A/N: Enjoy the update. My apologies for any errors you may find.

Chapter 46: Enter 77 (Part Two)

Faith rubbed her hands together as the man with the metal triangle turned and went back inside the house.

"What now?"

"You're going to go back and get the others." She continued to study the area of trees surrounding the house. "I'm going to go in and clear the house."

"Are you crazy? I'm not going to just leave you here. He could be armed!"

"I don't care if he's General Custard and he has an entire platoon in there with him, I'm going inside that house. Don't even think about arguing with me about this."

Ana-Lucia sighed but nodded. "You're a pain in the ass you know that?"

"I'm starting to think it's a Slayer trait." Faith flashed her a quick grin then looked back at the house. "Get the others and bring my crossbow too." She kept her attention focused on the front door as Ana-Lucia turned and disappeared back into the forest.

It would be impossible to simply walk up and enter so she'd have to go about a different way of infiltrating the house. Slowly she eased her way around the side of the building. A window was open near the cattle pen and Faith inhaled deeply, hesitating only a split second before she sprinted at full speed towards it. She didn't stop even as a shot rang out, a bullet flying over her head.

Using both feet to propel her forward, Faith dove head first through the window. She rolled with her forward motion and came up on her feet, hands clenched and guarding her face in ready position. The man pumped his rifle to load it again but she moved forward at the same time he set it against his shoulder. A well-aimed kick sent the weapon flying and she moved again at the same time he did.

Her left arm easily blocked his punch but he moved with the motion, grabbing her wrist to twist her elbow back then forward in order to send her bending over. Faith let the move play out before she shifted her entire body to connect her elbow to his face in order to send him feeling back. Without hesitating, she threw her weight into a right hook that sent him back several more feet but he merely shook his head as if to clear his double vision. He lunged to catch her around the torso, and they tumbled back to land on the coffee table, the wood breaking and splintering under their weight.

Faith rolled so she straddled his waist, her left hand grabbing his coveralls as her right delivered a series of punches to his face. She slammed him down as he began to cough blood and stood up, realizing it was a mistake the second he wrapped his legs around her ankles and sent her falling down next to him. Faith rolled this time to escape the right punch aimed at her face and she sprang to her feet at the same time as he did, the rifle in his hands again.

"Do not move."

She shot him a look and rubbed at the back of her head.

"I said do not move!"

"I heard what you said Patchy." She flashed him a smile that was all teeth. "I'm not deaf."

"Who are you?" He settled the rifle against his shoulder. "I thought your people agreed to leave me alone, we drew lines! We agreed!"

Faith lowered her arm. "Drop the act. You're not Dharma." She glanced around. "There's no way your two groups could co-exist on this shit hole of an island; you Others seem to have a problem understanding the concept of sharing."

"Move over to the couch." He jerked the rifle in the direction of the piece of furniture located behind her. "Now."

"How about instead you hand me the rifle before you get hurt?"

"I ordered you to move."

"See, that's the funny thing; I have issues taking orders from someone else, especially someone I don't trust." She chuckled. "And it definitely wouldn't be smart of me to do any such thing when you're the one that's outnumbered at the moment."

The man started to move forward but stopped at the sound of the rifle clicking behind him.

"Stay where you are."

Faith smiled and took a step towards the Other. She kept her eyes on him as she held out her hand. "Now, give me the rifle or Danielle here is going to shoot you and believe me when I say she won't hesitate before squeezing the trigger."

He cleared his throat. "There is no reason we cannot not be civil about this."

"Give me the rifle before I make you eat it." She smirked at him. "Please."

With regret clearly written on his face, he extended the rifle. Faith took it and she looked at it for only a split second before she swung the butt. It hit him squarely in the face and he crumpled unconscious at her feet. Chuckling, Faith looked up to see Danielle looking down at him as well and when the other woman's eyes finally connected with hers, she shrugged.

"I don't do civil."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Blotting her bottom lip with the wet rag, Faith ventured slowly around the kitchen. She took in the white cans of food, each one stacked neatly and labeled with what they contained as well as the Dharma label. There were plenty of items in the fridge as well and she cocked an eyebrow at what looked to be leftovers of an apple pie sitting on the middle shelf.

Snorting, she shut the door and turned to where the Other was presently tied to a chair. She tossed the rag into the sink. "You're a regular little Martha Stewart aren't you Patchy?"

"My name is Mikhail."

"I didn't ask for your name." She pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and straddled it, arms folded on top of one another across the back. She looked past him to see Ana-Lucia and Kate searching the shelves in the living room. Locke was currently in the computer room no doubt amusing himself while her eyes shifted to see Sayid and Danielle talking quietly by the door, both of them glancing over at her and this Mikhail. "How'd you end up in control of this place?"

"It was empty and I was told to stay here."

"Don't play dumb with me. I didn't mean this house and you know it." She tapped her fingers against the chair rapidly. "Besides, we also know that's a lie."

He lifted his chin defiantly but began speaking again. "There was a purge."

"A purge?" Sayid questioned as he came up from behind them. "Between Dharma and the Others?"

"Dharma called them hostiles but they're natives to the island. Both inhabited this place at one time but Dharma was only interested in personal gain and they eventually wanted the island to themselves." Mikhail answered. "There was a war, a purge they called it against the natives. All of Dharma lost their lives." His eyes cast downward. "I see you found the necklace we placed in your belongings."

Her hand curled around the medallion on the silver chain hanging around her neck.

"Your father was unfortunately a casualty of the purge."

Sayid moved at the same time Faith stood up, the chair roughly hitting the ground. "Faith, no." He grabbed her shoulder as she took a step towards Mikhail, her eyes locked on his face. "We need more information out of him."

"Where is he?" She stepped left as Sayid stepped right to block her. "Tell me where his body is!"

"Edward was a good man; it was a shame to lose him." Mikhail continued. "He tried very hard to keep you away from this place but once Dharma figured out what you were..."

"What happened? Tell me how he died!"

"Even at such a young age, your father somehow knew what you were and he thought the best way to keep you safe was to abandon you. He agreed to work for Dharma and one day, he simply packed up and walked away from you didn't he?"

Faith shoved Sayid completely out of the way. She kicked Mikhail firmly in the chest and he crashed over onto his back still firmly tied to the chair. She lowered her boot down onto his chest, pressing her weight there. "Tell me how he died or I'll break you in half."

"It was by gas that they all died. We were assured that it would be painless."

"Who assured you?"

"It was your father who allowed us access to the gas we used." Mikhail answered calmly. He remained perfectly still even as her weight began to increase against his chest. "He was no longer interested in working for such a crooked organization so he helped plan the final purge."

"You're lying. He wouldn't have killed himself, he wouldn't have done that!"

"I'm sorry Faith, but it is the truth."

"You're a liar!"

"Faith, stop!" Sayid grabbed her arm. She shoved him forcefully to the side again and he winced as he hit the kitchen counter.

She reached down to grab Mikhail by his coveralls and yank him back into sitting position. Leaning in close to his face, she tightened her grip and shook him. "Admit that you're lying to me."

"I'm not. It was Edward, your father, that planned the purge. He allowed us to attack them with a gas that was not only invisible but lethal within seconds. It was gas that Dharma themselves had been working to manufacture. When it was time, he expressed his wish to die. He knew he could never truly leave the island because Dharma would eventually hunt him down. It was to protect you that he chose to die."

Faith released him as Sayid wrapped his arms around her from behind. He pulled her backwards and she kicked her feet, twisting. "Get off of me!"

"Calm down!" He released her and placed himself between them, his hands up. "Just calm down."

"Just because we screwed doesn't mean you've got the right to tell me what to do!" Faith snapped. "Now get out of my way Sayid before I help you. I don't want to hurt you but I will."

"Whether or not what he says is true, he's simply baiting you. He wants you to do something." Sayid glanced over his shoulder at Mikhail. "Do the computers here work? Is there a way to contact the outside world?"

"No." It was Locke that answered. He stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, the rest of the gang minus Danielle coming up behind him. "There seems to be some type of code that needs to be set but you have to beat the computer system first."

"Maybe I can rewire it."

"It will self-destruct if you tamper with it in anyway." Mikhail spoke up again. "The system cannot be beaten."

"You mean the chess game?" Locke questioned.

Mikhail nodded. "You're more than welcome to try but I must warn you, it cheats."

"And how exactly does a computerized chess game cheat?"

"Guys, even if we manage to figure out the system, the satellite dish still doesn't work." Kate glanced around at all of them but her gaze skipped right over Mikhail. "We need to keep going. It's going to be dark soon."

Still staring down the bound man, Faith nodded. "We need to gain as much ground as we can before nightfall." She stepped forward aware of everyone watching her. "And guess what Patchy, you're coming with us."

"Is that a smart idea?"

"Versus what Locke? Letting him go so he can run back to Scarlet Letter village and let them know we're coming?"

"He's a danger to us. We're going to have to keep an eye on him every second. Are we sure we can do that?"

Faith settled her hands on her hips. "I can. End of discussion."

"And if she needs a break, I can." Ana-Lucia spoke up. "We can take turns watching him. Besides, he knows where the others are; he can tell us the direction we need to go."

Sayid and Kate exchanged a brief look but they nodded. "Fine." Sayid nodded again. "Let's get together any supplies we need and head out."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The formation was simple. Sayid and Locke were leading with the help of a map Sayid had discovered in the basement of the house. In the middle, Mikhail walked a few steps a head of Faith, his hands tied, the rope leading back to her own hands. Behind her Kate and Ana-Lucia walked side by side, armed and ready for anything. Behind them by several feet was Danielle, the French woman looking slightly lost in her own thoughts.

Faith kept her eyes on the back of Mikhail's head. Her grip tightened on the rope, the move bringing him back a step but he made no mention of it if he noticed and she said nothing at all. Her attention shifted to the front of the group, her eyes catching Sayid's as he looked back from over his shoulder. Her only response was to cock an eyebrow and he turned his head back to face forward again.

"Your friend seems worried about you."

"Shut up." Faith jerked on the rope. "I didn't ask you Patchy."

"What is it you want to ask me then?" He smiled coldly over at her as she came up beside him. "You have been wanting to ask questions since we left the station. Feel free. I will try to answer them to the best of my ability."

She snorted. "Right, I bet you're just itching to be helpful aren't you? You really expect me to believe you'll give me a straight answer?"

"It does not hurt to try. If the questions are about your father..."

"Don't." She jerked on the rope, the material tightening around his waist and wrists simultaneously. "Talk about my father."

"I only bring it up because I know it is what you want."

"How the hell do you know what I want?"

"You're wearing the necklace. I simply took that as a sign that you were ready." He shrugged and looked around casually as if he wasn't aware he was presently tied up and being held prisoner. "Though I will admit I cannot answer everything, only Ben can do that."

Her complete attention snapped back to him at that moment. "What does Ben have to do with my father?"

"Perhaps I've said too much."

"Keep talking before I make your tongue match your eye."

He smiled thinly at her but nodded. "It's simple really. Your father, Ben, and myself were all part of Dharma before the purge. I was recruited when I was just twenty-four. I came to this island as a health and communications asset after being a medic in the Soviet Union military. Your father was one of the head doctors on this island. He had been hired to discover the link between evolved DNA and regular patterns of the strand on the island."

"Evolved, you mean like Slayer DNA?"

"Exactly. Dharma came to this island to do experiments on animals and people in order to help create a better world as they called it. They knew the island was special and if they could harness its power along with the power from inside a specimen such as yourself, they could make a lot of money." He watched Faith take in the information. "The objective was to create the perfect human, the perfect soldier."

"Well, I have to break it to you but I'm far from perfect. What did Ben do for Dharma?"

"Perhaps it is best he tells you that."

Faith smirked. "What makes you think he will?"

"It's always been the goal to have a first-called Slayer here on the island even after the purge. The mission is no longer the money or the perfect soldier but to help make the society here better."

"There's something wrong? According to your friends, you're fine just the way you are and all you want is to be left alone from the outside world."

"While it is true we wish to be left separate from the outside world, life here is not without its faults. The women here cannot have babies if conceived on the island."

"And you expect my help with that?"

"Your DNA may be the key in helping these women deliver healthy babies. So far we've yet to have a single carrier make it to full term."

"Neither make it?"

Mikhail shook his head. "We've had to bring outsiders in order to continue research. Faith, I know it's hard to believe us after everything that has happened but we are not the enemy. We need your help to-"

"I'm not interested in helping you." She snapped. "I'm interesting in keeping these people safe and getting off this island."

"There is no getting off this island."

"Now you're just lying to me because if that was true you couldn't bring in outsiders."

"It's not my intention to mislead you Faith but I'm simply telling the truth. It is an option to come to this island but once you're here, you can never leave."

"We'll see about that."

Any response he had was lost as Danielle suddenly appeared in front of the group. "There is something you must see."

"Let's go." Faith tugged on the rope and followed the group, stopping just as they cleared the trees. Her eyes took in the giant metal poles that were acting as a fence, all connected by wires. "What is this?"

"It's a security perimeter but it hasn't worked in years."

Locke stepped forward to grab Mikhail by the right shoulder. "Well, if that's the case, you won't mind going through first."

Mikhail said nothing but Faith quickly knocked Locke's hand away. "You want to volunteer someone, you volunteer yourself. We need him."

"For what? The Others will never trade him for Jack and he's not going to stay a prisoner for very long."

"So your solution is to kill him?"

"Faith." Sayid cleared his throat. "Perhaps we can figure a way around the fence."

"If the fence doesn't work, he has nothing to worry about."

"You're out of your mind if you think I'm just going to send him through and hope for the best. What has gotten into-"

It was the sound of a low growl followed by the distinctive clinking that had each of them freezing and looking back into the forest. Faith took a step back towards the fence, yanking the rope to pull Mikhail along with her as black smoke began to pour out from the tops of the trees.

"Turn it off."

"I told you, it is-"

"Turn it off!" She grabbed his shirt and yanked him so he was face to face with her. "Turn it off and I'll let you go."

The black smoke began to slither towards them, growing larger as the growl grew in volume as well. It was moving at a slower pace then usually but heading directly for them and the entire group backed up, all of their eyes glued to it.

"Faith!"

"Now isn't a good time to argue about this!" She yelled at Sayid. She tightened her grip on Mikhail's collar. "Turn the fence off and as soon as we're safe, you're free to go."

"If I'm able to reach them before you, I'll warn them that you're coming."

"I'll take the possibility of an ambush over being dead any day."

He smiled thinly at her. "It's not you that it's after Faith. You have nothing to fear on this island." His eyes looked past her to see the creature starting to spread itself out as if readying for an attack. "There is a switch on the pole behind me."

She released him and lunged for the box at the bottom of the pole. Inside was a round switch and quickly she turned it, listening at the sound of the electricity in the poles powered down. "Move!" She motioned at the group. "Move past the poles!"

Only Sayid hesitated, each person practically running to the other side of the poles, Locke taking it upon himself to grab the rope to pull Mikhail along with him. Faith stood up as the smoke shot forward quickly and motioned at Sayid. "Go!"

He strode forward to grabbed her arm. "Come on."

"You first! Someone has to turn it back on!"

"I'm not going without you!"

Faith reached out to place her hand against the side of his face just as the creature drew itself to a large height inches away from them. "That's cute, really." A lightly placed kick to the torso sent him reeling back past the fence and Faith bent to flick the switch again.

The poles hummed as they recharged. Faith turned back to face the smoke as it roared. It swirled above her, coming close to her face as if studying her but she stood her ground, fists clenched. Seconds passed as it unsuccessfully tried to penetrate the fence, the smoke darkening with low growls until finally it shot back like lightning to the forest and disappeared.

"Faith!"

"Yeah, yeah." She flipped the power off again and stepped past the poles, eyebrows raising in surprise as Sayid grabbed her face and pressed his lips against hers. She blinked in surprise as he stepped back and cleared her throat. "And on that note..."

"You agreed to let me go."

Their attention went to Mikhail and Faith cleared her throat again as she nodded. "I did."

He lifted his bound hands. "Well?"

"Faith..."

She ignored Sayid and moved forward, sliding her Jackal free of the sheath. She kept her eyes on his as she cut the rope and tossed it to the ground at their feet. "You're free to go."

"Thank you."

She took a step back. "Last one there is a rotten egg?"

"Until next we meet Ms. Lehane." He inclined his head and without another word took off running into the forest.

"That was-"

Faith rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah Danielle. I know, big mistake of apocalypsey proportion. We get it already." She adjusted the crossbow more firmly against her back. "We should go. I don't want Patchy beating us to the chase. I'm competitive by nature you know."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Do you always make jokes in the face of danger?"

"Are you always so seriously dry about things?" She chuckled as Sayid's face remained neutral. "Look Sayid, sarcasm is one of the things that's never failed me. Just let me have my fun while I take care of business."

"You don't always have to be the one in control Faith. I know the information about your father has been a surprising revelation but-"

She stopped walking to face him. "I still don't know shit about my father and neither do you so don't act like you understand what I'm going through right now."

"I understand what it's like to find out someone isn't who they pretended to be."

"So what? Should we hold hands now and cry over our misery? No one is who they say they are and if you're just figuring that out I feel sorry for you." She started walking again but he kept up easily with her pace.

"I wish you would stop being so resistant to the way you feel about me."

Faith stopped again. "Excuse me?" She snorted. "I don't feel anything about you."

"You're lying, just like I would be lying if I said I didn't feel anything for you."

"Now is not the time to discuss this."

He grabbed her hand as she started to walk off again. "And when would be the right time?"

"Are you serious?" She pulled her hand free. "We're in the middle of a rescue mission and you're getting all fucking mushy on me?"

"Faith, please."

Ana-Lucia cleared her throat as she came up behind them. "Sorry to interrupt but we're here."

"Thanks." Faith shot another look at Sayid before she shook her head and followed Ana-Lucia through a patch of trees. It was dark already but the lights around the Other's compound gave enough of a glow to show the group they had stumbled upon a group of clustered buildings.

It was obvious that there was electricity and Faith stood between Kate and Ana-Lucia looking at each closed door. They all watched as the door to the middle building opened. Kate's breath caught in her throat at the sight of Jack. Faith had to reach out to stop her from moving forward.

"Wait."

"But Jack-"

"I said wait." Faith dropped her hand and they continued watching as Ben appeared next in a wheel chair. Jack turned to shake hands with Ben as another man appeared and Faith instantly recognized him as the other man that had not only been on the boat but also had been the one that had taken her Jackal from her.

The man motioned left and Jack started to move, the man following. They entered a house two down from the one Ben remained out. Faith watched Ben wheel himself back into the house, the door shutting.

"We need to split up." She pointed at Ana-Lucia. "You and Sayid take the front, Kate; you go in the side way and see if you can get Jack alone long enough to sneak him out."

"And what about you?"

At hearing the question, she directed her attention to Locke. "You and I will take the back." It seemed as if he was going to say something but he nodded. "Got it? Good. Let's go, the faster we do this, the faster we can get back to camp."

They all nodded and she didn't miss the lingering look Sayid gave her before he readjusted the strap on his gun and followed Ana-Luca. With a last look at him as well, she waited until Kate took off before turning to face Locke.

She looked towards Ben's house. "You ready?"

"What makes you think I'm going in that direction?"

"You have questions just like I do." She shrugged. "But do what you want Locke. Me, I'm going that way. You're more than welcome to tag along."

He nodded and together, they inched their way under cover of darkness towards the building Ben was located in. It took Locke only a few seconds to pop the back door lock and Faith slid past him to enter first.

"Let's split up."

"We have to split up to find one guy in a wheel chair?" Faith smirked but shrugged. "I'll take left. Happy hunting."

"Same to you, be careful."

She walked away from him, her left hand curled loosely around the blade of her Jackal. Taking her time, she entered a hallway and pushed open the first door to her left. There were boxes stacked neatly on top of each other. The door to her right had exercise equipment and with a roll of her eyes, she continued down the hallway. Her steady, slow footsteps brought her to the door at the end of the hall and she pushed it open with the toe of her boot. The inside was obviously used as an office with a desk, two chairs, and a bookshelf set against the left wall.

The door shut behind her with a soft click and she approached the desk. The top of the desk was clean, a note book with nothing written on top resting in the middle but it was the picture near the edge of Ben with a dark haired young girl that caught her eye. The resemblance to Danielle was uncanny and she studied the image of the two before moving over to look at the bookshelf.

More pictures were on the middle shelf of the young girl along with several other people she had never seen before. There was a picture of a group of young girls, all smiling and seemingly happy as they stood with the sea as their background. She recognized not only Morana as one of the girls but Colleen. There were six girls total and the fake happiness of the image was almost enough to make Faith turn it face down in an attempt to pretend it didn't exist.

It was the picture next to it that made her pause from doing any such thing. There was no denying that one of the young men in it was a younger Ben dressed in coveralls, his shoulder draped by the arm of a taller, distinguishable older man wearing a white lab coat. A necklace was visible against his chest and without even thinking, her hand drifted to touch the medallion around her neck.

"He was a remarkable man, very loyal in his belief." A familiar voice drifted from the doorway behind her. "It's a shame he's no longer with us."

Faith turned slowly and lowered her hand, her eyes taking in the sight of the men starting to fill the room, rifles and other weapons in their hands. Her eyes focused on the man who had spoken. He clasped his hands together behind his back and took a step forward.

"Hello Faith." Richard smiled softly. "I think it's time you came with us."