Captian already knew?

[Gartism]

I kinda agree with Myst -- there's no way Ben could have gotten Michael an alias and a position on that boat so quickly without some "larger" help...a mission like this done by Widmore? I'm thinking extreme background checks.

Plus, Michael's not a skilled deck-hand - even with his engineering background and "raft" experience he'd be useless the first month on board.

[erikau]

Originally Posted by Gartism

I kinda agree with Myst -- there's no way Ben could have gotten Michael an alias and a position on that boat so quickly without some "larger" help...a mission like this done by Widmore? I'm thinking extreme background checks.

Plus, Michael's not a skilled deck-hand - even with his engineering background and "raft" experience he'd be useless the first month on board.

Fake names and the documents to back them up seem to be no problem for Ben, if the passports and such in his drawer are anything to go by. If he can obtain them for himself, why not for Michael?

I agree that from what we know of Michael when he left, he would have been a useless deckhand (they do a LOT more than mop haha). BUT, we still don't know exactly HOW he got home, and I seriously doubt it was in that little motor boat. Perhaps the 325 bearing Ben sent him to was the location of a boat, a Ben-friendly boat that was there to pick Michael and Walt up, give them new identities, debrief them on what their stories should be, and maybe to carry their weight they are taught to work as deckhands. Ben might also have arranged this knowing what he would need Michael for, and knowing Michael would have to be able to play a convincing role.