It sat on top of the china cabinet with a box next to it. A letter had come for Emilia Rothschild
from England from her father. With her partner Jack Stiles trying to read its contents over her shoulder,
Emilia turned so that only she could see it.
         “Awww! Come on Em! It’s not like I don’t know the guy!” Jack whined.
         “The letter is for me, Jack. I will share what my father has to say if I see fit!” Emilia snapped
before lowering her eyes.

Dearest Fufu; excuse me, Emilia,

   After seeing the display of yours and Jack’s—by the way say hello to the old boy for
me—I have decided to send you Britian's newest spy, Hazel. She has shown skill and
appreciation for science that surpasses what I have the patience for. She is fifteen
years old and slightly mischievous, she reminds me of you at her age. She should be
arriving some time in the next week.
                                                                                         Love,
                                                                                           Father
P.S. I have sent more of that French perfume that you are fond of.

          Emilia's eyes widened. “Oh my, it seems we are in a fix Jack!”
               “How so Em?” Jack asked.
               “It seems my father has taken it upon himself to send us our next mission, a female
student of our profession,”Emilia replied.
               “Wait a second. You’re telling me that the Rupester is expecting us to educate this girl
in the art of espionage?” Emilia nodded. “No problem there sister. She'll be english like you, so you
can handle her,” Jack deduced with a chuckle.
           “Yes well you seem to be forgetting the fact that I will be out of town during that time to
attend to my business,”Emilia replied with a smirk.
     Jack blinked. “Oh. So I have to babysit. Big deal!”
            “You are to be nothing but a gentleman to her, you hear?” Emilia warned.
            “I hear ya..I hear ya!” Jack muttered.

    The next day, Emilia and Jack were at the docks, waiting for Hazel to disembark. As the ship was
being secured, they continued the friendly banter for which they were famous for on the island.
            “You will comport yourself as befitting a teacher to his student, Jack Stiles; do you hear me?”
      Jack pretended to be hurt. “What do ya take me for, Em? I'm a professional!”
            “Yes, well, a professsional at what is the question, isn't it?” Emilia teased with a smile for
her favorite sparring partner.
             “Gimme a break, Em! She's fifteen, for goodness' sake!”
     At that moment, a beautiful, tall buxom blonde came down the ramp dressed in exquisite green
silk. As she approached them, both partners stared in shock. Her hazel-green eyes and freckles across
her nose implied that she perhaps came from family with an Irish lineage, as well as German.
            “This can't be right...” Emilia began.
            “Fifteen nothing, more like 15 goin' on 25...” Jack agreed, seeing the girl’s face.
            “Ha! The old man was right!” the beauty exclaimed as she reached the two spies. “You two
do stick out like a couple of sore thumbs! Name's Hazel, y'all! But I guess you already knew that.”
             “Hello..Hazel,” Emilia stuttered. This was Britain's newest spy? But she was an American!
             “Hey, Emilia..Jack—it is all right if I call you by your first names, isn't it?” Hazel was suddenly
conscious that she was being a tad impolite.
             “Of course it is,” Emilia said after a moment. “Welcome to Pulau Pulau.”
             “Thanks. So, what's your set-up here? I asked Rupe—sorry—uhm, Mr. Smythe, and he started
to explain, but then there was a.. slight accident.”
             “What sort of accident? Is my father all right?”
             “Oh, sure! It was no big thing, really. I was just working on a new invention and he was...let's
just say shocked by the results?”
         Emilia frowned. “You mean that literally, don’t you?”
             “As literal as one can get, Emilia. But don’t worry, he’s fine.”
             “What were you working on?”
             “You know, as much as I am fascinated by this talk, why don't we move the party back home?”
Jack suggested before Hazel could answer, becoming peeved with the scientific talk.
              “Quite right, Jack. Well, Hazel, which things are yours?” Emilia nodded to a pile of luggage
set aside by the crew. Other passengers were already getting their trunks and crates.
               “I'll get 'em.” Hazel went over and rummaged through and ended up pulling out two medium
sized gunnysacks.
               “Is that all?” Jack could not believe it, not that he wasn't thankful. Her things looked like they
were light enough..
               “Yep. I'm not like other women, you know. I like to travel light,” Hazel grinned. “I've had to,
considering all the times I've been bounced from place to place,” she added almost inaudibly.
     Emilia and Jack glanced at one another. “Here, let me give you a hand with those,” Jack said after
a moment.
               “Thanks, Jack, but I can get them.” Hoisting her things over her shoulders she went back
over to Emilia. “Well, are we going to head to your place, or are we just going to stand here all day?”
     Once they were at Emilia's home, Hazel was ushered to the guest room. Hazel immediately placed
her bags on the bed.
               “I hope this will be comfortable enough for you,” Emilia said, standing in the doorway, watching
Hazel take in her surroundings.
               “It looks great, Emilia. Thank you.”
               “You're welcome. Well, I'll leave you to get settled in. When you want to, tea will be waiting
downstairs.”
                “Um..do you have lemonade, or coffee?” Hazel asked. “Or just plain water?”
                 “Ah, I see. You Americans still have a thing against tea, don't you?” Emilia said with a smile.
                 “No, it's not that,” Hazel said quickly, hoping she hadn't offended Emilia. Then she saw the
grin on the woman's face. “I do drink tea on occasion, but I've never really liked it.”
               “I understand. Very well, I shall see if I can't whip up some lemonade for you, or something.”
               “Oh, I don't want to have you go to any trouble for me—”
                “Hazel, it's all right,” and with that, Emilia left her alone.
      Once she was gone, Hazel started to unpack her things. She hadn't been kidding when she told Jack
she liked to travel light; three common dresses, under garments, boy's clothing, and a brush fell from one
sack. She shook the other one out: another dress and a bit more of boy's clothing, a journal, a locket, and
a blue stone from her last home before staying at the Smythe's fell out onto the bed.
       Hazel quickly placed her clothes away and then set her blue stone on the bed stand along with her
locket. Then she sat down on the bed with her journal and started another entry.

       I have made it to Pulau Pulau. Old Rupe's daughter seems to be very nice. I can't believe
she's another science buff, though.. she looks too proper for that! Still, Rupe did show me
some of the things she made when she was little...I guess her primness is part of their cover up.
            Jack Stiles looks exactly like how I remember him..for the most part anyway. Twelve
years is a long time. I didn't think he'd remember me. I wonder if he'd remember my family
though...

    Hazel put her quill down and blew on the page to dry the ink. She slammed her journal shut at the
sudden knocking on her door. Looking up, she saw Jack standing in the doorway.
               “Are you coming down any time soon, Hazel?” he asked.
               “Yeah. How long have I been up here?”
               “Almost an hour...hey! I've seen one of those!” Jack came in and went to the bed stand and
promptly picked up her rock. “From the valley area in Virginia, right?”
               “Yes. How did you know?” Hazel was surprised Jack knew where her blue stone came from.
                “I was in Charlottesville a year or two ago, checking up on Thomas Jefferson at Monticello
and listening to him talk of his plans for a University of Virginia. After I left there, I decided to check out
the other small towns. In one of them, I saw a lot of these—'course the majority of them were huge,” Jack
explained.
                 “Neat. I lived in one of those towns for a while. Rock there is kind of a memento.”
                 “Did you like where you were?”
                 “Almost became my permanent home,” Hazel sniffed, taking the rock from Jack.
                 “But then you went to England to be with Rupert. Any particular reason why?” Hazel did not
answer. For a moment, Jack was at a loss. He just stood there, watching the girl clutching her stone against
her chest. Finally, he just touseled her hair. “Listen, come down when you feel like it.” Then, with a sigh, Jack
left.
     Hazel knew she needed to get a hold of herself, her family's dealings with Jack were in the past
and she needed to keep them there, or at least try to. It would be a lot safer.
      As Hazel walked down the stairs Emilia was struck again at how old she looked. “I am sorry I
took so long, I must have fallen asleep,” Hazel apologized.
           “Are you feeling well dear? You had me worried.”
       Jack came to Hazel’s rescue. “You forget that she’s an American Em. She’s tough as they come
aren't you Haz?” Jack clapped her on the back.
   **         **          **           **         **        **           **          **         **          **       **        **       **

       Outside, a young man happened to walk by Emilia’s home and looked in the window. He stopped
in his tracks astounded by the beauty in the green silk. That beauty was talking with Jack and Emilia so
she was most definitely against the French. He shivered. In his eyes, that was a wonderful quality.

A couple days later..

     Hazel was at the market just browsing and reflecting her first full day on the island. She had been
surprised and a bit dismayed to find that Emilia would not be there for a week at least while she went
away on business affairs. Hazel had hoped that Emilia would be able to explain half of the gizmos and
gadgets that were in the secret lab. Jack clearly had no interest in the inventions Emilia concocted—at
least when they did not have anything to do with saving his life—and could not explain them to her.
     The young woman supposed she should be grateful that they trusted her enough to tell her about their
cover. When she first heard that Jack foiled the French Governor, Captain, and even Napoleon himself by
disguising himself as the local folk legend the Daring Dragoon, she thought that was fairly typical of him.
      I wonder if I should tell him who I am, she mused as she placed a figurine back on to a cart. No!
I don't need him to know.. Hazel was so deep in her thoughts that she did not notice the young man
until she was almost on top of him. “Oh my! I'm terribly sorry!” she apologized and found herself looking
into the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen.
        The young man shook his head, causing a few too long dark bangs to fall. “Oh, no. It was totally
my fault,” he said, pushing the stray hairs aside.
             “Oh, it was mine, I assure you!” Hazel exclaimed.
             “No, it was my fault. No argument about it!” the young man said halting any other protest
from her. “By the way, my name is Bruce McGowan.”
         Hazel smiled shyly. “I'm Hazel Miller.”
              “That's a lovely name, Hazel,” Bruce said taking her hand in his.
              “Bruce isn't such a bad name either,” Hazel quipped.
              “Thanks, I think. So, you just arrived from England, right?”
              “Yes. How did you know?” Hazel asked.
              “I saw you the other day. You're staying with Emilia Rothschild and her attache' Jack Stiles.”
       Hazel pulled her hand back and eyed Bruce suspiciously. “How do you know all this? Have you
been spying on me?”
           “No, what gave you that idea?” Bruce stuttered. “I saw you meet them at the docks. I noticed
you then!”
            “Oh, sorry I questioned you. It’s just I'm wary of strangers,” Hazel apologized.
             “That is very understandable considering that I am about as strange as they come!” quipped
Bruce. “So, what are you looking for today?” he asked after a moment.
              “I have come to buy get more supplies for my hobby. Would..would you stay and talk with
me for awhile? I hardly know a soul on the island!"
               “Sure. I’ve got some free time before I have to work. I’m an apprentice with the
toymaker,” Bruce said when he saw Hazel give him a questioning look. “What is your hobby—if that
is not to forward a question to ask?”
               “I'm kinda something of an inventor,” Hazel said after a moment and waited for Bruce to
laugh at her or tell her that a lady should be doing other things—lord knows several people had told
her so before.
              “Cool," Bruce nodded. “I suppose I'm also an inventor in a way, just with toys..or at least I
hope to be.”
             “You probably will be, someday,” Hazel assured him.

       Before they knew it, it was time for Bruce to go to work. “When can I see you again?” he asked.
             “I don't know. I'm supposed to be doing something with Jack tomorrow...”
             “Perhaps I'll just come around at suppertime,” Bruce told her.
             “That would be fine with me. I'd have to ask Jack first—”
             “Don't ask him!” Bruce exclaimed. “Uhm.. I want to surprise you if I do come.”
       Hazel stared at him a moment and then finally shrugged. “All right, I guess.” She wondered why he
didn't want his arrival announced but the thought left her head as Bruce bent over, being almost a head taller
then her, and lightly kissed her lips.
              “I'll see you tommorrow,” he whispered and left her standing there.
        From an alley nearby, Jack had seen the kiss and he was immedately suspious. “I'll be damned if
she hasn't taken over my fatherly instincts,” Jack chuckled to himself. “And here Em was worried I would
be less then gentlemanly towards her!!” After a moment he left his hiding place and headed over.
               “What was that?” Hazel said in a daze after Bruce had left her.
               “Trouble with a capital 'T' that starts with K and rhymes with miss!” she heard a familiar voice
say. Turning sheepishly, she saw Jack standing behind her, giving her a parental look.
                “Hi Jack,” she said nervously.
                “Hi yourself. I take it you've been having a nice afternoon?”
                “Oh, sure. Pulau Pulau is very interesting.”
                “Especially the young men, right? Who was that boy? I don't ever recall seeing him on the island
before.”
         Hazel suddenly frowned. “He said he was an apprentice to the toy maker.”
                 “Really? I was in the toyshop briefly just before All Hallow's Eve and I don't recall seeing him
there. What's his name?”
                “Bruce McGowan,” Hazel replied, suddenly feeling sick in her stomach. She groaned softly.
                “Kid, are you all right?” Jack asked, concerned.
                “Yeah, I'll be fine. Just feeling a bit tired..”
                “I'll bet. Come on, let's go home.” Jack put his arm around her shoulders and gently guided her
back to Emilia's.

        Hazel immediately went upstairs to her room when they got in. Jack tried to coax her back down for a
light supper, but Hazel said she was not hungry.
        Jack stood at the bottom and watched the girl flee. He could tell she was disappointed by what he had
told her about not ever seeing Bruce around before. He wondered if he should go up and see if Hazel was all
right. After a slight moment's deliberation, he decided to not go up and, instead, stepped back outside, determined
to find out who this Bruce McGowan was!
       Hazel heard the door close downstairs and wondered where Jack was going. With any luck he's going
to find Bruce and give him an All American Knuckle Sandwich! The very thought of Jack tormenting the boy
brought a small smile of satisfaction to her lips....
       ....where she still felt Bruce's kiss. Shaking her head, Hazel picked up her journal and started to write.

          I was a silly goose tonight..oh but what a lovely night! A finer night I know I'll probably never
see again...at least for a few more years...

              “Hazel!” she heard a quiet shout outside the window. “Hazel!”
      Biting her lower lip, Hazel slowly got up from the bed and wandered over to the window and looked out.
There, down in the small garden was Bruce.
              “What are you doing here?” she hissed after a moment. “And especially after you lied to me!”
              “I didn't lie—okay, so I lied,” he lamented seeing her angry glare. “I'm not an apprentice to the toy
maker. I'm—”
              “The rascally son of my old friend, Captain Nathan McGowan.” Bruce and Hazel looked to
where Jack and a sea captain were standing in the garden gate.
       Bruce gulped nervously. “Um..hi Dad.”
              “Don't you be 'hi'ing me, boy,” the captain growled. “What've I told you about flirting with the
young maidens here?”
              “Don't be too hard on him, Nate. Takes after his old man, I'd say,” Jack said with a grin.
              “Watch it Jack! I can still have you arrested and walk the plank,” Nathan bantered in return.
              “Okay, now I'm confused,” Hazel said.
        Bruce looked up at her. “That makes two of us!”
               “Okay, will somebody please explain to me what the hell is going on?” Hazel exclaimed when no
explanation was forthcoming.
         In unison all three men looked up and declared “Watch your mouth, your a young lady!”
               “But I will explain what is going on, since you asked so nicely,” Jack said. But Hazel didn't seem to
be paying any attention, she seemed to be in a daze.
               “Are you alright?” Captain McGowan called up.
               “I think,” Hazel answered and then her voice trailed as she fell out of the second story window.
         Bruce who was the youngest, fastest, and closest caught her and refused to let go until they told him she
was going to be fine and had just fainted.
               “Guess the excitement was too much for her,” Jack commented as he carried Hazel in to the parlor.
               “You mean the confusion,” Bruce grumbled as he and his father followed Jack in to the room.
          Jack laid Hazel on the couch and took the chair next to it. Bruce and his father sat in a couple chairs
across from them. They sat in silence for a while, waiting for Hazel to come around.
               “Okay, could one of you please explain how you two know each other?” Bruce finally asked.
               “Don't you think we should wait for your lady friend to wake first?” the captain asked his son.
          Bruce sighed. “All right. But it had better be good!”
         About ten minutes later Hazel stirred. Bruce went over and knelt at her side despite his father's protest.
Jack glanced at his friend and shrugged.
         Hazel slowly opened her eyes. “Wh..what happened?” she asked.
                “You fainted,” Bruce told her.
                “Not again!” she groaned.
                “Do you have fainting spells often?” Jack asked, surprised.
                “Not really..they just sorta happen every now and again, and usually when I am under unnecessary
stress,” she explained, eyeing the three men who looked away from her a moment.
                 “Yes..well, we were just about to tell you two how his father and I know each other,” Jack said finally.
                 “Good.” Hazel struggled to sit up. Bruce assisted her and then sat beside her. The two young peopled
waited.
                 “Jack and I met during the Revolution. He was on an espionage mission and I was to transport him to
where he needed to go,” Nathan explained. “Unfortunately we got caught in the middle of one of the naval battles..a
few years before the siege at Yorktown, so Jack went from being a spy to being a sailor--at least for a couple of weeks.
Since then we've run into each other a few times. I'm kind of surprised to find you here,” the captain turned to Jack.
                 “Another assignment, you old sea dog. What about you? What are you doing here?” Jack asked.
                 “I'm just delivering a few exports from America—the few the stuffy Governor would allow. I figured
we'd be here for a few days at most.”
                 “Great. Then I guess we'll be seeing more of you then?” Jack asked.
          Nathan glanced at his son and Hazel and then back at Jack. “I suppose so. I know the boy here wouldn't
mind,” he added with a knowing twinkle.
                   “I don't think Hazel would mind either,” Jack chuckled. The two teenagers groaned simultaneously
causing Jack and Nathan to laugh even more.
                   “Come on, Bruce. It's time we were getting back to the Mary Anne,” the captain stood. “It was nice
running into you again, Jack. Perhaps we will get together some time, maybe at the Pig or my cabin.”
                   “See you later, you ol' salty dog.” Jack and Hazel walked Bruce and Nathan to the door.
                   “Good night,” Hazel said.
                   “'Night,” Bruce returned.
                   “Will you two just smooch and get it over with?” Nathan asked as the teens started to stare dreamily at
each other.
                   “Dad!” Bruce exclaimed as Hazel hid her face in her hands.
                   “Sorry,” the captain mumbled. “Good night,” he said, and he and Bruce left then, leaving Jack and Hazel
watching them from the door.
                    “I cannot believe he said that!” Hazel gasped.
                    “Hey, if he hadn't said it, I would have,” Jack told her. “Now, I want to know more about your fainting
spells.”
                    “There's nothing to tell, Jack. Really. They come and they go..”
                    “And so do you, right?”
                     “What do you mean?”
                     “When we met you at the docks, you said something about being 'bounced' from place to place? I take
it that the people that you lived with couldn't figure out what to do?” Hazel tried to turn away, but Jack stopped her. “Is
that why Rupert sent you here?”
                     “No! He actually understood! Um..I think it was mostly the last accident we had that made him want
to send me here at least for a while,” Hazel explained. “But before being with him, yes. My fainting spells were why
I was sent to live in foster homes.”
                     “What about your family? Why aren't you with them?” Jack asked.
                     “Why do you think?” Hazel snapped. “Sorry,” she apologized seeing Jack's stunned expression.
                    “It's okay. I guess they're dead?” Hazel nodded. “How? I mean, if it's not too painful to recall.”
            Hazel sighed. She wasn't sure if she should tell Jack the truth. It would hurt him, as well as bring up memories
she had tried to bury as far as she could inside her.
            Jack lifted her chin. “Hazel?”
                    “My parents died shortly after I was born. I was raised by my older sister Holly—”
                    “Holly Miller?” Jack echoed. “You mean you were one of the little tykes running around that shabby house
I came to once?”
                    “So, you do remember! She did the best she could, Jack!” Hazel almost shouted. “She did almost every job
that was open to someone like her when she could, leaving me with my other siblings. But it was too hard for her....she
passed away when I was four, as did the rest….and I was placed with an elderly lady who was very sweet. She taught
me a lot..but she also died..I was eight. Since then I've lived in six different homes. Each time I was sent somewhere else
it was because of my fainting spells which started shortly after I left the lady's home.” Hazel finished her explanation; tears
were falling down her cheeks.
           Jack couldn't think of anything to say, so he just pulled Hazel into his arms and held her while she cried.
          Soon her tears abated and she pulled away from Jack. “Sorry,” she apologized, noticing the stain she left on
his jacket.
               “Hey, if anyone should be sorry, it's me. I shouldn't have forced you to tell me about your past.”
                “You didn't force me, Jack..well, not much anyway,” Hazel smiled sadly.
                “Why don't you go on to bed?” Jack suggested after a moment of silence.
          Hazel nodded. “All right. Good night, Jack.” She stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before
going upstairs.
          Jack watched her go and then he headed down in to the lab. “If that don't beat all!” he muttered as he readied
himself for bed…
         He vaguely recalled the run down cabin he came across almost thirteen years ago. He had been on another
assignment for Washington when his cover was blown and he had to make a break for it. Jack was tracked mercilessly
for days. In one small skirmish, he had been wounded. Luckily Jack had been able to escape once more and double backed
on his trail and lost his pursuers.
         Yet he was weak. He wandered aimlessly for a few days when he suddenly came across the cabin. From the
outside it looked abandoned, but then he saw the thin stream of smoke coming from the chimney.
                  I should just keep going, he thought. Don't want to bring any trouble to them.. A wave of pain suddenly
shot through his arm. Then again..
         Jack approached the cabin and knocked on the door. A moment passed before a young woman, nineteen years old
at most, opened the door. She was very pretty with golden hair and grey eyes. Behind her he could hear the shouting and
laughter of several young children.
                 “May I help you?” she had asked.
                 “Sorry to disturb you, ma'am, but I need some help. See, I was in a fight and I was wounded,” Jack grimaced as
he was struck by another streak of pain.
                  “Oh my!” the young woman caught him before he fell. “Here, come inside.” She helped him to the one bed
set in the main part of the cabin. “You just take it easy while I get a good look at you. Calvin,” she turned to one of the older
boys, “Take your brothers and sisters outside for a while, but don't go too far.”
                 “What about Hazel? She's too little!” the boy who appeared to be about ten protested.
                 “Hazel can remain inside. I'm going to need a little help here anyway.”
                 “Okay Holly.” Calvin went away and quickly gathered his younger siblings and ushered them out the door.
There were six kids in all, the youngest Calvin pushed towards Holly.
                 “Wanna go!” the little girl pouted.
                 “Hazel, I'm going to need you to help me,” Holly said gently. The little girl mulled it over and then nodded.
                  “’Kay.” Once that was settled, Holly promptly began to treat Jack, having him remove his shirt so she could
examine where he'd been struck. While he was doing that, Holly sent Hazel away to get some water and clean cloths.
                  “Doesn't appear to be so bad,” Holly commented after a moment.
                  “That's good to hear..”
          The little girl returned then with a bowl of water and several pieces of cloth. “Oooh, messy!” she said, her eyes wide
as she saw his wound.
                   “Yes, it is. And we're going to fix that, aren't we?” Holly said. Hazel nodded.
          The two sisters worked together to get Jack's wound clean and get him bandaged. Once they had done that, Holly
called the rest of her siblings in and they immediately crowded around him asking him to tell about his adventures, especially
after he let it slip that he was a spy…

          Jack shook his head. He should have trusted his instincts and never stopped at their cabin. When he had departed,
he had had the feeling that his enemy was close. Hazel had only said that her sister passed away when she was four, but
he suspected that he might have been part of the reason for it. After that realization hit, Jack was unable to fall asleep.
         Hazel was also having trouble with falling asleep. Telling Jack what had happened to her had awakened all of the
memories—good and bad—that she wanted to forget.

         Jack walked slowly out of the lab and sat down in the parlor. As he sat, he let his memory drift. Did the guys
chasing him harm Holly or the other kids? Does Hazel remember exactly what happened to her sister? How horrible
that would be for her! Seeing something like that when she was so young!
         Suddenly a soft noise jarred Jack out of his thoughts. It was Hazel. "You couldn't sleep either, kiddo?"
                “Not really. My thoughts were plaguing my slumber,” Hazel replied. “Jack?”
                 “Yeah?”
                 “Can we talk?”
                 “Sure, kiddo. What's on your mind?” Jack made room for Hazel to sit down.
                 “Besides what you already know, I need to tell you that..I'm not really here for you and Emilia to train—
at least not yet,” Hazel said after a moment.
                 “Huh?”
                 “You remember being at my home, right? 'Course you do,” Hazel muttered, “Don't think you could forget
Holly.” She grinned, noticing Jack glancing away a moment, embarrassed.
                 “Yeah, so?”
                 “The men who were after you? Well, they're still after me.”
                 “Wait! What do you mean they're still after you?”
                 “They have been since that day,” Hazel replied
                 “How did they follow you to all of them foster homes you were in?” Jack asked.
                 “I’m not sure how they did it but they did!” she said.
                 “Why didn't your foster parents help you?”
                 “Well...I never told them. In the begining when I knew they were getting close, I ran away. But after a
while I came up with an idea. Everytime I knew they were comeing, I had a bout of "fainting" Hazel responded.
                 “Hold the phone sister! You mean you dont really have fainting attacks?” Jack asked
                 “UHM.....” Hazel was at a loss for words.

              **     **      **      **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **    **     **     **     **     **    **
      Emilia was on a boat heading home. She had been relocated to Greece work on an assignment for week but she
was really glad to be getting home. I wonder how Jack and Hazel did without me for a whole week. Jack had better
have been a perfect gentleman to their young apprentice. Why did Daddy volunteer me for this assignment right after
he sent Hazel to Pulau Pulau? she wondered. Oh well, I'll be home soon to save Hazel from Jack and his alter ego!
Emilia stared silently into the calm dark sea as she headed toward home under a starry night.

               “Okay, here's the deal, Jack,” Hazel said after a moment. “I do have fainting spells, and they do occur—
just when I was sent from place to place, I faked those.”
              “Why'd you do something like that?”
              “Would you've believed me if I said that I may have to leave because I'm being followed? I mean, if I
weren't a spy in training and you and Emilia weren’t spies?”
     Jack thought it over a moment. “Prob'ly not,” he admitted.
              “There you are, then. I knew that my foster families wouldn't believe me—hardly ever did about things
anyway 'cause I wasn't of their blood—that's how they put it.”
              “Sounds like you got stuck with a lot of snobs,” Jack commented.
     Hazel shrugged. “Except for the old lady and the last home I had before going to England. I actually did tell
them about what happened. They were the ones who suggested that I go to Rupert.”
              “Were they spies like us?” Hazel nodded.
              “Must've been Thomas and Ann,” Jack mused. “Last I heard they were living in Virginia.”
              “Yeah!” Hazel was surprised. “How—?”
              “How do I know 'em? We worked together during the Revolution for a bit..trying to outfox Rupe, if
you'd believe it.”
              “Oh, yeah. Rupert told me about some of the tricks you pulled on him and some of the British regiments.”
              “They were definitely some doozies,” Jack grinned. “So,” he said after a long pause, “Rupert sent
you here because those men found out where you were.”
      Hazel nodded. “And I think he...” she started but stopped, looking away from Jack.
      Jack did not like that. “He what, Hazel?”
               “He sorta, kinda, maybe, possibly—”
               “I don't have all night!”
               “Had Emilia relocated for a while to get them away from me,” she finished hurriedly. “He thought
that when she left, the men might follow her thinking that I went with her.”
                 “Uh huh. And what about when she came back?”
      Hazel only shrugged. “All I know is that I am scared and sick of them chasing me.”
      Jack answered, “Well we will just have to take care of this, but we need to get to Em first, but how is
the question?”
                 “Bruce's dad does own a boat, and he is a captain, right?” Hazel said with a grin.
       Jack scowled at her. “I was just about to say that,” he grumbled.
                 “Of course, Jack.”

 
            “Hello, miss,” a low voice said, startling Emilia who was still admiring the night sky.
       Emilia turned and saw three men standing a few feet behind her. Two of them looked like regulars she
had seen at the Drunken Pig; the third man was dressed more like a gentleman, but she did not like the evil
glint in his dark eyes. “Hello,” she said after a moment. “May I help you gentlemen?”
      Well Dressed took a step forward. “Oh, I do believe you may be able to assist us. We are looking for
a young lady--about fifteen years old? Golden hair, green eyes? Answers to the name of Hazel?”
      Emilia eyed the man warily for a minute. “I might be able to help you better if we were to have proper
introductions?” she suggested, after deducing from the man's accent that he was another American.
       The man shrugged. “Very well. My name is Devon Chater. I am a friend of the girl in question.”
                 “Really?” Emilia asked, not buying it for one minute.
       Chater could tell. “Don't play coy with me, Ms. Rothschild,” he hissed dangerously. With a nod of his
head, his two associates blocked any route of escape. “We know that you and Mr.Stiles have the girl in
question. I would have thought that she would have gone on assignment with you, but maybe....ah old
Rupert, you've done it again!” Chater chuckled.
                 “What do you want with Hazel?” Emilia demanded. “And how do you know Mr. Stiles?”
                 “And you and your father, too, I presume? My dear lady, we are all spies here, and I just happen
to be one who's out for revenge right now and against Jack Stiles!”
       Emilia frowned. “What did Jack do to you?”
                 “Only escaped me, although I did take care of the family that took him in when he was wounded.
Unfortunately, there was one survivor—”
                 “Hazel?”
       Chater nodded. “You're catching on. Take her down to the hold and make sure she  doesn't try anything.
Time to go on an extra cruise.”
           **      **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **    **     **     **    **     **    **     **
      Jack stood at the rail with the wind whipping through his hair as the Mary Anne left the harbor of Pulau
Pulau. Hazel was next to him, dressed in her boy's clothing. Both had decided it would be safer for her if she
traveled that way.
       Captain McGowan and Bruce had agreed with them when she and Jack went to them to get their help. To
their surprise and Jack's consternation, the McGowans had been planted on the island to capture the very same
men that Hazel was avoiding.
            “Nate, you've got some serious explaining to do,” Jack growled when he heard about their mission.
           “What explaining, Jack? You know that we've been after these men for years. You've just been out of the
loop recently what with TJ sending you to rescue his niece and all.”
           “Who exactly are these men?” Hazel had asked.
           “Renegade spies. In the last days of the Revolution, they turned against the fledgling American Government and
went in to hiding before setting up their own secret network. Their one and only goal; seek and destroy those spies still
serving the Government. The only time their group was really active was during the 1790’s and then they apparently
disbanded during the last years of Washington’s presidency, but there were a few who were determined to keep the
group going. Some of those who left the group let the government know who was still active and since then the government
has been trying to keep tabs on them, but they move fast. And it was hard to find out just who they were targeting until
recently when somebody picked up on the fact that each time the group made a move, a certain young lady ended up
in the same place a few months or so before them,” Nate glanced at Hazel who listened wide-eyed.

     Now they were on their way to Greece, hoping to intercept the ship Emilia was on before it got too close to Pulau
Pulau.
           “You've been awfully quiet, kid,” Jack said after a while, glancing at Hazel.
           “Just thinking. What if something happens to Emilia before we find them? What if—”
          “Hey, don't be playing that game!” Jack chuckled. “You gotta be positive. We'll be all right, Hazel, trust me.”
     Hazel sighed and looked away from him again. “It would have been better if I never come to Pulau Pulau!”
      Jack started to protest, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He saw Bruce standing behind him. The boy
shook his head and then nodded towards the helm. Jack pointed, questioning to where Nathan was and Bruce nodded.
With a shrug and a warning look, Jack went to join his friend at the helm.
           “Don't start, Bruce,” Hazel warned, having heard the movement behind her and knew exactly what was
going on.
           “I wasn't going to say anything,” Bruce said, moving to stand beside her.
           “Oh, sure,” Hazel scoffed.
           “I wasn't.”
           “Then why are you here?”
           “Because I just thought you needed someone else's company besides Jack's and I'm the only other available
person on board,” he quipped with a grin.
            “What I really need is to be alone,” Hazel said softly.
            “Maybe, but not if you're just going to blame yourself for things that aren't your fault.”

 
   Meanwhile, Emilia was locked in the brig. Emilia sighed, hating her present situation. She would get out of here.....
she hoped. Jack was probably out searching for her now. She hoped he would have enough sense and leave Hazel
on the island. Yet she knew Jack, and, if Hazel were anything like she was or even him, the girl would be searching too.
                        **     **     **     **     **    **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **     **    **
     It was dark and there was a bit of a night chill. He cursed beneath his breath as he shifted from side to side, trying to
keep warm as he manned the crow's nest. He hoped they would reach the midway point to Pulau Pulau soon—at least
then it would be a little warmer and by then they may have run in to the very two people they sought.
            “Yo! Ho! Yo! Ho! A Pirate's life for me!” he started to hum, reaching for the spyglass. It was time to check the
seas, to make sure they were still on course. Looking through the tube, he spotted a shadow off in the distance. “Ah!
So, you've come at last!” he crowed.

     Emilia heard the pounding of the sailors above her prison. There were several boisterous shouts and cries of a ship
being spotted. She immediately knew that Jack would be on that ship, yet she prayed that Hazel wasn't. “Jack, for once
be smart about this!”
            “Jack? You mean Jack Stiles? Smart? Oh, that's rich!” she heard someone cackle. Emilia looked around, but
she didn't see anyone.
            “Who's there?” she called after hesitating a moment. Emilia glanced back into the shadows and tryed to make
out a face. Suddenly she recognized who it was. “Blackbeard!?”
           “Surprised, ain't ye?” the pirate gave her his all too familiar toothy grin with crossed eyes.
            “I thought you were dead!”
            “Details of my death have been highly overstated!” Blackbeard laughed.
            “Don't you mean exaggerated?”
      Emilia jumped back from the bars as Blackbeard came at her suddenly. “I mean whatever I say, missy! This time
I'm going to get rid of you and the Daring Dragoon! Unless of course, ahem, you'd like to become one of me wenches?”
Blackbeared eyed Emilia appreciatively and smacked his lips in anticipation.
             “Ugh! Over my dead body!” Emilia grimaced.
             “Your choice, sweetheart!” And with that, Blackbeard went to join the other sailors.
       Emilia watched him go, still not believing that it had been him. But it was! She had gotten a good sniff of that
kerosene breath of his. “Oh no!” she whispered as it dawned on her. When Jack came for her, Blackbeard would
be able to point him out to the others, especially if he were dressed as the Dragoon!
              “Be careful Jack!”

 
      Meanwhile on the Mary Anne the enemy ship had been discovered.
                "Are you sure that's the ship Em's on?" Jack asked Nathan.
                "Sure as the mornin' sky. There's no other ships scheduled to be coming through here at this time. She's on
there...and so is Blackbeard," Nathan said after a moment.
                   "What?!" Jack gaped.
                   "I know you've had trouble with the scalawag before, so I thought I should warn you, especially if you're
thinking of dressing up as the Dragoon."
                   "Wait a second! I never said--"
                  "Jack, I've been keeping tabs on you, as have some of your other friends. We know all that has been
happening on Pulau Pulau and, while we think you're doing a great job, this Dragoon business is getting kind of old--"
                 "Hold on a second Nate! You knew Blackbeard was going to be involved. When were you going to
tell me? After I had a bullet in my brain?!"
                 "Jack, calm down!" Hazel ordered. "Let him explain."
         Nathan smiled at her. "Thank you. Now, I know that you thought Blackbeard was dead, though the news
of his death has been greatly exaggerated. Part of the reason is because the men after you and Hazel have hired
him to help capture and kill you."
                "Great," Jack grumbled. "Not only do I have to deal with three psychopath spies, I have to deal with
Blackbreath again!"
                "You'll do fine, Jack. We all will," Hazel said.
                "Not you," Jack decided after a moment. "You are going to stay hidden when we attack."
                "Over my dead body!" Hazel shot back.
                "That's exactly why you'll be hiding. No," Jack held up his hand when Hazel started to protest. "No arguing.
Lord knows Emilia would have my hide if I let anything happen to you."
                "She'd have to take a number and get in line!" Hazel muttered, turning away. Jack looked at Nathan and
Bruce for help.
                 "Sorry, Jack. I've only a few fighters on this ship. We'll need her," Nathan shrugged.
                 "I'll fight with her, make sure she survives," Bruce offered hesitantly after a moment. "I mean, not that she
really needs it considering she's disguised--"
                  "Which is probably the first thing they'd expect," Jack grumbled.
                  "Of us both," Hazel turned back around. "From what I've heard of Blackbeard, he wouldn't expect you
to be anything but the Dragoon, but the others.." Hazel shook her head. "Look, I'll stay with Bruce. You do whatever,
all right?"
     Jack sighed. "All right. Bruce?"
                  "Yeah?"
                  "She gets killed, I'll personally feed you to the sharks."
     Bruce glanced at his father for help. The captain just chuckled and shook his head. "You've got nothing to worry
about, Jack. The boy will protect her, or he'll have to answer to me."
        "I think I'd rather face the sharks!" Bruce whispered to Hazel. Hazel hid a grin behind her hand.
        "Listen up!" McGowan bellowed suddenly. "We will meet our foes at sunrise! I want everyone to be ready."

     Dawn came and with it a light fog. One could just barely see his or her hand through the milky clouds.
         "This is just great! How are we going to be able to see them, let alone fight 'em?" Jack muttered to Nathan
as they stood at the helm.
          "This won't last, Jack," Nathan said after a moment. "The sun will burn through it soon enough."
          "How long will that take?"
          "Just another half hour, hour at the most."
          "Great! By then we could pass each other and never know we did!"
          "Captain!" the shout came from the crow's nest. "She's approaching starboard!"
      Nathan grinned at Jack. Then,"All hands on deck! Prepare for battle!"
 

       The order from the Mary Anne was heard on the Nautica.
           "Ah, we shall encounter them soon," Chater chuckled.
           "Remember, I get to kill the Dragoon!" Blackbeard growled.
           "As long as he dies, I don't care who kills him. I get to kill the girl, though."
           "If you don't mind me askin', what exactly did this girl do?"
           "She saw me, and then she did this!" the man violently pulled off the glove on his right hand, revealing
a false index finger that, up 'til now, Blackbeard had not known about it.
           "A tyke did that?" Blackbeard did not hide his amusement and laughed uproariously.
           "She bit me hard enough she broke the skin and my hand started to become infected. It was either lose
my hand or the finger."
           "So, you coulda been a Captain Hook," Blackbeard grinned after a moment.
            "But I'm not. Enough! We must prepare ourselves to meet them!"
 

       Hazel watched wide-eyed as the Nautica approached. She could not see how many people were on the
deck through the fog, but she expected that Blackbeard and the three men would have as many sailors ready
to fight as Nathan did. Nervously she reached down and pulled out the dagger hidden in her boot.
      "Hey, you don't need that yet!" Bruce said uneasily as he stood beside her. They had hidden themselves
behind a group of barrels due to the order given to them by Bruce's father.
   Hazel gripped the handle. "I feel better with it out," she said.
        "Okay.."
        "Listen, Bruce. I want to tell you something, something that I never told Jack."
   Bruce nodded. "Okay. What?"
       "When they attack, I know one of the men will come after me, and me alone. And, if I remember correctly,
he'll have another one assist him."
       "So, we'll just take 'em out," Bruce grinned uneasily.
   Hazel shook her head. "No, we won't. I will, by myself."
       "But Jack--"
        "I know what Jack and your dad said, but I have to fight them myself."
        "Why?"
        "Because he wants it that way and since I basically bit off his finger, he will face no one but me."
        "You--?"
         "Bit off his finger? Not entirely, but enough that he had to get it amputated and now he has a fake one. It
sorta made him angry with me."
         "No, really?" Bruce quipped. Then, "Hazel, I promised my father and Jack I'd fight with you and protect
you. If it comes to the point where you have to face him, then I won't interfere, but I'll be there if you need me."
Before she could protest, Bruce leaned over and kissed her.
     It was a short kiss, but longer than the one shared in the market. "Just know that if you get yourself killed,
I will never forgive you," Bruce said as he pulled away.
      Hazel laughed in response. "The same goes for you, too."
          "Get ready!" they heard Nathan shout. A split second later the sound of full blown battle reached
their ears.
     Bruce and Hazel looked over the barrels and saw Captain McGowan's sailors engaged with men from the
other ship who swung over on to the Mary Anne. Bruce watched several people he knew fall under the enemy
blade. Glancing toward the helm he saw his father battling for his life.
     Hazel saw the inner turmoil. "Bruce, go help him!" she said.
           "But--"
           "But nothing! Just go!"
      Bruce looked at her and saw the stubbornness there and the determination. "All right, but if you get killed.."
He didn't finish. He just gave her one more quick kiss before leaving.

      Chater saw the boy emerge from behind the barrels and rush to the side of the captain. "Ah, so that is
where you are, my little finger chomper. Blackbeard!"
       Blackbeard came to his side, bringing Emilia out with him. They were still on the Nautica watching the
battle that appeared to be going their way. "What?"
             "I've spotted the girl, so I am going over. One of my associates will stay here with you and guard Ms.
Rothschild. You will kill Jack when he tries to rescue her."
             "Don't be tellin' me what I'm supposed to do!" Blackbeard growled. "I'm not stupid!"
             "Of course not. You've just been beaten by twice by the same duo. Now, enough. You know what to
do." Chater descended from the helm on to the deck and grabbed one of the ropes used to swing across the short
distance between the two ships.
 

     Hazel saw him the moment his feet touched the deck. He ignored the battle going on around him and walked
directly towards her hiding place. "Come on out, dear! I know you're there!" she heard him call.
     Hazel did not move. She had to wait until he was close enough before she made her attack. But what then?
She might be able to do some damage with her dagger, but he would have a sword, no doubt, and he was
stronger than she was. She quickly looked around her small hiding area searching for something else she could
use to fight him.
 

      Meanwhile, the man that stayed to watch Emilia had an interesting idea. Maybe....if he dangled Emilia over
the edge of the water, he could distract Jack and Hazel long enough for more of their men to sneak up behind them
and.......
      The sailor smiled. He went to find some rope, dragging Emilia with him.
             "What do ya think you're doing?" Blackbeard demanded.
            "Outta my way, you bumbling pirate!" the man growled, pushing him aside. Blackbeard tried to strike
back, but instead of grabbing on to Chater's associate, he grabbed Emilia, causing her to momentarily become
a human rope. "Let go, Blackbeard!"
            "Never!" Blackbeard tugged on Emilia and the associate pulled back.
           "Ah, a game of Tug-a-Woman! Mind if I join in?" Before the two men could react, a figure swooped in
and snatched Emilia from their grasp.
           "The Daring Dragoon!" Blackbeard snarled after a moment as the masked crusader landed on the helm
with Emilia.
           "Who did you expect? Santa Claus?" the Dragoon scoffed.
           "Well, don't just stand there!" Chater's associate growled, drawing his sword. "Let's get them!" He
charged up the steps, meeting the Dragoon part way. Blackbeard headed the other way, going for Emilia. Jack
and Chater's man clashed swords again and again, each man deflecting the other's blows. Neither could gain the
upper hand.
           "This is just like before!" Jack thought as he parried. He quickly glanced over to see how Emilia was doing.
She was holding her own dodging the Blackbeard's advances...and all the while she was heading in his direction.
       Jack had an idea. Returning his attention to his opponent, Jack went completely on the defensive and started
to back up. As he expected, the man took his retreating movement to mean he was winning and became cocky.
       Emilia glanced back a moment and was appalled to see Jack coming her way and appearing to not be fighting
at all! "What are you thinking?" she thought before his eyes met hers for a brief moment. She gave a quick nod and
continued to dodge Blackbeard until she sensed Jack behind her.
       Blackbeard and Chater's associate each believed to be entering the moment of victory--the annihilation
of Jack aka the Daring Dragoon and Emilia Rothschild. Both raised their swords and made their final blows.....
       At the last moment, just as their swords were about to meet their targets, Emilia and Jack ducked. Blackbeard's
sword clashed against the man's and Jack and Emilia lashed out, striking them below the belt. Blackbeard and the
lackey stumbled a moment before tumbling off the helm. They hit the deck with a resounding thud and remained still.
          "Now that's what I call aiming small and missing small," Jack said as Emilia hugged him.
          "You have no idea how glad I am to see you, Jack!" she exclaimed.
          "I think I do. Besides, did ya think I was going to let Blackbeard get his grubby paws on ya?"
     Emilia grinned. "How's Hazel? I hope you had sense enough not to bring her into this. Oh, Jack, you didn't!"
she said after seeing Jack look away sheepishly.
          "Hey, do you think she woulda let me leave her behind?"
          "No. But where is she now?"
         "Over there wi--" Jack stopped and his eyes widened. "Oh, no!"
          Emilia looked where Jack was looking. "Oh my good lord! Jack we've got to get over there!"
          Jack went over to the rail and grabbed on to a length of rope. "Come on, Em!" Holding onto Emilia, Jack
swung the both of them on to the deck of the Mary Anne.
            "Hazel!"

 
   Hazel was unable to find anything to help her when Chater was upon her. He reached for her, but Hazel was too
fast for him, jumping out from behind the barrels and following the rail. Chater kept after her.
           "There's no place to hide, brat!" he shouted. The people fighting ignored them as they played cat and mouse
around the deck. At one point, Chater caught Hazel's sleeve. Hazel slashed back with her dagger, missing his hand,
but cutting through a rope that brought down one of the smaller sails. In the fracas that ensued, he lost his grip on her
and she was able to break away towards the mast.
     Hazel was tiring. She knew it was just a matter of time before Chater caught her again. But she wasn't going to
give in that easily. She started to climb up to the crow's nest. "Come and get me," she thought.
     Chater saw her climbing and chuckled. "Oh, this is too easy! You can't escape me up there!" he shouted as he
followed her.

 
     On the deck, the battle was coming to an end and the men of the Nautica were losing.
           "Jack!" Bruce cried when the Dragoon and Emilia touched the deck.
           "I thought I told you to protect Hazel!" Jack said angrily. Bruce hung his head.
           "Jack, this is no time for you to be picking on a poor boy!" Emilia snapped. "You've got to go after Hazel!"

 
    Hazel reached the crow's nest. Once she was in, she glanced to see how far behind Chater was. He was twenty-feet
below her at most. She searched the nest for something to throw down at him and hopefully knock him off the rigging.
The only things she found were a bible and a couple of flasks. She grabbed the flasks first and threw them hard, aiming
for his hands. She missed one and got the other, yet Chater still held on.
          "Nice try, brat! You know you can't win! I'll get you and make you pay for what you did to me!"
          "You know, you talk too much!" Hazel shot back, throwing the bible at him. The book struck him in the face
with more force than she expected, but again not enough to make him fall. With a slight whimper, Hazel resigned herself
to wait for him to come and save the strength she had left.
     With no more unexpected flying objects, Chater reached the crow's nest. "Oh, please! Do you really expect to kill
me with a puny dagger?"
          "No," Hazel answered truthfully, "but I'm sure as hell going to try!" and she lunged for him, catching him off
guard. She slashed a good part of his left arm before he succeeded in throwing her off.
     Hazel rolled and got to her feet. For a moment the two circled each other and then Hazel lunged again. Chater
was prepared this time and he caught her, easily lifting her off her feet. He tossed her over the side of the nest, dangling
her over the deck and ocean below, but he did not let her drop right away.
         "I have waited years for this day!" Chater crowed as he held on to one of Hazel's hands. "Finally I will kill you
for doing this!" he held up his mangled hand.
         "You really shouldn't be complaining about that. The kid did you a favor!" a voice said suddenly.
     Chater turned. "Ah, the Daring Dragoon--or should I say Jack Stiles? I was kind of hoping you'd show up unless
of course Mr. Blackbeard and my associate killed you--"
          "Well, it's your lucky day because they failed."
          "Obviously, but I won't!" Chater let go of Hazel and charged the Dragoon. Hazel screamed as she started to fall.
     Jack dodged Chater and grabbed on to the teenager before she fell to far and pulled her in to the nest. "Stay put,
kid," he ordered as he went for Chater.
     Chater, still coming out of his first move, was not prepared for the charge and barely had time to defend
himself. For a moment the two combatants wrestled each other. Finally Jack got the upper hand and shoved Chater
over the side.
          "Hang on and I'll pull you back," Jack said, holding on to his mangled hand.
     Chater just looked at Jack a moment and grinned. "If you do, I'll kill you and the girl."
          "Yeah right! Look down, pal. You've lost."
     Chater quickly glanced down and saw Jack was right. "Well, then if I've lost...." Before Jack or Hazel was aware
of what he was doing, he undid the fastenings to his false finger, causing Jack to momentarily lose his grip, allowing
Chater to free himself and fall to the sea below.
     Jack and Hazel watched as the man who had plagued them fell to his death. Hazel gulped and hid her face in the
Dragoon’s cape, clinging tightly to him.
          "Are you okay, Hazel?" Jack asked after a moment.
         "Besides nearly becoming shark bait, yeah," she answered, although she was still shaking.
     Jack chuckled. "I can't tell you how many times I've been there and done that. Come on, let's climb down."
         "Yeah, sure.." Hazel said uneasily.
         "What's the matter?"
         "I'm scared of heights," she whispered after a moment.
         "What? Then how did you get up here?"
         "I'm still trying to figure that out myself," Hazel quipped.
     Jack shook his head. "All right. Climb on."
    Hazel nodded and got on to his back and together they made their way down.
 

A few days later...

       It was Jack's turn to bring home the groceries. He set out after breakfast and returned just before lunch. When he
entered the house, everything was silent. "Em? Hazel?" he called.
        "We're in the lab, Jack! Hazel-NO!" he heard Emilia shriek just before there was a minor explosion. Jack dropped
the bag he carried and raced through the secret fireplace down in to the lab.
         "Em? Hazel? Are you okay?" He looked around the lab, but there didn't appear to be any damage. He
saw Emilia looking at Hazel with a stunned expression. "What happened?"
         "I corrected the invention I was working on when I was in England," Hazel explained, her face glowing.
         "And was it supposed to blow up?" Jack asked
         "No!" Hazel replied, "It was supposed to..." Hazel trailed off, blushing
         "Go ahead, Hazel. It's a brillant invention and Jack will love it." Em urged
        "Well...in England and even back home people would complain about how long it took to get word about events..days,
weeks…and JC was telling me the other day how tired he got sometimes relaying messages back and forth--a bird can only
handle so many frequent flyer miles--"
         "And your point would be?" Jack asked. Hazel was an inventor like Emilia all right, talking a mile a minute without
ever really getting anywhere until prompted.
     Hazel stuck out her tongue. "I've been experimenting with sound waves and electricity. Wouldn't it be great if you
could talk to someone across town or the other side of the country as if they were standing in the same room as you were?"
she went on and finished before Jack could react.
          "Does sound kind of nice," Jack admitted after a moment. "Hey, if we had something like that, I could get my
assignments from TJ much easier."
          "Exactly. But unfortunately I keep messing up and the thing short circuits and the sound traveling through the air is
messed up." Hazel sighed. "Maybe some day I'll get it right."
       "Sure you will," Jack and Emilia assured her at the same time. A small moment of silence passed as Jack and Emilia
looked at one another and Hazel grinned knowingly.
       "So, who's ready for lunch?" she said after a moment.
       "We'll only eat if Jack brought the right stuff home," Emilia replied.
       "Hey, if you don't like the way I shop, you can do your own!" Jack retorted as he started up the stairs.
        "Jack, how many times do we have to have this discussion? You barely do that much around the house as is!" Emilia
exclaimed as she followed him.
   Hazel grinned as she listened to their bickering all the way out of the lab. She glanced at her Talking Gizmo before leaving
herself.
        "Hello? Jack? Emilia? Hazel?" a familiar voice squawked through the device. "Must have the wrong number. Vive la Resistance!"

                                                      THE END
Disclaimer: No one except Chater was seriously harmed in the writing of this story and unfortunately Blackbeard escaped once more.