A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, everyone. I was having a bit of writer's block. Just needed to poop something out so I can move the plotline along.
Chapter 8
Morning came much too quickly for Morty and Summer. After groggily waking up his sister, who kept blearily demanding "five more minutes", Morty discovered neatly folded clothes on each of their chairs. He was thankful; his and Summer's current clothes were tattered and torn from the crash, and they had no other items or attire with them.
Morty hazily got himself dressed, pulling a plain, yellow shirt over his head. It was very similar to his other yellow shirts; Morty appreciated the familiarity.
After Summer finally got up, slipping on the pink shirt and associated clothing so graciously folded on her respective chair, and pulling her unkempt hair up into a ponytail ("What I would do for a hairbrush", she sighed), the siblings made their way out of the dormitory and into the outside world, where rebellion-associated aliens were meandering about, preparing for their day.
Morty spotted Adalric sauntering over to them. "Good morning, Morty and Summer. How did you sleep?"
"Great," Morty said.
"A lot better than we've had in a while," Summer noted, yawning. "What's the plan for today?"
Adalric smiled. "Well, I was thinking that, since Morty proposed having the rebellion help break Rick out of Federation prison, I would have you two meet the leadership—the councilmembers—of the rebellion and put forward the proposition."
"W-wait, really?" Morty said, eyes wide.
"Yes. They're the ones who will be able to help you—they can organize the people."
"Wow, that sounds—thanks, Adalric!" Morty exclaimed.
We have a chance.
The trio made their way over to the cafeteria, where Morty and Squanchy had rendezvoused the previous evening. Breakfast was being served; Adalric, Summer, and Morty each plopped scoops of some strange alien food onto their plates before scavenging for and finding an empty table.
"I've already made arrangements for your meeting with the council. We'll leave after we finish eating here," Adalric said.
The trio ate quietly for the next twenty minutes or so, making casual small-talk here and there. Adalric was curious about Morty and Summer's mother; he said that Rick had spoken about her occasionally when she was a young child, and was interested to know how she'd been faring lately.
Summer and Morty looked at each other, both of them ridden with guilt at the mention of their mother.
After they finished eating, Summer and Morty followed Adalric outside to a large, circular building, big purple bushes and a rainbow of flowers surrounding the structure. Morty blinked; it was very impressive.
They walked up the stairs and through the double doors to the inside of the building. There was no one inside; a few vases filled with flowers sat on small sidetables beside chairs. A single large metal door was cut into one of the walls.
"The council is right through there," Adalric said softly, pointing to the metal door. He plopped himself down in one of the chairs. "Go ahead, go inside."
Summer looked at Adalric, her eyes weary.
"You'll be fine," he said in response to her look. He gave a kind smile. "They'll listen to you. Go ahead inside. I'll be waiting out here."
Summer pursed her lips before glancing at her brother. She turned back to the door before it wooshed open.
Morty and Summer stepped inside, the door closing behind them. The room they entered was round and large; tall, elongated windows all around them allowed bright sunlight to filter through, illuminating the tall, wooden counter in front of them, behind which there were seven aliens of different races.
Morty was vaguely reminded of the Council of Ricks' chamber.
"Speak, boy," said the councilmember on the far right after a moments' silence, his four eyes suspiciously watching Morty and Summer.
"M-my name is Morty Smith," Morty began, his stomach twisting in tension.
"And I'm Summer Smith." Summer stated, her voice reverberating around the chamber. The council members glanced at each other before shifting their gazes back to the human teenagers.
"We are the Council of the Rebellion, or as it is commonly known, the Freedom Fighters," said a female alien on the left side of the councilmen's' counter. She gave a toothy half-smile, her lips thin. "I am Yygra."
Each of the other council members gave their names in loud, reverberating voices that echoed around the chamber. Silence reigned for a moment after all seven spoke, before Morty cleared his throat.
"We're here b-because we have a request to make of the rebellion. As you know, our grandfather, Rick Sanchez, w-was captured by the Galactic Federation a few months ago, and i-is being held right now in some unknown place. We need your help to break him out." Morty finished. He looked up at the seven council leaders; all were staring back at him with questioning looks.
One of the members on the right stood. "Rick Sanchez was—is—a very useful asset to the rebellion, and we deeply regret his incarceration. However, we can't just go around sending our soldiers into undisclosed and unknown prisons for a human who assisted the rebellion some thirty, forty years ago!"
Another member, on the far left, stood up as well. He bit his lip, looking between his fellow councilman and the human siblings. He was pot-bellied and stout, and, for some odd reason, vaguely reminded Morty of Benjamin Franklin. "Without Sanchez, the rebellion would have been shut down, if not obliterated, by the Federation. Without him, we wouldn't exist today."
"That was years ago, I don't think-"
Another councilmember stood, her voice crisp. "Councilman, didn't Sanchez save your life during the Battle of Ymar?"
The councilman stumbled over his words, stuttering out phrases like "well yes, but I-"
Suddenly, all seven members were on their feet, pointing at each other, arguing in a precipitously loud volume.
Morty and Summer looked at each other, worried looks on both of their faces. Morty felt a hand on his shoulder; he turned around, Adalric suddenly behind him.
"Let's wait outside. Politicians and councilmembers are notorious for arguing, and their species may start spitting poison soon if they keep it up." Adalric escorted Summer and Morty outside of the circle room, the door slamming shut firmly beside them as soon as they exited into the hallway.
Morty leaned up against the wall, a sinking feeling in his stomach. No way are they going to approve this.
"We don't even know if he's still alive!"
"They wouldn't just kill Sanchez- he's very useful, and it's only been about two months since the Feds got him! They wouldn't kill him yet."
"What if he broke? What if, what if the Feds broke him and he gave away all of our secrets? All of the galaxy's secrets?"
"Are you kidding me? Do you even know who we're talking about right now? We're talking about Rick Sanchez! He is the last person in the universe who would break!"
Morty stood, silent, beside the closed metal door. He could hear their muffled, fervent debate on whether or not to help him and his sister rescue their grandfather. The fifteen year old boy looked down at the clean floor, scuffing it lackadaisically with his white shoe.
He felt a gentle, warm hand take hold of his own. He looked up at Summer, who gave him a small, reassuring smile. "It'll be okay," she said. "There's no way they can say no."
Morty half-smiled at his sister before looking back down at his shoes as the arguing in the other room continued. He appreciated her kindness. Yes, of course they can say no. He thought to himself. They don't owe us anything.
The door opened suddenly with a loud bang! Morty and Summer jumped, quickly spinning on their heels to face the door. One of the council members—Morty couldn't remember the name of the alien, all he knew was it sounded like some kind of fancy shit—hastily turned to face the siblings, a bead of sweat on his brow but a smile on his face.
"We have approved your request for assistance in your effort to liberate Rick Sanchez of his incarceration."
Morty and Summer looked at each other at the same time, smiles spreading over both of their faces as they grabbed each other's arms in elation.
"Thank you, thank you!" Summer repeated, relief flooding through her.
The rebellion was going to help break Rick out of Federation prison.
A/N: Hope it was okay. Stay schwifty!