For those unaware, Perseverance and Curiosity are both armed, like the good patriotic American rovers they are - equipped with lasers which have a definite scientific function, but which also (let's be honest) serve to dissuade any Martian critters they come across from getting too close...
Let's hope Sheriff Percy doesn't need to use it.
Original image with caption (MastCam, sol 1495)
The scientific purpose is shooting things and then measuring the colors of the explosion
Ah, but you mustn't forget that Percy's microphone is also keenly listening in whenever it uses the laser. The geologists are using the sounds of the explosions to estimate the hardness and material properties of the rocks they're shooting:
We would therefore be quite aware of any screams from Martian life-forms we inadvertently shoot.
Just saying.