"And sign here. . . and here. . . . .and here."
"uh, my wrist hurts, is this all of it?" Montmorency said as she rubbed her wrist. She and Louise were sitting down at a desk , and before them were a number of tablets that they had been repeatedly signing their names on to deal with the Starfinder societies paperwork for them being able to join Musashi's crew.
They had been doing for over an hour.
"we are just about done girls. All of this paperwork is to both get you on Musashi's ship, and to make sure you have personal identification cards .
"Why is it called paperwork when its not on paper," Louise deadpanned as she signed another document with a stylus. It was strange to just know what have of these things were called and what their uses were, and the fact she had a headache as soon as she got our of the Biopod earlier from the information load, and that that headache had yet to even wane, was annoying.
"Tablet work does not roll of the tongue as easily as paperwork does," Alexandria said from the other side of the table as she tapped on yet another tablet, and then placed it on the table before them both. "Alright, this will be the last one. All you both need to do is initial the green squares."
"Finally!" Montmorency exclaimed as she grabbed the tablet and began reading it over, allowing Louise to level her gaze at Alexandria.
"Is all of this really necessary? Does it actually do anything?"
"Most of it is basically just legal forms and the like in case of rare but possible situations," Alexandria admitted with a nod. "Annoying I agree, but needed in case. The sheets for your identification cards and information is very important, as are the forms you filled out in regards to serving on Musashi's ship.
"Done," Montmorency said as she passed the tablet to Louise. How much of this stuff has to be normally anyway?"
"There are some people who's entire job is just looking over paperwork all day. I had to do about six hours of paperwork per day at my first job," Alexandria said with a shudder before smiling at Montmorency. "More importantly though, did either of you had odd dreams while getting the information load?
"Why?"
"Sometimes they can be pretty weird, so I'm just curious,"
"All I recall is a valley and a fish," Montmorency said a she winced a bit and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache come on, and then disappear promptly.
"And all I recall is a whole bunch of floating rocks," Louise said as she put down the stylus and handed to tablet to Alexandria. "done."
"Give me a moment then to look them over," Alexandria said as she took the tablet. "That's all you recall? Normally the load dreams are pretty vivid for people."
"The only other thing I recall is the information shoved into my skull that keeps giving me this blistering headache," Louise said in annoyance.
"Headaches are normal and should pass in a few hours to a couple days," Alexandria said as she looked at Montmorency hopefully.
"No, all I recall is seeing some odd images of machines I still don't get,"
"Damn," Alexandria said before sighing. "looks like I owe a friend of mine a solid fifty credits, ow well."
"What?" Montmorency asked in confusion just as a strange pinging noise came from somewhere, prompting Alexandria to get up from her chair.
"Myself and a number of coworkers are running a sort of bet amongst ourselves on what kind of dreams primitives getting an information load may see. And this time I lost. Its nothing major," Alexandria explained as she walked over to a machine on the wall and tapped on its screen a few times. the machine then let our a whirring noise before Alexandria walked back over with a smile. "Your Identification cards are complete!" she then said as she placed them on the table in front of the two girls.
The cards were decently thick and solid looking, with an almost metallic sheen to them, despite not being mad of metal. Each card had their full names, a picture of them, as well as other information written on it, as well as a strange array of marking on the one edge that they now because of the information load knew was some kind of scanning point to access certain things. Though the what still eluded their minds.
"So, as a reminder, this card works as both identification, a passport, and gives you access to a Bank account in any pact world planet that you can use to put credits on credit chips. It itself does not hold money, it just allows you to put money on credit chits by accessing your account, is that clear?"
"Yes, but . . .we don't have any of your money," Montmorency said simply. The idea of money that did not physically exist was weird, but at least the credit chip concept made some sense, it was like you could choose how much that chip thing was worth with money you had.
Or something.
"While that is true, knowing Musashi he will likely pay you once you start doing proper work on his ship. He's smart that way," Alexandria stated before continuing. "Do not lose your cards under any circumstance and keep them n your person at all times. If you lose it, it takes time to replace and will leave you unable to do many things at best, or be unable to be found if captured or kidnapped at worst!"
"Is this little thing really that important?" Montmorency asked as she picked up hers, finding the image of her face on it impressively well done. She knew it was some kind of, photograph technology now, but it still looked good. Better than a professional portrait even.
"It is," Alexandria confirmed. "Identity cards use extremely advanced tech in them and are very difficult to fake or replicate. Staling them however means that a person could have access to all the information on you, as well as all your money. They can essentially steal your entire identity."
"That sounds absurd. How can you steal someone's identity when they still exist?" Montmorency asked in disbelief.
"It can happen, and when it does it is a serious problem," Alexandria said before letting out a sigh. "Though as you both have no money, and are not likely to have huge fortune's anytime soon so you likely do not need to-"
Alexandria was caught off guard as the door to the room slid open and Emden's mechanical form strode in at speed with an object that both Louise and Montmorency now could recognize as some form of weapon in its hand. "Designate Alexandria of Starfinder Society. Are Designates Louise and Montmorency finished with their paperwork. A situation has arisen, and Designate Captain Musashi wished to leave as soon as possible."
"What has occurred?" Alexandria asked after a moment of silence as she picked up a tablet and began quickly tapping it.
"Pact world Colony of Zirtisa sent out SOS of being attacked by slavers. Starfinder Society is calling upon all captains and grounds forces of Starfinder operatives to assist in the protection of planet, removal of pirate forces, and rescue of any captives."
"I understand," Alexandria said seriously as she picked up a tablet and looked to the girls. "I will finish your paperwork as we walk. Unfortunately it will mean that you will not get a good tour of Absalom station, but duty calls, and I will not stop our people from saving the lives of others. Do you girls understand?"
"You, are saying if we join Musashi's crew now, we'll be in danger, right?" Montmorency asked carefully. It was easier to follow conversations now it seemed since they could understand more of the terms being thrown around, but it still was not easy. Not yet.
"That is correct. Being on a ship is inherently dangerous but if you want to wait a short time I can make some arrangements for you to stay here for a week or so while the Telicherry's crew does this job," Alexandria said as she looked at Louise and Montmorency with cold eyes. "What say you?"