The Sanchez Chemical Reaction

Chapter 8: Collar

By the time I get to my house, I'm exhausted and can barley lift my legs. There's no way I'd have enough strength to operate a spacecraft right now. But at least I got away from everyone. It's safer this way. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. Even though I could take out this entire planet if I pass out right now.
Making my way inside, I collapse onto the floor and lay down for what feels like forever. I just need a moment to catch my breath. I have to. If I get up and move around again, it's over. I don't have enough energy. Normally my body would've rejuvenated itself by now. But my powers must be taking up too much energy to hold back.
Sighing tiredly, I crawl to my couch and lay for a few moments longer. "Okay y/n, this is what we are going to do, we're going to go to the spaceship, fly to the middle of nowhere in space, and take my time regaining my energy." I tell myself. "I just can't believe I need to leave right after I found who I've been looking for."
I pinch myself just to get up. I've barley regained enough strength to stand, but it's good enough to let me walk downstairs to my garage. Putting my handprint on the bay door, it opens and makes a cute little chin noise I'd forgotten it does.
A wave of nostalgic air washes over me as I walk on and sit at the pilots' seat. But I can't bring myself to start the ship. I'm not even sure it'll turn on after sitting dormant so long. I feel my hands start to shake uncontrollably again and I fear my body can no longer hold back my powers. "Shit-" I whimper to myself as I go to turn on the ship. Although to no avail, my hands won't work the way I want them to. Plus I can barley sit up now in the pilots' seat.
Just then I hear footsteps leading up to the bayside door and a knock on the metal. "You just going to leave before I can help you? Jeez talk about dramatic. Do you have that little faith in my abilities?"
It was Rick's voice. And by the sound of the footsteps, he was alone. I swirl my chair around and my eyes widen. He's holding a metal collar looking thing in one hand, and taking a swig with his other.
"R-Rick, st-st-stay away. You d-don't know if that th-thing will work." I feel my body start to shutter violently as I fall onto the floor.
Rick's footsteps run over to me as I hear him whisper "shit, you already know it works. Just hold on. Let me put it on."
"K-k-kill m-me. Before-before I bl-blow the planet up." I mumble out spurtstically. "Pl-please"
He quickly lifts my head into his lap and unlock the device he made. "Why would I do that when I could just save you instead?" I feel my eyes start to roll back into my head just as he slaps the collar onto me and locks it.
Within a few seconds I hear it beeping and talking to Rick, but sounds are starting to fade out. And I'm blacking in and out of consciousness.
Just as I'm about to give out, I feel a surge through my body. It's weakening my powers and giving me strength at the same time.
My eyes roll back and I take a gaint breath of air, finally being able to breath again. The tightness in my chest starts to fade by the minute and I hadn't even noticed I'm using Rick's lap as a pillow.
"How's that?" He asks softly, as if not sure how I'll react to him talking at a normal volume.
I just nod and take his hand, holding it to my heart so he can feel it going back to a normal pace.
"You were planning on leaving? By the looks of it you wouldn't have made it far enough in time, even if you could start this thing. Although I'll give you credit for being able to make it back here."
I lay on my back to look up at him, "how...did you find me?" I ask hoarsely.
"I'm a genius. It's not hard to track. Plus morty and summer followed you part of the way before telling me where you went. I told them to stay back just in case. Although I really just didn't want to see them."
I nod again, "That's mean, but thank you." I close my eyes again and focus on my breathing. "How d-did you know...it..would work?"
I feel him shrug, "I mean, I didn't. But I assumed it would. But by the looks of it, that collar won't last long. You didn't tell me you were having these issues though. Last thing I need is to reality hop again because this one goes to shit."
"S-sorry..."
"Was fighting too much? You used too much energy?"
I shake my head, "I visited old memories on accident."
He goes silent for a moment, "must be some hell of memories."
A moment of silent passes before I ask, "why did you bother to help me? What were you going to do if the collar didn't work?"
He thinks for a moment about what to say. "I helped because you would've blown the planet up. And you're my apprentice." Seems like he's avoiding saying anything to the last question. So I press him a bit more. Already knowing what the answer was going to be. "It's best if I don't say anything for now." I hear him pick something off the ground and put it into his pocket. I think that was enough for the both of us to accept that answer.
He lets me rest for awhile longer before asking if I'm able to get up and walk around now. I reply yes and bring myself to my knees, then my feet. I definitely feel light headed, but I can manage.
"Let's go back to the house. The meseeks have already cleaned everything up. So I'm just going to unfreeze time. You'll have to wear another collar since time is distorted for us. Just don't touch anyone and you'll be fine."
We start to walk out of my house, Rick at my side in case something happens. "Are you sure it's alright for me to come back? I mean, how will Morty's parents take a stranger being in their house?"
"Don't worry about it. Let's just get back. You can rest for awhile and I'll take care of the rest. Besides you still want to go on an adventure right?"
"You still want me to go?"
"Only if you want to. It would let me keep an eye on you. And I think it would make morty less worried about you while we would be away."
A soft smile makes its way to my face as we walk the rest of the way in silence. Making it back to the house in about an hour.
Morty and summer are on the doorstep waiting for us. As soon as they see me, they run over and hug me. It feels as though it was the hug they wanted to return before I left.
"Are you okay?" They both ask anxiously.
"We were worried you would pass out from running. You didn't even wait for Rick to come out of the garage!" Summer says after pulling away.
"You seem alright now though!" Morty looks me over.
"I'm alright, sorry I worried you."
"What was that?" Mort asks curiously.
"It's kind of a lot to explain right now. But I'll say that I won't be doing that again, at least anytime soon."
They don't seem very reassured, yet they take it without further question.
"Alright everyone back in the house. I'm going to unfreeze time. Y/n I want you to go back to bed. With that suppression collar on, you should be alright to sleep again. Just try not to overload the collar before I can build something else to hold your power."
"I'm not sure what you mean by that, but I'll gladly go lay down."
Everyone does as Rick says, and I can hear him tell the kids to wear the time collar as I lay back down in the bed.
I don't really feel like going back to sleep, especially after what just happened. Instead I just close my eyes and relax. Listening to the outside conversations going on. And apparently Morty's father, Jerry, putting on his shirt backwards because it's stylish.
One thing I did miss now that time is unfrozen, was the birds. I missed how they would sing their songs and carry the weight of the world on their wings. Opening my eyes, I look out the window to watch the birds circling outside my window. It's as if they were aware how long they were frozen and are finally able to take flight again.
"I'm glad I didn't have to leave, or I would never see the wonders of Earth again." I think to myself as I relax my body and picture myself as a bird.