Once a fully-grown adult, Locke works at a toy store, where he is visited by a strange woman. She reveals that she is his biological mother, and that Locke was immaculately conceived. Skeptical, Locke hires a private investigator to trace the whereabouts of his biological father. He is led to the home of Anthony Cooper, who welcomes John into his home and regularly takes him hunting. On one visit, Locke walks in to find Anthony attached to a dialysis machine. After much consideration, Locke agrees to donate a kidney to him. However, after coming round from the operation, he discovers that Anthony has long since left the hospital. Enraged, Locke constantly visits his father's house, only to be denied access.Locke then works at a box company, owned by Hurley. His boss, also Hurley's old boss, constantly gives him a hard time. One day, Locke decides to buy two tickets to participate in an Australian walkabout. The other ticket Locke bought was for a woman whom he would call, nicknaming her Helen. When the woman reveals she is unable to meet her customers, she hangs up on him. Locke flies to Australia alone, where he is frustrated even more when he is denied access on the walkabout due to his paraplegic state. Locke is then sent home on Flight 815. At the airport, Locke is the first to board the plane, being carried on by staff.

