As promised <veg> I mentioned above: <Vila - who for two years has let said put-downs slide by - decides this time to take Avon up on it ...>
This is an interesting point, which I think sheds some light on the rather neglected Vila-Blake relationship. All IMHO, folks ...
Vila is *not* an empty boaster, at least not in series 1-2. Yes, he has a high opinion of his own worth as a thief/lockpick ("There isn't a lock I can't open - if I'm scared enough.") but we have to be fair - if he thinks he can't do it, he says so (Spacefall and Bounty being cases in point, with the added punch that in Bounty he says he can't then, when pushed, finds out he *can*.) He is self-deprecating in his humour, unabashed about his dubious profession (TWB, Shadow etc) and apparently lowly social grading (Shadow), and quite happy to let Avon's slurs on his intelligence (Horizon) and Blake's impatience with his questions (Star One - "You don't have to explain it to me, I only came for the ride.") slide straight by.
So why does he suddenly find it important to defend himself on the issue? Why does it matter *now*?
My theory is that it has to do with Blake's disappearance (remember, in the very scene we're discussing, it's Vila who brings up the matter of checking out those rumours that Blake was seen here).
During Blake's command, Vila was *secure* in his place on the Liberator. Blake could be brusque and impatient at times (and at least once - the end of Trial - both he and Avon were dowright unkind, though whether Vila picked up on it is a moot point). But Blake also had a clear purpose in life, fighting the Federation; Vila's skills were invaluable to that purpose, he knew it, and Blake made sure that Vila knew *he* knew it, by actual thanks and the off word of praise when Vila was in earshot (something no one else did). Whether or not Avon or anyone else thought he was a fifth-grade ignorant didn't matter so much, because he was of use, he had his place, Blake needed him.
But now Blake's gone, and the Liberator's purpose is very much murkier, along with what use Vila is to the crew. So he [a] is naturally quite positive about the idea of getting Blake back, and [b] feeling rather less secure (possibly subconsciously) about his place, whether or not the others will find him reduundant ("one spare part up here", as Avon put it). It *does* appear to be tied up with Tarrant - a substitute Blake? - in his mind, but also shows a lack of faith in Avon's and Cally's view of him - hence, the defensiveness (this all foreshadows City, of course, where he brings up Blake's name again in the bullying scene with Tarrant, and shows that he has little faith that Avon and Cally *would* defend him against Tarrant).
All speculation, of course, and no proof that what Vila said in Volcano is or isn't true, but maybe a clue as to why - after two years of cheerfully denigrating his background, and letting Avon do it - he suddenly speaks up.
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