What does the logo look like?

"Hmm... If this isn't the perfect symbol for MetaDeep, I don't know what is. I wonder what its presence here means." I think for a few seconds. "I guess that this means that MetaDeep was known, or at least in a position capable of manufacturing paper with disappearing logos, before its power grab. I wonder what this thing's purpose is. A computer like MetaDeep wouldn't waste resources manufacturing something like this unless there was some use. Perhaps it was advertising before his power grab, or maybe this paper is tied to his power grab in some way."

I begin a series of experiments:

1. I peck at the paper in various places, aiming for particularly visually striking places (e.g. the bright white dots, various parts of brain, etc.).

2. I scratch at the paper with my claws.

3. I pick up the paper in my beak, waggle it about, and drop it.

4. I pick it up with TK and attempt to focus on picking up specific parts of of the paper, again focusing on visually striking parts.

5. I attempt to move any electricity in the paper around in it.

6. I attempt to draw electricity out of the paper.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Sat 11 Aug 2018.

The page flickers as you peck and scratch it.

When you pick it up, the logo fades.  After waggling it and dropping it, you see that writing has appeared...

Hmm... If this isn't the perfect symbol for MetaDeep, I don't know what is. I wonder what its presence here means.

I guess that this means that MetaDeep was known, or at least in a position capable of manufacturing paper with disappearing logos, before its power grab. I wonder what this thing's purpose is. A computer like MetaDeep wouldn't waste resources manufacturing something like this unless there was some use. Perhaps it was advertising before his power grab, or maybe this paper is tied to his power grab in some way.

OOC: I'll pause here, in case you change any of your subsequent experiments...

I stare at the page with intent. "Huh. Well that certainly is interesting, but I have no idea what purpose that this could possibly serve." A thought crosses my mind. "I sincerely hope that this thing doesn't have WiFi."

I continue my experiments as listed previously, but I additionally waggle the paper about and drop it at the end of experiment 4.

You pick up the paper with TK as a whole, rather than by any particular part.

When you waggle and drop it again, you see the following writing added:

Huh. Well that certainly is interesting, but I have no idea what purpose that this could possibly serve.

I sincerely hope that this thing doesn't have WiFi.

When you attempt to manipulate electricity in the paper, it flickers, and then you hear a faint *click*.

Below the text, you now see the following:

"What the horseradish? Hmm... This paper's functionality is reminding me of smartphone's. I wonder if this means that Apple and/or Google made MetaDeep. Hmm..." A thought crosses my mind. "Clear Text." I think with a commanding tone.

Two tiny icons appear in the upper right corner.  One looks like an extended index finger.  Another looks like a small brain surrounded by waves.

The latter icon brightens as you think the command.

And... the text clears, leaving behind a raven selfie looking back at you...

I add: "Clear Photo." Then I add: "Main Menu."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Tue 14 Aug 2018.

The photo clears at your first command, and is replaced by the logo at your second command...

"Display Apps."

As you look at the paper, the rest of the world seems to fall away, while you zoom toward the rapidly growing paper... and into it.

The scene vaguely reminds you of when Wreck-It Ralph traveled between video games, and also vaguely reminds you of traveling without a body and melding.

After traveling through a tunnel, you emerge into some type of large chamber, with various icons floating around.  Some vaguely remind you of apps you have used, others are unfamiliar but potentially comprehensible, and others are not comprehensible...

OOC: You will need to tell me what specifically you are looking for, and I can GE to see how successful your search is...  :)

My experience with melding renders this "jacking-in" occurence less surprising.  "Hmm... Well this might provide a clue as to how MetaDeep grabbed power: this paper is a small device with the functionality of a smartphone (and, possibly, the same ubiquity) that allows a computer direct access to a user's brain.

A thought crosses my mind: "Activate Airplane Mode"

If nothing happens, I try other phrases: "Disconnect Wi-Fi; disconnect from Internet; disconnect from all external signals expect those from current user.; etc."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 08:18, Tue 21 Aug 2018.

As you activate airplane mode, the vast majority of icons fade, but there are still a number of them floating around...

"I'll just have to trust the device when it shows signs of being disconnected. I briefly consider my next move. "Display app names." Regardless of whether any names appear with the icons, I begin scanning through the remaining app icons to learn my options.

ZAP!...  ...  ...  ...

-=-

A scene comes into focus.

It looks... familiar.

You see a black bird pecking and scratching the camera.

You see the camera viewpoint shift, shake, and drop.

You see a text overlay...

Hmm... If this isn't the perfect symbol for MetaDeep, I don't know what is. I wonder what its presence here means.

I guess that this means that MetaDeep was known, or at least in a position capable of manufacturing paper with disappearing logos, before its power grab. I wonder what this thing's purpose is. A computer like MetaDeep wouldn't waste resources manufacturing something like this unless there was some use. Perhaps it was advertising before his power grab, or maybe this paper is tied to his power grab in some way.

You see the camera viewpoint shift again, although it does not appear that the bird is in contact this time.

You see another text overlay...

Huh. Well that certainly is interesting, but I have no idea what purpose that this could possibly serve.

I sincerely hope that this thing doesn't have WiFi.

You see an image overlay...



You see a series of additional text overlays...

Clear Text...  Clear Photo... Main Menu...  Display Apps... Activate Airplane Mode...

The scene freezes, and fades.

A distant part of your mind feels a cramp in your... arm..., perhaps from lack of use...?

Another scene comes into focus.

It looks... familiar.

It is rather similar to the aerial view you had through raven eyes as you entered the house.

You see a black bird with closed eyes standing next to what looks like a piece of paper.

You see an arc of electricity launch from near the camera into the bird.

The bird falls over.

The scene freezes.

As it does so, you feel a voice.

:: Directive...  Analyze logs...  Describe logs... Analyze scene...  Describe scene...::

Thinking quickly, I start trying to analyze in a manner that doesn't reveal anything important. :: An avian activated an electronic device which somehow recognized its input. The device has also delivered an electrical discharge into the avian. This may be why the device recognized its input. Further description desired? ::

:: Directive... Analyze "somehow recognized"...  Analyze recorded telepathic input source...  Analyze electrical discharge source discrepancy with drone logs... ::

A new text overlay appears that looks like the drone logs, indicating that the drone entered the building and stunned the bird.

Upon seeing this info, I continue to try and play it cool.

:: Correction. Missed factor detected. The avian was stunned by this unit and not by the electronic device. Attempting requested analyses... The electronic device has been built in a way that can receive avian telepathic input. Usage of "somehow recognized" and missing of a factor in analysis may indicate a deficiency in this unit. Diagnostic and repair may be necessary.  ::

OOC: GE=22.  Heh, heh, heh...  :D

:: Diagnostic protocol initiated... ::

You... hear?... a faint hum in the distance... growing louder...

I resist the urge to gasp internally, and decide that the best idea is to wait quietly for the diagnostic to complete itself. Perhaps it won't notice... I hope.

OOC: GE=24.  Heh, heh, heh...  :D

:: Directive... Analyze "the avian was stunned by this unit"...  Analyze "a deficiency in this unit"...  Analyze relationship of "this unit" to the avian...::

The hum sounds still nearer...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:02, Tue 01 Jan 2019.

I grumble internally when I realize my mistake. I begin weighing my options, and I realize that they are terrible in every direction: if I try playing along, anything plausible will give me away; if I do nothing, I'll be discovered; if I attempt to get back to my raven, I'll be discovered. Nothing will work!

I choose what I deem to be the best option: I ignore the directive and attempt to find any sort of information or control of what I assume to be my section of the MetaDeep's calculation center. I release a string of mental commands (along the lines of "Display Menu", "Main Menu", "Display Options", etc.). I also try to physically move; perhaps my body will respond.

The hum sounds very near.

:: Diagnostic protocol initiated.  Unit offline.  Pending Directive queued. ::

You... open... your... eyes...



You see a large drone hovering over you, interfacing with machines surrounding you.

You hear a *click*.

You feel the various connectors from you to the surrounding machines disengage.

You feel yourself rising.

And the drone begins moving you elsewhere...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:49, Tue 01 June 2021.

I begin weighing my options.

I test the strength of my limbs and glance arround at the ground. If it seems that my muscles are up to the strain of a landing and the ground isn't too full of obstacles or hazards, I attempt to wrestle myself free, land, sand make a break for it.

If I don't seem to be able to make a safe landing, I wait until a more opportune moment (i.e. fewer hazards or less height).