Over the course of the next several days, Tick helped the Thundercats rebuild their home and helped keep a guard on the mutants, Lunatacs, and Grune. The Thundercats called in Captain Bragg to come by and take the evildoers to the island of Way Out Back.

About a week later, Bragg finally arrived, escorted by Officer Mandora, Evil Chaser. The Circus Train parked itself down in front of Cats Lair with Mandora landing her bike right beside it.

"Officer, do you really have to follow me every time I’m called upon to lend my services to my friends?"

"Seeing as how you occasionally try to go a little further than extending your services, yes."

"I only did that once!"

"Mandora, Captain Bragg," greeted Lion-O. "What took you so long?"

"You know how it is, Lion-O. There’s all this legal hubbub these people insist on putting me through."

"The law’s the law, Bragg. Who’s the blue guy?"

"I am the Tick! Champion of Justice! Defender of-"

"Uh Tick?"

"Okay. Just Tick."

"You don’t look like a Tick," said Mandora, who Tick thought had the unsteady voice he had ever heard.

"I really wish people would stop saying that."

"Well, where are the prisoners?" asked Bragg with his usual kindly old man grin.

Tick helped the Thundercats load the mutants, Lunatacs, and Grune into their separate cells.

"I hope these cells are enough to keep them from fighting with each other all the way," said Tygra.

During this time, Tick also made a decision.

"Are you sure you have to go Tick?" Cheetara and the others all asked at least once.

"Yes, I must go," insisted Tick. "It’s obvious to me that, this planet really doesn’t need my services anymore. It’s in good hands. It’s time to move on. I’ve always wanted to see the universe. I’ll explore. Maybe find a planet that does need my services."

"That’s your choice Tick," said Panthro. "We won’t stop you."

"We are forever in your debt, Tick," said an uncharacteristically humble Lion-O. "If it hadn’t been for you, we’d still be frozen in those ice blocks."

"Or worse," commented Tygra.

"If you ever need a place to crash, you’re always welcomed here."

"Thanks, Lion-O." Tick and Lion-O shook hands, one hero to another. Tick shook hands next with Tygra, and gradually everyone else. He lifted Wilykit and Wilykat up off the ground while they hung onto his biceps, and left on the Circus Train with Captain Bragg. Everyone waved to the departing circus captain and Tick, who seemed bright and positive as ever, wondering if they would ever see the 7’0" tall, 400 lbs super hero again.

A few days later, that question was answered. While everyone was eating dinner, they got a call on the computer. They all went up into the control room and Tygra turned on the monitor.

"Mandora," Tygra greeted over the monitor. Then he noticed that Mandora was crying tears were streaking down her cheeks, her eyes hidden by her helmet. "What’s wrong? Has something happened?"

"I’ve got a message," Mandora almost choked out. She took out a letter. "Captain Bragg’s… Circus Train… never made it to the Island of Way out Back. It came across a black whole. It was sucked in… there were no survivors." Mandora cut the line.

Captain Bragg was gone. He was just an old man who was trying to help them out. What was more, the Tick, Champion of Justice, Protector of the innocent, Defender of underdogs, and all around nice guy, was gone. After finally waking up after countless eons, ready to take on life and see the universe, was gone, perhaps forever.

There wasn’t an eye in the room that didn’t fill up with tears.

THE END