Work Text:
“Shit, shit, shit!” The young man kept repeating to himself while running away from a barrage of lasers.
The box in his hand didn't help at all. In fact, it limited his options. He tried to keep it close to himself and steady.
He ran past all the allied squid-looking bystanders. He couldn’t really admire all the foreign architecture that would absolutely make a marine biologist cream themselves.
He was still amazed how this planet wasn’t entirely underwater.
He directed his gloved hand at the goons and shot a yellow blast of plasma.
It hit one of the goons, made it fly back, and hit the other.
Great. 2 out. Four more to go.
He sprinted left into an alleyway, hiding himself in the blind spot with an almost certain dead end. The walls were way too slippery to try to climb on them. He ran up to a wall and swiftly tapped his grappling boots against each other. The boots made a satisfying robotic click, and the young man was running, glued to the vertical wall.
He got to the roof, lay low, and observed. The goons were now in the alley. They were looking through every possible hiding spot. They started yelling at each other, and one even hit the other.
After that little scuffle, they left, looking elsewhere.
“ Finally. I was starting to think that I would have to use brute force.” The man smiled to himself.
He sat and carefully opened the box. Inside lay a creature. No bigger than a cat. It kind of looked like a cat too. Well, if you could ignore the 9 tentacles in place of its tail and legs. And the head of an octopus.
“Hi, little guy. I'm Morty Smith. “Morty slowly moved his hand closer but didn't dare to touch the creature. “Your name is Planktton, right? Oh geez, those goons wanted to sell you on a deep market. You were lucky I was close. “The creature was rubbing its face against Morty's hand.” Come on. Let's get you back home.”
Morty gently picked up planktton and headed in the direction his GPS showed.
The destination was a quite nice family home. He quickly handed the alien animal over and received a very strong 4-tentacled hug from a very relieved owner.
He got his payment and said his goodbyes.
Seafood was surprisingly filling. It was kind of his only option. He thought as he was eating soup at the diner.
The surface of the soup reflected his face. He smiled a little, wondering if the kid him would even recognize himself if they met on the streets.
The days of a very short haircut were long behind him. Now sporting a strand of hair falling slightly into his eyes. He didn't shave for a few days, and his face was full of little scars that were only visible to him. A residue of a bunch of cybernetic enchantments.
He still wore blue pants. But with far sturdier boots. He also had a long, dark jacket.
But one thing remained constant. His love for the color yellow. If his yellow sweater was anything to go by. No matter what, his outfit will always have even a miniscule amount of it.
At that moment he wondered who took the shorter end of the stick. Summer, who was a near carbon copy of Dad in terms of appearance, or him, who clearly took after Rick in more ways than one.
He remembered when, as a child, he was told that you should look like your relatives. That had sent tiny Morty into a full-blown crisis. Because outside the hair of his father, he had nothing else of his parents. Different nose shape, eye shape, and weirdly thick eyebrows when the rest of the family had thin ones.
But the thing that bothered him the most was the color of his eyes.
They were brown. Not his mother's and sister's vibrant green. Not his dad's dull blue. Not his paternal grandparents blue.
Brown. Dark, rich, chocolaty brown.
He agonized over that. It didn't really help that Mom, during her many drunken rants, agonized that 'he reminded her of him.' It took years to finally realize who he was referring to.
Only to have the rug pulled out from under him and learn that it was the man that killed his grandpa's family.
How would Rick react if he had the chance to see what became of his grandson? Someone who lived in space and took odd jobs to get by. Because Earth was too claustrophobic for him.
" You have a call from Morticia H-407.” Morty's earpiece informed him. Putting him out of his train of thought. Ah, the glasses Morticia. The Informator. Expert in all sorts of chemicals. Who was always on some kind of drug and fit the mad scientist archetype.
" Connect." He ordered as he was finishing drinking broth. " 'Sup, Ticia! Have any new busywork?"
“ You could say that, C-137. 79⊢⊇V wanna see ya.”
" Who? Ticia I don't have the whole list of us before me."
"E-mo.” In the Moticia language, that meant 'evil Morty.'
Him? He didn't call anybody unless he absolutely had to. Living outside the curve in a secluded base will do that to you.
" The loner finally admitted he's lonely?" Morty heard Morticia snicker." I'll meet with him."
" I'll send ya the coords. Shoulda send back up?"
" No. I can handle him.”
In 10 years of his solo adventures, he stumbled upon Evil Morty (Mortimer, he wanted to be called) plenty of times. He hardly ever wanted to actively hurt him. You would have had to mess with him first for that to happen.
Sure, Mortimer got on his nerves, but that was about it. Morty hated his general way of life and acting above it all. One of Rick's worst qualities.
So he wasn't worried about the meeting. If there was something sinister to happen, Morty wouldn't be the one to leave scared.
Moons of planets were a pure lottery. Sometimes they're thriving with their own ecosystem that they could be their own planet.
Other times…
"You really couldn't have chosen a more boring place.” Morty complained to Mortimer. Rocks, rocks, and endless rocks. Not even cool-colored rocks. " Honestly it fits you."
" Quiet you. "Mortimer scorned. He still wore his signature eyepatch with his yellow spacesuit. His hair was slicked back in an almost professional looking way. His right arm was now fully robotic. He didn't want to share how he lost it. Morty didn't fully understand why Mortimer didn't make more human looking prosthetics. Or just regrow it. He was absolutely capable of such feats." I want to show you something. In my base." He clicked on his watch that unfolded into a portal gun. The bastard stole Morty's idea. He put in coordinates, and a yellow portal appeared.
" So we could have just met in a pub instead of on some fuckass moon." Morty deadpanned." You made me waste my portal fluid!"
" Pubs are full of people I wouldn’t want in my lab."
The other side of the portal led to a spacious room. Every corner of it was filled with some sort of unfinished projects. Whether they were on the floor or tables. Right in the middle on a podium lay a small rocket. It had a clear body in which, inside, was something resembling a brain. It looked familiar.
Mortimer stood beside it. "I found it floating in outer space. It has Rick's fingerprints all over it. I was hoping you would tell me what this is."
"You really are assuming that my Rick did this?" Morty was a little offended but not surprised.
“You are my go-to after all." If you would prick up your ears, you could almost hear an amusement in his voice. "You want to be known as C-137, get treated as C-137."
Morty frowned. "It looks similar to a device that was meant to store sentient memory. Just in tube form"
"Sentient memory…" Mortimer murmured.
" I don't know the details, but a memory rick infected Dad's and then Mom's brain and scrambled with their memories. It got pretty nasty. Rick never told us what happened to him afterward."
Mortimer silently observed the rocket. Clearly scheming something.
" Do you think the memory Rick is still there?" Mortimer wondered.
" What are you planning?" He had no patience for Mortimer's bullshit.
" Go in there.” he answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
" Why would you do that?"
" Call me curious. I wonder what capabilities has sentient memory inside something resembling a playground to him."
It would be a lie to say that Morty wasn't also a bit curious. But the idea of seeing his grandpa again…
Morty knew Mortimer didn't give a shit about Rick. The idea of grieving any of them was ridiculous.
But Morty has grieved Rick. He never properly said goodbye. Technically their last exchanged sentences were an argument.
So maybe this was his chance.
" I assume you already have a device for that in your head"
" Yep. And if you want to be any help, hand me a box of supplies from across the room."
Morty eyed Mortimer. He wasn't going to be demoted to a henchman.
…
He redundantly passed the box of supplies.
One moment he was sitting on a newly made chair with a bunch of wires stuck to his head. Next he was standing in front of a decent sized neighborhood. Just normal-looking houses with streets.
This definitely wasn't there the last time he looked at that world.
"This is weirdly eerie…" Mortimer said.
“If you get cold feet, you can always unplug yourself."
" And miss you humiliating yourself?” Mortimer took a step forward in the direction of the town. " This place is even better than I thought. Perfect for all sorts of experiments."
" Don't have enough space in infinity?"
" Not in a physical sense. Sometimes you just need something resembling earth for accuracy."
The rest of their walk was spent in silence. It was part agonizing and part chilling.
They finally got to the town. It was even more uncomfortable. Houses that were way to clean. So unlived.
" Do you recognize if it's a specific location." Morty asked.
" Beats me. I haven't been on earth for 11 years."
Yeah that's true.
Suddenly they heard a deep thump. Then another. And another. It was getting louder.
A large, frog-like creature was sprinting straight at them. It looked very deformed. It lacked eyes, and… was that fur on its back?
" What the hell?!" Morty screamed.
Mortimer leaped into the sky with his hidden jetpack shoes. "If you got cold feet, you can always unplug yourself."
Smugass bastard.
Morty didn't have time to rebut because he was hit by the abomination. It sent him a couple of meters back. He stopped just because his grappling boots pinched him to the surface when he activated them.
His fingers gestured a C shape, which created a plasma projectile. He swung it like a Frisbee, and the projectile flew. It hit the creature, not really wounding it, but it gave Morty enough time to sprint to a nearby building. But not before its long tongue tried to grab him.
" A little help would be useful…" Morty yelled.
Mortimer pointedly ignored him.
Morty could see the active thinking in Mortimer's head. Even with only one eye visible, he glared way more intensely than any normal person in the multiverse.
The creature opened its mouth, and then…
Mortimer in half a second, fired a projectile from one of his robotic fingers. A shot straight into its brain. The creature dropped dead with little to no blood leaking.
"Don't worry, maybe one day you will actually learn how to fight."
Morty didn't answer the insult; instead, he dropped and walked up to the creature. " What the fuck is this? A failed experiment?"
" Maybe this world evolves on its own?"
" That fast? I don't think this world had any fauna.
Suddenly they heard a pair of footsteps. They were lighter than the previous ones. But they came from around the same direction. Then a shot.
A bullet was absorbed by Mortimer's Shield.
Both Mortys turned around to see…
Rick Sanchez. Looking around, 35 years holding up a gun directed right at them.
" How did you get here? I don't remember making you! Who are you?!"
“So it seems there is a slightly more intelligent form of life than that abomination." Mortimer activated his eyepatch scanner.
"Mortimer!" Morty scorned." You're memory Rick, right? C-137?" He turned to Rick. Hope shone in his eyes.
“ You didn't answer my questions. Dipshits. So I won't answer yours. "Rick's eyes widened. " Wait. Mortimer? You're my hypothetical grandsons from different dimensions?" Morty nodded. " Fuck. How much time passed in the real world?"
" Around 10 years."
Rick froze. " Holy shit."
" Look.." Morty paused. "We're not here to harm you. Quite the opposite, we went here to check on you." Okay, he was, but he wouldn't throw Mortimer under the bus. Even if he really wanted to.
" Is that all?" Memory Rick wasn't convinced.
"… I just wanted to see at least some variant of you. I am just here to catch up." Morty answered with uncertainty.
" I want to strike a deal." Mortimer started.
" What deal?"
" Simple, you get help from a professional in your experiments. I get more land for my little projects." He emphasized professional in a disgustfully mocking tone.
"You have to go to my wife with that. She is the main brain behind those experiments." Rick scratched his head. " She'll be so pissed when she discovers that one of them escaped." He looked at the corpse of the experiment" "Are you two hungry? I know a great place with food. I should know; I built it myself."
Two Mortys looked at each other in silent communication.
A random fast food chain. Of course, Rick built one. Birdperson's sentient memory or not. It still was Rick.
Near the entrance was standing… Diane. Memory Diane. Morty didn't have the chance to meet her himself, but he absolutely could tell the familiar resemblance. Mom really took after her.
She took a defensive pose. Morty could see a gun sticking out from under the hoodie.
"What-" She started.
"Don't worry, Diane. Those are variants of your hypothetical grandson. They don't have malicious intents." Memory Rick interjected. That didn't really seem to calm her down.
" Are you sure? The one with an eyepatch looks shady as hell." She answered, at which Morty chuckled.
"I am sure, sweetie." He put his hands on her shoulders. " Let's just sit so they can explain everything."
Mortimer sat next to the window across from Diane. Possibly to get as far as possible from Rick, who was sitting in the opposite corner.
Next to Mortimer sat Morty, looking down. That was one of the most awkward moments of his life.
" So how did you find us?" Diane broke the silence.
" You were just drifting in space." Mortimer answered. "If Rick didn't want anyone to find you, he should have hidden you better."
" How is he anyway? Rick. " Diane interjected. " And how does he feel that his grandson is space adventurer?"
Morty looked at Diane in silent shock for a little longer than he wanted, then immediately his gaze fell down.
" He's gone." Mortimer answered emotionlessly. He figured Morty wouldn't be able to.
Diane and Rick faces went into shock. "Oh…" Diane made herself visibly smaller. " How-"
" In the most asshole-y way possible." Morty interrupted in a flat voice. Making it clear to everyone he didn't want to talk about it.
Then an awkward silence returned. Nobody could find any suitable topic after something this heavy.
"… so… we came here to eat. Should I order something." Rick tried to relieve the tension." And in order, I mean, make it because we're the only ones here.
The group nodded.
"-and Summer had to wear a hat for the next two weeks!" Morty was deep in his anecdotes. Successfully relieving the tension.
" Summer being a CEO of a tech company is the least surprising thing from this story." Mortimer commented.
" Heh. Yeah. I'm honestly more surprised you became an uncle that fast." Rick added.
"Oh geez. Those three little imps. Even though Lily is only 2, she's already thrown a tantrum on a cosmic scale." Who would have thought he would become the 'cool uncle' with cool space gifts? Summer hated that.
" What is it with all that architecture?" Mortimer asked but looked disinterested.
" We try to recreate our old neighborhood." Rick answered.
" And that abomination was part of that?" Mortimer mused out loud deliberately.
" No, that is a failed experiment that escaped. It was supposed to be a frog, but it got mixed with a bunch of different mammals. One of three." Diane smiled nervously. " I didn’t expect it to escape. Its chamber was secure 3 times!"
" And you're sure nothing else got away?" Mortimer's tone was cold.
As if on cue, a roar was heard from beyond the restaurant.
"Well, fuck."
The whole group ran out of the restaurant. The thud became louder, but the source was nowhere to be seen.
" Just to not have any surprises. What animals were you trying to make?" Morty turned to Diane.
" Well… we tried horses and medium birds. But the birds came out more-" Before she could finish, a claw dug into Mortimer and snatched him up. " … vulture-like."
'Vulture' was twice the size of an average human. It had two heads with 3 sets of eyes each.
It could look terrifying, but to Mortimer it was just a nuisance. Just about like every alien outside the Central Curve.
He activated his bots. Hitting the beast's belly released him. Mortimer flew in front of it and shot a singular bullet right into its mouth.
It did absolutely nothing.
Vulture headbobbed Mortimer, sending him crashing into the tower.
Okay. He started to see how this was becoming a problem.
Back on the ground, the rest of the group stood in shock.
" Do you know how to reverse it?!" Morty turned to Diane.
" The whole experiment was chemical-based. So maybe we could reverse engineer the whole thing.” Diane awkwardly averted her eyes. " I'm just… not as good at chemistry as I am at biology.
" I know someone who is insanely good with chemistry. She could help if I contacted her." Morty said.
They heard the clacking of the hooves. A few meters in front of them stood a giant horse. It definitely looked the most like its designated animal. But it was twice as large.
" I'll distract it." Rick stepped up before them. “Morty, go with Diane; she'll show you where the lab is. Don't fuck it up!" Rick glared at Morty. He pulled out his gun and ran at the experiment.
Diane took Morty's hand to guide him. They run towards an inconspicuous-looking building. The first thing Morty noticed was an elevator right in front of the entrance.
Diane swiftly entered a code on a keypad. The elevator opened, revealing it to be much more sci-fi looking.
The ride was… way longer and more awkward than it needed to be.
Should Morty have said something to break the tension? Or just remain silent for the rest? Would his attempt at small talk make it even more confusing?
Stupid brain, think! That is your grandma! Deleted from the world, sure. But still, Grandma. It shouldn't have been this difficult.
" I wish I had the chance to meet you and your sister. You seem so fun from Rick's tales." Diane started out of the blue.
" I assume he has a better opinion on Summer than me.” He murmured, maybe a little resentful.
"Its actually quite the opposite. He said that you surpass him in many ways. And was actually little averse to you." She smiled. " You really are a lot like him "
" I know…" Morty whispered.
The bell rang, signaling the opening of the doors.
The lab wasn't anything special. At least to Morty. He's seen at least a dozen weird labs before.
Diane reached to one of the cabinets and took a small oval device. She put it on the counter, and it started projecting a hologram of molecules.
" This is the main structure we used. The mutated dna of a mammal.”
Morty analyzed it with his watch and sent it.
He then tossed a flat circular device out of his inner pocket. It opened, projecting a hologram of Morticia H-407. Who was currently sitting on a chair invisible in the transmission chair smoking something probably stronger than anything on earth?
“Oh, C-137! How's goin'? Ya finally killed e-mo?" Ticia noticed Morty. Then she tensed and inclined her head. " that motherfuckin' Diane?"
" Ticia! Quick! I sent you the molecular structure of an experiment that wants to kill us! The solution?!" Morty's words were rampant.
Morticia looked to the side, likely at the screen. "Conditions?" She sounded a little more serious.
" average Earth's laboratory." Morty explained. " we want them gone! Whatever the fastest way!"
" And the main component in a horse!" Diane added." They already have a fucked-up biology and are pretty unstable on their own."
Morticia was writing something out of their sight of view, taking all the information given to her. She took a large sip from her cup of whatever she had (morty learned not to pry because the answer was always worse than he anticipated).
" Here." A small chip emerged from the communication device." That should melt 'em. Just inject it into a bullet or somethin' and don't get it on yourself. Gets nasty."
Diane was already working on it. Wow, she was fast.
" Thanks Ticia! I owe you one." Morty smiled. Morticia waved and hung up.
Morty got back to helping Diane however he could.
Rick barraged the horse with lasers and hid behind a rubble.
Right next to him, Mortimer hit hard ground.
"It's a bitch, huh?" Rick commented.
" Actually I have an idea how to defeat Vulture." Mortimer turned around to not see Rick's eyes and very quietly said. " I just need your help…"
Rick was taken aback by it for just a second. "How?"
" How good is your aim in motion?"
"Pretty goo-" Before Rick could finish, Mortimer snatched him off the ground. Just in time because seconds later the horse jumped at their hiding place, trying to stomp them.
Rick was uncomfortably held by the collar of his shirt.
" Aim at the area between the eyes. Your target is the left head vulture. Our left. When I let you go, count to 3, then shoot." Mortimer threw Rick higher, not giving Rick the time to respond.
1… 2… 3…
They both shot at the same time, killing the beast instantly.
But Rick had a new problem. He was falling from a height that was absolutely deadly. And the guy who could catch him despised Ricks. So the probability of help from him was minimal.
But before he would hit the ground, he felt a tug on his ankle. Mortimer caught him.
" We're even." Mortimer said.
Both of them got safely on the ground.
" Okay now for the-" Mortimer heard clacking of hooves far louder than they wanted." - horse."
The horse was speeding at them at full force. Mortimer wanted to start his jet shoes, but they wouldn't listen to him. Rick was constantly shooting, but the horse was persistent.
The horse was so close that they could see the exact amount of hair in its mane.
They heard a shot.
And the horse was melting. Both of them turned around to see smiling Diane with a gun in her hands.
Morty sat on the roof of a random building. A habit he picked up from hanging around Summer. A heavy liquor sat in his hand. You couldn't really get drunk here, so he drank mostly for the sake of it.
The rest were celebrating their victory together, but he needed some fresh air. Being around all of them gave him a headache for a thousand different reasons.
At that point he was pretty sure that world didn't have a day and night cycle. The sun was still in the exact same position as when they arrived.
“There you are, mijo." Rick's voice came from behind Morty. It was honestly pretty weird hearing that nickname again.
He turned around and saw Rick dangling from the end of the roof. He reached out and helped the memory of his grandpa. Rick balanced himself and sat next to Morty.
" Thanks for helping me out." Rick said." Mortimer is now negotiating with Diane. Bastard doesn't stand a chance; she always wins." He heard Morty chuckle. " What are you still doing here?"
" Call me sentimental or some shit, but I missed you. And this gives me some catharsis. Even if you are just a memory replica from someone who had a crush on you."
" Really why would his death touch you so much? There are definitely some variants across the multiverse that you could visit." Rick commented nonchalantly. " Some that wouldn't be assholes."
Something inside Morty snapped. That one snarky comment made his blood boil. Did he really think he was so much better? He had manipulated Mom to get to Diane. He was not in the place of authority.
"You are the biggest asshole of them all!" Morty snapped.
" Because you didn't just die! You died everywhere!" Morty screamed. He felt wetness in his eyes.
Memory Rick was stunned. "What?"
" The omega device." Morty's breathing became heavier. "Rick Prime had a failsafe. Fucking bastard, we should have predicted that. He stole back the plans for the Omega device from Mortimer. We tried to defeat him, but he overpowered us. So Rick did the only thing that could get rid of him for good." Morty paused. " He pushed Prime to the omega device. He himself fell too. But that didn’t matter anyway."
Memory Rick opened his mouth to say something, but Morty continued.
“Do you get it now?! You die by killing your nemesis and all your multiversal counterparts! You die fulfilling your life goal! You are technically a hero of a whole galaxy! All memory of you is now fuzzy. It's more feelings than actual memories!"
Morty stood up.
"You leave your grandson alone with a broken ship and portal gun with no fluid! Making him stay on that godforsaken base for a good chunk of the month! Trying to rebuild a massively broken spaceship!" He was towering over Rick.
"You prove me wrong after I yell at you that defeating Prime is impossible. That's how big of an asshole you are!" Morty fell to his knees in front of Rick.
"I-I hate you so much! For all that pain and trauma! And lying and secrets! Dragging me around without consent!" He spotted droplets falling on his legs.
"How you lied about the meaning of the brainwaves! How you made me believe that I was as stupid as you were smart! How you treated Summer miles better just because she didn't lose the genetic lottery!
But still, even after the omega device fried my brain! Even after logic tells me you are a horrible person! I still feel all that fondness, compassion, understanding, and genuine care from you and for you.
You made me rediscover my passion for cosmos. You were the first one that actually trusted me to do something well. You made me feel seen and like an actual part of the family. Not just a burden that their parents wanted even less than their accident.
Because of you, I understand myself more.
And… and… and… I have to reckon with the fact that I am a lot like you in many aspects.
You are one giant piece of complicated shit!" He felt so much lighter now.
"Sorry… for… for dumping all my frustrations on you." Morty looked back.
Rick got closer to Morty with his hands outstretched. Carefully he put them on Morty' back. Giving him enough room to maneuver for his own choice.
This sensation felt so alien to him yet so familiar at the same time. So controlling, yet so comforting. So complicated… but so simple at the same time.
It was a good summary of his entire life, honestly. Just an endless cycle of contradicting emotions as he navigated through it.
Morty reciprocated the hug.
"It's okay, Junebug. I understand. I deserved it." That term of endearment was heard the least. But it was welcomed the most.
" I know I'm not exactly him, so I cannot tell accurately, but I've been in this guy's head for a good chunk of time.
I've seen his thoughts. And he absolutely would kill me if he heard what I'm about to tell you.
He never saw you as incapable. He gave you challenges, certain you would overcome them.
He was actually a little unnerved by you. You exceeded his expectations countless times.
And I am sure that he would be proud of you right now."
Mortys' only reaction was squeezing tighter.
Now he was ready to let go.
"Thank you. Goodbye. Granpa Rick.” He focused on moving his real self; he felt a physical sensation of being pulled out. His real body's hands pressed against the helmet; they pulled it up.
The next thing he saw was Mortimer Lab. He stood up from a chair and shot a portal. He went through it for another adventure, never looking back.