Before Ben left the church above the Lamp Post station, he told Jack he was going to tie up a loose end. I don't think there's any mystery surrounding Ben's destination. Ben promised to kill Penny and I don't think that was an empty threat. Penny's survival is now questionable. I believe she is dead.
The only evidence we have of Ben's late night adventure are his wounds and his frazzled banter with Jack over the phone the following morning. I can conceive of two likely sources for Ben's injuries. Since Widmore knew Penny was in town and knew Ben had the blood lust, Widmore may have sent some goons to watch Penny and then ambush Ben. What these goons were not prepared for is that they were ambushing a man that can't be killed, not while Ben "still has work to do." So after a violent struggle, Ben eventually bested Widmore's men and continued his mission.
I think it is equally possible that Desmond inflicted Ben's wounds. In an effort to protect Penny, Desmond engaged Ben in a physical confrontation in which Desmond also made the disappointing discovery that no matter what, he can't stop the island-protected Ben.
Both scenarios have the same result: Ben killed Penny. But the reason for Ben's attack was not simply for revenge. Ben is more pragmatic than that. Penny's murder actually served an important purpose. If Widmore "changed the rules" by sending Desmond to the island, then Ben can use Desmond to change them back. In order for Hawking's plan to work, Ben and the Oceanic 6 need to recreate the events of the past as closely as possible. Since Desmond didn't travel with the Oceanic crew originally, he has to go back to the island via other means of transport. And what better way to get Desmond (who was vehemently opposed to returning) to come back to the island than by killing his wife (and possibly son) and then telling Desmond that the only way to bring his wife back to life is to change the past, which we've learned Desmond has the unique power to do. This news would surely send Desmond on yet another sailing trip to the infamous island where he can set things right, wh! atever that means.
And just for fun, I thought I'd toss out a non-Penny related explanation for Ben's injuries: Ben acquired a vehicle and then intentionally caused a car accident with Anthony Cooper after which Ben's people kidnapped Cooper and sent him to the island which was existing in the past where he is then murdered by Sawyer. Cooper thought he was in hell when he came face to face with Locke, his dead son. I know this explanation is much less likely. But who knows? It's Lost. Theory by timeisrelative
The only evidence we have of Ben's late night adventure are his wounds and his frazzled banter with Jack over the phone the following morning. I can conceive of two likely sources for Ben's injuries. Since Widmore knew Penny was in town and knew Ben had the blood lust, Widmore may have sent some goons to watch Penny and then ambush Ben. What these goons were not prepared for is that they were ambushing a man that can't be killed, not while Ben "still has work to do." So after a violent struggle, Ben eventually bested Widmore's men and continued his mission.
I think it is equally possible that Desmond inflicted Ben's wounds. In an effort to protect Penny, Desmond engaged Ben in a physical confrontation in which Desmond also made the disappointing discovery that no matter what, he can't stop the island-protected Ben.
Both scenarios have the same result: Ben killed Penny. But the reason for Ben's attack was not simply for revenge. Ben is more pragmatic than that. Penny's murder actually served an important purpose. If Widmore "changed the rules" by sending Desmond to the island, then Ben can use Desmond to change them back. In order for Hawking's plan to work, Ben and the Oceanic 6 need to recreate the events of the past as closely as possible. Since Desmond didn't travel with the Oceanic crew originally, he has to go back to the island via other means of transport. And what better way to get Desmond (who was vehemently opposed to returning) to come back to the island than by killing his wife (and possibly son) and then telling Desmond that the only way to bring his wife back to life is to change the past, which we've learned Desmond has the unique power to do. This news would surely send Desmond on yet another sailing trip to the infamous island where he can set things right, wh! atever that means.
And just for fun, I thought I'd toss out a non-Penny related explanation for Ben's injuries: Ben acquired a vehicle and then intentionally caused a car accident with Anthony Cooper after which Ben's people kidnapped Cooper and sent him to the island which was existing in the past where he is then murdered by Sawyer. Cooper thought he was in hell when he came face to face with Locke, his dead son. I know this explanation is much less likely. But who knows? It's Lost. Theory by timeisrelative
