Jenny Kaye wrote:
Now why do you think Vila changed the subject, and tried to distract Avon by talking about Tarrant?
Do you think it could be because Vila is talking crap?
Actually, you're making an assumption that Vila was trying to distract Avon, and so your question is inherently biased. I don't agree with that assumption; I simply think he was breaking off a tangential discussion that was going away from what he really wanted to talk about - his unease about what was going on down on Obsidian. As you've pointed out yourself in a later portion of your post:
The scene in Volcano continues with Cally saying, "And what about Dayna? Don't you trust her either?" Vila responds by manufacturing an air of contrived nonchalance and saying, "Danya's a different case entirely."
Vila tends to acquire an air of faux innocence when he's lying. He didn't have it when he was making the remarks about testing - he was irritated and plunged straight in, without thinking about what he was saying; this supports the idea that this portion of his remarks were based on truth. The specific reference to Space Captains was IMO likely an exaggeration, due to having issues with upper grades generally and (as Sally mentioned) Tarrant specifically.
My thought is that he could certainly have tested into a slightly higher grade, but didn't want the regimentation and responsibility (i.e., a job) that would come with it. Vila likes being a thief; he's good at it. He'd prefer to remain a Delta, and therefore invisible.
Vila a Space Captain? He wouldn't pass the psychological tests let alone be entered for "The Space Captains' exam" even if such a test existed.
The tests must exist, or Avon would have called him on that immediately. A lie isn't much good when the liar knows the lie-ee has all the same information that he does.
As Avon confirmed, "A pro keeps it simple." Vila is a liar. And you can't get simpler than that!
??? Avon was restating someone else's position when he was conjecturing what that person might do. That's not the same thing as confirming it. A few lines later he mocks that position when he says 'Your professional simplicity is beginning to irritate me.'
Quite apart from which, professional simplicity surely shouldn't include ignoring relevant data, such as the fact that Vila isn't always or even mostly lying; therefore it's not logical to assume that he is, without evidence of such.
Mistral