The Citadel

Too Dicey

This stupid brain of mine is gonna get me into a lot of trouble. More than it already has. I took the portal gun from my desk and turned it in my hand studying the outside of it. I should be excited about finally having a real gun that I can study but I just couldn't get my mind off of Jessica. Why did I choose to save her? Why am I putting myself at risk for her? Why do I care? I'm not a Morty. I don't give a damn about some random Jessica, at least I shouldn't right? I don't even know her that well. She's just a high-school girl that Morty's like to fall for. She doesn't seem that bad at least. I hope she doesn't fuck things up for me. I'm so close to getting out of this shit hole. I just need more money, but.....this fear. This fear of the outside world keeps growing. I've never lived in a normal society. The thought of even being able to pull it off scares me. Damn. I sat up in my chair and took a screwdriver out to begin dismantling the portal gun. I need to know everything about it. Every wire, every program. I need to know it from the inside out.

Later I finally finished my analysis of the portal gun a drew up some blueprints. I sat back and relaxed before I remembered that Jessica was still upstairs! I looked wide eyed before rocketing put of my chair and running upstairs. I panted hard as I ran. When I finally reached the top I stumbled over to my bedroom door and quickly fiddled with my keys to get it open. I flung the door open. A beam of light shined passed me and onto Jessica's face. She was asleep on my bed. I sighed in relief. She covered her face and rubbed her eyes.
"Hey, that's bright." She said groggy.
I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.
"Hungry?"
It was less of a question. I'll be in even more trouble if I let her starve. She's more valuable alive. I went to the kitchenette in the corner of my room and pulled out a box of cereal.
"Strawberry Smiggles?" Jessica said reading the box.
"Hm?"
"Oh nothing. Those are my favorite." She said.
I grinned a bit and poured two bowls.
"Here, you should eat."
"Thanks." She said taking the bowl.
I watched as she pushed the cereal under the milk and mixed it around. I took a bite. Eventually Jessica took a bite too.
"So, is there anyway for me to get home?" She asked.
"I suppose that's possible, but its too dangerous right now. I haven't perfected portal travel yet." I said not looking up at her. I dunno why, but I tried not to make eye contact with her.
"A Morty making portal travel? Ha. Yeah right." She said mocking me.
I turned my gaze to meet her nose. I still didn't want to look her in the eyes.
"I think you already know that I'm nothing like other Morty's."
She swallowed and set her bowl down beside her.
"Y-yeah. I kinda noticed." She said kicking her legs back and forth. "You don't drool over me like the other Morty's do."
"You're probably never gonna find out why." I said. I took both of out bowls and put them in the sink. "I've gotta get back to work."
"Do....do you always work?"
"Why do you think that bed is so dusty?" I said mysteriously. "Plus don't you want to get home?"
She looked down sadly and grabbed her arm then nodded up at me.
"Then be patient and don't tell me how to do my job."
"Okay then, jeez."
I shook my head and went out the door locking it behind me. I refuse to tell her about the working portal gun I have. She could steal it from me if she found about it. Or I could use her for information or I could sell her to the Citadel. I've got to make sure I look busy. Big Morty maybe an idiot but he us not stupid. He knows I could easily escape with the gun if I wanted, but I can't let him know about Jessica.

I made my way back downstairs into the shop. Everyone was still hard at work making guns. I went over to my desk and just now realized what a cluttered mess it was. I sighed and went over to the barred window. It was night. The neon sign for The Creepy Morty shined brightly into the streets. There was a bit of a glare but you could see that the streets were bare. The lack of music coming from the main entertainment area was also resuring that Big Morty had closed the club for the night. I went back to my desk and organized all my scattered tools on the desk. When I opened the top drawer I grinned finding a pleasant surprise. There was a packet with a few Simple Rick wafers left and the bottle of Jack from Pretty Boy. I poured a bit into a glass and sat down at my desk with my feet propped up gently sipping the liquid and taking a bite of a wafer. I was in complete bliss. My eyes shut delighted. Suddenly I heard someone walk up to my desk. I slowly opened my eyes to see Big Morty standing there with his arms crossed looking upset.
"Something wrong boss?"
"You're supposed to be working, Sci."
"You know I work better when I'm relaxed."
He had some sort of papers in his hand. I looked down at them.
"Whatcha got there boss?"
"Just the newspaper. The cops really want to find this Jessica that's been running around. Heh. If she's still in Morty Town the first Morty to see her probably has her locked up tight all to himself haha. No Jessica is safe in Morty Town. I just hope the cops don't start looking around here for her otherwise our operations is ruined." He said.
The panic started to set in. I looked away wide eyed trying not to look panicked. Here I am trying to relax and BM reminded me that I have the Jessica they want.
"There's a big reward for whoever turns in the Jessica." Big Morty said reading the paper more. "Maybe I could hire a bounty hunter to find her. Then again they would probably just turn her in themselves."
"Do you always talk business?" I said sarcastically.
BM looked up from the paper.
"Do you always need to be a wise ass?"
I threw my hands out and shrugged.
"Thats my job boss."
"Grrr." Big Morty got frustrated and gripped the newspaper hard.
I leaned forward putting my arm on the table and looking BM in the eyes.
"You know I'm right. I'm always right. If you're done trying to best my genius I'll get back to work."
"Remember who you work for Sci." BM said walking away. I gave him a little salute and continued my work.