We haven't seen much of Ben in the future but it seems as if he is content to be off the island. He definitely knows the coordinates to get back to the island so why not go back?

I think the most puzzling thing from that end sequence from last night's episode is whether or not Ben can travel and forth to the island.

I would guess he was taken from the island and can't get back ... cause if he could that would make Hurley's and Jack's future fate a little moot.

I think the secret room in his house may have provided us a clue. With all the passports and money i think Ben is free to travel off the island to anywhere in the world without being caught.

I think the submarine isnt the only way off the island

It is likely Ben cannot go back because it is too dangerous now, from what he has Sayid doing and his conversation with him, my guess is that the people who came to the island now have the majority of 815 hostage (Excluding the 6 of course) But how he got off the island... there are loads of possibilities! and he is content maybe because he is doing something about the situation on the island, and is confident that he will get back???:confused:

It is likely Ben cannot go back because it is too dangerous now, from what he has Sayid doing and his conversation with him, my guess is that the people who came to the island now have the majority of 815 hostage (Excluding the 6 of course) But how he got off the island... there are loads of possibilities! and he is content maybe because he is doing something about the situation on the island, and is confident that he will get back???:confused:

I think he got off the island with the oceanic 6. How he became a free man, that is another question.

I would have thought that too, except that he wasnt on oceanic 815, but maybe he left with them anyway, but was kept a secret by whoever is asking the oceanic 6 to keep quiet. How would oceanic explain a guy who was not on oceanic 815 but came back with them anyway? For him to become a free man, he was never (as far as we know) a wanted man, and anything he did on the island wouldn't count because the 815'ers are not allowed to tell about the island, therefore exonerating Ben from any crimes he commited on the island.

I don't think they were off the island in that scene.

what i think,..
- Richard was able to send video (with a date) to Ben/Juliet in the Flame.
- we know there is a time difference (how much is still debatable), but Juliet is conscious of how long she had been on the island. and that date (plus the estimated age of the kid) is simple enough math for her to determine that it is 'real' time.
- that means Ben/Richard know the exact length of time difference.
- Richard/Ethan also traveled off-island to recruit Juliet.
- my theory is that Richard/Ben travel off island quite frequently (re: passports/money)
- how Ben came to be with Sayid in the FF is not yet known, but i vote Sub (thinkin' Locke hasn't actually destroyed it).
- i think that the Others have a system in the real world to interact covertly, etc. and to return to the island discreetly.
- i think this is how and why they are battling Abaddon's group in the FF's.

that's all i got. sorry my thoughts are not well organized... :ohwell:

I say Ben has been coming and going from the island all along. Seeing him in Berlin is just one of his many adventures off island. He has a "magic box"- the island. He has figured out how to manipulate the islands properties and is using them to travel off island, possibly while manipulating fate via time travel.

It's possible that the sub didn't really get blown up. I think that's still open for debate. Maybe Ben escapes the island on the sub and decides not to go back until the "bad guys" are wiped out and Sayid is his hitman. It's possible and it does seem like he's been traveling the world all along. Why else would he have those passports?

The sub is destroyed. Maybee there is more than one sub, but i doubt it. Ben has some other means of getting off island.

I would have thought that too, except that he wasnt on oceanic 815, but maybe he left with them anyway, but was kept a secret by whoever is asking the oceanic 6 to keep quiet. How would oceanic explain a guy who was not on oceanic 815 but came back with them anyway? For him to become a free man, he was never (as far as we know) a wanted man, and anything he did on the island wouldn't count because the 815'ers are not allowed to tell about the island, therefore exonerating Ben from any crimes he commited on the island.

I definitely don't tihnk he was part of the O6. I think the passports indicate to us that Ben leaves the island as he wishes.