The Economist

Sayid negotiates with Locke. He wants Charlotte in exchange. Locke refuses. Sayid insists. He offers Miles as trade. Deal done. The former soldier knows how to negotiate.

Flash-forward. Berlin. Sayid in a suit. He hits on a woman. Elsa. They dine. They sleep together. Then Sayid pulls out a gun. Elsa pulls out hers. She works for someone. Sayid kills her. He calls his employer.

His employer is Ben. Sayid has become a hitman for Benjamin Linus. He eliminates people on a list. Widmore's list. Sayid kills to protect those he left on the island. The soldier never stopped fighting. He just changed uniforms.