//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: I Just Walk Away // by madhat886 //------------------------------// "Rick do you have it?" Twilight ask Rick by computer screen. She is in the the armory of the RV taking stock of ammo and what needs replacing. The repair drones she gotten from that Jetson like world handled all the maintenance and repairs for all the equipment and the RV. Rick on the computer screen put on the table in front of him, a ray gun. It's small handgun size with a radar disk barrel. It doesn't look much but it's something that's hard to make even for the Council of Ricks. Which is way it's a rare weapon and only found besides high ranking members of the council with Rick's who have the money or resources to make their own. "This is the Emotion Gun, it the combine work of hundreds of Ricks all pouring their minds and research into it. It's the brainchild of a Rick in a Carebears world. He studied the Carebear stare for years before he managed to make the first gun that fires a ray that's like those sickening sweet bears. Then other Ricks from other worlds join in to make the prefect gun. A Rick from Wedding Peach, another with Sailor Moon being his daughter, Rick in Winx Club with Believix powers, Rick from Ghostbusters with positively charged slime, another from DC researching the Indigo and Blue power rings. There are more Ricks from many other worlds some with very high level of technology and others with high levels of magic but I won't bore you. These guns work on anyone making anyone no matter what lack of empathy they have, how twisted their morals are and blue and orange outlook, to feel compassion and guilt. Everyone from evil Ricks, demon lords, self aware robots like Megatron, gods like that spider goddess Lolth, and even those beings with a complete lack of emotions like the Incubators are all left complete sobbing wrecks once used on them. The Rick's who had to deal with either Megatron or Lolth can testify how well it work on them.Then there's that Rick in that world turn all of the Incubators into labrats that other Ricks use as they never run out and they stole all of their stuff as well. That Rick's, Summer was turn into a magic girl by them and he did what, I would have done. So you don't have to worry it's been tested and all the models work on anyone with no exceptions. Well there are those brain fungus zombies, but any being that is self aware will be effected by it. So for the price of 700,000, I will sell it to you," Rick said to Twilight. "Does it really worth the money?" Twilight ask. "Well it is an older model that, I traded those two ghosts for but it does the job. You're lucky that, I managed to find a Rick willing to trade for it in the first place. Do you have any idea how much it would cost if you tried to buy it at the Citadel of Ricks? The newest models are at the lowest is a million and that's for the older models, it only goes up from there. So horse face ready to deal?" Rick ask. "Fine," Twilight said muttering about being called horse face. She left the room and then came back with a plastic box full of platinum coins. She and the girls gotten that in a world set in the past, thanks to the mirror allowing them to travel to any world's timeline, but of course the mirror locks the choice once they enter that world so they won't mess up time in that world. Which is fine with her as she had enough of time traveling. They went to that Earth in the 17th century and took the the entire stock of platinum that the Spanish had dump into the sea. There was also the trips to ancient Egypt where they dump gold into the sea to bring up the price of gold when there was an overstock of it. They did trips like that in many times in many worlds, getting the loot that would have been lost, like the pirate booty in Pirates of the Caribbean world, to have money when they need it. "Alright here's some platinum for the trade," Twilight said. "Great," Rick said. "I put them in the counter," Twilight said pouring the platinum coins into a sorter machine. Which is a large metal box that had a slot that items can be poured into it. Coins began being sorted out and coins began coming out of another slot into another container. "Counter?" Rick ask. "It's something that, I pick up in the future world where we pick up much of our tech that we traded for real food items. This machine counts the coins or items place into it scanning them to see what they're made out of and can sort out how much the items are worth. I type in the price amount and the machine is gives out the amount in worth of what was put into it," Twilight said. "Oh really?" Rick said taking a drink from a bottle of beer. "Got anything else you want?" "We are planning on going to some ghost worlds so how about some Ghostbuster gear?" Twilight ask waiting for the machine to finish. "There are some Ricks from those worlds but they're not the types to just give out those kinds of things," Rick said. "Aren't you able to make them?" Twilight ask. "Yes but not my cup of tea making stuff to trap ghost. I have stuff but not to trap ghost but to destroy them. I'm good but other Ricks have it down to an art in the kind of stuff you want," Rick said before putting a gauntlet on the table in front of him. "What's that?" Twilight ask. "It's a power gauntlet I picked up that fires different beams depending on what setting you have it on. One setting has the agony matrix. Direct neuro-stimulation of pain receptors, no defense against it unless there's nothing to feel that is. The no sell beam that any target that is hit by it becomes frozen in the beam like that villain used in that movie about the superhero family.... ah fuck it. All you need to know it works on any type of being from solid to energy even undead types," Rick explains. "Gods and demons?" Twilight ask. "The Rick who made it, made sure it works on them before he slaughtered all of them. This was an early prototype he made before making bigger weapons," Rick said. "What happen to him?" Twilight ask. "Died by a car crash," Rick said. "That's it?" Twilight ask checking the machine after hearing the ding sound meaning it's done. (2) "What? It happens," Rick said. "So what you want?" Twilight ask putting the box with the coins into the teleported. "More treasure be nice but got anything else you can trade," Rick said sending her the emotion gun. "Well in one world we found some ore that's called Tyrenium. It's a key component of plasma cores, used to power top of the line military grade ship weaponry. It was sufficiently rare and in such huge demand that the price for a ton of the element was astronomical to the right buyers in that universe," Twilight said. "Really?" Rick ask. "Ok let's make a deal then," Twilight said. "There are also some other items I like you to work on while we're on our down time." "Going for the whole terrifying precision and ruthless efficiency thing?" Rick ask. "We're not going to do any fighting. If we need to take down someone or defend ourselves, we're not going to handicap ourselves by fighting with some honor thing or something. No-nonsense fighting and no holding the idiot-ball for us," Twilight said. "I taught you well," Rick said. "In some things anyways," Twilight said. "I also want to know if there's any cross dimensional places that me and the girls can go that is safe?" "Well seeing how much of pussies you girls are," Rick began to say earning him a glare from Twilight. "The other Ricks have setup some trade centers around that is heavily guarded and patrolled for people like your group traveling from one universe to another. To stop by for repairs and resupplying. For 10 percent of all sales anyone can setup shop in total safety, with rules that they have to follow or be kick out if they're lucky. There is a fee for anyone to enter the trade center and anyone who enters must have some business to do. Otherwise they have to leave," Rick said. "You seem to know a lot of this even with you not wanting to be part of the council," Twilight said. "What can I say. Even I need someplace to find things I need and to sell what I picked up," Rick said. "Do they buy things like circuit boards, cell phones, scrap metals and other stuff we picked up here and there? We gather them for spare parts but the storage rooms are getting full," Twilight ask. "Yup. There's a huge market of recycling old stuff to make new stuff or reuse. Cheaper that way, of course they buy by weight," Rick said. "Point taken," Twilight said. "So how do I get there?" "I'll give you the location for the nearest one close to you. I'll just add that to your bill," Rick said. "Of course," Twilight said. The relationship between her group and Rick is money. Which from what they learn about him is something that works for both sides. ! Elsewhere - Naruto watched as Trixie preformed her magic show in front of a cheering crowd. It's been about a month since he was taken from his home universe by Twilight's group and brought to this new world. And he couldn't be happier. The Leaf village just saw him as a tool to be used and treated whatever way they wanted. Thanks to the mind jutsu his birth parents put on him he would be the all loving and forgiving hero they made him to be, he would never question anything he would just be a all but mindless weapon. Which is why he would never go back and he burn his past so there's no going back. The ninja world is finish with the chakra that allowed the ninjas to have power is gone from that world. He's been learning about this world and been getting the help he needs to adjust to his new settings. They have been helping him and for the first time in his life he's with people who care about him. Twilight had given him a helmet that fed him information, which she explains is a teaching tool she gotten a hold of in a future world setting. It downloaded so much into his head and now he's able to do things he couldn't before and know things he never knew either. All he needs is life experience and Twilight is also thinking of him going to school, but the others told her he needs time to adjust. "This is what you girls were doing before you all started traveling?" Kasumi ask to Sunset. Both them are watching the show with Naruto hoping that Trixie wouldn't go overboard again. "Putting on magic shows is what we did here to make a living," Sunset said. "It looks fun," Naruto said. "It is but we got to be careful. This world is one where powers and super human abilities are only found in fiction. The last thing we need are people realizing that all of what we do is real," Sunset said. "That be bad," Kasumi said. She herself had to take measures so that she wouldn't be recognized by gamers. Luckily she's just been thought of as a cosplayer when people got a good look at her. It helps that she wears baggy clothes that hides her figure, as Twilight points out that very few women in this world has a figure like hers. (3) "Is that why, I had to change my hair style?" Naruto ask. He now has a buzz cut to hide who he is and without his whiskers he doesn't stand out anymore. "Yes," Sunset said. "What about all the technology you girls pick up?" Kasumi ask. "Saving that if we decide to live here for good. We'll open up a business and give out the technology slowly so people will get use to it," Sunset said as she check her text messages on her smart phone. "Besides most of the stuff we have, this world doesn't even have the infrastructure to make the tools to make the tools and so on." (4) "Also did we really need to do that Overlord test?" Kasumi ask. "We did that and so you two had to as well," Sunset said. "Really?" Naruto ask. "You do realize that the only reason why I had such an easy time at the village was because everyone followed rules that don't make sense once you're not in the middle of it and seeing it from the outside?" Sunset ask. "Good point," Naruto said. "I have realized how strange it is for everything is fighting in my world," Kasumi said. "And how if you were armed with guns it would make things so much easier?" Naruto ask. "Yup," Kasumi said as guns would had made fighting off her clan so much easier. "Twilight thinks there's something that causes your worlds to be like that, ours as well. It does explain how the power of love and friendship was all she needed to beat her past foes. If, I didn't showed up when, I did she said she might had just gone back with her so call friends and old sun butt," Sunset said. "None of you ever want to return do you?" Kasumi ask. "No," Sunset said. "That world runs on rules and mindsets like that pony cartoon we showed up. The ponies there just kept on relearning lessons and just forgot things like it was a cartoon show. Which it is in some worlds which means we were all following the rules and mindsets till we went to this world. And why everyone but Twilight's old group are completely useless, like in a show with them as the main cast. It seems to have an effect on us making us realized things that anyone using common sense would have seen." "Really?" Naruto ask. "Some people around here don't use common sense but people will point it out instead of never. And for people in power who are dependent on people voting for them. Once they make a huge mistake that is costly they will never be able to keep their position, unlike how Danzo even with all he had done was allowed to keep power. Where here he would had ended up losing everything or be in jail," Sunset said. (5) "How long are we're going to be staying here?" Kasumi ask. "We can make short trips but we shouldn't rush things," Sunset said putting her phone away. "Also Twilight talk with Rick and she wants us to go to a big trading hub that is controlled by the other Ricks." "Why?" Kasumi and Naruto ask. "To sell the stuff that we pick up while world hoping and to see what we can find there. From what Twilight text me, the hubs the Ricks run are places that world hoppers like us or sliders to others go to for one reason or another," Sunset said. "That sounds fun," Kasumi said. "Can we see the cartoon about Twilight?" Naruto ask. "Sure," Sunset said. ! Council of Ricks Trading Hub or C.R.T.H. - The trading hub is one of many such hubs that the Ricks had made to deal with the many travelers from different universe. For a price that is, the hub generates much in resources from the many travelers looking for a safe spot to stop by. Which the Ricks had made sure is safety within the station and the space around it. Many of the more business end Ricks invested much into making the station a safe place for world travelers to the point where one would have to look far to find one just as safe. The space station trading center is the rebuilt and upgraded Titan Station from the Dead Space universe. The Ricks had taken the station after the events of Dead Space and made sure all the undead were gone. They did it to save time and resources in building a new one. They kept much of the old parts of the station that are still good or remodel them, the station solar array and fusion reactors still power it with some upgrades. After getting docking clearance Twilight park the RV in one of the many hangers where a repair crew would go and do some repairs and upgrades to it. Twilight stayed behind to look over the prices of the upgrades she wanted and for the work crew of robots that came to pick up all the salvage they wanted to sell. The others would look around the station and would have to the currency exchange as the station use credits to buy and sell things. Which is where Sunset is right now, waiting in line at the currency exchange which is like a bank to her and is more heavily guarded. Looking around she spots a number of cameras and turrets along with robot guards all watching. The others are waiting at a bench outside the exchange. The people with her reminds her of life back at the castle, where she would see many different races coming to meet the princess. Some are humans or human shape while others have more animal bodies along with some that she couldn't even make heads or tails of. Finally she made it to the front of the line and went to a window booth where with a robot teller, which all the tellers are. "How much will this give me?" Sunset ask taking some gold, silver, and copper coins out from her pack that is a back of holding. "It depends on the amount you wish to exchange. But those coins aren't worth much unless it's in bulk," the robot teller explains. "Gemstones?" Sunset ask holding a gemstone in her hand. "Yes we take them. We take just about any type of currency used in most universes," the robot teller said. "Bottle caps?" Sunset ask. "Only as scrap metal," the robot teller answers. "What about pocket lint?" someone behind Sunset ask. Sunset turns around to see Jamie from Megas LXR behind her. "We do not expect pocket lint," the robot teller answered. "That's just great," Jamie huffed walking off. "First time here?" the robot teller ask. "Yes," Sunset said. "Know any good place for a bite to eat and have a good time for my group to visit?" "There is Moe's Tavern. You can pour the coins and gemstones into the slot," the robot teller said activating a drop slot for the coins and gemstones. "Moe's?" Sunset ask as she pulls out her bag of holding and begins pouring the entire pack of coins and gemstones into the slot. "Moe's Tavern is an entertainment center that is very popular with travelers. It has a music stage, arcade machines from all over the muiltverse, dart boards, pool tables and a fully stocked bar to cater to all kinds of travelers. I see you have a omni-tool, I just download the station map and the location of Moe's for you," the robot teller explains as he adds up all the loot put into the slot and gives her a cred card. "Thanks," Sunset said looking over the card that has the amount of all the loot she had in her pack of holding. She then walk back to her group. "You have the money now what?" Trixie ask. "We're going to get something to eat at Moe's Tavern," Sunset said. "Moe's Tavern?" Trixie ask. "The robot teller gave me the location," Sunset said waving for them to follow her. ! Moe's Tavern - Moe Szyslak had no idea how he got struck traveling from one universe to another, but he finally ended up at the C.R.T.H. where he setup his tavern like back in his world. He made himself a good life on the station with the Rick's being some of his best customers. He has built up his tavern to be big where all sorts of games and food items from all over to be found. He hires people who can travel from one world to another to supply him with what he needs. His staff are made up of mainly robots and some people who like him live on the station. He's able to do it by expecting just about any type of currency used by any traveler who stops by and expecting trade goods. Which he learned that long ago that one beings trash is another's treasure. He first ended up in a Star Trek verse and ended up on a Ferengi controlled planet where he learn fast. Moe still stands behind his bar counter serving drinks while his staff handles the rest. The bar area is separated from the more family friendly part of the tavern as the people in the bar aren't known for being civil. Moe also works as a mission giver, he posted jobs that people wanted done for them as well as for bounty hunters to pick up jobs, for a cut of the reward he hooks anyone with a job. He also sells items that he gotten his hands on, one way or another mainly as part of his cut. But of course he does have to deal with some travelers who had just started and using currency that is normal for them but is worthless for him. "I keep telling you. I don't expect anything from your ingredients based economy Toriko! I could use what you're offering for the kitchen but it's not worth enough here and not for what you're trying to buy. Eyebot get him out of here!" Moe shouted at said man. And Toriko was engulfed in a energy bubble by a floating drone eye and he was taken out of the Tavern. "Alright you were right it is Moe," Sunset said to Trixie. They're waiting in line to be seated at a table. "This looks like some of the places I have been to," Kasumi said. "Were they fun places?" Naruto ask. "Some of them," Kasumi said. "How many in your party?" a floating eyebot ask. "5 with our other member be joining us later," Trixie said. The bot led them to a table with 6 chairs and told them to wait for someone to take their order. While waiting they look around seeing many people from frictions they know about. At one table Shinji is sharing a table with Rei and Asuka, while in two tables has his counterparts sharing with just one of the girls from the first table. One table has the cast of Azumanga and the other looks like Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus along with her class who are younger versions of Monster High cast. Ranma is sharing a table with all the girls who wants to marry him. The Avengers are all together eating a meal and the next table is the Justice League. Another has what looks to be Jack from those pirate movies along with samurai Jack sharing a table. And walking out of the tavern is a Big Daddy and a Big Sister. "First time here?" a voice at the table next to theirs ask. Looking at the voice Trixie and Sunset blink seeing who it is. It's Sailormoon along with the rest of the scouts and all of them look like they seen hell. All of them are covered in scars and missing bodyparts that are replaced with cyborg parts or grafted one bodyparts of what looks like monsters or aliens or completely changed into one. Moon has metal wings on her back and one eye replaced with a robot eye, Mercury seems to have all but her head replace by metal, Mars body is part raven with her arms clawed wings and bird feet, Jupiter like Mercury is now mostly metal, Venus is a purple skin woman, Tuxedo looks normal but has glowing white eyes, Pluto lower body is that of a snake, Uranus entire body looks to be patch together from different bodies, Neptune arms and legs are now that of a cat, Saturn body is like an old black and white photo, Mini Moon is the only one who is unchanged but has dead eyes. "Yes," Sunset said. "Are you and Trixie here with anyone else from your world? Besides just Kasumi and Naruto," Moon ask. The rest of her group are busy eating and not saying anything. "Just Twilight," Trixie said. "You been traveling for a long time?" "None of us remembers how long its been, I think I was the first. Besides Mini and Saturn, all of us have just forgotten how long it's been," Moon said. "So... what happen to you all?" Trixie ask. "Have you all learn how many universes obey laws and everyone in it follow a mindset that makes no sense when you actually think about it?" Moon ask. "Been there done that," Kasumi said. "I can't believe how, I use to think," Naruto said. "We're what happens when all but the villains follow that mindset. All of us are the last of our universe's scouts and one way or another ended up traveling through different universes and ended up all together," Moon said. (6) "Trying to find a universe to settle down like us?" Sunset ask. "No. We're traveling around and making sure that what happens to us doesn't happen to other scouts whenever we can. I can't believe how, I use to be," Moon said. "A big cry baby who panics and made things bad," Mars said. "Yes," Moon admitted. "Yes but you are much better then the ones we all knew," Mercury said and all the others at their table nodded in agreement. "Any advice for new travelers like us?" Trixie ask. "There are many apps that you can download into your omni-tool for that. Just sign into the wi-fi and you can download the apps," Venus said. "Thanks," Sunset said and did just that. "One rule you should know is that while it's normal in your universe you can't get away with what you do outside of it. Awhile ago the cast from Love Hina ended up here and almost all the girls ended up dead," Uranus said. "They went and acted as they did in their show didn't they?" Kasumi ask. "Yes and quickly learn that unlike the people in their world. The people here aren't going to stand them acting and treating people as they did back in their world," Pluto said. "They did learn that but of course that's the last thing they learn," Jupiter said. "They had it coming," Neptune said. "Sure did," Mini Moon said. "Yup," Saturn said agreeing. "Anyone who does something like that and expect everyone to just allow them to get away with it. Don't last long or are shown how much people actually think of them," Moon said pointing to a display case on the wall with two people looking through the lone window, which are Allen Gregory and his father Richard Gregory. "How in the world did those two get here?" Sunset ask. "No one really knows. But they went and got on the Doctor's bad side and he time lock them. A second for us is a year for them if I remember right. They're aware of the world but can't ever interact with it and no one cares enough to help them," Moon said. "Girls!" Twilight said walking up to the table and took her seat. "Everything is taken care of?" Trixie ask. "Yes and it be a few days before they're done with the ship. So we're going to be staying here for awhile, I already gotten us a room," Twilight said. "Spending a few days here?" Sunset ask. "It be a day at the most," Twilight said. "Ok," Sunset said. "And while we're here we can get somethings that will make things so much easier for us," Twilight said as she shows her group an ad from her omni-tool. The ad showed like any ad shown on a screen back in the other world which is like a used car sell. But this one is selling robots created by RobCo with Robert House giving the pitch. "Fallout robots?" Sunset ask. "Well they made to last and survive a atomic war that left most of the planet a wasteland. And many of them still up and running over 200 years without any repairs done to them. And it be nice to have some securitrons around to help in fights and Mister Handies and protectrons around the ship as crew. We can't just be going around in a ship with only this many people we need a crew to help, we need to be ready for anything and plan ahead. Like how we always scout any world with a drone first and make sure we have supplies for just about anything. Plus he is having a overstock clearance sell and its in our price range," Twilight said. "Sell is right Mr. House is selling all of his older models so he can replace them with upgraded ones. He is also selling a robot workbench to do your own repairs and such. His store sells almost everything from his world and he likes doing the ads himself as he use to on tv when he was still walking around on his own," Mercury said. "Robots would had helped with many of the things we had faced," Mars said. "Your group is one of the few, I have met who does the universe traveling the right and smart way right off the bat. Many learn to do what your group is doing the hard way if they're lucky to survive that long," Moon said. "Thanks....,"Twilight said looking at the scouts. "They were telling us about the station before you came," Naruto spoke up. "Oh," Twilight said as a server droid came to take their orders. After her group ordered, they waited for their food and past the time talking with the scout party about how things work around the station. Then Twilight saw something that made her blink, coming into the tavern is what looks to be that guy who hangs out with Superman, Jimmy Olsen but looks like a space Mad Max. His face was harden and grim from what he has seen and had to do to survive, he walked into the bar area of the tavern. "That's Jimmy from DC verse and was the friend of Superman before he died, from what I learn of his past that is from Moe," Moon said seeing what Twilight was looking at. "What happen to him?" Twilight ask. "Since your group been reading fictions to learn about some of the worlds you visited. Are you familiar with the DC comic Act of God?" Moon ask. "The one where all the people with powers on Earth suddenly lost them and it was just a big fanboy story to show how great Batman is? Yes, I am," Twilight said. "He's from that setting and everything played out as it did in the comic but for the ending. Darksied of that universe was the one who depowered the strongest heroes and villains of that world. He waited for years building up his forces before attacking. Without the heavy hitters like Superman, all the non-powered heroes and the villains who fought with them quickly fell. Darksied publicly unmask a beaten Batman to that world while explaining he was the one who got rid of the powers and if the people there had tried they might had been able to restore their greatest heroes powers before it was too late to stop him. He killed Batman with his eye beams and enslaved the Earth. Jimmy there managed to survive long enough to come across something that allowed him to jump to another universe. What happen to Superman he refuses to tell anyone. He now works as a bounty hunter," Moon explains. (7) "What happen to his world?" Twilight ask. "He said they had it coming to be happy that someone who gave up so much and using his powers to help others was just gone," Moon said. "Like me and my world," Naruto said. Twilight began to think about the world she left behind and how it was doing without her.