The Hatch Inside The TARDIS

(written originally 24th June, 2009 at http://fal108.blogspot.com/)

22nd June, 2009 I received the most depressing news I've heard in a long time, which was the news of the Abrams Inc. convention being cancelled that was supposed to take place in the second weekend of August. It is a real shame and quite depressing as I was so looking forward to it, I had also forked out a lot of money on it to get the top gold pass that came with lots of privileges such as getting to meet the guests, drinking cocktails with them and autographs.

Michael Emerson whom portrays Benjamin Linus in the popular tv show 'LOST' was going to be there and I was going to use the event to aid my research and work for my dissertation question to do with fandom in my dissertation essay for third year of university, which would have made a really valuable direct primary source.

Furthermore not to mention that I could have used something really good to happen in my life this year to put towards making up for the crappy past year I've endured with the illness and passing of my Nanna which had put me (and my family) through much painfully distraught and languishingly devastating. This summer has already been depressing enough for me with lack of money and job as well as being away from uni and uni friends being brought upon me.

It's not just the fact that the con has been cancelled either that has depressed me, I also had planned tp meet my friends there too. Friends whom I befriended on the internet and have known for years now, and we were using the con as our big thing to finally meet each other in person. What was also disappointing is how ill-treated some of the customers were treated, including myself, whom felt the need to express their sorrow, and disappointment on s/m and m/e forum. I myself got banned for asking revlevant and important questions, which in the end, were ignored. After much emailing them and other forum posters on my side pointed out the absurbity and unfairness of banning me, I was unbanned.

The only positive thing coming out of the cancellation is that I will get a full refund, and I am lucky that I didn't commit to travel and accomodation expenses, so at least I''ll have more money for my final year at university. I actually got my refund days after the announced cancellation, which is the one good thing s/m and m/e have been able to scrape out of their quality of customer service,

But what has made the cancellation of the even worse is that the organisers of the event 'showmasters' have blamed the uncommited fans who had not yet/would not buy tickets for the con, which has some truth in it, but customers shouldn't be blamed, and the reason there was reluctancy from more customers were that there was only one guest announced, and there would have been more interest if more guests were announced. Not only that, there was a severe lack of advertising, I myself only found out about the event through word of mouth. It's simply outrageous for potential customers and the fans to be blamed for the lack of ticket sales.

To be fair, the man that was out of order to customer's expressed disappointment and significant and relevant questions was a man called Jason, who verbally attacked, accused and slandered customers whom expressed their valid oppinions that so much more could have been done to prevent the cancellation, such as better advertisement, better organised budgeting, gaining more announced guests etc.

I, among many other people, have publically announced that it is very unlikely that we will have enough trust in showmasters and massive events to be fully committed into purchasing for an event for a long long time.

(Originally posted on my google blog. Majority of blog posting is posted in this mentioned blog, so please follow if you have a google account! =])

Hi.

My blog posting time might beg to differ at the time that I am writing/posting this blog, as I live in England, and blogspot tend to run on American time, which, to be honest, I might as well be American with how my biological clock works. It is 02:25am as I am writing this, and I am due to be up at 04:30/05:00am as I have a fully planned weekend ahead of work experience, the only problem is that despite being very aware of the time, I can't seem to be able to sleep. This makes me sad, because I know how busy I will be tomorrow, and I will be exhausted, as well as knowing I have two other early morning starts to look forward too! I am hoping by writing this blog that I will get tired enough to fall asleep.

Anyway, a little update of something that happened a few weekends ago. Which, conviently, I was away from Lincoln on a similar work experience placement. During which, the drama was mad back at home. My housemates, whom for discretion, I shall call them Joe, Jan and Jack.

Anyway, it all started when Jack wrote a status that was aimed at Joe and Jan, whom are in a committed relationship. The status was about how Jack was upset/angry and felt that Joe and Jan had lied to Jack, namecalling them and accusing them of being 'lying snakes'. After learning what stemed the dispute, it was all to do with invites. Jack was angry/upset because Joe and Jan hadn't invited Jack to a day out at the park when it was really sunny, and the BBQ that had been arranged to have at the house in which we all live in. Me (Fal), Joe, Jan and Jack. Invited to the Park and BBQ, which I may point out were seperate events, were old flatmates from the previous year Sarah and Adrian I shall call them. Well, myself, Joe, Jan and Jack lived with Sarah the previous year in off campus halls of our university, and Adrian lived in the flat above ours.

So yes, back on topic. Myself, Joe, Jan, Sarah and Adrian all decided spur of the moment - a spontaneous thought, to go to the park on one occasion, on the day of said event because it was hot and sunny, and as we were all free for that day, it would be nice to do something to enjoy the sun. So we arranged to go to the park! Something that unfortunately Jack wasn't around at the time to invite. I had already noted he had left the house early that day, so assumed he was either at uni all day, or had plans. Ok, in his defence, we could have given him a text I suppose, but none of us expected him to get upset about it, afterall, it wasn't an invitation event. There were no facebook event set up with a guest list, nor did we send out handwritten invitation with strick instant RSPV response cards. It was just a whoever was around, lets go to the park! Type of thing. Anyway, it was a good day out for all whom went.

The next event was a BBQ at my house. I knew nothing about the BBQ until I noticed nibbles being layed out on the table, I asked Joe and Jan what they were upto, if they had people coming over, and they said yeah, Sarah and Adrian were coming over for a mini BBQ, and asked if I cared to join? I accepted. Jack was in his room, and his girlfriend arrived, and they both went up to their rooms for a while. Shortly after, Sarah and Adrian arrived and we all settled in the living room, and got the BBQ outside working. Moments later, we heard a very loud and disturbing slam of the front door go as Jack and his girlfriend vacated the house, making the whole house shake. This is normally a trait of mine that I do when I am quite pissed off about something, so I immediately knew something had pissed Jack off, everyone else, however, wavered their hands, and insisted it must be the wind, as it was particuarly windy that day.

If I had known any hint of what Jack was mad about, I would have gone after him, and demanded to know what his behaviour was about, but I shrugged the thought off and carried on with the BBQ. I wanted to do something fun before going off for my photography work experience the next day.

So yes, these were the events that Jack got upset about. No invitation. Which, is quite silly in heinsight, as for one, he isn't that keen on Joe and Jan in the first place, so I don't see what all the fuss is about, he avoids them whenever possible. I dunno, maybe he just wanted to make a fuss because he could. Maybe he was feeling too sensitive at the time, as I know he can be at times. I know he has exams to be stressed about too, which was why he wasn't invited to the BBQ, because it was on a Friday, and I knew he had an exam on the Monday, so I presumed he would want to use the time to revise. Reason for this was that last year he was willing to sacrifice missing my Birthday for two days of revision before his exam which was two days after my brithday, so therefore, you would assume he would be doing the same for a BBQ, which on a scale of significance, is no-where near the same importance of attending a friends birthday. Of course, after much nagging, I did get him to come to my birthday last year, but thats not the point, hehe.

Anyway, so the next day, the Saturday, the day I left for Yorkshire for my work experience, the facebook status transpired, and all hell broke loose, leading to big house divide up. Joe and Jan now not speaking or even achknowledging Jack's existance, and vice versa. I only found out about the whole drama when I got back that Sunday, and after carefully listening to both sides, I tried my best not to be more biased to one side more then the other, although I do have stronger sideing oppinions towards one side then the other, I could never admit to either party, as it would be unfair as they are all my friends. I do feel partly at fault somehow, and tried to give both parties reasonable oppinions, but one is more stubborn then the other, and just admits to little fault.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone who might by chance read this post comment back, tell me what you think, and if you have been in similar situations, or felt caught in the middle of your friends disputes??

Been refunded £500 from uni. Should I a) buy a camcorder with it? Being media student and all, or b) buy an apple mac, which will be equally important necessary accessory for a media student?

I CAN'T DECIDE!!!!

So help me. What should I do with the money out of a and b????

 

Zoe stepped out of the TARDIS and stood beside the Doctor as she surveyed her new surroundings. They definately weren't on earth anymore. Zoe felt air pressure rise up her chest and throat as excitement seeped over her, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. 

"Where are we?" She whispered, every atom of her body tingling.

"This is Belle Nivarna." The Doctor explained. "Where the grass is blue, the sky is pink, the oceans purple." Zoe looked up at the bright baby pink sky, light whisps of cloud streaking across it, and there was the sun. It looked bigger to the sun back on Earth, and of course, was pink itself. 

"Why are we here?" Zoe asked as Jason and Sophie joined them, stepping out of the TARDIS themselves, gawping at the new world, gasping in awe. 

"Saving the Universe." The Doctor answered her brightly, and walked across the meadow he had landed on. Zoe glanced downwards at the grass. It really was beautiful. a neon blue. She bent down and plucked a strand, drawinging it closer to her face so her eyes could study it. It was incredible. She then followed after the Doctor, Jason and Sophie doing the same. 

"I'm sorry, what are we doing here again?" Jason asked.

"Saving the Universe." The Doctor repeated. 

"Why, does it need saving?" Jason questioned.

"Did you not see the great big space ship flying across your city?" The Doctor asked mockingly. 

"That's another thing - what the hell was that?" Jason continued.

"I just said didn't I? Great big space ship..." The Doctor trailed off as he continued to walk through the meadow, his fellow new companions following him, having no idea where they were going. Zoe couldn't explain why she trusted this man so easily, but her gut instinct told her he was safe, and if there was anything she had always followed, it was her instinct. 

"You know what I mean!" Jason replied haughtily. 

"They are called the Keltapunessca. Savage race. They've come to harvest the Earth and claim it for themselves. After that...the Universe..." The Doctor explained. 

"Why Earth? Of all places...why Earth?" Jason asked.

"Because the Earth is very rich. Rich in many many minerals. That's what they need to survive. But they won't tollerate anyone getting in their way, so anything living on the planet has to go." The Doctor explained. "C'ept we can't have that. But your race don't have the defense it needs to stop them. So we need to get that from here." 

"That's so funny...'your race', you talk like you're not human."  Jason laughed. The Doctor turned to give him a significant look, and Zoe smiled, the Doctor noticed this, and winked at her. Jason looked at the Doctor in disblief.

"Noooo..." Jason responded. "No. You're never...you're alien?" 

"TIme Lord." The Doctor confirmed. Zoe sped up to keep in line with the Doctor's pace, and she was more jogging along side him compared to his long swift strides. 

"And what exactly is a Time Lord?" She asked curiously, more intrigued to find out more about who this man was. 

"Says it in the name. Lord's of time. I manipulate time and space." The Doctor answered her. "Sorry, there is time for Q & A later, but right now, your Earth is at stake, so shall we concentrate on rescuing that first?" 

"Sorry..." Zoe blushed. "So what does this planet have that we don't to defend ourselves agaisnt the Keltaputta...thingys."

"Keltapunessca." The Doctor corrected her. "This planet has this gas....Yellow Wranglar. When contaminated with Citric Acid, is creates a deadly posion for Keltapunessca's. Just contact on their skin, it will make them burn. So, I need to find the gas and contain it." 

"What about humans? Is it harmful to humans?" Zoe asked cautiously. 

"Only if you eat it with spinich." The Doctor answered her as they ventured from the meadow into a jungle, which was another sight in itself. The trees were tall, the bark white and the leaves a mix of red, orange and turquoise. Smaller bushes and plants the same. 

"Is it like Autumn on this planet, or something?" Zoe asked as she gazed around the jungle.

"Nope, it's Haruch." The Doctor answered her, and smiled when Zoe gave him a quizzical look. "Belle Nivarna has seven seasons. Spring, Forncha, Deruid, Summer, Karna, Autumn and Haruch." 

"No Winter?" Zoe asked. How could a Winter not exist?

"No Winter." The Doctor confirmed

Started this Vlog thing on my youtube, so check it out.

First Vlog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-1JOcOxUD4

Internet Friends and things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OB1lGPR8n0

Just for fun and out of boredem. :)

Rose Tyler - cuz then the Doctor would be in love with me! LOL

"Doctor...." John replied encouragingly.

"Just the Doctor." He replied brightly, then without warning, he ran off.

"Hey! Wait!" Zoe shouted after him, and ran after him, Jason shouting too, he followed her. John and Beth remained frozen on the spot dumbfounded, Andy and Sophie just as much. Then reality hit them and they followed close behind.

Zoe followed the Doctor down the main road, before skidding to a halt as he disappeared down a little alley way. At the end was a brick wall, surrounded by more walls belonging to buildings. At the end of the alley way was a blue box. An old police box. Zoe stopped, watching confusingly, head tilted to one side. The Doctor opened the door and went inside, closing it behind him. Preplexed by a man hiding in a police box, Zoe strided over to it, and tried to open the door, but it was locked. She raised both eyebrows before shrugging and knocking on the door. 

She waited for five minutes and knocked again after nothing happenened. Then, it opened, and a clean shaven, hair cut man stood in the door way, wearing a brown suite with white converses and a long brown trench coat stood before her.

"I take it you're not really a begger on the streets then?" Zoe smirked.

"That's right. Do you want something?" He asked brightly, beaming at her with that cheeky grin.

"Yeah, I wanna know why there is a space ship flying over Lincoln - and why you pretended to be a begger man when clearly you're not poor, and didn't need my money. I'll have my fifty pence back please!" Zoe replied hoitily toitily, but as she was saying that, the Doctor disappeared into his ship. 

"Hey, I was talking!" Zoe protested and followed him into the tardis, gasping from shock when she saw what was inside. "But - but - but that's impossible!"

"And yet here we are!" The Doctor replied as she heard running footsteps. Jason and Sophie stumbled in, Zoe having left the door open.

"No way." Jason replied in awe, Sophie too speechless to say anything. 

"These are my friends by the way. Jason and Sophie" Zoe nodded at them. "And I'm Zoe."

"Allonsy!" the Doctor exclaimed, and the door that Zoe entered through shut, and the Doctor began pressing buttons in the centre of the tardis of what looked like a central control centre for his ship. The tardis began to shake, and Zoe quickly grabbed onto something to steady herself. The tardis started to make strange swooshing noises Zoe had never heard before. 

"What's going on? What's happening?" Jason asked panically as he clung onto one of the supporting posts. 

"We're moving." Zoe replied firmly. The Doctor nodded at her and winked. Then the shaking and strange noises stopped. Zoe looked over at the Doctor.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"Hopefully..." The Doctor replied vaguley before running to the door to open it. He stepped outside. "Yes, we're here!" He exclaimed loudly. Zoe frowned and followed him out of the tardis, her mouth fell open at what she saw.

Zoe's eyes were tightly shut after the sound of the explosion, the crashing into the Varsity's roof and everything crumbling around her. Then everything went silent, and after a few moments of the silence, Zoe opened her eyes slowly. Destruction surrounded her. Varsity was destoryed. Tables and chairs knocked over everywhere, the alcohol bottles behind the bar smashed. People lying motionless all over the place, and some gazing around at the wreck, having done the same as Zoe and her friends, diving under tables. 

Breathing heavily and rapidly from the shock, Zoe got up and out from under the table, making a 360 rotation to make a full observation of everything around her. It wasn't just Varsity that had been destoryed. She could see fire and rubble from other building nearby, stretching for as far as she could see.

"Are you okay?" Beth asked Zoe as she climbed out from under the table. "You're bleeding." Zoe's gaze from the wreckage fell on Beth slowly.

"Where?" She asked distantly.

"There." Beth replied, touching her foehead and showing her the blood. Zoe touched the wound herself. It was a shallow wound.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She reassured her.

"Oh my god. All these people...are they dead?" Beth gasped as she noticed bodies scattered everywhere.

"I don't know." Zoe replied as she climbed over the rubble and out of the wreckage onto the street, bumping into a man dressed in a navy suit with a brown trench coat and a handsome cheeky face, a fringe flooping over just above his eyes casually.

"Oh sorry-" Zoe started as she apologised to the man, but stopped in mid sentence. This man looked awfully familiar. "Do I know you?"

"Me? Uh, no, perhaps we've glimpsed each other before." He replied with a big grin, both eyebrows raised. "So what happened here then?"

"Uh...I don't know, I just...I was having a drink...with my friends..." Zoe started to reply before they all caught up with her - John, Beth, Jason, Sophie and Andy. "And then we heard this strange rumbling. Like thunder...but not thunder. Then felt some kind of earythquake. And now here we are."

"Fascinating." the stranger replied looking at the wreckage and then back at her. "Right. Toodle pip." and suddenly ran off. 

"Hey, wait!" Zoe called after him and then ran, following him.

"Hey! Zoe! Wher are you going?" One of her friends called after her before they too ran after her. She persude the trench coat man down the cobbled street, through a big arch with gargoyal statues at the top and halted in the high street.The man had stopped, for just infront of him was something big, strange and just plain weird. Zoe walked slowly upto it and stood beside the man. 

"What - what is it?" She stammered slightly. 

"It's a space ship." He replied brightly in a casual manner. 

"What - you mean a UFO?" She asked in disbelief. 

"No - no. A UFO means unidentified flying object, right? Well, this craft is neither flying nor unidentified. It's still and we know it's a space ship." He replied quickly.

"Okay, but who does it belong to?" Zoe asked.

"Zoe! What are you doing? And oh my god, what the hell is that?" Beth came running up to her, shortly followed by John, Jason, Sophie and Andy.

"It's a space ship." Zoe replied.

"Yeah, but where did it come from?" John asked.

"Er...wild stab in the dark here, but perhaps space?" Zoe replied, raising an eyebrow at him. The stranger looked back at them all, grinning cheekily.

"I like her, she's clever!" He replied.

"And you are?" John asked. 

"I'm the Doctor."

Zoe was walking along the Brayford Quay, back to her student flat. It was breezy, and she couldn't wait to get back and have a shower after her hard hour of working out, practising Kung Fu at her regular Thursday classes. She was walking with one of her flat mates, Andy, who happened to be her Kung Fu instructor, as was he a fellow student class mate of the course she studied - Media Production.

They were walking down the alley way of Chimichange and Scream down past the Why Not bar towards the block of flats that they resided when Zoe fumbled in her bag for her key to fob them both in, both jogging upto the third floor, and out of breath by the time she got to the top, never fully understanding where Andy had got his energy from, as he continued through unlocking the flat casually, allowing them both in. 

She greeted Beth, John and Jason, her other flatmates that were in the kitchen watching tv and cooking their dinner for the afternoon before she unlocked her room and went straight in, throwing her bag across the pig sty that was her room before stripping off and hopping into her ensuite shower. 

The water that bounced hot and rapid on her skin was the most welcoming feeling she had felt all day after long hours of boring lectures that she hadn't been able to disipline herself into listening too, although the seminars that followed weren't too bad, but the thought of getting ready to go out later was calling desperatly to her, she needed to go to Varsity, where she often started the bar crawl with her friends, sit down, relax and have a nice refreshing alcopop before smoothly progressing into a typical student drunkeness night, and hopefully pull herself a kiss later that evening.

She sighed when she returned to her bedroom to dry her hair. No magical evles had snuck in to tidy her room whilst she was showering. She turned on the hair dryer, and checked out who was on msn while she brushed through her herbal essenced and tresemed polluted hair. Not many were online, just her regulars who joined her in discussions on her favourited tv shows and films. She started up a conversation with them, switching her hair dryer to her straightners, taking about fifteen minutes to complete before she propped a mirror on her desk and against the wall so she could apply her make up. 

Zoe flicked her itunes up on her laptop, selecting her favourite playlist to listen to while she attempted to get her room looking as presentable as she could in the half an hour she had left to get ready, most of the mess consisting of washing that needed to be dumped in the washing basket, or clean clothes that needed putting back in the wardrobe before choosing her outfit for going out. 

She had just finished fastening her earrings when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Zoe called to them. The door opened and Beth entered.

"Hey, am ready when you are." Beth said to her in her usual silly excited girly chime. Zoe smiled at her.

"Hey, yeah, I'm about done too." She replied. "What about the other girls?" 

"Well, John is ready, and Jase is just finishing straightening his hair." Beth explained. 

"Jesus, still? I swear I haven't met anyone as kamp as he is." Zoe replied, making Beth giggled.

"Yeah, making us look well bad, like being more manly then they are." Beth replied. 

"Right, ready." Zoe said, and grabbed her going-out bag, locked her room and walked down the corridor, knocking loudly on a door lablled '2'.

"JASE!" She shouted. "HURRY UP CINDERELLA, WE ARE ALL WAITING!"

 "Alright, alright." The door opened, and Jason walked out. "Calm down, I'm ready now." Beth returned to Zoe's side with John linking her arm with his own. 

"So usual Varsity first then?" Zoe asked rehtorically as they left the flat and entered the lift. 

"Going down." The cool voice of the lift announced as they reached the bottom of the building, pressing the button to open the door that led them out of the building and onto the busy path of the Brayford that was already spilling out with drunkards that liked to party early. It was a cold night, and Zoe wrapped her arms around herself to warm herself up as they walked under the bridge towards the high street. The usual fake begger was sat with a blanket under the bridge again, asking every passer by whether they had any change.

"No - do what everyone else does. Get a job." John snapped as they all walked past. The begger scowled at them, but the students didn't care, except for Zoe. She stopped to look at the man. He looked different. The others continued on, she called to them to carry on and she would catch up. She undid her purse and gave the gruff looking man a pound, smiling at him.

"I know it's not much, but spend it wisely." She smiled at him before catching up with her flat mates as they were entering the doors into Varsity. 

"So, what are you guys having?" She asked briskly.

"Vodka and Cranberry, thank you Zoe." Beth replied. 

"Ameretto and Coke, cheers." Jason added.

"Ameretto and Coke, cheers Babe." John replied. Zoe hit him playfully and John shrugged, knowing calling her 'Babe' always winded her up.  She ordered the drinks, herself getting a Malibu and Coke, and they all sat down in their favourite place in the bar, and started chatting away in a light hearted conversation. 

"...It was so funny. Today, I made John try some of my waxing strips. He screamed like a girl, it was hil-ar-ious." Beth laughed, making Zoe giggle.

"What made it even funnier was that we did it to Jason, and not even a squeak out of him!" Beth laughed louder. John went bright red in the face, blushing, but he was laughing too. Suddenly Zoe stopped laughing.

"What is it Zo?" Jase asked.

"Can you hear that?" Zoe asked. She heard a strange whistling sound, it was so loud that it was louder then the blaring music. She then noticed in her glass, her drink began to shake. Then the table, chairs, everything surrounding them began to shake violently. 

"Quick, under the table!" Zoe shouted at her friends, and they all did. There was a sudden huge crash, as something big and thunderous crashed through the roof of Varisty. Chairs, and the loose tables through everywhere, bricks, and support beams came crashing onto the floor, Zoe covered her head with her hands, with the table as extra protection that covered her, Beth, John and Jason. She shut her eyes tightly as she heard screams and more loud bangings. Then it all suddenly went quiet....

New Arrivals, New Beginings

Zoe had been staring at her mother's grave for half an hour, never taking her eyes off the inscription of the stone, her eyes not even flickering when the sun hit her eyes. She had always been different in that way - she never had to sucome to looking away from bright sunlight. Her legs ached from how she had been stood still for so long, and she knealt to the ground, the grass moist beneath her knees, and began to stain from the recently turfed up earth.

From the corner of her eye - Zoe noticed a man approaching from almost behind her. He was tall, fairly young and dark haired. His eyes significantly outlined and mysterious. She did not move from her spot, her eyes remaining focused on her mother's grave.

"My condolances." The man who had been approaching her from behind suddenly said. Zoe did not turn to look at him and remained silent.

"My name is Richard, Miss Kendell-Taylor. After hearing of your terrible news, I knew I needed to act swiftly to come and see you." Richard continued. Frowning slightly, Zoe turned and looked up at the myterious man, claiming to be named Richard. She shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun this time.

"How do you know my name?" She asked. "How do you know who I am?"

"We've been following your movements for many years now Zoe. Ever since you were born. It was in your best interests. And now that you have no-one, it is time to come with us." Richard explained.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Zoe replied in disbelief. "I'm not alone. Well - not completly. There is still someone out there who needs me. I just - I need to find him."

"You mean your father?" Richard asked raising an eyebrow.

"No!" Zoe scoffed. "I don't have a father!"

"Everyone has a father Zoe." Richard retorted.

"I disowned him long ago. He abandoned our family. It's all his fault my mother is dead." Zoe replied fiercly.

"That's a shame." Richard replied sympathetically. "But I really do think you should reconsider my offer. Come with me, and I can offer you a better life. Far greater then any you would have here."

"I can't do that." Zoe replied, turning away from him.

"And why not?" Richard asked.

"Because I need to find my brother." She replied. Richard then knealt down beside her and watched her intently.

"What if I told you we know where your brother is, and if you come with me, you will both be reunited?" Richard asked. Zoe turned and glared at him, studying his eyes.  

"You're lying." She concluded. Richard shook his head.

"Your twin brother. His name is Luke - isn't it? And he disappeared when you were still very young. A toddler in fact. Everyone else as believed him to be dead. But not you. And you're right. He is very much alive. And you can meet him again. But I need you to come with me." Richard explained to her. Zoe glanced at him up and down, studying him carefully.

"Alright. I believe you. Where are we going?" She asked.

"Somewhere special." Richard replied mysteriously, a smile dancing smugly on his face.

Richard walked with Zoe to the car which was parked just outside the graveyard. Whoever this man was, he was obviously wealthy, as he had a driver, and there was plenty of room in the back. Once Richard opened the door for her, he followed promtly after, immediately offering her a drink.

"Orange juice, thanks." Zoe replied to his offer, taking a cool glass he retrived from the in car refridgerator greatfully. She drained th glass pretty quickly.

"I have many questions to ask." She said to Richard as the car started and they were on their way.

"I'm sure you do. And I'll be glad to answer them." Richard replied.

"Why - why have you been watching me? For all these years? Why haven't I ever been told anything about all of this, and why do you know so much about my family?" Zoe asked.

"Because we believe you are special. Very special. And very special people are meant to come with us, to this very special place. We would have asked you to come sooner - but we had - complications." Richard explained.

"Complications?" Zoe asked, frowning.

"Yes." Richard nodded. "But now we don't. Everything has become much easier, and I am pleased you were so willing to come."

"Only because you've promised you'll bring my brother to me!" Zoe reminded him. "You better be telling the truth. I'm still not sure whether to trust you. This all seems so strange, but at the same time, perfectly normal. I don't understand."

"Everything will become clear very soon." Richard assured her. Zoe nodded, suddenly feeling very drowsy - unusually drowsy.

"Wha - what did you do?" She whispered as her eyes began to droop heavily.

"I put a strong sedative in your drink. It's in your best interests to be sure you have a safe and comfortable journey for your new home." Richard explained casually.

"New home?" Zoe yawned. "Wait - what do you mean? I agreed to come, but I'm not staying!" Her head then drooped to one side, her seatbelt supporting her up, and she was fast asleep.

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Zoe's eyes shot up with a flash as she suddenly woke up, remembering everything that happened instantly. She sat up abruptly, cursing loudly as she bumped her head on the bottom of the top bunk bed above her. She took a quick glance of her surroundings, quickly identifying she was no longer in the car. It was something else, somewhere she had never been before.

Rubbing her sore head, groaning a little, she manovered out of her bunk and into the corridor, trying to figure out where she was and why no-one was around. She headed for the nearest door, which opened as she made for the handle. It was Richard.

"Ah! Just in time! We are here!" He informed her brightly before she could say anything. "Follow me!" Groggily, she followed, and Richard led her to a ladder.

"Climb that, and you'll come onto some decking. He'll be waiting to greet you." Richard explained to her.

"Who will be?" Zoe asked. Richard simply smiled at her. She frowned again, but did as he instructed, and climbed the ladder. She broke to the surface of fresh open air, quickly identifying she was in a submarine, which was now docked. She clambered out rather clumsy to see at the end of the decking on the coast was a portly man, standing, waiting for her. She walked graciously along the decking towards him.

"Hello Zoe. My name is Benjamin Linus. Welcome to the island at last." He said to her, smiling broadly at her.