Desmond's (Spoiler Alert)

[tokyowars]

Is it possible that Desmond built this device to test the penetration of electrical current through the atmosphere?

It is feasible that after living on the island for so long, he knew the weather patterns and indicators, saw that a storm was going to occur and therefore used the device.

I'm of the opinion that when the hatch blew up, the magnetic energy that was being used for some sort of cloaking of the island disappeared. I'm wondering if Desmond is thinking the same thing and his device was merely a sequel to a bigger device with a more important purpose.

As a side note, the reason the survivors may not have been able to see the island that we find out Sawyer is on could be previously due to the cloaking nature of the magnetic energy...

[losty09]

i like this theory, and i definately think its a possibility.

But...

Benry seemed very invested in getting Locke to not push the button, which means he would have known it would release the cloaking device / force field. But if it's released, and it makes the island visible, that seems to go against all the others motives.

[tokyowars]

Originally Posted by losty09

Benry seemed very invested in getting Locke to not push the button, which means he would have known it would release the cloaking device / force field.

Spoilers ahead


I'd forgotten about this. But, there is no indication at this point in time yet that the Others set up the hatch system is there? I mean they're occupying them and everything, though in the latest episode it's shown that they don't have a proper doctor, despite being in the medical hatch. It could just be that the last doctor died and that's where (can't remember her name, the woman who serves Jack her food) comes in with her fertility expertise.

I seem to recall Henry saying he had been born on the island, so by deduction it is possible to suggest that the Others did not set up the hatches, but merely utilised them and the technology after the experiments had finished. (It may even be possible that they drove Dharma out and this is the 'incident' referred to on the training video.)

Long winded, but finally, the point I'm suggesting: From what I remember, the Others haven't said anything which gave an indication that they knew what would happen when the button wasn't pushed. The first episode of the third season would appear to support this, in that that the Others appear to be surprised by the effects of the hatch blowing up.

[losty09]

well, i would tend to disagree, and so i shall.

I have seen the producers quoted as saying that Benry's look at the end of season 2 when he saw what happened when the fail safe key was used was not one of surprise. That would suggest that he knew what would happen.

[Polar_Bear_09]

Yeah, I agree with you^^ He did seem like that... Desmond had the key, and Benry seemed to know about it, so I think so....

[Michelle]

well when ben/henry first told henry that he hadnt pushed the button it seemed to me like he was just trying to either plant a seed of doubt in Locke's faith or create the hatch implosion.

creating the hatch implosion would be the most logical answer, but think about it, he told Locke that he had been sent to get him, he needed Locke to trust him, to believe he wasnt an other to accomplish this in order to get Locke to set him free so he could take locke to the others camp. if indeed he was telling the truth at this point.

[bladerunna]

well if you remember when the hatch blew up, ben didn't sound all that shocked, or even asked 'what was that' and neither did the other others.
i agree with michelle that ben was 'planting the seeds' towards the hatch implosion.

i think that the others wanted to get rid of the swan, but didn't know what would happen or what the consequences were if it blew up

think about it, if ben was telling the truth, ben was coming for locke, he knew the hatch was there and he could have found him in the swan whilst being in the pearl.. remember those cigarettes in the pearl, they were still fresh..

reading it back, im not making much sense, but you hopefully should get the jist of it