The next day, the Inspector trudged through the gray streets of East Manetin. Regardless of the terrorist attack yesterday, the Inspector He had put his lunch in his saddlebag, as well as some water this time. Stamping documents somehow, made him very thirsty. As he approached the checkpoint, he noticed that there were three guards instead of one standing behind the checkpoint. The guards looked at him briefly, then returned to attention. The Inspector entered the booth. A small slot with a series of buttons next to it had been installed next to the stamps. There was also a new bulletin in its slot. The Inspector opened his pamphlet. Another hoofwritten note fell out. As he did yesterday, the Inspector read the bulletin first. He unfolded it completely and read.
Dear Inspector,
In response to the terrorist attack yesterday, I, along with the Ministry of Admissions, have placed more guards around the checkpoint to aid in its defense. The Ministry has also introduced a new system to cut back on possible terrorist threats.
Entrants must now provide a valid Entry Ticket upon entry. It's a small ticket with a date on it. The tickets are only good for today (11/25/84) so if you find a ticket with anything different than today's date, it is invalid and that entrant must be denied. If they do not have the required documents, passport and entry ticket, then they must be denied. These instructions have been added to your rulebook
You may have noticed the dispenser we installed. It's by the stamps on the right side of your desk. Press the button with a big "V" on it to dispense a temporary visa slip if an entrant does not have their passport with them. The slips are to be used for denials only.
The Ministry of Admissions is working on a better, more secure system. For now, just work with the entry tickets. It shouldn't make your job too much more difficult. As always, make sure to check passports to see that they have not expired. Consider looking at the issuing city (there is a reference of these in the rulebook) to make sure that is valid as well. Just be vigilant, and nothing bad will happen.
For the Glory of Arstrotzka and Equestria,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Temporary Governor of Arstrotzka
The Inspector placed the bulletin back in its spot. He now shifted his gaze to the note. He unfolded the small piece of paper and read.
Dear Inspector,
I'm really sorry about yesterday. I know it's not my fault, and I have nothing to do with what happened, but I can't help but feel at least partially responsible. Princess Celestia has been getting some major flak for opening up the border so quickly. I sent Rainbow Dash to your apartment to apologize, as you might have guessed. I wanted you two to make up, but I also wanted to see if you were okay. I don't know why I'm doing all of this to you, writing notes and stuff, but from what I hear... something's different about you from everypony else around here. I don't know what it is, but there's something there. Be careful okay? If you need me, I will leave the address of the Equestrian Embassy at the bottom.
Twilight Sparkle
4200, 139th Street, Prancadizna,
The Inspector placed the note in his bag. He opened the window to the booth and hailed the entrants. "The checkpoint is now open. Please enter the booth."
An orange unicorn stallion entered the booth. "Papers, please." the Inspector requested. He presented a red Germane passport and a small off white ticket. The Inspector scrutinized the ticket. The date was the 25th of November. That was indeed correct. There were no problems with the passport, so the Inspector approved him. KA-CHUNK "Cause no trouble." he warned. The stallion exited the booth.
"Next." The Inspector called. A crystal pony entered the booth. "Papers, please." She presented a lime Crystal Empire passport. The Inspector paused, waiting for her to get out her ticket as well. She stared at him, a confused look on her face.
"Where is your entry ticket?" The Inspector asked.
"Oh, right," she replied, flustered. The mare fished the ticket out of her bag. "Here it is."
"Thank you." The Inspector began to examine the ticket and passport. All seemed fine to him. He stamped the passport with the green stamp. "Cause no trouble." he said as the mare smiled and left the booth.
"Next." A rather portly saffron mare entered. "Papers, please." She presented a brown San Palomino passport.
"Hey there," The mare spoke. Her voice was smooth and seductive. The Inspector gave a small grunt of acknowledgement. "I can make you happy anytime." The mare slipped through a pink and purple card. The Inspector felt himself turning red. He looked over her documents, and approved them upon seeing that they were correct.
KA-CHUNK "Cause no trouble." The mare took back her papers.
"Come to Plotholes. Ask for Daffodil." the mare cooed as she left. The Inspector ripped up the Plotholes flyer and threw it away. How many of these mares were there in this line? He sighed. Work did not wait for such petty things.
"Next." "Papers, please"
"Here you go."
"Camelot is not a valid Equestrian issuing city"
"How? What do you mean?"
KA-CHUNK "This passport is no good. Denied."
"Unbelievable!"
"Next." "Papers, please."
"I heard about the attack. You're lucky to have a job still."
"Maybe so. Ah, everything checks out." KA-CHUNK "Glory to Arstrotzka!"
"Glory to Arstrotzka! Be safe."
"Next." "Papers, please."
"Here is my passport and ticket."
"The date on this ticket is the 26th. Today is the 25th."
"So? It's before the ticket expires, isn't it?"
"You have to enter on the date that is printed on the ticket," KA-CHUNK "Sorry. This ticket is no good for today."
"Oh, very well. I will head back then."
"Next!" "Papers, please..."
Many entrants had passed that day. By now, it was almost 5:30 PM. The Inspector had just sent away a stallion who had an invalid ticket. He called up the next entrant. A female gryphon entered the booth. A few feathers jutted out in front of her face, making a sort of fringe. "Papers, please." The Inspector held out his hoof. The gryphon took a deep breath. "Here we go." she said quietly. She looked directly at the Inspector. "Glory to Arstrotzka!" she cried, raising a talon. "It's the only country around here that isn't full of dweebs and losers. That's really good coming from me." The Inspector scowled. Was this some kind of joke? He had no time for games.
"Where is your passport?" he asked. "It is required to access Arstrotzka."
The gryphon rolled her eyes. "But Arstrotzka is so great though!" She leaned on the counter. "Besides, It's too awesome of a place to need a passport to go to. Passports are lame. Like Equestria. Right?" The Inspector pressed the "V" button on the slip disperser. A temporary visa slip was ejected from the slot. He stamped the slip with the denial stamp and passed it to the gryphon.
"No passport, no entry."
The gryphon huffed angrily. She barred her teeth. Her talon balled into a sort of fist. "What do you mean? No passport, no entry? You little dwe-" She stepped back and took a few deep breaths. "Okay, okay, I get it." She slowly slunk out of the booth, depressed. "I'll be back tomorrow. Don't be all stupid and forget all about me, got it."
It was the Inspector's turn to roll his eyes. This gryphon was just like that Rainbow Dash mare, and her manners were no better. "Bring proper documents, then." he said curtly. "Next!"
A few more entrants managed to be processed before the horn sounded, marking the closure of the checkpoint. "The checkpoint will re-open at 6:00 AM tomorrow." the Inspector announced as he closed the shutter on the booth. He put his Discrepancy Detector and rulebook away. The Inspector finished locking down the booth. He egressed into the cold Arstrotzkan weather, locking the door behind him. The Inspector trudged through the barren grey streets towards home.
"How was work today, darling? I take it there were no attacks today."
The Inspector sat at the table going once more through the nightly ritual of bill paying. His wife, having cleaned up the kitchen and tucked in their son, was sitting next to him.
"Work was uneventful. The only new security measures taken were that you had to have this little ticket to pass through." The Inspector explained. He opened his pay check for the day, which was 50 bits. He put the money directly into the bill envelope, as that was the exact amount he needed to pay for everything.
"Well that must have been enough to scare all of the terrorists off." his wife stated. She smiled devilishly. "Or maybe they were scared stiff by the fierce customs inspector that is my husband."
The Inspector smirked. Whenever his wife wanted to have "fun" with him, she would say things with that impish grin of hers. "Let's go to bed right away." he returned her smile. "I must get up early you know." Who needs Plotholes when you have the best wife in the world?
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you're out of bed by then."
Little did the Inspector know that the Ministry of Admissions would ensure that tonight's pleasure would be made up for with tomorrow's additional documents.