The morning sunlight had barely spilled across the Smith family's breakfast table when another universe's bloodshed quietly encroached - a portal suddenly tore through space, and a scar-faced "Evil Rick" opened fire, killing the Rick at the table before abducting a terrified Morty.
As the C-137 dimension's Smith family (our familiar protagonists) gathered for their usual breakfast, with Beth wistfully saying "I wish we could see more of you," multiple portals simultaneously materialized in the living room. Rick Guards in uniforms marched in. "Rick Sanchez of Dimension C-137, you are under arrest for crimes against other-dimensional Ricks." Without hesitation, Rick and a bewildered Morty were escorted to Rick City - a transdimensional sanctuary built by Ricks from across the multiverse, where various Ricks and Mortys coexist under a rigid hierarchy: Ricks hold absolute power, while Mortys function more as disposable accessories.
The accuser was the Council of Ricks, an organization of elite Ricks from different dimensions who had long harbored resentment toward the independent C-137 Rick. They presented "ironclad evidence": 27 Ricks from various dimensions had been murdered, their corresponding Mortys kidnapped, and all clues pointed to the C-137 Rick who refused to join their council. Facing the biased trial, Rick immediately saw through the frame-up. With Morty's help, he used his Portal Gun to create chaos and escape Rick City's confinement.
During their escape, Morty was still in the excitement of being a "transdimensional adventure partner," but Rick coldly shattered his fantasy: "Every Rick keeps a Morty not out of attachment - my genius brainwaves are too easy for enemies to track, and your 'idiot brainwaves' happen to neutralize them. You're my human shield."
Meanwhile, back at the Smith residence, Ricks sent to "monitor" the family had taken over. Jerry, feeling completely out of place among these arrogant Ricks, unexpectedly bonded with a "Fool Rick" mocked by the others. This Rick lacked the genius arrogance, instead being gentle and even somewhat clumsy. He patiently listened to Jerry's complaints, joined him in flipping through old photos, and formed a rare connection - the warmest subplot amid the tense main narrative.
On the run, Rick soon discovered his Portal Gun had been remotely controlled, with someone deliberately leaving clues to guide him to a specific location. Following the tracking signal, they arrived at a castle whose walls were constructed from hundreds of imprisoned Mortys. Their anguished screams created a powerful brainwave barrier that blocked any Rick's tracking devices. Rick admitted he'd once had similar ideas, quickly defending himself to a horrified Morty, "I was just thinking about it!"
After infiltrating the castle, their arguing betrayed their position, and they were captured by Evil Rick and his Eye-patched Morty. Evil Rick's goal was to extract C-137 Rick's memories to prove he was the "smartest Rick" and overthrow the Council of Ricks.
Trapped in the Morty cage, C-137 Morty, witnessing countless Mortys treated as tools just like him, suddenly erupted with unprecedented courage. Standing atop the cage, he shouted: "We're not Rick's accessories! Our destiny is determined by ourselves!" These words ignited all Mortys' fighting spirit - they broke free from their bonds and overwhelmed Evil Rick.
Rick took the opportunity to contact the Council of Ricks, handing over the scene to them. However, the truth was more shocking than anyone imagined: after disassembling Evil Rick, the council discovered he was merely a remotely controlled robot, and the true mastermind was the Evil Morty standing beside him - a Morty whose intelligence matched Rick's. He had used hundreds of his kindred's suffering to mask his brainwaves, framed C-137 Rick through the Evil Rick persona, all to eliminate any Ricks who stood in his way.
C-137 Rick saw through it all but didn't reveal the truth immediately - instead, as they left, he simply told his Morty: "An arrogant Morty can cause very serious consequences." This was both a warning and a silent declaration of war against Evil Morty.
Back home, Rick immediately disrupted the warm atmosphere between Jerry and Fool Rick with a casual comment: "That guy eats his own poop," plunging Jerry into and disappointment, effectively ending their fledgling friendship.
As the Ricks in the house departed one by one, Morty looked at the Rick beside him, now both familiar and strange. Rick might still view him as a "brainwave shield," but through this adventure, Morty had learned he was anything but a tool to be manipulated.
The episode ends with Evil Morty slipping away unnoticed among the rescued Mortys, while the relationship between C-137 Rick and Morty grows more complex - caught between the truth of "tool" and the bond of shared battle - much like the infinite possibilities of the multiverse itself, their story has only just begun.