Benjamin Linus is a long-time resident of the Island, a former leader of the Others, and a survivor of the crash of Ajira Flight 316 in 2007. His mother, Emily, died in childbirth. At the age of 8, Ben came to the Island with his father Roger, a janitor for the DHARMA Initiative. After being educated on the Island, Ben became enchanted with the Hostiles. At age of 12, Ben attempted to join them. Years later he became a workman for the Initiative, while actually being allied with the Hostiles.