When you're a superhero, it's expected that you've got some kind of "origin story": the moment of your life that explains how everything changed and how you became….well….you.

Usually, the superhero is the only one who knows the secret tales of their origins.

Therefore, it can be a bit of a shock to be a superhero and discover your origin story from somebody else who ISN'T you.

This was the exact situation the Tick now found himself in.

Though to say he was in shock would be a bit of an understatement. It was more that he was lost in a maze of mindless thoughts and aimless musings.

"TICK…."

What really even WAS a 'Tick', anyway?

"TICK!"

The Tick opened his eyes, and there was Arthur gazing back at him, with an expression filled with more than mild concern. "Are you…" Arthur swallowed hard. "...okay?"

"Hard to say Chum." The Tick looked around the room, as though fully seeing it for the first time. He looked down at himself. "Have you ever woken up one morning," he murmured thoughtfully, "looked in the mirror and asked yourself, 'Am I really who I think I am'...?"

"Ummm…" This was a whole new side to the Tick that Arthur wasn't ready for. "I guess…so?" He shrugged. "I mean….I never thought I'd be wearing a flying suit in a million years," he managed to chuckle a little to himself, "or…join a Superhero's league…" His shoulders sagged as he remembered his decision to leave—but he also knew this wasn't the time to discuss it.

The Tick looked as though he were in a daze. Arthur remembered seeing that look. He'd seen it in himself right after his father had died. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around it…" The Tick shook his head in disbelief. "I'm half Urmanian scientist and….half superhero DNA?"

"Well…" Destiny shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Not…exactly…." She realized then she couldn't hesitate much longer as both the Tick and Arthur were staring at her expectantly. "You're actually more like half…anonymous human DNA and….half…superhero DNA." Avoiding his eyes she added, "Dr. Karamazov simply mixed the two together, and….you're the end result."

"Can you believe this Arthur?" The Tick stood too swiftly for Arthur to stop him and, before he could respond, the Tick began to pace. "We both did our best to help that man—and he didn't even mention a word of this to me—not even a 'How've you been?' or a big ol' dad's hug hello!"

"Well…." Arthur winced, "he…was…kind of small at the time, Tick…."

"That's no kind of excuse, Arthur," the Tick admonished, and Arthur glanced up with surprise as the Tick's voice rose, as though with anger. (But that couldn't be, Arthur thought, the Tick was never angry.) "He created me," the Tick went on, "and then what did he do, Arthur? Send me off into the Wild Blue Yonder—without even a compass and a map to find my way?"

The Tick's voice broke as a hint of bitterness broke through.

"And what was I to him, all this time, Arthur?" he demanded, swinging around to Arthur who stood stock still, stunned speechless. "Was I just an experiment to him, or—was I something bigger? Something the world had never seen—and never will again? And if I was just an 'experiment'..."

The Tick halted in the middle of the room. His back was turned, so Arthur couldn't see his face, but the sorrow in his voice was gut-wrenching. "...did I do it all great justice, Arthur?" he murmured to the floor. "...was I a failure? Or was I…" He turned around, and Arthur froze at the sight of the Tick's glassy eyes staring back at him. "...a success?"

Arthur swallowed hard, and, unable to answer, glanced at Destiny with eyes pleading silently for help.

"Of course, you were a success," Destiny replied matter-of-factly. "You're the strongest superhero there ever was, with the understanding and compassion only the world's best human can possess."

The Tick smiled back at her, but it was a smile laden with sadness. "Leave it to you, Lady Destiny, to bring me anecdotes about myself I never wanted to know but always somehow did." His eyes widened as a thought dawned on him. "Wait a minute! You're not the female human whose DNA is—" He froze, staring at her dumbfoundedly, unable to finish the sentence.

"No." Destiny smiled. "Nice of you to think that way. Though I'd be honored if it was me, sadly I must confess that it is not."

"Tick…" Arthur paused, struggling to find the right words (for all the strange kinds of situations he'd been in ever since the Tick had come into his life, he'd never been in quite this kind of strange situation before). "Is…is there anything we can do…" He grimaced, hating how pathetic he sounded. "Any way…we can help you—?"

"Of course, there is, Chum." The Tick strode over and placed a firm hand on Arthur's shoulder. "You, and Lady Destiny, are going to help me find my Creator!"

"...we are?" Arthur gulped, glancing at Destiny with eyes growing wide.

"You better believe we are!" The Tick nodded with confirmation and resolve. "I've got quite a few inquiries for this elusive life force inventor," he added with a wink, "I have a feeling there's more to The Tick than meets the eye!"

"But—" Arthur's head was reeling. "Isn't—what you just learned more than enough for now?"

"Consider it done!" Destiny stood with sudden determination. "And I think I might know exactly where he is!"

"What—" Arthur stared. "How is that? You're not even familiar with this City—"

"I told you silly!" Before she could stop him, Destiny reached over and playfully tousled his hair, causing Arthur to practically fall off the couch as he ducked in an attempt to avoid her. "I've got The Gift!"

"You sure do!" the Tick praised, beaming at her. "So tell me, Lady Destiny," he prompted as Arthur sat staring numbly and wide-eyed with shock, "Wherefore art this Creator of mine?"

Destiny closed her eyes and began to hum a strange kind of hum. She rocked back and forth a little on the balls of her feet. She continued to hum for almost half a minute. Meanwhile, the Tick and Arthur watched her in complete silence, completely transfixed by her strange behavior. Then she opened her eyes, turned towards the Tick, and smiled a profoundly wide smile that gave Arthur shivers up and down his spine. "He's at Our Lady of Infinite Misery," she proclaimed, "which, I believe, is a church that is right here in this fair City!"

" 'Our Lady of….'" Arthur's eyes widened with recognition. "Oh right! Tick," he proclaimed excitedly, "don't you remember? That's where we all met up with Dr. Karamazov after he and I escaped the Terror." He shuddered at the thought. "Remember? It's the abandoned church that Tinfoil Kevin uses as an office."

"Now that you mention it," the Tick said, placing a thumb and forefinger to his chin in deep thought, "I do recall such a place! But Arthur…" The Tick's face fell, and a shadow seemed to envelop him. "...what if he doesn't want to see me?"

"Don't be silly, Tick!" Arthur placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Of course, he'll want to see you! You're The Tick and—" He glanced away, suddenly self-conscious. "-I'm sure he's proud of you," he added, his voice faltering slightly in spite of himself.

"Chum…" The Tick was clearly moved by his words as much as he was. "...I'm gonna have to give you a hug for that!" He drew Arthur in close before Arthur could protest. However, this time Arthur was kind of relieved, because the Tick was still the Tick, and somehow, because of that, everything was going to be okay.