Chapter 50

Evolving

Head is pounding. Memories are being played back at lightning fast speed. Things you thought had occurred, had been twisted. Old memories take over and your vision swirls. Once all has been restored, you blink to see Scar Rick and Mack standing over you, talking about something. You hear Kat'Rin's name and shake your head.

"Boys… boys, I'm alright." You struggle to stand up as Scar Rick helps lift you off the floor and sits you in a chair. Rick comes running in demanding to know what happened. He yells about how he felt panic and then nothing. Scar Rick and Mack let him know about the sentence both spoken and written. When it comes to you blacking out, you were shocked to learn you were out for a mere five minutes… it felt like a lifetime.

"Still here guys… I would love to have some speculations as to what just happened. Please?" You ask while rubbing your temples.

"You may not like it…" Scar Rick starts out. You shoot him a dirty look and he starts. "I've been talking to Mack. Your bond may have mixed with his natural abilities to create a loophole for you to get your needs met without compromising your morals."

"Huh? I need simple please… my head is killing me."

"Ok. You needed someone during those nights after fighting. You did not have access to your husband and you also did not want to cheat on him. So after a particular night, a simple 'promise not to tell anyone' or 'let's keep this a secret' turned into your bond manipulating things. Whenever you were pressed about sexual experiences, you simple stated 'I have only slept with Rick'. As time went on, I have a feeling your bond created other ways for you to adapt without messing with your morals."

"Yeah… Nights I thought were with Rick have now reverted to the truth. Fuck. Turns out my marriage was more fucked up then I thought. I really don't think we acted like a true married couple until we got the Earth."

"Makes sense…" Scar Rick starts.

"Alright…" Rick interferes, "so what memories are you talking about? How can you be sure? Maybe this is Mack trying to manipulate you…"

"Hey, fuck you! You know nothing!" Mack growls.

"Yeah, you're right motherfucker… I know nothing about you!" Rick yells back.

"Enough!" You yell. Both look to you. "I know, alright. I just know. They are my memories. There were things done with Mack that I thought were done with my husband. On Earth I would do these same things and… he didn't like them. Seemed surprised by some. It never made sense until now. This way I could convince myself that some of the more memorable nights were with my husband. Fuck. I never really had any 'nights' with my husband during the non-war times. I remember now that he usually spent those days recreating the infrastructures of the societies we saved. Why did he keep pushing me away?" You whisper the last question to yourself. Rick kneels down next to you.

"Coming from a Rick… you probably scared him shitless. You were both so young when you met. Whirlwind romance. He asked for you to marry him without fully understanding what he was getting into. Then he probably freaked out and tried his hardest to get you to leave him. You know how we do things… never want things to be our fault. But you didn't leave, you stayed. Probably, by the time he fully realized how important you were to him, was when you two went to Earth to retire. So, like I mentioned before… I doubt he was loyal to you. Always found it out of character when you first told me." Rick was holding on to your hand and watching your reaction. You look into his eyes and see honesty. And love.

"Yeah… it really does make sense now. We both cheated. Fuck yet again. But what does this all mean?"

"I have a theory the other Ricks and I have been talking about for some time now." Scar Rick walks to the wall near you and leans against it. "We had never thought Kat'Rin's only power was for Ricks alone. Doesn't make sense when you really think about it. One girl from light years away having the ability to manipulate and possibly control a man whom she may or may not meet? Too much of a coincidence, since there is not a Kat'Rin in every Ricks dimension. So then we refer to the original prophecy… that there was a woman who had the ability to control all men. That makes more sense. Kat'Rin fell in love with a Rick first and obviously became obsessed. You fell in love with a Rick first as well. But we can now see that you have created bonds with other men in your life."

"Wait… what do you mean by 'other men in my life'? I can only possibly agree with Mack…" You question Scar Rick.

"Lover, can't you see? The four original members? You have a unique bond with each of them… Torren is the father, Groff is the comfort, Dean is the brother and we all know what Mack is…"

"So I manipulated them to be this way? Or did they manipulate me?" Rick squeezes your hand as tears start to form.

"Lover, don't think of it like that." Scar Rick talks to you in a soothing voice. You look up at him and he smiles warmly. "Don't you see? You have a unique approach to your power. You have been alone, defending yourself for years before you met Rick. Then he comes along, sparks not only a physical desire, but a desire to be taken care of. The power becomes reciprocal. When you were left on your own again, it sought out others to help fulfil these needs. When Torren first met you, I bet he instantly thought of his own daughter. Thus your power knew he would be a perfect father figure in your life. Put this equation to each of the four. You didn't manipulate them and they did not manipulate you. They were the perfect… pardon the expression… pieces to the holes in your life. Your power manifested in a passive way, but also in a protective way. You were not aware but it was working on ways to keep you from those early feelings of…"

"Abandonment." You finish. "My biggest fear."

"Yeah. And what is Kat'Rin's biggest fear? Being hurt by a Rick. Whatever she views as being hurt, that is. I still don't know the original story but with me, she became crazy when she thought I was looking around or that I was going to leave her for someone else."

"Abandonment again. Great, I guess it runs in the genes…" In a way you felt better knowing that you were not being manipulated through the bond to become something that these men wanted. If that were true… who would you be?

"Explains Morty too… not Summer and Beth though." Rick chides in.

"Morty?" You look at Rick.

"Yeah, he took to you almost too quickly… like me. But you were what he wanted… a person who came into the family, who was readily accepted, and who was willing to give him attention and love. The girls were the same way."

"Maybe because they are related to you?" Mack adds. Everyone looks at him. "What? I have good ideas too…" You look at Rick as he gives a sly smile and shakes his head.

"Fucker… shut up! I'm actually starting to like you." Rick chuckles.

"Yeah… me too. Better than that asshole of a husband…"

"We all agree Mack. We all agree."

"Stop it. He gave his life to save me… I think that redeemed him in the end." You stare at Rick.

"Better late than never I guess…" He winks at you.

"Bastard." You whisper. "Alright… so let's say that this is a power for all versions of me. Then that means that Kat'Rin has the ability to change her focus… if she ever wanted to."

"Whoa. The other Rick has been telling me about her." Mack starts talking; you interrupt him.

"Scar Rick."

"Scar Rick? Seriously?"

"Shut the fuck up alright? Again… I had little time to come up with a nickname." You rub your eyes again as you hear the others chuckle.

"Alright… the other Rick has been telling me about her." Mack gives you a shit eating grin… "I don't like her. Don't like the fact that one day she may realize that any man can be under her control. Rick, we'll help you."

"Can you keep it from her?" Rick chucks a thumb in your direction. You slap his hand away from you and shoot him an evil look. Mack bellows out a deep laugh.

"No problem. I love keeping secrets from her…" Mack winks at you.

"Hey fucker! What secret are you keeping? Huh? What the fuck?" You stand up, walk over to him and smack him against his chest. Mack fakes being hurt and laughs harder. "Glad you find this so funny. Alright, I'm done with this. Let's go get drunk."

"Let's go motherfuckers!" Rick yells out as he leaves with Scar Rick. You start to walk out when Mack grabs your hand. You turn around and walk into his arms.

"I'm sorry. This is quite a mess." Mack whispers softly into your ear.

"Not your fault at all. I'm glad you came. I'm very glad I remember…" You squeeze him tight as he wraps arms around you. He kisses the top of your head and whispers something in his language. "What do you say anyway? Those are the same words as before. Well not those other words that… um… affected me… but the ones before." Mack barks out laughing.

"Shit girl… you remember?"

"Yeah, got a full memory view during the blackout. Like going through the motions again, since I remembered them incorrectly." You look up at him. "Gods I missed you…"

"Don't start girl… You have no idea. Those words are a phrase meant to call upon the old gods to protect and serve the one we love. It's specifically meant for those we choose to be our… mates." Mack stares forward, avoiding your gaze.

"Hmmmm. I see. This was spoken before that last phrase… I remember you saying 'by the gods, so shall it be'. What were those words then?"

"Something similar. In essence." Mack is still refusing to look at you.

"Why aren't you telling me?"

"I'm afraid you'll kick my ass." A small grin curves up the left side of his lips.

"Oh, then it must be good…" You smile as you hear a dark chuckle.

"Yes baby… it is. But now is not a good time. I am from an ancient race. I can wait forever." At that he lifts your chin up and lays a simple kiss on your forehead. "By'Pallah." At this word you feel a heat surround the two of you. Mack lets out a dark growl from the pit of his stomach. When you look up, his eyes are lit. He is staring at you now, and your breath catches in your throat. "We need to return."

"Yeah." Mack breaks away from you and walks out the door. You stand still for a moment trying to figure out what just happened. That word… it meant something important to him and your bond recognized it. After a short while you hear Rick yelling from outside the ship. He's betting Mack that he could drink him under the table. You start to laugh and shake your head. Now was not the time to focus on these things. You run outside and yell back that you could drink both under the table. Rick laughs loudly and takes the bet. He slaps Mack on the back and tells him not to let his team down. Mack slaps Rick on the back as well, sending him forward a couple of steps. Rick laughs again and calls him a rather crude name. Mack replies back with another and the two walk into the bar arm in arm laughing. You stop and rub your temples. Scar Rick walks up next to you.

"You sure you wanted to introduce those two?"

"I was…"