"Very well. The System is the one you would be arguing that with. It seems to be feeling cooperative today. And as witnesses to you, the Professor and I shall accept a contract of secrecy if you wish- His request in exchange for secrecy and officiation is single in-depth scan of your Skill as it is in use."

"Analysis of a unique power in such a way as to encourage reverse-engineering and broaden the potential of all sentient beings is more than compatible with my goals. I think that's an entirely reasonable request. And you would accept that same price, or?"

"No assurances whether we would get anything comprehensible, let alone publishable as actual adjustments to System Skills- But yes. And I would. Master Gal-Fair is very good to those close to him." A serene smile.

"Then I am likely to agree to the stated contract once I sort out the potential termination terms with the System."

"Grand. I'm glad we can work things out to the satisfaction of all. Would you like another cup of wevvi? It's the good stuff, not artificial, I suppose you wouldn't have noticed if it's your first time having some."

"Yes, please."

The admin assistant goes and fixes another cup of Wevvi.

The System asks:

What do you propose as cancellation terms?

I propose a one month notice and waiting period. Initiation of contract termination at the start of the period is required, and final confirmation is also required at the end of the period. At any point between these two times I can cancel the termination, at which point the waiting period immediately resets to one month. If I am on Earth when the contract is about to expire, the System agrees to optionally provide teleportation to any legal destination on Artona III at standard rates before the transport contract is terminated fully. Any System-held personal data I would normally have access to - profile information, etc - will be provided in digital format on a flash drive or similar interchangeable storage medium if I cancel. 

It displays a 'loading' circle for a bit.

'At the start' and 'at the end' will be defined as the first and last 24 hours of the period.

The System cannot guarantee a legal destination on Artona III will exist at the time of termination. If there is no path towards your legal entry to Artona III, this clause will be cancelled. Additionally, the System cannot guarantee teleportation will be immediately available; In certain circumstances resources are re-prioritized, which can lead to disruptions of the teleport network in rare cases.

Are you sure you wish to specify the teleportation is to Artona III specifically?

Ah, if there are other legal destinations that are neither Earth nor Artona III then it's good to include them. What such destinations exist?

Other core Artonan systems would be accessible if you acquired a passport from a long-term service contract.

Several colony worlds are designated as ports of last resort, accepting persons not welcome anywhere else.

You could theoretically gain permission to enter the territory of other Resource Worlds. The details vary; For example, anyone may go to the Griveck homeworld after acknowledging that the weak perish and the strong thrive.

Then the broader wording is most certainly better.

The last stage of Contract assignment typically includes a mental review session, to ensure your understanding of the Contract aligns with the System's understanding.

Information gathered during this review is only stored locally, only reviewed by automated systems, and deleted immediately after finalization.

She runs a hand through her hair.

Well, that's awkward. She guesses she'll find out if the System's as good as its word says it is.

Seems sensible. 

It spits out several long windows full of - not legalese, it's written plainly, but it's long and somewhat complicated. Most of it seems to be defining 'normal operation' of the System, and where her version will differ.

You earlier expressed a desire to review the proposed contract with a third party, and implied that Professor Ermol Gal-Fair would be your preferred choice. Is this still the case?

If so, please proceed with whatever verification and secrecy steps you wish with Professor Ermol Gal-Fair. 

Yes, thank you. I'll speak with the Professor.

She calls after the admin assistant.

"I've just about hammered out a contract with the system; I'm using case C with a few adjustments, as we discussed. I would like the Professor back to arrange the review now."

He fetches the Professor.

The Professor has an expression of intense seriousness on his face. He nods solemnly.

"Bluebell Gardenia, I see you. Normally, a Contract between two individuals involves tattoos. But one so secret, that the fact that it exists ought to be a secret, we do not want tattoos. It is more difficult for me, but worth it."

"Thank you, Professor. I believe the System has already settled the details?"

Back to System translation after that bit.

I studied that sentence, but not the rest of this. Yes. I'd like it to be slightly more complicated than the previous proposal for reasons of best practice. Specifically, several possible endings to the secrecy clause, and clarifying how secret the readings of your Skill are. Thoroughness is the soul of a good Contract.

He explains the full terms*. And then they can hold hands, and Ermol Gal-Fair will chant in two voices at once as some strange sense at the edge of perception goes-

Hey. Pay attention. This is important. You're agreeing to this. Are you sure?

*My services reviewing and explaining the System Contract and both my and my assistant's secrecy on everything about you until you give dispensation otherwise, we learn the same information from a non-secret source, or the information becomes critically important to preventing harm equivalent or greater to the loss of sentient lives. It's best to have several outs, but I would understand if you want to tighten it. In exchange, you exercise your Skill in my lab downstairs for up to an hour or until I'm satisfied, and grant permission to share any discoveries or derivations gained from the readings, thoroughly anonymized, with a bonus payable to you should something useful come of it.

Yes, she does. All three of them do, as the one they can be when there is need. 

And then the feeling is gone.

Ermol looks slightly pleasantly surprised.

Some people can feel it forming.

And then he spends quite a while going over the System's contract terms with her in fine detail. He has at least something of a knack for explaining complicated things, though his cultural references keep not landing properly.

There is, in the end, not much to edit. She helps hammer out a few details of her false identity that aren't quite right.

He has Ven-Drel swear to the same terms of secrecy in a solemn hand-holding ritual.

Then says, 

If anything I know about bureaucracy is correct, the first few hours after you teleport away are going to be exhausting. I'm eager to see what exactly that Skill of yours does, but after that feel free to delay your departure for a while, until you feel ready. I'd rather do the final confirmation with the System before, for better readings, though.

She nods. "Alright, then. I'm ready."

The world goes a little bit soft at the edges. Some details aren't there, and the ambient sound is different.

The Professor and his assistant aren't here anymore.

And the new thing in her head is especially easy to feel, here and now.

Oh, and all three of them are present. In separate bodies, seeing from three different locations at once.

Mental Review Session

-Declares a whiteboard inexplicably standing in the middle of the little lounge area.

And there's an Artonan over there. Or some sort of doll in the shape of an Artonan. They're stiff, and shiny, like it's made of hard plastic instead of flesh and blood.

"Hello. You're aware of me. That's slightly unusual, but perhaps to be expected from a unique existence. This will last a minute or two. I'm adjusting the Contract to fit you. Please don't worry."