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The Hydra is a DHARMA Initiative zoological research station located on a much smaller second island (twice size of Alcatraz; about 44 acres) a few miles offshore. The Hydra appears to be one of the larger DHARMA facilities: a sprawling collection of different buildings and underground facilities. It appears to be the largest station and is similar to the Flame and the Tempest in that a large section is not hidden below ground. The above-ground area of the station is surrounded by thick jungle, but is likely located quite close to shore.
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The Hydra was constructed at some point prior to 1977 and its original purpose was one of zoological research. The station contained research facilities for experimentation on polar bears and marine animals such as dolphins and sharks. Pierre Chang threatened Hurley with being sent to Hydra Island to weigh polar bear dung for the scientists there in their "ridiculous experiments." ("Some Like It Hoth") Personnel were carried to and from the station via the Pala Ferry which ran three times a day. (Barracks video)
The blast door map references the Hydra station with the statement, "Stated goal, repatriation, accelerated de-territorialization of Ursus maritimus (polar bear) through gene therapy and extreme climate change," suggesting the experiments may have been aimed at making polar bears less aggressive.
After the Purge, a number of the polar bears were freed from their cages and swam to the main Island. (Access Granted)
At some point after the Purge, the Others assumed control of the Hydra, which was used as a base of operations for a number of different types of projects away from their home on the main Island. ("Stranger in a Strange Land") One of these projects was the construction of a runway on Hydra Island that Kate and Sawyer were forced to work on. ("The Glass Ballerina") ("Every Man for Himself") ("I Do") Karl's imprisonment and attempted brainwashing in Room 23 also suggests that other psychological experiments may have been underway. The station may have also served as a makeshift prison or judicial center for the Others. Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Karl and Juliet were all imprisoned here, and a number of the Others traveled to Hydra Island specifically to watch Juliet's trial. Ben also had an office here.
After Ben's surgery, the Others abandoned the station and returned to the Barracks, possibly fearing that the survivors could return. ("Stranger in a Strange Land")
The Hydra Island is within range of the Island's magnetic phenomena and was moved along with it when Ben turned the frozen wheel. ("There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3").
In 2007, Ajira Airways Flight 316 made an emergency landing on the Hydra Island. The survivors shortly thereafter discovered the Hydra and moved their injured into one of the station's buildings. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham")
The Hydra station has areas both above and below sea level.
A large bunker-like room with reinforced walls and drains along the floor - subdivided in two by a thick and resillient transparent fiberglass wall. Both sections of the room have hatch-like doors opened by turning a wheel which led out into an adjacent corridor. Per Juliet this room was where DHARMA scientists would perform experiments on sharks and dolphins. ("A Tale of Two Cities") One end of the room appeared to be where animal subjects would be held and contained a large metal table with a number of chains hanging down from the ceiling. An intercom is set into one wall. Likely this end of the room could be partially flooded in experiments.
The other end of the room beyond the glass partition appeared to be largely for observing scientists and contains a large desk, chair and an elaborate electronic soundboard. The soundboard is quite complicated and among other functions controls communication between the two areas of the room. Behind the desk a red emergency button sits on the wall used to activate an emergency pumping system to flush water from this area of the station should it become flooded.
Used by the Others as a makeshift prison cell, both Jack and Juliet were held here for a time. The Hydra television was brought in later to show Jack videos. The playback device appears to be a U-matic format 1985 SONY UMATIC VO-5800.
Although Juliet told Jack it was non-functional, Jack did receive messages through the intercom on several occasions. Jack appeared to hear his father telling him to "let it go," a phrase he had spoken in a flashback off the Island. ("A Tale of Two Cities") Jack also heard Sawyer's screams in another area of the facility, part of a discussion between two unknown Others talking about Karl, and Alex telling him to try to open the door to his cell. ("Every Man for Himself") ("I Do")
Both doors from the aquarium open into a hallway with at least two more doors (one at either end) and a ladder leading upwards. One of the doors at the end of the hallway is a large wheeled hatch, which, when opened by Jack during an escape attempt, caused this entire area of the station to flood with seawater. Presumably if performed under controlled circumstances this would allow the aquarium tanks to be filled and could be used to bring in or release animal subjects.
Also in the underwater section of the Hydra is a small observation room, mainly used by Ben. Appearing similar in design to the bank of monitors at the Pearl station, the room has six monitors, each equipped with live video and audio. Each camera has its own control panel with two knobs, three switches and a small red light. From here one can monitor different areas of Hydra Island, including underwater rooms and walkways, the operating room, and the cages. Ben used the surveillance room to monitor Kate and Sawyer in the cages. A gun locker is located next to the observation equipment containing 3 SKS rifles, three WWII Walther P38 pistols and several boxes of ammunition. This weapons locker is far smaller than that of the Swan. Tom refers to the area as "the surveillance room". ("Stranger in a Strange Land")
The surface area of the Hydra is composed of several different buildings and walkways. It is unclear where some of these structures are located in respect to one another. The notable areas will be described here.
See main article: Cages
In a central area of the above-ground compound are two large cages situated near a walkway with an overhanging canopy, leading to another part of the compound. A large concrete and metal building is visible in the background.
Built into one of the cages is an experiment reminiscent of the works of B.F. Skinner in operant conditioning. Pressing the levers and buttons in a certain sequence provides a "reward" of food and water; pressing them in a wrong way gives a painful electric shock. It was revealed by Tom that the cages formerly housed polar bears. The Others used these cages as makeshift prison cells. Kate, Sawyer, Karl and later Jack were all kept here temporarily. Kate also discovered in one instance that she is able to climb out the top of her cage by squeezing through the bars.
In Karl's break-out attempt, Sawyer runs past several other cages made of weaker-looking material in the surrounding area. These cages most likely housed other species used in DHARMA's zoological program. ("A Tale of Two Cities")
A large concrete and metal building several stories tall, surrounded by the jungle. The main building appears to contain a set of locker rooms and shower facilities, an operating theater with an observation gallery. It can be assumed that there are X-ray facilities elsewhere in the building as well as surgical supplies and anesthetic.
A sizeable operating room is located on the ground floor of the main building, which was first seen by Jack who was brought here to try to save Colleen's life. Just outside the door is a small preparation area including a sink and a lightbox allowing doctors to look at X-rays. Across from the preparation area a small flight of steps leads up to a small obervation gallery overlooking the operating theater. Likely this area may have been used for teaching or observation during animal operations.
When Ben and Jack discussed the status of the operating room, Ben revealed that it is a fully equipped facility, with all of the tools, devices, and supplies a surgeon would need. However, it was previously revealed by Juliet that the crash cart and cardiac paddles were broken. Ben is also brought here to undergo spinal surgery. ("I Do")
Up a flight of steps on the outside of the main building is a large locker room and working shower facility where Kate awoke after her kidnapping by the Others. ("A Tale of Two Cities") There likely are other exits.
Elsewhere in the compound is a large rundown building which appears to be quite large. When Kate, Sawyer and Alex arrive, it is being guarded by Aldo. One room inside the building is known as Room 23 where Karl was being held and subjected to brainwashing. Karl was stapped to a chair with a drug-laced IV in his arm, wearing LED goggles and being forced to watch a looped video while subjected to extremely loud drum-and-bass music. The video contained a wild assortment of images and features short glimpses of Gerald DeGroot and Alvar Hanso. It also contained several religious statements, such as "God Loved You, As He Loved Jacob." ("Not in Portland") Walt was also brought here previously and may have been subjected to the same treatment. (Room_23_(mobisode))
Also within the Hydra compound is a large meeting room with a lectern, likely used for discussion and lecturing. Juliet was seen here whilst on trial for Pickett's murder. ("Stranger in a Strange Land")
Somewhere within the Hydra complex is Ben's office. The office contains a desk adorned with an animal skull and other samples, bookshelves and filing cabinets. Ben's office was used by Isabel, in his short-absence, who summoned Jack, Tom, and Juliet for questioning. Here she questioned Jack on whether or not Juliet had asked him to kill Ben. ("Stranger in a Strange Land")
Later Caesar searched this room and found issues of Life magazine from 1954 and several documents including maps of the Island and what appeared to be a photocopy of a page from Daniel's journal, showing a time-related diagram. He also found a sawed-off shotgun hidden under the desk. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham") One drawer in the deck contained a picture of Alex. ("Dead Is Dead")
Presumably nearby, a similar-looking room is used by the survivors of Flight 316 as a makeshift infirmary. This room contains several beds, other furniture and boxes. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham")
See main article: Runway
Close by the Hydra compound is a rock quarry which the Others were working to clear as a construction project in 2004. The project appears to have been overseen by Pickett and Kate and Sawyer were forced to work at the site. ("The Glass Ballerina") ("Every Man for Himself") ("I Do") Juliet later told Sawyer that the land they were clearing would be used to build a runway, although claimed she did not know why. ("Through the Looking Glass") This same runway in a completed or nearly-completed state was used later by Ajira Flight 316 in 2007 for an emergency landing on Hydra Island.
In the video game Lost: Via Domus, several additional locations are revealed at the Hydra. These locations are considered Canonical merit|canonical.
In the video game Lost: Via Domus, Elliott Maslow enters a room called the "ADVISORY ROOM". The advisory room has a code name which is DIHS-AR16. Ben and Juliet were waiting inside when he arrived. The purpose of this room is unknown. It is likely that this is a restricted section of the Hydra, and can only be accessed by high ranked members of the Others. ("Worth A Thousand Words")
The depository is a storage room for the Hydra station. The room is equiped with various materials, including food and animal equipment. ("Worth A Thousand Words")
In the video game Lost: Via Domus, Elliott explores a room in the Hydra that is filled with zoological equipment. This room has a code name which is DIHS-R38. The room was used for various zoological research and experimentation. There are several animal cages, as well as laboratory equipment. There is also a wall that has x-rays from a shark. It is likely that many experiments with dolphins, sharks, and other marine animals were done in this laboratory. ("Worth A Thousand Words")
In the video game Lost: Via Domus, there is a large aquarium that contains two large shark tanks adjacent to each other. Above the tank there is a large metal machine that can carry the sharks and suspend them in mid-air. The staging tank has a code name which is DIHS-ST1. ("Worth A Thousand Words")
Almost all of the Others have been seen at the Hydra because they work there.
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| Picture | Name | First visit | Last visit | Reason for Visit | ||||||
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Jack | "A Tale of Two Cities" | "Stranger in a Strange Land" | Was held prisoner in the aquarium where he conducted surgery on Ben. Jack was also held in Sawyer's cage above ground. | ||||||
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Kate | "A Tale of Two Cities" | "Not in Portland" | Was held prisoner in polar bear cages opposite Sawyer. | ||||||
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Sawyer | "A Tale of Two Cities" | "Not in Portland" | Was held prisoner in polar bear cages opposite Kate. | ||||||
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Caesar | "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" | "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" | Crashed on the Hydra Island on Ajira Airways Flight 316 | ||||||
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Ilana | "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" | "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" | Crashed on the Hydra Island on Ajira Airways Flight 316 | ||||||
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Elliott | "Worth A Thousand Words" | "Worth A Thousand Words" | (*Non-canon*) Was held prisoner in the aquarium and then made a deal in the Advisory Room with Ben and Juliet to bring Jack to them for a boat off the Island. | ||||||
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Lisa | "Worth A Thousand Words" | "Worth A Thousand Words" | (*Non-canon*) Appeared in a vision inside of the aquarium cell that Elliott was held captive in. | ||||||
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