Mine Own opinion ... it's emotional. He's rather good at over-reacting when one of his own is in danger (he might have read and agreed with all those tracts about 'a proper revolutionary mustn't care about his human tools' but he simply can't get it right <g>). After all, he fully intended - and told Cauder - that they were pulling out when the countdown reached fifty (though - to give weight to Sondra's theory - at that point, he does order Jenna to bring Avon and Grant up before himself and Vila).

Actually, *that's* the point at which Vila should have said "well *I'll* go". Mine Further Opinion is that Blake freezes, and his only thought is that *he's* not going to leave Avon to die (this is Not Logical, since he's half a World Away. From his expression, Logic don't come into it).

After all, Vila doesn't indicate he's going to call for pick-up *by himself*, does he? With Vila bleating "Blake!" Cauder yelling "Blake, go!" in one ear, what Vila appears (to what scant attention Blake can give him) to be about to do is pull them *both* out ...

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