upon rescue and that she had such a caring friend.

Jack, Juliet and Daniel stood behind the shipping container reading a booklet titled, "Secondary Protocol". The book was marked with a Dharma Initiative logo and contained instructions for Dharma members in case of emergency. Daniel had insisted Jack and Juliet take a look (each having seen the events on the island from a different perspective) and give their opinions. It seemed he was writing up a book of all available information on the Initiative.

Jack's brow creased as he perused the pages of the Secondary Protocol, it was all extremely complicated, and repeatedly referenced something called "the pocket" and an "Orchid Station".

"I really don't understand this… And what I do understand seems crazy." Jack told Daniel as he handed the booklet back.

Juliet frowned, "A lot of it sounded vaguely familiar, but I was left in the dark on almost everything while I was amongst the natives. What do you think it all means?"

Daniel rubbed his forehead, he seemed to do that a lot due to a mix of anxiety and confusion, "It appears that this… is a series of instructions on how to cause the island to shift in time and space."

Jack stepped forward, "What does that mean?"

Daniel gave a slightly exasperated smile, "It means that the other survivors are alive, but lost."

Jack looked into the sky, deep in though, "You mean more lost. We should go back for them."

Juliet bit her lip, "Back to what, Jack? The island is gone. We watched it vanish."

Jack looked down at her and tried to hide his nervousness, "Then there's not much we can do, is there? Right now I guess we're just going to have to focus on getting the people we've got here home safely. Daniel's friend and Sawyer can deal with anything that happens on the island. I suppose this… Straume guy is trained?"

Daniel nodded, "We all got basic military training when Penelope hired us. For safety's sake in case we ran into… uh…"

Juliet smiled, "Into us?"

Daniel laughed anxiously, "Yeah. It almost sounds like a slur; Others. The Exotic Other. Classic psychology on the survivors' part really. I would love to examine-"

Jack grabbed Daniel's shoulder, "Well, Dan, we'd better get going. We've got packing to do huh?"

Daniel chuckled, realizing he'd been rambling, "Yeah yeah, no problem."

Jack and Juliet began to walk away, but Jack suddenly turned, "Dan… If that's the secondary protocol… What's the primary one?"

Daniel looked around nervously, "The primary protocol is instructions for activating the island's…"

"The island's what?"

"Its self destruct mechanism."