Propositions
Episode VII: Destiny Of The Company -or- !$#!! The Name's Cid!

WARNING: This episode contains strong language and slightly suggestive content (...well, not really, just an old pervert running around after a few too many drinks).

The Black Jack was leaving port that afternoon, Setzer felt that his work there was done. He was leaving with one final party outside of his boat, a 100 gil a plate buffet.

Surprisingly, a certain six people were invited to the event for free...

"This has to be a trick." Osamu said, looking at the invitation. Six of them had been dropped off in their room at the inn by one of Setzer's messengers, "He's going to cheat us again."

"I don't know," Rad shrugged, inspecting his invitation and envelope, "I don't see a hidden contract."

"I'd expect one hidden in a shrimp cocktail." Ai stated, leaning against a wall.

"Maybe he's going to pay us the rest of our money." Alicia suggested, "At the very least, if he gave us another three thousand, we'd have just enough to make it to Dorter."

"That's if we can find cheap potions," Ai said, "we'll be in big trouble if we go up Barius Hill unprepared, Barius Valley will be tough enough."

"Yeah, remember that time we fought twelve monsters with Ramza and the others?" Rad asked, "I didn't think we'd make it out of that one...Three behemoths..."

"Well, we might as well check it out." Lavian shrugged, "These invitations do say that we'll get in free, so it's a free meal, at least."

"I like the idea of free food!" Ken piped up.

"You would..." Ai muttered, "Then again, I guess it'll be better than just eating free peanuts at the bar."

"Yeah, the bartender says we're talking unfair advantage of his generosity." Lavian added.

Osamu shook his head, "I think he's more so referring to the fact that you stuff your pockets with peanuts before leaving."

"You mean I'm not the only one that does that?!" Rad shouted as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a peanut. He opened it and ate it.

"So, we're going?" Lavian asked.

"I guess..." Ai glanced at a clock, "It's starting in about two hours, anyway."

Rad jumped up, tossing his peanut shells behind him, "All right! Free food, and enough time beforehand for some bar nuts!"

Ai groaned, "...Rad, did you hear a word that Lavian said about the bartender's generosity?"

"Yeah, something about how we should thank him or something," Rad said, leaving the room, "bye!"

Osamu spoke, "He's a thief, we should see things like this coming."

"Right..." Ai rolled her eyes.

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Setzer stood in a fenced off part of the port. The fence had been placed by his workers at the casino, they were to keep the uninvited or the unpaying out of his farewell party.

He shuffled a deck of cards in his hands, thinking. Only twenty minutes until the party. He always hated to leave ports, but he had his schedule to keep. He would return next year, like he always did.

Setzer lifted the top card from the top of his deck.

The Jack of Spades. Setzer smiled, his lucky card.

"Sir, we're almost done setting out the food." A worker approached Setzer, "Is there anything else?"

"Did you prepare the fireworks?" Setzer asked.

"On it, sir." The worker jogged off.

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A crowd had already surrounded the fenced off area, though the party would not begin for another few minutes. A worker was already selling tickets to the crowd.

Setzer stepped out of the fenced area, smiling broadly and clapping hands together, "Weclome one and all to the Black Jack's farewell party. We will be departing to the North. I thank you all for coming and gambling at my Casino ship. We depart in an hour, all of you with tickets may enter and enjoy our celebration." Setzer took out a pocket watch and stepped aside, "You may enter..." A group of people, the 'heroes' being among them, ran into the fenced area, "...Now." He put the pocket watch away, smiling. He entered the fenced area, shaking hands as he walked to the buffet.

"Oh, this is good!" Osamu shouted, grabbing two drumsticks and eating them at the buffet.

Rad was tearing apart ribs, "Very good!"

Ken was shoveling a bowl of rice pudding into his mouth, "All is forgiven!"

Lavian was stuffing mixed nuts and rolls into her pockets, with a sandwich in her mouth, "Eckshlnt!" She tried to say without dropping the sandwich.

Ai and Alicia rolled their eyes, sipping wine given to them by a waiter, "...Idiots." They both said.

Setzer approached the ground, "Welcome back, my friends. I see you got my invitations."

"Was there a hidden contract in the shrimp cocktails this time?" Ai asked, bluntly.

Setzer laughed, "Of course not! No contracts this time, I assure you! I invited you here to thank you again for your help."

"Yourwelcomethanksforinvitingus!" The eating warriors shouted, not turning to face Setzer and still stuffing food into their mouths.

"...Well, as long as it's a free meal and all." Alicia bowed her head, "Thank you for inviting us."

"You're welcome." Setzer still smiled, "Eat, drink and be merry, my friends!" He bowed his head and walked off.

"...I'm still checking my shrimp cocktails." Ai stated.

"Me, too." Alicia added, sipping her wine.

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Surprisingly to all, Setzer had no hidden agenda. Not that any of them complained, they enjoyed the free food and drink.

The steamship was about to depart, Setzer stood on the side of the ship waving, "Farewell, all! I will be back next year!" The ship began to depart.

Ai, Alicia, Lavian, Rad, Osamu and Ken waved with the crowd.

A round of fireworks was shot into the air from the ship, the Black Jack turned...

...And started to sail directly into another ship.

"TURN THE SHIP!" Setzer screamed, running into the bridge, "WHERE'S CAPTAIN COLE!?"

A crew member ran out of the bridge, "He had a bit too much wine and--"

"FORGET IT! TURN THE SHIP! WE'RE ABOUT TO CRASH!"

The crowds outside of the ship cringed, expecting the sound of both ships crashing...

Instead, they heard a loud string of curses...

...Not from Setzer, but from the captain of the other ship...

Ai looked, the Black Jack escaped harm, but the other ship had run aground on a sandbar in an attempt to avoid Setzer... It was stuck. A man with short cut blond hair was screaming a loud string of curses at Setzer's ship and shaking his fist.

It was under half an hour before the captain was calmed down and brought to shore by a rowboat.

The crowd dispersed in disgust of the language that came from this captain. Never had some of them heard such "creative usage" of a few of the curses.

The group had returned to the Warjilis Bar.

"Man, Setzer is really lucky," Rad said, grabbing a handful of bar peanuts, "I mean, he almost hit that ship."

Ai sipped her ale, "Yeah, it's a good thing he saw the other ship so quickly..."

"WHADDYA MEAN YOUR SHIP IS STUCK?!"

The group turned to face a table at the end of the bar. The captain of the ship Setzer almost hit was arguing with another person.

"I told you," The captain lit up a handrolled cigarette, "the Highwind won't be able to get out of there without some workers." He looked to the man, sharply, "And I ain't paying for no damned salvage team, it's your product, not mine. I'm just dropping this crap off and picking your crap up here. Hell, I'm more pissed about the fact all my damn tea got ruined than anything else."

The group focused on their conversation.

"I've got an idea..." Alicia said, getting up.

"But, you must! I'll lose my job--"

"Like I said, I don't give a rat's--"

"Excuse me..." Alicia stepped up to the two men, she had an idea, "You said you needed a salvaged team?"

"What the hell do you want?" The captain muttered, taking a puff of his cigarette.

"Where is your ship headed?" Alicia asked.

"Goug. What's it to you?"

"My friends and I are in a bit of a pinch, we need to get to Igros, but don't have to money to get there. If you can get us to Goug, we can go through Murond and get to Dorter..."

"Point bein'?" The captain put out his cigarette.

"If you promise to take us to Goug, we'll get your ship unstuck."

The captain laughed, "Oh? Do you know what it takes to salvage a ship like mine? You'd need a bunch of strong workers!"

"We can do it." Alicia stated, glaring at the captain. He slowly stopped laughing.

"All...right..." The captain chuckled, holding out his hand, "Name's Highwind, call me Captain Highwind and we'll get along fine. You impress me by getting my ship, the Highwind, to port I'll take you to Goug." Alicia shook his hand, "But if you don't, I have full right to laugh my arse off."

"Deal. Let me get my workers." Alicia went back to her table, announcing to the others, "I got us a way to Goug!"

"How?" Ai asked.

"Well, Captain Highwind agreed to take us to Goug if we can pull his ship out off the sandbar." Alicia explained.

Rad immediately held his stomach in pain. "Ooh... I think this ale was poisoned...!"

Osamu held his lower back, moaning, "I can't, my back... Oh, I have a doctor's note saying..." He trailed off.

Ai looked away casually. "Hm? What'd you say? I suddenly can't hear anything..."

Lavian shook her arm in mock-pain. "Ow! Ow! I think there's a storm coming, my arm is killing me! Ow!"

"I think I hear my mother calling me..." Ken started for the bar doors.

Alicia growled, "Listen up, as an Oracle, I am capable of manipulating the powers of Yin and Yang... ...And as such, if you guys don't help me move this ship, I'm going to be using my powers to manipulate your yin and yang!"

"Oh! The Yin Yang be blessed! My stomach is okay!" Rad cried, throwing his arms in the air in celebration.

Osamu jumped into the air. "My back is fine now, it's a miracle!"

"I can hear! THANK YOU AJORA!" Ai did the same.

"The storm must've passed..." Lavian commented.

"I'm coming, mom!" Ken still started for the door, Alicia tripped him with her staff. "Whoah!" He hit the ground with a loud thud.

"Stick around, momma's boy." Ai reached down and picked up Ken. "We're moving a ship."

Captain Highwind went to the table, he had a bottle of vaccas liquor in his hand. "So, we goin' or what?"

Rad nodded. "Yessir! Let's mosey!"

"Quit talkin' like a wimp!" Captain Highwind pointed to the door and started marching. "Move out!"

The others followed Captain Highwind outside.

"So, where's your rowboat?" Osamu asked.

"What the hell're you talking about?" Highwind responded.

"Well, y'know, to get out to the sandbar..." Osamu muttered.

"It's on the Highwind, looks like you guys'll have to rent one..." Highwind chuckled, lighting up another cigarette before taking a swig of his drink.

The others turned to Alicia, giving her a light glare.

Alicia pointed to a Yin Yang symbol stitched on her clothes warningly. The others sighed in unison and went on to find someone who would lend them a boat.

They went down to the port where Ai was in charge of dealing, while the others tried to keep a drunk Captain Highwind in check.

"Hey, baby, want a real man?" Captain Highwind was already starting trouble by hitting on a woman...With her husband right next to her.

"I beg your pardon sir, but leave my wife alone." The man ordered.

"What's it to you?" Captain Highwind blew some smoke in the man's face. He coughed and began rolling up his sleeves, Highwind started to do the same.

Quickly, Rad and Osamu pulled Captain Highwind away. "Sorry, sir!" They both cried.

"Lemme go! I'm goin' to kick his ass!" Captain Highwind cried, adding even more curses to follow. People who could hear him gaped in horror.

A young child tugged on his mother's dress as Captain Highwind passed by. "Mommy, what does that word the angry man said mean?"

The mother, who was gaping in pure horror, replied with, "It... It's a word that only people who are going to hell say... ...Never say it unless you want to go to hell..."

"He's a bad man, mommy..."

"Indeed he is..."

Meanwhile, Ai was talking to the owner of the only rowboat at the pier...

"Forget it, I ain't lettin' no-one near the SS Jenny!" The owner replied.

"We really need it, you can row us out if you don't trust us. We'll pay you whatever you want!" Ai pleaded.

"No!"

A woman's shout and a loud slapping sound was heard behind Ai, following by a string of curses from Captain Highwind.

"Ugh... That maniac is back in town? Who ever hires him?" Muttered the boat's owner.

"Well, he hit a sandbar and needs our help to get it out... Of course, we can't do that..." Ai shook her head with a sigh and shrugged.

"...Go on."

"Well, let me put it this way, the sooner we borrow your boat, the sooner we get Captain Highwind and his foul mouthed antics out of Warjilis." Ai replied.

The man was silent for a moment, he glanced down to his boat and said, "...Be good to Jenny, please..." He started to untie the boat from the dock.

Ai motioned for the others to bring Captain Highwind to the boat. Osamu and Lavian were in charge of rowing, while Captain Highwind sat at the head of the boat and yelled at them. "Row faster, quit taking your sweet time!"

"Can we just push him overboard and steal his boat?" Rad whispered to Ai.

"If only..." Ai growled.

"LESS YAPPIN', MORE ROWIN'!" Highwind screamed at Ai and Rad.

They reached the sandbar. Osamu inspected the damage. "Boat's fine, from the look of it...We just need to get it loose." He pushed on the boat, the others joined in. Except Captain Highwind, he just sat by and drank. "Stupid kids... You ain't never gonna get that boat outta there..."

"Not with that attitude..." Ken groaned. He looked around. "Aha! I got it!" He made a makeshift lever out of a large piece of driftwood and a rock. "Come on! Osamu, Rad and I lift, while Ai, Lavian and Alicia push!"

Unfortunately, the ship still wouldn't move. Highwind was laughing the whole time.

"Let me try helping lift..." Alicia went over to help. After her, Lavian. The ship wouldn't budge. After a moment, the driftwood snapped and sent everyone (save for Ai, who was still pushing, and Captain Highwind, who was still in the rowboat).

Highwind roared with laughter, tossing his empty bottle aside. "Dumbasses! All of ya! Ha ha ha! I ain't ever seen such a stupid group in my life!"

Ai had had enough. With a scream, she raised her hands, "THAT TEARS IT!"

Highwind shut up, shuffling back in the row boat. "Wh-What the hell!?"

"BRIGHT LIGHT..."

Osamu immediately recognized that spell. "SHE'S GONNA BLOW US ALL TO KINGDOM COME! DIVE!"

Everyone took a deep breath and dove, save for Highwind who was backing against the rowboat in terror.

"...SHINE DOWN..."

"NO! NO! PLEASE, NO!" Highwind screamed.

"ON BLOODY IMPURITY! HOLY!" Ai screamed, a white light shooting forth from her hands into the air.

The explosion was violent and could be seen from Warjilis. People started to panic, fleeing for their lives as a bright arrow of light shot into the sea. The following explosion cause a large wave to go about five feet over the docks. Thankfully, no-one was harmed.

Ken surfaced first, the others popped up one by one.

Captain Highwind popped his head out from under the capsized rowboat and looked up at Ai, who had her back turned with a glare fixated forward, she was panting heavily. He happily said, "Hey! You got my ship free!"

Ai turned to Captain Highwind, glaring.

"S-Sorry!" Highwind hid back under the boat.

"What was on this boat that was so special anyway?" Lavian asked, lifting up a corner of the rowboat.

"Follow me! I'll show you!" Highwind swam to his boat and climbed up a rope ladder. The others, Ai included, followed. Highwind took them into the hull where there was a series of large crates. "The company said I could sample a few, but dammit if I don't hate Southern continental cooking..." He opened a crate and gave everyone a single wrapped package each.

Ai looked at the writing. "...Choco Bun?"

"It's some new food craze to the South, the company that makes it is expanding." Captain Highwind explained.

Everyone took a bite. Immediately, they all began to spit it out.

"THAT'S HORRIBLE!" Rad screamed, scraping his tongue with both hands to try to get rid of the taste. "Who would buy that?!"

"Hey, I don't market, I just sail ships..." Highwind pulled out a metal case of cigarettes. He tried to light one. With a sigh, he realized the case wasn't as watertight as he had hoped. He turned the case upside down, a tan colored water and a few wet cigarettes fell out. "...Well, we gotta go back to town to get some smokes and your crap, then we're outta here..."

To Be Continued...

Notes: A Captain Highwind or Cid Highwind was not mentioned at all in the proposition, but where there's a vessal called "The Highwind" you can bet your ass Cid Highwind will be there to pilot it!

Sorry if anyone doesn't like the foul language, but...Well, he's based on Cid, ya know?

-Shibaryou