Chapter Eighteen

Steiner anxiously suggested to the girls that they should be in the chambers no later than nine o'clock. Then bathe no later than ten. And to be asleep long before midnight. Every time he walked past a window, he glued himself to it, his eyes darting everywhere in the sky. The twinkly stars sometimes deceived him and he froze up, hoping the girl's were not looking out their windows. Beatrix's letter was not satisfying in the least. If anything, it left Steiner on even more pins and needles. A medical emergency? With Zidane? What could have possibly happened? Sure, his negotiations skills weren't top knotch, but surely not inept enough to have him beaten to death? Steiner wanted to think it was petulant matters. An accident that lead to unlucky wounds. But he felt like, deep down inside, it was much graver circumstances. Steiner knew Kuja's capacity. He most likely was aware of a War Committee.

As the night waned on, Steiner walked endlessly through the hallways, waiting for the signal of the airships arrival. Where was it? Steiner ran every scenario through his mind. What if they had stopped because Zidane's wounds proved too grave? Even worse, what if it was shot down in a fiery display, leaving no survivors? He shook those thoughts away as he came to stand on the platform of the stairs. The milky moonlight bled through the gold pane windows and he watched with a thundering heart, doing his best to swallow his fears.

Dammit, Zidane, you can't die on us before it all really begins, Steiner's face had grown blank, his hands placed behind his back, as he lost himself in the sanguid night sky. Beatrix would never let that happen. Zidane, you must pull through. One of Steiner's worst nightmares was outliving Dagger. When she had taken her final breath all those years ago, Steiner could only blame himself. She was so young, he questioned the planet for months and years following: why her? Why not me? It would be like reliving that nightmare all over again if Zidane died on his watch. Steiner could only cling to a shred of hope he had inside of him. Zidane was a fighter. A big time survivor. Surely whatever had happened now was not enough to stop him. Zidane won't die, Steiner told himself. He would never check out. He would never leave the princesses alone like that. Even if he wanted to, Beatrix wouldn't let him.

"Steiner?" The Captain was startled, gazing up the flight of stairs beside him. At the very top was the smallest princess of Alexandria. She was wearing a fluffy white nightgown that hung heavily on her wiry body. Her blonde curls were unruly falling down her shoulders.

"Princess Alex, what are you doing up?" Steiner turned towards her, masking his inner anguish and anxiety. "It's well after eleven."

"I can't sleep," Alex told him. Her slippers were muted to the carpet as she slowly came down to stand before him. Alex cocked her head back to look at him. "You're still awake, too."

"Yes, well, a man such as myself doesn't need the rest, like you do," Steiner told her with as even a voice as possible. "If you want to grow big and strong, you have to get a full nights sleep."

"That doesn't make me anymore tired," Alex sighed, hunching her shoulders. "I miss Daddy. When is he coming home? He's the only person in this entire castle that doesn't utterly stink at Tetra Master... no offense, Steiner."

"He'll be home soon," Steiner assured her. "These things simply take time, Princess. Please try to understand." Nervously, Steiner looked towards the round window above the grand doors of the castle. Still just an empty sky littered with bright stars. "Perhaps some warm milk might help?"

"Make it hot chocolate and you have a deal."

The princess was easily as persuasive as her father.

...

Zidane now sat propped up in bed against a mountain of pillows. His head throbbed horrendously, his neck eminating with heat. He held a cool rag to his forehead, trying not to let the motion of the airship turn his stomach inside out. Beside him on a stool was Eiko. She was the only one left in the room who had chosen not to resign for a curt sleep before landing. She continually resoaked his rag and cleaned his bandages that now plastered his neck. On top of his wounds from his first assault, Zidane was a sore sight. She could see he was in dire pain. With how fast his heart was beating and how high his temperature spiked, she had no doubt Zidane had acquired a migraine. He had been unwilling to speak much, mostly because it hurt. His voice was scratchy and hoarse from the shock. Eiko carefully had been watching him for nearly six hours. Zidane's eyes flittered to her.

"You know, you can go to bed. No need to watch me, I'll be fine," Zidane limply waved his hand at her.

"Absolutely not," Eiko told him, furrowing her brow. "Zidane, your heart rate was going off the charts. And your body temperature... Nobody could survive that but somehow you did. And with no brain damage. What happened? You say you know what's wrong with you. Well? I've been waiting all night for an explaination."

Zidane shifted in his bed, tenderly holding his head. He sighed and sank against the pillows again. On command, Eiko lifted the quilts over him. Zidane tilted his head back and closed his eyes, simply holding the rag to his face. Eiko only watched him. "What do you know about virus injection?"

"W... what?" Eiko sat up straight, her face softening to a slight horror. "Zidane, why would you ask me something like that?"

"Because I need to know," Zidane looked to her now, his hair ruffled against the pillows. "Do I ask you or do I ask Doctor Tot?"

Eiko's hands grasped her skirt. "My... my knowledge is limited. Doctor Tot knows more. But... Zidane... you're not suggesting what I'm thinking?"

"Is it possible through magic?" Zidane asked, his red glazed eyes looking at her almost earnestly.

Eiko furrowed her brow and lowered her chin. "It's possible... I suppose if you're a skilled alchemist, you could create something for your gloves. It's more of contact with the gear, more so than the magic... You think Fauna touched your neck and injected a virus into you?"

"I don't think, I know," Zidane directed his eyes to the ceiling, lowering the cloth from his forehead. He heaved a deep scratchy sigh, his chest sinking. "I was with Kuja, Eiko. He had me in this destroyed world that was on fire and raining ash. He said it was Terra..."

"You were most likely having a fevered dream, Zidane," Eiko said, leaning forward. He could tell she really wanted to believe that. But his unmoving face had her shoulders somewhat drooping. "What else did Kuja say?"

Zidane tucked a hand behind his head, still watching the boring wood panes above him. "He gave me two options. One was to give him Arabella. Or... I could join his forces and help replace Gaian souls with Terran souls."

"Well, you rejected both of those offers, right?" Eiko asked.

"Yeah, but he's deadset on convincin' me," Zidane looked to her now. "He said with the little virus he put inside of me, he could visit me anytime he wants." In the next moment, Eiko sprang to the side of the bed and began gingerly peeling Zidane's bandages off. "Yeowch! Ow, ow, ow! Whaddya doin'?"

"Sorry, I need to look at the wounds. Maybe, just maybe, we can get a clue as to how to get rid of it," Eiko explained as she disregarded the bandages on the night table and began to observe his scabby wounds across his neck. Purples and blues extended from the crusty skin, along with greens on the outskirt. It would most likely heal as a scar.

"I think it's a bloodstream thing," Zidane croaked. "So, if you're alright with blood letting..."

"That hasn't been practiced for a hundred years," Eiko deadpanned. "When we land, I'll get Doctor Tot's opinion. There has to be some antibiotic or shot we can give you that will kill the virus. That is... if it's true what you saw."

"Like I said, I don't dream," Zidane said in a flat hoarse voice. "Kuja did something to me, Eiko. I feel... weird..."

"In what way?" Eiko sat back on the bed, pressing her hand to his arm.

"I feel very light. Like my body doesn't weigh anything. And... my vision is clearer. The only thing that hurts is my head."

Eiko was beginning to worry Zidane maybe did sustain some internal trauma. Her face was oozing with worry and Zidane looked to her with a furrowed brow. "We're almost to Alexandria. Anything that's wrong with you, we're going to fix it, Zidane," She gripped his arm tightly, pursing her lips. "I just need more equipment and more space. But... we'll figure this out, I promise."

...

Princess Alex had been sent back to bed only fifteen minutes before Steiner was alerted of the airships arrival over town walls. The Captain was an absolute anxious mess as the soldiers hurried around him in preparation of landing. Doctor Tot had chosen to meet everyone at the airship dock and he waited rather patiently beside the antsy Steiner. Two soldiers with a stretcher idled nearby, along with an infantry of back-up in case of any surprises. Additional nurses lingered on the outskirts. The groan of the airship began to fill through the docks and Steiner pensively watched as it glided through the arching entry. He had no idea what awaited him on the other side of that door. What would he be confronted with? Quickly, the Knights of Pluto went onto the ship, escorting people off. Steiner counted off the pilots and shiphands. The door leading towards the quarters flung open and the first to emerge was Freya.

Doctor Tot and Steiner came to the plank to greet her as she stepped off. "Freya, it's been awhile," Steiner said, shaking her hand. "I'm glad to have you here."

"Always with the formalities, no matter the time of day," Freya grinned in her reserved way. "A delight, too, Steiner. Though, I'm sure you have much more on your mind than how I am. Beatrix and Eiko are with Zidane now."

"Shall I send a cot?" Steiner asked.

"No, don't worry 'bout it," A hoarse voice came from the deck. Steiner's eyes snapped to see a sore looking Zidane. A purple left eye, a split open eyebrow, busted lips, swollen cheekbone, and a mess of bandages on his neck. No doubt the princesses would be horrified to see him. He was walking, however, which seemed promising.

"Goodness Gracious, Zidane!" Doctor Tot exclaimed.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Zidane assured them, waving his hands. "I just need to wash my face, that's all."

Doctor Tot came into the king's path, standing up on the tip of his feet. The owl inspected Zidane closely, who tried to lean away from his gleaming bifocals. "You require stitches. Go to the infirmary now. We must clean you up before dawn, when the princesses awaken."

Eiko came out from airship now, holding a small leather satchel up. "I brought cosmetics."

"Are you serious?" Zidane's voice was flat.

"A lady never travels without them," Eiko lifted her chin. "Besides, you and I have a similar complexion. I can make those bruises disappear."

"Come along now," Doctor Tot waved his wing. "We have not a moment to spare, it's a quarter past midnight."

Begrudgingly, Zidane left with Eiko and Doctor Tot, Freya right on their heels. The soldiers on duty were dismissed and slowly funneled out of the room. Steiner sighed at the quietness of the airship dock, but paused when he heard the clearing of a throat. He looked over his shoulder to see his entire world standing on the edge of the plank. Beatrix's small, but meaningful, smile lit his mind up, her brown chestnut hair gleaming in the overhead light. Hurriedly, Steiner raced to her, swooping her slender body up in his arms. He held her tightly, her arms locked around his neck. They nearly shook in each other's grip. Beatrix's wet eyelashes fluttered to Steiner's neck, causing goosebumps to pucker down his skin. Even with the silent tears bubbling in her eyes, she was nothing short of beautiful.

"Things are going to get really bad, Steiner," Beatrix told him in a hushed voice. "This isn't going to be a simple war. Listen to me... what war is ever really simple? But this time..." Beatrix gazed towards the exit of the dock. "Kuja has new tricks up his sleeves." Beatrix tore away from Steiner, crossing her arms over her chest and pacing a few feet. "I'm already losing, Steiner. I've already failed. How can I call myself a war general and allow for Zidane to be wounded like that?"

"You cannot blame yourself," Steiner came up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Like you said, Kuja knows new tricks. And he seems to have a much more organized group of people who obey his every whim. He's not piggybacking off of someone else's greed this time. He's acting of his own accord."

Beatrix tensed beneath his warm grip. "I'm losing my touch, Steiner. The very thing that happened to my father... it's going to happen to me."

Beatrix had never spoken much of her father. Moreso of her mother, who was a homemaker and dedicated herself to baking fine culinary treats and made the most darling clothes that had Beatrix the envy of every child in her corridor. Her mother had been the ones to place those thick bottom curls in her voluminous brown hair and Beatrix had continued in her adulthood to work the foam into her hair every night for the vibrant pop. But Beatrix's father was simultaneously someone who Beatrix looked up to and feared in her waking life.

"What do you mean?" Steiner asked carefully, hoping to learn more. "I don't understand."

Beatrix pursed her lips. "Never mind... let's go to bed. I haven't slept in two days."

...

"... a virus?" Doctor Tot echoed, looking to Zidane who was again propped up in bed. His face had been cleaned and his eyebrow had received stitches. He had fought tooth and nail against Eiko, however. He refused to powder his face. Freya was seated on a nearby vacant bed, Eiko on a stool beside Zidane. Doctor Tot had been pacing back and forth and everyone's eyes followed him anxiously. "It's certainly not unheard of," Doctor Tot paused, looking over his shoulder. "Biological warfare is one of the oldest tricks in the book as far as the history of war is concerned."

"Well, how do we get rid of it?" Zidane asked with his hoarse voice.

Doctor Tot folded her feathers beneath his chin. "Eiko, please repeat the symptoms."

"Loss of consciousness, high fever, elevated heart beat, high blood pressure, convulsions, nausea..." Eiko tilted her head back and forth. "Those are all the ones I noticed, anyway."

"And when he awoke?"

"His heart beat and temperature immediately began to stabilize."

"Hmm..." Doctor Tot furrowed his brow.

"Kuja told me it was in my bloodstream," Zidane said.

"I still think you were just having fevered dreams, for goodness sakes, Zidane, we could have baked cookies on your abs," Eiko shook her head.

"It was not just a dream!" Zidane shouted, but he immediately went into a coughing fit. He reached for his water. "It was really Kuja, Eiko. Mikoto sees him, too. That's what he does. He visits our dreams. Even Bella has seen him. He's really there."

"Fine, fine," Doctor Tot waved his arms, trying to ease the tension. "It's certainly nothing I've ever heard of before. It's an unfortunate call I have to make, but I need to see Zidane experience this phenomena again so I can understand more clearly what we are up against. I cannot in good conscious start giving you any sort of antibiotics, Zidane."

"You can't give me anything?" Zidane asked, seemingly distressed at the idea. "What if this happens again while I'm with my daughter's? It'll scare the hell out of them, Doctor."

"Perhaps we should keep you on bedrest," Doctor Tot suggested.

"No way," Zidane shook his head. "That's exactly what Kuja wants. I can't be in bed right now."

"What if Kuja's waiting for you to get in the perfect position to do this again?" Eiko countered. "You should stay in bed where we can monitor you."

"But-"

"Beatrix and Steiner, as per rank, can handle the throne in your time of rest," Eiko told him.

"The last thing I'm concerned about is the throne," Zidane told her flatly. "Doctor Tot, you're not serious, are you?"

"I believe it's for the best, Zidane," Doctor Tot said. "Your temperature and heart rate were at extreme levels. It's best you stay off your feet for now so we can be sure you make a full recovery."

Zidane sighed, slumping into his pillows. He waxed and waned between feeling absolutely defeated and downright frustrated. Kuja had bested him, whether he liked to believe that or not. Zidane wanted to think it really was a fevered dream. Perhaps a one time thing. But his anxiety overrode those thoughts. Kuja wasn't playing games. He was completely upturning the board. Maybe it was all part of his elaborate plan to take Zidane's piece from the line up, but the king had to think quickly from where he now laid up in bed. He pursed his lips and looked towards Freya.

"Will you take Bella to Burmecia with you tomorrow morning?"

Everyone in the room seemed quite surprised by the request. Freya rose from the bed, coming to stand beside her old friend. "You're certain that's what you would like? You're speaking with a clear mind?"

"No fog up there," Zidane shook his head. "It's for the best, Freya. I need to keep Bella away from me if I really am carryin' something. You have some place safe to keep her, right? Somewhere warm and cozy? She loves the rain. It's her favorite weather to read in. You'll make sure she has plenty to read, right? She loves waffles drizzled in chocolate. And peppermint tea."

Freya could see deep in Zidane's tired eyes his concern. It radiated out of him. It was so obvious how much he loved those girl's. In a way, it was still foreign to Freya, even after nearly two decades, to see Zidane responsible for other little human lives- and to see him excel well at it. She had never imagined the goofy wayward drifting boy could become a father of three girls. Freya was more inclined to believe he would become a king first. Zidane was quite irritable and fiery in Lindblum. Many of the other leaders commented being surprised by the usually calm and chipper Zidane. But his actions in that moment were careful and full of love. He had seemed to be calculating his words and his steps. His daughter's were his entire world- in some sorts, all he had left of Dagger. And it was clear to see every day that Zidane was falling apart without her.

"I will make sure she is well-tended to," Freya said, reaching down to tenderly touch his wrist. "She will be safe and warm with a comfortable bed to lay her head down at night. And she will have a plethora to read, I promise, Zidane."

Zidane clenched his jaw and swallowed a growing lump in his throat. "Keep her safe, Freya. I trust that you will."

Freya pressed her hand to her woven alliegance to Burmecia. "It is my newfound sworn duty and honor to protect and provide refuge to Princess Arabella, as Alexandria has done for my people, too."

"Thank you, Freya," Zidane nodded. After a moment of silence, Zidane slowly began to get out of bed despite the rising protests. When he stood, he was slightly woozy, and caught the edge of the bed to steady himself. He let out a deep sigh, trying to hold his shoulders straight. "I'm not sleepin' here. I just... I want to be with my daughter's. Please."

"Well... alright," Doctor Tot nodded. "Come back tomorrow morning so I can check your temperature and so on."

Zidane began towards the door, doing his best to look sharp and coherent. Luckily, Eiko didn't chase after him and he climbed the stairs, leaning on the railing for support. He was already winded and he cursed under his breath as he took the next flight of stairs. He finally reached the hallway to the girl's chambers and he raked his hair back from his face, letting out another sigh. Straight down the hallway, it lead towards a wall of large windows. The moon and stars glittered brightly and Zidane gazed out towards it, feeling utterly miserable. His life had been turned completely upside down. He didn't want to go for this ride. He wanted off.

His head suddenly throbbed sharply and he winced, leaning over for a moment. Zidane pressed his hand to his temple and ground his teeth together as it subsided. He blinked rapidly, looking to the moon again. His entire body was washed over in a chill. He willed himself to look away from the moon and quietly, he opened the door to the sitting chambers. It was dark and quiet. Each door to the girl's rooms were closed. Zidane stealthily slid through the door and threw himself onto the plush looking couch. He sunk into the mountain of throw pillows and grabbed a woven blanket that dangled off the back. He let out a long sigh as he settled in. Alex's Tetra cards were scattered all over the coffee table. Some were even on the floor. Bella had a stack of books precariously balanced on the windowsill. And Sarah's many hand embroidery projects were left scattered on desks and bookshelves. He was entirely surrounded by his girl's world and it comforted him as he lay on that couch. Slowly, the relief of drowsiness washed over him and Zidane easily slipped into a slumber. And for the first time ever, he was thankful to not dream.