In 1977, Ben wakes up in the Others' camp, not remembering that he was shot. He meets the leader of the Others, Charles Widmore, who tells him he's one of them. In 1988, Ben kidnaps Alex as a baby from her mother Danielle Rousseau, whose life he spares. Before leaving, Ben tells Rousseau to run the other direction if she hears whispers. He returns to the Others' camp with the baby, which disappoints Charles, who wanted Ben to kill both mother and daughter. Some time later, Charles is banished from the island for breaking the rules by leaving the island frequently and fathering a daughter with an outsider. Before he leaves the island by submarine, Charles tells Ben that Ben will ultimately be banished as well, because he was unable to sacrifice Alex's life. Following Alex's death and his leaving the island, Ben confronts Penny Widmore, Charles's daughter, and shoots her husband Desmond Hume. Ben states his intention to kill Penny in retribution for his own daughter's death, but hesitates upon seeing Penny's son, Charlie. Ben's hesitation allows Desmond to recover and severely beat him.
2007
Following the final scene of the previous episode, "Whatever Happened, Happened", Ben Linus wakes up after having been knocked unconscious by Sun-Hwa Kwon in the episode "Namaste". He is greeted by John Locke, whom Ben previously murdered. Ben tells Locke that he has broken "the rules" by returning to the island after he left it in the episode "There's No Place Like Home", and that he must be judged by the smoke monster. Locke agrees to accompany him to the main island. Before leaving, Ben retrieves a picture of his adopted daughter Alex from his old office at the. Ben also tricks one of the other survivors from Ajira Flight 316, Caesar, and steals his shotgun. When Ben and Locke try to leave the smaller island on a canoe, they are halted by Caesar, whom Ben suddenly shoots in the chest. Upon arriving on the main island, Ben and Locke travel to the Dharma Initiative's barracks, where they find Sun and Flight 316 pilot Frank Lapidus. Sun shows him the photograph of Jack Shephard, Kate Austen and Hugo "Hurley" Reyes, who have traveled back in time to 1977 and joined the Dharma Initiative. Sun also tells Ben that Christian Shephard instructed her to wait for Locke because together they will be able to rescue the others from the past. Frank decides to return to the smaller island where he is taken hostage by Ilana and several of the other 316 survivors, who ask him if he knows "what lies in the shadow of the statue." Meanwhile, Ben, Locke and Sun travel to a temple belonging to the island's native population, called the Others. Underneath the temple, Ben is separated from Locke and confronted by the smoke monster, which replays several of Ben's memories of Alex. The smoke dissipates and a manifestation of Alex appears to Ben, telling him that she knows of his intention to kill Locke again. She warns him to follow Locke's lead without question if he wishes to live. Ben agrees and his life is spared.
