It was extremely strange, thought Arthur, to be following a complete stranger through his very own City–a woman who claimed to have just arrived, yet seemed to know every nook and cranny of the place that he called home.
Yet this also just happened to be the very same woman who proclaimed to be Lady Destiny.
So, he reasoned, maybe it wasn't too strange. Then again, when you fought crime with a superhero who called himself "The Tick", what did 'strange' really mean, anyway? Arthur's entire life had become 'strange'- and he was slowly beginning to realize that, thus far, he'd only just barely scratched the surface of just how strange it could possibly get!
"Hey Tick?" He quickly caught up with the Tick, who was moving forward at a surprisingly fast stride.
His "Partner-In-Justice" stole a quick glance over his shoulder. "Yes, Arthur?"
"Are you sure you're, um…" Arthur searched for the right words. "...ready, um…for this?"
"I'm ready for anything, Arthur," the Tick grinned back at him without breaking his stride.
"What I mean is—'' Arthur huffed back his words; he was suddenly feeling way out of his depth. "Um—" He stopped walking, and the Tick stopped immediately along with him. (Sometimes, it really felt like the Tick was his shadow; it was a little unsettling, to say the least.)
"What is it, Arthur?" The Tick peered at him quizzically. He seemed to be genuinely wondering and curious and not at all annoyed by the sudden delay—and, as always, his entire focus and attention were solely on Arthur. "What is it, Chum?" The Tick pressed, however gently. "What is it that you are trying to say?"
"Maybe—" Arthur rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "Maybe…Dr. Karamazov won't want to discuss any of this with us."
The Tick cocked his head sideways to show his painfully obvious confusion. "What do you mean, Chum?"
Arthur swallowed hard and looked away. Boy this was hard. The entire time he spoke he deliberately avoided the Tick's probing gaze. "Maybe he wants to keep it a secret," Arthur added for extra emphasis, then lowered his eyes guiltily, feeling ashamed for even suggesting such a thing.
"Now that's a silly notion!" The Tick practically laughed out loud. "I'm his creation, Arthur! Shouldn't that warrant a celebration?"
Arthur winced. "Yeah, it should, but—" He shuffled awkwardly in place. "When we were helping him escape—" He winced again; the Tick leaned in closer, as though maybe he hadn't heard Arthur, but Arthur hadn't said a word. "He didn't mention any of this to either one of us," Arthur blurted out, "not even once! So—something tells me—maybe he won't want to talk about it! And I mean yeah, sure, he mentioned knowing you—before—and…and how you destroyed everything in his lab that the government was coming after—" Arthur paused, realizing how absurd all of that had just sounded, but then shook himself back to the present reality. "But then—you know—that was it, he didn't say anything else about it."
Arthur paused again, as though deep in thought, but really he was struggling to find the right words. "Maybe…" Arthur lowered his voice conspiratorially, even as he could see Destiny drawing closer towards them and was within earshot, "maybe for some reason—" Again he hesitated; he didn't want to hurt Tick, but he also didn't want him to be disappointed. "Maybe he doesn't want you to know," he added in a hushed whisper.
"What's the holdup?" Destiny suddenly cut through, breaking Arthur's train of thought before Tick could respond. "It's getting late." She glanced over at the Tick, who looked dazed, tilted as though he were barely standing upright, and almost strangely expressionless. "Tick?" Destiny waved a hand in front of his face. "Are you alright?"
Suddenly, as though someone had wound the key, the spell was broken and The Tick sprung to life: and the odd expression was replaced once again with the same old smile. "Onward!" he exclaimed, and without further ado swung around towards the direction of the church.
Arthur groaned. "He's alright," he muttered to Destiny in response, who smiled widely with a noticeable sigh of relief.
In spite of his growing sense of dread, Arthur continued to follow, not so sure he was going to welcome this encounter—something about it just didn't feel right. Even so, he would go anyway—the Tick needed him.
He wasn't sure why he was so opposed to the idea of going, but he knew it wasn't his place to question why.
As they approached the church, Arthur hesitated again. The church always gave him a sense of uneasiness—almost like a foreboding. It the church used by the original members of the Flag Five and other superheroes of the City before they had disbanded, after that fateful day when— (but Arthur would not—he could not- think about that). Now it was in shambles. The stained glass was still intact in some was clearly inside because there was a soft orange glow sifting through the windows. This, Arthur surmised, was likely to be Tinfoil Kevin.
Kevin had recently found a job as a caretaker—of lobster babies no less (but that's another story). Arthur wondered if he was possibly now living at the church. He hadn't seen Kevin since the celebration gathering at AEGIS, welcoming the new Flag Five team. Arthur dreaded having to explain to Kevin why he wasn't wearing his "costume", but then again, he wasn't out patrolling. This wasn't business. It was personal.
"Let me," he declared and stepped up to ring the doorbell.
They stood back to make way for the door to open. Sure enough, there was Tinfoil Kevin's familiar face appearing on the other side. He was smiling and rosy-cheeked, and Arthur suspected he'd probably been drinking—which shocked Arthur because Tinfoil Kevin didn't have any other 'vice' aside from playing the Kazoo too loud on the street corner. "Hey, Arthur!" Kevin stepped forward and pulled Arthur into an unsuspecting bear hug. "Been too long bro!" Kevin paused when he saw the Tick and Destiny standing not far behind. A flash of concern swept over his eyes. "What're you all doing here?"
"Hey—yeah—sorry about the short notice," Arthur mumbled, shuffling uneasily where he stood. He wasn't one for greetings or gatherings for that matter. "We're–uh—actually wondering if you could tell us where–"
"My DAD is!" The Tick boomed out before Arthur could finish, and Arthur swung around to face the Tick with shock.
"TICK!" Arthur hissed, "He's NOT your—"
"OH right!" the Tick laughed, smacking his forehead, "forgive me! I meant, my CREATOR!"
Arthur groaned and covered his eyes. "What he means is," he said to the very confused looking Tinfoil Kevin, "is that we're looking for our friend Dr. Karamazov….we have a mutual friend in common," he added, gesturing towards Destiny.
"Hello," Kevin smiled, beaming at Destiny, however shyly. He stood forward and took her hand, bending down to kiss it.
"My my my," crooned the Tick with a smile and a chuckle, "He's sure the Gentleman!"
"Sorry—" Kevin blushed profusely and tried to hide under his tinfoil hat.
"Would you know where he is?" smiled Destiny warmly. "We've got some questions we'd like to ask. Namely—the Tick does—"
"OH!" Kevin exclaimed so loudly that Arthur nearly fell backward, but the Tick caught him. "Right! He said you'd probably come by…." There was a sudden pause, and the dread in Arthur's stomach began to grow. "He's—not here, uh…actually. Actually…at the moment….he's on the run."
"The run?" The Tick repeated with a frown. "Running to where?"
"More importantly, Tick," Arthur jabbed him in the side, "I think the real question we should be asking is: Who's he running from?"
"Uh…." Kevin blushed again. "That, I couldn't tell you because…I don't really know, and…even if I wanted to tell you, I can't because—" He grimaced noticeably. "I have to inform you that the Doctor said himself, that he wasn't allowed to tell anyone." Kevin's eyes continued to dart nervously between Arthur and the Tick, and it was making Arthur even more nervous than before. "Can you guys come inside—just for a quick moment? I have something to give…to you," he added hesitantly, looking straight at the Tick, whose eyes widened considerably with excitement—yet, it was an excitement that caused Arthur's heart to, in turn, perform a couple of impressive and unsolicited back-flips.
"What is it?" asked the Tick, following Kevin and looking mystified, as though he were about to receive some long-lost, just-found magical treasure.
"Um…it's…a letter," Tinfoil Kevin replied hastily, as he went about tidying up the place, "Please—make yourselves comfortable. Sorry about the lighting," he added, nodding at the low-level lamps, "I haven't gotten electric installed just yet."
"It's beautiful," gushed Destiny, and Kevin blushed yet again before disappearing somewhere down a short hall.
"A LETTER, Chum!" The Tick was beaming brightly as he jabbed Arthur playfully in the side. "He wrote a LETTER….to ME!"
Arthur nodded enthusiastically (or tried to), somehow managing to fake a semi-believable smile. Somehow, considering the letter's author was currently "on the lamb", he wasn't expecting this message to signify a joyous occasion.
"Here it is," Tinfoil Kevin announced as he reappeared with a carefully folded piece of paper. There was clear penmanship that Arthur could make through thanks to the stained glass window's shadows mixing with the lamplight. "He wrote it himself. He gave it to me with the instructions to give it to you," he addressed the Tick, who received it warmly, "on the occasion that you would—in his words— 're-discover your Destiny'." Tinfoil Kevin was pointedly looking at the new member of the group, as Destiny let her eyes wander, seemingly aimless, elsewhere.
"NEAT!" The Tick exclaimed as he held the letter tenderly in his fingertips as though it were a newborn child.
"Uhhh…Tick?" Arthur carefully sidled towards his friend, trying hard to conceal his obvious unease. "Should we…uh….leave, uh, for a while—?"
"NONsense!" The Tick enthusiastically clapped a hand on Arthur's shoulder, nearly knocking him over (he still hadn't used the Tick's super-strength, even now). "We're PARTNERS, Chum—whatever Dr. Karamazov says to me, he can also say to you!"
"Uh Tick—" Kevin held up a finger. "I think the Doctor meant for that to be private—"
"Tiddlywinks!" The Tick took a seat on the nearest old-fashioned cushioned chair. "Sit!" he ordered Arthur and the others, who promptly sat. With the lamplight guiding his way, the Tick began to read aloud the words from the one man who he'd never known could tell him everything about himself that he had ever wanted to know.
To My Dearest Tick,
Aha! So, you've remembered me! Either that or you received guidance, I'm guessing, from one Lady Destiny, the elusive Goddess of Self-Discovery! Heed her guidance, for she will teach you well. I am sorry I am not there to tell you this in person.
The Urmanian government has been after me for quite some time now, and they are hot on my trail. I am underground, where no one can find me. Not even you—and not even Lady Destiny—will be able to track my whereabouts. However, I am glad to know that you are now in good hands! If Destiny has followed my request correctly, you have learned some of your past and my endeavors to create the Super Being of the Future.
You, my loyal friend, are the Prototype! You have given me a clear insight into the genetic makeup of human and superhuman mutations. For that, my big blue friend, I thank you from the bottom of my big (and sometimes tiny) heart! You have given my soul purpose in this life, and that is a gift that nobody can ever replace or take away….much like you….You may not know this, but you are my protege! You helped me to discover the secrets of Big Bismuth and beyond….You were the conduit….Without your assistance, I never would have made the breakthrough needed….Your contribution alone has saved the lives of millions! You must be wondering how you came to be? Well, dear friend, I can tell you—but you must be sitting down! You are a manifestation of my desires—my desires to combine the super-intelligence of a Super Being and the super-compassion of the most compassionate soul into a brand new kind of Super Being—one that is filled with Super-Strength, but also Super-Compassion and Super-Intelligence—a feat that has never been seen before in the eyes of Man. Compassion, you may understand, is a human trait.
You received your ability to be compassionate from the human genome I extracted from my own human blood….but this was not enough, as all humans are fallible. No, to be foolproof your DNA needed a safety net. That safety net was created thanks to my dear friend Fyo. Fyo was my dog, named after the famous writer you're all familiar with I'm sure, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. My dog Fyo was a Shepherd Collie, and was the most loyal dog I'd ever known. When he passed at a ripe old age, I had my beloved friend transformed by taxidermy into a permanent fixture in my living room. Well, one day I received the Divine message (perhaps from the Lady herself) to extract the DNA from my dear friend and incorporate it into my experiment! Well, I was a bit annoyed because how could I retrieve a good enough DNA sample to perform this complex experiment? It would come in the form of something unexpected—
It would come in the form of a TICK. Yes, my friend, a TICK: a BLUE tick, to be exact, which is common to some of these parts in Urmania….that just so happened to be found when I was having him transformed into his currently stuffed affairs. Miraculously, I was able to extract the DNA from the tick itself- and combine it with my own human DNA, and the superhero's genome that was extracted from the being known to humanity as Superian. Together, these units birthed a brand new Being: the version of superhero genome that is now known by humans everywhere as The Tick: not the blood-sucking parasite for which it is named, but the peace-loving super-being which was created as a last cry for help and has been sent to hold up the whole of Humanity and beyond!
This is your legacy, my dear friend…my loyal protege, the epitome of creation I was always seeking to create…nobody knows the truth about your existence except me, and now…you….and whoever you shall choose to share this information with….Please however take care with who you share this to, as the success of this experiment has the potential to put your loved ones in harm's way. If you wish to know more–including what has happened to your memory—please speak with Lady Destiny, as she and I had quite a few talks the last time when we were in holding. You dear Tick are forever the Captain of your Soul…. Be well, and may you always and forever be at peace in the Wild Blue Yonder… …that is to say… ….YOU!
Sincerely
~Dr. Karamazov
Scientist, Visionary, Inventor
By the time he had finished, there was not a dry eye in the house.
The Tick's hands were open, but the letter had fallen to the floor.
Arthur didn't say a word; he couldn't. He simply went straight over to the Tick and wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. He could feel the Tick's tears soaking his shirt, but he didn't mind and he didn't let go. Nobody else said a word. Destiny held out a box of tissues, which Arthur handed to the Tick, who attempted to dry his eyes, but without much success. In the process, he began laughing as tears continued to leak from his eyes, and Arthur had to hug him again, which only made the Tick laugh harder.
"I'm part DOG, Arthur," was all the Tick could keep saying. "Part Superian….and part DOG."
"It's gonna be OK, Tick…" Arthur patted him gently on the shoulder. "You're with your family." He nodded over at Tinfoil Kevin, who was still unable to speak- but nodded back in turn. The Tick didn't respond; perhaps like the others, he couldn't.
It took a lot to make the Tick speechless, but for the first time, someone had succeeded. And in the silence that followed, he felt only love.
Notes:
Thank you for reading thus far- and please do share some feedback! This is the first long fic I've ever completed as well as the longest fic I've written in this fandom! I am grateful that you are reading my work and I would love to know your thoughts.
PS: If you would like to see more work from me, please check out my current project: The Pushyami Gogireddi Nanology! It's a tale of fantasy realism, magical mystery, and intrigue that takes place first largely in Ireland and then moves from there towards the UK, including England and Wales! You can find it all here at our channel ProfferandProsper:
The First Trilogy (Part 1): watch?v=MyxMLbZAfDc
The Second Trilogy (Part 2): watch?v=BL-0FUDSpiE
Thank you and please enjoy the rest of the story! :)