Vette had created a cover-story about an imperial informant who had filed a report on the location of Theron's and Kalda's XS freighter. In the first 12 hours over a dozen imperial offices accessed the information, the most of them turned out to be associated with departments in Imperial or Sith Intelligence who were assigned to keep track of SIS-Agents.

After checking another user ID she stretched and turned to Quinn who sat beside her in the conference room of the Fury, reading Arkous' schedules and timetables. "Did something turn up on your side?"

Quinn put his data pad down and rubbed his temples. "No, as suspected… either Arkous was too cautious to let something suspicious appear in his schedule or he hid it so masterfully that I simply can't find it."

"So, that means our hopes lay with the assassin. So far I haven't detected suspicious user IDs. I don't know about you, but I need to take a break – or my eyes start to bleed from all this reading!" Vette exclaimed and grinned at Quinn. "Let's have a beer and do some brain-storming."

She almost fell out of her chair when he nodded and got up to his feet and walked towards the mess hall. She was unable to move, it was quite a shock that Capt'n Protocol was actually having a drink on duty. Finally she composed herself and followed him. When she entered the mess Quinn had already cracked open two bottles of beer and handed her one of them.

"It must be my bad influence – this may be the first time I don't have to nag for an hour before we go for a drink," Vette said and took a gulp of her beer.

"That may be, but we are reading reports we have already read weeks ago. In cases like this one has to think outside the box and studies have shown that low doses of alcohol actually stimulate collateral thinking," Quinn retorted and sipped at his beer.

"Getting pissed for the Empire, that's something new…" joked Vette and saluted Quinn in her usual mocking way.

He laughed and said surprisingly playful: "For the Empire!" before taking another sip.

"Who are you and what have you done to Quinn?" laughed Vette and nudged him in the ribcase. "You know that there are probably still bets running across the Imperial Navy that Malavai Quinn never laughs, and here a golden opportunity to disprove them and no holocamera!" Vette leaned against the replicator and smiled at him.

"One has to live up to one's reputation," remarked Quinn drily. "Exceptions prove the rule."

"Why are you always so serious? I mean I get that you are an officer and all, but I have met a lot of imperials and none of them is as stiff as you are."

"It's just the way I am. I'm a good officer because I pay attention to every detail and that means that I have to take everything seriously."

"At least you can loosen up when we are alone, but I have to tell you, Mal – it was quite a drag to get you to unwind. Although sometimes I still find your stoic-soldier-routine adorable!"

"Ah, good to know that I am also in your graces when I am myself," Quinn smirked.

Vette laughed and gave Quinn a quick peck on his mouth. They fell silent for a moment.

"Did you read Grand Moff Kilrans file perchance?" Vette asked absentmindedly.

"Some time ago… why do you ask?" replied Quinn and took a gulp.

"I just thought about him… he is always so chipper, the only time I heard him speak in less than his usually blithely or rather sarcastic fashion was when we were on Korriban. Right after Badesh had killed Baras and we were drinking champagne to celebrate the occasion. He talked about Jedi in an untypical hateful way and it gave me pause."

"And your point being?"

"I don't have a point, I just thought about it… I mean I was scarred as well by Jedi but I don't think that I hate them," she touched the cicatricial tissue on her cheek.

"I don't think that his anger stems from the injury," Quinn replied. "Grand Moff Kilran is a very prideful man… he failed in his duty to hinder a prison outbreak."

Vette frowned. "But it is strange, isn't it? He was already a Moff back then – why was he guarding some back-water prison in the maelstrom nebula?"

"If I recall correctly Imperial Intelligence had received a warning that Jedi wanted to rescue one of their own."

"But there wasn't any fall-out, right? The Republic didn't even gloat that they had rescued a Jedi from the clutches of the Empire. I mean who was he or she that they tried to free them and not Havoc Squad or someone equally famous?"

Quinn pulled a small data pad from his utility belt and tapped on it. "The Jedi's name was Narma… there is no record of him in the imperial databanks. Strange… we have the highest clearance, and it's impossible that someone was imprisoned in this facility without any traces of previous encounters with imperial forces. Hm, how peculiar…"

"What?" Vette was curious and stepped next to Quinn to have a look at the file.

"Narma was admitted in the prison 297 years ago, I assume that there are no files on him because they are in the archives on Dromund Kaas."

"There aren't many species that grow that old… wait a moment, it says here that he was a human!"

"The force can accomplish almost anything," mumbled Quinn, but he sounded surprisingly unsure.

"Perhaps he was frozen in carbonite," suggested Vette.

"Possibly, but it is still perplexing… you said it yourself: there were more prominent prisoners and yet they decided to free a Jedi that has been incarcerated for such a long time. This incident happened 13 years ago and he haven't heard from Narma since then."

"Now I'm really curious, there are so many strange things about this whole prison-outbreak," said Vette and drank the last gulp of her beer, threw the bottle in the recycling machine and strode out of the mess hall into the conference room.

She had already pulled up all connected files when Quinn entered as well. She searched through the specifics and was surprised to see that the file didn't contain who had given Kilran the order to guard the prison in the first place.

"Only Dark Council members could assign a Moff for this kind of task," said Quinn quietly, his face was visibly contemplative.

"Do you think we should investigate the matter? It could be some Sith-y secret assignment that will only stir up bad things and has nothing to do with the Revanites."

"Perhaps, but we won't know for sure if we don't look into it. Vette, please set up a meeting with Grand Moff Kilran. We will ask him personally about the maelstrom prison incident."

ooOOoo

Vette had anticipated that her new position as one of closest advisors of a Dark Council member would have its perks, but being able to call the head of the imperial navy and being put through without questions was still something that surprised her.

Kilrans tall figure appeared on the holocommstation. "Sergeant Ce'na, what a pleasure to hear from you," Kilran said in his usual blithely intonation. Vette felt slightly mocked, but she ignored it and bowed.

"Grand Moff, thank you for answering my call personally."

"Ah, when Imperial Intelligence calls everybody answers, my dear Sergeant." Kilran smiled.

"Sir, Major Quinn and I are currently investigating an important matter and we wanted to meet up with you personally to clear up some questions. I take it that you are in your office on the Imperial Fleet? May we call on you tomorrow?" Vette as aware that she was perhaps too polite but she wanted to show Kilran that she respected him. In the past he had been very helpful to Badesh and she wanted to stay on his good side.

"Of course! I'm looking forward to you visit, I shall put some tarisian white wine on ice." With that he ended the call and the holopicture vanished.

Vette was somewhat relieved that Kilran was friendly, in a strange way she had sympathies for the Grand Moff, even though he probably didn't respect her as much as he pretended.

ooOOoo

"Major! Sergeant! I took the liberty to pour you a glass of chardonnay!" Kilran stood up from his desk and walked briskly towards Vette and Quinn who had entered his office. Both of them bowed saluted before the Grand Moff and Quinn replied: "Thank you sir."

Kilran gestured towards a small lounge arrangement that hadn't been in his office the last time they had visited. Vette sat down on a chair and took a glass of wine, it was surprisingly cold.

"Cheers," said Kilran and they clinked their glasses. "So, let's get on with the business – may I inquire what questions you want to ask me?"

Quinn put the glass down on the table, straightened his jacket and spoke with a clear voice: "Sir, I apologize, but we want to inquire about the incident at the maelstrom prison…"

Vette saw how Kilran's gaze became hard, nevertheless he smiled and gestured Quinn to speak on.

"… we would like to know who assigned you to guard the facility."

Kilran let the wine swing in his glass and smelled it before taking a sip. He was hesitating.

"I am surprised that someone would ask after this after so many years, but it makes sense that Darth Tenebra's associates would be the ones to inquire about this particular… failure of mine."

Vette was puzzled but remained silent, there was no doubt that Kilran was about to reveal more.

Kilran sighted. "You didn't find the proper orders in the files because they don't exist. I was asked for a favour and I granted it… unfortunately I couldn't stop the prisoner from escaping." He leaned back in his chair and took another sip. "Hm, the wine is extraordinary, isn't it? So fresh and dry."

"Indeed sir," replied Quinn calmly.

"The man who asked me to guard the prison was Darth Malgus," Kilran had stopped smiling. "We worked closely together during the sacking of Coruscant – I learned to trust him; and when he asked me to do this mission off the books I did. I guarded the facility with my personal guard and took it upon myself to secure the Jedi." Kilran almost spit out the last word.

Vette looked him straight in the eye. "Do you know who this Jedi was? Why was he so important?"

"I did never ask. Malgus' word was enough for me. I'm afraid you have to ask him yourself, although I doubt that he will answer you."

"Thank you, sir – for your time and your honesty," said Quinn earnestly.

Kilran seemed taken aback by the way he was addressed. After a short moment his usual slightly ironic smile returned to his lips. "Anything for the Empire, Major. Perhaps I should add that I am satisfied to see that the both of you haven't lost your manners nor your tact since you ascended with Darth Tenebra."

"I think we both know how fragile our position is, sir," replied Vette, slightly surprised by the hidden compliment in Kilran's words. "I assume that you have seen many Sith associates come and go."

"Indeed, and none of them understood that changes happen fast in the Empire." Kilran took another sip and filled up their half-empty glasses. "It would be a pity to let go the wine to waste, wouldn't it?"

"Thank you, sir, I hope we don't take up too much of your time…" began Quinn, but he was interrupted by Kilran.

"Major, do you think that I would sit down and enjoy a good glass of wine with every rabble that comes through my door? No, my friends, I assure you… I quite enjoy your company and I thought that I would ask a few questions of my own."

Vette shifted in her seat, was he going to ask about Badesh's plans for the intelligence agency? But she was taken aback when Kilran turned to her.

"Do you dance, Sergeant?"

"Wha… Beg your pardon?"

"As you are probably aware the anniversary of the Empire's return from the unknown regions is taking place in a few weeks." Kilran spread his arms. "There are going to be festivities all over Dromund Kaas – the Emperor himself is going to give an address to his loyal subjects. I had hoped that you would accompany me as my escort."

Thoughts rushed through Vette's head, she was confused. The Emperor… to her he was more like a mythological figure than an actual person… and why would Kilran ask her to… no, it had to be some kind of prank. Before she could stop herself, Vette blurted out:

"Are you serious?" and with little delay she added: "sir?"

Kilran chuckled. "I understand your confusion, but I assure you… you appearance would be very much appreciated."

Vette was still sceptical. "I… I don't get it, why should you ask me to be your escort?" She glanced quickly at Quinn but to her dismay his expression was as unreadable as always.

"You rank is too low to be officially invited, Major Quinn and Darth Tenebra are of course already on the guest list. It would be such a pity if you missed this rare opportunity to enjoy the festivities." Kilran was still speaking in his usual pleasant way, but something in his voice led Vette to believe that the invitation was more than a simple excuse to let her 'enjoy' the celebration.

"… thank you, Grand Moff. I'm honoured," she replied hesitantly.

"Excellent!" exclaimed Kilran. "We will make a fine couple… I'm sure of it."

ooOOoo

"Well, that was awkward," said Vette as soon as they had closed the hatch of the Fury. "I think I need another drink."

"I wouldn't recommend it – we still have work to do," replied Quinn dryly.

"Right… but what was this about?"

"I don't know, but it is true that the anniversary is upon us. I suspect the Grand Moff has some kind of scheme that he wants to see through – it was certainly wise to accept his invitation."

Vette and Quinn had reached the commstation in the middle of the ship. Vette leaned casually against it and smiled at Quinn.

"Aren't you jealous?"

Quinn stepped to the commstation and began to push a few buttons. "No."

"Hey, it's no fun if you don't get worked up – but you are right. I never understood people who got jealous in a relationship. If I didn't want to be with you anymore I would just leave and that's it."

He looked up from the screen. "Hm, it this the point where I should swear my love to you and beg you to stay with me until the day when the last star dies?" Of course he kept his upper stiff lip while asking.

"Yep, get on with it!" laughed Vette and put her hands on her hip and looked at Quinn expectantly. He was usually very coy with emotional things and she was curious how he would wriggle out of this.

Quinn drew nearer and stopped right before her, he had a very serious look about him as he leaned forward and brushed her left cheek with his lips. Then he whispered in her ear: "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." He kissed her softly.

Vette was so touched by the intimacy of the moment that she just stood there dumbfounded while Quinn returned to the commstation as if nothing had happened. But before he continued his work he turned around and said dryly and almost detached: "Ah, I almost forgot… please don't ever leave me, I beg you. Stay with me until the end of times."

"Wow! That was the most romantic thing you have ever said!" Vette beamed and rushed to Quinn and hugged him with all her might from behind. "I love you too, Mal! And I promise you – you won't get rid of me until the end of times!"

"I certainly hope so, Vette – now let's get back to work," Quinn replied stiffly.