Day 1 - Part 1: Papers, Please

24 October, 1983 – H 7:00 to 18:00

Name ... Surname ... photo ... expiration date ... everything was in order. The eyes of the Inspector were moving between the old lady who, with patience, was standing in front of him and his first passport.

<> Hektor said with a calm and gentle tone of voice while, giving some quick glance to the rule book opened on the desk, he was trying to figure out how to activate the stamper to approve the visa.

<> the old lady asked to the Inspector,  who, in the meantime, was completely focused on his searching for the proper instruments to use <> he replied while, with the automatic printer he found in a drawer on the right side of the desk, was printing the green approval stamp on the visa in the passport.

<> he said, a little embarassed for the time wasted in front of her in understanding what he had to do <> the old lady replied with an huge smile on her face, before reaching the door that leaded to the portal for the parallel world. Before it closed, Hektor was able to hear the voice a guard that asked the traveller to show the approved visa “A strong sourveillance indeed” he thought quickly “I let the first person for Equestria pass ... I thought it was harder to...” his thoughts were interrupt from a noise that, only after few seconds, he recognize as the sound of an old printing machine positioned under his desk ... a sheet came out from it:

M.O.A. CITATION

Alert: Only Arstrotzan and Equestrian allowed.

FIRST WARNING: NO PENALTY GIVEN

<> said Hektor, disappointed by himself <> he added looking at that citation for a while, before putting it in the pocket of his Inspector jacket. He didn't say a word for a while and took out from his bald head the warm and confortable shapka, looking at the Arstrotzan eagle in the middle. He put back on the head the fur hat and took a deep breath "Bene ... ricominciamo" he thought before saying to the microphone the magic word that everybody outside where waiting <>.

A young man with an elegant brown jacket came in, walking fast toward the Inspector.

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<> the newcomer said opening in front of Hektor a passport from Impor <>

Hektor took the passport with calm and patience and, giving a glance to the nationality on it, he activated the automatic printer for the denials and stamped a bright, red stamp on the visa in the passport <> he said, giving back the passport to the owner who, listening to these words, became red like a tomato <> he then exclaimed before going out from the booth with an angry expression.

The inspector shrugged his shoulders at that reaction "The first of a loooong serie" he thought while calling the next from the microphone.

After these first two events, Hektor began to gain trust in himself and his job became easier. With a fixed smile on his face, he was able to face all kind of difficulties he encountered.

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Reactions were different from person to person: the last one tried to menace Hektor <> the blonde and young man cried out with his fist raised <> he added before figuring out that the guard outside the booth was aiming his rifle right to his head <> he said with a determined voice, persuading the man to desist from his intention, not before giving to Hektor one last menacing look.

He shook is head, looking down to his desk, closing himself in a strict silence that, after few seconds, was broken by a loud laugh. When he looked up, he saw a man coming in without the proper call <> he said looking at Hector with a strange smile on his face <> he added while touching his short white beard and walking toward the Inspector.

<> Hektor said following with his eyes all the movement of that "new guest" <>