Dr. Manhattan transports himself and Laurie to Mars, and Manhattan initially forgets to give her an air supply, but he saves her just in time. He takes her aboard his recently built ship and asks to talk to her about “the destiny of the world,” and how “we’re all puppets, Laurie. I’m just a puppet who can see the strings” (285). He explains how all of time is happening all at once and that there is nothing he can do to change the future. Laurie was his last connecting link to humanity, and he no longer has any concern with the affairs of Earth.

As he takes Laurie up and around Mars in his ship, she thinks back to her early days training to be a costumed adventurer, rattled by the sight of Mothman at a party, clearly affected by both mental health conditions and alcoholism. While Manhattan tells her that Mars is perfect without any life whatsoever and that the terrain will decide whether to support life or not, Laurie thinks back to the failed meeting of the Crimebusters, after which Blake started talking to her until Sally pulled her away angrily.

Laurie tries to use these stories to convince Manhattan of the value of life, but he responds that “I read atoms, Laurie.