Chapter 1

A gray, impenetrable wall of fog. From somewhere comes the faint sound of a little girl's voice, singing, slow tempo, almost under her breath: Yo, ho, yo, ho, a pirate's

life for me. Yo, ho, yo, ho, it's pirate's for me … Suddenly a massive ship emerges from the grey, the Winged Victory maidenhead looming. It's a British dreadnought, the

H.M.S. Dauntless. Formidable, frightening, twenty-five gun ports on the side, and rail guns to boot. Kim Possible, red hair, stands at the bow rail, gazing at the sea, still

singing … drink up me hearties, yo, ho … Duff Killigan, who was born old, skin a dark leather, clutches her shoulder, starling her. Quit, missy! Cursed pirates sail these

waters. You want to call'em down on us? Kim stares wide-eyed at him. Mr. Killigan. Will Du, a dashing young man, Royal Navy to the core, glares sternly at Killigan.

Standing beside him is Governor James Possible, a man of obvious high station, brass buttons on his thick blue jacket. He is Kim's father. That will do. She was singing

about pirates. Bad luck to sing about pirates, with us mired in this unnatural fog mark my works. Consider them mark. On your way. 'Aye, Lieutenant. As he moves off.

Bad luck to have a woman on bard, too. Even a mini'ture one. He returns to his deck-swabbing duties, surreptitiously takes a quick swig from a flask. I think it would be

rather exciting to meet a pirate. Think again, Miss Possible. Vile and dissolute creatures, the lot of them. I intend to see to it that any man who sails under a pirate flag, or

wears a pirate brand, gets what he deserves: a short drop and a sudden stop. Kim doesn't know what a 'short drop and a sudden stop' means. Killigan helpfully mines: a

man being hung. Captain Du … I appreciate your fervor, but I am concerned about the effect this subject will have on my daughter. My apologies, Governor. Actually, I

find it all fascinating. And that's what concerns me. Kim, we will be landing in Port Royal soon, and beginning our new lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we comport

ourselves as befits our call and station? Yes, father. Chastised, she turns away, to look out over the bow rail. To herself. I still think it would be exciting to meet a pirate …

The fog still hems in the ship; very little of the sea is visible but suddenly a figure comes into view. A young boy, Josh Mankey, floating on his back in the otherwise empty

water. There is nothing to show where he came from, or how he came to be there. Look! A boy! There's boy in the water! Man overboard! Boy overboard! Fetch a hook-

haul him out of there! Quick movement and activity on deck. Sailors use a boat hook to snag the boy when he passes. Du and Possible haul him aboard, and lay him on

the deck. Kim sidles in for a closer look. He's still breathing. Where did he come from? Mary mother of God … Attention is turned away from the boy. The sea is no longer

empty. Wreckage from a ship litter the water … along with the bodies of its crew. What is left of the ship's hull burns a ranged British flag hanging limply from the stern.

The H.M.S. Dauntless slips silently through it all. What happened here? An explosion in the powder magazine. Merchant vessels run heavily armed. Lot of good it did them

… Off Possible's look. Everyone's thinking it! I'm just saying it! Pirates! It could have been an accident. Captain, these men were my protection. If there is even the

slightest chance one of those poor devils is still alive, we cannot abandon them! Of course not. To a sailor. Rouse the Caption, immediately. To the crew. Come about and

strike the sails! Unlash the boats! Gunnery crew … jackets off the cannons! To Possible. Hope for the best … Prepare for the worst. To the two sailors. Move the boy aft.

We'll need the deck clear. They lift the boy. Possible pulls Kim away from the rail, away from the hideous scene in the water. Kim, I want you to accompany the boy. He's

in your charge now. You'll watch over him? Kim nods gravely. Possible hurries away to help unstow the longboat. The sailors lay the boy gently on the poop deck, behind

the wheel, they hurry off. Kim Kneels down beside the boy. His good looks are not lost on her. She reaches out gently brushes the blond hair from his eyes. Suddenly, he

grabs her wrist, awake now. Kim is startled, but their eyes lock. She takes his hand in hers. My name is Kim Possible. Josh Mankey. I'm watching over you, Josh. He

clutches her hands, then slips back into unconsciousness. His movement has opened the collar of his shirt; Kim sees he wears a chain around his neck. She tugs it free,

revealing a gold medallion. One side is blank. She turns it over a skull gazes up at her. Vaguely Aztec in design, but to her eyes, it can mean one thing only. You're a

pirate. Sees Du, giving orders, moving toward her. She looks back at Josh comes to a quick decision. Takes the medallion from around his neck. Hides it under her coat.

Du arrives. Did he speak? His name is Josh Mankey that's all I found out. Very good. Du hurries off. Kim steals away to the stern of the ship. Examines her prize the gold

medallion. A wisp of wind, and she looks up. Out over the sea, a moving through the fog, silent as a ghost, is a large sailing ship a schooner it has black sails.