Psychopath
by Kittie and Thanatos

Later....
Billy switches on his CD player and puts in an old CD: Nat King Cole's greatest hits. It is already programmed to go immediately to his favorite song: the song he always used to listen to when he felt as though nothing was going his way.
The instrumental begins and Billy smiles a little, remembering the way his mother used to hold him in her arms, singing him this song. She would dry his tears and swing him around in circles until he laughed, and then she would dance with him as the music played on. Nat begins to sing.

Nat: (On CD.) Pretend you're happy when you're blue/It isn't very hard to do/The world is mine it can be yours, my friend/If only you pretend....

Billy feels a sudden flash of anger, and with a roar he picks up the CD player and smashes it to the floor. Nat's voice wavers and skips, and then the music stops. Billy is breathing hard, and then he kneels down next to the smashed CD player, crying.

Billy: No. Mother... Mom, I'm sorry.

He tries to pick up the player and put it back together again, but he's really smashed it up. His eyes are filled with tears so he can't see well enough to fix it. He takes out the CD and holds the cold material to his cheek, still crying. A familiar voice in his head speaks up.

Voice: Now, Billy, that wasn't very smart, was it? Smashing your CD player like that. You hate plotting the Rangers' demise without music, you know that.
Billy: I didn't mean to. I... Mommy....
Voice: Oh, stop it. Crybaby. Your mother had a record, not a CD, and it's long gone now. You can buy that CD anywhere. Get ahold of yourself.
Billy: Yes, you're right. I know it. (Stops crying slowly and begins picking up the pieces of the CD player.)
Voice: That's right. There's no use crying over broken audio equipment. You could build one just like it in under an hour, couldn't you? You're that talented.
Billy: Yes.
Voice: They don't appreciate you. None of them do.
Billy: Adam does. (He fingers the Red Zeonizer in his shirt.) He gave me the Red Zeo Powers.
Voice: (Harshly.) No one gave you those powers, you earned them. You should have been the leader of this pathetic team a long time ago! Who does Mr. Tommy Oliver think he is, anyway?
Billy: He thinks he's the be-all-end-all of everyone's existence. And lately, it seem like he is.
Voice: We'll have to change that, won't we? We've got to make them see what a grave mistake they've made.
Billy: Yes. Zordon and Alpha, all of them. They have to pay for what they've done to me.
Voice: You've tolerated it for too long.
Billy: Yes.
Voice: Been way too nice, way too accommodating.
Billy: They laughed at me.
Voice: They called you names.
Billy: They stuffed me in trash cans.
Voice: And stole your lunch money.
Billy: And they laughed at me.
Voice: They kicked you and kicked you, over and over and when you were down they kicked you some more. And you know what? You looked up at them and smiled and thanked them!
Billy: No! Shut up!
Voice: But no more. You will not let that happen again!
Billy: No, never.
Voice: Say it, Billy. Never again.
Billy: (Voice hard and cold.) Never again.

Later, at the Juice Bar....
Adam is sitting with Rocky, Tanya, and Kat. They are all glaring at him, but he refuses to look at them.

Rocky: I can't believe this. I can't believe you betrayed us like this.
Adam: I told you, Rocky, he was frustrated. He deserved another chance.
Kat: (Tearfully.) He could have killed Tommy, Adam! Killed him! He should be in jail, not the new leader of the team!
Tanya: Keep it down, Kat. Besides, Adam has a point. We did treat him pretty badly.
Rocky: (Groans.) Not you, too.

Billy enters the Juice Bar and stands a few feet away. They don't notice him.

Tanya: I didn't say I approved of what he did, but we have to try to understand.
Rocky: (Coldly.) Why?
Adam: How can you just forget all he's done for us because he made one mistake?
Rocky: (Tiredly.) Adam, it wasn't just one mistake. We almost lost Tommy for good. I guess I see what you're saying, but I just can't forgive him for this.
Kat: Rocky's right. It's not that easy.

Billy approaches the table.

Billy: (Coldly.) Hello, Katherine. Is your nose feeling better?
Kat: (Jumps.) Get away from me!
Adam: (Quickly.) She doesn't mean that. You just startled her.
Kat: (Glares at Adam but doesn't object.)
Tanya: Please don't sneak up on us like that. We're a bit jumpy... lately.
Billy: You should be. (Sits down next between Kat and Rocky.) Have you been to see Tommy?
Rocky: (Sullenly.) Yes. Why do you care?
Billy: He used to be my friend. Believe it or not, Rocky, I didn't mean for it to go that far, it just did. Besides, I know he means a lot to you all. (Under his breath.) Though I can't imagine why.
Adam: (Warningly.) Billy, we were just discussing how hard this was going to be for all of us. We'd really like to make this as painless as possible.
Billy: Yes, of course. I concur. Perhaps we should visit Tommy together this afternoon?
Tanya: (Narrows her eyes.) Have you been to see him yet?
Billy: No. I didn't feel I had the right. But I must apologize for this unfortunate incident, and I would like to do so with all of you present.
Rocky: I don't know. How do we know we can trust you?
Billy: Honestly, Rocky, are you that stupid? (Rocky colors angrily.) What could I possibly do to him in a hospital? With all of you there? And why would I want to?
Rocky: Who knows. Maybe you're just that insane.
Adam: Guys, please! We're trying to make this easy, remember?
Billy: I'm afraid that's quite impossible, Adam, though I appreciate your concern. I must be going. There are some adjustments to be made to the Red Battle Zord. Salutations.
Rocky: What's that supposed to mean?
Billy: It means greetings, hello, goodbye, whatever. It's called a dictionary. Look into it. (Walks out.)
Rocky: I don't like this. I don't like it at all.

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four