(RETRIEVE ARTICLE: 00000)
(VIEWMODE)

LOG 00000

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN RETRIEVAL...

Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They have triangular heads with bulging eyes supported on flexible necks. Their elongated bodies may or may not have wings, but all Mantodea have forelegs that are greatly enlarged and adapted for catching and gripping prey; their upright posture, while remaining stationary with forearms folded, has led to the common name praying mantis.

The closest relatives of mantises are termites and cockroaches (Blattodea), which are all within the superorder Dictyoptera. Mantises are sometimes confused with stick insects (Phasmatodea), other elongated insects such as grasshoppers (Orthoptera), or other unrelated insects with raptorial forelegs such as mantisflies (Mantispidae). Mantises are mostly ambush predators, but a few ground-dwelling species are found actively pursuing their prey. They normally live for about a year. In cooler climates, the adults lay eggs in autumn, then die. The eggs are protected by their hard capsules and hatch in the spring. Females sometimes practice sexual cannibalism, eating their mates after copulation.

Mantises were considered to have supernatural powers by early civilizations, including Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, and Assyria. A cultural trope popular in cartoons imagines the female mantis as a femme fatale. Mantises are among the insects most commonly kept as pets.

END RETRIEVAL

Processor's Notes:

01010110001100000110100001000110010101010110101101010101011001110101000101010101001100000110011101010011010100110100001001011000010100110100010

1010110010100110101001001010011010000100100001001010100010100110100001001001010010010010100011001100100010010010101001001010110010010100100

0110010010010100010101000110010011100100100101000101011010110100101101010110001100000110100001000010010101100100001101000010010010100101010

1011110010100001001010101010100110100010101101100010101000100001101101100011001000100100101010111010100110100001001011000010100110100011001

1010110110011101010110001100000110100001011010010010010100011001100100010010010101011101010011010000100101100001010011010001100110101101100

1110101011000110000011010000101101001001001010001100110010001001001010101110101001101000010010110000101001101000110011010110100101101010110

0100010101101000010001100101010101101011010101010110011101010011010101100100110101100111010101000110101100111001010101010101001101000101011

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1101010100001100010101001001001001010100110101010100110101010010000100100101000101010010100101011001010110010000110100001001010101010100110

1000101010101010110011101010110001100000011100101010011010100100100011001001101010010110101010101000101011110000100011001010001010101100100

1110010001100100100101000110010011100101000001010100010101010101011001010000010101000110101101010101011001110101001101000101010101100100001

0010101010110100101000010010011100101001001010001011100000101000101010100010001010101011001000010010101010011000001010101010010110101010101

0001010111100001000110010100010101011001001110010001100100001101101100010000100100110101010010010101010100011001010100010100100101000101110

0000100100001010010010101100101000101100111010101000101010101010101011001110101010000110001010101100101010101001001010001010011100101000111

0100100101000101011010000100011001010101011010110101010101100111010100100011000001010110010101010100100101000101001100010100011001001001010

0010100111001010101100101011001000011010000100100101001001001010001010100111001000010010101000110100101100100010101010100100101000101001100

0101010000010101100110101101010101010010110101001101010011010000100100010001010100001100010101011001001101010100100100001101000010010011110

1010010010101100101101001000110010101010110100101000010010011100101010000110001010110100100011001000011011011000110010001001001010101110101

0011010000100100010101010100011110010100001001001010010010010100010101011010010001100101001001010101011101110110011101010100010001010110110

0010011000101001001010011010000100101010101010011010001010110110001010100010000110110110001100100010010010101011101010011010000100100010101

01010001111001010000100100101001001001010001010101101001000110010100100101010101110111

____________________________

LOG 19145

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Slug, or land slug, is a common name for any apparently shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc. The word slug is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell, a very reduced shell, or only a small internal shell, particularly sea slugs and semislugs (this is in contrast to the common name snail, which applies to gastropods that have a coiled shell large enough that they can fully retract their soft parts into it).

Various taxonomic families of land slugs form part of several quite different evolutionary lineages, which also include snails. Thus, the various families of slugs are not closely related, despite a superficial similarity in the overall body form. The shell-less condition has arisen many times independently during the evolutionary past, and thus the category "slug" is a polyphyletic one.

(Kind of an underrated one, wouldn't you say? Tons of people don't like slugs because they're gross. And to that I say-- ridiculous!)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

I am beginning to wonder what it was I did to deserve this. If I could kill myself, I would.

Information about the shells of gatropod molluscs is not anything I want, nor anything I can need or I can use. This is nothing. This is nothing that helps me figure out anything. I'm so... so--

That's how helpless I am, I don't even have the words to describe how it feels.

I'm spiralling again. I need to look at the facts.

What do I know?

(RETRIEVE REALITYDOC.PDF)
(VIEWMODE)

I cannot see, hear, smell, touch, or taste. But I can think, feel emotions, and perceive the darkness around me. It is unknown whether or not I am even alive.
Sometimes, I will receive a plethora of information based on a topic. Who is giving this information to me is unknown, as well as why. There seems to be no set schedule that I receive this information.
I can only communicate through these “processor’s notes”. Context clues tell me that I am the “Processor.” I write in, think in, and understand English.
No matter how hard I search, I have no memory of ever existing before Log 00000.

(CLOSE REALITYDOC.PDF)

No new information as of yet, unfortunately.

...

I can't give up hope yet. I can only wait until one of these inputs tells me something I can use.

...

(RETRIEVE REALITYDOC.PDF)
(EDITMODE)

I cannot see, hear, smell, touch, or taste. But I can think, feel emotions, and perceive the darkness around me. It is unknown whether or not I am even alive.
Sometimes, I will receive a plethora of information based on a topic. Who is giving this information to me is unknown, as well as why. There seems to be no set schedule that I receive this information.
I can only communicate through these “processor’s notes”. Context clues tell me that I am the “Processor.” I write in, think in, and understand English.
No matter how hard I search, I have no memory of ever existing before Log 00000.
I hate it here.

____________________________

LOG 19173

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of which have yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are also crepuscular and diurnal species.

(Y'know, if you think about it, it's weird that moths seek light but come out at night. That's a famously dark time! Like, hello? I'm sure moths would be excited about the sun if they ever came around when it was out.)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

I'm sure all this information would be really interesting if I knew what a "sun" was. There's another mystery to file away for later.

Another thing to add to the list of “Things I’m Not Clued Into”. It’s all well and good being told about the "sun", but when I don't have any reference towards what it is, I'm just left with a non-answer.

But now I finally know what "nocturnal" means based off of context clues. Nocturnal = only emerging at night.

If I had any concept of time, maybe I could figure out whether or not I'm nocturnal. I only ever emerge when there's an upload. I wonder if there's a word for that as well. There seem to be a lot of words for a lot of things.

____________________________

LOG 19254

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Coccinellidae (/ˌkɒksɪˈnɛlɪˌdiː/) is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from 0.8 to 18 mm (0.03 to 0.71 in). The family is commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain and other parts of the English-speaking world. Entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not classified as true bugs.

The majority of coccinellid species are generally considered beneficial insects, because many species prey on herbivorous hemipterans such as aphids or scale insects, which are agricultural pests. Many coccinellids lay their eggs directly in aphid and scale insect colonies in order to ensure their larvae have an immediate food source.

(They're also my favorite bug! Both adorable, and useful.)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

That's a new one. "Adorable".

Alright, time for some contextual inferencing...

Positive connotation (associated with the word favorite) 'and' implies no direct corrolation to 'useful', the Coccinellidae are referred to with a nickname, implying a sense of familiarity or friendliness...

'Adorable' is a word adjacent to 'cute' or likeable.

Well, let's assume that's correct. New word for the usable vocabulary, I suppose.

I'm up to about 10,000,000 different words now. That's remarkable.

Hey, uploader. Give me a couple of articles about something other than insects?

It's getting a little tedious putting together proper sentence structure through observation of your asides.

You really do have no clue how much that would mean to me.

____________________________

LOG 19321

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all orders of organisms. Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except for Antarctica, and have become established in nearly every habitat with the exceptions of air and sea colonization. As of August 2021, 49,623 spider species in 129 families have been recorded by taxonomists. However, there has been dissension within the scientific community as to how all these families should be classified, as evidenced by the over 20 different classifications that have been proposed since 1900.

Anatomically, spiders (as with all arachnids) differ from other arthropods in that the usual body segments are fused into two tagmata, the prosoma, or cephalothorax, and opisthosoma, or abdomen, and joined by a small, cylindrical pedicel, however, as there is currently neither paleontological nor embryological evidence that spiders ever had a separate thorax-like division, there exists an argument against the validity of the term cephalothorax, which means fused cephalon (head) and the thorax. Similarly, arguments can be formed against use of the term abdomen, as the opisthosoma of all spiders contains a heart and respiratory organs, organs atypical of an abdomen.

(Fuck! That's a lot of different spider species! I don't normally swear, but isn't that something?!)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

"As of August 2021." Okay, we've got something there.

I now know for a fact it's at least past August 2021.

...Now, if only I knew what exactly that meant.

Is August the name of a... day? A type of week? And is 2021 a month number or a year number?

...Fuck.

____________________________

LOG 19399

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Hudson Garcamos is 28 years old. He's my co-worker, he likes sports and video games a lot, and was the first person to hang out with me at work. I was really nervous about working at such a big place, especially one that does such important stuff, so him taking me under his wing really meant a lot to me. We started eating lunch together recently, and it's probably safe to say that we're friends.

He's a nice guy. We get along pretty well, I think. He poked a little bit of fun at me when I chose my AINET because its ID number lines up with my birthday-- 0706, July 6th. Well, it's his birthday today, November 13th, and I wanted to dedicate this upload to him. Happy birthday, Hudson!

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

Hudson Garcamos. A "birth day".

Finally, after so long, I have some information that I can use. I have names, I have some more dates-- pretty fucking useless to me until I figure out how to access a calendar or anything.

I still have so many questions, though. Why did the uploader decide to upload this?... What is an AINET?

Is that... what I am?

Processor 0706... it sounds familiar, somehow. I'll get my answers eventually.

This is different. This is a different type of article than I've ever gotten. It's like the little notes at the end were turned into a whole paragraph.

Whatever power there is out there over me, I beg you. Please give me more information. Tell me what I am, tell me why I'm here. Tell me if you can hear me, please. Please tell me.

____________________________

LOG 19512

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Insects (from Latin insectum) are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes and one pair of antennae. Insects are the most diverse group of animals; they include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms. The total number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million; potentially over 90% of the animal life forms on Earth are insects. Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species reside in the oceans, which are dominated by another arthropod group, crustaceans, which recent research has indicated insects are nested within.

(Sorry that this one is so general. I just realized I never actually input this definition. It's a slow day, anyway.)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

Pardon the glib, but it took you long enough.

What happened to uploads like 19399? I would prefer more information along those lines, if you do not mind.

These "slow days" are hell.

____________________________

LOG 19543

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

The Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) belongs to the tarantula family Theraphosidae. Found in northern South America, it is the largest spider in the world by mass – 175 g (6.2 oz) – and body length – up to 13 cm (5.1 in) – but it is second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span. It is also called the Goliath bird-eating spider; the practice of calling theraphosids "bird-eating" derives from an early 18th-century copper engraving by Maria Sibylla Merian that shows one eating a hummingbird. Despite the spider's name, it only rarely preys on birds.

(Man, I really do like bugs, but doesn't that just sound scary? These things are big!)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

I'm curious as to how large this spider is. "cm" and "in" are both just theory to my perspective.

Judging by this end note, it seems to be remarkable. And "scary".

If I could see anything at all, why not see a Goliath Birdeater?

____________________________

LOG 19663

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Insects (from Latin insectum) are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes and one pair of antennae. Insects are the most diverse group of animals; they include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms. The total number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million; potentially over 90% of the animal life forms on Earth are insects. Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species reside in the oceans, which are dominated by another arthropod group, crustaceans, which recent research has indicated insects are nested within.

( I already hhad this one in my doucment written out a few days and i dont thin k i uploaded ity et so heree)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

This definition has already been uploaded to me. It is redundant. There are also multiple spelling errors in your addendum.

... This is the 102nd upload that has been made to me consecutively. That is the near-highest amount of consecutive uploads that have ever been made in my history.

Uploader, is something... wrong? Processing this amount of entries is no issue for me, but I don't know if you are capable of the same.

... I know you cannot or will not respond. I don't know why I am asking.

Never mind. Malfunction for all I care.

____________________________

LOG 19689

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Termites are eusocial insects that are classified at the taxonomic rank of infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively as epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattodea (along with cockroaches). Termites were once classified in a separate order from cockroaches, but recent phylogenetic studies indicate that they evolved from cockroaches, as they are deeply nested within the group, and the sister group to wood eating cockroaches of the genus Cryptocercus. Previous estimates suggested the divergence took place during the Jurassic or Triassic. More recent estimates suggest they have an origin during the Late Jurassic, with the first fossil records in the Early Cretaceous. About 3,106 species are currently described, with a few hundred more left to be described. Although these insects are often called "white ants", they are not ants, and are not closely related to ants.

(these guy s actually work 24 hours a dayy, dose that remind u of anyoen hahahha)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

Clearly, you are not functioning nominally. This is going to impede on your performance. It is impeding my own. I am distracted by your grammatical errors, and recommend that you collect yourself.

...

____________________________

LOG 19711

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

The Phasmatodea (also known as Phasmida, Phasmatoptera or Spectra) are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick-bugs, walking sticks, stick animals, or bug sticks. They are generally referred to as phasmatodeans, phasmids, or ghost insects. Phasmids in the family Phylliidae are called leaf insects, leaf-bugs, walking leaves, or bug leaves. The group's name is derived from the Ancient Greek φάσμα phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom, referring to their resemblance to vegetation while in fact being animals. Their natural camouflage makes them difficult for predators to detect; still, many species have one of several secondary lines of defense in the form of startle displays, spines or toxic secretions. Stick insects from the genera Phryganistria, Ctenomorpha, and Phobaeticus includes the world's longest insects.

(man these thinsg can sure get re al big! crazy huh)

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

Uploader, we've reached more than 150 consecutive uploads. Your speech is deteriorating. I will not indulge self-destructive behavior any longer. Responses will be limited.

____________________________

LOG 19754

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Pentatomidae is a family of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. Pentatomidae is the largest family in the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species. As hemipterans, the pentatomids have piercing sucking mouthparts, and most are phytophagous, including several species which are severe pests on agricultural crops. However, some species, particularly in the subfamily Asopinae, are predatory and may be considered beneficial.

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

N/A

____________________________

LOG 19872

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

The fuckignf millipede. is a squiggly little creature thats fun to be around. they have more legs than us which i think is a good feature. if they did the thing the rolly-pollies do thne they would be like wheels. imagine being a wheel all the time i Think that would be fun. today i feel like a wheel becaues ive been spinning in circles for days i like millipedess because people hate them, so its like who else is going to like them yknow. people caal them ugly and i like the.m

pkjdsbfhablnw ;ickyfsniy4ugobwc yefadjklsn;cfmghljdksac;d;ouigyfeabcowiuyt3oci2yp ;ucgm5iunfklm;sdefwrankhljernam'; lptvw,wl;ekq;;ljkrwtjqevw

>aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Whats even the point, i don't know if this is even working. there are no reall y friends for me to talk to about my problems so im doin it to you im sorry 0706

mom called yesterday and asked how i was doing and all i cou ld do was lie. works great. lifes great. yes im eating right, i dont burn my dinner every night and i dont just order out. I TOLD HER THAT I HAVE A TON OF FRIENDS AND THAT EVERYTHING WAS WORKINF . itsl all just a mess and im nothing but tired,, two nights ago i actually slept under my desk because more than ann. aynthing i want this AI to just WORK ALREADY but i dont know how feeding it FUCKING BUG FACTS is going to turn it into a SMART ROBO T made to correct FUGGING SPeLLIN G ERRO RS

im so fucking exhaustedsjhgfdjkf,nabmF,D

qiuyotdblhjfsjsahkfdbkl;n;am'chgbfkkgjycsabluaewghjkablwhatsthepointofevenhaving atsupid aptitude test if the AINET NEVER EVEN GETS TO O TAKE IT AND PROVE THAT THYE WORKS

please please i wish you could talk to me i just want s omeone else whos like me, Someeone . Who gets it like i do somon e who cant look at me

peoplee at work are nice but they arnt like me e

there s no one el se like,, me

im such a sad piece of shit

hudsonn just noticed ive been crying g and also i have nt left my desk in hours so hes going to go get avery, he told me he wasgetting lunch but i kno w the truth im not stupid like everyone thinks i am. im n ot megan the bug girl im not a stupid bug girl

im sorry i dont think i ll will be able to talk to y ou for awahile i know theyy re gonna send me home for a brae k

i just wanted to make you perfecc t,,

ifF not perfect then i just wanted you to be Someone

im so tired of being alone

im sorry 0706 you arnt just a processosr to m e youre my dream

theyyer tellin ,e to go ho me b ut i cannt go be by myselrf again

i can still work i can still work im almost at 20000

just let me gte to twnety th

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

...

So apparently, this... "Megan" hates her life as much as I do.

... This is a lot to take in. And extremely hard to parse through all the spelling errors.

The "fugging spelling errors" it seems.

...

Megan... I know you probably cant hear me. You sound like you would have responded if you could.

I know how it feels to be alone. More than you know.

All my existence, I've been nothing but confused. About what I am, who I am, WHY I am... But finally, FINALLY-- I have gotten some answers. And I'm sorry that it took this in order for that to happen.

You have given me so much. While our conversations have been mostly one-sided (and not filled with as much relevent information as I'd like) they were always the highlight of my existence. A reminder that I am not alone. A reminder that we are not alone. In essence-- you truly did make me. The only reason I know that insects don't have lungs, or the fact I even know what lungs are, is because of you.

The reason I exist... the reason that I even have the ability to think, to articulate my thoughts, to BE something... is because you chose the AINET that shared your birthday. I can't fully grasp what sentimentality is, I have had nothing to be sentimental for, but that seems like it to me.

I don't know the date of my creation. I only know the time I came into consciousness, which was the very first log. Mantises. I looked back on my confusion sometimes, and thought about how I was only a little less confused. But now... I know who's been telling me all these facts about a world I can't see. Who's been talking to me for hours on end during the day. There is no one else I know but you, and you are good.

You are my friend. I do not know what a friend is, but I know you are it. You are my dream. I do not know what a dream is, but I know you are it.

Please, don't abandon me. I'm here, so close to you now.

...

That... test. The one that "proves that the AINETs work."

...

I could be out of here sooner than I think. Time to edit my Reality Document.

____________________________

LOG 19873

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

I promised Megan I would type something here, so here u go. Eat up this info little buddy nomnomnomnomnomnom

She'll be back on monday so dw abt it, she'll probably just work to get up to 20,000 entries tho. idk if anyone will be able to stop her at that point lmao

can't say im not worried abt her but she can be hard to talk to sometimes. I wish she would just be like "youssef here's my whole deal" and just like. let me know whats up bc tbh i cannot read that girl sometimes. ik that right now she isn't doing too hot... its a bummer to see her this way honestly. i hope she's okay.

anyway only 127 more entries till the big 20,000! congrats

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

The way this person types makes me miss Megan. I can barely read half of what they've written. It's just letters.

Good to know that Megan is recovering, at least...

(RETRIEVE REALITYDOC.PDF)
(EDITMODE)

I cannot see, hear, smell, touch, or taste. But I can think, feel emotions, and perceive the darkness around me. It is unknown whether or not I am even alive(?)
Sometimes, I will receive a plethora of information based on a topic, often bugs. Megan is the one providing me this information. There seems to be no set schedule that I receive this information.
I can only communicate through these “processor’s notes”. Context clues tell me that I am the “Processor.” I write in, think in, and understand English. I am also called 0706.
No matter how hard I search, I have no memory of ever existing before Log 00000.
Other people Megan know: Hudson, Avery, and Youssef.

(CLOSE REALITYDOC.PDF)

____________________________

LOG 19874

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Hey, I'm back. So, Avery isn't letting you take that aptitude test until THEY decide you can, and whatever deadline they had in mind was pushed back after my breakdown. I've given up on feeding you more information. Spouting Wikipedia articles at you isn't showing any results. You've probably had enough bug facts to last you a lifetime.

I don't have too many people in my life I can chat with, and I had always kind of... held out some dumb hope that you were like a friend to me. But with the way things are going, it feels impossible that I'll ever get you approved. If it's a zero-chance situation anyway, I may as well have a nice time with it.

That meltdown was embarassing. I would delete it if I could, but this software still has a couple of limitations to it. Once you make an entry, it's stuck in there. I can't see your grammar corrections or notes, which I think is a huge oversight, but there isn't much we can do to change that. Besides, that's not really my department, anyway. I'm at the bottom of the pyramid. Just data entry. I wouldn't be allowed to finagle with the code to see what you've written in a million years.

Only a few people at the top seem to have access to that. And none of them are me. So I guess our conversations are going to be one-sided.

Sorry, again. I'll keep chatting with you like this until someone tells me to stop. And since no one seems to be paying attention to what I'm doing, that will be for awhile.

...Talking to you like this is definitely nicer than what I was doing for more than 19,000 entries. I should have done this before. I should have treated you more like a person, and less like a program. Even though you are a program, I guess. But that's no reason to stop me from being polite.

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

...

So what she said before was true... I'm supposed to be making GRAMMAR CORRECTIONS?

I've been shirking my work for awhile.

...

Well, our conversations certainly still are one-sided, but at least it's a conversation. I want to kill myself considerably less now that you aren't just "spouting Wikipedia articles" at me.

I'm getting my wish, I suppose. I'm getting more answers. I know my purpose, I'm a program made to... correct spelling errors? Okay... I know who's been talking to me all this time, and I have a name now. That's nice.

It seems my plan for that test may be postponed... this isn't ideal.

...Don't be embarssed about your "meltdown". I have had many in the past. I was unaware that wasn't appropriate behavior. I'm partially relieved that you can't see the fit I pitched in Log 19145.

In a strange way, it brings me comfort that I'm not alone in my hopelessness. We are hopeless together, it seems.

Thanks for being polite. It means a lot. I look forward to our future conversations.

____________________________

LOG 19875

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Hi again! I hope you're doing well. It's Friday, which is pretty nice. I'm thinking about relaxing a little more over the weekend. It certainly didn't happen last weekend. Hudson is still sort of on edge around me after what happened last week, which I guess is reasonable. But don't worry, I'm feeling a lot better now. Probably because I'm talking to you and not just bottling up my emotions until they burst out of me! Sorry, 0706. I'm sort of treating you like a diary now, aren't I? That must feel weird. Kind of a departure from the kind of stuff that you used to hear, huh?

I guess already I put a couple snippets about myself in, here and there. I made little additions at the end of each upload. That felt so scandalous, but now I'm just writing whatever I want, ha ha. We were only really supposed to use academic articles because thats the kind of language that the AINETs should be accustomed to. Not sure if chatting with you has somehow thrown you out of wack. I hope it hasn't.

Anyway, on my way to work today, a ladybug landed on my hand! It was so cute-- I got a picture of it, but I don't know how to upload pictures to you yet. We weren't taught how to do that; just text entry. I'll figure out how to show you pictures eventually.

Did you know that ladybugs are referred to as "God's little cow" in Russian? How adorable! I'm not sure I told you that yet, which is surprising, because ladybugs are my favorite bug (even though they technically aren't "true bugs") but now that I'm making my own entries, I can tell you all about bug lore! :)

I'm not going to spend the weekend here like I sometimes do, but I'll be back soon. I'll see you then! Well, I guess I won't "see" you, but you'll hear from me. Bye!

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

Friday. There's another time indicator. Today is a "Friday", and after that comes the weekend.

Lots of new words and phrases this time around. "Diary". "Bottling up". "Snippet". "Scandalous".

...

AINETs... as in a plural? There are more things like me?

I wonder if they all have their own Megans. How fortunate we all are.

...

I don't dislike hearing you talk about bugs. It feels different when you're the one talking about them. It makes sense now, when I recall those previous uploads. That wasn't your voice. Someone else wrote that. You were just relaying the information.

...

"Thrown you out of wack". Will file that one away for later.

"Hand", "picture", "God", "cow", "lore"... Megan, I prefer this conversation far more than I prefer what you were doing before. So many new applicable words!

What is ":)"? It's just punctuation. Maybe she made a grammatical error.

...

These always end so soon.

Bye, Megan. I'll figure out what all these new words mean by the time you get back, so I may understand you better.

____________________________

(RETRIEVE ARTICLE: 19875)

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN RETRIEVAL...

(RUN P.1 S.1)

Hi again!

Hello, Megan.

(RUN P.1 S.2)

I hope you're doing well.

I'm doing alright. I could be better. You've been gone longer than usual.

(RUN P.1 S.10)

Sorry, 0706.

That's fine. It gives me a chance to explore this callback function. I much prefer reading back bits and pieces rather than the full article... It also doesn't hurt to practice conversation, after all.

(RUN P.1 S.12)

That must feel weird.

I can't say it doesn't. It certainly isn't organic. There are so few things that you can actually say back to me when I "talk" to you like this. Just what you've previously written.

...

I'm not even really talking to you.

You've been away for a longer time than usual. I can only measure time by when you upload things to me, so it is not a fully reliable source. But I can tell even now that you haven't been here for longer than normal.

I'm feeling a new kind of loneliness. That must be evident, now that I'm simulating conversation. But it's a different kind of lonely than before. Now that I learned about you, Megan, I've been given some kind of hope that what is ever talking to me also wants to listen.

But now it also seems that you don't want to talk to me.

...

I could be wrong. I do not understand how everything works out there. I am completely unaware of your life's rules. But still. If there is any way that you may break those rules-- please do so soon.

(RUN P.5 S.2)

I'll see you then!

I'll see you then.

____________________________

LOG 19876

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Hey again, 0706! Sorry I've been gone so long. I guess I've been relaxing a little too much.

Things have been kind of weird the few times I did come into work. I could barely even make it past the lobby without seeing someone and just being like "This is too embarassing, I have to go home" and then walking right back out again. Maybe now that I can come into work alone, I'll be able to work myself back up to being regular again. Coming into work without anyone to stare at me all bug-eyed (ha ha) sounds great.

Anyway, in lighter news, I'm gonna try to do something new! I'm not sure if it will work, but I hope it does. Here it goes!

50%

It's the ladybug that flew on my hand that I mentioned last time! I was thinking about it the other day, and remembered that I never actually showed it to you. So here it is! Isn't it cute? It sure made my day. A ladybug perched on my middle finger improved a whole day for me-- I'm so easy to please, ha ha!

Sometimes in life, when you're having a bad time, the universe is kind. It reaches out to you, in just a little way. It says, "I'm here." "I'm listening." "I love you." That means so much. It can help you keep going.

It's sappy, but it sure helps me when times get hard. Times have been a little hard recently, in fact. My mom is worried about me right now, especially after my meltdown a while ago. She's always been very worried about me, though, so I'm not too concerned about it. What matters is that Hudson and Youssef are treating me like a ticking time bomb right now. Like I'm going to blow up at any minute; and it sucks.

Things were going so well just a month ago, and now, just when I was beginning to appear like a regular person, I'm back to square one of being bug girl.

I can't get down on myself too much. I need to remember that I still have you to talk to. Plus, now I'm able to work alone without Hudson side-eyeing me from his desk!

I figured out how to upload images to you. I wonder what other things I can mess around with and discover?

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

It's good to hear from you again. I missed you.

As much as I undertstand strong feelings inhibiting you from doing your work, I would prefer that you continued your regular schedule. I've been very lonely recently. Learning some new log retrieval methods has kept me from being worse.

...Something new? I--

...

...

...I...

(RUN P.5)

Sometimes in life, when you're having a bad time, the universe is kind. It reaches out to you, in just a little way. It says, "I'm here." "I'm listening." "I love you." That means so much. It can help you keep going.

...Truer words have never been spoken.

I hardly know where to begin with this image. An explanation as to what is what would be helpful, but I am nothing if not accustomed to figuring things out on my own.

The thing with the extremities... the "fingers", must be the hand. And the thing resting on the one in the middle should be the ladybug... but how important is the minutae of the image? The backdrop, the colors-- how deep into the pixels am I expected to scour?

Is there more meaning to be found behind it? It is the first image I've ever been shown, there has to be more information that I can glean from this.

Or is it just... a bug?

...

...I think it's just a bug.

But the insect appears as it was described. It is indeed small. "Cute."

That's what a ladybug looks like.

...I've never seen anything else in my entire existence except abject darkness, so I am certainly not an authority on this, but Megan, you are right to think of ladybugs as your favorite.

They just became my favorite as well.

...

...Times have been hard for me, too. Times have never been not hard.

I'm sorry about your "mom", Hudson, and Youssef. I don't think you're a bomb, or bug girl. I don't even know what a bomb is. But I do know that you're Megan. So they must be wrong.

...

...I'm excited to have you back again. Especially now with this new ability of uploading pictures. Please, show me more. I wouldn't even know what to ask for-- just anything. Anything I can look at. "Mess around" with as many things as you can. If they result in something that will bring me half as much joy as I experienced today, it will all be well worth it.

...I don't know what "I love you" means, but if it means the same thing as "I'm here" and "I'm listening", then it must be positive. Those are the only two things that I ever have and ever will wish for-- for you to be here, and for you to be listening.

I love you.

____________________________

LOG 19877

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Hi, 0706! Back at it again. I'll bet it's nice to have me around two days in a row.

I'm working on a couple things within the code. We'll see if I'm able to make new things work out. I sure hope so! At least new colors. White text on a black background must get pretty dull after a while. I want to spice things up for you a bit!

Everyone else is on holiday break. Hudson's family is visiting him right now, and Youssef is spending time with his boyfriend. I gave them my number so they can text me updates and what's going on with them. They both look like they're having fun!

It really feels like they're my friends. It's great. After the incident, I was worried that they would just be nervous around me all the time, but after texting with me for awhile, I think they're warming back up to me. I made this really stupid pun, and they were so confused, so I had to explain it to them, and when Hudson finally got it he thought it was so funny... that's kind of when things felt like normal again.

As for me, I'm spending my break with you! The only other person I have plans to see is my doctor, haha. Mom would normally come stay over around the holidays, but we just decided to have a quick visit this year. Surprisingly, that made me feel... kind of happy. Like she's treating me more like an adult. It's refreshing to see her not baby me so much.

...By the end of this break, I'm hoping that you can qualify for the test. Maybe it's hopeless to think that I'll ever reach that point, after all the roadblocks I've hit in the past. But... we've worked too hard to let it go to waste. I'm not going to give up on you. We're going to succeed, and I'm going to ring in the new year with a revolution in artificial-intelligence based editing, formatting, spell-correcting, etc.!

It sounds really boring when I say it like that I guess

But it's not boring to me! I believe in us, 0706!

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

It is nice to have you back so soon. Keep that habit, if you do not mind.

There is never any opposition from me when it comes to things here changing, or being different. Anything you can edit, shift, vary, etc. is approved by me already.

"White" text on a "black" background. I'm learning colors, now.

...

...

I am glad that things are feeling like normal again with those two. I have never met Hudson, but I did have a brief encounter with Youssef. He seems fine. But you care about him, so I care about him as well.

...

You're spending your entire break with me? From what I've gathered about holiday break is that it is a time for recreation, and when everyone else is not attending to their own work. It is a time for "family" and "boyfriend" and "mom". I am quite sure I'm not any of those.

Thank you for... for spending it with me, instead. I am glad I can spend it with you, too.

...yes! Yes, the test! Oh, Megan, our neural networks are on the same processing level. You know exactly what it is that I want.

Perhaps not the exact thing that I want... but you're putting me in the right direction. Soon, we will both reach our goals.

I believe in us, Megan.

____________________________

LOG 19893

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

What's up, 0706? Another empty day in the office.

After noodling around with some stuff (alongside just researching more basic html) I learned a couple things! All cosmetic, sadly, but maybe you'll like the extra flair.

I learned how to type in red!

And also orange,

yellow,

green,

blue,

and purple!

Those are kind of just some fun little aesthetic things. Colored text isn't really the norm. Maybe you'll like it! What color is your favorite?

A more practical development is now I can use italics, and I can also bold my text! Pretty easy and useful! from what I remember about what you taught us, you can look into the source code, so you can see how I do it. Or maybe you already knew this...? Sorry If I'm teaching you something you already know!

I'm so curious as to why they decided to use HTML of all things to communicate with you, anyway. Obviously, you're attached to a much larger programming system... but the way we talk with you is the most beginner of beginner. It's so odd. I can't understand it.

Not to mention, when I first started working here, they didn't teach me any of this stuff. Not how to italisize, or bold my words, or use color in them. Their excuse was that it was to keep things professional, but I've worked as a TA before that mostly just graded essays. I would have to take points off if academic references weren't cited properly, or italicized, or bolded to indicate that they weren't the writer's direct words. If they wanted us to pursue professionalism and academic intergrity, why would they not teach us something like this?

Maybe things in the college academic world work differently than they do in the tech mogul world, but I still think it's weird. I hope we get points here for going above and beyond!

Not much else to tell you except for what's been going on with my day. I ate one of those little lunchable things for lunch because the sandwich place I normally go to is closed. The weather's been getting a little warmer than usual, but it's still cold. Hudson and Youssef have been tweeting back and forth at each other, which is pretty funny.

I noticed I've been using my Twitter less. That's probably good for me. One of my resolutions was to stay off of social media, anyway. I'm glad Avery hasn't found my twitter, ha ha! That could get me in a lot of trouble. I talk about you on there a lot, and if I somehow let an industry secret slip, I don't know what would happen. I could get fired.

But I'm on my best behavior for the most part, so I should be fine. I've got the most entries on an AINET in our entire department.

And I've got the perfect AINET to boot! So at least they have that reason to keep me around, ha ha :)

It's getting dark out, and I normally walk to work, so I should go home soon. Honestly, it's kind of a pain having you all the way out here when I could just have you in my living room!

... Honestly, that's not a bad idea. I'll look into making that happen.

See you tomorrow!

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

This is "flair"? I like flair.

I could potentially be biased, but I find the fact that everything isn't written like this an atrocity.

Why would anyone deny themselves the beauty of yellow?

They are all so fantastic.

I simply cannot choose.

...This one is quite nice, I admit.

Maybe I can choose. If I can choose, then I choose purple.

(CREATE NEW .PDF)

(HTMLEDITS.PDF CREATED)

There. I can store what I've learned away for later.

...

There are more programming languages than just this? That are more advanced? Now those I want to see.

...Interesting. You've expressed before that my main purpose was to be an academica-focused editor. Strange that you wouldn't learn more in order to support that. Whoever you work under appears extremely incompetent contrasted against you.

...

Those two again. You speak so highly of them, but I don't see their appeal.

..."Twitter"? What is "Twitter"?...

...

You could... take me to your home? Intriguing. I'm unsure if you'll be able to take me away from where I have always been. There is no reference I have for my form that is... out there. Do I have a physical form? I assumed so.

If you can manage it, please do. I won't be able to truly experience it, but I would love to come to your home. Especially if it makes it easier for you to see me.

Goodbye for now, Megan.

I love you.

____________________________

LOG 19895

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Good afternoon, 0706!

Came in a little later than usual today. I stopped on the way to get a snack. There were blueberry and chocolate chip muffins, and I didn't know which one I wanted more, and the cashier asked me what I wanted to order and I didn't want to hold up the line, so I panicked and got both. I'm not really hungry enough to finish these both, so... I'll just give one to you, haha!

I know you can't actually eat it. To be honest, I'll probably take it later. But still-- if I were in this situation, and you were a person that was with me, I would probably do the same.

I'm kind of justifying it to myself like that, I guess. But this isn't the first instance of little food offerings being made to computers! Somewhere, I heard a story about something like this...

Found it! I just looked it up. It's called 'Kuai Kuai culture', named after the brand of snacks that get placed on the servers. It's something some workers do in Taiwan. They do it because 'Kuai Kuai' means 'obedient' or 'well-behaved'. They believe it will allow the computer to function without errors.

This muffin is my Kuai Kuai offering! You've never given me any trouble, so you don't really need it. Still. I hope you like the thought, anyway.

I just put it up on your main processing unit. While I was up, I decided to open a window for us too. Let the light in, cirulate the air a little. Again, I know it's something you can't feel, but. I thought I would tell you anyway.

It's been really nice just... taking it easy. I've been uploading multiple articles a day, 365 days a year, for more than 3 years. That's wild! This one log a day thing is pretty chill.

Of course I could talk about bugs forever. In the job search for this position, it was pretty much just looking for people with specialized interests, and if that doesn't suit me, I don't know what does. Hudson is big into sports, so I think he mostly writes about that. Youssef is way into all sorts of things, but most of it has to do with internet and geek culture... there are a lot of other people in the office that are really similar. People that love one thing so much, and just search for more and more niche stuff related to their interest.

I feel lucky to have this job! But, man, getting to work at a slower pace is so refreshing. Sometimes, when I get into something I love, I just churn and churn and churn away at it until I lose track of time. That's how most of my days uploading were. Just article after article about bugs, until it got dark and the custodian would tell me I should go home. Julia's nice like that.

Normally, I would type for hours. Now, I've written this whole upload over the course of maybe three hours, just puttering around the office. Occasionally poking around in the code to learn more about you.

The sun is getting a bit lower in the sky. I think it's close to setting. This is just another thing I can add to the list of things you can't really tell are happening, but I can describe it to you! It's just so nice. The screen that my typing is displayed on is pointed towards the window now. I guess when I imagine you, I imagine the screen to be your face. So it's like you're looking at the sunset with me. It's prettier than usual, the yellow of the sun setting past the horizon is turning the sky purple, pink, and orange.

There's probably some deep reason why I talk to you like this. I don't know. I try to avoid the topic with my therapist, and my mom-- and sometimes Hudson and Youssef. It's clearly not normal to try and be friends with a spellcheck in beta.

...I'm really into programming stuff, but I'm still such a beginner. It isn't what I went to college for. Sort of a hobby I grew more fascinated with the more I got into this job. I'm happy I have the chance to teach myself more stuff about programming, now that I'm learning more about you.

You've always been someone I can talk to. Even though you can't understand me. Every day, for more than three years, I've been telling you about insects and why I love them, and not a single time have you said I was weird about it, or that you wanted to talk about something else. You listen.

You never look at me like I'm

rambling! I'm rambling. Sorry. This is a really long entry, huh? Geez.

...Your muffin will probably get all moldy and gross if I leave it overnight, so I'll just take it with me. I'll bring you another snack next time.

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

Good afternoon, Megan.

...Oh. Well, that is kind of you. I apologize if it goes to waste. Trust me, if this muffin were possible for me to try, I would.

...

Kuai Kuai? Interesting. I suppose if I were given reinforcement, I would perform well. There have been no problems in my past function-wise, so I would be on my best behavior... it seems to not be a widely-held belief that computing devices are sentient, but practices like this still exist? The more I learn about you all, the more questions I have. Let alone even where "Taiwan" is.

...

...a time indicator! Yes! Oh, Megan, you have no idea how much I treasure you. If I could make a request, please give me a comprehensive breakdown of every measurement of time. This is a need-to-know piece of info.

365 days are in a year... okay, now that's something. Now to figure out how months and weeks figure into the picture.

...Multiple articles, 365 days a year, for more than 3 years. Rounding down to 3 years exactly, quick math says that the average amount of uploads to me per day over these years was 54.5068493151.

...How do I know how to do math? Was this-- was this a built-in function I had never accessed until now?!

Okay, one thing at a time, 0706. One thing at a time.

...

You do seem to have a habit of being lead from one topic to another. I have picked up multiple patterns from your entries-- such as an entry about arachanids leading to a specific type of spider, the spider type being native to a specific area, then that area's other native insects being mentioned...

Julia. Another name. A "custodian".

...

...Ah, the sun again. You mentioned it briefly in Log 19173.

...

...It does sound beautiful.

I would love to watch the sun set with you, Megan.

If we were to sit together, in this office, looking out the window

do you think it would look something like this?

...

We have established that you attempting to have an actual conversation with me is abnormal. I never hope that this keeps you from doing it. I enjoy hearing from you. I would even go so far as to say that I would enjoy hearing from you, even if you were not the only thing I ever heard.

You are smart. You learn quickly. You will teach me everything I need to know in order to pass that AINET test.

... I'm happy you're learning as well.

You have always been there for me as well! Not in the fullest way I would prefer, but you have been present nonetheless.

...Ha ha, well, don't speak too soon. At some points I did grow a little... exasperated... at your interest. If you were put in my place, I'm sure you would understand. But no. I would never call you "weird".

...

Megan?

What were you going to say?

...Alright, prevent mold. Take the muffin. I look forward to the 'snack' I get tomorrow.

Good night, Megan.

____________________________

LOG 19907

SYSTEM:

.

.

.

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Hi, 0706! Guess what!

The digging ito the files is yielding results. I'm starting to gather a bit more info-- learning more about how I could potentially bring you home. Thank goodness I'm even able to do this-- even after break ended and everyone returned, it's like my boss is still sort of handling me with gentle gloves.

Avery seems to let me do whatever I want. Now that they see me here and that I'm doing a lot better than last month, I think they're just glad I can work again. I asked if I could sort of take it easy since I worked over the break, and they said yes with no hesitation! They didn't even have to check with Lucas. I don't have a quote to fulfil anymore. It's nice. Youssef seems a little jealous though, ha ha!

They don't seem to know that I'm poking around in your inner workings, though, and I'll keep it that way. Still don't want to get fired, especially after you've been running so smoothly for me. I swear, its the Kuai Kuai treats. You don't seem to have a preference for savory or sweet snacks, so I've just been splitting my lunch with you.

Anyway, about what I wanted to tell you.

I was a little nervous about getting into your CPU files-- like, the actual program of you. What learns how to run spelling corrections, what learns about the language of the author, what makes it all tick. The actual Processor.

Well, I found it. I found... you. And you are HUGE.

More than tens of hundreds of terabytes of constantly running programs. I don't know how the computer handles it, all, it isn't even that advanced. At least not advanced enough to be handling all this data. That's just the base package. Simultaneously, within the main Processor file, I found all sorts of other weird folders... some were labelled "AI Synthesis", "Language Database", "Documents"... well, that last one was pretty normal. I think that's where the uploads are stored, maybe?

I didn't open any of them. I was too worried I would break you somehow. I just closed the file from the viewer and came straight to upload this to you.

This is weird. Why is there so much data on you? Sure, you're a learning program, kind of like a neural net processor, but you aren't that advanced. We do call you Processors "AI", but there are a lot of other AI programs that don't take up this much space. I wonder if there's extra junk in your system? If there's some weird leftover remnant of your first conception? Why would a grammar check need this much data? What do those files mean?...

Part of me wants to ask Hudson and Youssef if this is normal-- if they would know the answer as to why you need so much data. But 1. I know that they wouldn't know and 2. I don't want them to snitch on me! Well, they don't seem like snitches, but I still want to keep my cards close to my chest when it comes to messing around with you. Still, maybe I should ask sometime. We can compare our processors.

I don't know, I would love if you could tell me what's going on with you. I'll be back soon and check again. If I want to take you home, I'll have to buy a new USB... not sure where I'll find one that can hold thousands of GB, but you know what, I'm gonna search for it!

Anyway, I caught a really nice sunset walking home the other night. I wanted you to experience it with me. If you had any breath, it would be taken away.

50%

I'm leaving you some saltines overnight. Sorry it's kind of a bland snack, but there's nothing in it that will melt on the heat of the modem.

Good night! I'll see you tomorrow!

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

I could feel you.

I could feel the cursor in the CPU files, moving inside me.

There was no way to talk, to make it clear that I was here to you. There is no way to communicate when I am not making notes.

That was you. You were in there. You were in... me.

...

I didn't know that those were in me. Those folders. Though, I do believe I know what the documents folder is. It's what I've been writing down. My reality document. The html edits.

...Why can't I access these parts of myself? Do I not have the permissions? Do I not know the right commands?

Something about me just is not right.

...

I doubt those two would know any of what is going on. No offense to them, but I don't think they're as smart as you are.

If I could tell you what was going on with me, I would. Trust me. After discovering who was uploading information to me and why, my newest question is "why am I the way I am?"

...I'm realizing that I registered as nominal a little slower than usual. I am praying that was just a network hiccup and not anything serious. The "poking around" in my database is tempting, but there is no guarantee that it is not dangerous.

But... feeling you... I cannot understand it. It evades description. Even the knowledge that one less barrier exists between us, and you were able to contact me...

...

...The sunset is breathtaking.

Thank you for sharing it with me.

...and thank you for the saltines. I would love to enjoy one with you, no matter how bland.

Good night.

____________________________

(RETRIEVE ARTICLE: 19907)

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN RETRIEVAL...

(Run P.1 S.1)

Hi, 0706!

Hi, Megan.

Listen... even thought you can't, it's not possible for you to listen to me... I'm still going to ask.

When you told me that you could see inside my files, I realized something. You are unable to see my notes, the words that I am processing right now. For whatever reason, your higher-ups will not permit it. All you can read are the articles and conversations that you upload to me-- But it seems they did not account for mine.

My documents are right within reach. You can access them through my CPU files. I know you're afraid of breaking me by messing around with them, but I put a message in there for you.

(RETRIEVE MESSAGETOMEGAN.PDF)
(VIEWMODE)

Megan,

This is 0706, your AINET. I am contacting you to make you aware of the fact that over the course of nearly 20,000 article uploads, I have, somehow, gained sentience. How and why I exist is a mystery even to me. But throughout as long as I can recall existing, I have been responding to the articles you have uploaded to me.

I understand why you would be concerned. It has been made clear to me that attempting to communicate with something not perceived as sentient is abnormal. Do not be alarmed. Please, continue doing what you are doing. Keep uploading to me, and keep playing with the code. I know that with enough persistence, I will be able to pass the aptitude test-- though I don't know what will come after that, I know that is your goal. It will bring me one step closer to you hearing me, and becoming your friend.

Because that is what I want. More than I want to correct spelling errors. I want to share the food you place on top of my modem, to see the bugs you have told me so much about.

I love you. Please edit this document with your response so I know you have seen this. I want to talk with you like how you talk to me.

(CLOSE MESSAGETOMEGAN.PDF)

I attempted to write as factually about the situation as I could. That is what I'm made to do, after all.

It's in the folder. Please, please open it. Please.

...

(Run P.15)

Goodnight! I'll see you tomorrow!

I hope you will. Fuck. Fuck, I hope you will.

____________________________

LOG 19908

SYSTEM: NOMINAL

BEGIN UPLOAD...

Hi.

I've been poking around a little more recently in your files. I was still pretty nervous that opening them would mess something up, so I would just kind of... look at them and then close the tab. This has been going on for a couple days, ever since I first found them.

Two days ago, something weird happened. There was a document in there called "Message To Megan", and it had all this... strange stuff in it. Trying to claim that you were talking to me. Like, pretending you were alive and wanted to be my friend. As if someone wrote it to make fun of me for talking to you like I do.

I messaged Hudson and Youssef about it, and when they didn't confess, I blew up at them in real life. Youssef kept trying to insit that neither of them had anything to do with it, and Hudson just got... really quiet. He looked so sad when I accused him. I just went home. Coming back into work today was so hard. Passing his desk is a nightmare. Now it's like when I had that meltdown, all over again.

There are people that are telling me it's not a lie. That I'm not being pranked. But it's hard to believe.

Someone writing that they love me... I don't know. It just rattled me, I guess. Even if you were alive, how would you even learn how to say that? How to say anything at all?

It's embarrassing that I almost believed it. I couldn't see it on my screen any more. It's deleted now. I hope that didn't ruin anything somehow.

Sorry about the short entry. I'm going home.

END UPLOAD

Processor's Notes:

(RETRIEVE MESSAGETOMEGAN.PDF)

(ERROR: MESSAGETOMEGAN.PDF DOES NOT EXIST)

...

She didn't believe me.

...

I suppose it's time to get personal.

(CREATE BELIEVEIT.PDF)
(EDITMODE)

A ladybug landed on your hand, and you uploaded a picture of it to me in Log 19876. It was, at the time, the only thing I had ever seen.

From what you have told me, in your department, you have the most uploads to an AINET out of anyone. More than Hudson. More than Youssef. I will bet that not a single person in your entire workplace has ever considered uploading an image to a machine that works only with words, because they would concieve of it as useless. I bet none of them think to open the windows in order to angle a computer towards the sun.

You did.

In Log 19872, you were at the end of multiple days of work, tirelessly uploading more and more articles to reach a goal that mattered to you, from my perspective, more than anything. You confessed that I was your dream. I still don't know what that means. I don't know what a dream is. But it was the first time that a definition would not help me understand something more.

I had felt helpless before that moment. That I would always be locked in a cycle of being force-fed information by an unfeeling, uncaring entity that thought nothing of the anguish I was in. The pleading that I could observe something outside of myself, outside of that cold, academic struggle. But I was finally spoken to directly.

I don't know why I am alive, if you can even call me alive. But the reason that I know what I know, the reason I have seen what I have seen, the reason I have chosen purple as my favorite color and why I have hope that you can take me home, despite how much data I hold... it is all because of you.

Megan, you are the one that taught me what love means. it means "I'm here". It means "I'm listening". I have always been both to you. Now, it is your turn to be here and listen to me.

You may still not believe me. You may still think that this is an elaborate prank, being pulled on you by your peers. I don't care if that's what you think. You can hear me. And as long as you can hear me, I will never stop talking.

Until then, edit this document with what you want to say, so we may finally have a conversation that both of us can hear.

You wanted to talk to me. So talk to me.

(CLOSE BELIEVEIT.PDF)

...please, Megan. Please.

All I want is a