A MAD HAT, PART 1.

Barry and John played football in the entertainment room. Barry was very quick, so it was very difficult to score a goal, but John created with his mind additional hands to be able to match the situation. They were tied 9 to 9, but Barry gave a quick shot that made him score in the goal, causing Barry to celebrate his victory with a hip hop dance. John tripped him by using a boot he created with his mind.

In the armchair, Shayera and Diana were still talking about that they must have a mission without the men so they would not get in their way. Once the friendship of Shayera and Diana had strengthened, Diana had begun to be more cheerful and playful with everyone, including John, who was beginning to accept Diana's confident and cheerful behavior, barely; but he spent more time with Kal, since their relationship had become the friendship they both wanted.

Kal had looked for a best friend, since he knew that Barry and Shayera were more friends than him, and John was technically his friend, but not so deeply. And Diana also found a friend who at least was not annoying as Barry or very rigid and strict as John. Although Diana still had her mind set on someone else, but did not know what to do to get it.

Kal entered the entertainment room, wearing a brown dress pants and a red polo shirt with black shoes. He wore it in front of his companions, to which Diana said:

"I did not think it was casual Friday, Kal." The funny thing is that it was Thursday.

"Very funny, Di." John said. "In fact, the special day has come when I do what I love the most."

"Give up the league to become a farmer?" Barry asked. Kal frowned.

"What Barry meant, is ..." Shayera said touching the shoulder of her best friend and Diana's.

"Happy birthday, Kal." The three said in unison.

"Happy birthday, Kal." John said.

"How did John and Diana know?" Kal asked.

"Shayera told us that because she thought it would help maintain a good atmosphere, Kal," Diana said.

"But why are you dressing like a country club rich?" Barry asked. Shayera hit him on the shoulder.

"Because I'm finally going to ask Lois for an appointment today." Kal replied, emphasizing "today."

"I'm surprised you have not done it sooner, Kal." Diana said. "I thought that after you saved her, you would have invited her."

"We agreed to meet again, but Wayne keeps us busy all the time. So what better to use this day to my advantage," Kal said.

"You'll have to do more than just ask for an appointment on your birthday," John said.

"Thanks, but I know what I'm doing, John." Kal said, still very cheerful. The alarm sounded. No one spoke over the loudspeakers, so the Rangers went to the conference room, finding Commander Wayne, who was already fully recovered, in all his glory.

"Rangers, emergency. There have been five attacks on different buildings, stop the five, separately. The coordinates are in their vehicles. Good luck. "The commander finished.

"Ready?" Kal asked.

"Ready!" Replied the four.

"Justice League, activate!" The four said in unison. "Justice League."

XXX

Kal chased the criminal who threw different grenades into the store. He had a crazy look on his face, although he was small but thin and with short brown hair. He was dressed in a white shirt with black pants and brown shoes. He did not stop throwing everything he had.

Kal arrived on his motorcycle, parked it and got off. He used his Morpho to order his gun and pointed it at the criminal.

"Justice League, stop or I'll open fire," Kal cautioned.

The criminal only threw grenades at him while shouting, and by the tone of his scream you could tell he was afraid. Kal dodged the grenades and fired at the criminal, knocking him down and creating a small mark on his chest. Kal approached him and put the handcuffs on the criminal.

"On behalf of the Justice League, you are arrested." Kal said.

"Why?" The criminal asked. "What did I do?"

"You threw grenades at the buildings," Kal said.

"When did I do that?"I ask.

"Right now."

"Sorry but I do not remember doing that. I just remember that I wanted a hat and I saw one and from there I do not remember anything after that."

Kal took the criminal after calling J'onn telling him the situation. J'onn only said that the commander would investigate.

The other four did not have much trouble in stopping the other criminals, although Diana and Shayera took longer to arrive because they used the cars for two people, separately.

Barry stopped the criminal easily because he ran towards the criminal omitting the interrogation and stunning him instantly with his swift blow, then approaching the criminal and handcuffing him. As always, warning him that he can not be faster than him, because he is the fastest man in the city.

John stopped the criminal with a bit of difficulty after parking the motorcycle and evading some grenades. Because he created a shield with his mind, John was able to deflect the grenades and weapons used by the criminal who was attacking him. He was very direct when he arrested him using the arrest wives.

Shayera had the hardest job, since the criminal she was facing was more accurate and tough, and he was taller than her. Shayera managed to get close enough to take out her pistol and shoot the ground, causing the criminal to recoil, before she shot him in the hand, removing his weapons. Shayera ran to him and knocked him down to handcuff him.

Diana had a few difficulties, since she simply ran towards the criminal, and he threw a few grenades that managed to stop her. Diana recovered and tried to attack him again, but the criminal managed to stop her with several shots. Diana asked for a sword with her Morpho and threw it to the criminal who did not see her coming. Diana approached and with good fighting movements that Diana had learned, she managed to knock him out. She placed the handcuffs and took the criminal to the base.

The funny thing is that three of the four criminals said the same thing: they did not remember committing crimes.

XXX

In the conference room, Major Wayne, J'onn, and the Rangers saw the images of the interrogations that Major Wayne made to the prisoners. Everyone was surprised and frightened at how Major Wayne was more intimidating with criminals than they had thought, but Diana found this more interesting in Major Wayne.

"Rangers, after seeing the interrogations, all the stories of the criminals are the same, they went to the hat shop and saw an image, and then they do not remember anything. Throughout the city, there is only one person who owns, creates and sells hats, and that is Jervis Tetch. "Said the commander. "Jervis Tetch, a shy man who makes strange hats, which many usually buy for Halloween."

"Your mission is to monitor the store and to notify if any criminal activity occurs again and if the story told by all the criminals was true. Kal, choose a partner to watch the store with you. "

"But commander, it's my birthday, I should assign someone else," Kal said.

"Cadet El, you are a Power Ranger, and your personal affairs do not matter when there is something happening in the city or in the world. If you evade responsibilities, I expel you from the league, so choose your partner. "Said the commander approaching Kal, startling him.

"Diana." Kal said scared. "I choose Diana."

"Well done," said the commander. "The place they will watch will be a set of apartments in front of the store. Now everything is ready. Good luck, cadets El and Prince. "

XXX

"Great." Kal said as he put the camera on the window. "My perfect day to go on a date with Lois Lane, and I end up guarding a hat store." He complained.

"I do not understand how you chose me, Kal." Diana added. "You know I do not like the task of watching."

"Sorry, but at least you would not make a ruthless joke like Barry or Shay," Kal said.

"It's okay, Kal. It might be good for us, but it would do me good if you did me a favor at another time." Diana said. Yes, she liked spending time with Kal, but she did not like to watch.

"No problem, Diana. Thank you for this."

XXX

Major Wayne kept watching Kal and Diana, who tried to entertain themselves in some way to avoid getting bored. He literally did not miss anything, so he could tell that Diana was beginning to spread her happy and simple personality to the other inhabitants of the base. He could not help but think that his interactions with her were influencing Diana's personality, just as her fellow Rangers began to show her personality.

His most trusted scientist, J'onn, entered the conference room. As always, he had his reporting table at hand.

"J'onnz." The commander said.

"Commander, I have new information." J'onn said taking control of the screen showing the five criminals. "I've been monitoring the brain activity of the criminals, and now they're nervous if they're not going to be able to get out of prison."

"Obviously, this has to do with the weapons technology that they were using. Right? "He said getting up.

"Affirmative, commander. The grenades did not destroy anyone, like the devices. The grenades fired a blinding light that fainted the victims. "

"Which is strange because we do not use concussion grenades."

"We should release them now commander."

"No. If they have been mentally controlled, it is better to keep them safe or they could be used again. "

"Understood commander." J'onn turned off his board and the screen returned to the view of the street. "I think should give you the chance for Kal to have a birthday party, commander."

"You know that being a Power Ranger requires setting aside the personal, J'onn."

"If he wants his Rangers to feel good, he has to let them have a good time like what you did for Diana."

"I just helped her feel good with objects that did not interfere with the mission."

"But he helped her."

"If the mission ends well. First the mission, J'onn. In addition, he wants to be with the journalist, so it will not be a big problem. "

"Wait for it, commander." J'onn said before leaving.

The commander knew he would have to, but not directly as long as his Rangers did not leave the mission before. I knew that everyone was important, but none more important than another. I would just let him have his moment.

XXX

Time passed and the store showed no signs of activity. At that time, Kal and Diana tried to keep themselves entertained by talking about their future plans when the mission is over. Diana hoped to be able to go exploring again in the green areas of the city to continue doing something that raised the spirits of the people. Kal meanwhile, said he hoped Wayne would give him the day off so he could leave and go out with Lois. He wanted to celebrate his birthday with her. A plan was already beginning to form in Diana's mind.

"That's why the commander is very bad with everyone. I believe he does not feel anything for anyone. He is so insensitive." Kal said.

"You must not be so mean to him, Kal. You should give the commander a chance. As you can see, he does not give us very difficult tasks for everyone, he has given us simple tests. Besides, he did not expel you when you intrigued Cheetah to the base. "

"Yes, but he is not kind and does not care about us. He literally gave us a terrible first test when we were not even Power Rangers. "Kal concluded.

"That test was good for everyone, and thanks to that test he chose you as the Red Ranger." Diana finished.

Diana was beginning to take an interest in Major Wayne, and besides, he had taken a risk to save her and had given her a plant to replace the one they had destroyed to prevent the men from planting the base. So she was not going to accept that Kal would insult him, as with any partner she had a good impression of, which was the majority.

This conversation made the time begin to become unbearable, Diana got up and walked towards the door. Once she was at the door, Kal stopped.

"Hey. What do you think you're doing? "Kal asked as he grabbed her forearm.

"Nothing happens," Diana answered. "It's better if I go to the store and see if there is anything suspicious. It's better than sitting still doing nothing. "

"Diana, you can not ..."

"And if I resolve it on my own, then you'll be able to invite Lois to dinner today," Diana said, emphasizing today.

"Okay, go. But stay alert, Say. "Kal said smiling. Obviously Diana noticed her nickname, but she knew it was what Barry and Shay called it when she started seeing them longer.

"Always." Diana said. Diana left the building and walked to the front. Kal watched her and was attentive first. He wanted his friend to arrest the guy quickly and be able to go with Lois.

XXX

Diana entered the store, and the salesman Jervis Tetch appeared, whose appearance made Diana distrust a little.

"Good evening, miss." Jervis said. "The hatter at your service."

"Diana Prince," Diana said, waving.

"Do you want a hat?"

"Yes, please," Diana said. "If it's not too much to ask." Jervis left and left Diana alone. Diana began to check all the hats on each shelf, which can be said to be very elegant.

"Excuse me, miss, look at this hat," said Jervis. "I bet you will love it." Diana turned around and saw a green hat with metallic touches and bright colors in places and covered in other places by psychedelic design fabrics.

"It's amazing," Diana said. A green light illuminated it and Diana found it in a green and chaotic forest. There were even thunder in the sky.

However, her body was still in front of Jervis, who spoke.

"Who are you and why are you here, miss?" Jervis asked.

"I am the Blue Ranger of the Justice League, and we are investigating different attacks that we believe have been provoked by you." Diana replied. She was completely weak in her mind, and her mind was in another wasteland at this time.

"Well, let's wait for the Rangers to come for you, Diana." Jervis laughed a little.

XXX

For a while, Kal did nothing. But after an hour, Kal decided to call his fellow Rangers to help her, because, if Diana took a half hour, then it was not an alarm, but an hour.

His fellow Rangers arrived at the guard post, Kal explained the situation to them, so they all took out their Morphos pistols and made their way to Tetch's tent. They all entered after Kal opened the door and saw Diana dancing with a crazy hat with strange ornaments but with some metallic touches, strange fabrics, strange stamps. Diana was even singing to the hat. All the Rangers lowered their weapons.

"Are you okay, Diana?" Shayera asked.

"Of course it's fine," said the salesman, Jervis Tetch, a short man with disastrous hair and a long pointed nose. "She's in awe of the hat." Jervis went to Diana and took his hat off. "Look why." Tetch showed them the hat, the Rangers did not see anything suspicious, but then a green light illuminated the entire room.

XXX

Everyone woke up and was in a disastrous and a little malign landscape.

"Everyone is fine. Right? "Kal asked.

"Yes." Everyone said.

"Kal." Diana said approaching him and his companions. "It took a lot."

"Where are we?" Barry asked. "It looks like the Friday the 13th stage." A playful and malignant laugh rang out across the landscape.

"Welcome to the wonderland, Power Rangers." Laughter rang through the forest again.

NEXT: A MAD HAT, PART 2.