[ WP ] Earth is discovered by a peaceful coalition of civilizations . Turns out we missed several major technologies normally developed by now . The aliens are very confused how we got here .

They started appearing a few years ago. At a glance, they seem like locusts. We would see one or two, never in large groups. Their psychedelic coloring and bizarre chirps gave us the first clue they were not bugs. 
 
 That, and scientists had n't caught any. Never, not one. We could see them and hear them easily. Filmed them many times. But, they outsmarted every net. Outsmarted every trap. Avoided every poison. Some kind of intelligence was guiding then. We did n't even have a species for them yet. We just could n't catch one. 
 
 They also destroyed things. Not big things. Little things. Was more like they were researching and reverse engineering things. Systematically taking apart machines bit by bit. They did seem harmless though. They mainly stuck to garbage. Enough yelling at them and they would leave something alone, for ever. They were learning. 
 
 Each made a different sound. Some high pitched, some deep timber, some groaned or thumped. Like cricket chirps being played through wahwah paddles. For such little bugs, they made a large sound. In the dark they could sound like car horns. Those alien honks. 
 
 We called them Lokis. 
 
 One Tuesday I touched one. Was out drinking a lemonade on my patio and it landed by my hand. I had never seen one this close. I just did n't move, not wanting to scare it. I had never heard of someone actually feeling one before. 
 
 The Loki looked like a fat cicada. It's mottled fluorescent colors looking like an art fair paper weight. Or, some entertainers eye. 
 
 It came over and with a bug arm it touched my pinky. Just a gentle tap. It then backed off and watched. After a minute of sitting there it emitted a loud honk like a bag pipe being stepped on and it flew off. 
 
 Wonder if I passed the test. No one would believe me when I said one had touched me. 
 
 The day passed without any more Lokis and I almost forgot the whole ordeal. 
 
 The next morning I could n't believe my eyes. The yard looked like it was covered in easter eggs. I went outside now and I scratched my eyes trying to decide if I was seeing things or dreaming. But, my yard was covered in thousands of Lokis. Never had I heard of this many gathering. They were all looking at me. And they were all completely silent. 
 
 As I went forward they seemed to make a path for me. I walked over to my chair and sat down. They came back and arranged themselves around me, all sitting at least a few feet away. All facing me. 
 
 Then they all started making their honks at once, at first it was deafeningly loud like a symohony had landed by my head. I screamed in pain and they went silent. 
 
 Then, they started up again. Softer but gradually louder until they came to a level where I paid attention to them. Each of them giving off their own note, synchronized with another few. The one by my wrist would chirp a B8 at the same time as another two a few feet away honked their own notes, then five would honk or even twenty at a time. 
 
 They were watching me react to their silly Symphony. I could only sit there dumb struck as I wished I had my phone with me. The noise had a pattern to it. It was like a piano was trying to talk. 
 
 Then I started making out words. 
 
 ^can ^you ^hear ^now? 
 
 What? 
 
 They did nothing for a few minutes. 
 
 ^is ^^this *better*? 
 
 Yes? 
 
 After I acknowledged them they all went silent. They seemed to take 15 minutes to decide what to do next. 
 
 `` Please do n't stop,'' I told them. Amazed at my weird dream. Hoping I did n't wake up? 
 
 `` ^^CAN *^you* really hear *me*?'' They asked, ending the silence. 
 
 `` I think so'' I responded. 
 
 They did n't respond for 20 minutes this time. Seeming to think over their response very carefully. 
 
 `` Why ^^ca n't ^you hear **me**?'' The bug Symphony talking piano asked in their singsong voice. 
 
 `` I can here you, I think.'' I responded. 
 
 At this point I did n't want to wait for the bugs response. I went inside to relieve myself and grab a recorder. The Lokis made a path for me again. They seemed to be able to react quickly as individuals by slowly as a group. Two Lokis in the house watched me as I did my requires and went outside with a cup of coffee. I sat down again with a tape deck and a note pad. 
 
 `` Please ^^do n't *leave* ^^^me until we are *done*.'' The Loki Symphony said. 
 
 `` Sorry. What should I call you?'' 
 
 `` The name you have given me, Lokis, is fine.'' 15 minutes later. 
 
 `` Call me Bob'' 
 
 Over the next few days we played out the slow motion conversation with Lokis. I would make a response, they would ask a question. And so on. 
 
 They were seemingly furious when I went to bed at five AM the next morning. But, I had no coice and they agreed to return. As I went to be I checked and most of my electronics and vehicle were dead. All disassembled in that characteristic methodical Loki way. I worried they had destroyed everything, but all of my food was untouched and appliances worked. 
 
 The message was clear, I was not to go anywhere or talk to anyone. I was a prisoner of Lokis. 
 
 After days of this echo game, I asked them to start writing messages for me. But, they were unable. Other than being illiterate and slow, they were brilliant. 
 
 As far as I could tell, Lokis was a hive mind of the individual Lokis. Each Loki barely smarter than a bug. But, together they were absolutely brilliant. Their naive yet genius messages were hard to understand on many levels. 
 
 When I asked `` Why, me? ``, they simply responded, `` Why not.'' 
 
 They asked me `` How can humans function as individuals?'' I responded `` Sometimes we do n't'' 
 
 It seemed to always take them minutes, or even days, to finish making a statement. Weeks, months, and years passed by as we established a dialog. I found myself growing old talking to the bugs. 
 
 They kept me fed. Even entertained me. Brought me supplies one little bug portion at a time. But, I was always a prisoner in this cicadian rhythm, easter egg, nightmare. 
 
 Every topic was covered, from philosophy to science, art and bugs. Engineering and mathematical questions I could n't even unserstand. They were beyond me in many levels. No idea why they chose me. I sometimes imagine they chose me because I seemed harmless and was easy to isolate. No one drove along the road any more, I think they may have blocked off the road. 
 
 And, we always came back to the same questions I could n't answer: 
 
 `` How can humans function as individuals? Why is there one human? Why do n't humans have telepathy?'' 
 
 I started to wonder after a few years. Why are they/it asking me why I am the only one?
