"Power Rangers: Psycho Matrix"
Book One: "Twisted Rebirth"
Chapter 4: "Phantom Fire"
Disclaimer: Zordon, Dimitria, and the Psycho Rangers are not mine by any means. Everything else belongs to me.
Author's note:Has anyone ever attempted what Tsukimaru attempted last chapter in either Power Rangers or sentai?Somehow, I don't think evenSuccubus got that far with Jasminein Dekaranger.Get ready for emotional conflict on both sides, my readers.
Kaitlyn sat on her bed that night, thinking about what had happened between her and Tsukimaru in Crimson Tears.
I hate him, she thought. Why did he have to be so damn beautiful without his armor? Why did he pick me to be his sustenance? How could I fall so hard for him?
Do not trouble yourself over him, Kaitlyn, Psycho Yellow advised. Sleep. You need to recover your strength.
Yeah, I suppose you're right, Yellow, Kaitlyn replied. She pulled back the covers and slid under them, then pulled them back up. Her eyes closed and she drifted off into sleep.
Kaitlyn was performing with Gold Thunder before an audience of thousands, crammed into a stadium. The audience was cheering wildly. At the end of the concert, she was confronted by a shadowed figure.
"I loved watching you perform," he said.
"Thanks," Kaitlyn replied. "But didn't you like Catrina's singing?"
"It was pleasant, but your guitar makes a far lovelier sound," the figure responded.
"Who are you?" Kaitlyn asked.
The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing himself as Tsukimaru, dressed in normal clothes but looking drop-dead gorgeous.
"Hello, Kaitlyn," he said.
"Hello, Tsukimaru," Kaitlyn said.
Tsukimaru stepped closer to Kaitlyn and she found herself unable to back away. In fact, she found that she didn't want to back away. Eventually, Tsukimaru was so close he could inhale the very breath that she exhaled.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
"As are you," Kaitlyn whispered back.
Tsukimaru stroked her lustrous dark hair. "Such silky hair you have."
"Thank you," Kaitlyn whispered.
Tsukimaru moved his head closer to Kaitlyn's and their lips touched. Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself closer to him. Tsukimaru responded by holding her tighter. The kiss seemed to go on forever.
However, forever didn't last long, because it was all a dream, a dream that ended with Kaitlyn waking up gasping.
"What was that?" she asked herself. "How did I end up dreaming about him?"
On the Kirai vessel, Tsukimaru awoke, gasping for breath.
"What kind of dream was that?" he asked himself. He had had the same dream as Kaitlyn . . . almost. Unlike Kaitlyn's dream, his ended not with a kiss, but with Yuna stabbing both him and Kaitlyn with her Kirai Glaive. He had seen Kaitlyn fall from his arms and onto the floor, a pool of blood spreading from where she'd been stabbed. Tsukimaru's blood poured from his own wound, staining his shirt.
"Now you and your Ranger whore can be together," Yuna had sneered. "In hell."
And that was when Tsukimaru had woken up.
"Kaitlyn . . ." he whispered. He fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
Why can't I get you out of my head? he wondered. What is it about you that drives me to this obsession?
He knew one thing, though: As much as he might want to, there was no way he and Kaitlyn could be together. She was a Ranger, and he was a warrior for the Kirai no Hime. No way for them to have a life together.
The next day, after school, Kaitlyn was practicing with her band. After practice, Eden stayed behind to talk to her.
"Something's wrong, girl," she said.
"Nothing's wrong, Eden," Kaitlyn replied.
"Yes, there is," Eden countered. "Now spill. What is it that's got you so down?"
"I met this boy last night," Kaitlyn explained. "He was just . . . the most gorgeous guy I'd ever seen."
"So? Nothing wrong with meeting a hot guy," Eden said.
"But he wasn't who I thought he was," Kaitlyn continued. "I nearly ended up dead on account of him."
"Damn," Eden said. "Let me guess. You're still attracted to this guy."
"You could say that," Kaitlyn said. "My God, I even dreamed of him last night."
"You must really be into him to dream of him after you go to sleep on the same night you met him," Eden said.
"I know I shouldn't be, but dammit, he's just so hard to resist," Kaitlyn said.
"Sounds like you really got it bad for him," Eden deduced.
"I do," Kaitlyn admitted.
"Whoever he is, whatever he's done, it's not worth obsessing over in the end," Eden said. "Hot or not, he's a guy, and guys come a dime a dozen."
"Thanks," Kaitlyn said.
"You're welcome," Eden replied.
As soon as Kaitlyn was alone, her Psycho Morpher beeped. "Kaitlyn here," she said.
"Kaitlyn," Dimitria's voice said on her morpher. "Prepare for teleportation."
Before she was really aware of it, Kaitlyn was swallowed up by a yellow light and whisked off to the chamber where she and the other Rangers had first gotten their Psycho powers and spirits. She saw Kieran, Darien, Liam, and Faith there as well.
"So what are we doing here?" Kaitlyn asked.
"I am sorry, Rangers," Dimitria said. "I should have warned you about Tsukimaru."
"Can all of the Kirai lieutenants do what he tried to do to Kaitlyn?" Faith asked.
"Yes, Faith," Dimitria replied. "The inhabitants of Kirai are psychic vampires. Instead of drinking blood, they drain their victims' life energies."
"What about their other powers?" Darien asked. "When we tangled with the Kirai lieutenants, they were even faster than us. I don't know what happened, but they warped the air around them so that they could teleport and reflect any attack we directed at them. How did they do that?"
"The Kirai lieutenants can bend time and space on a limited scale," Dimitria replied. "As you've already seen, this enables them to teleport, move at speeds faster than even your Psycho Ranger selves can move, and absorb and reflect attacks. There may be other things that they can do, but I've yet to see them. Use extreme caution when you engage them in combat."
"For a 'limited' scale, they managed to do a hell of a lot with it," Kaitlyn said.
"Even limited power can be dangerous when used with sufficient skill," Dimitria said. "There is a way to combat them, though."
"How?" Liam asked.
"Your alter egos have deeper powers locked inside them," Dimitria replied. "But they must find the key."
The Rangers' morphers began to glow with bright light colored differently for each one.
"What's this?" Kieran asked.
"I just downloaded a transport system into your morphers," Dimitria replied. "Anytime you need to, you will be able to teleport to this location or teleport outside."
"Thanks," Kieran said.
"You are welcome, Kieran," Dimitria said.
Kieran, Darien, Liam, and Faith activated the new transport system, disappearing from the chamber in balls of red, black, blue, and pink light.
"Something troubles you, does it not, Kaitlyn?" Dimitria surmised.
"Yeah," Kaitlyn replied. "Tsukimaru."
"Do you have feelings for him?" Dimitria asked.
"Yes," Kaitlyn replied.
"It's not unusual for such things to happen," Dimitria said. "Darkness can be seductive in all its forms."
"It's like he's a flame and I'm a moth," Kaitlyn said. "He'll destroy me in the end, but I want to get close to him all the same."
"Do not worry, Kaitlyn," Dimitria said. "I am sure you'll do what's right in the end."
"Thanks," Kaitlyn said. She teleported out of the chamber in a ball of yellow light.
On the Kirai vessel, Tsukimaru was tormented by thoughts of Kaitlyn. She was so beautiful, and so perfect. Her lustrous black hair, her flawless bronze skin, her hazel eyes. He moved on to her lips, those full luscious lips that he would go to hell and back just to kiss. Of course, his mind soon went lower.
You know you want her, a voice said within his mind. Those tight curves, those dangerous hips, those long, lovely legs. An evil chuckle soon followed. I wonder . . . is she a screamer?
I would never do such a thing without her consent! Tsukimaru protested. I am a servant of Kanika-hime, but I am no rapist!
Who says you need to rape her? the voice continued. She seemed quite willing to let you take her when you first met. And if not for the interference of Psycho Yellow and those miserable children, you very well could have had your way with her.
Enough, Tsukimaru said. Just then, Yuna came in, unarmored. She had long indigo-highlighted hair up in a high ponytail, crystalline green eyes, and a face and form to launch a thousand ships.
"Troubled much, Tsuki?" Yuna asked.
"It's nothing," Tsukimaru replied.
"Tsukimaru, we have worked together for quite a while," Yuna said, "and I've gotten good at telling when you're lying."
"So what?" Tsukimaru retorted curtly. "It's my problem and I'll deal with it."
"It's her, isn't it?" Yuna asked.
"Her who?" Tsukimaru asked.
"Do not play the fool with me, Tsukimaru," Yuna said. "You know full well who she is."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Tsukimaru replied.
"If you want to play this foolish game, fine," Yuna snapped. "The girl who hosts the spirit and power of Psycho Yellow. It's her you desire, isn't it?"
"So what?" Tsukimaru asked. "I am as loyal to Kanika-hime as I have always been."
"Then prove it," Kanika said, appearing at Tsukimaru's door. "If you are as loyal to me as you claim to be, you will take Yuna and Xaran to Earth. You will confront the Psycho vessels. You will draw out the Psycho Rangers. You will kill the Psycho Rangers."
"Yes, Kanika-hime," Tsukimaru said.
Meanwhile on Earth, Kaitlyn was playing her guitar when the air warped in front of her. She stopped playing and stood up in a defensive position. Tsukimaru stepped out of the warped air, armored.
Good, she thought. This way I don't have to look at his pretty face.
"Miss me?" Tsukimaru asked mockingly.
"Why should I?" Kaitlyn retorted.
"I told you I always come back for more," Tsukimaru said. Just as Kaitlyn was about to activate her Psycho Morpher, he grabbed her by the arm faster than the speed of lightning. The air warped once again, and both of them were sucked in.
Kaitlyn and Tsukimaru emerged inside the Kirai vessel. Tsukimaru took the opportunity to create energy chains to bind her hands behind her back, preventing her from activating her morpher.
"So, you are the host for Psycho Yellow," Kanika said. "You don't look like much."
"You won't get away with this," Kaitlyn declared. "The others will come for me."
"I'm betting on it," Kanika sneered. "That way I can get all five of you at once. Then, I will send your Psycho spirits back to the netherworld, and you and your friends can join them." She looked to Xaran and Yuna. "Put her in the dungeon."
Both lieutenants stepped forward and grabbed Kaitlyn by her bound arms, dragging and walking her to a holding cell. They stopped in front of a drab room with only a small cot to furnish it. The strange thing, Kaitlyn noticed, was that there were no bars of any sort; it was just an open room with three walls.
"Get in," Yuna ordered.
"Bite me," Kaitlyn replied.
"You don't want me to do that, do you?" Yuna asked threateningly. With a hard shove, she forced Kaitlyn into the cell.
"What, no bars?" Kaitlyn asked. "You people are idiots. I can just walk right out and. . ."As she was walking out of the cell to demonstrate her point, she walked straight into what looked like nothing, but something had blocked her and tossed her back into the cell with such force that she had hit the wall and landed on the cot hard. "What was that?"
"Force field," Xaran replied. "As long as it's up, you're not going anywhere, pretty Ranger."
"Enjoy your stay," Yuna sneered. "Don't worry. You'll have company soon enough." She and Xaran walked away, laughing.
Kaitlyn let out a noise between a sigh and a snarl.
Don't worry, Kaitlyn, Psycho Yellow said. We'll get out of this, one way or another.
"I didn't expect this new twist to the plan," Kokure said. "But I like it. This will certainly force the Psycho Rangers out."
"Yes, but we won't kill them on Earth," Tsukimaru said. "They'll come to us, and we'll kill them here. Kanika-hime can keep their heads as trophies."
"You're forgetting one thing," Kokure said.
"What?" Tsukimaru asked.
"You're attracted to the Psycho Yellow vessel," Kokure replied. "Can you get past your own feelings and serve my sister as you are duty-bound to do?"
"Yes," Tsukimaru replied.
"Good," Kokure said. "Go at once."
The air warped once more, sucking the three lieutenants in. When they reemerged, they were on Earth.
"Just our luck," Yuna said. "Look who's coming our way."
Indeed, it was the other four Psycho vessels that were walking in their path.
"What are you doing here?" Faith asked.
"We've got a friend of yours," Tsukimaru replied.
"What have you done with Kaitlyn?" Darien asked in a voice tinged with anger.
"She's currently in Kanika-hime's custody," Xaran replied. "She's safe, for now. But you won't get her back without a fight."
"Fine, then!" Faith shouted. "Psycho Spirit . . ."
Yuna cut her off. "Not right now, Pinkie. If you want to save your yellow companion, you'll have to come to us. Bye-bye." The air warped once again, sucking in the three lieutenants.
"Damn it!" Faith snapped.
"Don't worry," Liam said. "We'll get her back."
"Yeah," Kieran agreed. "Right now, we have to get to the Neji Chamber."
The four Psycho vessels teleported to the Neji Chamber in balls of red, black, blue, and pink.
"Dimitria, they've got Kaitlyn," Kieran said as soon as they materialized.
"Yes, I know," Dimitria replied. "Kanika has her captive inside the Kirai vessel." Upon those words, the holo-screen activated to show an image of the Kirai vessel.
"So that's the Kirai vessel?" Darien asked.
"Yes, it is," Dimitria replied. "It is capable of traveling at faster-than-light speeds with the same power that allows its inhabitants to move at speeds greater than even that of your Psycho Ranger selves. Also, it is completely undetectable to human radar and human eyes."
"No wonder nobody's mentioned it," Faith said. "You'd think the military or the government or somebody would have been able to detect that thing."
"If it was the government, they wouldn't have said shit," Darien contributed. "After all, secrecy is what they do best. Don't wanna freak out the people by making them think we're being invaded."
"Be warned, Rangers," Dimitria said. "This is most likely a trap, engineered to draw out your Psycho Ranger selves and capture and destroy all five of you together."
"Who cares?" Kieran said. "Kaitlyn's our friend. We have to save her, even if it's a trap."
"Very well," Dimitria conceded. "There is one thing I can give you, though."
Red, black, blue, and pink lights descended into the Neji Chamber, then grew and faded, revealing black rocket-gliders attached to what looked the wheels of a bike. Each "rocket-glider-bike" was trimmed in a particular color: red for Kieran, black for Darien (in his case a lighter shade than the rest of the cycle), blue for Liam, and pink for Faith. All four had the Psycho Rangers' symbol on the front.
"Awesome," Kieran said, getting on his bike. The others followed suit.
"Oooh, don't you just like the feeling of something hard and powerful between your legs?" Faith asked.
"What are these things called?" Darien asked. "And let's forget we heard any of what Faith just said."
"These are your Slider Bikes," Dimitria replied. "In bike mode, they can travel at a maximum speed of Mach 5. In slider mode, they can travel through space."
"Let's do this," Liam said.
Fully morphed, the Psycho Rangers drove their Slider Bikes at supersonic speed. Psycho Red pushed himself up into a crouching position on his bike, the other Psychos following suit.
"Slider mode!" they shouted, converting the Slider Bikes to what looked rocket-gliders, but with the wheels attached horizontally to the bottom. The four Psycho Rangers leaned forward to accelerate and ascended through the sky until they reached escape velocity.
In the Kirai warship, Kanika stared at the viewscreen, which was showing nothing. "So the Psycho Rangers are coming to rescue their teammate."
"Should we intercept them?" Xaran asked.
"No," Kanika replied. "The whole point of this exercise was to draw the Psycho Rangers out. Let them come. We will kill all five of them on this very ship."
In streaks of multicolored light, the Psycho Rangers boarded the Kirai warship.
"Now where is she?" Psycho Pink asked.
"Once we get her out, we're taking those posers to school," Psycho Black said.
The four Psycho Rangers encountered a small group of Kiraikure, who were soon beaten unconscious.
"Now, let's blend in," Psycho Red said. Their forms blurred and warped until they looked exactly like the Kiraikure.
"Heh, we'll blend in real good now," Psycho Blue said.
"As long as we don't speak," Psycho Pink added.
The Psychos wandered through the Kirai warship until they found by the holding cells. Inside one of them was Kaitlyn, with her hands bound behind her back.
"Fools," Psycho Pink said. "They left the cells unprotected."
"Pink, wait " Psycho Red protested, but Pink walked over to Kaitlyn's cell, obviously intending to walk through it. Unfortunately, she found herself bounced off some invisible surface. The impact of the landing upon the far wall disrupted her disguise, forcing her back into her true Psycho Ranger form.
"Psycho Pink?" Kaitlyn wondered.
"Yes, it's me, Kaitlyn," Psycho Pink replied.
"I was about to warn you about that," Kaitlyn said. "It's some kind of invisible barrier."
"Yeah, I get that," Psycho Pink said. "Knowing these guys, it's probably designed on the same principles that allow them to bend time and space."
"I get it," Psycho Blue said. "It's a dimensional warp, yet nothing is allowed to exit or enter."
"How do we get Kaitlyn free?" Psycho Black asked.
Surprisingly enough, the air warped once more in the empty frame that should have been the fourth wall of Kaitlyn's cell.
"We're letting you go," Yuna said.
"So we can kill all five of you ourselves," Xaran finished.
Kaitlyn stepped out of the cell and her energy cuffs dissolved. The male Psycho Rangers shed their Kiraikure disguises, revealing their true Ranger forms.
"Psycho Spirit Exchange!" Kaitlyn shouted, transforming into Psycho Yellow.
"You have no idea who you're messing with," Psycho Yellow replied.
"You may have defeated me when I fought you solo," Tsukimaru said. "But don't expect that you have any hope of defeating all three of us together."
"Bring it on," Psycho Yellow challenged.
With those words, the battle began. Yellow fought Tsukimaru, while Red and Pink fought Yuna and Blue and Black took on Xaran. Yellow fired her Psycho Sling at Tsukimaru, who blocked all the blasts with his Kirai Sword. Pink fired Psycho Arrows from her bow, but Yuna spun her Kirai Glaive so fast the arrows ricocheted in every direction. Red leaped up for a Psycho Sword attack, but Yuna blocked his efforts.
"Psycho Spin!" Blue shouted and spun super-fast, striking Xaran with his Psycho Axe. Black lashed with his Psycho Rod.
"Do you really think you should get all the fun?" Kokure asked, appearing with her older sister Kanika.
"Yes, we would love to join you in killing the Psycho Rangers," Kanika said. "In fact, as your princesses, we order you to allow us to join in."
"Yes, Kanika-hime, Kokure-hime," Tsukimaru replied.
"One more thing," Kanika said. "This ship is too cramped for a big battle. Let's take this to a more suitable location."
The air warped and this time, the Psychos and the Kirai forces were on Earth in a quarry neighboring the forest.
"Time to die, Psycho Rangers," Kanika sneered. "Kiraihime Rapier!"
"Kiraihime Whip!" Kokure shouted.
Instantly, a rapier and whip appeared in the hands of Kanika and Kokure respectively.
"The red one is mine," Kanika snarled. "You four may handle the rest."
"Bring it on, bitch," Psycho Red challenged.
So the battle began anew. Red's Psycho Sword clashed with Kanika's Kiraihime Rapier. Pink's Psycho Arrow was challenged by Kokure's Kiraihime Whip. Yellow's Psycho Sling took on Tsukimaru's Kirai Sword. Black's Psycho Rod met with Xaran's Kirai Staff. Blue's Psycho Axe confronted Yuna's Kirai Glaive.
"You're not bad, Psycho Red," Kanika sneered. "Too bad I'm better."
Psycho Red blocked a thrust from Kanika's rapier. "I could say the same to you. Unfortunately, I'm the better one."
"We'll see, Psycho Ranger," Kanika replied.
Meanwhile, Kokure caught Psycho Pink's arrows with her whip. Then she lashed with it, and struck Psycho Pink in her helmet, cracking her visor.
"Bitch," Pink snarled and fired more arrows. Kokure caught every single one.
"So pathetic, pinkie," Kokure sneered.
"Who are you calling 'pinkie,' you cotton-candy-haired freak?" Pink snapped. "Go on; try to hit me again with your wimpy little whip. See what happens!"
Kokure struck with the Kiraihime Whip. This time, Pink caught it and tugged on it, helplessly pulling Kokure closer to her. Close enough for Pink to punch her in the face with her gauntleted hand.
"Bitch!" Kokure snapped.
"Such language coming from such a child," Psycho Pink mused mockingly.
Psycho Yellow was firing her Psycho Sling at Tsukimaru, who was blocking with his Kirai Sword.
"I wish things didn't have to be like this," he said, with something in his voice that sounded like genuine remorse.
"Too bad," Yellow said. "It is like this. I'm a Psycho Ranger, you're a Kirai warrior. That's the way it is." It didn't escape her notice that she didn't know whether she was referring to her and Kaitlyn's conflicting feelings concerning Tsukimaru, or just the fact that they were supposed to be enemies. It probably might have been both.
Psycho Black and Psycho Blue tag-teamed Xaran and Yuna, who weren't showing any signs of letting up anytime soon.
"Give up, Psycho Rangers," Yuna sneered.
"Never," Psycho Black sneered back.
"Have it your way," Xaran said. "Now see what happens to those who stand against us."
Xaran and Yuna channeled their energy, and the next thing the two male Psychos knew, they were pierced by something invisible!
"What the hell was that!" Psycho Blue asked.
"It felt like . . . we were just stabbed!" Psycho Black exclaimed.
"Correct," Xaran said.
Meanwhile, the other three Psycho Rangers had just been subjected to a similar attack. "Obviously," Psycho Red deduced, "that power of theirs can be used to strike us like invisible knives!"
"Give up now, Psycho Rangers," Kanika ordered. "If you do, perhaps I'll see fit to make your end quick and painless. Continue to defy me, and I'll torture you nice and slow before I send you back to the Spirit World!"
"Fuck you," Psycho Red sneered. "We're not giving in. Not to you." As he said those words, he felt a power building inside him, making him forget that he was badly wounded. The power seemed to grow and surround him, warming him like invisible flames.
Wait, he thought. That's it! He willed the fire inside him to concentrate into his palm.
"What the hell is this!" Kokure shouted.
"Phantom Fire Wave!" Psycho Red shouted, shooting the fire in a devastating wave. Kanika quickly warped the air in front of her, Kokure, and her troops in a protective shield, but the Phantom Fire Wave could not be deflected so easily. Even though it was diluted, it was still powerful enough to knock them for a loop.
"I feel it, too," Psycho Black said.
"Yeah, me three," Psycho Blue said.
"Four," Psycho Yellow said.
"Five," Psycho Pink said.
"Let's do this!" Psycho Black shouted. "Vulgar Earth Shaking!" Pointing his palm at the ground, he shot a powerful wave of energy through the earth that knocked the Kirai forces off their feet.
"Bizarre Ice Crystals!" Psycho Blue shouted, firing icy crystalline needles at them.
"Sofia Lightning Strike!" Psycho Yellow shouted, firing yellow lightning bolts.
"Jealous Rose Petals!" Psycho Pink shouted, firing a storm of dark pink rose petals.
"Let's do it together!" Psycho Red shouted. Gathering their newfound energies in a final strike, they shouted, "Twisted Element!"
Fire, earth, ice, lightning, and flowers together attacked the Kirai forces. In a powerful explosion, they were brought down.
"They're beaten," Psycho Red said. He turned to walk away. "Let's go."
The other four Psychos followed their red leader. "Exchange!" they all shouted, powering down to human form.
Out of all of defeated Kirai forces, Yuna was the only one to struggle to her feet. "This isn't over," she groaned. She raised her glaive, and threw it at Kaitlyn's back blade first, aiming for her heart. Unfortunately for her, someone had also gotten up, and taken the glaive for her.
Kaitlyn whirled in shock and found Tsukimaru impaled from back to front by the glaive. All else forgotten, she ran to his side. "Tsukimaru!"
"What's going on?" Darien asked. "He actually . . . protected her?"
"Kaitlyn . . ." Tsukimaru, powered down from his armored state, struggled to say. "I . . ."
"Save your strength," Kaitlyn said. "We'll get help. . . ."
"Don't worry about me," Tsukimaru said. "Kaitlyn, I think I . . ."
He couldn't say anymore, because an angry Kanika warped herself, Kokure, Yuna, Xaran, and him out of the quarry.
Kaitlyn shuddered. Then she looked to the sky and cried out . . .
"Tsukimaru!"
To be continued . . .
Next: Every cloud has a silver lining, even if it's a little twisted.