Here's my theory:
The Others are former Dharma scientists/workers...and many years ago [15-20?] Dharma had several different areas of study/research taking place on the island [thanks to Hanso inviting them to study on this strange and special and island giving them the financial backing to do so]...anyway, one of their areas of study was in relation to the abnormal electromagnetic power that resides in one section of the island..so they set up the 'Swan Hatch' deep underground so that a group of Dharma researchers could study and better understand what the electroimagnetic current on this part of the island was all about etc..
Anyway..other areas of study were also going on from different sections of Dharma's scientists [since not all science is the same..there are many disciplines of science]..one such group dealt with the 'mind' and things like 'ESP' [electro sensory perception]..now my guess is that this greoup of Dharma researchers collaborated with the genetic 'arm' of Dharma and they sought to create a special hybrid who would be half human [embreo etc] and half science [a special genetic code consisting of THE numbers]. So they went ahead and did it..but this required getting a child who would
naturally have fairly heightened perspective and perception [eg imaginative/creative]..therefore they sought to find an ideal father/mother who had the natural gift of Art. ..They found Michael..who's grandfather was also an artist [i believe? - Special flashback]. This was important because they believe that people do pass down things such as creativity through genes and so when Michael and Susan became pregnant they did something to her whilst she was asleep in one of THEIR hospitals back in the real world..they fused Mikes cells and her embreo together with a special genetic cell..one which was created using the numbers and one which carries a special sickness [or antidote?] which would make the child very special [and his mother very sick..]. So basically Walt's natural gift of perception and perspective etc which was passed down to him from Michael [and his father] was now heightnend by about
100 times because of Dharma's 'extra ingredient'..
They monitored the child as he grew up..however, disaster struck as Hanso and Dharma clashed...Hanso foundations vision became twisted and dangerous..but the Dharma scientists didnt want to follow his vision..they wanted to continue their quest for a scientific utopia whereby Science is the friend of man. But Hanso [or his foundation] wanted to use their and Dharmas scientific knowledge in a fashion that was not for the benefit of man [at least not in Dharma's eyes] and so Hanso's foundation ousted the Dharma scientists from all of their projects [barring a few - Swan hatch? ..because that was important and these Dharma scientist would not even know what happened to their fellow scientists in the other hatches?]..and ran them underground, ensuring that they could not escape to alert the rest of the world just what was going on, on this unknown island. So basically the Dharma people became the 'Others'..the likes of the De Groots, Dr Candle, Zeke, Ethan [not sure about Goodwin..i think he's another other and is more military orientated?]..and Henry [although IF he is Dharma i reckon theres something slightly different to his story..].
Now, Dharma always knew that Hansos foundation were planning to bring new people/test subjects..including Walt [and Aaron..] back to the island because they were invloved in the selection process before they were ousted..and so they waited..and waited until the time was right..and then they attempted to take Claire..because they wanted Aaron and he was made in a similar way to Walt..except he was made totally by Hanso's foundation, who tried to mimick Dharmas hybridisation of Walt. So by stealing THEIR special one, Dharma knew they would have an upperhand over the Hanso foundation..they would have their creation..but they also wanted to protect Aaron because they knew what the Hanso foundation had in store for him..
To cut along theory short we know they ended up loosing Aaron but they managed to reclaim Walt for similar reasons. And now they hope that THEIR child will help them to both survive and overcome the opposition.. ..right now they are probably honing his 'minds eye'..
Well thats kinda what I think on the whole Walt situation at the moment..it's probably wrong but im looking forward to seeing how it unfolds eitherway!
