Chapter 6 – A Victim Of A Cruel Charade
November 19 1999 - Astro Megaship
It was mid afternoon on Terra Venture when Karone received an alert from her morpher informing her of an incoming communication. With the Galaxy Rangers busy, she elected to return to the science room on the Astro Megaship to take the call. A few days had passed since she had communicated with Karovia, the Stewart's in particular, asking for assistance with Psycho Pink. There hadn't been another sighting of the rogue Psycho since, it was like she was a ghost in the system.
Karone pressed her palm print to the screen to confirm she wanted to accept the call, "Hey you two", she greeted, "not the couple I was expecting to see".
"I'm not sure if I'm insulted or not", TJ Johnson pressed his hand against his chest, "what about you dear?" he asked his companion with a hint of fake sugariness.
"Still deciding", Cassie Chan added, "and don't call me dear again, it makes me sound like a Grannie", the Pink Space Ranger said to her boyfriend.
"It's good to speak with you", the silver ranger began, "it's been a long few days".
"I still can't believe Psycho Pink survived", Cassie replied with fury in her eyes, "if only I hadn't lost to that bitch none of this wouldn't have happened".
"Cass it wasn't your fault", TJ began, "we all know how tough the Psycho's were. I think all of us took a beating from them at some point". Cassie nodded recalling TJ's battle with Psycho Blue that landed him in the medical bay for several days.
"I think I've still got the bruises from the final fight with Psycho Red", Karone rubbed her back unconsciously and paused for a moment. "Sorry for sounding surprised at your call but I was expecting to hear from Justin or Charlie", the blonde added.
"They're still working on your problem", Cassie replied, "I don't think either of them have slept since your call". The pink ranger looked down briefly before adding, "We've been thinking and all of us have come up with a theory".
"Really?" Karone raised an eyebrow.
"Hey we're not stupid", TJ exclaimed.
"Sorry Teej", Karone shook her hands, "what's your idea?"
Cassie looked at her boyfriend and nudged him in the arm. The blue ranger shook his head but Cassie glared at him and he let out a deep sigh, "Remember the data we looted from the Dark Fortress?" Karone nodded slowly, after defeating Dark Specter the rangers downloaded as much information as they could from the Dark Fortress. It was mostly useless now the Alliance was gone but it didn't hurt to have as much data as possible, "Well we studied your original plans and ideas for the Psycho Rangers and noted that you called them shells in your notes".
The silver ranger thought about this for a moment, her prototypes were mere shells, similar to the ranger's suits. Her original intention was to select five of the strongest warriors in the galaxy to use them but before the selection process could begin, she found out the truth about her origins and the project was abandoned. She theorised that Dark Specter modified her designs so the shells were the Psycho Rangers, complete with their own sentience. The monster form was probably a by product of the need for something to be inside the shells. Karone then became aware the Cassie was speaking, "Sorry Cass I zoned out for a moment, could you run that by me again", she said.
"Drifting off into your own world again", Cassie smiled, "we theorised that the sentience of Psycho Pink could lead her to want to survive at all costs".
"And the nature of her original design could mean that anything could be underneath the shell", TJ added.
Karone's eyes widened, "I'm not sure if I like where this is going".
Cassie sighed, "Did you get a sample of the blood you found after the last battle", Karone nodded, "did you run any tests on it?"
"None of us knew how to", Karone replied, "this was usually Kendrix's area of expertise".
TJ nodded, "Alright we're going to get Alpha in here to talk you through the process", he paused for a moment, "have you told the Galaxy Rangers about the origins of the Psycho's?"
"They've only just begun to trust me", Karone sighed, "I can't drop this bombshell now".
"They know you were Astronema right?" Cassie asked and the silver ranger nodded, "then I think they'll be more accepting then you believe".
Karone paused for a moment in thought before nodding, "Alright I'll talk to them after I've run the test". The Pink and Blue Space Rangers smiled, "I'm going to get to the science lab on Terra Venture, have Alpha call me in about 15 minutes", the pair nodded and Karone bid them farewell. Karone opened a drawer and pulled out the blood sample she found after the last fight with Psycho Pink. She rolled it between her fingers absentmindedly before leaving the Megaship.
Terra Venture Science Block
A couple of hours after her call from Karovia, the silver ranger sat behind a computer and bit down on her nails. She had run some tests on the blood sample and immediately summoned the Galaxy Rangers. She had the results of the tests and it wasn't good news, "Hey Karone", Leo said as he and the others walked into the lab, "your call sounded important".
She swallowed deeply before starting, "Yeah I run some tests on the blood sample we got a few days ago but before I get on to the results, I want to tell you a few things about the Psycho Rangers".
"Alright we're all ears", Damon replied as he perched on a nearby work bench.
"The Psycho's were originally designed as an outer shell for someone to wear", the silver ranger began, "it would've given the wearer enhanced strength, power and speed. Essentially they were meant to be the perfect weapon against the Power Rangers". She paused and took in the confused looks of the Galaxy Rangers, "The project was initially scrapped as the suits couldn't be powered up. That was until Dark Specter drained some power from Zordon to get them working. He also corrupted the design to make them sentient rather than mere suits".
"How do you know so much about this?" Mike asked.
Karone sighed and lowered a head, "Because the original designs were mine", she said softly. She waited for the evitable backlash but none was forthcoming. She looked up slowly, "Are you not mad?"
"If were honest, we kinda expected something like this", Kai replied.
"This mission seemed personal for you", Maya added, "like you felt responsible for something".
The silver ranger let out a deep sigh of relief, it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, "You said they were meant to be used as suits?" Damon asked.
Karone nodded, "I'll give you a demonstration", she stood up and grabbed her morpher. She punched in the code 7-7-9-2-4-6 into the device and the suit of Psycho Silver appeared around her body. "I created this to confuse the Psycho's", she said with the synthesized voice of a Psycho Ranger, "if I wanted to could use this instead of my own power suit but it would really creep people out".
"Yeah you don't say", Leo murmured as Karone recalled the Psycho Silver suit, "so how come the Psycho's had a monster form as well?"
"I'm not really sure", Karone replied, "could've been a side effect of the creation process or maybe a sick joke by Dark Specter. As I said, I abandoned the project long before they were brought online".
Damon raised his hand, "Forgive me for sounding like a silly grease monkey but what does this have to do with that blood sample".
"Everything", Karone sighed, "from what you told me Psycho Pink was at the epicentre of that energy field when Kendrix entered and destroyed the Savage Sword. The backlash should've destroyed Psycho Pink but it somehow it only killed the monster underneath".
There was a general unease amongst the Galaxy Rangers, "But the suit survived?" Leo asked.
The silver ranger nodded, "Along with the sentient AI of Psycho Pink. It attached itself to the nearest compatible biological source". She pushed a button on the computer and brought up the results of the blood analysis. The word 'HUMAN' flashed up before a picture of a familiar blonde haired woman.
The rangers were still in shock when they heard the sound of clapping coming from behind them, "Took you all long enough", the voice of Psycho Pink called out. The Psycho Ranger swaggered into the lab and stood just a few feet away.
"Psycho Pink recognised the morphing energy in Kendrix's Transmorpher and to preserve herself, she latched onto that", Karone said, filling in the gaps for the others. She leaned back on the console as the Galaxy Rangers slowly backed away.
"Such an inferior intellect", Psycho Pink reached up to her head and gave it a strong tug. It came away like a helmet and some long blonde hair tumbled out, "You should never have figured it out so quickly".
"Kendrix?" Leo gasped, "is it really you".
Psycho Pink laughed, "Oh dear sweet Leo", Kendrix's face twisted into an ugly sneer, "don't you understand, Kendrix is gone honey, only Psycho Pink remains".
"Pink's AI overpowered Kendrix's mind", Karone continued, "her body was saved from death but at a cost".
"Can we get her back?" Maya asked.
"What makes you think I'm going to give up control", Psycho Pink laughed. She summoned her Psycho Bow and took aim, "This should stop you from having any ideas about saving your friend".
The rangers back away but Damon spied something out the corner of his eye. He pushed Mike out the way and smashed his fist against a small glass panel and pushed the button underneath. Immediately the lab was filled with the sound of sirens and a glass screen dropped down between them and Psycho Pink, "Emergency quarantine procedure", the green ranger began, "nothing will get through that screen until Commander Stanton authorises its deactivation".
Psycho Pink slammed her Bow against the screen but it simply bounced off without making a scratch. The Psycho paused for a moment before laughing, "Doesn't matter, I don't need to psychically beat you, I've already won the psychological battle. You'll never destroy me because you know it'll kill your friend". Psycho Pink picked up her discarded helmet and replaced it but not before blowing Leo a kiss, "Until next time", and with that Psycho Pink disappeared.
"She's right", Kai sighed as he rested up against the wall, "we can't fight her, we'll kill Kendrix".
"Kendrix is already dead man", Damon replied, "I don't want to sound heartless but she was dead the moment that she destroyed the Savage Sword. That might be her body but someone else is at home".
There was silence for a few moments as the group through about the green ranger's words, "Can it be reversed?" Leo said with a quiet whisper.
"I don't know", Karone replied, "I have no idea what changes Dark Specter made to my original design and program".
"Will the remains of the other Psycho's help?" Mike began, "Commander Stanton wanted them kept, just in case we could gain some valuable intelligence from them".
Karone thought about this for a moment, "If the CPU survived then yes but it'll take time to decrypt".
"Then that's what we'll do", Leo said to the other rangers.
The doors of the lab opened and for a moment the rangers thought that Psycho Pink had come back. Instead it was Commander Stanton and a couple of armed GSA guards, "What's going on in here?"
"It was my fault", Karone began, "Mike and Kai were showing me some of the data they obtained from the Psycho Rangers. With Psycho Pink sighted again, I thought I could help get rid of her once and for all. Unfortunately I tripped and fell again the emergency button", she shrugged sheepishly.
Commander Stanton didn't looked overly convinced but he didn't press the matter, "And the civilians?" he pointed at Leo and Maya.
"I'm a big fan of the silver ranger", Leo began, "I just wanted her autograph".
Stanton sighed, "I beginning to wonder if your presence here is more trouble than it's worth", he said to the silver ranger, "I appreciate your help but I'm going to have to ask you to leave the station".
"But I'm so close to stopping Psycho Pink", Karone begged, it wasn't a total lie they were closer than they were a few hours ago.
"She has been a great help to us", Kai added, "she's discussed many new security protocols". The silver ranger glanced over and Kai lightly shrugged his shoulders.
"One week", Stanton said as he deactivated the quarantine shield, "Psycho Pink or not if you're still here after that, I'm escorting you off myself", he turned around and left the lab without another word.
"Not the first time I've been thrown out of somewhere", Karone shrugged, "but it mean we have to move fast". She looked at the Galaxy Rangers, "Are you all with me?"
The rangers looked at each other, "If it'll bring Kendrix back to us, we'll do whatever it takes", Leo stated with a firm conviction. It was a statement that no one disagreed with, they would do anything to save their friend from the clutches of Psycho Pink.
A/N – Anyone who guessed that the reborn Psycho Pink was Kendrix gets a gold star. I did make one change to canon in that Psycho Pink wasn't destroyed by the Astro Megazord like she was in "The Power of Pink". Instead she was trapped in the violent pink whirlwind along with Kendrix.
Remember when I said that "the steamiest scene I've ever written" was in chapter 8. Well I miscounted and it's actually in chapter 7 and that shall be up on Monday.