[tbontob]

THE ZAX SOCIETY
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THE LOCATION: JUST OUTSIDE OF THE ENTRANCE TO ELSTONILE CASTLE.

Eston was happy, contemplating a quick resolution of the marital difficulties between Zaxxon and his Zaxxoness.

Five minutes passed...

He thought of the love Zaxxon had for his beloved Zaxxoness. It showed in many little ways. There were the little touches and quick glances of affection that often passed between them. It also showed in the gifts he gave her as he showered her in material things, jewels, works of art and property such as Elstonile Castle.

Fifteen minutes elapsed...

He reminisced on the the laughter which they exchanged. The quick wit and the repartee that went with their verbal parrying. It was a joy to see...

Thirty minutes slipped by...

He reflected on how they met. It was love at first sight. The Zaxxon was absolutely captivated by her beauty, slenderness, softness of features, delicate physical frame, emerald green eyes and ...

He was interrupted in his reverie by the gong which signaled the evening meal in the castle.

An hour? Where is the Zaxxoness?

He went up to the portcullis and signalled to a beefy soldier to approach.

The soldier, a hardened veteran of many wars was festooned with tattoos all over his chest, arms and back, approached Eston. He fixed Eston with a hard stare and said, "Wad ya want?"

"I want you to take a message to the Zaxxoness and tell her..."

Eston noticed that the soldier started to sway, tremble uncontrollably and eyes twitch.

"What's the matter?" Eston asked.

"Please sir, anything but that! I don't want to be rewarded again!"

"Rewarded! Talk sense, man."

"Sir, it is a long story. A year ago, the Zaxxoness heard of a ritual the humans have...the bubblebath. Apparently the females of the species love to sink into a tub of it and it relaxes them. It is even coming into favor for human males to use it without having to fear ridicule, just like they now can go into a beauty parlor to have the spikes on their heads trimmed."

Voice trembling, the soldier continued "Well the Zaxxoness bought carloads of the stuff. If you look you can see 10 boxcars of the stuff on the railroad siding there. Must be 20 tons at least."

"Anyways, I had disturbed her with an urgent message and she rewarded me with a bubblebath. It was fabulous! As I relaxed more and more, my pleasure escalated. Soon, I had no control over my muscles at all and slipped to the bottom of the tub."

"I would have drowned except for a serving girl who noticed the bubbles rising to the top of the bubblebath as I expelled my Last breath."

"Sir, I want nothing more in the world than to perform a service such as delivering your message. I'd sell my soul for another bubblebath."

"But the rational part of me tells me I am addicted to it. To cope with my addiction, I now attend Bubblebath Anonymous. I try to observe the 12 steps faithfully, but I am barely hanging on as it is. So, if the Zaxxoness should offer me another bubblebath, I don't think I'd have the fortitude to say no to it...I want it so badly."

"And then I would be either dead or so hopelessly addicted to it that I would have no hope of redemption."

Eston couldn't help but pity this proud yet defeated warrior. His battle scars and tattoos were no defence against the soapbubble.

He thought, "I will have to find another way to get a message to the Zaxxoness!"

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THE LOCATION: THE SEMI-OVAL OFFICE OF ZAX CENTRE

Strong-of-the-Arm Custor entered the room with "Sir, you wished to see me?"

"Yes, how is our war with the CCCP going?"

"Well, we are barely holding our own. They made a probing attack at the Big Horn system which we were able to turn back."

Strong-of-the-Arm Custor continued "Then there is the attack at the Little Big Bugle system but fortunately it was mined, so they lost their ships in the minefield."

"So we are holding our own?"

"Yes sir, but as I said at the meeting we must bring our forces together and ..."

"Yes, yes I know. We will discuss it later.", Zaxxon interjected. He didn't want to make a decision on that issue until he had reconciled with his Zaxxoness!

"Well then may I take my leave as I must get back to the defence of the realm."

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THE LOCATION: THE SEMI-OVAL OFFICE OF ZAX CENTRE

Zaxxon was feeling good, knowing that the silver tongue of Eston would bring his Zaxxoness back to him.

He was in conference with Spiii.

"So what do we really know of Ruatha?"

"Sir, what we know is only what we can deduct from inferences." replied Spiii.

"And what is that?"

"Well we infer that Avrel suffered a heart attack or stroke, brought on by his distress over his belief that Ruatha may be insane."

"From that we infer, that Avrel must have had a deep and abiding love for his emperor...so much so that it caused his death."

Spii continued, "There is also civil unrest, but it doesn't appear to be directed against Ruatha. If it were, there would be riots and attempts to depose him. This fact with Avrel's deep love for Ruatha leads us to the inescapable conclusion that he is deeply loved by all his people."

"And finally, we also believe he may be a great warrior. We get unclear Messages about his involvement in the war with the Thermolians. Since the Thermolians have been wiped out, it would appear that he is the cause of their demise."

Zaxxon replied, "I truly envy him. To be so deeply loved by his people. And to be such a general as to wipe out a race. Whereas, I can barely hold my own against the CCCP..."