A Man of His Word.

Blake lay on the treatment couch in obvious pain. Cally, having done everything possible for his injuries, had returned to the flightdeck. Avon moved to follow.

"Avon." said Blake.

Avon turned, "You want something?"

Blake struggled to sit up. Avon was troubled to see him so weak. He stepped closer and Blake lay back again to say, "If the fleet gets through before the Federation get here, humanity is finished."

"Tragic." said Avon. He was pleased to see a flash of anger in Blake's eyes, a promising sign.

Then Blake smiled. "Including you."

"That makes a difference, of course." said Avon.

"No it doesnt."

"You think I am a believer now?" said Avon. Blake gave no answer. Avon watched his face, waiting for Blake to speak. Eventually, he broke the silence himself. "Well?"

"It's a small gap. The Liberator can hold them."

"Possibly, but only for a matter of hours."

"Hours could be enough."

Avon went on, "And even if we can, the Federation are hardly likely to greet us with fervent thanks."

"When they arrive, we can leave."

"Assuming that we are not crippled by then. In the end, it could be just a matter of which fleet delivers the final blow. You may see that as a fitting end, an incidental death in selfless service to the anonymous masses, but I was hoping for something a little different."

"Avon, I'm not asking you to do this for the masses, for freedom or for any other concept so annoyingly abstract in your eyes. I'm asking you to do this for me."

"For you?"

"I can't do it. I need you to take control. I need you to promise me that you will hold the gap until the Federation ships arrive. Just that. After that, the decision is yours."

"For you?"

"For me."

"Because I owe you?" said Avon.

Blake smiled, "You don't."

"I know."

"If anything, I owe you, for killing Travis. I have no claim on you at all, no right to assume your loyalty. Instead, I depend on your friendship."

Avon was surprised and a little disturbed. There was a sincerity in Blake's voice. "Well then." he said.

"Well then what?" asked Blake.

"Depend on it."

"You'll do it?"

"I'll do it. Not for the masses and not for freedom. Not even for Blake, the heroic idealist. I'll do it because you ask it."

Blake closed his eyes. "Thankyou."

"Thank me after the battle, if any of us survive." said Avon. He went to the flightdeck. "Battlestations." he said.

"What?" said Vila.

"We need to hold off that fleet until the Federation join the fight."

"Can we do that?" said Cally.

"I'll let you know," said Avon, "Just as soon as I do. Blake wants this done. Isn't that generally enough?"

"And you're going along with it?" said Vila with evident scepticism.

"I gave him my word." said Avon.

The End.