Jordan sat on the bench, while Tensou ran his wand over him. He had explained that it was ancient Eltarian technology. As much as they had been a progressive and technologically advanced people, Eltar was not without its history of brutality and violence. They had taken much of their empire by force at one time, and had on more than one occasion, maintained its borders the same way.
Although a single Eltarian warrior in battle armour was usually more than enough to quell most worlds, that didn't mean they didn't sometimes suffer casualties in the field. During the height of their expansion, pretty much anything short of instantaneous death in the field was considered more of an inconvenience than anything, even amputations were treated and the warrior put back into the field in a matter of hours. The wand emitted a unique form of radiation that helped bone knit faster. Even in the armour, Jordan had taken a stiff beating.
"That feels a lot better, thanks." Jordan told Tensou as he finished up. He looked to the others. "Alright, so we know what these guys are called, any ideas on what we do about them?"
"Well, I for one am totally rooting for kicking their butts." Jake told him. "One of them is wearing my colour, and he's totally giving Rangers a bad name!"
"It might not be that easy." Gia responded. "I mean, look what they did to Jordan, and we all know how hard his head is."
"Thanks." Jordan replied sarcastically.
"Are you sure you have nothing on the Psycho Rangers?" Emma asked Gosei. "They said something about fighting the Rangers before..."
"There is nothing in the databases about them on Earth." Gosei informed them. Jordan furrowed his brows.
"Wait...who says they faced the Rangers on Earth?" He asked. The others just looked at him. "I remember, there were some Rangers that weren't based on Earth. It was a long time ago, but...some of them went into space.
"Yeah, I remember something like that." Noah answered. "They turned up in Mariner Bay once, they didn't have a Black Ranger...they had a Green Ranger..."
"Green?" Jake asked, wrinkling his nose at the thought. "Black's so much cooler."
"No, they had a Black Ranger." Jordan replied, heading to the figurines on the wall. He found the figurines of the Space Rangers, and inspected them. As he looked along the line, he saw the Galaxy team next to them. "Wait...we're talking about different teams. There were two teams that didn't operate on Earth...not exclusively anyway."
"Great, so all we have to do is find them and ask how they beat them." Gia said, rolling her eyes. "Mind if we borrow the Gosei Command Ship?"
"That might not be necessary." Jordan answered. He looked to Gosei. "Gosei, I know where we might find the answers."
"I know what you are thinking Jordan." He responded. "I am afraid I cannot..."
"You know as well as I do it's a good plan!" Jordan yelled.
"Um...mind clueing us in on the discussion?" Noah asked him.
"Gosei's got the answers right here, if he'll just let us in to find them." Jordan told them. He pointed to the wall. "The Library."
"You think...?"
"It had memories relating to my family!" Jordan reminded them. "It has memories relating to anyone and anything that's shaped the Morphing Grid on Earth. The collected memories of Eltar, the Rangers, the Rangers' families...everything is right in there."
"The knowledge in the Library is dangerous!" Gosei warned him. "You know that more than most. You are the only human who has ever been inside and left with your life."
"Then I know what to expect." Jordan told him. "I'll just go in, talk to Pythia..."
"Who's Pythia?" Noah asked.
"It's...it's a long story." He stated. "We don't have time for this Gosei. Either I go into the Library here, or we need to take a spin into space to find someone who knows about these guys."
"Well, we can't leave yet." Troy answered, gesturing to the screen. "The Psychos just showed up again."
"It looks like another late night." Gia sighed, looking to Emma. "Mom and Eric..."
"Whatever they want to talk about, it'll have to wait." Emma replied. "They kicked Jordan's butt all over the street..."
"Hey, I'm standing right here!" Jordan complained, only to be ignored.
"We can't go in short handed. Clearly they're too powerful." Emma answered. "Troy?"
He pondered the decision for a moment, trying to analyse their position. He finally made a judgement call.
"Gosei, open the Library." Troy instructed him. "Jordan, are you sure you can get back out?"
"Pythia's a little off, but I think we understand each other." He replied.
"Then just get in there, get some answers and get out." Troy told him. "We'll have to do what we can with the Psychos."
"Go Go Megaforce!" They chorused as they morphed to leave. Jordan just faced Gosei.
"Alright, open the door." Jordan told him.
"The knowledge inside is as dangerous as it is tempting." Gosei told him. "Do not be tempted to wander from your path. Find the answers you seek, and then leave. You are needed here."
As the wall opened up, giving him access to the Library once more, Jordan headed inside. The door closed behind him, at which the shelves raised out of the floor, and started to light up once more. It seemed to extend an infinite distance in all directions, each shelf filled with glowing orbs, each one a memory of a time or place that shaped the present. He had no idea how they were organised, or even what he was looking for.
Just then, there was a flash of light. As he looked across, he saw a woman, looking remarkably like his mother appeared. She was juggling three of the glowing orbs. Jordan just shook his head in disbelief.
"Pythia, I can't believe you're still using my mom's form." Jordan commented.
"I like it. It's kind of like a comfortable set of pyjamas." She replied, concentrating on her juggling. Jordan just smiled.
"Well, at least could you stop juggling?" He asked. "Those are people's memories; shouldn't you treat them with a little more respect or something?"
"I am dead." She replied, catching the orbs, before setting them loose into the air to soar back to their rightful places. "It's not like I have much else to do here. Once you've watched a few million memories, it gets a little old."
"Well, can you at least help me find one?" He asked.
"Well, what's in it for me?" She asked him. "If I remember rightly, last time you were more than a little short with me."
"I was trying to fight to fix my own mind." He answered.
"Well, there's no rush is there?" She asked, walking up to him. "Maybe you can stick around for a while. We could always..."
"Sorry, I'm on a truncated timetable." Jordan told her. "I'm looking for memories of a group that call themselves...the Psycho Rangers."
"Ah, yes, the Psycho Rangers. I've heard of them." She said with a smile. "So, what's it worth to you?"
"Well, what do you want?" Jordan asked her. "I mean, you are already dead. What could you want?"
"So that's it is it?" She asked. "Find this memory Pythia, find that memory Pythia...is that all I am to you? Some glorified file-o-fax to go finding information? I have feelings you know!"
"Really?" Jordan asked. Pythia just looked somewhat less than amused. "Look, sorry, I didn't mean that. I don't make a habit of talking to the spirits of dead people or...whatever it is you are. If I've offended you, I'm sorry."
She just crossed her arms defiantly and pouted. Jordan rolled his eyes.
"Alright, I'm really sorry!" Jordan reiterated. "Please, tell me what you want and...I'll see what I can do."
"Come this way." She said, jerking her head down a corridor. Jordan started to walk, at which she grabbed his ass in a firm grip. He could see the look in her eye. She just shrugged.
"I've been dead for centuries." She reminded him with a shrug. "Do you have any idea how long it's been?"
"Well, um...Pythia, with all due respect, can you please not do that if you insist on looking like mom?" He asked. She just smiled.
"Spoilsport." She replied, before taking him down the corridor in search of the memory he was seeking.
Out in the real world, the Psycho Rangers had made their way right into the centre of town. Most of the damage from Bigs' and Bluefur's last stand had been repaired, but there were still a few buildings under construction.
Psycho Blue walked out into the middle of the street, at which a car screeched to a halt, blaring its horn at him. He just turned to stare at it.
"Hey Buddy, Halloween was days ago!" He yelled. "And what the hell are you doing? I nearly turned you into pavement pizza!"
Psycho Blue just looked towards the car as the irate driver hammered on the horn.
"Yo, do you speak English?" He roared. "Get your ass off the road!"
Psycho Blue brought down his Psycho axe, cleaving straight through the hood and the engine block in one blow. The driver immediately got out of the car and started running. Other motorists were quick to follow.
The Psycho Rangers didn't pursue, instead just waiting in the street. As he heard a scream, Psycho Black turned and saw a little girl locked in the back of a car. Because of the child safety locks, she couldn't get out on her own. He drove a fist through the window, and grabbed the terrified girl, lifting her out. He looked straight at her.
"Find your mother." He instructed her, before setting her down. The little girl ran, finding a woman who was calling out for her, and fled as quickly as she could. He joined the rest of the Psychos, who were all staring at him.
"Vrak said to cause some chaos." He reminded them. "She was no threat."
"Still, this is taking longer than I'd like." Psycho Pink answered. "I am tired of all this waiting."
"I agree." Psycho Red responded. He started rhythmically tapping his sword in the hood of the ruined car. "Oh Ran-gers, come out and play-ay! Ran-gers, come out and play-ay!"
Just then, the Megaforce Rangers arrived. Psycho Red just looked to them, readying his sword.
"I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up." He commented. "Here's the way it breaks down. This town's not big enough for two Ranger teams."
"Then leave." Jake spat in response. "No one's stopping you."
"That's not the way it works." Psycho Red assured him. "You see, Vrak sent us to take you out."
"If you want a fight, don't think it'll be easy." Troy told him. With that, Psycho Red just waved him forward.
"Then let's see what you have." He told them. With a huge cry, both sides rushed forward, falling upon each other in a battle for supremacy.
Back in the Library, Pythia took Jordan to a set of shelves, and gestured to it.
"Here." She told him. "These are the memories you seek."
"OK, so where do I start?" He asked. Pythia just shrugged in response.
"You don't expect me to do everything for you do you?" She asked. Jordan just shook his head, reminding himself that it was folly to expect a straight answer from an Eltarian, especially a dead one. Pythia had said herself that their arrogance over their intellect was their downfall. They didn't give out answers without a reason, fully expecting that if one couldn't figure out the answers themselves, then they were obviously not fit to possess that knowledge. As Jordan reached out, he paused. Another memory orb was calling out to him. He could just tell it wasn't anything to do with the Psycho Rangers...it was a memory of his life. It called out to him.
"You could take it you know." Pythia told him. "Why shouldn't you? It's yours."
"I'll come back for it." He told her. "Right now, my friends need me."
He took the first memory orb, finding himself transported many years into the past, to a planet he didn't recognise. He found the Space Rangers in battle against the Psychos. The Black Psycho Ranger was hammering into the Black Space Ranger with his spear, before pinning him down. He reached out and grabbed his helmet, at which there was a bright flash. Looking around, Jordan found the others doing the same with their counterparts.
"We now know everything about you." Psycho Red informed the Rangers. "We've absorbed your memories, your moves...we now know how to counter everything you have to throw at us!"
Jordan came tumbling out onto the Library floor, looking alarmed. Pythia just looked at him.
"Why did you come out of the memory?" She asked. "Why didn't you learn...?"
"Trust me, what I learned was plenty bad enough." He assured her, before seizing another memory.
Back in the real world, the new Psychos and the Megaforce were throwing everything they had at each other. Psycho Blue had Noah on the ground, standing on his wrist to prevent him recovering his Shark Bowgun. He raised up his Psycho Axe.
"If you're looking for last words, may I make a recommendation?" He asked. "Either this wallpaper goes or I do."
"I think I'll settle for...Ultra Mode!" Noah answered, blinding Psycho Blue with a flash of light as he powered up. He got up, smashing Psycho Blue through a wall with his Ultra Sword.
The others took note, quickly powering up too. Jake pinned Psycho Black down.
"I don't know what you're deal is, and I don't care!" Jake snapped at him. "If you're buying Vrak's shit, then you're obviously bad news!"
"You have no idea!" Psycho Black replied, grabbing Jake's helmet. Jake felt like his head was on fire and screamed out in pain. He felt something invading his mind, running straight through his memories and thoughts, before he was thrown back. Psycho Black got up and laughed. "Emmanuel? Are you seriously telling me your middle name is Emmanuel?"
From where he was battling Psycho Red, Troy could see that the other Rangers were suffering similar treatment. He created some room to think by blasting Psycho Red off him with a power blast from his Ultra Sword. He looked over to where Emma was battling Psycho Pink.
Psycho Pink ducked just under her blast, before responding in kind with her Psycho Bow. Emma screamed in pain as she fell to the ground. It was so quick he almost missed it, but Troy realised that she ducked before the shot was even aimed properly. Like she knew it was coming.
Where Gia was fighting Psycho Yellow, she too was now in serious trouble. Psycho Yellow used her sling to hit her at point blank range, almost taking Gia out there and then as she missed with her swing.
"They...they know our moves!" Troy surmised as Psycho Red leapt back into the street to confront him. "When you grabbed them...that's what they were doing, learning their moves!"
"How can you fight an opponent who knows what you'll do even before you do?" Psycho Red asked him as he came swinging. Troy parried a few blows, but Psycho Red moved at impossible speed, deflecting his return shot, and kicking him to the floor. As he tried to get up, his opponent was immediately on top of him, sending his weapon spinning away. He knelt on top of Troy, pinning him to the ground, his hand raised over Troy's head.
Troy just glared up at him, knowing that his opponent had him dead to rights. He was helpless in this position. However, Psycho Red's blow never came. Instead, he just stared at Troy, like he was sizing him up, before rolling backwards off him. He kicked Troy's Ultra Sword back over to him.
"What...what gives?" Troy asked him. "You had me!"
Psycho Red just held his sword up, beckoning Troy to attack him.
"Troy, we're taking a beating here!" Jake called out. "TROY!"
Troy realised he was right. They knew that it wouldn't be long before the Psychos finished them if they stayed. Reluctantly, he reached for his morpher.
"Tensou, get us out of here!" Troy yelled into his communicator as he ducked an attack.
Without another word, the five Rangers disappeared in a flash, leaving the Psychos alone in the street. The others assembled behind Psycho Red.
"That was a lot easier than I expected." Psycho Pink stated. "I'd have expected more from the Rangers."
"It's just a shame they ran before we could finish them." Psycho Yellow replied. "Now we know their moves..."
"We don't all know their moves though do we?" Psycho Blue asked, approaching Psycho Red. "I saw you, you could easily have taken his moves."
"I could just as easily have taken his life." Psycho Red answered as he de-morphed back into Xavier. "I've fought him. Believe me, he has nothing I want."
"Vrak gave us these abilities for a reason!" Amy yelled at him as she de-morphed. "Do you really think...?"
"I know he said he was leaving the Rangers to us while he concentrates on his little building project." Xavier interrupted her.
"But he's not the Red Ranger for nothing." Oliver answered, coming over to him. "Any edge we can use..."
"Trust me, he has nothing I want." Xavier told them. "I'm already better, and any time he wants to try and prove otherwise, I'll be waiting to prove him wrong."