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Chelsea sat in bed listening for another sound. The clock seemed as though there was a volume knob attached and someone had it turned up. There was a muffled clanking of metal coming from outside. Slowly, Chelsea eased out of bed and pulled her boots on. If she had to make a run for it, she preferred not to be barefoot. She picked up her hammer that was leaning up against the wall beside the door. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly then clicked open the lock and hurled the door open.

Light spilled out onto the grass. -I should have turned out the lights first- she scolded herself. She wasn't but two steps outside when that nuisance of a dog ran past barking bloody murder. Her heart nearly jumped up her throat.

"AHHH!"

Chelsea twisted around in the direction of the noise. She could make out the outline of the intruder near the shipping bin. She ran towards it which was not easy considering the large iron mallet she was brandishing. The intruder turned in her direction and stumbled backwards before falling.

"Chelsea?" She stopped dead in her tracks and nearly fell forward with the momentum.

"Mark?" she gaped at the sight of her new friend sitting on the ground looking absolutely pathetic. His left boot was stuck through the handle of her watering can and the miserable dog was tugging on the sleeve of his jacket, growling. Chelsea took in the sight for a few moments and then burst our laughing.

"Are you done yet?," Mark pouted and crossed his arms as best he could with the dog still latched to his sleeve.

"I should be the one upset here," Chelsea stated as she came out of her giggling fit, "What are doing here at whatever the hell time it is? And what are doing with my watering can?," she said with another spurt of laughter.

"I was taking a look around to make sure none of the pirates were here stealing from you and I tripped over this can and got my foot stuck. Then I got attacked by this dog and you tried to kill me."

"Break any mirrors lately?," Chelsea set her hammer aside and tried to pull the watering can off Mark's boot, "it wont come loose. How'd you manage to get your big foot through here anyway?" Chelsea gave it another tug with no success, "it's no use. We'll have to amputate."

"What!," Mark's eyes widened in shock and he pulled his foot back from Chelsea.

"Kidding. Kidding. Try taking off your boot,"

"You sure have quite the sense of humor this late at night," he pulled his boot off and slipped his foot out easily.

"You sure have a habit of stopping by at odd hours. Now what to do with your other problem?," Chelsea pointed to the dog.

"Is it your dog?," Mark asked trying to pull his jacket from the dogs mouth, but only succeeding is making it hold it's grip tighter.

"Not really. It's a wild dog that wanders around at night. It likes to torment my chickens if I leave them outside." Chelsea yawned and sat down next to her discarded hammer, "maybe you should just give up the jacket."

"No way! This is my favorite jacket."

"Then think of the dog as an accessory." Mark frowned and tried to pry the dog's mouth open. Suddenly the dog's ear's pricked up and it darted away into town.

"That was odd. Come on, lets go see what's over there," Chelsea started to take off after the dog.

"Hey, wait for me," Mark shoved his boot back on followed after her. He was yanked aside by Chelsea, "What?"

"Shhh, I hear voices coming from over there," she pointed down the road and snuck around behind the hotel with Mark following.

"Are they the pirates?,"

"No doubt." Chelsea peeked around the corner of the hotel, "It looks like they're at Gannon's house."

"Should we try to wake him up?"

"How do you suggest we do that?"

"I don't know. Throw a rock?" Chelsea considered that for a moment then shook her head.

"Unless you're some kind of pro pitcher, I doubt either of us could throw that far."

"It's worth a try," Mark took off towards the back of Chen's shop.

"What are you doing, stupid, they'll see you," Chelsea whispered angrily, but he was already out of ear shot. She groaned inwardly and followed.

When she caught up, Mark was peering around the the corner of the shop. Chelsea tapped him on the shoulder. He put a finger to his lips and pointed at the scene. Chelsea could make out several people standing around. There were at least seven of them there and one was waving silent commands to the others from just across the road. When she turned around again Mark was looking through a pile of junk Chen had accumulating behind his shop. He pulled out an old net used for catching fish. Part of the net caught on the handle of a shovel and it hit the ground with a dull thud. Chelsea flinched at the sound.

On the other side, the pirate in command had heard the sound and motioned for two of his subordinates to check it out. Mark dropped the net and ducked behind some rubbish while Chelsea disappeared around the opposite corner and flattened herself against the wall.

The two pirates were scanning the area when a certain dog made his next appearance. It stood a few feet from Mark, staring at him with suspicion. Mark mouthed go and tried to shoo him away, but it only resulted in the dog growling at him.

"Hey, what was that," one of the pirates whispered.

"over there."

Chelsea racked her brain for something she could do and she did the fist thing that came to mind. She screamed as loudly as she could. It came out in as a piercing shriek.

"s**t! Just leave it here. Lets go!"

There were a couple of thuds, louder than the one made by the shovel and they took off in the direction of the beach. Chelsea leaned back against the building and caught her breath.

"Chel! Lend me a hand!,"

She turned the corner to find Mark sitting on one of the pirates who was tangled up in the fishing net. That was about the time when everyone in the vicinity came rushing outside.

...

"What should we do with him?" Felicia yawned and put the kettle on the stove. Mark, Chelsea, Gannon, and Chen joined Taro and his family in discussing the new circumstances. They now had a hostage.

"I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll make a deal with them pirates. In exchange for their shipmate, they'll have to leave our island alone." Taro said

"Nah, they wont keep their word. They're thieves after all," Gannon put in.

"I have to agree with Gannon," Chen said as Felicia handed him a cup of chamomile tea, "thank you."

"We ought to give them one chance at least," said Natalie sleepily, "I mean, we cant keep this guy tied up in the kitchen forever." she pointed to a chair where the captured pirate sat silently glaring at the group.

"You're all right," Taro said, scratching his chin, "We'll have a hanging,"

"Father!"

"Maybe Natalie is right and we should try to make a deal," said Mark, "if it doesn't work out then we still have the option of hiring that pirate hunter." Natalie stood up and raised a hand in the air.

"All in favor of striking a deal with the pirates, say aye," Felicia, Elliot, Chen, and Mark answered.

"How exactly do you plan on contacting them? Just run out in the middle of one of their heists with ransom demands?," Chelsea questioned.

"That's a good question," said Natalie sitting back down in her seat.

"That is a good question," Mark restated, "and I have an idea."