That *tik* does it! I've made up my mind. When Baron Karza starts to *tik* pop up in my ridiculous fantasies, someone up there's trying to *tik* tell me something… and it isn't to run off and leave my *tik* buddies stranded without ol' Bug at their side to protect 'em. 
- —Bug
Appearing in "I Could a Tale Unfold"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Other Characters:
- Micronauts (Vision or hallucination)
- Arcturus Rann (Vision or hallucination)
- Marionette (Vision or hallucination)
- Acroyear (Vision or hallucination)
- Huntarr (Vision or hallucination)
- Borborygmus (Vision or hallucination) (First appearance)
- Sabitini (Vision or hallucination) (First appearance)
- Baron Karza (Vision or hallucination)
Races and Species:
- Insectivorids
- Children of the Dreaming Star
- Homeworlders (Vision or hallucination)
- Acroyears (Vision or hallucination)
Locations:
- Microverse
- Sphere (Vision or hallucination)
- Central City (Vision or hallucination)
- Spiral Path (Mentioned)
- Sphere (Vision or hallucination)
Items:
- Acroyear's Energy Sword (Vision or hallucination)
Vehicles:
- Solitaire's ship
- Endeavor II (Vision or hallucination)
- Marauder ships (Vision or hallucination)
Synopsis for "I Could a Tale Unfold"
Bug has left the Micronauts aboard the ship of his shapeshifting companion Solitaire to return to his homeworld of Kaliklak. Solitaire maintains the appearance of an Insectivorid version of Mari and tries to care for his needs but he begins to envision the perils the Micronauts might experience in his absence.
His first vision is of the Micronauts being drugged by the osentsibly benevolent pink alien race that had brought the Micronauts to their home planet. After succumbing to the drugging, the Micronauts are carried into the bowels of the planet to be sacrificed to the creature Borborygmus. Acroyear manages to escape his restraints but is overwhelmed by the imposing size of the creature and longs for the assistance of Bug.
Solitaire interrupts his daydreaming and treats him with affection which makes him regret envisioning the aliens as malevolent. He begins a new vision in which the Micronauts' kindly hosts are giving them a tour and speaking of the lasting peace the Confluence has experienced when they are interrupted by an alarm. The aliens express fear at the sudden appearance of a fleet of marauding vessels manned by a blue-skinned alien race akin to the insectivorids as they have no true means to defend themselves. The Micronauts take it upon themselves to intervene and pilot the newly repaired Endeavor II to victory over the marauders but again express a desire for the help of Bug's unique abilities.
Bug comes out of his daydream and brushes aside his worry due to the aliens' highly advanced technological capabilities but as the days in hyperspace wear on, he begins his visions anew. In his last vision, the Micronauts are discussing Bug's absence with remorse and suggest they had taken him for granted when a man visits them and tells them that they are being lied to and misled by a race of conquerors. They are skeptical but he leads them into the streets and down into a large chamber where numerous robed humanoid figures await. The man speaks to the figures and explains that the visitors have walked into their trap and they reveal themselves to be insect-like green alien creatures. The man removes his human mask to reveal himself to be none other than their longtime foe Baron Karza. As Bug snaps back to reality, he comes to a decision that he can't abandon his friends in good conscience and asks Solitaire to turn back, which she agrees to.