[Ben smiles readily back, as close to relaxed as he ever is outside the confines of his own cabin, of a conversation he's become deeply involved in enough to be distracted out of his shell.]

You're already out of practice. We'll need to begin with a rigorous training schedule, probably.

[Which is his agreement, of course, insofar as Ben ever teases. It's also, along with Alex's question, the perfect segue to what he's been considering ever since he received Alex's transmission, quietly in the back of his mind while they played baseball.]

Yes. I've decided to help you. [This with an uncommon finality; Ben doesn't have very many useful skills for this setting, but he is absolutely certain of one of the few he does, and as certain that he is better qualified than Alex to extend it as an offer.

Not that he would to the Barge as a unit, but to certain members of it, yes.] When you have rested, we should see what we can do for each other to... physically prepare for the worst.

My warden will not disapprove.