A Genius Morty

Morty lay on the fractured ground of the singularity, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The battle had been relentless, and the pain coursing through his body was nearly unbearable. He had given everything he had, fought with every ounce of strength and power he possessed, but it still hadn't been enough. Vaxon stood tall above him, his cold eyes gleaming with victory, and Morty knew that if he didn't figure out something—anything—this was the end.

The singularity around them was collapsing, the black void rippling and cracking like shattered glass, but Morty's attention wasn't on the world falling apart. It was on the energy that flowed through this place, the raw, untapped power that surrounded them both. He could feel it now, humming at the edges of his awareness, a vast and endless well of force that he hadn't noticed before.

The fight had torn through him, but it had also made him more aware. More sensitive to the energy around him. There was power here—power he had ignored, focused too much on the energy inside himself to realize the potential of what lay around him.

His mind raced, the pain in his chest momentarily forgotten as he latched onto a new idea. What if… he thought, the idea growing in clarity, What if I don't just use my own power? What if I use the energy of this place?

Vaxon seemed to sense Morty's shift in focus and sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "Still trying to fight, Morty? Still clinging to the hope that you can win? Pathetic."

Morty pushed himself up onto his elbows, his chest still aching, but the glint of something new sparked in his eyes. "I'm not done yet," he muttered, the words barely more than a whisper, but filled with determination.

He closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind, feeling the energy around him—the energy of the singularity itself. It was raw, chaotic, but it was there. A force that bent reality, that twisted space and time into something malleable, something he could use. He had been so focused on controlling the power within him that he had forgotten the most important lesson Rick had ever taught him: The multiverse itself is full of power. You just have to know how to tap into it.

The hum of energy grew louder in his mind as Morty focused, drawing the power of the singularity into himself, feeling it merge with the flicker of energy that still pulsed inside his body. It was overwhelming at first, the sheer scale of it threatening to consume him, but Morty held firm. He had learned control. He had learned how to channel energy without letting it destroy him. And now, he was going to use that knowledge to fight back.

Vaxon raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by Morty's sudden shift in focus. "You think you've found some hidden strength, Morty? You're just grasping at straws."

But Morty didn't respond. He was too focused on the energy, too focused on bending it to his will. Slowly, he stood, his body still aching but now glowing faintly with the power of the singularity. The air around him crackled with energy, and for the first time since the battle had begun, Morty felt like he was no longer on the defensive.

Vaxon's sneer faltered slightly, his eyes narrowing as he watched Morty rise to his feet. "What is this?"

Morty looked up, his gaze meeting Vaxon's with a fierce determination. "You've been using this place, haven't you? Drawing power from the singularity. That's how you've been able to manipulate everything so easily."

Vaxon's expression darkened, but he didn't deny it.

Morty took a step forward, the energy swirling around him like a storm. "Well, guess what? I can use it too."

Before Vaxon could react, Morty unleashed a wave of energy, not just from his own reserves, but from the singularity itself. It surged through the fractured space, warping reality as it collided with Vaxon. The blast was immense, far more powerful than anything Morty had been able to produce on his own. The ground beneath them trembled, the cracks in the dimension widening as the very fabric of the singularity was torn apart by the clash of energies.

Vaxon stumbled back, his shield barely holding against the force of Morty's attack. For the first time, there was a flash of surprise in his eyes, and Morty pressed his advantage.

He attacked again, channeling more of the singularity's power, sending blast after blast of raw energy toward Vaxon. Each strike shook the dimension, and Vaxon was forced to defend, his calm, mocking demeanor replaced by one of cold focus. Morty could feel the balance shifting. He wasn't just fighting for survival anymore—he was fighting to win.

But Vaxon was no ordinary opponent. Even as Morty pressed the attack, Vaxon adjusted, his control over the singularity far more refined. He deflected Morty's strikes with precision, countering with blasts of his own that sent shockwaves through the void. The two forces clashed again and again, each one trying to overpower the other, the very dimension they fought in straining to contain the battle.

Morty could feel the energy coursing through him, but he could also feel the strain. His body was holding together, but barely. Every time he drew more power from the singularity, the scar on his chest ached, the warning signs of overexertion beginning to creep in. But Morty couldn't stop. He couldn't afford to stop.

Vaxon's attacks were relentless, each one more powerful than the last. Morty dodged and countered as best he could, but with every passing moment, he could feel the gap in their strength widening again. Vaxon's control over the singularity was absolute. Morty had tapped into its power, but Vaxon had mastered it.

"You've improved, Morty," Vaxon said, his voice calm despite the chaos around them. "But you're still just a novice, trying to wield forces you barely understand."

Morty gritted his teeth, launching another wave of energy, but Vaxon deflected it with ease, his counterattack nearly sending Morty to his knees. The dimension around them was beginning to collapse, pieces of space breaking away and spiraling into the void. Morty could feel the singularity's power slipping from his grasp, his body struggling to keep up with the sheer scale of the battle.

Vaxon advanced, his expression cold and unyielding. "You should have listened to your family, Morty. You're not ready for this fight."

Morty's vision blurred for a moment, the pain in his chest flaring as he tried to draw more energy, but his body rebelled. He was at his limit. He could feel it—the tipping point where his own powers would tear him apart if he pushed any harder.

Vaxon raised his hand, summoning a massive surge of energy that crackled with dark power. "This ends now."

Morty braced himself, every muscle in his body screaming in protest, but he knew he didn't have enough left to stop the attack. The energy that had once felt so powerful was slipping from his control, the singularity's chaotic forces too much for him to handle. He had reached his limit, and Vaxon knew it.

But just as Vaxon prepared to strike, something shifted in the air—a new presence, cold and menacing, cutting through the tension like a blade.

A voice echoed through the void, sharp and filled with authority. "Vaxon. That's enough."

Both Morty and Vaxon froze, the energy between them dissipating as the new voice made itself known. Morty's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the voice immediately, even through the haze of pain and exhaustion.

Evil Morty.

Out of the shadows of the collapsing dimension, Evil Morty stepped forward, his familiar yellow shirt and cold, calculating expression standing out in stark contrast to the chaos around them. He looked almost bored, as if the battle raging between Morty and Vaxon was of little consequence to him.

Vaxon lowered his hand, his expression twisting into something close to irritation. "You're interrupting, Evil Morty."

Evil Morty raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between Morty and Vaxon. "I'm not here for you to finish this little game of yours, Vaxon. We have more important matters to attend to."

Morty's mind raced, his body trembling from the strain of the battle. Evil Morty's presence was unsettling, a reminder of just how deep the rabbit hole went. He wasn't here to help Morty. He never was. But what was he doing here now, in the middle of this?

Vaxon narrowed his eyes but lowered his attack, clearly annoyed. "I had this under control."

Evil Morty shrugged, his voice calm and measured. "Maybe. Maybe not. But this isn't the time for your petty games. The council has bigger plans, and we need you focused."

Morty forced himself to stand, his legs shaking, his mind reeling from the sudden shift in the battle. He could feel the weight of both Vaxon and Evil Morty's presence, the air charged with the unspoken power struggle between them.

Vaxon glanced at Morty, his expression one of cold indifference now. "You got lucky, Morty. But this isn't over."

Evil Morty's eyes flicked to Morty, his gaze unreadable. "No, it's not. But for now, you're not my problem."

Evil Morty's gaze lingered on Morty for a moment longer, his expression unreadable. The cold calculation in his eyes sent a chill through Morty's already battered body. For a split second, Morty wondered if Evil Morty would finish what Vaxon had started, if this was all just part of a larger plan that he couldn't see yet. But then, without so much as a smirk, Evil Morty turned his back on him, shifting his focus entirely to Vaxon.

"We don't have time for this. The council needs you, Vaxon. We've made too much progress to let your personal distractions get in the way," Evil Morty said, his tone as cold and detached as ever.

Vaxon's face tightened, the muscles in his jaw clenching. He clearly wasn't pleased with the interruption, but he also knew better than to cross Evil Morty. Despite his superior strength and skill in battle, even Vaxon seemed to understand that Evil Morty held a power and influence far beyond the physical. Slowly, reluctantly, Vaxon stepped back, the energy crackling around him dissipating into the void.

"This isn't over," Vaxon said, his eyes locking onto Morty with a promise of future retribution. "When the time comes, you won't have any tricks left, Morty. You won't be able to stop me."

Morty, barely able to stand, gave a weak but defiant glare in response. He didn't have the strength to speak, his body still reeling from the battle and the sheer effort it had taken to channel the singularity's energy. Every inch of him screamed in pain, but he wasn't going to give Vaxon the satisfaction of seeing him broken.

Vaxon turned away from Morty, and with a final nod to Evil Morty, he stepped into the shadows of the collapsing singularity. His presence faded, leaving behind only the lingering sense of menace that always seemed to accompany him. Morty watched as Vaxon disappeared into the void, his heart still racing with a mixture of fear and frustration. He had come so close—so close to finally putting an end to Vaxon's reign of terror—but in the end, he had been outmatched.

The singularity continued to fracture, the pieces of broken reality floating around them like shards of glass. Morty's legs buckled, and he sank to his knees, the last of his energy spent. His hands pressed against the cold, cracked surface beneath him, his vision swimming with exhaustion. He couldn't fight anymore. Not like this.

Evil Morty stood over him, watching with a calm, almost detached interest. "You pushed yourself too far, Morty. It's impressive, but predictable. Vaxon was always going to be too much for you."

Morty coughed, the taste of blood sharp in his mouth as he struggled to find his voice. "Why… Why are you here?" he finally managed to ask, his voice hoarse.

Evil Morty crouched down, bringing himself to eye level with Morty. His expression was calm, his eyes cold and analytical. "I'm not here to help you, if that's what you're thinking. I'm here because Vaxon's playing a dangerous game with the council, and it's becoming a distraction. I don't need him derailing everything we've worked for because of his ego."

Morty's brow furrowed, confusion mixing with the pain in his body. "You… you're working with the council? I thought you wanted to destroy them."

Evil Morty's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile. "I never said that. I said I wanted to destroy the system they represent, but to do that, I need to play the game. And right now, the council serves a purpose."

Morty's mind raced, trying to make sense of what Evil Morty was saying. His vision blurred again, and he blinked hard to focus, his breathing shallow. "So, you're just… using them? Like you use everyone else?"

Evil Morty's expression didn't change, but there was a glint in his eyes, as if Morty had struck a nerve. "We all use people, Morty. You just haven't figured out how to do it properly yet."

Morty's hands clenched into fists, though he was too weak to do anything with the anger that boiled inside him. "I'm not like you," he spat, his voice shaky but firm. "I don't manipulate people. I don't… I don't destroy everything I touch."

Evil Morty's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Maybe not. But look at where you are, Morty. You've been running around trying to stop people like Vaxon, and all it's done is get you nearly killed. You're burning yourself out for a fight you can't win."

Morty's heart pounded in his chest, his pulse loud in his ears. "I'm not giving up," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm not going to let you, or Vaxon, or anyone else destroy everything I care about."

Evil Morty stood up, looking down at Morty with a mixture of pity and disdain. "That's your problem, Morty. You still care too much. You're letting your emotions control you, and that's why you're always going to be one step behind."

Morty forced himself to his feet, his legs trembling, but his eyes never leaving Evil Morty's. "Maybe I am behind. Maybe I've made mistakes. But at least I'm trying to do the right thing."

Evil Morty's expression hardened. "The 'right thing' doesn't exist, Morty. Not in this multiverse. It's all chaos, and the only way to survive is to embrace it. You either control the chaos, or it controls you."

The air between them crackled with tension, but Morty knew he couldn't keep this up. His body was failing him, and he could feel the energy inside him flickering, unstable. He wasn't ready for another confrontation, especially not with Evil Morty. But he had to know something—something that had been eating away at him since the moment Evil Morty had arrived.

"Why didn't you let Vaxon kill me?" Morty asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Evil Morty's eyes flicked to the side, as if considering the question. "You're not a threat to me, Morty. And besides, killing you now would be… inefficient. You're more useful alive."

Morty's stomach twisted at the words, but before he could respond, Evil Morty took a step back, his gaze shifting to the collapsing dimension around them.

"I have bigger plans than you can comprehend right now, Morty," Evil Morty said, his voice low and controlled. "But don't worry. You'll understand soon enough."

Without another word, Evil Morty activated his portal gun, the familiar green vortex opening behind him. He stepped into it without so much as a glance back, disappearing into the void.

Morty stood there, alone in the crumbling singularity, the weight of everything that had just happened pressing down on him like a tidal wave. His body was screaming for rest, for relief from the battle that had nearly destroyed him, but his mind raced with questions. Evil Morty had let him live. Vaxon had been called away. What were they planning? And how much time did Morty have before their next move?

He couldn't stand much longer. The energy in the singularity was beginning to destabilize, and Morty knew he had to get out of there before the dimension completely collapsed. With trembling hands, he activated his own portal gun, the vortex swirling open in front of him.

As he stepped through, leaving the shattered singularity behind, one thought burned in his mind: He wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.

To Be Continued…

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