Old Friends, New Friends {RICK AND MORTY} ON HIATUS

Chapter Four

Rick stood in line at the Intergalactic Space Station. He hated going there due to his intense hatred for beauracrats, but his portal gun had run out of charge, and he just wanted to go home. He approached the woman behind the counter. She had a print on her skin like cracks in pavement, which radiated a bright purple colour. She also had short, pink hair, and glasses. Her nametag read 'Stephanie'.
"Where are you coming from?" she asked.
"A-947," Rick replied in a dry tone.
"Where are you going?"
"C-137."
"Have you brought anything from A-947? No anti-bromine?"
"Why would I? I have no use for that shit." The woman eyed him suspiciously.
"You do realize that taking anti-bromine from that dimension is illegal, right? It's in extrememly high demand and the people are dying without it."
"Yes," he spat. The one time he actually didn't do something illegal. "I do realize that."
"I'm gonna have to ask that you wait over there. Someone will be with you in a moment."
"What? Why?"
"We're gonna have to search you," she responded. Rick sighed.
"Look, lady," he peered at her nametag. "Stephanie. I-I-I gotta get outta here pretty fast. Can you please just trust that I don't have any anti-bromine?"
"Are you hitting on me?" she asked, deadpan.
"What?" Rick furrowed his brow. Stephanie groaned.
"I can't believe it. Look, I have a lifemate already, and to be honest, I'm not even sure what species you are. So, hard pass, thanks."
"I wasn't even hitting on you. Jesus Christ," Rick rolled his eyes. Stephanie glared at him.
"What exactly are you implying?"
"Ughh. Never mind. Just, please, let me go?"
"Yeahh, I'm gonna need you to wait over there," she gestured again to a small waiting area. Rick groaned and stomped over, sitting down in a plastic chair.

An hour had gone by and no one had come for him yet. Then, an alien was lead into the area. They sat down next to him and peered over at him curiously.
"Hello," they said. They had a high-pitched voice and pronnounced it 'halo'. Rick groaned at scooched over in his chair, facing the other way. The alien turned their head and looked forward. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. My culture's social conventions are often considered rude by other's. I will stop talking now."
"Thanks for that extra special glimpse into your life," Rick rolled his eyes. He then heard what sounded like crying. He turned around to find the alien hunched over, crying into its hands (which had long talons opposed to fingers).
"Are-are you crying?" Rick asked. The alien turned so it's back faced him. Rick groaned. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd understand sarcasm."
"My people were the first to invent it," it responded, sitting up. Bright orange tears streamed down it's pale grey face.
"Well shit! I owe your people some respect then. Tip of the hat."
"I am Tasmulah. You are...?"
"Rick."
"Rick," they repeated. Their heavy accent caused them to roll the 'r' in his name to an almost unrecognizable word. "So what are you in here for?"
"They suspect me of st-EUGGHH-stealing some anti-bromine. I could've if I wanted to. But I didn't. I have no use for that crap."
"I see," she nodded.
"W-EUGHHH-hat about you?"
"Why I am here?"
"Yeah."
"They found three dead bodies in my suitcase."
"Oh ho ho ho ho. That's disgusting!" he laughed. "Were they yours?"
"Did I kill them?" she asked.
"Yeah!"
"Why else would they be in my suitcase?"
"Damn, motherfucker! How'd you fit three in one suitcase?"
"I never said the bodies were still in the shape of a body."
"Gross!"

After chatting with Tasmulah for some time, he was by himself again after she was taken to prison. It had now been three hours, and he began to debate whether or not he should just escape, as he once had with Morty. As much as he hated (fucking despised) this place, it worked in times of dire need, a last resort. If he escaped again, he wouldn't be able to use it when his portal gun was, for whatever reason, unavailable. He figured he'd just be a dick when someone came to search him. And as he continued to think, his eyes drooped shut. He wasn't sleeping (he'd never let his guard down that much), but more or less resting his eyes.

While he sat, eyes closed, he was jolted awake by the sound of metal clanging against the ceramic floors.
"Shit!" he sat up, on guard. He scanned the room as his eyes fell on-
"Holy fuck..." he whispered. There, standing no more than 15 feet away from him, was a small woman with pale skin, freckles, and blonde curly hair. Her eyes were locked on him, her mouth slightly open. Rick stood and stepped towards her. She then pressed her mouth shut, closing her eyes as Rick slowly approached her. His eyes drifted up and down her, the same question whirring through his mind. She looked up at him, terrified curiosity shooting through her body.
"C-137?" she managed.
"Oh God, Vanessa," Rick said, suddenly enveloping the woman's tiny frame in his embrace.

+++

"Wow..." Morty whispered. "So how long ago did all that happen?"
"I saw your Grandma again for the first time two months ago," Rick responded. His serious demeanor was unsettling for Morty, as it wasn't condescending or mocking, nor was he being a smartass (all of which Morty was used to). He sounded slightly solemn, and it was offputting.
"So..." Morty trailed off.
"She wants to meet you Morty. S-s-she wants to meet Summer too. And she'd like to see Beth. She doesn't really give a shit about Jerry, but she's w-EUGHHHH-illing to see him too."
"I-I need to process this Rick... This is a lot for me to take in. All at once. Y'know? Just give me a while to think it out."
"What is there to think out, Morty? She's your Grandma and she wants to see you. Your meeting wasn't exactly tasteful, y-you understand, Morty? Don't make it weird for her, Morty. She just wants some Grandkids. She wants to see 'em," Rick went on. Morty nodded and walked away. He left the garage and Rick followed, calling Summer into the garage. Summer was pale and trembling. Only now did Morty remember the dick move he pulled earlier. She looked at him for a minute and looked away, seemingly unable to issue a response to seeing him. He understood.

Morty walked into the living room, where Beth sat, idly playing on an iPad.
"H-hey Mom?" Morty said unconfidently. Beth looked up.
"Hey Morty," she smiled lightly, returning to the iPad.
"Mom, h-how long has it been since you've seen Grandma? O-or your Mom, or whatever? Why haven't we ever met her?"
"Wh-what? I-" Beth looked up, eyebrows knit together. "She's dead."

A/N: Hey friends!!! So, I'm sorry I'm an asshole and haven't updated in a thousand years. I've had REALLY bad writer's block, so I apologize if this chapter is meh. BUT, I promise things will go uphill from here. Maybe it'll still take me awhile to update *shakes fists* but the plot is really gonna take flight soon. Hang in there guys, you've been awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!