Höbin: I have justified my suspicions.
There are events arising that might affect the whole of the gnome nation.
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I want to keep all of you in the loop.
There are certain rumors arising about the Fishis Archive Foundation (FAF). This organization, which has spooned and fed every citizen of Clockworks City for the past 200 years, broke its feed.
For us humans, here on Earth, that’s like saying Google turned off the internet.
Those little research devices where you can ask any question your mind can devise would remain blank. Zero access to any shared information…forcing you to rely on your direct access to whatever resources within your reach for information. Books, people, previously collected information.
Think about that.
Could we, as a species and culture, survive without the internet?
How many of our youth would have a complete meltdown?
How would it affect businesses? Governments?
Heck, even my solar panels connect directly to the internet to work properly. What would that do to my electric bill?
Goodness…how many of us pay bills online?
Can you see some catastrophes facing the Gentre people?
Höbin sent me a letter, encouraging me to share with you.
Jaime,
I apologize for my hasty departure. I know we had plans for the first part of this new year for Life of Fiction. However, it’s important to point out that we may have some interesting material for the podcast with what’s happening.
Please let our readers know I am safe and working with my handler, Damen Umbril, to sort this out. There are seven specific field agents, the fishis, which control nearly 84.2% of the information flow from outside the walls of Clockworks. My handler Damen Umbril and I collaborate to uncover the truth of this matter. We don't collect all the information from every outside resource, but we establish the connections, ensuring that we can use the information reported and stored in the FAF database with 97.7% accuracy.
Five of the seven fishis are missing.
Strange as that might be, because of the dangers of our profession, it wouldn’t be impossible for any or even all of us to go missing. That’s the risk of the job.
…but their handlers are missing as well.
Not to make light of their positions or responsibilities, but handlers are glorified paper-pushers. They’re corporate pawns, though each of them has displayed a respectable loyalty to their wards. Damen is beyond question, but you’ve also met Micah and Lister. Those two specialize in thinking outside the box.
Cat Dublin works with organized crime and hates corporate, while Jasper Thimhammer has dirt on any politician you can think of. If someone was going to take him out, it would have happened more than a decade ago. Blich is the oddball, dealing only with magic, mägo, and the arcane. No one would touch him or Austin, because no one wants their jobs.
So why are they missing?
I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.
Until I find more concrete evidence here in CC, I’ll have to send information to you the old-fashioned way. Don’t want anyone tracing my steps. Paper and pen are my tools for now.
More soon.
If I’m lucky, maybe I can catch a Trench Wars match and see my daughter wipe the floor with a few S.L.A.G. pilots.
Between you and me, I think some pilot interviews would be good for LoF.
Just a thought.
Don’t worry, I have a safe place to stay for the next while.
Happy New Year, Jaime.
Talk soon.
Höbin
I was given some notes, which I’m going over once this is posted. Information about the FAF, with some names of interest.
I’ll keep you posted.
Jaime
Paid subscribers can access the entire archive of this series from the beginning, along with other stories and every article I’ve ever written. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can access the archive for free with a 7-day trial OR earn a paid membership by joining the referral program!