Lost Virtual Season Three

Important Editor's Note: The continuation of LVS3 continues
the drama directly after the reappearance of Michael from The Others camp. In
that regard, LVS3 deviates completely from the Season Finale of LS2.

Writers: Nycjoc and Scouse.

Full Credits and Disclaimers: Will appear at the end of this post

Rating for Episode One: PG-13

Special Thanks to: Leigh and mru-forum.com for giving us a place to put our creativeness. Sorry for the delay.

Feedback: Please and Thank you! ;) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Two: The Crixa

ACT I

Scene One: Flashback, Michael's Apartment.

It wasn't an old or a shabby apartment by any means. On the contrary, over the months of scrimping and scraping on incapacity benefits, Michael had developed a knack for making the best of the worst situations.

It was a comfortable place to live for a single, childless man.

Despite that, however, neither was it anything to write home about.

Small, functional, plain. It served it's purpose, but Michael had always intended for it to be a stepping stone on his road to recovery, both health-wise and financially. That was all he could afford for it to be, because there was no way in hell he'd ever stand a chance of seeing his son again if he stayed put and just made do.

It was the thoughts of seeing Walt again, of holding his boy in his arms that had kept him going for so long. Had kept him striving to get back to full health as quickly as was possible. Had kept him, above all, optimistic and confident in the face of his current reality. Had made him willing to do anything, no matter the costs.

"Yeah, Mom, I heard you and yeah, I am eating properly."

His feet thumped against the thinning carpet as he shuffled his still limping pace across the living area of his 'home' to the kitchen, without any more warning that he'd made the transition from one room into the next than the sight of the sink and microwave that sat side-by-side on the dark worktop.

"I know, Mom. If I don't eat properly it'll take longer to heal. Yeah, yeah. I'm pretty much healed anyway..." Michael rolled his eyes to the ceiling above, grateful for small blessings in the form of his mother being miles and miles away where she couldn't witness the disrespectful gesture and slap him across the head for it. "Yeah, of course I'm looking for work! It's not exactly an easy ride for me being on incapacity...No, I'm not giving you cheek, I'm just saying!" he paused, unable to speak over her break-neck ranting upon the other end of the line and resisted the urge to roll his eyes a second time.

He'd heard her lecture a hundred times over. More even. But it was always the same...and it always came at the time that he needed to hear it the most. Find himself a job. Work hard. Get a new place to live, bigger, better, safer. Then, when he's done all that, when he's bettered himself, when he is able to provide the opportunity of a better life than trailing around the world from country to country every few months, then he can take action. Then he can take back what Susan took from him.

"Yeah, I'm still here..." he murmured into the phone, leaning against the kitchen worktop and glancing down at the chipped, black acetate-coated hardboard and his mother ended the conversation the same way she always did.

'Get me back my Grandbaby.'

And he smiled, like he always did and replied with the answer he always used to counter her words.

"I will...and Mom...? Thanks."

(End flashback)

Michael shakes his head, dazed, still not quite believing that his son is finally back in his arms again. Back where he belongs after so long of striving to get him back. After so much heartache and guilt over the past.

He’s shocked. Beyond shocked. He simply can’t move or speak until the little boy glances up at his father’s face and begins talking again.

“Dad! We need to go now!”

And Michael takes a laboured breath, as if he suddenly remembers that he needs to breathe, not hearing Walt’s words.

“Walt…”

:Cue Lost title and music:

Scene Two: The Jungle

Michael isn’t the only one in a state of shock. Ana’s mouth gapped at Cindy trying to comprehend the appearance of the woman that all thought was lost to the Others. Her gun hangs limply at her side as Cindy doubles over breathing heavily. Ana couldn’t believe it. She just couldn’t believe it. No one has ever come back before. They were just at the Other’s camp and there was nothing yet here is Cindy standing before her with a boy that is obviously Michael’s son. How did they escape? Where did they come from? What about the others? What happened to the children? Ana’s mind is a whirl of confusion and thoughts. Although she knows they are in danger her focus dips in the amazement of seeing Cindy again. It is only when Cindy speaks that Ana is able to respond.

“What?”

“Walt’s right they are coming… We have to go we have to…”

Reality sets in and Ana is back on focus as the whispers begin faint but clear enough for to put everyone on alert. Walt is pulling at his shocked father whose feet are glued to the ground not sure if he is dreaming or imagining things. But as the whispers get louder Michael’s feet start to shift in motion. Sawyer is trekking back eyes darting back and forth, wary of the surroundings. The whispering sets him on edge. He catches Sayid’s eye noticing the angry tension coursing through him. Sawyer wonders if Sayid would stay behind to have a little vengeance for what happened to Shannon. He doesn’t blame Sayid. Sawyer has an appointment with Zeke that he doesn’t want to miss. But right now isn’t the time.

“We need to leave people,” Ana’s says as she moves Cindy in front of her and starts back towards their camp hoping to avoid a confrontation. She knows this would be the worst way to fight because it would be on their terms. Any number of them could get hurt firing blindly and with Cindy and the kid back it just made a bad situation worst. They need to be protected. She caught Eko’s eye and he nods at her moving himself. Sayid hesitates but in the end starts moving away from the whispers. Sawyer sets a rapid pace that everyone follows but the sound persists.

Eko turns to check on Sayid when he catches a glimpse of something coming at him from the corner of his eye. Instantly taking the defensive, he grabs the person using the man’s momentum to toss him over his back. In a flash his stick comes down on the man’s head heavily, crushing his skull. Eko stands up just as he hears a gun go off up ahead. Moving away from the corpse, he races to the sound of fire when there is a shout and then another attack comes at him. He moves out the way of the knife wielding man.

They circle each other slowly. Eko keeping his eyes on the lithe man dressed in jeans and a dark light shirt. The man’s eyes are cold and hard but his eyes are a dead giveaway to his next move. He faints forward thinking Eko would take the bait but Eko ignores it, swinging his stick hard cracking the man on the left side of his face. Blood shoots from the man’s mouth and nose before a snapping shout resounds in the air from Eko’s stick landing on the back of the man’s neck with such force it breaks it. The man is dead before he hits the ground.

Ana fires her gun at the approaching man wishing she had shot him sooner. Though the man is hit he keeps coming and she fires again this time making him spin before falling dead to the ground. Cindy jumps away running with Ana following. Sawyer is trying to cover them but the others get smart, blending back into the woods when an all out confrontations doesn’t work.

Michael’s heart is pounding as he runs with his son. He doesn’t look back just focusing on getting Walt to safety. Only when the gun goes off does he slow glancing back. Sawyer is a few feet behind him eyes trained on the trees and brush to his right further back is Sayid helping Ana with Cindy as Eko came running forward. Mike starts to move again just as another Other leaps out of the woods at Eko.

“Watch out!” he shouts but his concern is short lived.

“Daddy!!”

Mike suddenly feels a jerk. He sees a dark haired man in a blue shirt and jeans trying to pull his son away.

“Get away from him!!!” he shouts gripping his some tightly at the same time swing at the man trying to take his son away from him. His fist lands in the face of the man who loses his grip. Mike pushes Walt behind him and then swings at the man again. This time he missed and the man swings back. Mike barely dodges. He kicks out his foot landing in the man’s stomach as the anger Mike felt for losing his son consumes him. He takes his out his rage on the fallen man. He kicks him in the teeth before stomping him.

“No. One. Is. Taking. My. Son. From. Me. Again.”

Someone grabs him from behind and he made ready his fist but stops short when he saw Sayid.

“We must go.”

Suddenly Mike’s anger fades as his eyes search for Walt finding him near Cindy who has caught up with them. His son studies him wary but relief washes over his face when he realizes his father is calmer, the bloodthirsty look of revenge gone from his eyes. Now concern for his son is present. Walt slowly approaches his father. He takes his hand and they move out

Eko’s nose flared as his pulse races. He calms himself as the guilt of what he’s done starts needling him. Recognizing that the time for guilt is not now because they are still in danger, he walks forward but Ana’s shout distracts him. He turns to see another man with a gun raised at him only to fall back from a shot from both Ana and Sawyer’s gun.

“Let’s go!!” shouts Ana.

The three of them run catching up with Mike, Cindy, Sayid and surprisingly Jack and Kate. Jack turned back when he heard the first gunshot and Kate refused to let him go back alone. They bumped into Mike, Cindy, Walt and Sayid who are waving them to continue heading back to the camp just as Ana, Sawyer and Eko appear. They all turn their heels running for a long stretch until Sayid has them stop.

“It’s over,” he says.

Ana studies him like he’s crazy but then she notices the silences. The whispers are gone and the only sound is the natural sound of the woods. Taking a deep breath she mumbles to no one in particular, “Don’t count on it.”

Scene Three: The Trail back to the Hatch

By the time they all agree to start moving back towards the hatch, Ana is more than aware that what happened with the Others has effected Eko greatly. No matter if the “would-be” kidnappers deserved everything they got or not. It is obvious to her that the event lies heavily on his mind.

However, something burdens her just as heavily, stopping her from speeding up her pace and taking those few extra steps to reach the holy man’s side.

“Cindy…” she clears her throat, not glancing up at the stewardess at her side, but keeping her stare focused dead ahead. “When you were taken-”

But Cindy shakes her own head, somewhat tiredly and at the same moment with a smile of understanding upon her features.

“You did the right thing, Ana.” She replies, eyes gaining a hazy look, as if she is recalling the very day, the very moment they are discussing. “No one could have stopped them.”

Ana considers her for a moment longer as she contemplates arguing further what she could have done, should have done, to stop her abduction, to rescue her, but in the end she merely nods.

“Thanks.”

Behind them Jack and Kate are walking together.

They both notice the ease with which Ana and Cindy are conversing. They notice the bond there between the tail section survivors as Eko, still mute and stoic and grave of face, turns to monitor their progress behind him, making sure they are okay.

Neither of them needs to say it, but they are both still edgy about what happened and both of their helplessness during the fight.

“Do you think there are more of Them out there?” Kate wonders aloud, attempting to strike up a conversation. She turns to glance up into Jack’s face as he watches his feet pacing at the ground.

He shakes his head, unsure, and swipes at the undergrowth blocking their way.

“I’m not sure,” he admits honestly. “But I think we would’ve known by now if they were following us.”

Kate isn’t quiet convinced but she doesn’t want to jeopardise their newly resumed camaraderie by contradicting him with her opinions. Their relationship hasn’t been the same since she got herself caught by the Others.

Her thoughts are interrupted though by a thick, southern drawl and she resists the urge to turn around and tell the voice’s owner to be quiet just in case the Others are near and find them again.

“Now don’t you go worryin’ that pretty little head of yours, Freckles,” Sawyer swaggers forwards, between her and Jack, effectively separating them, but instead of grinning salaciously at Kate, Jack notices that Sawyer’s eyes bypass her completely to land fixedly and stubbornly upon the back of Ana-Lucia.

So that’s why he’s talking so loud…

“Since I’m the only one of us three here with a gun, I’ll keep you safe, Sugar.” Sawyer shoots an amused smirk at the doctor for good measure, who suppresses the desire to ask the southerner ‘Where exactly he and his gun were during the attack from the Others?’ but almost immediately after his blue eyes meet with Jack’s they swing away again, glued back onto the ebony haired woman a few steps ahead of them.

Sawyer is trying to gage her reaction to his flirtations with Kate, or whether she has even heard them at all, but she offers no signs either way.

Kate rolls her eyes but can’t suppress a pleased grin. She’s enjoying having Sawyer’s attention back upon her instead of Ana-Lucia where it has been wandering to on an alarmingly frequent basis recently. She is unaware, however, that that is actually exactly where the Conman is focusing.

Michael and Sayid follow after them. Michael carrying Walt in his arms, not willing to even put him down for a second for fear that they might be parted again.

Sayid brings up the rear, gun still drawn just as Sawyer’s and Ana-Lucia’s are. Ever the soldier, watching out around the party for any signs of Them.

Walt wiggles a little in his father’s arms, straining to look forwards and searching to see the dark blonde head of his fellow escapee over the rest of their company and through the growing darkness.

“Where is she?” he asks, something akin to concern tainting his voice. He struggles again to try and catch a glimpse of her. “Where’s Cindy? I want to see her. Is she okay?”

“She’s okay, Walt.” Michael replies, having a hard job carrying his son while he’s squirming. “She’s up ahead there with Ana. She’s fine. You can talk to her again when we get to the Hatch.”

Walt nods reluctantly and becomes still.

Michael’s mind, however, is elsewhere, pondering the events of the evening. Why where They so desperate to keep Walt? Why did They want him in the first place? Why did They send a pursuit out after him and Cindy? Why where They so desperate to keep him in their custody that They had tried to kill them all?

He doesn’t know. He can’t think of any reasons why, but the many questions buzzing around his mind suddenly trigger a memory for him, making him think back to six years previous.

Why were they asking so many questions?

Why did they want to know about his boy?

Scene Four: Flashback, Widmore General Manager’s Office

He was vaguely aware that the office he was currently sat in smelt heavily of leather and polish. Smells that he had never before associated with the work and manual labour required in the job that he had applied for.

The chair he sat in was hard and uncomfortable, obviously meaning that it was expensive. Perhaps even as expensive as the grey, pinstripe suit worn by the man sat behind the mahogany desk, before him, mulling over the resume in his hands from behind a pair of glasses.

The air about them was arm and silent save for the almost regimental ticking of a clock that he couldn’t actually locate.

He was far too nervous to be concerned with any of that though. After all, he’d not had to partake in an interview since before his son had been born. Way before Susan had left him after shattering his dreams of becoming an architect…

“Well, Mr Dawson-” dark blue eyes, magnified slightly by the spectacles perched on the end of the man’s nose, lanced up to meet with his. “Michael, everything seems to be perfectly in order here. I don’t think it’s too optimistic for me to say welcome to the company.” He smiled widely, flashing brilliant white teeth and offering Michael a congratulatory hand to shake.

“Thank you, Mr Blake. I’m very grateful for this opportunity.” He shifted in the hard seat and cleared his throat. “Not many companies would take me on…looking at my medical history…”

The man waved a hand dismissively at Michael’s words.

“Here at Widmore we believe strongly in finding the…exact candidates to fill all of our job vacancies.” His smile flickered upwards again, strangely bright, strangely jubilant. Overly enthusiastic almost. “And please, call me Robert.”

He placed the papers that he had been scanning over back down onto his desk and removed his glasses before linking his fingers together, elbows resting upon his table.

“Now, before we go into details about your job here and your responsibilities, I have a few, ah, personal questions that I need to ask you. Standard procedure, I’m afraid, but don’t worry, I won’t bore you with them for long…” his eyes traced down across his computer screen as he spoke.

“Sure.”

“Your marital status us single at the moment, yes?” he didn’t turn to look at Michael as he spoke.

“Yeah, I never married.”

“Never found the right girl?” Robert queried with a chuckle knowingly. “I know from experience that even the wrong girl is hard enough to find.”

Michael forced a smile, though he knew it must have looked strained from the questioning glance that the manager before him gave in return.

“I’m sorry…is something wrong…?”

“No, no!” Michael hastened to assure him. God he needed this job! He couldn’t afford to put it in jeopardy by letting his past get in the way. “I thought I met the right girl once, a few years ago now…It didn’t work out…that’s all.”

“Ah,” Robert nodded in understanding. “Haven’t we all had a few like that.” His laugh rang out through the suddenly cloying office air and Michael once again forced a smile, though he did a better job of looking convincing that time and finally Robert resumed his questioning. “Do you have any dependents? Anyone relying on you for an income? An elderly parent? Grandparent perhaps?…A Child…?”

Michael frowned slightly at the strangeness of the other man’s question. But he guessed they needed to know just in case he wanted to apply for any benefits to help him support any dependants.

“Uh, yeah. I have a son, actually…but he lives with his mother and her husband.”

Robert glanced at him over the top of his glasses, perched once more on the end of his nose. A smirk twisted his lips up at one corner. “Would that be Miss It Didn’t Work Out?”

“Yeah.” Mike coughed, slightly uncomfortable with the topic of conversation and, as if he had sensed as much, Robert disappeared back around his computer screen.

“Back to business, I won’t keep you much longer. Now, about your son…does he have any, special…needs? Is he…gifted in any way that you’re aware of?”

The hell? The questions were getting weirder and weirder. “Special needs? No, not that I know of.” Michael responded stiltedly, not entirely sure if the manager was having a joke with him, seeing how many questions he would actually answer. He’d not had a job for a good few years now, but he still remembered the practical jokes that the other employees like to play on the new recruits.

But Robert merely continued with his questions.

“Is he particularly good at mathematics or science? Does he excel at school? Does he have any…other gifts at all that you can think of?”

“Sorry, Robert.” Michael interrupted finally, shaking his head. “I don’t have any contact with him. I’ve not seen my boy in almost a year, man, I’m not that up to speed on his progress and he’s only just turning four this year. A little young for school, huh?”

“Of course, my mistake.” Robert flashed a slightly less enthusiastic smile before folding his hands on the desk before him. “I must’ve been confusing you with someone else. Well, I hope things work out for you here, Michael. It’s good to have you on board. Welcome to Widmore.”

(End Flashback)


Scene Five: The Hatch

He was a man of faith once. But not anymore.

Locke sits before the computer screen, watching, waiting, listening to the timer as it slowly counts down.

It hits 3 minutes and the beeping begins. Slow and steady at first. Getting gradually faster as he continues to stare at it.

He was a man of faith but his belief was stolen from him. Without that belief he is only a man. Just one man stuck in the monotony of a job he no longer believes in. A faith no longer his own.

The beeps are getting faster and louder but it is as if he cannot hear them. Oblivious.

And yet he knows, has proven to himself that he simply isn’t strong enough to leave, to give over his fate into the hands of chance.

The beeping grows in urgency and reluctantly Locke moves his fingers to type in the numbers.

4 8 15 16 23 42 execute.

And the beeping ceases, replaced by a noise not dissimilar to the slapping of a deck of cards being shuffled.

One hand moves up to cradle his head as if he is disappointed with himself for pushing the button yet again and he finds himself thinking grimly that ‘maybe Jack was right…’

Hushed voices suddenly interrupt him from the direction of the hatch entrance and Locke reaches for his crutches with a grimace of distaste for them twisting his lips before he hobbles out of the computer room, free from it’s chains for another 108 minutes, and down the corridor towards the living area.

As he enters he is surprised to see that the rescue party have all returned and even more so to see that they have two extra people with them. Walt and a young woman he assumes is the Cindy that the tail section survivors mentioned had been taken on their trek from the other side of the island.

“You found them then?” he asks, drawing all of their gazes around and to him stood in the doorway. “The Others? Their camp? Did you find them?”

“More like They found us.” Ana responds with a chuckle that holds no amusement, just a grimness that proves their struggle.

“Their camp was deserted.” Sayid adds in agreement with a nod of his head. “We were contemplating our next move when our paths crossed with Walt and Cindy and the three of their captors in pursuit of them.”

Locke glances around at them all, at their faces, in particular noting the firm set of Jack’s jaw and the way that Ana-Lucia still grips her gun tightly in a white knuckled fist.

He almost dares not ask what went on…

“And you killed them?” his voice is low and the people around him aren’t sure whether it’s through reprimand or concurrence with their actions.

Ana is the one to answer from where she leans against the kitchen sideboard by the sink. She secures her gun in the back of her belt and folds her arms.

“They would have killed us, John, and taken Cindy and Walt back with them. We couldn’t allow that to happen.” She raises her chin, as if daring Locke to contradict her or tell her that what has been done is wrong but he remains silent, only the slight nodding of his head letting her know that he has heard what she has said at all.

She locks eyes with Eko then, standing across the room from her and, even though he knows her words are an attempt to justify his actions, to absolve them in a way, he remains silent, as he has been since he took those two lives, before he turns and leaves the room.

Something in the set of his shoulders, the clenching of his fists and the shadow in his eyes tells Ana not to follow him just yet. He needs his time alone…and perhaps with God.

Sawyer clears his throat suddenly, breaking into the silence and stepping forwards, demanding their attention. He smirks around at them all.

“Well, as much as I’d love to stay here and chin-wag with you all night long, I got me places I need to see and people I need to do.” He tosses an insinuating wink Ana’s way but is only met with a level stare to counter his purposely muddled up saying. “How ‘bout you two li’l vigilantes return me my guns? They’re only out on loan, remember?” he swings around to consider Sayid firstly, raising his eyebrows in anticipation and the Iraqi, sadly recalling the memories of Shannon and her shooting, passes the weapon over without complaint, as if he is almost grateful to have it out of his hands once more.

Jack doesn’t have a chance to argue that now is a good time for Sawyer to stop playing games and give the guns back as Sawyer turns back to Ana.

“How ‘bout you, Artful Dodger?” the conman asks, his voice deepens with a growl.

“I don’t think so.” She responds just as firmly.

There’s no way she intends to relinquish her one weapon now that she’s got a hold of it and now that it’s been proven that there is a need for it. She’s not going to back down.

Feeling all of their disapproving stares upon his back, Sawyer clicks his tongue in annoyance or impatience, fixing Sayid’s gun into his belt along with his own making him resemble a real cowboy.

“Alright, Rambina,” he shrugs and shakes his head, feigning pity for her. “But just so you know, you better be on your guard at all times if you’re plannin’ on keepin’ it…”

His blue-eyed glare is challenging before he turns and leaves them in the hatch to deal with the problems among themselves.

Michael meanwhile is off to one side with Walt, talking to him quietly, not really paying attention to the fractious situation around him. He’s only concerned about his son’s well being. He hears a sound behind him and glances up to see Cindy.

“Hey.” She smiles, a little nervously, swiping a stray strand of her sandy brown hair from her face before crouching down beside him to speak to Walt. “How are you feeling?”

Walt grins up at her from where he’s sat on the sofa. He’s a little muddy and very tired but he’s still cheerful, especially now that he’s seen Cindy again.

“Great!” the boy replies and Cindy smiles back, standing up besides Michael once more.

Michael watches her before shaking his head, almost in self reprimand, and offers her his right, uninjured hand.

“Hey, I’m sorry. Shoulda introduced myself. I’m-”

“Michael.” Cindy finishes for him, taking his hand and shaking it anyway. Her expression, while still looking exhausted from her escape, is laced with amusement. “I know. Walt and I talked a lot…back when we were…” she doesn’t finish her sentence, either unable to or unwilling to, but the dark, haunted look that flashes across her face is gone in an instant, replaced once more by her wide, bright smile. “I’m Cindy. I was a stewardess on the plane.”

“Yeah…yeah, I think I remember.” Michael responds with a smile of his own. He finds it hard not to smile around her and he guesses that’s because of all her training and communication skills from her job prior to the crash. “Listen, I wanted to thank you for what you did for Walt. He told me you looked out for him. He told me you helped him escape. I don’t know how to repay you.”

Cindy smiles again.

“It’s what anyone would have done.” She chuckles lightly, a little awkward with so much gratitude being sent her way. “You don’t have to repay me at all. Just knowing Walt’s back where he should be is enough.”

Michael nods noticing how Walt is beaming up at them both strangely.

“Just let me know if there’s anything you ever need.”

And suddenly Cindy’s eyes take on a speculative gleam.

“There is one thing…” she hesitates slightly, amusement curling her lips upwards once more, curiously.

“Anything!” he responds solemnly but she only laughs.

“Can I have my hand back?”

A lightening fast glance shot down to their still clasped hands confirms to Michael that he has indeed been preoccupied and forgotten to let go of their handshake.

“Shoot! I’m sorry!” he exclaims hastily, releasing her hand as if it has scalded him and the bedraggled ex-stewardess chuckles again, tucking more loose strands of hair behind her ears.

“No worries.”

Scene 6: The Jungle

Sawyer slows his trek through the woods trying to figure out who was following him. He figures it is Ana Lulu determined to get more guns from him or at least locate where he hides the rest. She already has one, taking it using the oldest trick in the book, not that he minded. But when she refused to give back after their last adventure it really burned his bun. He knew he would have the last say in this little fight. Sawyer wondered if the Ana and Jack would get back into that army idea. He remembers them talking about it before but it got a little sidetracked. But after recent events, he is sure that that the argument will begin again.

A part of him thought about which side of the fence he falls. The more obvious answer is for the army but he didn’t know. He isn’t too keen on having some on the people he saw on the island army with a can opener let alone a gun. There’s going to be a need for some serious training of people but the question becomes do they have enough time to do it. A strong part of him didn’t think so. Those others attacked with determination may have been licked or even more frighten chose to quit early but that does that losing the battled ended the war and there was a war on this island outside politics of their own little group.

Sawyer isn’t too keen on fighting though. His long-term objective is to get off the island. He has no plans of dying here and getting into a battle with the Others can increase that possibility ten-fold. And as much as people get on his nervous here, he doesn’t want whole groups of them slaughtered in a blood bath in a fight with the Others. Maybe some training is needed but he didn’t think that further provoking an unknown enemy is the best idea even if he could get his revenge for getting shot by them.

He cut his eyes thinking he might get a glimpse of her off to the left but she blends back into the trees. Fine. She wants to play so be it. He changes his direction heading deeper into the woods resuming his thoughts about the army. He is sure ole Jacko is probably back there being weak wrested. Sawyer shakes his head in disgust. Jack’s leadership leaves a sour taste in his mouth. Why he was made defacto leader was beyond him. Rolling his eyes he took a couple of turns making himself disappear from view of his tracker and waits. Time passes but she didn’t come into view so he calls out.

“Come on Chica! I know it’s you. You need a new hobby. This sneaking up on me thing is old. Maybe you should try asking, I might be inclined to oblige.”

“Okay. Where are the guns Sawyer?” asks Kate coming into view arms crossed.

“Kate.” Sawyer is annoyed by her presence wanting it to be the other woman. His mind had enjoyed the possibility of a second round of hot, intense ‘fighting’ with Ana
Lu.

“Yeah. Answer the question.”

Sawyer shakes his head. “The guns are safe.”

“Stop it, Sawyer. You were out there. You know what happened, what we got to deal with. Hoarding the guns when there is a threat of danger is not only irresponsible but also unreasonable.”

“You here to lecture me on the finer points of island etiquette, Kate? Don’t waste your breath. I’m long passed caring about what others think.”

“Yeah, right. Look, Sawyer stop being an ass. We don’t know what’s going to happen now that Cindy and Walt are back. Henry’s gone and those Others are angry, going by the way the fighting when down. They want revenge and…”

“And the people they’re after can protect themselves. Ana’s got a gun and The Priest uses his big stick quite effectively. So your point is mute. Beside, why would I give you the guns? You didn’t mind Jack putting one my face after I gave you a gun before for one of your little trips. Trying to prove yourself useful to him again?”

Kate’s face reddens. “You know Sawyer.” She raises her hand. “Forget it. Forget I ask thinking for once you’d think about someone besides yourself.”

“That’s rich coming from you. And I will forget you asked. So why don’t you run off and leave me be.”

She glares at him knowing he isn’t going to take her anywhere near those guns. She storms away and Sawyer waits a moment longer before continuing his journey to his secret stash.


Scene 7: The Hatch

Jack is finishing his check up of both Walt and Cindy. He finds nothing wrong. No injuries more serious than a scraped knee or a twisted ankle thankfully and he moves across the hatch to put away his medical supplies in his backpack.

“What happened?” Michael asks suddenly, unable to contain his questions about their time in Others captivity any longer. He needs to know what they did to his son. He needs to know so he can put his own mind at rest about it. “What did they do when they took you?”

But Walt, shooting a furtive glance at Cindy opposite from him upon the other armchair, merely shakes his head and stares at his feet.

“Where did they take you?” Ana adds, but she has her own reasons for asking for answers. She fixes her dark brown gaze upon Cindy who sits nervously chewing upon her lower lip and studying her own hands folded in her lap. “Did you see the other kids? Emma and Zack? Were they there? Did you see them?”

Cindy glances up at the tone in Ana’s voice. She knows that the other woman blames herself for the two siblings getting taken by the Others on that night so long ago. She knows because she has blamed herself for that incident too. But she can’t bring herself to reply. She can only shake her head sadly and watch the disappointment chase the hopeful sparkle from Ana-Lucia’s eyes.

Michael opens his mouth to ask more questions of Walt, to demand to know, but out of the corner of his eye he suddenly sees Cindy stand from her place and cross the room in five swift paces.

Something has grabbed her attention.

“Cindy, what-?” Ana asks and then falls silent again as the stewardess reaches the wall and runs her hands over the geometrical design there. Black and white. The logo for the Swan.

“What is this?” Cindy demands, startling them all from their stunned silence. “I’ve seen this before…or something like it. Where the Others took us. It was different though. It wasn’t a bird like this…”

And as Michael looks at it harder, pondering Cindy’s sudden interest in it, something niggles in the back of his mind. Something familiar. Something about the design that he too remembers from somewhere. Something that seems too recognizable to him for it to just be mere chance. He knows it and he knows it well…

…How many months did he spend loading and unloading those crates?

[Flashback]

“…And here’s where you’ll be working.” Robert had to raise his voice to a yell to be heard over the clanging and crashing of machinery and boxes and the booming, off-key male vocals, crooning a bizarre rendition of Buddy Holly’s ‘Maybe Baby’ along with a crackling radio. “Loading crates from the containers into the warehouses to be transported to their destinations and so on and so forth.”

Michael sent his gaze around the high ceiling-ed warehouse as Robert waved his hand in the vague direction of a number of men already manning their forklift trucks and moving the large, heavy crates with a black and white logo saying “Dharma” stamped onto their sides and tops. They were already hard at work.

Robert slapped him on the shoulder suddenly, tearing his eyes away from the expanse of floor before them and the older man grinned, smoothing back greying brown hair.

“It’s our good luck that you already have a forklift license.” He chuckled conspiratorially. “That mean you can get down to work immediately without waiting for weeks on end to take the damn test.”

“Yeah,” Michael concurred with an absent nod, back to watching his soon to be colleagues going about their business. “Guess that’s good for me too then. I want to be back at work as soon as possible.”

Robert beamed at his response, clapping him on the shoulder once more before beginning a languid stroll into the midst of the chaos of the warehouse.

“Excellent.” He mused and Michael hurried to catch up. “Do you have any questions you want to ask?” he glanced back over his grey suit clad shoulder and raised his eyebrows in inquiry.

And Michael painted a wide smile upon his face, wanting to seem enthusiastic. He really needed this job.

“No, I don’t think so.” He replied. “Well, none more pressing than where those crates come from anyway.” He chuckled, pointing over at the nearest forklift truck passing them by with a white and black Dharma crate loaded upon it. “I’ve not seen that logo before…Dharma? Are they a new company?”

He’d only said it to try and get a smile out of his new manager. To keep the conversation flowing and to look like he was paying attention. All to make a good impression. But Robert paused in his steps as if Mike had slapped him. His face strained slightly. Skin pulling taut at the corners of his mouth as if he was clenching his teeth fiercely behind his firmly pursed lips. His grey eyes squinted but they’d long since lost their smile and amusement and they clouded, darker suddenly. Dubious about Michael reasons for asking such a question, even if it was only jokingly.

Finally he cleared his throat and brushed an imaginary fleck of dust from his pristine suit lapels.

“There are some things that even I don’t know.” He replied at length, forcing a smile past his stony features, but Michael had no doubt that he was lying about his lack of knowledge. “I found out a long time ago that it’s best not to ask too many questions…”

[End Flashback]

Scene 8: The Beach

Libby and Hurley lean back on the sand chatting softly to themselves and enjoying the horizon as the on set of late afternoon turns into early evening. Not too far off is Charlie rooted in the same spot still relishing the exchange between Claire and him. He waited a long time to see her smile at him again. He waited a long time to just hear her voice speak to him in a nice way. His had an impulse to try and talk with her again later tonight but he decided that it would be best that to let her set the pace of their tentative new ‘beginning’.

Sighing deeply, Charlie finally decides that he needs to do something more than lay on the beach with a pair of lovebirds. He figures he’ll go back to the church to see if there is anything that he could do before it gets to dark. He stands, stretching his lean body, losing all the muscles that tightened up after his long sit down. During this stretch he spies Eko walking solemnly towards the church.

“Hey, Eko!” he calls out.

Eko barely glancing in his direction. His face furlong, his shoulders drooped, he walked by without saying a word. By now Hurley and Libby notice him and a frown develops on Libby’s face.

“What’s wrong with him?” Asks Hurley.

Charlie shrugs. “I dunno. I’ve seen him quiet but something’s off.”

“Maybe something happened in the woods, you when they left to find Walt’s kid.”

Charlie looks pensive. “Maybe. Maybe I should talk to him. You know, find out what happened that bothered him so much.”

Libby stands too, deciding that she needs to do something besides lie on the beach and speculate. “Maybe I should be the one that goes talk to him. I’ve seen that way before and I think I might know what’s wrong.”

Charlie nods faintly. “Did he talk to you before?”

Libby tilts her head thinking. “No. But I could still try.”

Neither Charlie nor Libby make a move to go, instead they just contemplate what they would say if they did speak to Eko besides what’s going on.

“Maybe we should ask Ana, you what happened. Maybe she can talk to Eko,” Hurley suggests.

“I think you’re right mate. I’m going to go find her.” Charlie trudges off into the woods towards the hatch. Ana knew Eko longer it would make sense to ask her. besides by the way Eko is looking, Charlie doubts he would get to words from the man.

Lovely, lovely, lovely! Nycjoc and Scouse that was wonderful! I give you props *gives* and cookies *gives*!

Lost Virtual Season Three

Episode Two: The Crixa

Act 2

Scene 9: The Hatch

Ana could just scream. After all that has happened. After everything Cindy had told them about the others, the testing, Walt. Jack was standing in front of her telling her that they need to be calmer about this, think about it some more. Wait and see what everyone thinks, as if they have time for a huge island committee. This is nuts!!! Ana lets out a heavy breath, counting to ten twice before speaking again.

“Jack. We cannot afford to wait for everyone to get comfortable with the idea that they may need to fight. We have to be ready for them. Think about. They sent Mike back here to kill two people using his kid as leverage. We can’t act like we have all the time in the world. We don’t!!” Her eyes glances over to Locke whose watching them suspiciously. She doesn’t trust him, something about Locke especially now a days has her very wary.

“Ana. We can’t just fly off the handle. We need to know more. We can’t start an all out war with them…”

“I’m not talking about a war. I’m talking about building up our defences. You know created that army you suggested before we lost the guns to Sawyer. We need to get on that right now. We need to get those guns back. They told us to leave them alone, we did and what did they do? They sent people in here anyway. Henry who tried to kill me and he probably killed that poor jerk we found back in the woods. They turned Michael into their assassin and you’re telling me we need to back off.”

“No, what I’m saying is that we have to take an easy. We don’t want to start a panic and frighten people. Besides not everyone agrees that fighting will solve our problems that much we know already. We can't just force people into this or we’ll lose them all.”

“This is different from before, Jack.” Her head is pounding as the medication began wearing off. “We can’t wait for another attack. They aren’t playing peace. We are just pawns in their game. They are setting all the rules. It’s time we set some of our own.”

“Ana, please. Let’s just deal with the situation of Cindy and Walt before we decide to take this any further. The more we know the better prepared we’d be.”

“I wonder if you’re hesitating because it wasn’t anyone from your group that was targeted for getting killed?”

“Ana. Stop. That’s not true and you know it. I’m trying to prevent more harm. Michael’s no longer a threat because he got his kid back and Cindy seems okay…”

“But Henry is off in the woods running around and can at any time do us harm.” Sighing, tired of the argument. “You know what Jack, you need to remember, you came to me looking to create an army after Sun was attacked. Not the other way around. Now we have more reason for it and you want to investigate. Fine, go investigate. Do what you have to do. But I intend to find out was going on too and I also intend to be ready for when they come because they are coming. Unlike you, I can walk and chew gum at the same time.” Before he could respond Ana left the hatch. Jack stands fuming for a moment before heading to the computer room.


Scene 10: The Jungle

Ana walks through the woods thoroughly aggravated. She couldn’t believe that now Jack would get cold feet. As she walks she tries to access who she could get to start training to fight without causing too much static. As much as she disagrees with Jack she knew that if they acted too divided people would lose faith in Jack’s abilities and what little trust they have in her. They couldn’t afford that kind of tension right now so she knew she would have to tread lightly.

She thought about Sawyer as a possible ally and quickly dismissed the idea. Sawyer is the most self-serving person on the island. Now wouldn’t be the time to pull him in because things aren’t bad enough for him to seriously choose a side. Besides she isn’t ready to deal with him too much yet. Their ‘encounter’ still floating into her mind reminding her of how much she actually enjoys being close to him. They need a little distance especially since she knows he wants his gun back and would probably use their encounter as a method of getting it.

She almost made it too her shelter when she bumps into Charlie.

“Hey. I was looking for you.”

“Why?” she steps around him to keep walking and he doggedly follows her.

“It’s about Eko. His seems really off right now and I was wondering if it had something with what happened in the woods.”

Ana stops again turning to Charlie. “What you mean off?”

Charlie shrugs, “I dunno. I mean he seems dejected, you know, like he did something really bad. I saw him go to the church but he didn’t go in just sat outside of it, starin’. Libby said he got like this before, you know on your side of the island. I was just wonderin’, maybe you could talk to him.”

Ana instantly understands the problem and nods her head.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to him.”

Charlie nods at her leaving. Now wasn’t the time for twenty questions. He would get all the facts later.

Ana heads to the church.

She found Eko the way Charlie said sitting outside the church. But she noticed that he seemed to be carving. Ana goes sits beside him in quiet camaraderie hoping that he would speak. But Eko says nothing, working his stick in silent punishment.

“Eko. Don’t do this again. You were right to protect yourself. To protect us. They were trying to kill you, trying to take Mike’s son. They even made Michael trade our lives for his own kid.”

Eko never glanced at her and Ana sighs sadly.

“I understand that you are trying to do penance for your actions but we need you. Things are going to get worst before they get better. If you feel guilty fine, we all carry some guilt but we can’t let that guilt isolate us from friends and the issues around us. You know as well as I do that they are going to be back and when they come back, you may have to kill again. I don’t like it any more than you do but we have to defend ourselves. We have to survive. You are not a bad person. You did what you had to do. If you didn’t think it was right you would have died in those woods.”

Eko stops cutting his stick and faces her. He nods briefly acknowledging her words before getting up and walking away. Ana sighed completely exhausted by the idea that the nightmare from the otherside has reach this part of the island and she would have to live through it again.

Scene 11: The Hatch Living Area

“Michael?” Jack queries softly from where the father is watching over his son as the boy talks with Cindy in hushed tones.

He looks up, broken from his thoughts, his disbelief of Walt’s powers that he hasn’t truly been able to contemplate since the events earlier in the jungle.

Jack clears his throat again and sits opposite from the other man on the arm of the sofa, fingers lacing together as he rests his elbows on his knees, studying the grain of the concrete floor.

He opens his mouth to speak again but is silent for an extended heartbeat before he looks up at Michael again, locking their eyes together.

“Ana…she thinks we need to build an army.” He states, shaking his head, already trying to dismiss the idea and hoping that Michael will be able to see past his anger and rage and do the same. “We don’t know for sure that the Others will be coming but…” he gives small, humourless chuckle. “She thinks that we should start training people to fight them.” His dark eyes, neither entirely brown, nor entirely blue, lance upwards to focus on his companions again. He hopes to find some form of disapproval for the idea there, but even as he sees the resolute frown draw Michael’s brows down and together, he knows what his friends answer will be.

“I agree with her, Man.” Michael hisses out, his hate for the ones who stole his son away from him and kept him for so long so obvious in his voice and features. “I say we should kill every last son of a bitch who thinks they can try and take any of us again!”

Jack takes a deep, sighing breath in through his nose, pinching the bridge of it, before pressing his hands on his knees and standing straight again.

“Okay…Michael.” He says, shaking his head. He knows that he’s never going to persuade him otherwise purely because of what the Others have put him and Walt through and he moves away, leaving the living area of the room, perhaps going to speak with Locke who has shut himself back up in the button room.

Michael continues to frown long after Jack has left, Walt’s strange powers suddenly brushed aside again as his anger resurfaces.

“Walt!” he calls out firmly and the young boy glances up, sensing the change in his dad’s temperament and leaves Cindy’s side, moving to stand before Michael.

“Yeah, Dad?”

“I want you to tell me. I want you to tell me right now what happened back there! I need to know, Walt. No more excuses.” He states firmly, taking hold of Walt by his upper arms, almost trying to convey the desperation he feels by doing so.

Walt sighs, a frown pulling at his own brows but he remains stubbornly silent.

“Walt.” Michael pleads again, giving him a light shake this time.

“Tests, okay?! Just what Cindy said!” Walt replies finally, putting no doubt in Mike’s mind that the boy inherited his mother’s temper. “It’s done now, can’t we just forget it?”

“No!” Michael responds incredulously. Shocked that Walt would be so quick and willing to let things lie. Something is definitely not right and he knows that for sure, despite the lack of information that his son is volunteering. Mike shakes his head again, releasing one of Walt’s arms to scrub a hand at his head. “How did you get to use the computers?” he asks finally, trying a different topic of conversation. “How did you know it was me that you were talking to on that computer?”

And Walt shrugs, glances back over his shoulder at Cindy who is browsing through the record collection on the other side of the room.

“That was easy.” He states flippantly, distractedly, and Michael struggles to regain his attention.

“How?…Walt!” he shakes him a little harder. “How did you know?”

Again Walt shrugs nonchalantly.

“The cameras. I saw you on the TV screens. They have hidden cameras like in those cop programmes I use to watch back home. Can I go now? I’m tired.”

Scene 12: Widmore Warehouses, New York Harbour

He jogged down from the deserted warehouse in the direction of the even more deserted car park, hoping, beyond all hope that Phil, the site security guard, hadn’t locked the gates again like he had last week, leaving Mike’s car impounded inside until the next morning.

He rounded the corner and the top of the steps leading to the car park came into sight and with great relief, Michael noted that the gates were in fact still open. Thank God! Seemed like somebody up there still loved him.

“Thanks, Phil.” He muttered to himself with a relieved grin as he turn to descent the steps…

…and ran headlong into Robert’s PA.

Papers fluttered out every direction in the darkness of the night, like giant, rectangular snowflakes.

The young woman, who’d always been a nervous twitchy thing from the day he’d met her, yelped slightly in shock, holding a hand to her heart as if she thought it was about to pop out of her chest.

“Hey, I’m sorry!” Michael apologised hurriedly, holding his hands out to steady her and keep her from falling back down the concrete steps. “Are you okay?”

The short, rather plump brunette nodded, her heart race returning to normal as she glanced around at the papers strewn about, holding a hand to her forehead n despair.

“Oh God!” she groaned, dropping to her knees and scrabbling to collect the sheets and stuff them back in her folder. “Robert’s going to kill me!”

“Oh no!” Michael assured her, stooping to help her. “Just tell him it was my fault.” His eyes followed his hands as he passed the papers back over to her, taking in the drawings and diagrams there. “Hey!” he grinned suddenly pulling his hand back before she could receive them off him. “Are these blueprints? Robert never mentioned anything about needing an architect. He should have told me, I know how much they charge now-a-days.” He looked up, noting the slightly unnerved expression flitting across the woman’s face as she watched in horror as he studied the paper. “You should tell him I’ll do any drawings and stuff for him if he needs them…it’ll save the company a hell of a lot.” Slowly he offered his hand back towards her and she snatched the blueprints from him as if her life depended upon him not having seen them.

“Yeah…” she attempted to fake a smile and failed miserably. “I’ll do that. Thanks.” She struggled to her feet and before Michael could say another word she began her frantic run back towards the warehouse.

Bizarre.

“Whatever, man.” Michael shrugged and muttered again to himself. He turned away with a shake of his head and made to finally head down the steps only to find a blueprint, missed by them both in the hasty clean up operation. He bent to retrieve it from the ground and turned, searching for the PA’s figure in the night, but she’d long since disappeared back into the darkness. And Michael was long since overdue to get home. “I’ll just turn it in tomorrow…” he reasoned moving again towards the car park, browsing over the drawing in his hand curiously.

The Swan? What the hell kind of name was that? Maybe the construction side of Widmore were building some sort of bird sanctuary. Not that he’d ever known them to get involved in anything like that before. It was always pharmaceutical buildings or laboratories or more warehouses.

Strange.

He ran a finger over the immaculate drawing as he studied it, reading the neatly scribed notes of the architect there.

Blast doors? Why would any building need blast doors? Perhaps it was something military based then? He didn’t know. And security cameras dotted around the entire complex? What was that about?

Michael glanced up from the page as he stumbled down the last step into the car park, shaking his head and tucking the curious blueprints underneath his arm. He’d return it in the morning.

“Ah, no way, Man!” he growled, grimacing as he finally took stock of his surroundings.

It’s seemed that maybe someone up above had stopped loving him after all.

Phil had locked the gate again.

[End Flashback]

Scene 13: The Hatch Button/Computer Room

Jack finds Locke sitting by the computer monitor staring off into space. Locke has a stoic expression on his face and Jack wonders what was the cause. He knows that Locke invested a lot in Henry especially emotionally. Henry had a way of getting under everybody’s skin, even Jack’s. But Jack never really believed Henry or his innocence. Jack suspected that Locke did buy into it for whatever reason.

Locke turns his attention to Jack giving him the once over. He heard the conversation between him and Ana Lucia. He is thankful that Jack is starting to come to his senses now about fighting the Others. Locke still believes that it is folly to engage in battle with them. He believes that reason would work better. He glancs down at his leg. Despite his injury he isn't ready to lose complete faith but he isgetting very close to it. Maybe this was just a test.

“How you doing?”

Locke is pulled from his thoughts by Jack’s question.

“Fine. Just came to wait to check the button.”

Jack nods. He figured as much.

“You’re leg feeling okay…”

“Do you trust ‘em?”

Jack frowns. “Trust who?”

“Mike and that woman Cindy. Do you trust them?”

Jack thought about it. After what Michael pulled he has a hard time feeling comfortable around him but the reason for his betrayal is with him now so that problem is solved, as for Cindy he didn’t know. Ana didn’t feel threaten by her nor does Walt. So maybe she’s alright.

“I trust them more than Henry.”

“I see. And what of the Others? Are you still thinking about building your army? It’s gonna be kind of difficult to do with Sawyer holding all the guns.”

Jack stares at Locke coolly, his jaw working slightly. A thin smile forms on his lips and he says, “Whether he has the weapons or not people need to be ready to fight. And Sawyer is going to slip one day and find himself weaponless.”

Jack turns to walk out the room.

“That’s not what you told Ana Lucia. Or is it that you don’t want her in charge of an army that may be formed.”

Jack shakes his head. “Believe what you want, John. You always do.” Jack leaves the computer room.

Locke stares at the empty space wondering how soon they will have to deal with the Others again.

Scene 14: The Hatch Living Area

Mike studies the living room eyes trying to discern where there could possibly be cameras. Based on his knowledge of the blueprints he checks every corner, above the doors and in the hallways but he sees nothing.

“Where could they possibly place cameras without anyone seeing them. It doesn’t make any sense.” Mike shakes his head frustrated,

Walt glances between his father and Cindy. Cindy smiles back at Walt encouragingly. They watch Michael move around the room, a pensive look on his face trying to find a clue. Finally he gives up turning to Cindy.

“You must be mistaken. There are no cameras here.”

“No. There are. I swear.” Cindy looks to Walt for agreement and he nods.

“Well, can you tell me where they are? I have no idea where to begin looking.”

Walt stares at his father a moment before stepping back. He closes his eyes, inhaling deeply and slowly exhaling. Mike turns to son and starts to ask what he’s doing but Cindy stops him.

Cindy tells him just to wait and see. “You’re not going to believe it!”

A second later Walt’s eyes open and he stares at a corner above the archway leading to the washroom. As Walt stared at it Mike couldn’t believe his eyes. A camera slowly came into view that wasn’t present a moment ago. Mike gaps wide eye at his son.

“How… How…” He glances at Cindy who is smiling.

“I told you, you wouldn’t believe it.”

“I believe now,” Michael whispers.

Coming to his senses he could see that the camera was really on and that they are probably being watched at this very moment. We’ll deal with his powers later. Thinking quickly he searches for something to cover the cameras. He leaves the room and pulling out a few raggedly old towels from a pile and white tape sitting in a box next to it, he returns to Cindy and Walt. The fabric is so thin that he is able to tear the four towels into twenty strips with the help of a kitchen knife. Then taking one of the strips he places it over the lens taping it down.

When he’s finished he faces Walt. “You think you can help me find the rest?”

Walt nods and with Michael’s knowledge of the layout, he was able to have Walt use his power to locate other cameras and uncloak them. Michael or Cindy standing on a chair would cover the lens and then move to the next one.

“You think is will help?” she asks talking down to Mike putting the finishing touches on the eighth camera they found. So far they found four in the living area. Four in the bunks and two in the washroom. They hadn’t dealt with the computer room yet.

“It will help for now until we can get Sayid in here to help us out.”

“But what if they can still hear us.”

“It’s easier to deal with that than an all out peek show. Like I said this is just temporary.”

“Do you think we should tell the others?” the way she asks it sounds as if she thinks it’s a bad idea.

“I’m not so sure if we should. They got enough on their plates to be worryin’ about being spied on. It will just create a panic. This should be just be need to know.” Mike can just hear the panic in people’s voice. Now was not the time for panic.

“Need to know what? What are you doing?”

Cindy, Mike and Walt jumped at the sound of Jack’s voice. When Jack spots the camera he stares at them shocked.

“Is that a camera?”

Cindy climbs off the chair as Mike quickly approaches Jack.

“Yes. It’s a camera. My son told me that there were cameras here, that they could watch our every move while we were in the hatch. We were just looking for them and covering them up.”

“But they weren’t here before…”

“Yes they were Jack. We…” Mike stumbled over his thoughts. He didn’t really want Jack to know about Walt’s gift. “Walt remembered where the cameras were from what he could see in them and when I went to the most obvious location and touched for the camera it appeared.”

Jack studies him a moment accessing. “Just like that.”

Mike nods. “Yeah just like that. I think we’re almost done. Maybe we can get Sayid in here to dismantle them.”

Jack is still working on whether to trust Mikes ‘just like that solution’.

Mike turns away his mind going back to when he was caught with the blueprints in his hand.

Scene 15: Flashback, Widmore General Manager’s Office

He was back in that office that smelt heavily of leather and polish. Smells that he had never before associated with the work and manual labour required in the job that he was in and was currently hoping that he was not being fired from.

The chair he sat in was hard and uncomfortable, obviously meaning that it was expensive. Perhaps even as expensive as the grey, pinstripe suit worn by the man sat behind the mahogany desk, before him, mulling over the something hidden from Michael’s view on the computer screen.

The air about them was warm and silent save for the almost regimental ticking of a clock that he still couldn’t actually locate.

But he was far too nervous to be concerned with any of that though. Waiting for Robert to speak first after he’d been called up from the warehouse floor urgently.

Finally he turns away from the computer, linking his fingers together atop the desk like he did on that first day that Michael came for his interview.

“Michael,” his smile is still just as false. “It has come to our attention that-”

But Mike doesn’t let him finish.

“If this is about those blueprints the other night then-”

“Not at all.” Robert responds, a little ruffled by the interruption, but he remains calm and collected as he usually does.

Michael, runs a hand over his head resting it heavily at the base of his neck.

“I need this job, Man…” he stated openly, voice soft and defeated. “If I stand any chance of getting my son back at all, I need to keep this job!” he looked up at Robert then, hoping desperately that he wasn’t about to fire him.

His dreams of Walt, of seeing him again, of regaining some kind of custody over him suddenly seemed further away than before and he leaned back in the uncomfortable chair, staring up at the ceiling.

And Robert chuckled. Robert chuckling was never a good sign.

“Quite so, but I’m afraid you won’t be keeping you’re job here, Michael-”

“No!” Mike replied, again cutting his manager off mid sentence and Robert’s eyes narrowed in response that time, dangerously close to losing his patience. But Michael didn’t care. “You can’t fire me! I’ve not done anything wrong!”

“Fire you?!” Robert snorted, voice blaring out around the rich smelling office room. “Fire you, Michael!” he laughed out loud, drawing Mike’s glare back down from the ceiling and to his face, his shaking head. “Michael, you are being wasted here, spending all the hours God gives you operating that damn forklift truck day in, day out! You have so much to offer us here at Widmore. So much potential and we need potential like yours.” He paused leaning back in his own, more comfortable leather cushioned chair, bright white teeth flashing in the yellowish light of the office. “Michael,” he stated his name yet again. “We know you’re a trained architect. We know you have years of experience on construction sites. We’re not firing you, God no!…We’re promoting you!” his grin had returned to it’s normal size after the hilarity at Michael’s suggestion that he was losing his job, but he quirked a final eyebrow at him. “With the wage packet of a site manger, looks like those dreams of seeing your boy again won’t be dreams for too much longer, huh?”

[End Flashback]

LOST.
Lost Virtual Season 3: Episode 2, 'The Crixa' full credits:

Writers: Nycjoc and Scouse


Executive Producers:
Midnight Riot
Aimz
Scouse
ConfidenceMan
so-jealous
nycjoc
Skayla
InMemorium
FloatingOnACloud

Associative Producers:
Dark Huntress
Iorwen
Hoba
radioxlovesongs

Brought to you by Leigh and mru-forum.com. Thank you, Leigh, for all your help and support through this. It wouldn't have been possible without you. And special thanks to all the board members who have been just as excited about this project as we are. You guys totally motivated us.

Disclaimer: None of the writers or producers have made any money on this project. It was purely for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement is intended.

I think I liked the ending a whole lot, you two. That was fantastic (if I haven't said it enough).

You are geniuses :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
Love Locke, love the Sana bits, love flashbacks and Lost-y ideas, love all :wub:

Noice guys. all that hard work and it turned out great!

yeah it was great i loved it

Nycjoc you are a star! I love you and I loved working with you. (Thanks for posting my stuff...hopefully for our next episode I'll be able to wrangle the computer at the right time)

So...was that okay...? *Looks nervous*

Hell Yer it was!!

That was fan bloody tastic thanks for epie two woot

that was really good!

Great job, guys. :) I'm so proud of you!

Thanks all for the compliments. we worked hard of this. I enjoyed working with you too Scouse. can't wait to read the next eppy.

i just love it! :) great job

HAHAHAHAHA. I love it. Best Line

Awesome job. Michael's backstory was so compelling. I know this sounds cliche by now, but it is far far better than what Lost came up with for the character. It just makes so much sense and sets a great foundation for what could come. Great job writing Micheal as like this every-day-average-joe just trying to make a living and do the right thing.

I also think you did a fabulous job with Locke, showing his inner conflict with the button pushing -- great characterization.

Jack was so Jack-like with the hovering around the hatch and asking questions and wanting to be in control, and arguing with Locke.

Walt displaying his superpowers -- loved they way you portrayed that.

I even liked the Skate encounter in the jungle.

:clap:

Finally read it and....BRAVO!

I love the Ana and Jack interactions and Sawyer's failed attempts at getting a reaction out of Ana was greatness. Also his "people to do comment"....priceless. :D

*anxiously awaits next episode*

L.

:wub:

How did I missed this episode? I promise I'll read it later.

I really liked this. I think everybody was in character. I love Ana and Ecko. Love their friendship! I love how you are tying everybody to the dharma and the windmore industries. Locke is still creepy and a freak. I like the idea of Ciny and Michael. I think they are cute! This was a great piece of fiction.

Great job girls!

You know, these are actually more interesting than the real show! Ana was SO underutilized! Anyway, I actually DO like Kate (I dont know why) but it was SO awesome to see her have a little competition. I found myself audibly yelling "YEAH!". Hahahhaa

I :wub: these stories... :D