It was almost a year and a half ago that Nickolai and Jofuran first appeared in the pages of The Journal Entries.It was almost a year and a half ago that Nickolai and Jofuran first appeared in the pages of The Journal Entries. I must admit that the incredible response and the enthusiasm to that series blew my mind. I'm trying (trying!) to write the second half of the series, a second half worthy of all of you who loved the first stories. In the meantime, there's a gap there between Travellogue and Reunion, a gap that needs filling. These four short stories, and the articles attached to them proved those answers. And raise not a few questions... I'll admit to a LOT of trepidation in posting these four stories. In a way they define the future path of The Journal Entries. I have a lot of ideas on what to do with the series at this point, a lot of which have been encapsulated into story notes and fragments. It'll be at least a month before I post anything more after these four. In the meantime... Jofuran's Letter 277 / 0916 Walking down the long hallway with her first bagfull of clothing, Jofuran busily scanned the numbers on the doors as she passed them by. It seemed to be something of a rule at universities, she thought, that because the laboratories and classrooms were working on the next century's advancement, the residential and student services had to be rooted in the last century's. Which, she thought grimly as she located room 315, worked great. The technologists lived in their labs anyway, and the archeology, anthropology and humanities students were supposed to live in the past. She opened the door and looked inside. Seemed comfortable enough. Large forward living room, kitchen to the left, two-meter square hallway with three doors. "Bedroom, bathroom, bedroom?" she said aloud to the empty room. "Correct," a voice from overhead said. "How do you do, Miss Shigokai? I am Kerry, your AI and resident nag for the next two years." "Thank you, Kerry. Resident nag?" "Indeed," the light, androgynous voice replied. "I am here to torture you; to make sure you eat, sleep, and burn the midnight oil until your eyeballs pop out. I shall be inquisitor, mother and teacher's assistant all in one. |