A Genius Morty

Chapter 26: The Ruins of the Coil

The familiar swirl of green from the portal faded as Morty, Rick, Summer, and the rest of the rebellion team stepped onto the surface of a barren, broken world. The Infinite Coil facility loomed in the distance—a massive, crumbling structure half-buried beneath the jagged landscape. It looked like something from another time, another era, but the unmistakable hum of the multiversal energy still pulsed faintly from within.

Morty's heart pounded in his chest as he surveyed the terrain. The facility was old, but the technology inside was likely still active. They had to move quickly, but carefully. Evil Morty's forces would already be closing in, and they couldn't afford to be caught off guard.

"Alright," Morty muttered, turning to the team. "We've got two objectives here. First, we need to figure out what Evil Morty's after. Second, we need to get out of here before his forces show up. We're going in fast and quiet—no unnecessary risks."

Rick grunted, adjusting the strap on his portal gun. "Yeah, yeah, we've done this before, Morty. Just keep your head straight and let me worry about the tech."

Summer checked the charge on her plasma rifle, her expression determined. "Let's move. We don't have much time."

The group advanced through the wasteland toward the facility, moving quickly but carefully. The ground beneath them cracked and shifted with every step, as if the planet itself was barely holding together. Morty could feel the energy from the facility growing stronger as they approached, a faint hum in the air that made his skin tingle.

The Infinite Coil had always been masters of multiversal manipulation, but something about this place felt different. There was a sense of instability in the air, a feeling that reality itself was fraying at the edges.

When they reached the outer wall of the facility, Rick immediately began scanning for an entry point. The structure's defenses were still active, shimmering faintly with an energy field that rippled across its surface like water.

"We're not getting through the front door," Rick muttered, pulling out a small handheld device. "But I can disrupt the field long enough to get us inside."

As Rick worked on disabling the security systems, Morty kept watch, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. The ruins around them were eerily quiet, but Morty knew better than to let his guard down. Evil Morty's forces had a way of showing up when you least expected them.

"Got it," Rick said after a few tense moments. The energy field shimmered and then flickered out, leaving a small section of the wall exposed.

"Let's go," Morty whispered, leading the way as they slipped inside the facility.

The interior of the facility was as cold and sterile as Morty had expected—vast metal corridors lined with decaying machines, most of which hadn't been operational in decades. But despite its age, the place still pulsed with energy, as if the multiverse itself was woven into the walls.

Morty could feel the presence of the Nexus Point here, its influence brushing against his consciousness. Whatever the Coil had been working on in this facility, it had to be directly connected to the multiverse's most dangerous secrets.

As they moved deeper into the complex, Rick stopped occasionally to scan the walls and floor, checking for any hidden traps or defenses. Morty was tense, his body on high alert for any sign of Evil Morty's forces. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the energy became.

Summer stopped beside one of the corridors, her eyes narrowing as she studied a flickering console embedded in the wall. "This place feels wrong," she muttered. "Like it's… alive."

"It's the energy," Rick explained, glancing at the readouts on his scanner. "This facility was built to harness the raw power of the multiverse. It's not just a research station—it's a conduit. The Coil used this place to tap into dimensions we can't even comprehend."

Morty felt a chill run down his spine. He had seen the damage the Nexus Point could do—how it could warp entire realities, tearing them apart at the seams. If Evil Morty managed to control it completely, there would be nothing stopping him from reshaping the multiverse in his image.

"We need to find the central chamber," Morty said, his voice tight. "That's where the answers will be."

They moved quickly through the twisting corridors, the facility's design disorienting and labyrinthine. It was clear the Coil had constructed this place to be impenetrable, but years of decay had left cracks in their defenses. Rick's scanner guided them through the maze, detecting faint energy signatures that led them deeper into the heart of the facility.

Finally, after what felt like hours of navigating the endless corridors, they reached a large, reinforced door. Rick stepped forward, his fingers moving deftly across his scanner as he analyzed the door's mechanisms.

"This is it," Rick muttered. "The central chamber."

Morty's heart raced. This was the moment they had been waiting for. Whatever Evil Morty was after—whatever technology he needed to stabilize his control over the Nexus Point—it had to be behind this door.

"Can you get it open?" Summer asked, her voice tense.

Rick nodded, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "Yeah, but once I do, there's no going back. Whatever's in there… it's going to change the game."

Morty swallowed hard, his mind racing with possibilities. He had spent the last four years fighting a losing battle against Evil Morty, trying to stay one step ahead, but always falling short. This was their chance—maybe their last chance—to finally gain the upper hand.

"Do it," Morty said, his voice firm.

Rick worked quickly, bypassing the door's security systems with practiced ease. The door shuddered and groaned as it slowly slid open, revealing a massive chamber bathed in an eerie, green light. The air inside was thick with energy, the walls pulsing with the same strange, multiversal hum that Morty had felt throughout the facility.

At the center of the chamber, suspended in a glowing containment field, was a device unlike anything Morty had ever seen. It was a strange, crystalline structure, similar to the one he had stolen for Evil Morty years ago, but larger—more complex. The energy radiating from it was palpable, and Morty could feel the pull of the Nexus Point deep within it.

"This is what he's after," Rick muttered, his eyes wide with awe. "It's a stabilizer. The Coil built it to control the Nexus Point, to harness its power without letting it tear everything apart."

Morty stared at the device, his mind racing. This was it. The key to Evil Morty's plan. If he got his hands on this, he would be unstoppable.

"We can't let him have it," Morty said, his voice shaking with urgency. "We have to destroy it."

"Destroy it?" Rick turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Morty, this thing could be the only way to stop the Nexus Point from destabilizing. If we destroy it, we might not be able to control the fallout."

"We can't control it anyway!" Morty shot back. "This is the same mistake the Infinite Coil made—thinking they could control something that's bigger than any of us. We have to destroy it before Evil Morty gets here."

Before they could argue any further, a low hum echoed through the chamber. Morty's blood ran cold as the familiar sound of a portal opening filled the air.

"They're here," Summer said, her voice barely a whisper.

The portal crackled with green energy, and moments later, figures stepped through—Evil Morty's forces. They were heavily armed, their armor shimmering with multiversal enhancements, and their expressions were cold, emotionless.

At the center of the group was Evil Morty himself.

He stepped through the portal with the same calm confidence Morty had come to expect from him, his eyes immediately locking onto the crystalline device in the center of the room. His smirk was faint but unmistakable.

"Well, well," Evil Morty said, his voice carrying a mocking edge. "Looks like you found my little treasure."

Morty's heart raced as he and his team drew their weapons, preparing for the inevitable confrontation. They were outnumbered, but they couldn't let Evil Morty get his hands on the stabilizer.

"This ends now, Evil Morty," Morty said, stepping forward, his voice filled with determination.

Evil Morty's smile widened. "You still don't get it, do you? This was never about stopping me. It was about playing your part in the grand design. And now, you're exactly where you need to be."

Before Morty could respond, the room was filled with the sound of weapons charging, and the battle began.

Blaster fire erupted across the chamber, the air thick with the sounds of conflict. Morty ducked behind a console, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the chaos around him. His team was holding their ground, but Evil Morty's forces were relentless, their multiversal enhancements giving them an edge that Morty couldn't match.

Evil Morty himself hadn't engaged in the fight. Instead, he calmly made his way toward the stabilizer, his eyes locked on the device as if the battle raging around him was nothing more than a distraction.

Morty's blood boiled. This wasn't about winning a fight—it was about stopping Evil Morty from getting what he wanted. Morty glanced over at Rick, who was crouched behind cover, his face tight with concentration as he fiddled with a device Rick was working quickly, his hands moving with practiced precision as he assembled a small, handheld device. Morty recognized the look in Rick's eyes—the same intense focus Rick always had when he was on the verge of pulling off something dangerous and brilliant.

"Rick!" Morty yelled over the chaos, ducking as blaster fire whizzed past him. "What are you doing?"

Rick didn't look up from his work, his voice gruff and hurried. "I'm rigging a feedback loop. If I can get it attached to that stabilizer, I can overload the system and fry the whole damn thing. It'll collapse the Nexus Point and cut off Evil Morty's control."

Morty's heart skipped a beat. "But what happens to the multiverse if you do that?"

Rick paused for a second, his eyes flicking to Morty. "Worst case? We destabilize the multiverse, causing a few fractures. Best case? We cut off Evil Morty and put the Nexus Point out of play for good. Either way, we're out of time, Morty."

Morty felt the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He knew Rick was right—they were out of time. Evil Morty was getting closer to the stabilizer, and if he activated it, the consequences would be catastrophic. They had no choice.

"Alright," Morty said, his voice firm. "Do it."

Rick grinned that reckless grin Morty had come to know so well and attached the final piece to the device. "You got it, kid. Just cover me while I plant this thing."

As Rick moved toward the stabilizer, Morty turned his attention back to the fight. Summer was holding her own, expertly weaving between cover and returning fire with deadly accuracy. The rest of their team was entrenched in the battle, but they were starting to falter under the relentless assault of Evil Morty's enhanced soldiers.

Evil Morty, meanwhile, remained unnervingly calm, standing in the center of the chamber with his hands behind his back. He watched the battle unfold with cold detachment, as if the outcome was already decided.

Morty's grip tightened on his weapon as he locked eyes with his twisted counterpart. "You think you've already won, don't you?"

Evil Morty's smirk widened. "I don't need to win this fight, Morty. I already have what I need."

The words sent a chill down Morty's spine. He wasn't sure what Evil Morty meant, but there was no time to figure it out now. They had to stop him, and fast.

"Rick!" Morty called, his voice strained as he fired off another shot at one of the advancing soldiers. "How much longer?"

Rick was nearly at the stabilizer, moving with surprising agility despite the chaos around him. "Almost there, Morty! Just keep those bastards off me for a few more seconds!"

Morty nodded, adrenaline surging through him as he focused on the soldiers advancing on their position. His blaster hummed as he fired shot after shot, each one finding its mark with deadly precision. The soldiers, despite their enhancements, couldn't match Morty's determination. He wasn't just fighting for survival—he was fighting to save the multiverse.

As Rick reached the stabilizer, he quickly attached the feedback device to the crystal's containment field. The energy around the stabilizer pulsed, the light growing brighter as Rick worked to overload the system.

Morty glanced over at Summer, who was reloading her rifle with quick, efficient movements. "Summer! We've got to fall back to Rick!"

She nodded, her face set with determination. "Got it! Let's go!"

The two of them moved quickly, dodging blaster fire as they made their way to Rick's position. Morty's heart pounded in his chest, the air thick with the hum of energy from the stabilizer. They were so close—just a few more seconds and they could destroy the device and end Evil Morty's control over the Nexus Point.

But before they could reach Rick, Morty saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. Evil Morty had made his move, stepping toward the stabilizer with that same cold, calculating expression.

In an instant, Morty understood. Evil Morty wasn't just waiting for the battle to end—he had been waiting for Rick to plant the feedback device. He wanted the overload. He needed it.

"No!" Morty shouted, his voice hoarse as he raised his blaster and fired at Evil Morty.

The shot flew true, but just before it hit, Evil Morty flicked his wrist and the air around him shimmered. The blaster bolt dissipated harmlessly into nothing, as if it had never existed.

Evil Morty's smirk deepened. "You always did think too small, Morty."

Morty felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as Evil Morty raised his hand toward the stabilizer. The containment field pulsed, and in an instant, the feedback device that Rick had planted began to glow brighter, the energy growing more intense with each passing second.

"What are you doing?" Morty shouted, his voice filled with desperation.

Evil Morty glanced at him, his eyes gleaming with something almost like pity. "I told you, Morty. This was never about stopping me. It was about setting the stage for something bigger."

The stabilizer hummed louder, the energy around it reaching a fever pitch as the feedback loop began to destabilize the Nexus Point. Morty could feel the very fabric of reality trembling around him, as if the multiverse itself was reacting to the surge of power.

Rick's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. "Shit, Morty, he's using the overload! He's gonna collapse the Nexus Point!"

Morty's heart pounded in his chest. They had been so focused on stopping Evil Morty that they hadn't seen the real plan. He wasn't just trying to stabilize the Nexus Point—he was trying to collapse it, to tear open the multiverse and bend it to his will.

Morty turned to Rick, panic rising in his throat. "How do we stop it?"

Rick's face was pale, his expression grim. "We can't. Once the feedback loop starts, it's only a matter of time before it blows. The Nexus Point will tear itself apart, and everything connected to it will go with it."

"Everything?" Summer asked, her voice tense.

Rick nodded, his eyes dark. "Everything."

Evil Morty's voice cut through the tension, calm and assured. "The Nexus Point is chaos, Morty. It's always been chaos. And now, I'm going to harness that chaos and reshape the multiverse. Not just one timeline, not just one reality—all of it. I'm going to tear down the old systems, the Conclave, the Infinite Coil… and when I'm done, there will be nothing left to stop me."

Morty's mind raced. He couldn't let this happen. He wouldn't let this happen. But how could they stop something that was already in motion? The stabilizer was destabilizing the Nexus Point, and with every passing second, the multiverse was coming apart at the seams.

But then, Morty remembered something—something he had learned in those fleeting moments of clarity during his time studying the multiverse. The Nexus Point wasn't just destruction. It wasn't just chaos. It was also creation. It was possibility.

He turned to Rick, his voice low but steady. "There's got to be a way to reverse it. If the Nexus Point is collapsing, we can stabilize it. Not by controlling it, but by letting it reset itself. The chaos—maybe it can realign the multiverse, bring it back to balance."

Rick's eyes widened in understanding, and for a brief moment, Morty saw hope flicker in his grandfather's expression.

"You might be right, Morty," Rick said, his voice filled with a sudden surge of energy. "But it's risky as hell. If we do this wrong, we're not just stopping Evil Morty—we're erasing everything."

"Better than letting him win," Summer muttered, her rifle still trained on the advancing soldiers.

Evil Morty, watching them with amusement, crossed his arms. "Go ahead, Morty. Try it. I'm curious to see how far you'll go to stop me."

Morty felt his pulse quicken. He wasn't going to let Evil Morty win. He had come too far, lost too much. This was his chance—his last chance—to set things right.

"Rick," Morty said, his voice steady, "let's do it."

Rick nodded and pulled out a second device from his coat, a makeshift controller for the feedback loop. "Alright, kid. Here goes nothing."

With a flick of Rick's wrist, the stabilizer's energy shifted, its pulse growing steady instead of erratic. The chamber filled with a deafening hum as the feedback loop reversed, sending a wave of energy rippling through the Nexus Point.

For a moment, everything stopped. Time seemed to freeze as the multiverse trembled, its very fabric straining under the weight of the Nexus Point's energy.

And then, the collapse began to reverse. Reality shifted, the chaos of the Nexus Point folding in on itself, realigning with the flow of the multiverse.

Morty watched in awe as the room around him shimmered with the light of infinite possibilities. The Nexus Point wasn't collapsing—it was resetting.

Evil Morty's expression darkened as he realized what was happening. "You're making a mistake, Morty."

"No," Morty said, his voice resolute. "You did."

With a final surge of energy , the Nexus Point stabilized, the chaotic swirl of reality folding in on itself and resolving into a single, unified flow of energy. The multiverse trembled, then settled, as if a great storm had passed, leaving only calm in its wake. The air in the chamber grew still, the oppressive hum of the Nexus Point fading into silence.

Morty stood there, breathless, watching as the shimmering light around the stabilizer dimmed. His heart raced, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. They had done it. Against all odds, they had managed to reverse the collapse of the Nexus Point.

But the victory felt fragile, like it could slip away at any moment.

Evil Morty stood at the center of the room, his smirk now replaced with a cold, calculating glare. For the first time, there was a hint of frustration in his eyes, though he masked it well.

"You think you've stopped me?" Evil Morty's voice was low, filled with quiet anger. "You've only delayed the inevitable. The Nexus Point isn't something you can control forever. It's a force of nature, Morty. And forces like that always find a way to break free."

Morty clenched his fists, anger bubbling up inside him. "Maybe. But for now, you're done. We're not letting you destroy the multiverse."

Evil Morty's eyes flicked to Rick, then back to Morty, his expression hardening. "You've only survived this long because of him," he said, nodding toward Rick. "But that won't last. You're still just a pawn, Morty. A piece on a board you don't fully understand."

Rick stepped forward, his portal gun still in hand, and leveled his gaze at Evil Morty. "Yeah, well, maybe Morty's a pawn, but even pawns can take down kings. You underestimated him. You underestimated us."

For a moment, the room was tense, the air thick with the weight of everything that had led to this point. Morty could feel the tension in his muscles, the adrenaline still surging through his veins. Evil Morty was dangerous—he always had been—but now, for the first time, Morty felt like they had the upper hand.

Evil Morty's soldiers, who had been fighting fiercely just moments ago, seemed unsure. They glanced between Morty's group and Evil Morty, as if waiting for their next command, but even they seemed to sense the shift in power.

"I don't need to destroy the Nexus Point to win," Evil Morty said quietly, his voice dripping with cold certainty. "The multiverse is already broken. It's been broken for a long time. I'm just giving it a push in the right direction."

Morty shook his head, his voice filled with resolve. "You're not fixing anything. You're just tearing it all down for your own ego. The Nexus Point—it's not yours to control. It's part of something bigger, something none of us can fully understand."

Evil Morty's gaze sharpened, and for a brief moment, Morty saw something dark and dangerous flash in his eyes. "We'll see," he said, his voice soft but filled with menace.

Before Morty could react, Evil Morty raised his hand, a strange device in his grip. In an instant, he activated it, and a portal—different from the ones Morty had seen before—tore open behind him. The energy around the portal was chaotic, unstable, pulsing with an intensity that made the hair on Morty's arms stand up.

Evil Morty gave them one last, cold smile. "This isn't over, Morty. Not by a long shot."

And with that, he stepped through the portal, disappearing into the chaotic swirl of energy. The portal snapped shut behind him, leaving the room in eerie silence once more.

Morty stood there, frozen, his mind racing. He had expected a final confrontation, a decisive victory, but instead, Evil Morty had slipped away, leaving them with the unsettling knowledge that he was still out there, plotting his next move.

"Shit," Rick muttered, running a hand through his hair. "That slippery bastard."

Morty let out a slow breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside him. They had stopped Evil Morty's immediate plan, but it didn't feel like a victory. Evil Morty was still out there, and as long as he was, the threat to the multiverse remained.

"What now?" Summer asked, her voice tense as she lowered her rifle. Her eyes darted between Morty and Rick, waiting for an answer.

Morty glanced at Rick, then back at the stabilizer in the center of the room. The Nexus Point was stable—for now—but they couldn't just leave it unguarded. Evil Morty would be back. And when he returned, he'd be more dangerous than ever.

"We regroup," Morty said, his voice steady but filled with a weight that hadn't been there before. "Evil Morty's still out there, and he's not going to stop. We need to figure out his next move, and we need to be ready."

Rick grunted, already tinkering with his portal gun. "Yeah, well, we also need to fix whatever the hell that was." He gestured to the now-stable Nexus Point. "This thing could blow up in our faces again if we're not careful. I'm not letting some multiversal explosion ruin my day."

Summer nodded, her expression serious. "I'll gather the rest of the team. We need to get out of here before Evil Morty's soldiers regroup."

As Summer left to organize their forces, Morty remained standing in front of the stabilizer, his thoughts swirling. He had spent the last four years fighting against the chaos that Evil Morty had unleashed, trying to stop the collapse of the multiverse. And now, after everything, it still didn't feel like it was enough.

The rebellion had won a small battle today, but the war was far from over.

"Hey," Rick's voice broke through Morty's thoughts, his tone softer than usual. "You did good, Morty. You didn't screw it up. We're still alive, aren't we?"

Morty glanced at Rick, a tired smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah. We are. For now."

Rick shrugged, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat. "That's all you can ask for in this messed-up multiverse. We'll figure it out. We always do."

Morty nodded, grateful for Rick's words, even if they felt a little hollow. He knew Rick was right—they had made it this far. They had survived everything the multiverse had thrown at them. But deep down, Morty couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.

As they prepared to leave the facility, Morty took one last look at the Nexus Point. It glowed faintly, the stabilizer holding it in check for now. But he knew it was only a matter of time before Evil Morty returned to finish what he had started.

The multiverse was still broken, still fragile, and the fight to protect it was far from over.

But as long as he had Rick, Summer, and the rest of the rebellion by his side, Morty knew he wouldn't stop fighting.

They had saved the multiverse today.

Tomorrow, they would save it again.

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