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The Never Ending Quest - Episode 83099

Fred asked Astra to walk over to a desk in another part of the room. Astra removed the fancy shoes, and followed him. Fred sat down, and typed on a keyboard, while Astra sat on a chair beside him. Astra naturally had a hard time divining the purpose of the keyboard, monitor, and mouse. The monitor seemed to be a combined magic mirror and crystal ball. It looked like a very detailed painting. It was almost lifelike. Fred ran his fingers over some runes, and then pressed on what looked like a black rock that had been worn smooth, and heard a sound that was like a very quiet chirp of an insect. Astra looked into the magic mirror. She wondered if she would see her future. It appeared that Fred was some sort of soothsayer.

The movie began to play. There was singing and hooting, like a dream that she had last night. Or she hoped it was a dream. She was on a stage in front of some strange men ....

Astra's eyes went wide. She held her breath as she saw a moving picture of herself, nude, flushed with alcohol, and performing gymanastic routines in front of a group of leering men. She trembled, and said, "Fred, please look away."

Fred sighed. "I have already seen it, governor. You keep yourself in good shape at least." He laughed nervously. He then said, "Sorry. I was just trying to be funny, but it didn't work. The problem, governor, is that not only I, but everyone with Internet access, has either seen it or is trying to. 'Governor', 'Astra', and 'barrel' have been the most searched terms on Google over the last 24 hours. Yesterday you were known, if at all, as a popular young governor who has was working hard to make schools better and had some lively battles with the state utilities board. Now you are the best-known exotic dancer at the Castle Theater." Fred was about to say, "And certainly the one with the most exposure, so to speak", but he was at this point no longer angry at Astra, and did not want to rub salt into the wound. He suspected that she had had a nervous breakdown from her battles with the legislature and the press. He hoped that this would be temporary.

Astra was crushed and bewildered. Surely this was a nightmare of some sort - an effect of the wine. But it was a very lucid nightmare. She sputtered, "Fred - please. Help me."

"I will do what I can, but this is not going to get any better." Fred turned and looked at Astra. He nodded his head, and patted her on the shoulder. "Look, Astra, you know me. I have been with you from the early days - when you and I were at those school board meetings that never seemed to end. This video is not the Astra that I know. Or at least, not the Astra that would do something like this in public. Although with the late hours, and constant work, and lack of a social life, it might not be surprising that something like this happened. But can you tell me what led to this?"

Astra replied, "I do not understand. You and I were - in love. And then were trying to get out of a castle. I guess that theater. And you and I did not have any clothes...."

Fred took pressed the back of his hand against her head, and said, "Astra, just wait here. Everything will be fine. I need to call a doctor, because I think that you might be sick, from all the work that you have been doing lately. I will handle the press. Lieutentant Governor Velus and your chief-of-staff, Belboz, will see how we can spin this to salvage your political future. Just leave it to us and don't say anything to the press if they happen to see you. Just smile and wave and do not listen to them."

Astra did not understand much of what Fred said. Fred took a little silver box out of a pocket and talked into it as if he were crazy, going on about the doctor and something about a breakdown.

Astra asked some questions about the keyboard and mouse, but Fred did not really answer - he just shook his head sadly and assured her that everything would be fine.

Within ten minutes, a well-tanned man of about 60 years, wearing a navy blue three-piece suit and carrying a medical bag, entered the room. Fred and he exchanged a few words, and Fred went out of the office, and opened the metaphorical press secretary's toolbox. Included in the toolkit are the phrases "No comment," "this was taken out of context," "respect for privacy in this difficult moment," and "I will get back to you on that."

In the meantime, Astra had enough of her wits about her to know that if she was in a nightmare, it seemed very real, and might not end for a while. A governor seemed to be some position of authority or responsibility - like that of comtesse or marquise that were familiar to her. She needed some time. Perhaps she could get this strange, but friendly-looking older man, to explain the funny mirror, magic letter board, and little black brick to her.

  1. The doctor said, "Astra, we are going to upstairs. We are going to have a short physical examination first."
  2. Belboz and Velus burst into the room. Velus said, "Have they found her yet?" Belboz was holding a clipboard, and said, "Don't do anything rash. We may be able to spin this to our advantage."

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10/19/2008 8:00:24 PM

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