How to Make Friends

William Manet is the sole human stationed at a remote Mars outpost, tasked with seeding the planet’s atmosphere. The endless desert, the humming machinery, and the weight of isolation press down on him, turning his thoughts into a private lecture hall for one. As days blend together, he clings to the few remnants of Earth—magazine cut‑outs, imagined conversations, even a picture of Annie Oakley that seems to wink back at him.

When a mysterious visitor arrives in a battered spacecraft, Manet steps into a strange cabin that feels both alien and familiar. The host, a charismatic figure named Trader Tom, offers a glimpse of camaraderie in a place built for solitude. Their uneasy exchange hints at the fragile line between companionship and the harsh reality of life on the Red Planet, inviting listeners to explore the psychological cost of being the only human in an unforgiving world.