Boom-Boom and I seemed to sleep just fine in our odorous hideout. That is, until the next morning when both of us and Dr. Snively awoke to the tent being shook.

My first thought was that it was Cleetus- it made sense someone with his skillset would have tracked us down in the night. I shot a pained look to the doctor, who motioned to a pile of dirty clothes on the floor. They were certainly unpleasant in appearance, but if I had lasted this long in the tent I could handle any smells now. Besides, Cleetus assuredly wouldn’t want to search such a gross mess- who would? I quickly burrowed myself under the discarded shirts and pants, while Boom-Boom crouched down behind them out of sight. Being unseen was easier for a cat.

“Hello? Who’s there?” Dr. Snively called out when we were obscured. He opened the tent flap to peek outside.

He was greeted to a moan. From my hiding spot I couldn’t see anything, but it certainly didn’t sound like Cleetus’s voice.

“Peeeew!” the outside party exclaimed, “Jesus, Sherman, what the hell do you eat these days?”

“Oh, Detective LaLouf,” Dr. Snively replied. He didn’t sound particularly surprised to see her.

“I told you to move this tent last week,” the detective continued, “the church says you’re an eyesore. We’ve talked about this. Why are you still here?”

“I’ll move tomorrow,” he answered.

“You said that last week, and the week before that, and then the week before that. I’m going to physically move you if this tent isn’t moved by sundown.”

“I have nowhere else to go, Lola,” the doctor whined, “Society has cast me out. This is my world now-“

“No, society has done no such thing,” LaLouf sounded like she was scolding, “You have a house in the settlement, a nice one at that. You’ve just decided to live this outsider life because, what, your feelings were hurt at work? There’s nothing that says you can’t go home.”

“No one believes me,” the doctor continued, “but I know I’m right! You all treat me like a mad man, but I KNOW we are not alone on Mars! I have proof!”

“Right, well, I’m here today to tell you this is your final warning to move your tent-“

“HE saw them too, Lola!” at once I could tell the doctor was turned around and facing the clothes pile I hid beneath.

“ ‘He?’” LaLouf stuck her head inside. “Who else is in here?” I don’t believe she could see me but realistically there really were only a limited number of places one could be.

“He said he saw a form last night too, Lola,” Dr. Snively had an energy to him now, “And saw it make fire!”

“…Cole Rapp? Are you under that pile of clothes?” Detective LaLouf did not sound amused.

Slowly, I peeked my head out. “Hello, detective. I thought you were someone else.”

“…you were hiding in a disgusting pile of laundry because you thought I was someone else? You don’t realize how suspicious that sounds?”

“ ‘Suspicious’?” I repeated back, genuinely confused. I had told the truth, what could she mean?

“You’re the number one suspect in a homicidal arson. It was cute how to you tried to have your bodyguard sell me on the idea that you’re the most innocent, sweet, caring human being on the planet but tip for the future- the more he said “don’t ever bother looking for Cole again” or “don’t worry, you’ll never hear from Cole again” really raises some red flags. I assume he helped with this plan to flee town? Was that your end game, be a fugitive on Mars where it’s population 3,000 and otherwise just desert? Not very bright, Cole.”

“I’m not fleeing you,” I insisted, “I told you the truth about last night!”

“Wait, are you on the run from the law? Is that who’s hunting you?” Dr. Snively sounded slightly concerned and looked at me with pleading eyes.

“No!” I said, turning to him, “I told you the truth too! This is a misunderstanding!”

“Cole,” Detective LaLouf sighed, “who would be hunting you? You have a bodyguard. No one in their right mind would be trying to hurt you. Speaking of, where is Cleetus?” she pulled her head back out to inspect the perimeter of the tent.

“You have a bodyguard?” echoed Dr. Snively. I could see he was becoming disappointed in all he heard.

“No- I mean, yes, I have a bodyguard, but it’s not like that. I swear to you, I saw a form last night! And it was the one that caused the fire, not me!”

“Then who is hunting you? Is it the form?”

“THERE IS NO FORM,” cut back in Detective LaLouf, head back inside the tent. “You know how ludicrous that sounds? Cole- we’re going to find the evidence sooner or later, so you may as well admit your involvement in burning down Martha Ann and Dan’s. And Sherman, as my husband and I have been telling you for years, Mars has no other life on it besides humans.”

“Laurence is wrong, Lola,” Dr. Snively firmly stated, “I know what I’ve seen. Your husband may be a respected seismologist in Super Labs, but he doesn’t know everything about this planet.”

“And I know what I’ve seen,” I added, “and what I saw was responsible for last night’s fire, not me.”

“Jesus Christ,” LaLouf shook her head, “Of course, the two crazies of New Earth One just had to cross paths.”

“But don’t you see, Lola?” Dr. Snively seemed to grab at an opportunity, “I only just met Cole last night, after he was on the run from the law!”

“-I wasn’t…I’m not on the run from the law-“ I tried to defend myself.

“-I have been living out here in the desert for years, living off canned beans in the portable cooler on the other side out back. You’ve been my only real human interaction, Lola. Cole’s been off doing his hermit thing in his own neck of civilization. Never have our paths crossed before last night!”

“Okay, so you met last night when Cole was fleeing justice. What’s your point?” Detective LaLouf was impatient.

“-I wasn’t fleeing justice-“ I tried again to interject.

“-My point, Lola, is that how could Cole have known to talk about flying forms- something I’VE been telling all my colleagues at Super Labs, such as your husband Laurence, for years? How could he have known? He didn’t even know who I was when we met last night, let alone the scandal around my theories!”

The detective was silent.

“Don’t you see? If both Cole and I saw flying forms, it proves they must exist! I am NOT mad!” Dr. Snively was grinning ear to ear.

Detective Lola crossed her arms. “See, but how do I know you two just met? Maybe this has been planned for some time. All a clever ruse to try and throw me off. And that doesn’t explain the fire.”

“It came from the form,” I repeated.

“I can’t speak to that,” Dr. Snively remarked, “for all I know Cole could be responsible for that genocide. But the forms, I can vouch for the forms.”

“I am not responsible for THAT genocide,” I muttered under my breath.

“Mew?” said Boom-Boom, wanting to join the conversation.

“Okay, so you both claim to see forms in the sky. What am I supposed to do with this information?”

“Why, call up Laurence! Tell him Sherman Snively has proof his theories are correct and there is something else here on Mars with us. I want access to all the necessary equipment so I can conduct appropriate research.”

“Your proof is an accused murderer.”

“Evidence comes in all shapes and sizes, Lola.”

Boom-Boom stepped outside of the tent. I debated doing the same- it felt like it had been so long since I last had fresh air.

“I’m not calling Laurence. This conversation has been an experience, but yeah, no.” Detective LaLouf looked to me and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t think of trying to go any further outside of New Earth One than this, Cole. You’re this close to being put under arrest.” Her eyes then shifted back to Dr. Snively. “And you- for the last time, move this stupid tent-“

Outside behind the detective, Boom-Boom suddenly began to make a loud, horrified hissing sound. LaLouf quickly pulled her head out; both Dr. Snively and I rushed to the tent flap to see for ourselves what the commotion was about.