“You must be aware, Stanley, that people substantially less well off than you are struggling for survival. The whole Earth is turning into one giant shithole. You don’t notice as much because you have the means to ignore it. Billions of others aren’t as well off as you. As famous as you.”

Stanley leaned back in his chair and turned to face the plasmapane window that filled the western wall of his living room. Dark stormclouds were forming over the mountains. Judging from the size and intensity of the gathering formations, the cabin would soon be in the midst of a deluge.

“Do you hear me Stanley? Time to rejoin the human race. Be a part of something bigger.”

No response.

“You fucking coward.”

At this, Stanley bristled. He shot out of the chair and grabbed the young administrator by the shirt.

“You piece of shit. I did my time. Two years in space. Fifteen on Mars, which, incidentally, would need a significant upgrade to be considered a shithole. I buried my family there.

Now get out.”