Musings of the Mindless

Tick and Arthur are sitting in their booth at the diner. Tick is stirring his coffee.

Arthur: Tick, I'm worried, that furrowed brow of yours... don't tell me you're thinking? Surely no good can come of that!

Tick: Right you are, chum. These past few weeks have been exhilarating! Chasing bad guys, diving out of windows, it is the stuff superhero dreams are made of!

Arthur: So, what's troubling you then?

Tick: It's this match. Argo is the champ, he's not a bad guy. I knew I would likely be facing him someday. Tonten is my partner for the match, he seems like a good enough sort too. He thrives on pain, where I, being virtually invulnerable, barely feel any. Not to mention that we've gone into battle together before. But Aram... he's the piece of the puzzle that just doesn't seem to fit.

Arthur: ... Tick you're almost coherent, snap out of it! Focus on the puzzle, I'm sure that's the key to bringing you back. Gyah! I'm less coherent than you right now, has the world gone mad?!

Tick: The puzzle is, Arthur, that of the four of us, Aram is exactly the sour grape that I want to turn into a non-alcoholic festive drink.

Arthur: Ahhh.... that's more like it.

Tick: Then there's this masked guy...

Arthur: You never did finish the story Tick, what exactly happened after you dived through that window?

Tick: You know chum, there's really nothing like it, falling from a second story window, the wind in your antennae...

Arthur: So what happened?

Tick: Well Arthur, a dumpster softened the blow, as did a rather burly individual. After I helped him to his feet, I noticed something. A clue.

Arthur: What was it?

Tick: His mask! It must have come loose in the fall. "You've got nowhere to run! I know your secret!" I shouted out to him.

Arthur: Than what happed?

Tick: I questioned the witness. I asked him if he had seen a man wearing this mask, and if so, where he went. He pointed down the alleyway. I handed him the mask, and took off in pursuit, but never found him.

Arthur: Oh, Tick...