Chapter 26: Captain Adelbert Steiner Makes his Move
"Please state your name, the name of your ship, and your business in Alexandria." Adelbert Steiner, head of the Knights of Pluto and loyal protector of the Queen, asked the departing Captain of the Eternal Moonlight.
"Uh…My names Phil. Um, and this is my ship, the Eternal Moonlight. And we're here to drop off cargo." The tall captain said.
"Hold on…Phil." Steiner gave Phil a stern glance. "Before you depart, I'll have to inspect your ship and it's crew." Steiner gave a wave of his gauntlet and three Pluto knights boarded the ship.
After a couple of minutes, the three knights came back.
"Report Weizelmmer." Steiner commanded the returning knight.
"Uh…we found some ZTAE marked crates, which were filled with machinery that's headed to…" The knight pulled out a piece of paper. "Nimrods, Mantra Words, Still Figures, Interlocution, Auxiliary, Hell Hole, Ridiculousness, Anesthetic Mind, Unstable Pycnosis, Novus Ordo Seclorum, Aluminum Nightmare, Disclosure, Emma's Observatory, and Extraneousness." The knight said. Steiner gave a surprised look.
"Uh…permission to speak freely, sir?" The knight asked.
"Permission granted." Steiner said.
"On the bottom of this inventory list is the phrase 'We shit bullets'." The Pluto knight said.
"Hmm…must be night clubs of some sorts. What kind of men did you find?" Steiner grumbled.
"The ships crew are consisted of seven buffalo men, fourteen humans, eleven male three female, two black mages, a Cave Moogle and cat, and a penguin man." The knight on the right said.
"Bring all the crew out to the deck." Steiner said. "We must run a check on your crew now…Phil." Thus the knights and Phil boarded the ship.
** *
All of the Eternal Moonlights crew stood in a line on the deck. In the middle of the line was AVALANCHE. Steiner passed from left to right, glancing and asking several questions to each person he came upon. Once he was satisfied with the person, the man or woman would leave and continue whatever duties he or she was previously instructed to do. But then, he came to Cid.
Steiner glanced up and down at Cid Highwind, making a mental note at everything on him. After he was done with the visual inspection, he proceeded with the questions.
"You're an interesting one, aren't you?" Steiner gave his usual frown.
"You're one to ask, ya dumb ^&*(. Of coarse I'm gonna look interesting to you medieval bastards. I'm a friggin pilot for crying out loud!" Cid had begun a rant. Tifa smacked herself in the face as the others looked on. Even the crew looked at Cid, and the knights were eager faced as well. Steiner looked shocked.
"…That is no way to speak to the head knight of the Pluto knights of Alexandria, sir."
"I wouldn't give a rats ass if you were Rufus J. ShinRa! Damn I'm pissed." Cid reached in his pocket and lit a cigarette and promptly placed it in his mouth.
"What is that?" Steiner asked pointing to the cigarette in Cid's mouth.
"Cid! Just shut up!" Yuffie yelled from way down the line.
"It's a god damn cigarette! You have a problem with that?!" Cid got out of the line and started to walk past Steiner. Steiner placed his large hand on Cids shoulder. Steiner was a full foot and a half taller.
"Stop right there, you miserable alien. I'm going to have to take you to the brig!"
"Like hell you are! If we were on the Highwind, I would have thrown you off for your big stupid lookin face!"
"Steiner!" A voice called from behind Steiners back. Steiner turned to see Zidane with Kuriko walking up.
"Zidane? What are you doing here? This ship is under investigation!" Steiner shot at him. Zidane came over to him and put Kuriko on the ground. He then leaned on the big knight.
"You know Steiner, you're too mean. Where's the love?" Zidane grinned.
"This alien here has insulted an officer and refuses to be arrested." Steiner steamed. Zidane gave him a stupid look.
"Why the hell would he WANT to go to jail?" Zidane arched one eyebrow.
"…Are you questioning an officer?"
Cid turned towards the rest of AVALANCHE, who were listening to Steiner and Zidanes conversation.
"I've seen that guy before…" Cloud whispered. He closed his eyes for a moment. The rest of them were eagerly watching him. What would they do?
"…Zidane?" Cloud finally spoke after a couple of moments. The genome immediately turned from Steiners argument.
"Yes?" He asked, and then placed his hand on his chin. "Wait a minute? Have we met?"
"You must be mistaken, see, we are from another world." Tifa said.
"What she means is uh…we're from another land!" Yuffie elbowed Tifa.
Red XIII caught on. "I highly doubt that you've met Cloud before."
Zidane stepped away from Steiner, who reached out his arm to protest. Zidane walked towards Cloud and eyed him. "…I've seen you in my dreams before…You're here to stop EON, right?"
AVALACHE was silent. How had he known about Cloud?!
"What the %^&* are you talkin bout, yo? How do you know 'bout EON, foo?" Barret quickly got into a battle stance. Something did not seem right. Vincent looked uncomfortable.
"I've seen all of you people in my dreams. And I've seen EON as well. He's going to appear here soon, near Ispens' Castle." Zidane leaped back to Steiner in one bound. "I'm Zidane Tribal and this is Adelbert Steiner.
Steiner looked confused. "Mr. Tribal, what are you doing? These are hooligans!"
"Woah! You mean EON's going to leave?!" Cait Sith shouted, interrupting Steiner.
"We can discuss this later. Steiner, let these folks go. We need to go to the castle." Zidane said.
"What?! I can't allow you to do such a thing, Zidane! That would be endangering the Queen!"
"We're not endangering anyone unless they have a big trap, like you!" Cid shouted.
"C'mon Rusty, what's the worst that can happen? You can trust Cloud, I've seen him in action." Zidane smiled.
Steiner looked at AVALANCHE by the wall, and then at Zidane and sighed. "…Very well. But I must escort them at all times."
"We're going to the castle Uncle Zidane?" Kuriko asked happily.