Author's Notes
Just an idea I had while watching In Space; Psycho Yellow seemed to be the one with the most common sense of the bunch (not that that's saying much), and I got to wondering what her thought process was... which soon led to this fanfiction. Should be about 7-8 chapters in total. Standard I-don't-own-it disclaimers apply.
Chapter 1
The creature's first conscious thought was hatred. It built over the next few seconds, a whirling vortex that consumed her entire mind, until she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw gave her hatred focus, and she knew with her entire being that she was destined only to destroy the foul thing she saw on the monitor in front of her.
She stepped forward as her mind cleared a little - just a little, the pure hatred not fading even the smallest degree - and came face to face with four others like herself, and a woman in black and name Astronema came into her mind, the identity of her mistress programmed into her.
Astronema fixed them with a cold look. "You five are my new Psycho Rangers. I trust you all know your purpose?"
It was Psycho Red who spoke first, stepping forwards with a determined nod. "We'll destroy the Power Rangers. Just show us where they are!"
Astronema barely reacted to his bluntness. "Good," she replied, her voice cold. "You'll get your chance soon. And don't fail me." She didn't give them time to reply, turning instead and stalking out of the room.
The new Yellow Psycho Ranger exchanged a look with the other four for a long moment, sizing up her - competition? allies? She wasn't entirely sure which. Well, as long as they helped her destroy the Power Rangers, it scarcely mattered. "I hope she lets us go soon."
Psycho Blue nodded eagerly. "I can't wait! That Blue Ranger is mine!"
Psycho Yellow nodded, her hope confirmed. If the others were focussed on the different Rangers, that left Yellow for her.
Tearing apart the city was one thing, but doing it disguised as the Power Rangers was just plain funny, watching trust turn to fear in people's eyes as their heroes turned on them. As they'd expected, it wasn't long before their targets showed themselves.
They turned to face their counterparts, the two teams sizing each other up for a moment before Psycho Red spoke first "Well well well, what do we have here?"
Even with their expressions hidden by their helmets, the Rangers' confusion was palpable. They looked at each other, then at the Psychos. "I can't believe it," the Yellow Ranger said in clear disbelief.
"They look just like..." Black trailed off, his sentence lost as he stared at Psycho Black.
Red shook his head. "They can't be."
Psycho Blue spoke - but not to correct them as she'd expected. "Ah, but we are Rangers!"
She was surprised they weren't letting their actual identities be known yet, but she decided to play along for now. "And we're here for one reason, and one reason only."
Psycho Red finished her sentence. "To destroy you."
The conversation was over before the Power Rangers could reply, and the Psychos charged in to attack. She ducked a clumsy punch, kicking Yellow backwards with a laugh as the Pink Ranger stumbled past, choking from a kick in the throat. She chased after the Yellow Ranger, blocking kicks and punches with ease. Her opponent moved so slowly the fight was almost boring. As Red hit the wall hard near her, she flipped over Yellow, easily avoiding the shots she tried to fire. Only one even grazed her, and it barely stung.
She kicked Yellow backwards, but before she could follow up the Black Ranger hit the floor hard nearby, and the others ran to his side. As the Rangers tried to regroup, Psycho Red spoke again. "You were right. We're not Power Rangers."
Clutching an injured arm, the Red Ranger tried to stand up straight. "Who are you then?"
Psycho Red laughed as he replied. "You'll find out soon enough." Apparently it was time to put their opponents out of their misery - in more ways than one - and they all laughed as they transformed back into their Psycho Ranger forms. "We're the Psycho Rangers."
"We're faster than you," Psycho Black said as they advanced.
"Smarter than you," Psycho Blue added, to the clear offense of his counterpart.
As Psycho Yellow looked at the gasping Yellow Ranger, her own response seemed obvious. "Stronger than you."
The only one left to speak, Psycho Pink rubbed in their point with, "But we're evil."
Psycho Red had clearly had enough talking. They were all getting impatient. "Now we'll show you what a Psycho Ranger can do!"
The Red Ranger struck a pose that was probably supposed to look impressive. "Bring it on!"
Time to stop playing around, then. A few violent seconds was all it took for her to knock Yellow to her knees. As she started to siphon her mind, her very thoughts and feelings, she could see the other Psychos around her, doing the same to their helpless counterparts. Hatred turned to contempt as she sifted through the Yellow Ranger's memories. There were a lot of pathetic fantasies about the Red Ranger in there, and Psycho Yellow shoved past both those and her victim's terror to something more relevant. As she reached the memories of training, strategies and fighting techniques, it all seemed too easy - until the far wall exploded inwards.
The Psychos teleported away, back to the Dark Fortress, as a motorcycle bearing a silver-clad Ranger rode in through the new hole in the wall. They had what they'd come for anyway - no sense risking being taken by surprise before they could regroup.
They were met by Astronema as they appeared in the main control room. She was calm, confident as she walked over to them. "So, the Power Rangers have met my Psycho Rangers. Did you get their energies?"
Psycho Red answered, speaking for all of them. "Yes. Each of us has tapped in on a Power Ranger."
"Good. Soon you'll know them inside and out. You'll know their thoughts, predict their next move." She stopped by Psycho Red, turning back to face them. "Find them! And don't come back until they're destroyed."
Already experienced enough to work out that when Astronema raised her voice it was not wise to stay in the room, the five quickly left, going to find somewhere else to plan. Psycho Red found a monitor, pulling up surveillance footage of the area where they had fought the Rangers minutes ago. "They're gone!"
Psycho Blue pushed him out of the way to look at the monitor himself. "Where are they?" he demanded, watching the empty warehouse.
"We won't find them this way." Psycho Pink shook her head. "We'll have to look."
"Hmm." Psycho Red nodded his agreement. "Wait, we all know the sound of their communicators. We go to the city, and wait. They'll show up eventually."
Psycho Yellow sighed, but could think of no better plan. "Let's hope they don't take too long."
They teleported down, split up to cover different areas of the city. Psycho Yellow found herself on a rooftop with Psycho Pink, a convenient vantage point to listen to the city below. After only a few moments, she heard a familiar bleep, a sound picked up during her draining of the Yellow Ranger's energies. "I've got it!"
Psycho Pink ran over. "Then let's go."
Psycho Yellow needed no convincing, and they jumped together after the sound.
As they landed on the street, the sound came again, and Psycho Pink pointed to a car speeding away. "They're in that car!"
"I'll stop it." She was already reaching for her weapon, shooting the car's tyres out. They ran after the car as it skidded to a halt, Psycho Pink pulling one of the doors off. "I've got you, Ranger!" She reached into the car triumphantly - and stopped as she saw the terrified old couple within. "That's not the Pink Ranger..."
Psycho Pink dropped the car door. "I thought you heard her."
"So did I." Confused, Psycho Yellow shook her head. "Come on." They ran together, patrolling the streets to listen for any sign of the Ranger they had heard.
It was not long before their own communicators came to life, and they heard Psycho Red's voice come through. "Psycho Yellow, Psycho Pink, we've got one Ranger prisoner."
"One isn't enough," Psycho Pink replied. "We'll keep looking."
"No!" Psycho Red sounded angry, probably at being argued with. "We lay in wait. They'll come to rescue him before long."
Psycho Yellow searched the emotions and memories she had siphoned from her counterpart. "He's right. They'll come running to rescue their friend."
Psycho Pink nodded reluctantly. "I hate waiting."
"So do I, but they'll come as soon as they can. And you don't know where to look, so come on!" Without waiting, Psycho Yellow focussed her powers, teleporting to an abandoned library with the other Psycho Rangers. She took one glance at the unconscious captive, being tied to a chair by Psycho Blue. "Which one's this?"
Psycho Blue pulled the last knot savagely tight as Psycho Pink teleported in beside them. "This one's Silver. He won't be interfering this time round."
She laughed. "Good. Astronema will be pleased once we've destroyed all six."
Minutes passed and the Psychos, never imbued with much patience at the best of times, were growing frustrated. "Where are they?" spat Psycho Blue.
"They'll be here." Psycho Black indicated the still-unconscious captive. "They'll be looking for that one."
"They're slow as well as stupid." Psycho Blue paced angrily. "He isn't well-hidden."
Ignoring the others, Psycho Red cocked his head as he heard a familiar sound from across the city. "Psychos, I hear them! I knew they'd make a mistake, let's move!" He teleported, the other Psychos following his lead as he looked at a busy street. "I think... yes!" He pointed at one of the cars. "This time we've got them!"
They teleported down, shooting out the car's wheels, and it swerved wildly, out of control. Psycho Red walked after it as it crashed into a wall, and pulled the back open to reveal - nothing. The car was empty, save for a remote control and a machine making a repeated beeping sound. "What's this...?" Psycho Red's confusion turned to anger as he took in the sight, and he rendered the machine into scrap metal with a punch. "It's a decoy!"
Standing some distance away, Psycho Pink held up a hand to stop the others. "Wait, I hear them. We've got to get moving now!"
By the time they teleported back the Rangers, morphed, were sprinting towards the old library. "It's them!" Red shouted, drawing his weapon.
"Were you expecting someone else?" Psycho Red laughed.
Psycho Blue's eyes were fixed on his counterpart. "Did you think you could fool us with that old trick? You're pathetic."
"That's enough!" Red actually seemed to think he had a chance. "We're coming through." With that, the Rangers charged - apparently they were unable to learn a lesson. The fight was a lot more brutal than the first time they had met, and a lot more brief. They were done playing around with the Rangers, and all five hit the ground hard under just a few hits from the Psychos.
Psycho Red spoke as they all took just a moment to enjoy the sight of the Power Rangers stumbling, barely managing to rise to their feet. "You haven't got a chance against us."
"We'll see about that!" Well, nobody could fault the Red Ranger for his tenacity, if nothing else. Their desperate charge was met with a blast of energy bolts, and they were thrown back to the ground again.
The Power Rangers forced themselves to their feet, again, and the Psychos channelled their power into energy blasts. Psycho Yellow could feel her opponent weakening, enjoying the cries of pain as they became more and more pathetic - until she felt the grip of a teleporter take hold of her.
"What's happening?" cried Psycho Red, but it was too late to wonder, as the familiar sight of the Dark Fortress swirled into being around them.
Author's Notes
Where's X-Men: New Start? On my hard drive. At least, the notes and rough draft from far-too-long-ago are. I'm in the process of rewatching the entire original film trilogy and all of X-Men Evolution to get the characters back in my head, then I'll finish off the next chapters of that fic. I aim to get it written and finished sooner, not later. I promised I'd finish it, and I meant that promise.
Speaking of, I also promise to finish THIS fic, whatever life throws at me. I don't have the best track record for swift, regular updates, but it will get written.
