POI Lost crossover fic: Bait and Switch part 2
TITLE: Bait and Switch part 2
AUTHOR: whomii2
DISCLAIMER: do not own
SUMMARY: Harold and Ben Linus are identical twins
It had been a trap, and Reese cursed himself for falling into it. There was only one reason for Decima to take him captive instead of killing him outright: bait. John's suspicions were confirmed when Greer used John's cell phone to call Finch and give an ultimatum that Harold surrender himself if he didn't want to see Reese killed. John didn't think either of them would have a long life expectancy once they were both in Decima's hands, but he had no doubt that Finch would come anyway.
Apparently Samaritan's minions were fond of churches, as they were all waiting before the alter in an empty church like some parody of a wedding party. John thought he could probably overpower the goon on his left, but the blond on his right was a pro and clearly itching to shoot him. He remembered her from their last church meeting. The other agent from that meeting was waiting with their leader and another goon just in front of the alter, where they would have plenty of cover from the snipers stationed in the balcony at the rear of the sanctuary. After what seemed an eternity of tense waiting there was some commotion from the vestibule and the rear doors opened. Harold, flanked by two goons, made his way slowly down the aisle. He only glanced briefly at Reese as his eyes darted around the sanctuary, taking in the positions of all the Decima agents. The goons flanking Finch stopped and took up positions at the end of the front pews while Harold stepped forward and stopped in front of Greer. John frowned, not sure but something was not quite right. Harold looked a little rumpled, no doubt having been searched before being brought to the church, but something else seemed off...
Reese's musings were cut off as Greer began to pontificate.
"And so we come to our final meeting, Mr. Finch. The game is over and as was inevitable you have lost. I am afraid you chose to back the wrong horse. Just look at humanity. A cesspool of selfishness and vice. Unable to see past their own petty interests. Given freedom they choose to turn upon each other. Well no longer. Humanity needs a strong hand to take charge. The age of man is over. The age of the Machine has come."
"You're wrong" Harold commented, looking slightly bored.
"Your faith in humanity is touching but naïve Mr. Finch."
"I don't have much faith in humanity. And I am not the man you think I am" and with that he grabbed Greer by the lapels, yanking him forward and into a swift knee to the groin. He took the opportunity to grab Greer's gun from his pocket and shot Martine. He then turned the gun on the remaining thugs and Lambert all the while using Greer's hunched body as a shield from the others. When the Decima agents had been forced to take cover in the pews, he shoved Greer away and dove behind the barrier of the alter. Lambert made a brief sortie under covering fire from the other agents to grab Greer and pull him into the shelter of the pews. Meanwhile, John had used the confusion to overpower his remaining guard and seize Martine's weapon before diving behind the alter. That led to something of a standoff. The Decima agents couldn't leave the shelter of the pews to try and maneuver behind the alter, and the snipers in the balcony couldn't get a good angle to shoot behind the alter. At the same time the others were pinned down behind the alter, unable to cross the exposed space to get to either of the side doors without taking fire from the Decima agents. However it was a stalemate that couldn't last.
As they alternated taking shots at the Decima agents skulking behind the pews, John thought the slight lull in battle was a good time to demand some answers.
"You're not Harold."
"No, I'm not. Which is a good thing considering our current situation."
"Well whoever the hell you are, I hope you have a plan. Their reinforcements should be arriving son and I am almost out of ammo.”
“One thing you should know about me, I always have a plan” Ben said as he removed a large fountain pen from his shirt pocket.
"You know 'the pen is mightier than the sword' is just a saying."
“This is no ordinary pen”
“What, it's an exploding pen?”
"Better. When the screaming starts, run” Ben said as he unscrewed the top. Thick black smoke began to rise from the pen, coiling upwards before abruptly turning to head towards the Decima agents. It expanded to fill the space between them and the agents from floor to ceiling.
“What the hell is that!” John demanded.
“A smoke monster. Well, only a baby smoke monster. But still sufficient for out purposes.”
Any further questions from John were cut off by the several loud thuds and some screams from their enemies. The gunfire from the Decima agents became more frantic but was no longer aimed in their direction. John and Ben took advantage of the distraction to head to the side door and exit the church. Stealing a car, they made their way back to the underground lair once they were sure there was no one pursuing them. They entered the subway station to be met by an enthusiastic Bear and an angry Harold. Glaring at Ben, Harold asked grimly “How many?”
“How many what?”
“How many dead this time.”
Ben shrugged. He couldn't say for sure. Probably most everyone they had left behind in the church by the time the smoke monster was finished. Ben didn't think it mattered, although he knew Harold wouldn't see it that way. Although they were twins they didn't always see eye to eye. In fact, they almost never did. But they were still brothers, and Ben wasn't going to let anyone take Harold away from him no matter how much the other disapproved of his methods. Although he had to admit that disapproval rankled, considering the risk he had run in taking Harold's place. "If you had any idea what I've had to do to keep you safe, to keep your friend safe, you'd never stop thanking me" Ben grumbled.
"I do thank you. I just wish your help didn't come with such a large body count."
Reese fidgeted in the awkward silence as the two glared at each other. He felt like he should be on Harold's side, but he couldn't really feel bad about what went down. At last Ben decided to change the subject. They were never going to agree. Besides, Harold would forgive him eventually. It's what brothers do.
“It was good to see you Harold. I wish I could stay longer, but I really can't afford to be away too long at this particular time. You should come visit. A little time on the Island would be good for you.”
“Is that your way of asking for Tech Support? And if I don't agree to come should I expect a kidnapping in the dead of night?” Harold snarked, knowing Ben most likely had an ulterior motive. Still, the Island was certainly one of the few places on Earth outside of the influence of either The Machine or Samaritan. And it also might help with Shaw's recovery....
"Perhaps. We will have to see."
Ben nodded before turning to make his way back out. As John and Harold watched him go, John turned to Harold and asked "So who was that, your badass evil twin?"
"I prefer to think of Ben as more misguided than evil."
AUTHOR: whomii2
DISCLAIMER: do not own
SUMMARY: Harold and Ben Linus are identical twins
It had been a trap, and Reese cursed himself for falling into it. There was only one reason for Decima to take him captive instead of killing him outright: bait. John's suspicions were confirmed when Greer used John's cell phone to call Finch and give an ultimatum that Harold surrender himself if he didn't want to see Reese killed. John didn't think either of them would have a long life expectancy once they were both in Decima's hands, but he had no doubt that Finch would come anyway.
Apparently Samaritan's minions were fond of churches, as they were all waiting before the alter in an empty church like some parody of a wedding party. John thought he could probably overpower the goon on his left, but the blond on his right was a pro and clearly itching to shoot him. He remembered her from their last church meeting. The other agent from that meeting was waiting with their leader and another goon just in front of the alter, where they would have plenty of cover from the snipers stationed in the balcony at the rear of the sanctuary. After what seemed an eternity of tense waiting there was some commotion from the vestibule and the rear doors opened. Harold, flanked by two goons, made his way slowly down the aisle. He only glanced briefly at Reese as his eyes darted around the sanctuary, taking in the positions of all the Decima agents. The goons flanking Finch stopped and took up positions at the end of the front pews while Harold stepped forward and stopped in front of Greer. John frowned, not sure but something was not quite right. Harold looked a little rumpled, no doubt having been searched before being brought to the church, but something else seemed off...
Reese's musings were cut off as Greer began to pontificate.
"And so we come to our final meeting, Mr. Finch. The game is over and as was inevitable you have lost. I am afraid you chose to back the wrong horse. Just look at humanity. A cesspool of selfishness and vice. Unable to see past their own petty interests. Given freedom they choose to turn upon each other. Well no longer. Humanity needs a strong hand to take charge. The age of man is over. The age of the Machine has come."
"You're wrong" Harold commented, looking slightly bored.
"Your faith in humanity is touching but naïve Mr. Finch."
"I don't have much faith in humanity. And I am not the man you think I am" and with that he grabbed Greer by the lapels, yanking him forward and into a swift knee to the groin. He took the opportunity to grab Greer's gun from his pocket and shot Martine. He then turned the gun on the remaining thugs and Lambert all the while using Greer's hunched body as a shield from the others. When the Decima agents had been forced to take cover in the pews, he shoved Greer away and dove behind the barrier of the alter. Lambert made a brief sortie under covering fire from the other agents to grab Greer and pull him into the shelter of the pews. Meanwhile, John had used the confusion to overpower his remaining guard and seize Martine's weapon before diving behind the alter. That led to something of a standoff. The Decima agents couldn't leave the shelter of the pews to try and maneuver behind the alter, and the snipers in the balcony couldn't get a good angle to shoot behind the alter. At the same time the others were pinned down behind the alter, unable to cross the exposed space to get to either of the side doors without taking fire from the Decima agents. However it was a stalemate that couldn't last.
As they alternated taking shots at the Decima agents skulking behind the pews, John thought the slight lull in battle was a good time to demand some answers.
"You're not Harold."
"No, I'm not. Which is a good thing considering our current situation."
"Well whoever the hell you are, I hope you have a plan. Their reinforcements should be arriving son and I am almost out of ammo.”
“One thing you should know about me, I always have a plan” Ben said as he removed a large fountain pen from his shirt pocket.
"You know 'the pen is mightier than the sword' is just a saying."
“This is no ordinary pen”
“What, it's an exploding pen?”
"Better. When the screaming starts, run” Ben said as he unscrewed the top. Thick black smoke began to rise from the pen, coiling upwards before abruptly turning to head towards the Decima agents. It expanded to fill the space between them and the agents from floor to ceiling.
“What the hell is that!” John demanded.
“A smoke monster. Well, only a baby smoke monster. But still sufficient for out purposes.”
Any further questions from John were cut off by the several loud thuds and some screams from their enemies. The gunfire from the Decima agents became more frantic but was no longer aimed in their direction. John and Ben took advantage of the distraction to head to the side door and exit the church. Stealing a car, they made their way back to the underground lair once they were sure there was no one pursuing them. They entered the subway station to be met by an enthusiastic Bear and an angry Harold. Glaring at Ben, Harold asked grimly “How many?”
“How many what?”
“How many dead this time.”
Ben shrugged. He couldn't say for sure. Probably most everyone they had left behind in the church by the time the smoke monster was finished. Ben didn't think it mattered, although he knew Harold wouldn't see it that way. Although they were twins they didn't always see eye to eye. In fact, they almost never did. But they were still brothers, and Ben wasn't going to let anyone take Harold away from him no matter how much the other disapproved of his methods. Although he had to admit that disapproval rankled, considering the risk he had run in taking Harold's place. "If you had any idea what I've had to do to keep you safe, to keep your friend safe, you'd never stop thanking me" Ben grumbled.
"I do thank you. I just wish your help didn't come with such a large body count."
Reese fidgeted in the awkward silence as the two glared at each other. He felt like he should be on Harold's side, but he couldn't really feel bad about what went down. At last Ben decided to change the subject. They were never going to agree. Besides, Harold would forgive him eventually. It's what brothers do.
“It was good to see you Harold. I wish I could stay longer, but I really can't afford to be away too long at this particular time. You should come visit. A little time on the Island would be good for you.”
“Is that your way of asking for Tech Support? And if I don't agree to come should I expect a kidnapping in the dead of night?” Harold snarked, knowing Ben most likely had an ulterior motive. Still, the Island was certainly one of the few places on Earth outside of the influence of either The Machine or Samaritan. And it also might help with Shaw's recovery....
"Perhaps. We will have to see."
Ben nodded before turning to make his way back out. As John and Harold watched him go, John turned to Harold and asked "So who was that, your badass evil twin?"
"I prefer to think of Ben as more misguided than evil."