By Robertdogwood@aol.com
Final Fantasy IX characters and locations from said game are owned by SquareSoft.
Original Plot and Characters Copyright Robertdogwood 2002
Chapter Five
Adelbert Steiner was presently waiting, at the just recently built Alexandrian airship port, in an extremely long line to board air transport to Lindblum. This was the third in a series of long lines that he had stood in, beginning with the representative of the Royal Treasury he had been directed to from the Royal Exchequer's office. After that long wait, and then walking through most of Alexandria to reach the airship port, the brave husband of the gorgeous Beatrix had to stand in another long line in order to purchase his ticket to Lindblum.
Adelbert was hot and tired and wanted nothing more from life right at that moment then to be allowed to sit down. This certainly has turned into one giant pain in the a-. "No," the gallant soldier spoke aloud to himself, attracting a few strange looks. Steiner paid no attention, being used to being stared at just on general principles. It is my duty to find the Queen, no matter what hardships I need to live with, he sternly told himself.
After approximately another thirty minutes, Steiner reached the front and had his ticket validated and was assigned a seat on the airship. He noticed that there were only a few more seats noted as available on the diagram and wondered idly what was going to happen to all the people still waiting in line behind him. The loyal soldier was disappointed that they didn't even ask him if he wanted a window seat. He loved being able to sit by the window. Everything on the ground looked so clean and beautiful to him from high in the air.
After being directed to another line to wait in before boarding the airship, Adelbert sighed heavily, but uttered not one word of complaint. Complaining was not in his emotional makeup. To do his duty or die trying was all Steiner used to live for; lately his love for Beatrix had added an addendum to that to include taking care of her and all the ramifications of such.
Finally the line began to move forward slowly and a few minutes later, he was finally actually able to enter the airship. Adelbert waited for the slowly moving line to clear the way for him to reach his assigned seat. His ill fortune continued, as Steiner discovered he didn't have a window seat as he suspected. Being a man of large proportions, he found himself certainly feeling crowded in the small seats on this particular airship and he found himself hoping they would get underway quickly and travel to Lindblum in record time.
Steiner was dismayed to observe that his prediction, that there were more people than seats available, had come true, as the aisle was filled with people just standing. Obviously they had overbooked thinking that the estimated ten percent of the tickets would be cancelled. He was so tired he wanted nothing more then to go to sleep, but as soon as the gallant Steiner saw the poor old lady standing beside the row he was seated in, he realized that this was a pipe dream. She was standing all hunched over, as if the pain from her feet were killing her, and she was particularly overburdened with many packages.
Adelbert stood and indicated to the woman that she should seat herself.
"Oh I couldn't," she croaked.
Steiner slightly bowed and moved his right hand toward the seat. "I insist," he reaffirmed.
"Thank you so much," the much older woman gushed. "At least there is still some gentleness and gallantry left in our world." And she sat in the passenger seat that Steiner had recently occupied.
Adelbert smiled at her in his response and then turned and stood stoically ignoring his ever increasing fatigue.
Hildagarde strode angrily into the throne room without knocking, catching Cid by surprise and off guard.
"What is going on, Cid?" the beautiful middle-aged woman demanded.
"Well, my dear," Cid began, "what a delightful surprise to see you."
"Don't give me that," Hildagarde responded. "Answer my question."
"Whatever are you referring to?" his majesty equivocated, while stroking his huge handlebar mustache.
"Cid," she declared sternly, looking him directly in the eye. "Don't toy with me or do you want to experience the joys of being a oglop again?"
Cid flushed bright red at the thought and subconsciously ducked somewhat before answering, "Alright, my dear," he acquiesced, "Garnet is missing."
"Missing?!" his beautiful wife echoed. "Whatever are you talking about? How could she be missing?"
Cid flushed again, glanced away, and finally returning his gaze to Hildagarde, he smoothed out his mustache again. "No one knows where she is, HIldagarde. That's what I mean by missing."
Cid's wife stared intently at him. Finally she spoke, "Are you telling me the truth? You don't know anything about this?"
"T - That's correct," he stammered.
"Hmmph," Hildagarde replied. "We'll talk about this later," she promised ominously, while she turned on her heel and left the throne room. As she was departing, she was passed by Baku, who was entering. She heard Cid call out a greeting to him, as the heavy, ornate door was closed by the two soldiers standing guard at the throne room entrance.
Hmmm, she wondered thoughtfully, while moving down the corridor. What is he doing here? What is that all about?
The much smaller and speedier airship that Zidane had chartered was finally given permission to put down inside of Lindblum at one of the many airship docks. It wasn't a moment too soon, as far as Zidane was concerned. He was extremely worried that every minute that passed would make it that much more difficult to locate Garnet. Although his outer demeanor looked quite normal, almost casual; inside he was a raging caldron of almost out of control emotions, beginning with his utmost fear of what might have already happened to his wild sweet lover and ending with his overwhelming sense of guilt. Despite what Amarant had told him, Zidane still felt as though he were entirely responsible for this whole thing and thought if he had been there, none of this would have occurred and he didn't care what Amarant or anybody else thought about it. In a sense, Zidane was correct. The kidnappers had obviously waited for his absence, before they struck, but in the long run it would have happened anyway. Certainly at some point in the future, Zidane would have had a legitimate reason to be absent from his bed with the Queen and the same result would have been accomplished. That is what Zidane didn't or wouldn't understand.
Waiting until the airship had docked completely and the steward opened the door, Zidane followed by Amarant exited and then walked down the ramp into Lindblum. There were many airship docks in Lindblum. Unlike the time Zidane had landed here with the then Princess Garnet, they were nowhere near the Royal Palace; although they were very close to the business district, which was where the inn in question was located.
Taking ground transportation to the business district, they walked up the stairs into one of the main parts of the huge metropolis of Lindblum. Crossing the street quickly to avoid all of the traffic, Zidane was followed by Amarant trudging behind him. Hurrying into the Inn ahead of his redheaded cohort, Zidane strode up to the check-in counter.
The clerk glanced up. "Yes, may I help you?" he inquired politely.
As if in answer, Zidane held out the room key in his right hand, the only sure sign of his agitated state being his swishing tail, which was moving quite rapidly in all directions. Peering closely at it, the clerk exclaimed, "That's 218! That's been missing. Wherever did you find it?" He automatically held his hand out to take back the Inn's property.
"It was discovered at the scene of a crime," explained Zidane.
The clerk blanched and pulled his hand back, as if he had touched something hot. "A crime!" he exclaimed. "Surely you don't think we had anything to do with it?"
"No, of course not," the Royal Prince placated, "but we would like to know who had this key and possibly look in their room."
"Oh now, I don't know about that," the clerk equivocated, now that it appeared the danger had passed, because he had been assured the Inn wasn't believed to be responsible for anything criminal. "I believe that is confidential information."
Amarant trudged up behind Zidane, his long arms hanging down near his knees. Glaring directly at the now newly frightened clerk, Amarant asked Zidane in a harsh voice, "What's going on? Is there a problem here I need to remedy?"
Zidane whirled and answered, while gently putting his hands on Amarant's large chest, as if to hold him back, "Now, now. There's no need to be busting this place up and hurtin' anybody. I'm sure this gentleman will cooperate."
The clerk grew even paler, if that was possible. It would have been quite obvious to anyone who knew them that this was an act that Zidane and Amarant had used before to elicit information. It usually worked and this time was no exception. The clerk began to sing, as if he were a canary.
"I believe it was one of Baku's crew," he explained.
"Baku's crew?" echoed Zidane. "Which one?" he demanded.
"Oh, I don't remember that," the clerk whined. "There was a number of them stayed here that night."
"Let me see the register," the Royal Prince ordered.
"Ok," replied the inn employee, "but I doubt that it will help."
"And why's that?" Amarant rumbled.
"Here," the clerk declared, as he opened the registration book to the date in question and swung it around so Zidane and Amarant could inspect it.
"Oh I know who that is," Amarant declared. "I'd recognize that X anywhere."
"You do?" Zidane asked with surprise in his tone.
"No," the large redheaded man replied. "It was a joke, you need to get a grip, Zidane."
Totally ignoring the advice of his partner, Zidane returned his attention to the clerk. "Is anyone in that room?" he asked.
"N- No," the timid clerk stammered. "It hasn't been occupied since then. We only had the master key for that room."
"Okay," the Royal Prince decided. "We're gonna go check the room out and when we come back down, I'll give you the key."
"Whatever you want," agreed the clerk just hoping to get the two of them away from him as quickly as possible.
After Zidane and Amarant had left the lobby to wend their way upstairs to the room, the clerk breathed a sigh of relief.
Lady Beatrix sat in the huge chair at the head of Parliament that was usually occupied by the good Queen Garnet. Although Beatrix had no where near the power to preside that the Queen had, she had been reduced to the same helpless position, as she was currently resting her head in her hands. She was the recipient of a massive headache from the nonsense she had constantly heard in the last hour.
I don't know how Queen Garnet stands it, if they're often like this, thought the bravest warrior, male or female, Alexandria had ever known.
Jesse Helot had leaped to his feet and was calling out, "Point of order! Point of order!"
That must be the thirty-fifth time he's said that in the last hour, Beatrix thought wearily. She discovered herself to be almost completely fed up with this inappropriate behavior. She watched as Karl Handsome gained his feet and declared, "Madame Chairman, I demand the right to address this august body immediately."
Baying jackasses, thought the Lady Beatrix, That's what they remind me of.
"No," she answered loudly, while quickly standing up.
"No?!" echoed Representative Handsome. "Did you say no?"
Beatrix nodded. "Yes, I did. I order this session of Parliament to be adjourned."
Jesse Helot jumped to his feet. "You can't do that! You have no power to do that!" he cried, his face flushed bright crimson. "Only the Queen can do that and you're not her." Thirty politicians followed his example and leaped to their feet shouting out their disapproval.
Lady Beatrix again stated. "I order you to disperse and this session of Parliament to be adjourned.
"By what right do you invoke this?" questioned Karl Handsome.
Stepping down away from her position that was set above the others in the chambers, Beatrix drew Save The Queen from its' sheath and brandished the fabulous sword above her head. "Who's first," the beautiful warrior demanded, her face flushed with adrenaline.
The delegates were scattering out the rear doors, much to Lady Beatrix's satisfaction. On his way from the chamber, Jesse Helot could be heard to threaten, "The Queen will hear of this, mark my word, I promise you."
"I'm sure she will," Beatrix responded. I just pray to God she does, thought the brave warrior.
"So you're headed back to Madain Sari?" Vivi reaffirmed with Morrison the Mog.
"Yes," Morrison nodded, his antenna causing the red pompom on the end to bounce madly in the air.
"So you're saying," Montose the Mog interjected, "that the Summoner Garnet is missing?"
"Yes, yes," Vivi replied nervously. The Summoner - I mean, Queen Garnet is missing and no one has any idea where she has gotten."
"That's terrible, terrible," Montose responded. "We should go tell Lady Eiko. Maybe she'll know where she is."
"Wait, Montose, don't go off half-cocked," Morrison cautioned. "We have to take all these supplies home first and then we'll go to Lindblum and find Lady Eiko."
"You're right, right," Montose agreed.
"Excuse me," Vivi interrupted. "Is Lani still residing with you?"
"Why yes," Morrison answered. "Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you saw her, if you could explain the situation to her and ask her to come in to Alexandria to help search for the Queen."
"Certainly," Morrison replied. "We would be happy to."
"Thank you so much," expressed Vivi. "I'll be forever in your debt," said Vivi, while lowering his head in a bow.
"Our pleasure," replied Montose, who also ducked his head in a bow. Unfortunately the pompom at the end of his antenna smacked against Vivi's forehead knocking him senseless for a moment.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," apologized Montose.
"Why can't you be more careful?" snapped Morrison.
Vivi straightened up, shook his head as if to shake the cobwebs loose and then adjusted his wide brim hat, first one way and then the other, returning it to the hat's original position.
"Please, no problem," Vivi graciously declared. "And God speed you on your journey."
Freya and Sir Fratley sat high upon the back of their Golden Chocobos on their journey from Alexandria to Treno. They both held their reins rather tightly as the Chocobos, while they were not all out sprinting, were trotting along at a brisk pace.
"Freya," Sir Fratley asked, "did Lady Beatrix appear under a great deal of strain to you? She seemed rather tense to me."
Freya turned her head and smiled at her long time lover, and replied, "Why yes, Fratley. I believe she was displaying signs of it. Why do you ask?"
"Only, that I have known her a long time and if she is truly that upset, then this surely is a highly serious situation," explained Sir Fratley.
"That's an excellent point," answered Freya. "What do you suggest then?"
Fratley answered, "That, my love, we spur these Chocobos to a much greater speed in order to reach Treno is a shorter period of time." And learning forward, the two of them spurred their mounts to an all out sprint.
Karl Handsome quickly crossed the crowded working man's café to his early supper companion, Carlin Phelps. Carlin, besides being a beauty of rare distinction, was also one of the few women politicians in Alexandria.
Seating himself across the table from the beautiful woman, he reached out and cupped his hand over hers' and murmured, "Carlin, how wonderful to see you again. You look absolutely delicious."
"Cut the crap, Karl. I'm married and you know it," Carlin replied, while slipping her gorgeous golden tresses back from her face with her right hand.
"Where's the Queen, Karl?" the female politician asked, placing a strong emphasis on his name.
"The Queen? Is that what this meeting is about?" Handsome responded with some surprise in his voice. "I'm sure I don't know."
Carlin suddenly reached across the table and gathered up the man's ruffled silk shirt in her hand and using surprising strength pulled him to her, as if he were some kind of a rag doll. "I don't want to hear what you're sure you don't know. I want to hear how you're going to convince me of that. What the hell happened here, Karl? It was all set up. What went wrong?"
And then the beautiful woman slammed the male politician back into his chair. "Well, I," he began.
The younger dark-haired man returned to the bedroom from the hallway. "She got away," he muttered.
"Oh crikey, they'll -," the woman began.
"Have our heads for that, I know, I know," the man interrupted. "You've said that enough now."
"What in the world does this mean?" the blonde asked, while picking up Garnet's nightgown.
The young man answered, "Well, um, you know, when she ran out, I." He cleared his throat several times.
"Well, what?" she impatiently demanded.
"I," replied the dark-haired man, "didn't get a good look at her. I don't know," he lied diplomatically.
Garnet, in the meantime, after running down the initial hallway turned right and headed down a corridor towards a stairwell that she hoped would lead her to a lower floor in order to escape the building. Just as the beautiful woman was nearing the stairwell at the end of the corridor, a group of children exited the room next to the stairway and Garnet had to reverse her field and run all the way to the other end of the corridor, where there was another stairway.
When the good Queen reached the other stairwell and pulled the door open and entered it, she was devastated when she discovered the stairway only led to the higher floors. Apparently the stairway at one end of each hallway led up and the stairway at the other end went down. Opening the door from the stairwell back into the corridor, the dark-haired young woman was shocked when she observed the children walking toward her and becoming frightened they were headed toward the stairway, Garnet ran upwards, never seeing the children enter another room along the corridor.