ALONE, PART 2.
After angry naps caused by the nerve that Major Wayne showed to them a few hours before, the Rangers had to follow their normal breakfast routine and morning training, but after training, they had to leave the base and head towards the streets of Gotham City. Even Diana did not think this was good; although she had gone out several times, she had not had to deal with the various gang members or lower class people that housed Zone C. No one was ready for this.
"He's a real wretch." Barry complained. During the morning breakfast there were no talks or eye contact, so now they could talk. "It's not fair that we have to do this."
"We have to do it, rookie," John said. "He is our commander."
"But he is ungrateful," said Shayera. "We have done many missions while he was comfortable in his chair."
"I do not think he likes us," Kal said. "We are only his pawns."
"This is really bad," Diana said.
"Okay, enough of complaints. We have to focus if we do not want to sleep in the armory for a month." John said.
"We will not sleep in the armory for a month," Kal interrupted. "But you're right. You have to do the work. I think since we do not know anything about this horrible place, we have to stay united. "
"All right," the four said in unison. This was going to be a long day.
"Seeing that criminals are not a good way to start, we'll look for clues," Kal ordered. Although Kal was not technically the best leader, the Rangers followed him. He was a little kinder then when they had started to be Power Rangers. They started with Burnley, the sector of the city most likely to find some lazy or criminal who could deliver some kind of information about the elegant man.
"John, create a binocular with your mind. We have to stop that guy, "Kal said.
"To order," John said.
"You will have to walk the whole sector, but neglect, we will accompany you." Kal said enjoying the scene in front of him.
"Do not do this, Kal." Shayera said. "It will take forever to review the entire city."
"I agree with her," Diana said. "We'll have to split up."
"Do not worry, Diana," he said. "You will be examining where you could hide. Or where can we find information about that type? I will be John's guide."
"Can not I speed up the process?" Barry asked. "I'm faster than John."
"I agree with that," said Shayera.
"Not even in dreams will I entrust such an important task to someone who performs the foolish actions of the base." John replied. "I can not believe they agree that he has to do this."
"Hey, do not be condescending," said Shayera.
"I'm not patronizing. He just is not reliable, "John said pointing to Barry.
"We'll do it as John wants, but in a group, and it's over." Kal intervened, ending another lawsuit with his team.
Everyone grumbled, but they started to do the job Kal told them to do. John remained watching every corner and alley with his binoculars. It was so strange and laborious to have to see every detail that could give a clue about the elegant man. They rested every half hour, but each time it was harder to continue. Diana did not think she could continue this, so she had an idea, one that Kal would accept without hesitation.
"I'm fed up with going through the whole sector. We'll take a whole day on this, and we will not be able to do it. Not even Barry can. "She pointed at Kal.
"This is how we should do it, Diana." Kal said hitting Diana's finger. "And nothing of this world will make me change my mind." He said very angry.
"We should go to the Gotham City Journal," he said. Diana. "Maybe Lois lets you use the computer." She said very confidently.
"Let's go to the Gotham City Journal." Kal said. This was going to be fun.
XXX
The entrance to the Gotham City newspaper was a bit empty. Kal was at the head of the group with his fellow Rangers in the rear. It would have been more difficult to enter the offices of the newspaper in the past, but since Kal had become a guest without a recurring invitation in the offices of the newspaper, so he could enter with his colleagues in the offices without showing credentials. Upon entering the offices, Kal saw the girl he liked, Lois Lane, sitting at his desk writing an article. Fortunately, they had arrived half an hour before Lois went to her lunch break. The Rangers approached Lois, who did not expect to see the five Power Rangers from Zone C right in front of her.
"Good afternoon, Lois." Kal said opening his arms to her. Lois smiled at him but did not open her arms.
"Good afternoon, Kal." Lois told him. "I'm sorry, but displays of affection are not allowed here. But, I suppose, like all your colleagues, they're here because they want help. "
"Hey, are you psychic or what?" Barry asked.
"Yes." Lois said very calmly. "But I can not help you at this time. See me again in half an hour. In that hour is my rest to eat. "He told them.
"Listen, Miss Lane," John told him. He was not going to let this woman give them orders like Major Wayne. "We are the Power Rangers and we are on a mission and you are the only one who can help us." He said pointing with his finger.
"More precisely, your computer." Diana interjected.
"Sorry, but the computer is not allowed for people who do not work for the newspaper. And being Power Rangers does not make them immune to those rules." she added.
"She's just as bad as the commander." Shayera whispered.
"I heard that, but it does not affect me. I know I'm better than your hard, bad-tempered commander." The latter said it with a dramatic sarcastic tone. This made the Rangers look at Kal. Then Kal complains to Lois about Bruce. "See you in half an hour at the exit, period." Lois went back to work writing on the computer.
"Oh, come on," said Kal. They left the office. "I think we should see if our cold and bad-tempered commander has changed his mind and helped us. It would be killing time. "
The Rangers agreed. They would go for their vehicles when they left the base.
"I do not understand what you see her," Barry told Kal as they walked with the others. "She will literally cause you problems with the commander again."
"She's better than you think." Kal retorts.
"And she's your confidant," Diana said sarcastically.
"And she's your boss." Shayera said mockingly.
"Enough is enough," John said. "Let's go to the base and ask the commander. It's better that acting like children." He says and walks faster.
"I'm getting there faster," Barry said, running for the base. Everyone shook their heads.
XXX
The Rangers were traveling to the conference room, waiting for Major Wayne to be watching the city, and to know if he would help them this time. It would be easier if he helped them. To the Rangers' surprise, Major Wayne was not in sight. The Rangers knew where else it might be: J'onn's lab. They went to the lab, where J'onn and Major Wayne worked on some project on J'onn's computer, or who knows what they were working on.
"Rangers reporting." Kal said, standing firm as the others. There was no response. "I said Rangers reporting." There was no response.
They thought that this was very rude, but nobody like Diana, who approached the table and touched the hard and rude commander's arm.
"We said Rangers reporting." Diana said bringing her face closer to the commander.
"I heard you, Rangers. What do you want? "He said standing up.
"Well, we watch too many sectors of the city without any information or clue about the criminal we're after," John said.
"And what do you want me to do?" He asked very disinterested.
"Well, we thought you should help us," Kal said very impatiently.
"I do not understand why you want me to help you," Major Wayne said.
"Because you are committed to the mission, we thought you would help us," said Shayera.
"I'm not going to help you. I made it clear that you have to get used to this. J'onn and I will not help you. Now go out to fulfill your mission or you will sleep in the corridors for a week. "He threatened.
"Yes, sir." Everyone said.
"Prince," the commander said, which made Diana stop. "You'll sleep in the hallway for today. And do not even think about going near me, or you'll sleep there for the whole week. "
Diana found this even worse. This man was worse than in training. They left complaining, but they did not expect J'onn to leave the lab.
"Rangers. I came to tell you that I can not help you in this, but I have created weapons with metal NTH, which will help you fight against the criminal. "J'onn said.
"Thank you, J'onn." Kal said.
"Do not give up, Rangers." J'onn told them. "Even if they were not Power Rangers, they could accomplish this mission."
"We'll try," Diana said.
"Do not try. Just do it. "He ordered. "I have to return."
The Rangers left on the way to the hangar, took their vehicles and went back to the offices of the Gotham City Journal. It was better for Lois to do something useful for the mission.
XXX
The Rangers arrived with a few minutes in advance to the offices of the Diario de Ciudad Gotico. It was so strange to go back to the same place twice, but this made Kal happy to see Lois. Lois left the office drinking a coffee. She looked so calm and serene.
"I hope this is good," John said.
"First, tell me what you need my help for. Then I'll tell them if I can help you." Lois said without flinching.
"We need to find an elegant man who can go through solid objects," Shayera interjected.
"It's like a ghost." Barry added.
"I'm sorry, I do not know who he is," Lois replied. She had an ace up her sleeve. "But I know someone who can help them."
"Tell us who he is." John exclaimed. "We just wasted time."
"I will only do it if you take me with you so that I can write a story." Lois offered. This was new. The Rangers would have to negotiate with a rookie reporter who wanted to ascend in a newspaper that always published chaos caused by crooks.
"Let's find out another way," John said, going to his motorcycle.
"I agree. This is not worth it, "said Shayera going to the car. Kal said nothing for a few seconds.
"We'll have to do it," Kal said.
"Oh, please," Barry said.
"I owe her a piece of news that could not be carried out because of the Cheetah incident," Kal said. "In addition, you said that we could not continue with this, so Lois could be our only option to fulfill the mission. Please, we can not without her. "I hoped this was true.
"Fine," the Rangers said.
"Lois will go in the car with Shayera and Diana," Kal ordered. "You would not like riding a motorcycle." What he said was true, because Lois would love to drive the bike, but she did not want Kal to have an awkward time with the Ranger girls.
"It's okay, Kal. These are the coordinates." Lois gave Kal a small piece of paper with an address. The funny thing is that there was no name of where they were going. Lois went to the patrol car of Lois and Shayera. During the trip, Lois thought about asking a question about the Rangers who kept feminism active. "Is it true that your commander is a deplorable person?" she asked.
"He is the most stubborn person who only has an interest in fulfilling the mission, no matter what happens to us," Shayera replied.
"Sometimes it seems we're just a nuisance to him," Diana replied.
"Then why do you not anything to change it?" Lois asked.
"Because if we do, he probably would not do anything," Shayera said.
"Then do not complain, and let me talk to him," Lois said.
"I do not think he would give you access to the base after what happened to you, but we'll do something after this mission," Diana said.
The Rangers and Lois arrived at the coordinates she gave them. The building was a bookstore, but it did not have a sign or something that gave the name of the place.
"This is the place," Lois said. "Let's go inside," he said. The Rangers followed her.
Inside this bookstore, there were shelves and tables crammed with books everywhere. There were even books in some corners and dark corners. From a door came a man with short gray hair and white skin. It was strange, since the aliens were more present in many jobs and places in the world.
"Good morning, Kent." Lois greeted the gray-haired man.
"Good afternoon, Miss Lane," Kent said.
"Why is he called like me?" Kal asked in a jealous tone. He did not like that Lois had met someone with his same name.
"Do not worry sir, I'm Kent Nelson," Kent said. "I am the guardian of all these books. How can I help you, Miss Lane? "He asked taking several books and placing them on several shelves.
"You see, Kent. They are the Power Rangers from Zone C. "Lois said pointing to the Rangers behind her. "And they need your help with a criminal who may be a ghost." He said trying not to laugh at how absurd he sounded.
"I think I have the right book, but I need you to look for it in the cellar. Would you do me that favor?" Kent asked.
"Please, you are the one who orders all these books. You must know where that book is, "Shayera claimed.
"Sorry, but I do not have a catalog. And I have to accommodate all these to avoid more clutter. Please, can you do me that favor? "He asked almost begging for them to do him that favor.
"I'm staying and you're looking," Barry said.
"No, Barry," John said. "Enter there or I force you. And Lois is coming too. "
"Fair enough, I'll take it." Barry said approaching Lois and bringing her to the door.
"Oh, come on." John grumbled. The others entered and left Kent alone. Kent continued placing books on all shelves. Everything seemed calm, but the elegant man crossed a wall and appeared in front of Kent, who surprisingly did not flinch.
"How did you meet him?" Kal asked.
"There are things you do not know about me," Lois replied. "I met him to find out who the mysterious Cheetah woman was who kidnapped me." Everyone looked down at the painful memory. "But he's a nice guy." The Rangers started searching.
"Good morning, good man," the elegant man said. "I come here to converge the city on my base for my army of undead."
"Hello, Ghost Knight:" Kent said. "I knew that your new plan had started, and I will not let you do it." The latter said it by leaving the books on the shelf and putting on a combat pose.
"Please, I am the Ghost Knight. And you are a fool who can not go against me. "He said this adjusting his monocle.
"This is just a facade. But you will face a supreme power of the guardian. "Kent said taking out a strange helmet with a fin on top and with two holes so he could see. Kent put on his helmet and his eyes stopped being blue and became golden. "You will not be able to beat me," he said in a totally different voice; instead of having a clear and soft voice, it was more mechanical and thick.
"Then I will throw your body to the Thames," said the Ghost Knight.
The Ghost Knight fired with his staff, which Kent deflected with his hands. The Ghost Knight flew to Kent and hit him in the chest, but Kent hit him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground with a heavy blow. The Rangers and Lois could not hear because the walls were thick and soundproof.
"You can not beat the guardian so easily," Kent said.
The Ghost Knight pulled out a phantom bow and fired arrows at Kent. Kent deflected the shots again with his hands, and even directed them towards the Ghost Knight. The arrows struck the Ghost Knight, and his body showed its true aspect beneath its phantasmagoric aspect, which was a body with green skin along with gray hair and scruffy suit.
"You can not meddle with the fate of the damned." Kent said with his helmet shining. "That's why you'll go back to the underworld." Kent said making a spell with his hands. This caused several books in the room where the Rangers and Lois were to fall, hampering the exit.
"But you forgot that your helmet is your source of power." The ghost knight threw his arrows again, but this time Kent dodged them causing them to crash on the roof. However, the arrows pulled ropes and grabbed Kent's helmet, ripping it away and leaving him helpless. Kent fell to the ground and could not get up.
The Rangers opened the door and saw, along with Lois, Kent, who lay on the floor, and the Ghost Knight who pulled out of his top hat.
"Off to the side." Said the Ghost Knight firing with his staff and knocking everyone down except Lois who covered herself to avoid damage. He reached the room where the Rangers had been and dropped to his knees. With a pen, he used his pen (one of the three objects he needed to make his plan, the other two were a key and an old knot used for hanging). "This pen signed a thousand sentences." He said drawing a circle with a line in the middle of it with the pen. "This key was responsible for closing and opening the door of the dungeon." He said inserting the key in the center of the circle, opening it and letting out a green glow. "This loop was used by criminals in their final commitment," he said putting it on the circle. Through the knot of the gallows crossed souls of convicted criminals, who then became skeletons. "To have the dark relics, they give me control over the criminals condemned for their misdeeds, and because I am in the place where the underworld connects, I can turn them into my personal army.
The Rangers saw how the souls came out and became skeletons. Lois took pictures of everything. When they were too many for them, the Rangers pulled Lois out.
"Slaves, turn Gotham City into my base for my army of undead," the Ghost Knight ordered.
The Rangers went out with Lois on the street.
"Call the Dark Ranger." Kal ordered. "We need your help."
"No problem," Diana said taking out her Morpho. There was no response. "He's not answering. That spiteful and stubborn man."
"Go. Yes, he's a real wretch. "Lois said cheerfully.
"You have no idea," Diana said.
"Listen, Lois. Be safe and do not go out to battle. "Kal asked.
"No problem, Kal." He replied by accepting his favor and going upstairs.
"Hello, Rangers," said the Ghost Knight at the head of his undead army. "Better run away if you do not want to be thrown into the Thames," the Ghost Knight said.
"We are Power Rangers, and we do not run away." Kal said taking out his Morpho. "Ready ?!" he asked.
"Ready!" Replied the four in unison.
"Justice League, activate!" Shouted the four in unison.
"It's time you went back to the grave." John said creating a machine gun.
"And we'll make sure you do not come out," Diana said, drawing her sword with her Morpho.
"Destroy them!" The Ghost Knight ordered.
The Rangers and the Ghost Knight's army clashed. Kal still used his superhuman strength to eliminate the undead, John used his machine gun to pulverize the enemies (this served because the undead were tangible, not like the Ghost Knight), Barry kicked all enemies in the legs making they fell to the ground, but they could still move; Shayera used her experience in martial arts and with her quick blows and her rotating kicks she knocked down the undead, which made her recover a little the confidence lost after the training of the Dark Ranger. Diana was responsible for decapitating the skeletons and tried to face the Ghost Knight. The Ghost Knight thought he would pierce the sword normally, but the sword did damage him.
"I see they added NTH to their weapons." Said the Ghost Knight, but I have more power than all of you put together. "The Ghost Knight waved his staff and gave an order to his slaves. "Form the attack armor."
Several skeletons ran to the center of the street and conglomerated to create a kind of robot that was a bit taller than normal. The Ghost Knight went to the strange robot and got into position. He now had control of the robot and control of the battle. The robot of skeletons approached Diana and threw a strong blow, a blow that Diana dodged, but gave another blow, and although Diana tried to block the blow with her fist, the armor or robot was stronger. The Ghost Knight took advantage of the distraction the Rangers had with their slaves and attacked them mercilessly. The Rangers fell to the center of the street and got up but the Ghost Knight created a huge energy sphere, then threw it to the Rangers, creating a loud explosion, leaving them almost defeated. Kal took out his Morpho and called Major Wayne.
"Dark Ranger, we need your help." No one answered, so Kal did not stop calling and asking the Dark Ranger for help. But his request was fulfilled, when on the roof of a two-story premises was Commander Wayne, without his suit, and without any weapon. "Commander, how good it gets, we need the Dark Ranger." Kal asked.
The commander did not even move.
"Wayne!" Diana yelled. "Help us in the name of the gods," he shouted again.
"Do not be bad," said Barry.
"You can do it alone." The commander replied. "They have the right weapons and training. Destroy the relics and fulfill the mission. "Nobody moved. "That's an order." Obviously, he noticed how Lois Lane took him pictures from a certain angle but preferred to only address his Rangers.
"Understood, commander." The Rangers replied.
"It's time to kick this ghost's ass," Kal said. "You take charge of the skeletons, I of the ghost."
"Yes." The other Rangers replied. However, it seems that Diana did not listen to what Kal said because she went against the Ghost Knight. Kal had to follow her because he wanted to defeat the Ghost Knight.
Shayera pulled out her gun and started firing at the skeletons. John kept firing but this time with a machine gun with an armored shield. Barry kept running, but this time he was firing at the Ghost Knight's slaves. Kal and Diana tried to cause damage to the armor or robot of the Ghost Knight, but it was too strong. The Ghost Knight repeatedly attacked Kal and Diana, defeating them, and then it was for John, Barry and Shayera. Although they tried to defeat him, the Ghost Knight defeated them and sent them with his two companions.
"I have an idea," said Kal. "Grenades."
Diana took out a grenade and ran towards the Ghost Knight, and dodging attacks, put the grenade in her foot, causing a small destruction. Kal hit in the chest, Shayera in the shoulder, John in the hand and Barry ran and left the grenade in his hand.
"Slaves, replace the parts... Ay!" He tried to say but John distracted him with direct shots at him.
"Super cannon!" He ordered.
"Prepare... aim... fire!" The Rangers said, firing at the Ghost Knight, destroying the robot. The Ghost Knight fell and was ready to attack again, but he did not see coming when Diana hit his face with his sword. The Ghost Knight fell and his hat fell to the ground and the relics fell in front of him.
"The relics!" The Ghost Knight yelled up to collect the relics. Unfortunately, the relics were destroyed by Kal's heat vision. Spooky hands came out of the ground around the Ghost Knight and began to pull him underground. "No, I'm the Ghost Knight. Let go of me Help. Help. I beg you. Diana ran to the Ghost Knight and tried to help him, but there were too many souls that beat Diana. "No Please. I curse them, Rangers from Zone C. I curse them, "he said before disappearing underground, just as the other skeletons disappeared.
"Why did you help him?" Kal asked. Everyone else
"Because we must help even the enemies." Diana answered. "Come on, we have to check if Kent is fine."
The Rangers followed her, and they saw Kent, who cleaned the mess of the bookstore.
"You did fool us," Barry said.
"It's always better to maintain an image and then surprise the enemy, Rangers. By the way, good job. "Kent said heading towards the door. "If you need help, you know where I am," he said, retreating.
"That was very weird," said Barry.
"Yes, but it will be weirder when we interrogate the commander," John said.
"It is true. Come on, "said Kal.
"And best of all, I have my story. Thank you. "Lois said cheerfully and raising the camera in victory.
"You are welcome. Come on, we'll leave you at the newspaper offices. "Kal said taking Lois's hand.
They left Lois in the offices of the Gotham City Journal and went back to the base. At least Kal had already had a good time with the girl he liked, but now they had to confront Major Wayne.
XXX
Major Wayne had remained with his back to his Rangers who kept demanding him not to help them in the mission. Instead, he just kept watching how his Rangers were being beaten and defeated by a ghost. This was unacceptable. "Where was the Dark Ranger?" That was the recurring question in the discussion. But they did not know that the commander was an expert in remaining silent while the others complained. When he did not hear anything, he turned around, still very calmly spoke.
"Are you finished?" He asked.
"Maybe." Kal said.
"Where was the Dark Ranger?" He asked very calmly. "In case you do not know, nothing happens at the base without me knowing." The Rangers did not understand where he was going with what he had just said. "I heard your conversation," he said. Suddenly, everyone knew what he meant.
RETROSPECTIVE SCENE.
"It's a good idea, you've seen how I've overcame it." At first I thought that this would be bad, but now I've taken a burden off. "They should take advantage of it," Kal said, desperate because Lois was leaving work in no time."
"It's true, Kal." Shayera said as she went back to bed. "Now I can do what I can not because of the missions the Dark Ranger gives us."
"Well said, Shay," said Barry, sitting in the chair next to Diana, who could not find Barry amused. "With the Dark Ranger, now I will decorate my bed."
"Do you decorate your bed?" Diana asked
"Eh ..." Barry tried to say.
"Do not tell me," Diana said.
"I do not want to ruin your fun, Kal, but will not we be neglecting too much?" John asked
"It will sound weird, but John is right." Diana added. "In Themyscira we have been taught not to trust everyone."
"I do not know about you, but the Dark Ranger keeps his guard up for everyone." Now, excuse me, but I have to go for Lois, "Kal said before leaving.
"Please, Di and John, the Dark Ranger has saved our lives," Barry said. "And our free time."
"It's true, with the Dark Ranger, we're safe," John said. I was still thinking that this was bad, but as long as I followed the orders of the Dark Ranger, I would have the promotion to leader at some point.
"Well, then I'll leave everything to the Dark Ranger." Diana said a bit mockingly. She was not yet convinced to leave her safety in the hands of a man she still found difficult to trust, but she had an interest. But she wanted to do something good for the team.
END OF THE RETROSPECTIVE SCENE.
The Rangers felt a little embarrassed. The commander again demonstrated why the base was the most organized. Now they hoped not to receive another worse punishment.
"The Dark Ranger arrived, and they all let down their guard and leaned on me," Major Wayne said. It was not over yet. Now he needed to say what they always forgot. "They have forgotten it again and again; besides that it does not look like it, but they are ... we are a team. "He said emphasizing the last three words. "If we want to help Zone C and defeat the criminals who inhabit it, we all have to fight with the same level of commitment, together. No one is left behind. "He said emphasizing the last sentence. "And I did not help you because you did not need me, but you thought so."
"Now he looks like Barry when he stutters." Said Shayera, prompting laughter from the others, except for the commander.
"Sorry, commander," said Kal. "We took it for granted instead of continuing to do our job. But it will not happen again."
"I hope so, Rangers," Major Wayne said threateningly. "Also, you really need to adapt to dealing with criminals and adversities. The kidnapping of J'onn and I proved that we will not always be available to solve something." The next thing he said caught Kal unawares. "And stop dating that reporter. It's just going to distract you from your mission and denigrate the image of the Justice League." He said before turning around and re-surveying the city.
"How do you think she's going to do something wrong?" Kal asked, surprisingly angry.
"Retreat, cadets." The commander said still back.
"Yes, sir." Said the four Rangers. John, Shayera and Barry took Kal by the arms. They needed to get him out before he started an argument with Major Wayne.
"You know that will not stop him from continuing to see the reporter, and better call her Lois, Mr. Wayne. That's not nice of you, "Diana told him, trying to look Commander Wayne in the eye, but he remained on his back. This was new.
"She's a reporter, Prince. And by the way, I call you and your partners Rangers and they're comfortable with that."Major Wayne replied. "You'd better not mention that again. If not, I will confine you to your room for a month. Retreat, Prince. "
By not saying the nickname with which he usually called her, she went to the door to say the auction.
"I'd like to see you try it," Diana said, then left and Major Wayne was left alone. Diana began to wonder if Commander Wayne, like Kent, was just faking an image and hiding something under that rigid personality, but she would find out later.
Commander Wayne hoped that this would ultimately strengthen the integration process, but he did not know that a big test was about to happen, and the Rangers would have to face it... as a team or individually.
NEXT: A BETTER TEAM, PART 1.