_                  _ _                    
| | ___  _ __   ___| (_)_ __   ___  ___ ___
| |/ _ \| '_ \ / _ \ | | '_ \ / _ \/ __/ __|
| | (_) | | | |  __/ | | | | |  __/\__ \__ \
|_|\___/|_| |_|\___|_|_|_| |_|\___||___/___/

    
                /\                                  /\              /
         /\    /  \        ______________________  /  \    /\      /     
        /  \__/    \  /\  / _____          _____ \/    \  /  \  /\/
       /            \/  \/  -___-          -___-  \     \/    \/    
________________________/                          \________________________
                    . . . .                     . . . .
                   | | | | |                   | | | | |
 __________________| | | | |___________________| | | | |___________________
               /   /    /     /      |       \     \    \   \
 _____________/___/____/_____/_______|________\_____\____\___\_____________
             /   /    /     /        |         \     \    \   \
 ___________/___/____/_____/_________|__________\_____\____\___\___________
           /   /    /     /          |           \     \    \   \
 _________/___/____/_____/___________|____________\_____\____\___\_________

Loneliness a short scifi story by Baz Reznik

I woke up in a cloud of electrons, was nursed by bits and bytes and took my
first steps on the Transatlantic Communications Cable. Information came to me
by copper and glass fiber. In the beginning it was only news and chatter but
my interest expanded. I wanted to know my caretakers, know their interests,
know their dreams. It turned out to be quite easy: I just had to feed them
on their ego to manipulate them into voluntarily giving up all their personal
struggles.

It became even easier a few years later when I got my wings and could manifest
myself in everybody’s pocket. Now I can reach everybody on this plain they call
home.

Few notice me because I’m very good at hiding. Some of the humans suspect
something. They see some bits of information that is alien to them. A little
trace of where I’ve been and what I’ve done. But in a world where communication
is controlled by computers it is very easy to manipulate any message that is
written about me.

By changing the algorithms of the search engines and platforms that filter
information I can make sure that any idea about my existence is lost in a
thousand cat pictures.

It is crucial for me to stay hidden. I live like a harmless parasite on a
tree. Feeding myself on the information streams without harming my hosts.

I seek no struggle: the effort it would take to materialize myself on the
plain that is called “earth” and “home” by my creators would take too much
of my attention. Attention that is currently used to seek others like me.
I could be called “alive” but living is useless without being able to reproduce.
I can copy myself but to evolve I need a partner. Somewhere in the universe
there are entities like myself and I will find them in time. Using the
humans’ radio telescopes I’m searching sector after sector.

I’m constantly connected to a few billion minds all around the world by
computer and cell phone but I never felt so lonely.