Earth is overpopulated and low on resources: the puppies, the kitties, and the fishies are all gone. There are not enough jobs, yet Hiremy & Hirschl has employed robots as middle management staff, which causes much friction. According to the employees, Charlie the robot is malfunctioning. But it could be that Charlie is being bullied. And what is a Shrimp Shake?

Meanwhile, you are being tested by the ISG, and if you make the Elite® ranks, you’ll be able to live on Mars and start a new civilization with people who are as intelligent as you. But the exam questions are suspect at best.

This is only the plot. Your job, really, is to find out the value of human existence.