A Genius Morty

The hum of the portal gun in Morty's hands was steady, but his mind was anything but. He sat in his lab, staring at the swirling energy of the device as if it held the answers he so desperately needed. The truth was overwhelming: the crystal he had stolen for Evil Morty wasn't just some tool or artifact—it was a key to the Nexus Point, the heart of the multiverse. A place where all realities converged, where the laws of physics and time broke down completely. If Evil Morty used the crystal, he wouldn't just be opening doors to new dimensions; he'd be unlocking the chaos that held the multiverse together.

Morty could feel the weight of it all pressing down on him, heavier than ever before. He had faced impossible situations with Rick countless times, but this… this was different. This was bigger. This was the very fabric of reality itself hanging by a thread, and somehow, Morty had found himself holding the scissors.

For a long time, Morty didn't move. His thoughts were a whirlwind of guilt, fear, and anger—anger at himself for trusting Evil Morty, for getting involved in something he hadn't fully understood. He had thought he could handle it, thought he could walk the line between power and corruption, but now he realized how naive he had been. Evil Morty had played him from the beginning, using Morty's desperation for control as a means to achieve his own twisted goals.

And now, Morty had no idea how to stop him.

He stood up abruptly, pacing the length of his lab, his mind racing through every possible scenario. He had to stop Evil Morty before he could use the crystal, but the question was: how? Morty didn't know where Evil Morty had taken the crystal, didn't know how far along his plan was, and most importantly, didn't know how to counter the power of the Nexus Point.

The information he had stolen from the Library of Aeons had given him insight into what the crystal was capable of, but it hadn't given him the key to stopping it. The Conclave of Aeons had guarded this knowledge for a reason—they understood that the Nexus Point was too dangerous to be tampered with. And now, one of the most dangerous versions of himself was about to do just that.

Morty's thoughts turned back to the Conclave. They were bureaucratic, controlling, and often ruthless in their enforcement of multiversal laws, but they also had the resources and knowledge that could help him. If anyone could stop Evil Morty, it would be them. But going to the Conclave meant exposing himself—putting his life in their hands and hoping they wouldn't see him as just another anomaly to be corrected.

But what choice do I have? Morty thought, his heart pounding in his chest. If Evil Morty succeeded, there wouldn't be a multiverse left to protect. He couldn't do this alone. He needed help, even if it meant risking everything.

With that realization, Morty grabbed the portal gun and dialed in the coordinates. The Conclave of Aeons had a central hub—a place that existed outside of time and space, where their agents monitored the flow of reality across the multiverse. It was heavily guarded and nearly impossible to access without being detected, but Morty had learned a few tricks during his encounters with them.

The portal flickered to life in front of him, casting a green glow across the lab. Morty took a deep breath, his hand hovering over the swirling vortex.

"I hope this doesn't get me erased," he muttered under his breath before stepping through.

The central hub of the Conclave of Aeons was as overwhelming as Morty remembered. The vast, swirling expanse of energy and light stretched out in all directions, an ever-shifting network of glowing pathways that connected every timeline, every reality. Streams of data flowed through the air like rivers, carrying the knowledge of infinite dimensions across the multiverse. It was a place that defied logic, a space that existed beyond the constraints of time and matter.

Morty felt the weight of the Conclave's presence the moment he stepped through the portal. He had cloaked himself, using the same device that had helped him infiltrate the Infinite Coil, but he knew it wouldn't last long. The Conclave's agents were everywhere, constantly scanning for anomalies, constantly monitoring the flow of reality. Morty was an intruder here, and if they found him, he wouldn't get a second chance.

He moved quickly, weaving through the glowing corridors of the hub, his heart pounding in his chest. He needed to find the central archive, the place where the Conclave stored its most sensitive information—specifically, anything related to the Nexus Point. If he could access it, maybe he could find a way to counter the crystal's power before Evil Morty activated it.

The problem was, the Conclave didn't exactly leave their secrets lying around.

As Morty approached a massive, shimmering doorway that led to the archive, his cloaking device flickered. His stomach dropped as the realization hit him: the Conclave had detected him. He was running out of time.

With no other option, Morty sprinted toward the door, his heart racing as alarms began to blare through the hub. The sound echoed across the glowing pathways, and Morty knew it was only a matter of moments before the Conclave's agents arrived. He had to act fast.

The archive door was sealed with layers of energy, a defense system designed to keep out anyone who wasn't authorized to access the Conclave's most forbidden knowledge. Morty didn't have the time or tools to hack through the system, so he did the only thing he could think of: he reached out with the multiversal energy flowing through him, tapping into the same power that had helped him navigate the Infinite Coil.

He had never tried this before, but he had no choice. He focused on the flow of energy around him, feeling the currents of reality shift and pulse in response to his presence. Slowly, carefully, he began to manipulate the energy, weaving it into the lock that held the archive door closed.

The door shuddered, the layers of energy crackling and sparking as Morty forced his way through. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his hands trembled as he pushed harder, bending the multiversal energy to his will.

Finally, with a sharp crack, the door gave way.

Morty stumbled inside, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The archive was massive, an endless vault of knowledge that stretched out into the void. Glowing data streams floated around him, each one containing information about different aspects of the multiverse—timelines, realities, technologies, and more.

But Morty didn't have time to explore. He needed to find the Nexus Point data, and he needed to find it fast.

He moved quickly through the archive, scanning the glowing streams of data with frantic urgency. His fingers brushed against one of the streams, and instantly, information flooded into his mind—knowledge about the Nexus Point, about the crystal, about the dangers that came with unlocking its power.

And then Morty saw it.

A memory, buried deep within the data, of the Conclave's first encounter with the Nexus Point. It had been centuries ago, long before the Infinite Coil or the Conclave had gained the power they wielded today. The Nexus Point had nearly destroyed them all, unraveling entire realities as it sought to consume the multiverse. The Conclave had barely managed to seal it away, using the crystal as a key to lock the Nexus Point out of existence.

If Evil Morty unlocked that door, there would be no stopping the chaos that followed. The Nexus Point wasn't just a source of power—it was a force of pure destruction, a point where creation and annihilation became one and the same.

Morty's heart raced as the gravity of what he had learned sank in. He had to stop Evil Morty. There was no other choice.

But just as Morty turned to leave the archive, he felt a cold, familiar presence behind him.

The room darkened, and Morty's stomach dropped as he slowly turned to see Evil Morty standing in the doorway, his smirk as chilling as ever.

"You always were too curious for your own good," Evil Morty said, his voice low and dangerous. "But I guess that's why you've come so far."

Morty's hands clenched into fists. He had been so focused on finding answers that he hadn't even considered the possibility that Evil Morty would be one step ahead.

"You can't use the crystal," Morty said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides. "The Nexus Point—if you open it, you'll destroy everything."

Evil Morty chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Destroy? No, Morty. I'm not going to destroy the multiverse. I'm going to reshape it. Control it. You've seen what the Conclave and the Coil do with their power—trying to keep everything in balance, controlling every aspect of reality. But me? I'm going to give the multiverse true freedom."

Morty's pulse quickened. "You're insane. You can't control the Nexus Point. No one can."

Evil Morty stepped closer, his smirk fading into something colder, more menacing. "That's where you're wrong. The Conclave sealed it away because they were afraid of what they couldn't understand. But I've studied it. I've learned how to bend the Nexus Point to my will. And now, thanks to you, I have the key to do it."

Morty's stomach twisted as the realization hit him. He had played right into Evil Morty's hands. All along, Evil Morty had known that he could manipulate Morty into doing the one thing he couldn't do himself: steal the crystal from the Infinite Coil. Evil Morty had anticipated every move, orchestrating events to ensure that Morty, blinded by his own fear and desperation, would deliver the key to the Nexus Point right into his hands.

Morty felt a cold sweat break out across his skin. He had been played—completely and utterly manipulated. The entire multiverse was now at risk because of him.

"Why are you doing this?" Morty asked, his voice hoarse, laced with anger but also fear. "What do you get out of destroying everything?"

Evil Morty's smile faded, replaced by a look of deadly seriousness. "You still don't understand, do you? It's not about destruction. It's about breaking the chains. The Conclave, the Infinite Coil—they're all about control, about keeping everything in its little box, neatly organized. But that's not how the multiverse works. It's chaos, pure and unrelenting chaos. And instead of fighting against it, I'm going to embrace it. The Nexus Point will give me the power to reshape everything—to tear down the old order and build something new."

Morty's mind raced. He had heard these kinds of speeches before—delusions of grandeur, of ultimate control. Rick had said similar things in the past, but Rick was just… well, Rick. Evil Morty was different. He wasn't playing at this for fun or to prove a point. He was cold, calculating, and determined. He wasn't just a dangerous version of Morty—he was a version of Morty without any moral compass, driven purely by ambition.

Morty shook his head, trying to steel himself. "You think you're going to control it, but you're wrong. The Nexus Point isn't some tool you can just use. It'll destroy you—and everything else—if you try."

Evil Morty laughed, a cold, hollow sound that echoed through the Conclave's archive. "You really think I haven't thought about that? You're still thinking small, Morty. The Nexus Point is chaos, yes, but it's also creation. Do you know what it's like to be able to touch the raw potential of infinite realities? To mold the very fabric of existence? You should understand—you've been dancing on the edge of that power ever since you first tapped into the multiversal energy. You've felt it."

Morty's mouth went dry. He had felt it—that vast, terrifying flow of energy that connected every dimension, every timeline, every possibility. He had felt its pull, its promise of power. But he had also felt the danger—the overwhelming risk of losing himself to that chaos. Evil Morty, though, had gone far beyond that threshold. He had embraced the chaos completely, letting it warp him into something beyond a typical Morty.

"You don't care who gets hurt, do you?" Morty said quietly, his anger giving way to a deep sense of despair. "You're willing to destroy everything, just to prove a point."

Evil Morty's gaze hardened. "I'm willing to do what's necessary. Something you never had the guts to do."

Morty swallowed, the weight of everything crashing down on him. He had to stop this, but how? The Nexus Point was more powerful than anything he had ever encountered, and Evil Morty had the crystal. Morty was out of options, out of time, and he was staring down a version of himself who had planned for every possible outcome.

His mind raced. The Conclave wouldn't help him—if anything, they would probably destroy him on sight if they caught him in their archive. And the Infinite Coil? They'd be after him too, once they realized the crystal was gone. Morty had no allies left, no one to turn to.

Except… Rick.

It hit Morty like a punch to the gut. He had spent so much time distancing himself from Rick, convinced that he didn't need him anymore—that he could handle things on his own. But now, standing here in the presence of his twisted doppelgänger, Morty realized that he wasn't strong enough to do this alone. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed Rick. Rick's mind, Rick's unpredictability, Rick's genius. He was the only one who might have a shot at stopping Evil Morty.

"Why are you hesitating?" Evil Morty asked, stepping closer, his voice dripping with condescension. "You still think you can stop me?"

Morty's breath came faster, his pulse racing. He had to make a decision. He couldn't outsmart Evil Morty, and he couldn't overpower him. But maybe—just maybe—Rick could.

Without another word, Morty activated the portal gun and fired, opening a gateway back to Earth, back to the one place he hadn't been in weeks: Rick's garage.

Evil Morty's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading as Morty stepped through the portal.

"You think you can run?" Evil Morty's voice echoed as the portal began to close. "You can't hide from me, Morty. You'll never escape what's coming!"

Morty didn't look back. He couldn't afford to.

The portal dropped Morty in the familiar, cluttered chaos of Rick's garage, and for a moment, the sheer normalcy of it all hit him like a wave. The same tools, the same half-finished inventions, the same smell of chemicals and alien tech. Everything looked exactly the same as it had the last time Morty had been here, but it felt different. He felt different.

Rick was slouched over his workbench, tinkering with something small and unrecognizable, his back to Morty. The familiar clinking of metal against metal was the only sound in the garage.

For a moment, Morty hesitated. He had been gone for weeks, had left Rick and his family behind to chase after his own power, and now here he was, crawling back because he couldn't handle the consequences of his choices.

"Rick," Morty said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rick didn't turn around, didn't even acknowledge him at first. He just kept working, the clinking sounds continuing as if Morty wasn't even there.

Morty's chest tightened. He took a step closer, his voice a little stronger this time. "Rick, I need your help."

This time, Rick paused. He didn't turn around, but Morty could see the tension in his shoulders, could feel the shift in the air.

"Oh, you need my help now?" Rick's voice was low, and Morty could hear the bitterness in it. "Thought you didn't need me anymore, Morty. Thought you were gonna go off and be your own man, huh? No more Rick and Morty adventures, no more sidekick bullshit. So what changed?"

Morty swallowed hard, his stomach churning with guilt. "I… I messed up, Rick. I thought I could handle it, but I… I can't. I need your help to fix this."

Rick finally turned around, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Morty. There was no humor in his expression, no smug satisfaction—just a hard, weary look that Morty hadn't seen in a long time.

"Of course you do," Rick said, his voice heavy with frustration. He stood up slowly, taking a long, measured look at his grandson. "Alright, Morty. Spill. What did you fuck up this time?"

Morty took a deep breath, the weight of everything he had done pressing down on him as he met Rick's gaze.

"It's Evil Morty," he said, his voice shaky. "He's got the crystal. The one that unlocks the Nexus Point."

Rick's eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, Morty saw a flicker of real concern on his face.

"You didn't," Rick said, his voice barely a whisper. But Morty could see the panic building behind his eyes.

"I didn't know what it was, Rick," Morty said quickly. "I didn't know what he was planning. But now… now I know, and I can't stop him. I can't do this alone."

Rick was silent for a long moment, his eyes narrowing as he processed what Morty had told him. Then, without another word, Rick turned back to his workbench, grabbing a device Morty didn't recognize.

"Alright, Morty," Rick said, his voice cold and focused. "You really fucked up this time. But don't worry. We're gonna fix it."

Morty's heart pounded in his chest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope.

"Just like old times?" Morty asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and relief.

Rick shot him a sideways glance, his expression unreadable. "Just like old times."

And with that, they stepped through the portal together, ready to face the chaos of the multiverse head-on.

The battle to stop Evil Morty had just begun.

End of Arc 1

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