The answer shouldn't make any sense. Ben's aware of that, on some kind of intellectual level. But as soon as Cole speaks, he understands, on a gut level, that Cole is comparing how he is sensing whoever is outside to how Ben accesses his powers (calls Them). He recoils from that understanding, his brain briefly looking for some other, more mundane explanation for Cole's words. But the hairs on the back of his neck are standing up. And for some reason - gut instinct, intuition - Ben actually believes him. He's seen plenty of crazy people in his day, rambling about their delusions. This... doesn't feel like that.

And how is he supposed to refuse, when Cole whittles away all the surrounding questions and puts it so simply? Someone needs help. Ben can help. If he doesn't, who will? Letting out a slow breath, trying to ignore the sudden surge of terror he feels rising up in his stomach, Ben nods.

"Okay. Okay, I'll do it. Just - give me a second."

Fumblingly, he pulls the communication device from his pocket, sends a quick message to Klaus saying he'd met someone named Cole who claimed to know him, that someone needs help on the surface and he's going to go rescue them. He promises, half-joking half-serious, to do his best not to die again.

Then he tucks the device away and looks at Cole, seeing those knives at Cole's back again and saying, "Not that fragile, looks like." And he gestures briefly towards the weapons.

They will need radiation suits, at the very least, so Ben nods in the direction of the place where they are stored. As they set off he says, "I'm not interested in becoming a ghost again, so don't get any funny ideas about trying to stab me or anything, alright?"