We know Alpert was interested in Locke. Later on Abbadon showed up and was interested in Locke. Abbadon seems to be an agent for Widmore as he set up the freighter mission. So are Alpert and Abbadon tracking Locke as part of the same team or are the rivals pursuing Locke as a means to gain control of the island?

I think Alpert and Abbadon are both fighting for Locke. Alpert for Island/good reasons and Abbadon for Widmore and more greed/pride. (sorry for overgeneralizing)
It would be helpful to know what were the current events of the island at the time to cause the two opposite forces to suddenly become very interested in Locke.

I think Alpert and Abbadon are both fighting for Locke. Alpert for Island/good reasons and Abbadon for Widmore and more greed/pride. (sorry for overgeneralizing)

Based on this episode, I'd disagree. Alpert was trying to force his own agenda onto Locke. Abaddon seemed more interested in motivating Locke as a person.. Granted, Abaddon's purpose seemed to be to get Locke to the island.

Anyway, all that will change, I'm sure, but it's way early to label one 'good' and the other 'bad'...like you said, overgeneralization. I'm not convinced that Widmore's the "bad" guy. If his adversary's Ben, then I'm not pulling for either one.

I vote for rivals:

Alpert isn't working for Widmore. Keamy's second protocol was in a Dharma folder -- more evidence of Widmore behind DI. Alpert was with the hostiles, who eliminated DI from the Island.

As for Abaddan, I thought he worked for Oceanic. I still wonder if Oceanic is owned by Widmore -- or if its just a blind that means nothing to the story.

I vote for rivals:

Alpert isn't working for Widmore. Keamy's second protocol was in a Dharma folder -- more evidence of Widmore behind DI. Alpert was with the hostiles, who eliminated DI from the Island.

As for Abaddan, I thought he worked for Oceanic. I still wonder if Oceanic is owned by Widmore -- or if its just a blind that means nothing to the story.

That Abaddan worked for Oceanic was a ruse.

It's interesting that Alpert appears to work for all three, Widmore, Dharma and Ben. I'd like to be a fly on the wall when they are all in the same room.

So if Alpert worked for Widmore from the beginning, then he must have been spying on Ben for Widmore. Maybe.

But Alpert was the leader (?) for the Others so that raises the question, when did he begin working for Widmore? It seems like a long time ago.

But we now know that Alpert was working for Mittelos Bioscience since the 1950's. So does that mean the Mittelos is connected with Widmore?

And where does that place Paik Heavy Industries? I wouldn't want to make Mr. Paik angry. Again.


Go Vincent!

Yeah, definitely got the impression that Alpert was one of the "hostiles" from the episode where we see Ben's coming of age (forget the episode name).

I'm still not convinced who's good and bad, I think it subjective. We have no idea what the big picture is yet.

I'm not convinced that Abaddon is working for Widmore.... So far, there is no explicit connection between the two. Tonight, he seemed more like Brother Monk (forgot his name) or Mrs. Hawking... or Malkin the psychic, in that he was trying to set events in motion (Locke going on the walkabout) that would get Locke to the Island.

I'm pretty sure we'll find out this season how the O6 story was originated; what I'm thinking is that for the lie to work, Oceanic must be involved. Don't you think the airline comes into the story at all?

I think Alpert and Abaddon are definitely on two opposing sides. From what we can assume for now I would say Alpert is on Ben's side and Abaddon is either on Windmore's or someone else's or even his own.

That Abaddan worked for Oceanic was a ruse.

It's interesting that Alpert appears to work for all three, Widmore, Dharma and Ben. I'd like to be a fly on the wall when they are all in the same room.

So if Alpert worked for Widmore from the beginning, then he must have been spying on Ben for Widmore. Maybe.

But Alpert was the leader (?) for the Others so that raises the question, when did he begin working for Widmore? It seems like a long time ago.

But we now know that Alpert was working for Mittelos Bioscience since the 1950's. So does that mean the Mittelos is connected with Widmore?

And where does that place Paik Heavy Industries? I wouldn't want to make Mr. Paik angry. Again.


Go Vincent!

Why do you think Alpert worked or works for Widmore? I missed the connection.

Yeah, I think I missed that one too. Unless he just recently switched sides so to speak. He (Alpert) did tell John that they were unhappy with Ben's leadership...

I have absolutely nothing to base this on, but Abbadon just doesn't strike me as the type who 'works' for anyone. He may have the same interests as Widmore, in the larger picture, but I get the feeling he has his own agenda, and if there's anyone that he actually has to answer to, that person is much more powerful than Widmore.

Again though, I have no basis for that idea. It's just a certain vibe of sinister power I get from Abbadon when he's on screen.