Chapter One: The Bankrupt Manager's Lunar Hotel

“Request denied. Once the succession trial resumes, it cannot be suspended.” New words appeared in the ring. TRIAL PERIOD: 90 EARTH DAYS. MINIMUM TARGET: 3 VALID STAYS. CURRENT HOTEL LEVEL: 0. AVAILABLE AREAS: LOBBY, ROOM 001. ENERGY REMAINING: 11.7%. CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE: SURFACE LIFE SUPPORT WILL CLOSE. OPERATOR WILL BE RECLAIMED. Zhou fixed on the final word. “What does reclaimed mean?” “You will become part of the hotel.” Old Chen cursed and struck the airlock control. Nothing happened. Zhou, strangely, grew calm. He had managed fire alarms, food poisoning, and a five-hundred-person wedding during a blackout. Panic never resolved a complaint, even when the complainant was inhuman.