The tension on the Liberators flight deck was almost palpable as Blake and Avon stood facing each other over Orac, oblivious to the rapt attention of their crewmates, riveted by the intense power struggle before them.

Less than an hour ago Orac had picked up a coded signal from the planet Pralix In the fourth sector and, judging its content to be significant, had swiftly relaid the information to the crew. The President of the federation would be visiting the base personally to inspect its vital military and communications facilities, one of the rare occasions he would be away from his nerve centre on Earth. Blake saw this as an opportunity both to strike at the heart of the Federation and to see if he could force from him the location of Star One. Not everyone on the crew agreed.

''This is suicide Blake'' Avon objected coldly, the challenge in his voice clear as he squared up against the overly idealistic rebel leader, unimpressed with this latest plan for his crusade. ''Pralix has one of the highest security bases this side of the galaxy and it will already be on high alert. You will not get within 500ft of the target.''

''So, I take it you're against it then Avon'' Blake replied wryly, his voice lacking the hostility of his companion's, no intention to rise to the bait. Not yet, at any case.

''That is a considerable understatement'' the computer expert replied flatly. ''You are being irrational Blake, and I have no desire to die just to satisfy your innate obsession with bringing down the Federation, at any cost. Your plan, such as it is, has almost zero chance of success.''

Blake was starting to get frustrated, caught up in his intense desire to tear down the federation once and for all. ''It's still a chance,'' he pointed out fervently ''which is more than we'll have if we don't go. You know as well as I do, we've already lost any scrap of a trail we had to Star One.''

Ignoring Blake, Avon turned instead to Orac, attempting to prove his point. ''Orac, what are the chances of us infiltrating the base undetected, acquiring the information Blake desires and returning safely to the ship?''

The computer whirred, thinking for a moment before responding. ''There are too many variables to be certain of an exact probability'' he chirped finally ''but I estimate your chances at 89/1 against.''

Avon gave Blake a look as if to say he had made his point but despite Orac's prediction the other man refused to back down.

''All right, it's risky I'll admit,'' he was forced to agree with a shrug, ''but the computers down there may be able to set us back on the right track and if not, the president hasto know where Star One is. And he's down there right now!''

''We think. We only have Orac's word for that.''

Avon found himself unwilling to take anything so important at face value. Not being sure was what got you killed. Bitter hostility radiated off him in waves and the atmosphere between the two men could be cut with a knife.

Blake took a step closer, bringing the two of them practically face to face. ''Well, sometimes that just has to be enough, doesn't it?'' he observed, a low warning creeping into his voice as he was pushed to his limit. ''Along with a little faith. You should try it sometime Avon.''

For a long moment they just stared at each other, a silent struggle for power being fought invisibly between them. Then Blake backed down. Fighting with Avon was easy but would accomplish very little. Besides, his anger and frustration were really aimed at the Federation and his own inability to make a real impact, not at the contentious man before him.

With a slight, weary smile, he stepped back, shaking his head at the pointless confrontation. ''Don't worry, I'm not telling anyone to come. I know the risks well enough this time: this mission is strictly for volunteers.''

Before replying Avon glanced pointedly at the watching crewmembers, forcing Blake to look at their expressions for the first time. Jenna seemed sceptical about the wisdom of his plan herself, Vila half terrified, like a rabbit caught in a headlight, while even Cally looked worried. Each and every one of them could remember the last time Blake had devised a plan like this, and each and every one of them could remember that they had paid for his hubris with Gan's life.

Avon turned back to Blake with a sardonic smile of his own. ''Then you may find yourself going alone'' he observed darkly. ''After what happened last time, they do not look too keen to join you.''

That struck a nerve and for a second, Blake's expression turned ice cold. ''That's their decision'' he spoke blankly. ''What's yours?''

Avin did not reply, deftly avoiding Blakes question with another wry smile. ''You had best talk to your followers Blake. You will need some of them at least if this plan is going to work.''

With that, after another tense moment's silence, Avon backed off, but not down. He circled round behind Blake keeping eye contact the whole time, his challenge of the rebel's authority clear in his unflinching gaze, before turning his back and stalking silently off the flight deck.

It was several hours later, when Blake found himself alone on the flight deck after a long discussion with the others, that Avon returned. He had made no sound or indication of his presence and when Blake turned round to see his familiar form silhouetted against the corridor, for a second it almost made him jump. It shouldn't have, Blake had been expecting him after all.

''How long have you been there?'' he asked, the tension that had simmered between them during that day's previous confrontation had gone, replaced instead by a far easier, almost companionable air.

''A while'' Avon answered simply, striding soundlessly over to stand at the rebel's left shoulder.

Blake glanced sideways at his companion as he came to rest beside him, a slight smile on his lips. '' You could have told me, you know.''

''I was thinking'' came the simple, flat reply before Avon matched Blakes smile with a small one of his own, a slight amused expression playing across his features. ''And besides, I knew even you would notice me eventually.''

''Thanks'' Blake muttered good-humouredly, unsure whether he should be offended but choosing not to be. Instead, he broke the moments silence with the question on both of their minds. ''So, have you decided yet?''

Rather than answering directly Avon countered his question with another. ''What about the others, did you convince them?''

''Yes,'' Blake nodded. ''They agreed eventually, though a little reluctantly on Vila's part.''

''I thought you wanted them to volunteer'' Avon noted with a hint of sarcasm.

''They did'' he replied. ''They decided on their own, I didn't push them.''

It was obvious Blake meant it, but it was equally obvious that whatever he said, they would always be under pressure to accept. Deep down he would have been expecting them to, and disappointing Blake was harder than you would expect. For most people, at least.

''I can imagine. And I am to receive similar treatment?''

Blake sighed, knowing how much he needed Avon down there but unwilling to force his hand. ''I said it was up to you Avon and I meant it '' he promised. ''If you say no, I won't try to force

you.''

For a second the mocking sarcasm was gone from Avon's face and he looked away. ''No, I don't believe you would'' he admitted, the barest slither of sentiment almost audible behind his words, before turning back to Blake full of wry humour. ''Anyway, that would prove rather difficult on your part.''

Blake supressed a grin. Had that been trust in Avon's voice? It was nice to hear it once in a while, even if he knew it was there, but in a flash, it was gone, his companion's walls back up to their usual standard.

''You know as well as I do you cannot pull this off without me'' Avon pointed out matter-offactly after a second, thinking back to Blakes hairbrained scheme and the rebel agreed.

''Oh yes, I know, but either way I have to try'' he declared, his mind already made up. ''This is too big an opportunity to miss.''

''Perhaps we were not meant to miss it'' Avon suggested calmly. ''It could be a trap.''

''Yes, it could'' Blake conceded, forced to admit the possibility, ''but like I said...''

Avon gave him a wry smile then. He had not expected rational behaviour from Blake and it looked like he would not be disappointed. ''...It is too big an opportunity to miss...'' he finished. ''yes, I heard.''

''So, what do you say Avon... are you coming?'' Blake finally asked, already fairly sure of what answer he was about to receive.

There was no hesitation before Avon replied, glancing at Blake beside him, as though there had never been any real doubt to begin with. ''What do you think?'' he queried, his voice suggesting it had not been a very sensible question in the first place, and this time Blake couldn't hide the smile. After another second Avon asked, ''So when do we leave?''

''The ship will be in teleport range in just over an hour'' Blake told him, about to head for the door to prepare but then stopped and turned back round. ''Oh, and I had villa bring everything you'll need down to the teleport bay already'' he added somewhat smugly... ''just in case you decided to join us.''

Two Hours Later

Avon had been right; it had been a trap. Everything had gone fine to begin with. Blake, Avon, Cally and Vila had teleported down to a few hundred meters outside the base as planned. They could have gone in directly but a low-level energy field surrounding the structure had meant the teleports, though usable, would have been rather unreliable and so Blake had decided against it. They were deep inside the complex when suddenly, out of nowhere, alarms started blaring, broadcasting their presence around the entire base. Blake had insisted they could still win, still get what they came for, but it soon became obvious that they had no time to examine the computers and more importantly, the President had never been there in the first place.

Now the four rebels ran desperately down a wide corridor towards the edge of the building, Blake and Avon firing into their pursuers in an attempt to drive them back while Cally took the lead, a terrified Vila between them. They ducked round a corner, pausing for a moment to catch their breath as Avon continued his attempts to hold them back, with Cally this time, Blake tried again to contact the ship.

''Liberator, Liberator do you read?''

Static buzzed back at him for a second before Jenna's voice filtered through the communicator on his wrist, the signal week and slightly distorted. ''I Read you Blake. What is it, what's wrong?''

''We need emergency teleport, now'' he told her hurriedly, relieved to have gotten through.

There was a pause for a moment before Jenna spoke. ''That may take a few minutes Blake, there's an awful lot of interference'' she explained, a hint of worry in her voice.

''We may not have a few minutes'' Avon pointed out, ducking suddenly to avoid a rifle bolt hitting the corner of the wall just above him. The sound of trooper's footsteps could suddenly be heard echoing down the corridor from ahead of them as well.

''We'll just have to hold out'' Blake responded, determined, and turned to Cally. ''There was a room back there, we passed it just moments ago. If we cover you, you get Vila to the door. If he can open it then maybe we can hold them off from there.''

''Now hold on a minute...'' Vila's voice piped up from behind them but his objections were drowned out, as usual.

''Right'' Cally responded, getting ready to run and Blake turned to Avon.

''Ready?'' he asked and Avon nodded. ''Then... Now!''

At his word the two men broke cover, firing repeatedly and forcing the troopers to take shelter themselves as Cally and Vila ran to the door. He started on the lock strait away, sped up by fear, and in moments it was open.

''Blake! Avon!'' Cally called, letting them know it was done, before ducking inside after Vila, gun at the ready encase the room was not so unoccupied after all.

After firing a few more rapid bolts at the guards, they turned and sprinted for the door, the troopers breaking cover once again the moment their backs were turned. They were almost there when suddenly a searing bolt of agony struck Avon in the back, spreading through his entire body in an instant, and he pitched forward with a cry. It had not felt like the bolt from a normal plasma rifle, more like a high voltage electrical charge, but whatever it had been he was unconscious before he hit the ground.

At the sound Blake spun round in alarm, dropping the trooper in heartbeat. He bent down worriedly, dragging Avon's unconscious form the last few feet to what little safety the room could provide but then another trooper aimed right at him. By rites it should have been a clean shot but for some reason it missed, going wide and hitting the wall just inches from his right.

Cally ran out, helping him with Avon for the last few steps, and the moment they were back inside Vila slammed the door shut tightly behind them.

''That's not going to hold them for long'' he cried anxiously, rising panic in his voice. ''What are we going to do?''

Ignoring Vila for a moment Blake turned to the others. ''Cally?'' he asked and she looked up from where she was knelt beside Avon.

''He's alive'' she confirmed, earning a sigh of relief from Blake, ''but that was no plasma bolt, there's no reel wound at all as far as I can see.''

Turning back to his bracelet, he tried Jenna again. ''Jenna where are you, we need that teleport!''

Again, after a second's pause, her voice crackled through the communicator, stronger this time. ''All right I've got you. I'm bringing you back up... now.''

The familiar field of the teleport beam encircled them all and a thick white line surrounded Blake, Cally and Vila as they disappeared and were transported back aboard the Liberator. Alone on the hard floor, where all four of them had stood only seconds before, Avon's still form remained.