Vette returned to the ship, rushing up the ramp with her packages in hand. She sang out for Toovee as she entered, heard the clank of his metallic feet against the floor as he responded. She tossed sundry packages onto the lounge seats with a negligent wave, pulling free the purple chef's hat she'd managed to scrounge from some smuggler loitering in the cantina near the market of Mos Ila. With a flourish, she plunked the article on top of Toovee's head.

"There! Make sure you wear this whenever you prepare meals, Toovee." Vette instructed sternly, waving her finger at the droid with imperious certainty she was pretty sure wouldn't make an iota of impact. But it was fun, regardless. "And don't let Quinn take it away from you!"

Toovee warbled in his funny voice, "Master has informed me I am to obey any direction provided me by Captain Quinn, Vette."

Vette harrumphed, "Figures. I honestly don't know what she sees in him."

"In regards Captain Quinn, there's an incoming transmission on the holoterminal. An Imperial officer has been requesting the captain's response." Toovee reported, its voice mechanically affable.

"Really? Did you tell him Quinn isn't on board?"

"Yes, Vette. But he remains quite insistent he speak to the captain immediately."

Vette was curious. She'd responded to several incoming calls from Darth Baras, although she never actually spoke to the man, just forwarded his transmissions to Lusiel. It wouldn't be out of hand for her to respond to this new transmission, would it? She might dig up some dirt on Mr. Fancy Pants, and wouldn't that be fun, Vette thought. She practically rubbed her blue hands together as she approached the console.

The officer in question was human, of course. A very young lieutenant. Vette bet to herself this was his first assignment as an Imperial officer. He pinched his narrow face even further when he saw Vette's image on the holo, until he looked like he couldn't even breathe through that thin line of nose in the center of his face. Oh, just fantastic, she thought. The Empire's xenophobic hatred of anything non-human or Sith really was grating sometimes.

The officer barked at her, his tone implying she was the dog in the conversation. Vette considered yipping back at him, actually. "I am seeking the person of Malavai Quinn. Is he there? That droid wasn't particularly helpful. Is there some issue with its voice parameters?"

Vette stared back at the officer, pursed her lips in something that might have looked like thoughtfulness. She shrugged, "Oh,Quinn's been working on Toovee but I think the droid's getting the better of him. It's actually quite impressive. Not much gets past Quinn."

"So he is there? Why isn't he responding to my call, then?" The officer glared at her, as if Vette had Quinn locked away nearby. Like in a box, maybe. Actually, that wasn't really a bad idea, she thought.

Vette sniffed. "Didn't Toovee tell you he isn't onboard at the moment?"

"Well, where is he?" Now he sounded oh-so-properly condescending. If he were close enough, he'd probably try twisting one of her lekku.

Vette bristled. "As if I would tell you, even if I knew. He's helping my master Lusiel with her scary Sithy business, anyway. I don't ask questions about it. Bad for the digestion. He did leave me a list of things I was supposed to do while he was gone, though. I haven't gotten around to most of it."

He pointed a long, narrow finger at her, "I insist on speaking to Malavai Quinn immediately!"

Vette rolled her eyes this time. "I just told you! Captain Quinn is not currently on board the ship. There. I even used clear and precise words so you'd understand me better this time!"

"Captain? What do you mean captain?' He made the word sound like something a cat puked up into the floor, Vette thought. One of those ugly husk-looking things all ground up with hair. Yuck. "I'd heard the outrageous report he'd been reassigned. But Malavai Quinn isn't allowed to do any such thing. He's especially not allowed promotion to captain."

Vette almost laughed at the agitated lieutenant. Even through the holographic transmission she could see him turning red. "Look, don't ask me. I've been a Sith slave for months now. I do what they tell me to. So if you want to know how and why he's Captain Quinn now and currently flying all over the place in his newly assigned ship, you'll have to take it up with one of them. And hey! Good luck with that."

"Moff Broysc won't stand for this!"

"Hey, guy! Don't know who that is! Ask Moff Broysc to contact Darth Baras. They may make fantastic pals. Who knows?" Vette shrugged lightly, utterly unconcerned.

"We'll see about this, mark my words."

"Yep, marked! Have a nice day!" Vette waved a little blue hand at the guy in his oh-so-starchy uniform, watching as the transmission faded abruptly. Then she turned to Toovee, gave the droid a bewildered look as she shook her head.

"I don't get it, Toovee. Is there some kind of requirement for admittance to the Imperial military that goes something like, 'Don't apply unless you're a jerk'?"