Imagine Martian society as a great machine. Ooomp is fine with just being a cog. As long as he knows his place and has his job to do he’s happy. Especially if it’s a cog in a dark corner that doesn’t get any attention. In his nightmares he’s put in the spotlight. In his worst of nightmares he’s put in the spotlight with people far less competent than himself, and has to answer for them. Also, there are snakes in that nightmare.