Chapter Sixteen:

Kalena POV:

I wake. The hazy light burns my eyes and my body feels as if it is made of nothing save for pure pain but I hang on weakly to consciousness nonetheless. I go to stretch my aching limbs only to find that they were bound tightly with rope. I try to shift my feet only to find them to be tied as well. I looked around to find that the Doctor was on my left and behind him was the Captain. Their spirits were visibly down and they were whispering sadly to one another.

"All my life, I dreamed of an adventure like this," He sighs heavily. "I'm just sorry I couldn't have been more helpful to you."

'"Oh don't be daft."' The Captain responds. '"You've been very helpful. Truly."'

I keep quiet during their little confessional and focus on trying to slide my aching feet out of my boots. The more I wiggle the tighter the ropes seem to become. I huff angrily and listen in on their conversation, in hopes that I can steer it into talk of an escape plan. I scan the boat only to find that the pirates left only one guard, and despite his size he shouldn't be too hard to take down.

"I feel like such a useless weakling..." Doppler whines and I roll my eyes. "...With abnormally thin wrists." His surprise is shocking and even I find myself blinking in disbelief when I look over and find his hands free of their bonds. Somehow someone screwed up when it came to binding him. He could slip his wrists out entirely.

'Doppler!' I hiss. 'Untie my feet!'

"But wouldn't untying your hands be more beneficial?" he asks.

'Trust me, do what I say! Quickly!' He begins to remove the ropes and I'm shocked by his skillful fluttering. The rope falls to the floor of the longboat and I rotate my feet blissfully even though I'm wincing from the pain.

'Excellent! Now. Get his attention. Something to anger him.'

"What?! Are you out of your mind?" He shrieks despite his whisper.

'"Just do it, Doctor. I think she has a plan."' The Captain implores him. He shakes his head and begins.

"Excuse me, brutish pirate." Doppler has cleverly slipped his hands behind his back to keep up the appearance of captivity. I kick the ropes behind my feet as the pirate burps and turns around. "Yes, you. I have a question. Is it your body is too massive for your teeny-tiny head, or is it you're your head is too teeny-tiny your big fat body?"

I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing and the brute rushes over angrily and lifts Doppler by his shirt collar. I pray that the Doctor doesn't lose face now.

"I pummel you good!" he bellows.

"Yes, I'm sure you will, but before you do, I have one more question." He pulls a gun out behind him that I was not aware of. "Is this yours?"

The gun whines as Doppler readies it to fire and the pirate mumbles a frightened "Uh..." With him distracted I kick him in the head in one swift movement rendering him unconscious. The boat rocks a little from my sudden motions but when all is steady again I turn to Doppler and say, 'Perfect.'

xXx

'Okay,' I say while using some of the rope that had been used on us to tie up the unconscious pirate. 'My bet is since most of the remaining crew went into the gate to steal the treasure. And since we're the only prisoners there should only be a few if any guarding the ship. That means that re-commandeering the ship should be relatively easy.'

"As simple as that sounds Kalena we are hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. I am in no condition to be of any use—try as I might—, the Doctor has no combat experience whatsoever save for what happened yesterday, and you are also hindered by your grotesque amount of injuries." The Captain insists with unnatural sadness pervading her tone.

'But Captain! We have to do something! We can't just sit here and pray that rescue will occur! We've come this far and survived there's still the possibility that we can turn the tables against them!' I plead with her. She looks at me with eyes deprived of any sort of hope or optimism. I glare at her stubbornly but our staring is cut short when a moan is heard from our prisoner. 'You're wondering how we're going to recapture our own ship? Doppler.'

"What?" he asks with great concern, no doubt he thinks I'm putting him on the spot again.

'Give me your pistol.' He hands it over and I adjust it so that I'm holding it by the barrel. 'How, my Captain?' I swiftly turn and pistol whip the pirate and he slumps into unconsciousness once more. 'That's how.'