As we rushed out of the tent, I followed Boom-Boom’s gaze; she appeared to be looking into the distance, her brown fur all standing on end as she arched her back.

“What is it, kitty-kitty?” I asked and turned to see.

There was nothing there.

…just kidding. It was pretty far off, but over the tops of a red mountain there was definitely something reddish-gray moving, almost as if in flight. It was still hard to discern, but it was large enough one could not miss spotting it. It quickly disappeared on the other side out of our view, but not before we all had seen.

At first, no one spoke. We just stood there in silence.

Then, suddenly, from our left, a voice said: “So, what are we all starting at?”

The sound made me jump. I knew the voice well.

“Ah, there you are, Cleetus,” remarked Detective LaLouf dryly, “I figured you’d be around here somewhere.”

Cleetus said nothing back, but kept his gaze on me. I swallowed hard. He must have been tracking me, as I guessed, and just happened to spy me now once I emerged from my hiding place.

“I was telling Cole earlier that your little stunt didn’t work,” the detective continued.

“My stunt?” Cleetus blinked, perplexed.

“You know, how last night you told me not to look for him again. Thought you were helping him get away from justice, right? Well, didn’t fool me for a second. I’m just going to have to watch Cole even closer.”

It was now Cleetus who took a hard swallow. “What? No, I told you that because it’s the honest truth. Cole here’s a great guy, aren’t you, Cole? There’s no reason for the cops to waste time on you, you had nothing to do with that fire.”

On one hand, Cleetus was validating the truth- I didn’t have anything to do with the fire. But on the other, I knew full well why his support- once he got me alone and away from the crowd he would gut me like a goat getting dressed for a grille. I had a hard decision to make.

“Well,” I said slowly, “But come to think of it, I did have a few drinks last night…memory’s a bit foggy…”

Detective LaLouf jumped at the opening. “A-HA! So, is that your way of saying you may have done things you can’t remember?”

Cleetus stared at me. “What? Cole, no, you were telling me last night just how shitty and watery the beer was. You remember things fine.”

“Do I, though?” I scratched my head. “I mean, I DO recall the fire…but the rest is hazy…”

“This is vastly different than what you’ve been claiming up until now,” remarked Detective LaLouf, “but I’m going to assume that this change of tune is a possible admission of guilt.”

“Possible,” I nodded, “At the very least I probably should be questioned further. Alone.”

Dr. Snively suddenly waved his hand before all our faces.

“WE ALL JUST SAW IT,” he exclaimed, “THERE WAS A FORM AND IT WAS PLAIN AS DAY. HOW ARE YOU ALL NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT?”

He was right. I had been a bit startled by the sighting. Mentally, I had not fully processed what seeing it might mean. But moreso than understanding the mysteries of Mars, getting the fuck away from Cleetus was my current priority.

“We saw it, Sherman,” answered Detective Lalouf, “but we’re kind of in the middle of a case here-“

“-AND I’M KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF BEING EXONERATED HERE,” snapped back the doctor, pointing towards the mountains, “SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF EVERYONE ACKNOWLEDGED WHAT THEY SAW.”

“I’m thinking it’s the form,” I replied, “or at least something like it. It looks just about as big as the one I saw last night, albeit it’s at a distance. But it was pretty dark last night so I don’t know.”

“I saw it last night, too,” said Cleetus, though I had no idea if he really had or was just saying that in light of all that was happening, “seems like the form. I acknowledge it.”

“I wouldn’t call it a ‘form’ as much as an object,” answered LaLouf, “but I’ll confess not knowing what it is and that it warrants further investigation…at a later date. Now then, Cole, if you would be so kind as to join me, we can head to the police station for a private second interview-“

Dr. Snively kicked a clump of sand in anger. Then he scooped up Boom-Boom into his arms and started to walk towards the mountain in a huff. Boom-Boom, fur still at its ends, struggled in his grasp but could not get free.

“Hey, that’s my cat!” I called out, “What are you doing?”

“We’re going investigate NOW,” the doctor retorted, “the cat and I. The rest of you are too busy. I will NOT miss this opportunity to be called crazy later!”

“He’s taking my cat,” I turned to LaLouf, “that’s stealing. He’s taking my cat!”

“Cole, wait here,” said LaLouf, a hint of frustration. “Sherman, put the cat down,” she called out to Dr. Snively as she followed after. The doctor, aware of the pursuit, began to run. The detective begrudgingly followed suit.

That left me and Cleetus, standing alone as the others walked off. Cleetus started to smirk.

“Well then, Cole,” he said, slowly raising his fists, “you ready to dance-“

I took off running after Dr. Snively and Detective LaLouf.

“PUT MY CAT DOWN,” I yelled, trying my best to appear as though this following was purely to save Boom-Boom and not to escape my bodyguard who wanted me dead for blowing up Earth. The others didn’t need to know the complicated background.

No doubt wanting to keep me in his sights, Cleetus also took off running, bringing up the rear of the odd pursuit line we were forming. Dr. Snively had a mission- he was not stopping. Detective LaLouf had a duty to enforce laws and Snively had purloined a pussycat- she was not stopping. Cleetus was going to shatter me like glass if I gave him even five seconds with me- I was not stopping. Cleetus was going to shatter me like glass if he could get even five seconds with me- he was not stopping.

Through the red desert we raced, once after the other, until we reached the base of that red mountain that had previously seemed so far off in the distance.