Chapter Text
Dad, Mom, Summer… everyone was here, Morty decided, panting heavily. He ushered them inside with a quiet, “hurry!” and shut the door behind them.
“…do you think it followed us?” Beth panted, carefully peering through the blinds.
Morty opened his mouth to reassure his mother… but stopped himself just short. What could he say? He had no idea if they’d been followed, if they’d been watched. The idea was as frightening as it was possible. So, Morty shut his mouth. And instead of working to console his paranoid mother, he worked to get her and the rest of his family out of here.
He dug through Rick’s seemingly bottomless drawers, hoping— no, praying— he’d been right about him leaving the escape pod.
“Morty, I don’t think you’re gonna find an entire space ship in grampa’s nightstand,” Summer scoffed.
“Shut up, Summer. Y-you don’t know anything.” Morty rolled his eyes but didn’t pay her any mind. He needed to focus. To find that stupid ship and get it activated. Okay, okay. Let’s see…
Victoria’s Secret magazine...
A variety of pocket knives...
A hot pink vibrator…
…Wait, what?
“Ew!” Morty gagged, tossing the gadget aside with a flourish. He wiped his hands on his pant leg and shuddered. Note to self: don’t snoop around in Rick’s things anymore. Not that he ever really wanted to in the first place. But he couldn’t stop yet, not without the escape pod.
Shaking his head, the boy dug his hand through the drawer one last time… and felt his fingers graze over the jackpot. “Hey, i-i got it!” Cheered Morty, his lips forming a grin of pure relief. He picked up the tiny ship and cradled it in his hands, feeling a million times lighter. The thing looked more like a toy than an escape pod— it fit snugly in the cusp of his palm.
But regardless of its size, the truth still remained. This ‘toy’ was their only way to escape, their one chance at safety. Morty just needed to activate it… which meant going outside. Turning towards his family, he nodded at the door and whispered, “o-okay, just follow me.”
One by one, the family tiptoed behind Morty like a group of ducklings, not daring to step out of their line. Any sudden movement— any little noise— could jeopardize their escape, and possibly get them all killed.
Morty was first in line, so it was his job to open the back door… Which was bound to be a struggle, considering everything in this house was falling apart— and doing so very loudly. There was not a door or window in this building that didn't squeal when moved. Morty breathed deep, preparing to open the door between safety and uncertainty.
They would have to be quick— totally stealthy.
…Creaaaaaaak!
“Oh my god, Morty!”
“Morty, are you serious?!”
“That was so loud!”
Morty sagged in shame. Stupid door. “I’m sorry, okay? G-Geez,” he whispered, trying to expel the heat in his cheeks. With the door open just enough, he was able to toss the ‘toy’ ship escape pod outside. It landed on the ground with a frankly lame fwump! and remained motionless in the grass…
…Before beginning to rapidly expand. It was like watching those dinosaur capsules in water— the ones Morty was obsessed with as a kid. Except if the stupid ship didn’t grow out of its ‘capsule’ all the way, everyone was gonna die. With bated breath, he watched as it expanded, larger and larger, until it had surpassed the size of the family’s car and finally came to a halt.
Yes! Morty had half a mind to throw his hands in the air and simply dance with relief. But he decided thankfully to spare himself the embarrassment. Instead, he quietly ushered his family out the door, one by one, and helped them into the ship. “Okay,” the boy whispered, his eyes still darting around frantically.
The feeling of being watched was prevalent in these fields. Morty could sense it in every raised hair, every rough goosebump. He turned back to his family, trying to shift his focus onto them instead. “Once this ship takes off, it’s gonna— g-gonna send you directly to Rick,” explained Morty, his voice a hushed whisper. “H-he should be able to help you guys.”
As if pinched, Summer seemed to jolt in her seat. She turned to Morty, glaring at him as if he’d just insulted her favorite k-pop artist. “You mean you’re not coming with us?” The girl hissed at him… but despite her harsh demeanor, there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. She was scared.
Scared for Morty.
And that was okay, because Morty was scared too— enough so to almost wet himself a couple of times. “…I can’t,” he murmured, unable to meet his family’s gaze. Shame welled up inside him like a geyser ready to burst. “Rick trusted me to protect you guys while he was gone… and I c-couldn’t.”
Morty clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms to keep from crying. God, that’d be so embarrassing. “The least I can- I-I can do now is protect Uncle Ernest’s house,” he explained, ignoring the pathetic way his words warbled. He’d already let Rick down, already let his family down… but maybe he didn’t have to let Ernest down.
“Mortimer Smith, you get in this space ship right now!” Jerry began, like it was the most normal thing to scold his child about. The desperation in his voice was palpable, thinly veiled under the guise of a stern father.
Morty stared at the mixed expressions of his family, torn right down the middle. As terrified as he was, as much as he wanted to leave… he couldn’t. Because if he did, how would Morty ever look his grandpa in the eye? He was given one job, one task… and rather than perform it, Morty’s first thought was to run away to an escape pod.
No, the boy decided, his decision unwavering. He refused. If he did something right in his life, it was going to be this. “Ship,” Morty addressed, watching as the escape pod thrummed to life. “Find Rick.”
The ship made a high-pitched ding! “Affirmative, Morty. Locating Rick.”
Morty watched as his family tried to get out, tried to reach for him… but the windows of the escape pod rolled up, sealing them away as it rose from the ground. Summer pounded on the glass, a string of curses falling mutely from her lips. Beth couldn’t even look. She hid her face behind her hands miserably. And Jerry just watched, his mouth agape as the escape pod shot out into the sky.
It only took a few seconds for the ship to completely disappear from Morty’s view. It was like a shooting star— the only sign of it ever existing was a bright streak of light in the sky. Then it was gone. The ship, the family, the light.
And Morty was still here, grounded with whatever had dared to emerge from that space egg. Slowly, he backed away from the launch site. There was no reason to stay out here in the open… not with that creature lurking in the fields.
Okay, the boy told himself, locking the door behind him. When the ship finds Rick, he’ll come down here and get rid of the freaky alien baby. He nodded absently as he drew the blinds in every room. Each door, each window, sealed and concealed.
…All I have to do is bide some time.