Given Vila's reaction to Avon hunting him down on the shuttle, he obviously believed Avon would kill him. You don't persuade people to jump off space craft for the benefit of others. Time was short and Avon had the gun...the threat was real.
It was interesting how they kept it a secret between them. Vila refers to the whole incident as being one he wouldn't forget and Avon calmly retorts that you know you are safe with me, the others are unaware of exactly what went on. The interesting irony was that even if Avon had killed Vila and dumped the body through the airlock, the shuttle was doomed despite the 73 kilo weight loss. The speck of nuetron material was still aboard. A lesson for Avon and his unemotional calculating mind. He was ruthlessly prepared to sacrifice an associate, a friend perhaps, even after all they'd been through?
Vila was Avon's obvious travelling companion to keep an eye on things. Vila wouldn't question Avon, one of the girls or Tarrant would tend to do so - especially Tarrant. Egrorian felt comfortable with Avon in the end, because he posed no threat. The negotiations may have gone differently if one of the others was there. A bit like Blake choosing Calley, Jenna or Vila as companions before he tended to choose Avon. You only have to keep an eye out for yourself and the people you're meeting. Far less complicated that way.
Nathan.
Nothings so difficult as a beginning/ In poesy, unless perhaps the end. Byron.
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From: "Nathan Hook" nhook@bemail.org Subject: [B7L] Orbit, Vila and Avon
The interesting irony was that even if Avon had killed Vila and dumped the body through the airlock, the shuttle was doomed despite the 73 kilo weight loss. The speck of nuetron material was still aboard. A lesson for Avon and his unemotional calculating mind. He was ruthlessly prepared to sacrifice an associate, a friend perhaps, even after all they'd been through?
That wouldn't have been a problem. According to Orac, all they had to lose in order to achieve orbit was 70kg. Vila was heavy enough to fulfil this requirement, fortunately the neutron star material was found and jettisoned instead.
Wildean
It was interesting how they kept it a secret between them. Vila refers to the whole incident as being one he wouldn't forget and Avon calmly retorts that you know you are safe with me, the others are unaware of exactly what went on.
I do wodner about that. Whether any of the others may have suspected what happened.
Vila was Avon's obvious travelling companion to keep an eye on things. Vila wouldn't question Avon, one of the girls or Tarrant would tend to do so - especially Tarrant. Egrorian felt comfortable with Avon in the end, because he posed no threat.
Good reasons. I do think it's interesting the way Avon complains about Vila so much but often end up choosing him over the others when he needs someone to go with him.
Leia
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Leia Fee -
Nathan Hook -
Pat Sumner