MONKEE ON THE BOUNTY

By:  Larrysgirl and Mickys411  Rated PG

"MICKY!" Mike yelled up the steps, "IT’S TIME TO GET UP!"

Loud snores answered him.

"Man, Micky is really out this time." Mike remarked to the other two men he shared the pad with, Davy and Peter. Micky was never a morning person, but this morning really took the cake. No amount of hollering, nor the smell of breakfast, was rousing Micky.

"He came in pretty late last night, Mike." Davy said, "Let him sleep some more."

"No, we've got rehearsing to do, plus Micky said he was going to give the Monkeemobile a tune-up." Mike replied tersely. He started up the hurricane stairs. Davy and Peter looked at each other, shrugged, and then followed Mike up the stairs.

They soon joined Mike at Micky's bed, looking down at the snoring drummer.

"Sleeping like a baby." Peter smiled.

Mike grabbed then shook Micky's shoulder.

"Hey sleeping beauty. Get up!" He said loudly. Micky, still asleep, grabbed Mike's hand and began to caress it.

"Oh, Monica, Monica! Don't leave me!" Micky whispered.

Davy and Peter hit the floor in hysterics. Mike grabbed Micky's hand and pulled him out of bed and onto the floor.

"OW!" Micky yelled, finally awake. Mike pulled his hand out of Micky's grip. "Mike, why'd you pull me off the bed? I was sound asleep!"

"Well, for one thing, my name ain't Monica, Micky, and its time to get up." Mike replied.

"Monica?" Micky repeated, "I dreamed about Monica?"

"Yeah," Davy said, still sitting on the floor with Peter, who was still giggling, "She's your current girl, right?"

Micky hung his head. "No, she broke up with me last night. Said she didn't want to be tied down to one man."

"Aw, you'll find another one, Mick...in a few years." Davy laughed.

Micky glared at Davy. "At least I take my time to find a nice girl, not like you who changes girls faster than I change socks!"

Davy shot to his knees. "Can I help it if girls love my good looks?" He retorted angrily, "You scare the girls away with that wild curly head of hair of yours!"

Micky got to his knees as well and balled his hands into fists.

"Watch your mouth, midget!" He snarled.

Mike reached down and put his hands on Micky and Davy's shoulders. "That's enough, both of you." Mike said sternly, "Davy and Pete, lets go and finish our breakfast, Micky, you get dressed. We rehearse after we eat."

"Yes master." Micky replied sullenly.

Mike ignored the comment and left the room with Davy and Peter. They went back down to the kitchen and ate their waffles.

"Micky can't take a joke, can he?" Davy asked.

"He'll get over it." Peter replied.

After awhile, Micky came down the stairs. He was wearing a white pair of pants, white shoes and a blue and white striped T-shirt.

"You look nice, Micky." Peter said, trying to break up the tension in the room.

Micky ignored Peter and went over to the coffee table. He picked up the medium-sized box he had spotted coming down the stairs. It was addressed to him and the return address was from his mom.

"Wow! Mom sent me something!" Micky exclaimed, his dark mood lifting. He opened the box and pulled out a slightly worn navy sports jacket. There was a note tucked into the pocket. Micky pulled it out and read to the others:

"Dear Micky, I was talking to my next door neighbor, whose husband had died

recently. She was giving away some of his belongings and asked if I would like

something. I spotted this coat and I knew right away it would fit you. Enjoy!

Love, Mom."

Micky tried on the coat. It was a perfect fit.

"Nice of your Mom to do that." Mike remarked.

"Yeah she's something else!" Micky smiled. Keeping the coat on, he walked over to the fridge and pulled it open. His dark mood quickly returned when he didn't find the orange juice.

"Hey, where's the OJ?" He demanded, pulling his head out of the fridge.

Peter gave a guilty smile. "I'm sorry Micky; I drank the last of it up."

"You know I like to put orange juice on my cereal." Micky replied.

"Well, we were having waffles this morning, so I thought you'd eat waffles too and not need the orange juice." Peter said.

"You thought wrong, Peter." Micky said smartly, "As usual."

"Micky..." Mike warned as Peter looked down at the table.

"Oh I'll eat the waffles, don't worry Mike." Micky replied, giving him an insincere smile, "Don't worry about how I feel or think." Micky sat down at the breakfast table and silently ate his waffles.

After the silent breakfast, the four Monkees gathered at the bandstand for rehearsal. Still wearing his jacket, Micky sat at the drums, Mike and Peter picked up their guitars and Davy picked up his tambourine. They started to play a few songs without much enthusiasm, and then Mike announced he wanted to try his new song, 'The Girl I Knew Somewhere'. He had given the song lyrics to Micky a few days ago, and he hoped Micky had learned them.

"Ready Mick?" Mike asked.

"Yeah." Micky replied indifferently.

Mike started the song and Micky came in:

"You tell me you've never been this way, before. You tell me things I know that I've heard somewhere. You're standing in the places and you're staring in new places, that brings to my traces of a girl, a girl that I knew somewhere....'

Mike waved his hands and everybody stopped.

"What's wrong Mike?" Davy asked.

Mike looked at Micky. "The lyrics are wrong, Micky! It’s 'staring down new faces' not 'staring in new places'!"

"Excuse me for being human, Mike." Micky retorted, "What's wrong with my lyrics?"

"It’s not what I want Micky!" Mike replied, his voice rising slightly. "My song, my lyrics. Got that?"

"Sure." Micky replied through gritted teeth.

"I'm glad. Now let’s get a move on."

The Monkees finished the song and took a break. Peter walked over to Mike.

"Hey Mike, when we did "You Told Me" I was thinking of dropping the bass line down at the end of the bridge." Peter said, "You know when you sing 'of all the games they are playing' we could stop and I'd hit a low 'D'. It would be a nice touch to end the bridge."

"Yeah, that sounds groovy, Pete." Micky said.

Mike turned to Micky. "Do you play bass, Micky?"

"No, but Peter's idea..."

"Then keep your opinions to yourself." Mike replied. The fights the four of them had this morning had gotten to him and left him short-tempered. This remark of Mike's, however, was the last straw for Micky.

"Fine!" Micky shouted, "I'll keep my opinions to myself and myself out of here!"

He stormed over to the back door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mike demanded, "We have more rehearsing to do and you gotta give the car a tune-up!"

"I'm outta here!" Micky said angrily, "I'm through living with you three inconsiderate jerks! Try rehearsing or playing a gig without a drummer if you're so smart Mike! And I'm sure you haven't forgotten how to change spark plugs!"

With that, Micky marched out of the pad, slamming the screen door behind him, leaving his band mates looking on in shock.

"But Micky!" Peter yelled, running after his friend. He went onto the back porch, but Micky was nowhere to be found. He slowly walked back into the pad, and started to cry.

"Nice goin' Mike." Davy said sarcastically, "You handled that real well."

"Well if you hadn't started it all by laughing at him losin' his girl..." Mike began.

"Don't you blame this on me, mate." Davy cut in sharply, "You're Mr. Perfection, aren't you?"

"STOP IT!" Peter yelled, halting the argument. Mike and Davy looked at Peter, shocked. They had never seen him get so upset and angry.

"We're all at fault." Peter cried, "We were all mean to each other! I purposely drank the last of the OJ to get back at Micky for yelling at Davy. Now Micky's gone and may never come back!" Peter sat on the bandstand and sobbed. Davy and Mike looked at each other.

"I'm sorry, Davy, for losing my temper." Mike said quietly.

"I'm sorry too, Mike." Davy replied. He put a hand on Peter's shoulder. "Don't worry, Pete, Micky will come back." I hope, Davy thought to himself.

Micky ran as fast as he could along the beach, trying to put as much distance as possible from the pad. Suddenly, he tripped and went sprawling on the ground. Cursing under his breath, Micky got up and looked to see what tripped him. It was a skipper's hat. Since nobody was around to claim it, Micky put it on his head and walked on. Soon, Micky found himself along the pier, among all the boats, large and small. He was passing by a large cabin-cruiser when he heard a lady's voice call out to him.

"Excuse me sir!" The voice cried out. Micky turned to see who was calling him. It was a young lady with dark brown shoulder-length hair, running towards him. She was about eighteen years old.

"What do you want?" Micky said shortly, still angry over the fight in the pad.

"Well, I was walking along the beach and I saw you pick up that hat." She replied, "I was looking for that hat since it belongs to my father. It blew off the deck of our boat." She smiled at him. Micky found his anger disappearing in the face of this lovely girl. He pulled the hat off with a flourish and handed it back to the girl.

"Here you are madam." He said with a posh accent. "May I ask your name?"

"I'm Mary Peterson. Who are you?"

"I'm George Michael Dolenz the second." Micky replied, still using his posh accent, giving her his full name. "But you can just call me Micky.

"I'm pleased to meet you Micky." Mary said as they shook hands, "Do you have a boat nearby?"

"Why yes. Yes I do." I was just taking a stroll on the pier while my crew readies the boat. Micky could tell this girl was impressed so he kept up his charade.

"Well, Micky, would you like to come back to my boat and meet my parents?"

Mary asked, "I'm sure my Dad would like to thank you for finding his hat."

"I'd be delighted." Micky replied, forgetting about his three friends. He offered his arm and Mary led him over to her boat.

Micky and Mary walked across the pier, where they reached her family on their boat.

Micky couldn't believe his eyes, when he saw the size of the boat. It was large, with a huge sail on top.

There on the boat were Mary's parents. Mrs. Peterson looked like Mary but older, she had a brown hair in a bun, and was dressed in all white.

Mr. Peterson was a tall man, with gray and white hair, and dressed like a sea captain.

"Mother Father!" Mary called from the dock.

"I see you've come to join us on our trip today Mary," said Mrs. Peterson.

"Who's your friend there?" said Mr. Peterson.

"This is Micky, and father he found your hat," said Mary.

"Come on broad you two."

Micky and Mary got on the boat, and Micky handed the hat to Mr. Peterson.

"Here you are sir," he said.

"Thank you young man, and please call me Raymond or Ray," said Mr. Peterson.

"And I'm Jillian or Jill for short," Mrs. Peterson said extending her hand to Micky.

He shook it.

"Micky has a boat here at this pier.

"Really, mind if we have a look?" asked Ray.

Micky hesitated for a minute.

"I..I would if I could, but I can't.” He answered.

"Why's that?" asked Jill.

"Because..uh, it's not ready," Micky said.

"Ready?" Mary wondered.

"Yes, you see, I'm repairing it, and it won't be ready for quite sometime."

"Why not say with us for awhile then?" said Ray.

"Oh, no I couldn't."

"Don't be silly, in fact we were going out to see anyway," said Jill.

Micky thought for a few minutes, he was thinking about going back to the pad, but then, he may get into a another fight with the guys, and he did wanted to spend sometime with Mary.

"OK, I will. Thank you," he said.

"Splendid!" Said Ray.

Peter and Davy sat around the living room, watching the noon news, waiting for Micky to return. Mike, trying to forget how he had snapped at Micky, had gone outside to give the Monkeemobile a tune-up. When he was done, he walked back inside the pad, wiping his hands, and saw Peter and Davy hadn't moved since he went outside-and no Micky. He flopped down on the couch.

"I see Micky hasn't returned yet." Mike said.

"We should look for him." Peter replied, "He's probably cooled down by now."

"We've all cooled down." Davy remarked sadly, looking down at the floor. "I have a big mouth."

"Not as big as mine, Davy." Mike answered, climbing to his feet, "Let me wash up and we'll go out and look for him."

Just then the TV announcer said: "It seems the man who calls himself Black Jack Shelack has struck again. This time he and his crew attacked a small cargo ship yesterday and made off with several thousand dollars worth of merchandise. They got away before the coast guard could arrive. An intensive search for this modern day pirate turned up nothing. Fortunately the crew was not harmed but frightened ship owners are demanding that the U.S. Navy step in to stop the piracy."

Davy smirked. "Still haven't caught that blighter." He shook his head.

"Modern day pirate. What next?" Mike asked, rolling his eyes as he walked past the TV.

"I hope they catch him." Peter said quietly. He shut off the TV. "He's done a lot of bad things."

Mike washed up and changed his shirt, then the three Monkees walked out of the pad through the back door. Standing on the back porch, they looked around for their friend, but didn't see Micky anywhere. About a mile away, they could just make out the marina, the piers and all the ships. Peter picked the binoculars up off the railing and scanned back and forth.

"Anything, Pete?" Mike asked.

"No, nothing." Pete said sadly, "I hope he's OK."

"He'll be fine. He's a big boy." Mike replied. "You wanna walk to the marina, while Davy and I go over to the barrier?"

"Sure." Peter replied, "I'll take the binoculars to help me look."

"All right, let’s go. If we don't see Micky we'll join you at the marina."

The three Monkees walked down the back steps and onto the beach. Peter went to the right, while Mike and Davy went left. They slowly combed the beach calling Micky's name, but there was no answer. Peter climbed onto some rocks that he and the others sat on sometimes to have some privacy, but Micky wasn't

there either. He used the binoculars again. He could see the ships at the pier much better now, but once again, failed to spot Micky. Peter climbed down and continued to the pier.

Mike and Davy made it over to the stone barrier which kept the ocean from eroding the beach too much. Despite asking several people, nobody matching Micky's description had gone past.

"Man, where could he have gone?" Mike wondered, taking off his green wool hat and scratching his head, "The beach is too rocky from here on out for him to walk."

"I dunno, Mike." Davy answered, "It's possible he walked up to the road and went to a friend's house."

"True." Mike nodded, "But let’s see if Pete had any luck."

The two men turned around and started back the way they had come. When they got back to the pad, Davy ran up to see if Micky had come back. Davy returned a minute later, shaking his head. He and Mike continued on.

Micky joined the Petersons for coffee in the den of their boat. Ray Peterson looked at Micky. He wanted to see what kind of person his only child had brought with her. Micky certainly seemed to have some money, wearing an expensive sports coat and all, but Ray wanted to see if Micky was on the level.

"So, Micky, what do you do for a living?" Ray asked.

Micky took a sip of his coffee so he could delay his answer.

"Well...I deal in musical instruments." Micky replied. "My specialty is in drums."

"Oh, manufacturing?" Jill inquired.

"Ah, yes. Quite." Micky replied, still keeping his posh accent.

"Odd." Mary remarked, "An ex-boyfriend of mine worked in a music store. I used to go there a lot, but I never saw a set of Dolenz drums."

"My company makes only drum skins." Micky said, thinking quickly, "And the name is hidden on the back of the skin, inside the drum."

"Oh I see." Mary replied.

Mary's parents nodded, but Ray was starting to become suspicious. Micky quickly changed the subject. "So, Ray, Where do you work?" He asked.

Ray smiled. "I work at the Peterson Chemical company. I'm its founder and president."

Micky almost said 'groovy' but instead said, "Oh, that's very nice." He looked around.

"What are you looking for, Micky?" Mary asked.

"Um...where's the crew for this ship?" Micky replied.

"I really don't need one, Micky." Ray said, "You see, this boat is almost totally automated. With just the push of a few buttons, I can control where she goes."

"We just bought this boat." Jill continued, "And today we're going to take it for a test cruise, to see what it can really do."

"Fortunately, I didn't have any college courses today, so I could join my parents." Mary said.

"Let’s go up to the wheel house and I'll show you the controls."

The four got up and went topside. As they climbed up, Micky smiled at Mary and took her hand. She didn't pull it away.

Peter stood at the beginning of the marina, looking down the long pier at all the boats. Many of them were large and very expensive. Peter shook his head. Micky certainly wouldn't be among the people who owned these floating palaces. He started on his way back, only to see Mike and Davy coming towards him. He ran over to meet them.

"Any luck?" Peter asked hopefully.

"None." Davy replied, "How 'bout you?"

"No, nothing. I don't think Micky would come here anyway. Too rich." Peter said.

"Well, since we came all this way, let’s look around." Mike said. The three men walked down the pier, occasionally shouting Micky's name.

The object of their search, plus the Petersons, was standing in the wheel house of their boat. Micky was amazed at how the computer would tell the rudder to move to port or starboard and move the gears that pulled the huge sail up and down.

"Amazing!" Micky exclaimed, still speaking in his posh accent. He wished he could talk normally again, but didn’t want to let on he was just a poor drummer.

"Yes, it is." Ray smiled, "The tide is going out now, so let’s get sailing! Mary and Micky, would you two undo the ropes holding us to the dock, while I pull up the anchor?"

"Sure, father, we'd be glad to!" Mary said. She and Micky left the wheel house, still holding hands.

"Micky seems like a nice boy." Jill said to her husband.

"Yes, but his story about the drum skins seems fake to me somehow." Ray replied.

"We'll let Mary sort it out on her own, she's a smart girl." Jill said, smiling.

"True, but I don't want her being hurt." Ray said.

Mike, Peter and Davy continued to walk down the pier, calling Micky's name.

"MICKY!" Davy yelled.

"I say, what's all the racket?!" An English gentleman in a dark suit demanded from the deck of a large cabin cruiser.

"Sorry, Guv'nor." Davy replied, putting a cockney accent, "But 'ave you seen a young man with brown curly hair and wearing a navy blue sports coat come by here?"

"Why yes, I have. He and a young lady went down this pier here not too long ago." The Englishman replied, pointing to his left, "Can't forget someone with such a frightful head of hair."

"Thank you, sir!" Davy replied happily, "We'll be quiet now. Cheerio!"

With that, Davy, Mike and Peter tore off down the pier the man had indicated.

Towards the end of the pier, Peter spied Micky and Mary untying the rope connecting the boat to the pier.

"There he is! Micky!" Peter shouted. He ran over to Micky as he was helping Mary back onto the boat. She went back inside and he was about to follow when he heard footsteps. He looked up to see his friends running towards him. Micky groaned to himself. His friends were going to blow his cover! Just when he was going to get a chance to spend time with Mary! Micky didn't know either if the guys were still angry with him yet. He thought fast.

"What do you want?" Micky demanded haughtily before any of his friends could speak. "Do I know you three? Ah, you must be part of the crew fixing my boat!"

Mike, Peter and Davy looked at each other, puzzled.

"Your boat?" Mike asked, "What are you...?"

"What I'm saying is that I'll be back in a few hours after I have gone on a trip."

Micky replied, laying the posh accent on thick, "Until then make yourselves useful by scrubbing the decks with toothbrushes until I return. Goodbye." Micky sniffed and turned away.

"Now hold on there..." Mike said, getting angry, not knowing Micky was putting on an act in case Mary overheard.

"How dare you talk to me like that!" Micky yelled, "The three of you are fired! Now be gone!" He went into the boat.

"But...but..." Peter sputtered, but Micky was already gone, and the boat was starting to leave the dock. Soon, the sails came down and the boat glided away.

Davy watched the boat sail away and noted her name "Peterson's Pride".

Mike stormed back down the pier, forcing the other two to run to catch up.

"Mike, slow down!" Davy called out. Mike slowed down a little.

"I can't believe he'd talk to us like that!" Mike fumed. "I can't believe he's still mad!"

Peter began to cry again. Davy patted Peter on the back. "There must be some reason he brushed us off." he said sadly.

"Because he's a no-good back stabber!" Mike said angrily. "Lets go back to the pad and await his lordship's return."

"What was the commotion outside?" Mary asked Micky.

"Oh, just some guys I think are working on my boat, trying to bother me. They're harmless." Micky replied.

"Want to go to the observation deck?" Mary asked with a smile. "It has a wonderful view."

"Sure." Micky replied, looking warmly at Mary, "I enjoy wonderful views."

Mary took his hand and led him away.

As the Peterson's Pride sailed on, little did Mary and Micky realize their boat was being observed too.

By Black Jack Shelack.

As the guys were leaving the dock, Peter was still sniffing.

"It's all right Peter, don't cry," Mike said trying to comfort his friend.

"I can't believe Micky just acted like that, I though we were his friends," said Peter.

"Looks like he's got another group of friends," Davy said in a angry tone of voice.

"So what are we gonna do?"

"I'm not sure old buddy," said Mike.

"Is Micky gonna get fired," asked Davy.

"If he doesn't quit the band first."

"If he does, can I have his room?" asked Peter, who was feeling a bit better.

"We'll see," said Mike.

The three then began to laugh, and forgot about what happened for a minute.

Just then, someone approached the guys. It was a tall, thin man with a long black beard. He was dressed in black pants, and white ruffled shirt, and a red coat. On his head was a black hat.

"Excuse me there gentlemen, I couldn’t help overhearing, but did you say your friend just shoved you off," said the man.

"Why yes," said Mike.

"Well, I just saw him pull out with a group of people on a boat heading north,

and a nice boat I might add as well."

The guys couldn't believe that Micky dumped his true friends for who they thought were rich snobs.

Mike just took a deep breath and sighed it out.

"Come on fellas, let's get back to pad," he said.

The Monkees headed back to the Monkeemobile.

"Say I was wondering, if we fire Micky or if he quits, which ever happens first, what are we gonna do about gigs?" wondered Peter.

"Yeah, who ever heard of The Monkees without a drummer?" said Davy.

The strange man stopped them once again.

"Excuse me again young men, did you say you were looking for work?" he asked.

"Why yes." said Mike.

"You know, I'm looking for a crew to work on my ship. It's only part-time, but work is work."

"You know he's right," said Davy.

"What do you think Mike?" asked Peter.

Mike thought for a minute or two, before he gave answer.

"OK, we'll take the job," he said.

"Grrrrrrrreat, you can start right now," said the man.

"Thank you sir," said Peter.

"Come, let me show you to the boat.

"By the way, what is your name?" asked Davy.

"Jack, Captain Jack S."

Jack then lead the Monkees to where he kept his boat.

However, little did the Monkees know that the captain of the boat was really Black Jack Shelack.

Meanwhile on the Peterson‘s Pride, Micky was supposed to be having fun, however, something was bothering him. He stood on the boat's side, holding onto the rail, looking over the water. Mary came to join him.

"You all right there, Micky," she asked him.

Micky snapped out of his trance.

"Oh, I'm OK Mary, thank you for asking," he said with a smile.

"Are you sure, you seem like something is bothering you."

"Actually, something is, you see…"

He was interrupted by Mary's father, who was in the control room.

"Micky, can you come here for a moment, I like a word with you." said Ray.

"Coming sir, excuse me for a minute Mary," said Micky, heading to see what Ray needed. Now it was Mary's turn to stare out into the water. Just then, her mother came over.

"Are you having fun dear?" Jill asked.

"Yes mother, but there's just something about Micky that I just can't put my finger on what it is," Mary said.

"Don't feel bad, I felt the same way about your father when I met him."

"Like Mother like daughter."

The two laughed.

Mike, Peter and Davy follow Captain Jack back to his ship docked on the other side of the marina. When they arrived, the three men were shocked by what they saw. The boat looked like something straight out of a museum! It was a large, wooden, three masted sailing ship, but without cannons. On closer inspection, it really was steel painted to look like wood. The deck was all steel and had several objects in boxes on the deck.

"Here we are gentlemen!" Captain Jack said proudly, my ship the Scavenger!"

"Wow." Was all the three Monkees could say. They stepped up onto the rolling deck...and Mike immediately started to become seasick. He swayed back and forth,

much to the delight of the other crew members gathered around. Davy and Peter helped Mike sit down. They knew Mike had no love of boats, but this was the fastest he ever got sick!

Peter looked around the boat, and became uneasy. Something didn't seem right. He also looked at the hard, unsmiling faces around him, and began to wonder if taking this job was a good idea in the first place. Peter looked over at Davy, and could see he was thinking the same thing. Captain Jack walked over to the three men.

"What's wrong wit' him?" He said, pointing down at Mike.

"He's seasick, Captain." Davy answered.

"What good is a man on a boat if he gets sick while the boat is at the dock?" Captain Jack demanded. "You're fired, boy!" He snapped at Mike. "You two can stay on." He finished.

"No, sir." Davy replied, "All for one and one for all. If he can't stay than neither can we."

Davy and Peter picked Mike up and carried him off the boat.

"Sorry Captain Jack Sir." Peter said quietly.

"Be gone wit' ya!" The captain snarled.

Once Mike was off the rolling deck of the boat, he started to feel much better.

As the three Monkees watched, the Bounty started to sail away, with Captain Jack at the helm. In a short time, the boat was out of sight.

What the three Monkees didn't know however, was that the boat was just for show. As soon as the coast was clear, everybody went below decks, the sails folded up, and the boat began to sink into the sea, just like a submarine! That was how Black Jack Shelack was able to avoid the Coast Guard all the time.

After they robbed a ship, it would disappear under the waves.

Mike looked over at his two friends.

"Not a good day is it, guys?" He smiled sadly, "First, Micky runs out on us, and then I get us fired from a job."

"Its OK, Mike." Peter said. "That boat gave me the creeps."

"Remember the last time we took a job on a ship?" Davy asked, "It turned out the captain was a pirate."

Mike thought a moment. "Yeah, something wasn't right about Captain Jack. Well, lets go back to the pad."

The three men slowly began to walk home.

Back on the pirate submarine, the first mate walked over to Captain Shelack.

"You think those boys got suspicious of us sir?" He asked.

"Doesn't matter." Black Jack replied. He looked at the man working the sonar.

"Full speed ahead to that ship I was watching earlier, the big expensive one, the Peterson's Pride."

"Aye, aye. Capt.'". The man replied.

"Make sure you go ahead of it, then launch the decoy. I wanna take them by surprise, since that boat might have security devices."

"Aye, sir."

Captain Shelack smiled evilly. If who he thought was on that boat, he'd get a very nice ransom.

Micky walked into the control room.

"You wanted to see me, Ray?" He asked, getting nervous.

"Yes, Micky. I want the truth. Are you really in charge of Dolenz Drum skins? I've known lots of companies, but I've never heard of yours."

Micky swallowed. He decided to tell the truth. He'd had enough of lying and fighting for one day.

"Well, Ray..." Micky began, but was interrupted by the alarm from the radar. The two men looked at it.

"It seems there is a small fishing boat drifting in our path." Ray said. He pushed a button and brought the boat to a halt. Walking out onto the deck, he brought his binoculars up to his face. Micky, Mary and Jill joined him.

"Why did we stop Ray?" Jill asked.

"There's a boat in our path, in fact, there's two men waving their arms. They must be in trouble.

"Be careful its not Black Jack Shelack." Mary warned.

"It looked like a small boat, Mary." Micky said, "Shelack owns a large pirate boat."

Ray went inside and brought the boat next to the fishing boat.

"Ahoy there!" Ray called out as he walked down to the lower deck. "What's the trouble?" Micky, Mary and Jill followed him down.

"Oh thanks for stopping!" One of the men said. "Our sail is gone, and we've no way to get home."

Just then, the fishing boat started to rise out of the water. To the complete shock of those aboard the Peterson's Pride, the fishing boat was being raised up by a submarine! As the top part came out of the water, several men with rifles charged onto the deck, and aimed them at the four. Mary screamed. Micky wanted to scream himself, but simply hugged Mary tight.

"Put your hands up!" One of the men with guns ordered.

Micky, Mary, Jill and Ray silently obeyed. The surprise had been complete. Ray's new boat had lots of anti-piracy equipment on it, but now it wouldn't be used. Ray didn't even have a chance to even operate the emergency signal device.

Black Jack walked out on deck.

"Hello, there!" He called over happily, "Consider yourselves guests of Black Jack Shelack!"

"How dare you!" Ray yelled. "Do you know who I am?

Everybody on the pirate ship just laughed

"Of course we do, that's why you're gonna make us very, very rich!"

The pirates came on board by a gangplank and tied Micky, Mary, Jill and Ray's hands in front of them. They were then forced onto the pirate boat, and made to stand in front of the pirate captain. Black Jack gave Micky the evil eye.

"And who might you be?" Black Jack snarled.

Micky was so scared he could hardly speak, but Mary spoke up for him.

"He's George Michael Dolenz the Second, owner of Dolenz instruments." She said proudly. Micky nodded.

"Yeah, that's right." He said, "What do you want with us?"

"Simple, George Michael Dolenz, I want ransom! Untie Mr. Peterson here." One of the pirates obeyed. "You, Mr. Peterson are going to go back and get me one million dollars or you'll never see your wife and daughter again." He looked over at Micky, drew his knife and cut off a lock of Micky's hair. Black Jack handed Ray the hair and a small gold coin. "That's in case no one believes that I've got your family. Its my calling card. And tell Mr. Dolenz's friends I want a nice quarter million for him."

"I won't leave my wife and daughter!" Ray said angrily.

"Who said you had a choice?" Black jack sneered, "Put him in the decoy sailboat and set him off!" He ordered.

The pirates started to dragged Ray away.

"NO! FATHER!" Mary cried, she tried to run to her father but was held back by the pirates. Ray was put on the sailboat and set adrift. Black Jack called down to him.

"You can use the sail, Mr. Peterson, it's in perfectly good condition! HAHA!"

Micky was in total shock. Not even in three lifetimes could his friends get enough money to ransom him-that is, if they even wanted to. He was really sorry he had put on airs to fool Mary. Now things were getting worse.

Micky, Mary and Jill were forced down into the pirate boat. While the others pirates took charge of Ray's boat, the pirate boat sank back down into the sea. Boat and sub made their way to Black Jack's hideout. Micky wondered if he'd ever see Mike, Peter and Davy again. He truly regretted how he had treated them, and now he might never get the chance to apologize.

Mike, Peter and Davy waited and waited for Micky to come back to the pad. But soon it became dusk, and then nightfall, and still no sign of their friend. Their anger at Micky slowly turned to worry. He said he'd only be gone a few hours!

Mike looked at the clock as it stuck midnight.

"C'mon, Mick, where are you?" He said softly.

"Maybe he stayed overnight on that boat." Davy said, "It looked big enough."

"Or he's having such a good time; he doesn't want to come home!" Peter exclaimed.

"Let's get to bed, and hope Micky shows up in the mornin'." Mike said. He and the other two Monkees reluctantly went into their bedrooms and tried to sleep.

After the pirate boat/sub was well underway, Black Jack's 'guests' were searched, their hands untied, and put into separate cabins. Micky's wallet was taken from him and he was put in one cabin, while Jill and Mary were put in another. After awhile, Black Jack visited Jill and Mary. They were sitting on a bunk bed holding hands and looked up defiantly as the pirate walked in.

"You won't get away with this, you scoundrel!" Mary spat.

Black Jack gave a hearty laugh. "If I had a dollar for every time I heard that phrase, I'd be the world's richest man!" He sat down on a chair opposite the two women.

"I wouldn't worry, though, if I know Ray, he'll have the money in a day or two. I've sent instructions on how to deliver the money in a packet on the boat I sent him off in."

Jill looked puzzled. "You know my husband?"

"I should. He was my first mate when we were on a Navy sub, this very sub in fact, during World War Two." Black Jack said smugly.

"I don't believe my father used to work with you!" Mary said.

"Times change, my dear girl." Black Jack replied smoothly. "After the war, I asked him to join my little crew, but he refused." He shook his head. "Ray tried to turn me in to the authorities, but I had already moved on.

"So this isn't just about money, but revenge too." Jill said flatly.

Black Jack thought for a moment. "Well, partly. I mean, its been over twenty years. Still, I'll get some satisfaction of taking away all the money he's legally acquired over the years!" The pirate laughed at his own joke, then turned serious once again. He asked them how they met Micky, and Mary told him she met him on the beach and invited him aboard. Black Jack simply nodded his head.

"Anyway, the main reason I came here is to tell you that once we get to my hideout, you will be free to move about, unless you try to escape." He said.

"What about Micky?" Mary asked.

"Oh, its 'Micky' now, eh?" The pirate smiled. "Don't worry, my dear, the same will go for him too. I'm going to see him now, in fact, I still have some questions for him."

With that, he left the cabin, locking the door behind him. Mary and Jill looked at each other, wondering what sort of questions Black Jack would ask Micky.

Micky sat on the edge of his bunk bed with his head in his hands. How did he get himself into such a mess? First, he blew off his three best friends in order to be 'rich' for awhile, now being 'rich' was going to cost him his life! There was no way his friends, family and his friends' families could come up with $250,000!

Micky kept reminding himself to speak with a posh accent all the time, to try to keep the charade going, at least until Black Jack finds out the truth. And what would happen when Black Jack DID find out he was an impostor, a penniless drummer in a rock band? Micky closed his eyes to shut out that thought.

Suddenly, the door to his cabin opened and none other than Black Jack Shelack strode in and sat down on the chair next to Micky's bunk.

"Well, now...Micky..." Black Jack said, "How are you?"

"I've been better." Micky replied truthfully.

Black Jack roared with laughter. "I like that! Honesty! Something I don't get too much from my prisoners!" He leaned closer to Micky. "Lets keep the honesty going, shall we?"

Micky nodded, managing to look the pirate in the eye.

Black Jack questioned Micky on where he lived, what he did for a living, and how he ended up on Peterson's boat. Micky told him he lived in a beach house with a few other guys who kept the house for him and drove him around. (shades of the story Davy told his Grandfather when he came for a visit!)

Micky told Black Jack he met Mary on the beach and was invited for a cruise.

"There were three men looking for you on the pier after you had left." Black Jack asked, "Two tall ones and a short English fellow. Were those your servants?"

"Yeah, they're really quite nice fellows." Micky replied.

"Then why did they accept a job with me?" Black Jack asked with a smile.

"A..accept a job..with you?" Micky stammered. Were his friends on the boat with him?

"Yes, they said they needed a job so I invited them over to where my 'boat' was docked."

"Well, I had just fired them for...being lazy. They had come over to plead for another chance."

"I thought you just said they were quite nice fellows?" Black Jack asked suspiciously.

"They are!" Micky said quickly, "But quite lazy at times too! Oh yes!" He began to sweat.

Black Jack looked at Micky for what seemed like an eternity before he spoke. "I hope you are who say you are, Micky." The pirate said with an edge to his voice. "I don't like being made a fool of."

"You'll get what's coming to you." Micky said slowly. Both of them understood the double meaning to those words. Black Jack slowly stood up and towered over Micky.

"By the way, your servants backed out when the tall one with the green wool hat got sea-sick while we were still docked. And when we get to my hide-out, you can move about, but DON'T try to escape-or else!" The pirate snarled, then left the cabin, making sure to lock the door behind him.

Micky fell back on his bunk, too terrified to even cry. He knew it was going to take a miracle to survive this.

The morning sun shone into the Monkees' pad. Mike, Peter and Davy climbed out of their beds, hoping Micky would be back. But a quick look around, showed their friend was still missing. The three men quickly dressed, ate a few bites of cereal, and headed back down to the marina. They hoped the Peterson's Pride had docked and Micky was still aboard.

But though they searched every inch of the dock, the boat they were looking for wasn't there. Mike went to the harbormaster's office to ask about the Peterson's Pride.

"That boat should've come back yesterday, Mr. Nesmith." The man told him, "Very unusual. Mr. Peterson would've radioed us if he was delayed."

Mike thanked the man and headed back outside. He met up with Davy and Peter and the three went back to the pad. It was now noon and while Mike made sandwiches, Davy and Peter watched the noon news. Mike handed his friends their food and sat down with them. After a few minutes, the announcer was handed a piece of paper. He cleared his throat.

"This just in. The Coast Guard this morning picked up millionaire Ray Peterson as he was sailing back to the mainland in a small fishing boat. Mr. Peterson alleges that his boat, the Peterson's Pride, was hijacked by Black Jack Shelack and his wife and daughter were taken captive. A one million-dollar ransom has been demanded for their safe return. Sources say another person was also captured aboard the ship, but Coast Guard officials would neither confirm or deny the story.

Mike and Davy shot to their feet, their sandwiches falling to the floor.

"MICKY!" They screamed at the TV. The reason Peter didn't join them in screaming is because he went into a dead faint on hearing the news.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no." Mike breathed, grabbing Davy's arm. "Black Jack Shelack has Micky!"

"But...but..." Davy stammered, "Micky doesn't have any money! Why did the pirates capture him?"

"Remember the posh accent he put on when we last saw him?" Mike replied, "Black Jack must think Micky's rich!"

"And if he finds out Micky's poor...." Davy let the sentence hang. There was no need to finish it. He put his head in his hands. "Poor Micky. I was so rotten to him..."

"Lets get Peter awake and head down to the Coast Guard office at the marina.

"We gotta help them rescue Micky!"

With that, they shook Peter awake. He began to cry for his friend, but quickly got to his feet and joined his friends as they ran down the beach, through the marina and over to the Coast Guard office. Three panting, exhausted Men staggered into the reception area. The receptionist looked them over with a frown on her face.

"May I help you gentlemen?" She asked stiffly.

"We...we gotta see the man in charge." Davy panted, "We have info on the Peterson kidnapping. Our friend was kidnapped with them too!"

"I'll see if the admiral will talk to you." The receptionist replied. She picked up her phone and quietly spoke into it. After a few seconds, she put the phone down.

"The admiral will see you. It's the second door on the left." She pushed a button and the door behind her clicked open. The three Monkees thanked her and went inside. They went over to the second door on the left and Mike knocked on the door.

"Come in!" A male voice answered. The men did so. They found a man in his fifties in a Coast Guard uniform was sitting behind a desk. Opposite him was a man about the same age in a captain's uniform. The sign on the desk read, 'Adm. Mike Halsey'. The Admiral stood up.

"Please sit down, gentlemen, and tell me your names and what you know about the kidnapping."

Mike, Peter and Davy told the admiral their names. Halsey nodded.

"This is Mr. Ray Peterson, the owner of the boat." Ray wearily nodded hello to the three men. Halsey motioned for them to continue.

"Well, Admiral,” Mike said, “We think our friend Micky Dolenz was the other passenger on Mr. Peterson's boat.”

"Can you describe him?" Halsey asked.

"He's tall and he has very curly brown hair." Peter said.

Halsey looked over at Ray. "Is that true, Mr. Peterson?" He asked.

"Yes, that's right, Micky did have curly hair."

"I'm sorry I had to ask, gentlemen, but we needed to be sure." Halsey said quietly. He then pulled an item out of his desk drawer. It was a lock of curly hair inside a plastic bag. Halsey laid it on the desk.

"Is this Micky's hair?" He asked.

Davy leaned over and after a second nodded yes.

"Don't worry, Davy." Ray said. "Micky was alive and unharmed when Black Jack cut that off his head."

The three Monkees nodded with relief. Peter saw a small gold coin on Halsey's desk.

"What's that?" He asked curiously.

"Black Jack's calling card." Halsey replied handing it to Peter. "He gives these away to prove he was up to no good."

Peter looked at the coin closely. One side of the gold-painted coin had Black Jack's face on it, the obverse had a skull and bones design. With a shock, Peter recognized the face.

"We saw this guy last night right here at the marina!" He exclaimed, "We were almost hired to be part of his crew!"

Mike and Davy looked at the coin too. Mike sat back, thinking how close they were to being part of a pirate gang. Peter handed the coin back to a shocked Halsey.

"Shelack was here?" He asked, "He's getting bold, that's for sure."

"I'm glad you boys came down here." Ray said in the silence, "Neither of us could locate Dolenz Instruments Company anywhere. We didn't know where to send the ransom demand."

"Dolenz Instruments?" Mike replied, puzzled, "Ransom? What are you talking about?"

"Micky told me he was the owner of Dolenz instruments, specializing in

drum skins." Ray answered. "Black Jack found out and wants $250,000 for his safe return."

Mike, Peter and Davy looked at Ray in total, complete, shock. There was no way they could ever get that kind of money! Finally, Peter broke the heavy silence.

"Micky doesn't have that much money, Mr. Peterson." He said quietly. "In fact, between the four of us, we're lucky we have $250."

"Micky is a drummer in our band, the Monkees." Davy said slowly. "There isn’t a 'Dolenz Instruments'.

Another long silence followed Davy's statement. A very long one. Ray stood up and faced the three men.

"So your friend lied to me and my family." He said angrily, "he lied to my daughter! What do you think Black Jack will do to my wife and daughter if he thinks they were in on the lie?!"

"He won't harm them, Ray." Halsey said, "He's never hurt a hostage yet. Its Micky that will be in big trouble."

"So what now?" Peter asked, trying to change the subject.

"I'm going to do what I should've done before." Halsey replied, I'm calling in the Navy to help us look for Black Jack."

"And I'm going to call my banker to sell off my assets to get the money. I just hope I'll have enough. May I have the coin?"

"Of course." Halsey said, handing it to him, "But wait, Ray. Let us search first." Halsey pleaded.

"NO!" Ray shouted, "I won't have my family in that scoundrel's clutches a second longer than I have to!" With that he stormed out of the room. Halsey sighed.

"What about Micky?" Mike asked, "There's gotta be something you can do!"

"We're going to keep searching for Black Jack, that's all we can do." Halsey said sadly, then added. "And hope he doesn't discover Micky's secret."

"Thanks, Admiral." Peter said softly. He and Mike and Davy left the room and went outside. They saw Peterson starting to walk down the pier and caught up to him.

"Mr. Peterson, wait!" Davy cried. Ray stopped.

"What do you boys want?" He asked angrily.

"We're sorry for Micky lying to you." Mike said, "Micky really is a nice fella, wild at times, but nice. He probably lied to your daughter to impress her."

Ray snorted and started down the pier once again. The three stopped him.

"Now what?" He demanded.

"Well....Peter hesitated a moment, then plunged on. "Can you pay Micky's ransom too? I mean, we'll do anything we can to repay you..."

Ray gave a nasty laugh. "Didn't you hear me in the Admiral's office?" He asked. "I'm lucky I'll have enough to pay my family's ransom, let alone Micky's....and even if I did, I'm not sure that I'd want too!" He turned on his heel and strode away. Ray didn't get too far when he heard the sound of crying behind him. He turned to see Mike, Peter and Davy sitting on a nearby bench crying their eyes out. Ray had learned in his business dealings not to let his heart rule his head, but seeing Micky's friends crying like babies broke his heart. It was obvious Micky was very dear to them for them to cry like they were. Jill and Mary were very dear to him too. Ray walked back over to the men.

The three Monkees were crying so hard, they didn't even hear or see Ray come back over to them. They were so upset that their friend was gone and there was no way they could get him back. Mike was startled to feel a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Ray smiling down at him.

"You boys really love Micky, don't you?"

The three Monkees could only nod their heads.

"Come on back to my house." Ray said quietly, "Maybe we can work something out."

Instantly the dark mood lifted and the three Monkees hugged and kissed Ray.

They then followed him to his car.

"How are you two holding up?" Micky asked Mary and Jill as they ate breakfast in the small dining room of Black Jack's hide-out.

"We're OK." Mary replied, taking Micky's hand, "And you."

"The room service stinks, but at least the food is decent."

The three laughed at Micky's joke. They each had their own small room, which they had been locked into last night. So far, they had been well treated, but Micky knew it wouldn't last for him if Black Jack knew who he really was.

Breakfast was soon finished, and the three set out for a walk.

The three Monkees and Ray sat at Ray's dining room table eating cheese and crackers. Peter kept looking at the coin Black Jack gave Ray.

"Will you put that down, Pete." Mike admonished, "You're gonna drop it."

"No I won't Mike..." Peter began, and promptly dropped the coin on the floor. It hit the marble floor with a crack and rolled away. Peter got up and retrieved it. Davy took it away from him.

"Now look what you've done, Peter." Davy chided, "You've chipped part of the gold paint off." Davy stopped and looked intently at the coin again. "Hello, what's this?" He said suddenly, "There's something underneath the skull and crossbones design."

"Let me see." Ray said. Davy handed him the coin. Ray took his knife and scrapped off more of the gold paint. After several seconds he read what was underneath.

"Good for one ride on the Ferris wheel. Happy Land Amusement Park."

"Never heard of it." Mike said.

"Happy Land was on an island not too far off the coast from here. It was closed down during World War Two and never reopened."

"Why would Shelack use an old ride token?" Peter asked.

"Why use something good as a calling card? Shelack must have a lot of these." Ray answered.

"Maybe its a clue!" Davy exclaimed, "Maybe that's Black Jack's hideout!"

"You could be right, Davy." Mike said, "Lets get Admiral Halsey to look over the place."

"No, Shelack said in his instruction packet not to have the Coast Guard or Navy snooping around."

"Then we'll go ourselves!" Peter exclaimed, "Um...how do we get there?"

"I have a small sailboat you three could use, and some disguises to wear. He might recognize you."

Since it was getting dark the trip had to wait until the next day. The three men stayed at Ray's house that night, getting little sleep. The next morning, the three Monkees and Ray hooked up the small boat to Ray’s car, but not before opening a secret compartment in the keel at he bottom of the boat.

"Here's a transmitter. Just push this button on the side of the boat and it will come on." Ray shut the compartment. Soon after getting their disguises on, the four went down to the dock and lowered the boat into the water.

"Good luck, boys!" Ray said warmly. He pushed a box into Mike's hands. "Its sea-sickness pills. They should work for you." Mike had told Ray about his

sea-sickness. Armed with a map, the three Monkees sailed off, hoping Micky was still alive.

Soon enough, Happy Land came into view. The sight was far from happy. The rides were all rusty and the ground all covered in weeds. They finally found a place to land...and were quickly surrounded by pirates. But Mike, Peter and Davy were disguised as pirates, complete with fake mustaches. The pirates pushed the three men up to the top of the hill, where there was a grove of palm trees. Black Jack Shelack waited for them.

"And who might you three be?" Shelack demanded angrily.

"I'm Black Jack Jones." Davy said in a gruff voice, "Scourge of the English Channel."

"I'm Tork the Terrible." Peter growled, Scourge of the Hudson River."

"And I'm One-Eyed Nez." Mike said with a thick Texas twang, pointing to his eye patch, "Scourge of the Rio Grande. We've come to join your pirate group."

Just then, Micky, Mary and Jill walked over from their morning walk. Mike, Peter and Davy were relieved to see Micky and the others alive, but still kept their cool. If Micky recognized them, he didn't let it show.

"So you want to join us eh?" Shelack sneered, "Let's see one of you face one of my men in a little swordplay."

Mike found himself pushed to the front facing a young man with a very sharp sword. He pulled out his own sword, but it was a plastic prop. "I seemed to have left my good sword at home, can I borrow one?" Mike asked.

Mike was given a real one. He swung it clumsily. Just as the swordplay was about to begin, Peter sneezed-and his mustache fell off. He tried to put it back on, but it was too late. Micky gasped as he recognized Peter. Black Jack pulled Mike's mustache off too. Davy's was pulled off as well.

"I thought I recognized you three! You were at my boat a few days ago!" Black Jack cried, "Tried to fool Black Jack Shelack, eh?” He turned to his men. “Tie them to the trees and give them each six lashes!”

Micky was horrified that his friends had been discovered and now faced torture.

He ran over to the pirate.

"NO WAIT! PLEASE!" Micky pleaded, "Don't hurt them!"

Black Jack turned slowly to Micky. "Why not? They're just your servants aren't they? And what happened to your accent?"

In Micky's fear, he forgot to use his posh accent. "Well, I..." Shelack pushed Micky to the ground. "You're not rich are you?" He shouted.

"No, I'm just a drummer in a band!" Micky said, getting up. The pirates grabbed his arms. "Those are my friends! I'll take their punishment, please don't hurt them!" Micky cried.

Mary now stormed over. "You lied to me!" She shouted, slapping Micky across the face. She and her mother walked away, with Mary in tears.

The pirates laughed at this. By now, Mike, Peter and Davy had been stripped to the waist and tied spread eagle between four palm trees. Black Jack called over to his men.

"Give them twelve lashes apiece. But one man at a time."

"No, please." Micky begged, but Shelack wouldn't listen. Micky was forced to watch as his friends were whipped. Mike managed to keep silent but Peter and Davy cried out. When Micky tried to look away, someone grabbed his hair and forced his head up. Finally it was over. Black Jack turned to the men holding Micky.

"Now give this liar fifteen lashes, and make sure his friends watch."

Micky was dragged over to two trees, stripped to the waist and tied like his friends. The whipping hurt terribly, but Micky managed not to cry out. He wouldn't give Black Jack the satisfaction.

Finally, the men were released and dragged to a small dark cell, their hands cuffed in front of them. Micky sat down on the floor, opposite the others, put his head in his hands and started to cry. He couldn't believe his friends had come after him after what he had said to them. They were even tortured because of him!

Peter reached over and gently pulled Micky's hands away from his face. Despite his pain, he smiled at the drummer.

"It's OK, Micky. It's gonna be OK." I hope, Peter thought.

Micky was still crying, as Peter tried to comfort him.

"It's all my fault, you guys didn't have to come, Micky wept, not after the way I acted."

"We were mad at first Mick, but after we found out what happened, we did what true friends would, pull their pal out of the fire." said Peter.

Micky's cries turned into soft whimpers.

Although Mike and Davy were still upset about how Micky blew them off earlier this week, but they were even more upset to see their friend this upset.

Davy spoke up.

"You know, we sure have had some stuff happen to us, but this is something." said Davy.

"It sure it," said Mike.

"Yeah, like that time I had the hiccups, and we had to get a cure." said Peter.

"Or when we went to the North Pole," said Davy.

"Or that time we turned Babbit into a baby," said Mike.

"I remember, you were the one who got stuck on changing duty," chuckled Davy.

Micky then smiled through his tears.

"What about the time we hid the horse from Babbit, and pretended it was Davy and me in a costume," said Peter.

Micky began to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Mike asked.

"I was just thinking, about that time we also turned Babbit into a chicken.” Micky began to chuckle, “Then we turned him into a goat."

He then he began to laugh.

"Then we turned him into a dog!"

Micky then laughed out loud. Then, it was Davy's turn to laugh. Peter then laughed. Mike was thinking of something, then he spoke up.

"Hey fellas, we've been here for sometime, and I haven't gotten seasick.”

"I guess all this worrying made us forget about other things," said Davy.

Peter then looked at Mike.

"Yeah, you're usually green in the face by now," he said.

Mike was about to say something, but instead started laughing, hard.

That made the others laugh to.

For the first time in days, the guys were like real friends, plus the laughing made them forget their problems, for awhile anyway.

The laughter was brought to an abrupt halt as the door to their cell was thrown open. Black Jack stood framed in the doorway.

"Oh, I'm glad you four think this is all so funny." He growled, "Maybe you would like more of the same? I have many more ways to make you boys laugh."

The Monkees looked down at the floor, too afraid to say anything.

"Much better." Black Jack smiled, then stepped aside. Behind him were Jill and Mary, holding bowls and cloths. "I've pressed these two ladies into nurse service. I'm sure the two of you..." Black Jack looked at Micky and Mary "will have a few things to talk about. Afterwards, we're gonna have a nice, quiet discussion on how you were able to find me, when nobody else could." He pushed Jill and Mary into the cell, locked the door behind them, then walked away. The two women were reluctant at first to do anything Black Jack told them to do, but when they saw how the Monkees had suffered, they quickly changed their minds.

Jill and Mary knelt down next to the Monkees and handed the bowls to the Monkees. The bowls were filled with water.

"Drink some water first, boys, before we use the water to wash your wounds." Jill said.

Peter took the bowl from Jill, took a long drink, and then handed it to Micky. He took a long drink too. Mary handed her bowl to Mike. After he drank deeply, he gave it to Davy, who took several swallows. Davy and Micky handed their bowls back.

"Thank you luvs." Davy smiled...then almost fell forward in a faint. Mike quickly caught Davy and pushed him upright.

"Whoa there, Davy." Mike said, concerned, "Are you OK?"

"I feel a little lightheaded..dizzy." Davy whispered, "My back hurts so much."

"He's in shock from the pain and lack of blood." Jill said. "I used to be a nurse before I married my husband."

"What can we do for him?" Mike asked.

"After we wash down your backs," Jill replied, "Put his head between his knees to try and get as much blood flow to his brain."

Jill and Mary then dipped their cloths in the water bowls and began to gently wipe the blood off the four Monkees' backs. (They were still shirtless) Even though Jill and Mary were gentle, the four men winced as the wet cloths touched the welts on their backs.

"Tell us." Mary said "How's my father?"

"He's fine, Mary <ouch>." Peter replied, "But very worried. He's going to sell everything he can to make your ransom. I'm Peter by the way."

"Pleased to meet you Peter." Mary said, softly. "Black Jack will be happy to know my father will be bankrupt in ransoming us, since he knew my father from long ago."

"Black Jack knows your Dad?" Mike asked, stifling a cry.

"Yes, from the second world war. It seems Black Jack was interested in piracy even then, and wanted my father to join him, but he refused."

Mary move over to Micky. No matter how angry she was at him for lying to her, when she saw his back, her anger evaporated. She slowly began to wash his wounds.

"Mary?" Micky said softly.

"Yes?" Mary replied quietly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I lied to you." Micky said, tears forming in his eyes once again, and not because of the pain. "I foolishly tried to be something I'm not and I hurt you."

Mary sighed. "I forgive you Micky." She said sadly, "I can't stay mad at anything right now." Her voice rose. "Not when we're all going to die!" She dropped her cloth and buried her face in her hands, sobbing.

"Neither you or your Mom are going to die, Mary." Micky soothed, wishing his hands were free so he could hug her. "Your Dad's going to make ransom. The four of us are the ones going to be killed."

"Nobody's going to die." Mike said sternly. Mike then pointed to his ear, then up into the ceiling of their cell. Everybody understood. There might be a bug in the room. Before he said anything else, though, he made sure Davy was comfortable. Then Mike started to write words in the dust on the floor. Using as few words as possible, Mike wrote that there was a transmitter in the boat they used to get here, that it was turned on, and soon the Coast Guard and Navy would be here.

Micky, Mary and Jill smiled. There was hope after all! Footsteps were heard in the hall and Mike quickly erased what he had written. The cell door was once again thrown open and Black Jack stood there.

"Done ladies?" He asked. He looked at Davy sitting with his head between his knees. "And what's wrong with him?"

"We're done, Black Jack." Jill snapped, "And Davy's in shock, thanks to you and your men."

"Aw, couldn't the 'scourge of the English Channel' take a little scourging himself?" Black Jack mocked.

"You piece of dirt!" Mike yelled, pushing himself to his feet, only to be met by Black Jack's sword at his neck.

"Watch your tongue, Tex." Black Jack hissed, "Or you'll really become 'One-Eyed Nez'."

Mike and the pirate stared at each other for several long seconds, until Black Jack was the one who had to look away. He turned to his men standing behind him.

"Escort these four 'gentlemen' to the big top." Black Jack ordered gruffly, "Its show time."

"You say they're at Happy Land?" Admiral Halsey asked Ray Peterson as he looked over Black Jack's coin, now devoid of its gold coloring. After the Three Monkees failed to radio him for several hours, Ray had gone back to Halsey's office to tell him the news.

"Yes, that's where they were going." Ray replied, handing him a piece of paper.

"That's the frequency of their transmitter. I had the transmitter installed on the boat I gave them to use many years ago, in case I became lost fishing."

"Yes, now it will come in handy." Halsey remarked. "I'll have the control room tune in to that frequency." He picked up the phone, told the control room the frequency to tune into, and then hung up.

"Now, all we can do is wait and see if anything is picked up." Halsey said. "How are you coming on the ransom money?"

"I've instructed my banker to start selling as much of my assets as possible. I'm even selling my prize BMW." Ray said quietly. "I hope to get enough money for my family and Micky as well."

"I should've know ol' Jack Shelackski would've turned pirate." Halsey said ruefully. "He was a brave man fighting in the Pacific theater during the war, but always had an eye out for the fast buck."

"Don't blame yourself, Mike." Ray said, "I served with him. I tried to report his activities, but he had already 'disappeared' with his sub, which I believe was considered 'lost'."

"Does your family know you know him?" Halsey asked.

"No, but I'm sure they do by now." Ray replied.

Just then, the phone rang. Halsey picked it up, listened for a second, and then replaced the receiver.

"They've got a signal. Let's go see where it leads us."

Ray and the Admiral left his office.

The Monkees were marched through the weed-choked paths of the abandoned amusement park that once saw happy children running down them. In the distance to their right, they could see the masts of Black Jack's boat/sub, docked in a small canal a little ways inland. When it sat among the other abandoned rides, it fit right in, that way Black Jack was able to hide his boat/sub out in plain sight.

Turning a corner, the Monkees saw what once was the centerpiece of the park: the big top. Now, however, the huge tent was tattered and torn, a shell of its former self.

As they walked closer, Davy started to fall behind, once again, feeling dizzy and sick. Mike and Peter took his arms and led him forward before the guards started to push. Their hands were still cuffed in front of them and they were still shirtless. The pirate guards led them inside the big top. In the middle were four chairs, which the pirate guards made them sit upon. Their hands were uncuffed for an instant, pulled behind them, and then re-cuffed to the backs of their chairs. Then their feet were tied together. The pirate guards stepped back as Black Jack Shelack strode in with several more pirates. They took their seats in the stands, with Black Jack sitting on a large chair in the middle of it all.

"Hello boys!" He called down, "Glad you could make it to our little talk!" The pirate gang around him laughed. When the laughter stopped, Black Jack continued.

"Well, lets get started. Oh, yeah....I would appreciate it if you didn't waste my time with lies. Otherwise, those nice gentlemen behind you might do something you'll regret."

The Monkees glanced behind them to see four pirates holding wooden clubs in their hands, with a fifth pirate heating up a coal brazier.

"We'll tell you the truth." Mike said, swallowing hard. "We have nothing to gain by lying to you."

"Splendid!" Black Jack cried. "Let's begin by telling me your names. Your real names."

Mary Peterson continued to fiddle with the lock on the door to her room. She was using a hairpin she had bent in several directions in the keyhole. Her and her Mom had been locked back into their own rooms while most of the pirates had gone to watch Black Jack interrogate the Monkees. Fortunately, the pirates had missed the small pin in her hair when she was first searched. Now, she spent the time in her room patiently working the pin back and forth in the lock. Perhaps, with just a few more twists, she could get the lock to open....

To her surprise, there was a click and the door opened a few inches. Slowly getting to her feet, Mary pushed the door open, expecting a pirate to be standing there. But all Mary saw was an empty hallway. Hardly daring to believe her luck, Mary tiptoed over to her Mom's room next door and opened the door.

Her Mom looked up in surprise.

"Mary!" Jill exclaimed. "How did you..."

Mary put her finger to her lips and showed her Mom the bent hairpin. Her Mom smiled and walked over to her daughter.

"Clever girl. Now lets get out of here!"

"Mom, we can't!" Mary replied. "We're on an island and we don't know where any boats are docked!"

"We have to try!" Mary said, "We can't let Black Jack ruin your father and kill those four boys!"

"I know that, Mom, but what makes you think he won't kill them if we're caught escaping or not? If we're put in a cell, we won't even have the small chance we have now."

Jill sighed. "You're right, honey. I wasn't thinking."

"That's OK, Mom." Mary said, giving her Mom a hug. "At least I'll be able to get out of my room whenever I want to now. That's something."

"True, Mary." Jill said. "You'd better go back to your room before a guard comes around."

Mary walked over to the door. "I think most of them are with Black Jack right now." She looked down at the floor. "I hope he doesn't hurt those boys anymore. They've been through enough."

Jill joined Mary at the door. "I know." Jill said quietly, "It looks like Micky was lashed more than the others, and those beasts didn't seem to care Davy's built slighter than the other three. That's why his welts hurt more than the others."

Mary nodded. "I'll see you later, Mom." She closed and locked the door to her Mom's room. Then she locked herself back in her own room and lay down on the lumpy bed. Putting the bent hairpin back in her hair as best she could, she closed her eyes and cried herself to sleep.

Meanwhile, under the big top, the Monkees were continuing their 'conversation' with Black Jack Shelack. So far, they had managed to avoid torture by telling Black Jack the truth. He had asked them their names, what they really did for a living, and why Micky had lied about his occupation. After giving truthful answers to all those questions, the Monkees were given a drink of water. Davy still seemed out of it yet, but still quietly had answered any questions put to him.

Black Jack glowered down at the four men, a little disappointed he couldn't torture them. Still, there were more questions yet to be answered. He got up from his seat, and came to stand in front of his seated and bound prisoners.

"So, Mike, Peter and Davy." He said, starting to pace back and forth in front of them. "Tell me how you managed to locate my hideout."

"We discovered your 'calling card' was just a painted over Happy Land ride token." Mike replied.

"Paint came right off." Davy added.

Black Jack reared back and roared in laughter. The other pirates joined him. Finally, the pirate shook his head at the three Monkees.

"No doubt that coin had been examined over and over again, and the Pacific ocean searched far and wide for me, but it took three long-haired weirdoes to figure it out!"

Black Jack once again stood in front of Mike, Peter and Davy.

"Where did you get the coin?" He asked.

"From the Coast Guard office." Mike replied. "When the news reports said Peterson's boat had been hijacked, we went down there and Admiral Halsey gave us the coin." Mike didn't tell the pirate about Ray having the coin, since

Black would figure Ray would report the finding right away.

"So they know my secret too." Black Jack stated.

"No, Captain Shelack, Sir!" Peter put in quickly. "We scrapped the paint off after we left the Coast Guard office."

Black Jack considered that statement. "But where did you three get the fishing boat? I hardly think it would belong to any of you four, being penniless musicians and all."

"We borrowed it from a friend." Davy replied, forcing his head up.

"What friend?" Black Jack demanded. "Who would lend the three of you a nice little boat like that?"

Mike, Peter and Davy looked at each other, silently willing each other not to tell him Ray knew the coin's secret.

"Was it Ray Peterson?" Black Jack yelled. "Did he send you three after his wife and daughter? Or perhaps the Coast Guard sent you to do a little spying?"

Mike, Peter and Davy stayed silent. Black Jack slapped Mike in the face. Mike spat in Black Jack's face. The pirate took a quick step back, his face dark with

rage. He looked at the men standing behind the Monkees and pointed at Mike.

"Give this one a taste of the hot poker!" Black Jack roared.

"NO! DON'T!" Davy cried out, his head swimming. "Mr. Peterson loaned us the boat, he knows about the coin, but we didn't tell the Coast Guard! I swear it!"

Exhausted by the sudden effort, Davy fainted, hanging limp in his chair held up only by his shackles.

"Davy?! Davy?!" Mike exclaimed, nudging Davy's feet with his own. "Please wake up!"

"Seems the excitement was too much for the poor boy." Black Jack mocked, "I think he needs some time at the beach. It's low tide right now I believe."

Two pirates came up, freed Davy, and carried him away.

"What are you going to do to him?" Micky asked fearfully.

"I'M going to do nothing to him." Black Jack answered, "I mean, he was truthful and all, not unlike his friend here." He pointed to Mike, "But who knows what the ocean will do at high tide? Really, though, you three should be more concerned about yourselves right now. I believe Mike has a date with a hot poker."

Mike's eyes grew wide in terror, and Peter started to cry. Micky pulled at his bonds. "You got your answers, Black Jack, why do that to Mike?"

Black Jack simply shrugged. "Because I don't like being spat in the face? Because I feel like it? Take your pick."

A pirate wearing leather gloves and holding a poker with a glowing tip came over to Mike.

"Would saying I'm sorry help?" He asked Black Jack.

The pirate just smiled evilly.

Davy woke to find himself lying on his back on the wet sand of a beach. He smiled as the cool sand dulled the pain in his back. Davy had no idea how long he had been out, but he was feeling much better than he had before. His smile quickly faded as he remembered what happened just before he fainted. He hoped Black Jack had left Mike and the others alone. Davy tried to move, but found himself immobilized. Puzzled, he looked down to see he was bound up with rope. He wondered why until he felt the water start to lap at his feet. Then he realized the tide was coming in and there he was, unable to move to higher ground.

"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" Davy yelled.

The only answer was the cry of the seagulls.

The water moved up to Davy's ankles.....

Davy struggled, but he couldn't move.

Just then, he saw something.

Davy wasn’t sure if he was seeing thing, but what he was seeing looked like a boat.

The object drew closer, it was indeed a boat.

"Take my hand!" the captain shouted extending a hand.

Davy did what he was told, and was pulled on board.

"Thank you, you save my life," said Davy. He looked up to see that it was Mr. Ray Peterson who was driving the boat.

"Ray! Am I ever glad to see you!"

"You all right there Davy?" Ray asked.

"I'm fine now, but we got to get to the island," said Davy.

"What's wrong? How are Mary and Jill?"

"I'll explain on the way."

On the way, Davy told Ray what has been happening, but that Mary and Jill are OK and unharmed. Moments later, the two reached the island. They got off the boat, and began to explore. Just then, Ray spotted some smoke.

"I wonder what that means?" he thought.

"Let's go find out." said Davy.

Ray helped Davy walk, since he still had some pain in his back. To get a closer look at what was going, Davy and Ray poked their heads through some bushes. They saw that Mike was tied up, and part of his shirt was ripped off. Davy then thought of what was about to happen.

"Oh no!" He remember that Mike was about to get a hot poker. Ray saw that not only Peter, Micky and the other pirates were there, but Mary and Jill as well.

Davy then turned his head to Ray, who then nodded. And at that moment, the two jumped out.

"Stop right there!" shouted Ray.

"Father!" cried Mary.

"Ray!" cried Jill.

"Davy!" cried Mike, Peter and Micky.

Mary and Jill ran to Ray, while Micky and Peter did to Davy. Mike couldn't because he was tied up.

"So, I see you've come back.” smiled Black Jack, “Have you got the money?"

"Yes, but first untie that young man," said Ray indicating Mike.

Black Jack's crew did just that, and Mike went to join his friends. Ray then handed a bag to Black Jack.

"Very well, your family is free to go."

The pirates then started to cheer. They were to busy celebrating to see that the Monkees and the Petersons were leaving.

"Ray, you didn't really give those criminals all that money did you?" asked Jill.

"Not to worry," said Ray.

"Why's that Father?" asked Mary.

"The police gave me a transmitter to put on the bag. They'll find out where the bag is, and those crooks will get arrested."

Ray was happy to get his family back.

The Petersons and the Monkees started to walk back to Ray's boat. They were almost there, when they found themselves surrounded by Black Jack and his pirates.

"Where do you think all of you are going?" Black Jack asked.

"What's going on?" Ray demanded. "You have your money!"

"I said you and your family could go, Ray." Black Jack replied hotly. "There's only the one million for your wife and daughter in here." Black Jack held up the bag. "There's still the quarter million for Micky yet to be paid."

Ray looked sadly at the Monkees. "Boys, I'm sorry. Even after selling all I own, I had just enough to make the ransom for Jill and Mary."

"We understand, Ray." Mike said.

Ray walked over to Black Jack. "Please, Black Jack, or should I say my old naval buddy Jack Shelackski, have a heart. There's no way any of us can get that much money for Micky. Please let him go. You've got more money than you'll ever need now."

"True." Black Jack replied, stroking his beard thoughtfully, "I do have lots of money now and I have my revenge on you for trying to turn me in to the naval authorities years ago...but I have to think of my reputation! I can't let it get out that Black Jack Shelack was conned by a long-haired weirdo!"

"But..." Ray began, but was silenced by Black Jack's upturned hand.

"Let me finish, my old friend." Black Jack smirked, "I can't let it be said that I was totally heartless in this matter either. Therefore I'll reduce his ransom to $125,000."

"Make it $100,000." Ray pleaded, "I'm sure I can borrow that much at least."

"Very well. $100,000!" Black Jack said wearily, "BUT!" Black Jack held up his finger. "You must come back here personally with the money in twenty-four hours or I'll keep Micky as my new, permanent, cabin-boy!"

"I understand." Ray said quietly.

The pirates moved to take Micky away, but Mike, Peter and Davy surrounded their friend.

"If you're gonna keep Micky, you're gonna have to keep me too." Davy said to Black Jack.

"Same goes for me." Mike stated.

"And me too!" Peter exclaimed.

"No, guys." Micky said, trying to push his friends away, "I've caused you three enough trouble. Go with the Petersons."

"We're not leaving you alone with these cutthroats, Micky." Mike said sternly, "We're not losing you again."

"Yeah, all for one and one for all." Peter smiled.

Tears welled up in Micky's eyes. He had the best friends in the whole world.

"Very well." Black Jack smiled, "Take them back to their cell."

"WAIT!" Mary shouted, running over to Micky. She then gave Micky a long, soulful kiss on the lips. Several pirates made catcalls at that, but Micky and Mary ignored them. Mary ran her fingers through Micky's curly hair as they kissed. Micky thought he felt something lodge in his hair, but ignored it. Finally they broke apart and Mary glared at Black Jack.

"Since you've got all my father's money, you scoundrel, can't you afford to be a little nicer to them? Promise you'll put them in the rooms you kept me and my mother in."

"Of course, dear lady, I'll put them in better accommodations." Black Jack said graciously.

"And no more torture!" Jill put in angrily.

Black Jack looked darkly at Jill. "Don't push your luck, Mrs. Peterson. But no more torture for them, unless I don't get my money."

The pirates grabbed the Monkees and started to drag them away. Ray called after them.

"Be strong, boys! I'll be back!"

Black Jack walked over to the Petersons.

"Oh by the way." He said with a smirk, "All bets are off at the first sign of the authorities." He made a cutting gesture with his hand near his throat. "Now I suggest you three leave with the tide. You've already used up ten minutes of your twenty-four hours." Black Jack followed his men back to the abandoned park.

Ray, Jill and Mary got into the boat and sailed back to the mainland. Mary began to cry. Jill tried to comfort her.

"Its going to be OK, dear." Jill soothed. "The Coast Guard will pick up the signal and arrest those pirates before the time is up."

"But you heard Black Jack, Mother!" Mary exclaimed, sobbing, "If he sees anybody coming, he'll kill them! He'll kill Micky!"

"I've been talking this all over with Admiral Halsey, Mary." Ray replied, turning the rudder. "The Coast Guard and the Navy are planning a little something for Black Jack. Still, just to be on the safe side, I'm going to the bank after we land again. I won't risk those boys' lives."

"What does the Coast Guard and Navy plan on doing, Father?" Mary asked, sniffing.

"The admiral didn't tell me, in case Black Jack took me hostage and had me tortured. But whatever they're planning, I hope it works....and I hope they do it soon."

Jill and Mary nodded and Mary took a last look at Happy Land Island before it faded from view. A single tear fell down her cheek.

"I love you, Micky." She whispered.

True to his word, Black Jack had the Monkees put into the same rooms that Jill and Mary had occupied. Micky and Mike got Mary's old room and Davy and Peter were put in Jill's room. The Monkees' shirts were given back to them as well. The rooms were cramped with two people in them, but a least they didn't have to sit or sleep on the cold ground.

Micky and Mike gingerly helped each other put their shirts on. Their backs were still very sore from the awful whipping, but the pain was bearable. Micky and Mike sat on the edge of the cot, buttoning their shirts up. When they finished, Micky turned to Mike. He gently put a hand on Mike's shoulder.

"Mike...I want to thank you for staying with me, when you and the others could've been safe."

"Its OK, Mick." Mike replied quietly. "We'd never leave you to face your troubles alone." He paused. "I'm also sorry for the nasty things I said to you back at the pad. It was my big mouth that drove you away in the first place."

"Only because I had been acting rotten to everyone in the first place." Micky said with a sad smile, "But its OK, Mike. All's forgiven." He gave Mike's shoulder a gentle squeeze, then lay down on his side. "Let's try to get some sleep until Ray comes back with the money."

"Yeah, I could use some shuteye too." Mike replied, getting up while Micky swung his legs onto the cot.

Just then Micky let out a yelp and sat upright.

"What's wrong, Micky?" Mike asked. "Did you lie on your back?"

"No, something jabbed me in the head." Micky replied, running his fingers through his hair. He soon felt something metal and pulled it out of his hair slowly. It was a small hairpin.

"How did this get in my hair?" Micky asked, then suddenly remembered, "Hey this is Mary's hairpin!" I remember her wearing it on her Dad's boat."

"But its all bent out of shape now." Mike replied.

"Yeah, it kinda looks like a ..." Micky's eyes went wide as he realized it was. Mike's eyes opened wide as he realized the same thing too.

"Lock pick!" The two Monkees said together.

"Mary, sweetheart, you're wonderful!" Micky kissed the hairpin and rushed over to the door. He inserted the hairpin into the lock and began trying to open the door.

In a nearby building, Black Jack and his men stood around a table as the pirate leader dumped Ray's ransom money from the black bag. The bundles of one hundred dollar bills tumbled from the sack and made a nice pile on the table. Black Jack looked at the pile of money with a huge smile on his face. His picked up a bundle and riffled it.

"Ah, yes, very very good." Black Jack smiled, "One million dollars in non-sequential hundred dollar bills. Just the way I wanted it."

"With another hundred G's coming tomorrow!" One of the pirates exclaimed.

"Yeah, boys, this will keep us in wine, women and song for a long time!" Black Jack exclaimed happily. "I'm gonna use some of my share to make improvements on the Scavenger. If the Coast Guard and Navy thinks we're a menace now, they ain't seen nothin' yet!" Cheers and laughter greeted that remark.

"You gonna split the money up now, Captain?" Another pirate asked.

"Naw, I'll wait until Peterson brings us the hundred G's and then divide it up all at once." Black Jack answered. "While I put this loot back in the bag, one of you bums go get us some wine. All this money calls for a celebration!"

Several men ran off to get the wine, while Black Jack slowly put the money back in the sack. As he held the edge of the cloth bag, he felt something small and metal inside the lining. Frowning, Black Jack took out his knife and made a cut near the metal object. A small transmitter fell into his hand.

"What's that, Captain?" A pirate asked.

Black Jack's face grew very dark as he realized he had been tricked. "It's a transmitter." He growled slowly, "So Ray thinks he can play me for a fool? Well, I'll show him!"

Black Jack dropped the transmitter on the floor and crushed it beneath his boot heel. Just then, two more pirates ran into the room. One of them held a small object in his hand.

"Captain, sir!" One of them said.

"What is it?" Black Jack snapped.

"We were going over the boat those three boys used to get over here, to see if we could find anything valuable, just like you ordered." The pirate said quickly.

"We found a small button on the side of the boat with a wire attached."

"So we followed the wire and found this hidden in the keel." The other pirate said, holding out what he found. Black Jack looked at it closely. To his dismay, it was another transmitter! With a roar of anger, he knocked the transmitter from the pirate’s hand, and crushed it too underneath his boot heel.

"That's two!" Black Jack shouted, "Nobody fools Black Jack Shelack twice!" He spun and glared at his men. "What are you good-for-nothings standing there for? Bring those four weirdoes here. The rest of you, start packing up and load the ship. The law could be here any minute!"

Terrified, Black Jack's men scurried to obey.

"Any luck Mick?" Mike asked, looking over Micky's shoulder.

"No more luck than when you asked me two minutes ago." Micky replied dryly.

Mike sighed and backed away. "Sorry, Micky. I just want out of here. We can't let Ray put himself into debt for us!"

"I know, Mike," Micky replied as he turned the hairpin some more. "But I don't want to break the hairpin..."

Suddenly, there was a click, and the door opened. Mike and Micky hugged each other. They were free! Cautiously, they stepped out into the hallway. There didn't seem to be anybody around.

"Good. No guards." Micky whispered.

"Probably counting all that ransom money." Mike replied quietly. "Lets get Peter and Davy."

The two men tiptoed next door. Mike unlocked the door and walked in with Micky close behind. Suddenly, they found themselves covered with blankets and being pummeled on all sides.

"Stop! Stop!" Micky yelled underneath the blanket. "It's Micky and Mike!"

"Micky and Mike who?" Peter asked.

"Micky and Mike your roommates, that's who!" Mike's muffled voice replied.

"Its OK, Peter," Davy said, "Let them up."

Davy and Peter got off of Micky and Mike and pulled the blankets away.

"We're sorry, mates." Davy said, "We thought you were pirates!"

"Never mind, Davy." Micky said, "Let's just get out of here!"

The four Monkees got off the floor and into the hallway. Soon, they were out of the building. It was getting dark, and the moon was starting to rise. Keeping to the shadows, they slowly made their way to the shore, hoping to find an unattended boat.

Black Jack paced back and forth in the room, muttering curses under his breath. His pirate gang gave him plenty of space. Suddenly, the pirates he had sent to fetch the Monkees came back, looking very afraid.

"Well?" Black Jack demanded, "Where are they?"

"Captain...sir..." One of the men stammered.

"Out with it!" Black Jack shouted.

"They've escaped, sir!" The pirate exclaimed.

"WHAT?!" Black Jack screamed.

"They..they must've picked the lock or something, sir, and.." The man got no further because Black Jack had knocked him cold with a right hook.

"FIND THOSE MEN!" Black Jack shouted, "I want them alive... but not necessarily unharmed." He finished with an evil grin on his face. "GO!"

His men jumped to obey. Never had they seen their captain so angry before.

The Monkees were walking along the shore, when they heard the pirates shouting to each other. Obviously, their escape had been found out. Breaking into a run, the four scanned the area, looking for something, anything, that would float and take them away from this horrible island. The full moon shone brightly down on them, making it easy for them to see in the dark. But it also made it easy for the pirates to see them too, as the Monkees soon found out.

"There they are!" One of the pirates shouted, pointing down to them from the tree line above. "After them!"

The Monkees broke into a run, knowing it was futile. Being on an island, there was no place to go. Suddenly, Peter found the remains of an old raft.

"Hey look at this!" He exclaimed.

The others looked at the old raft. It still looked like it was able to float. They pushed it into the water and tried to climb aboard. But the boat was unable to carry the weight of the four men and started to sink. Mike, Peter and Davy jumped off and the raft came up.

"Looks like it can hold only one of us." Mike said.

The pirates, now carrying torches, were coming closer.

"You go, Micky." Peter said to Micky, still sitting on the raft. "If you're gone, Ray doesn't have to pay your ransom."

"Black Jack will kill you three!" Micky shouted.

The pirates were now coming into the water.

"Its you he wants, Micky." Davy replied, "Now go!" With that, he and the other two pushed the raft into deeper water. Seconds later, the pirates surrounded the three Monkees and began dragging them ashore. Other pirates tried to reach Micky, but the water was too deep. With tears rolling down his cheeks, Micky watched his friends being taken away.

Mike, Peter and Davy were pulled onto the beach and pushed to their knees. Black Jack walked over to them. He looked at one of the pirates.

"Where's the curly haired one?" He demanded.

"He got away, Captain." One of the pirates replied, shaking.

"No I didn't." A voice answered. Everyone turned to see Micky walking back up from the water. "I'm right here."

Black Jack smiled evilly. "How noble, didn't want to leave your friends. Noble, but stupid."

Micky fell to his knees next to Peter and looked up at Black Jack.

"Maybe someday you'll have friends, Shelack." Micky said contemptuously, "And then you just might understand."

"Micky, why didn't you go?" Peter asked sadly.

"All for one and one for all, Pete." Micky replied.

"Lets see if you feel that way when I'm done with the four of you!" Black Jack laughed nastily.

"Wait a minute!" Davy exclaimed, "You promised no more torture!"

"That was before I found out about the transmitter in the bag of ransom money AND in the boat you three used earlier." Black Jack sneered, "And as I told Peterson, any sign of the authorities, and all bets are OFF." He turned to his men. "Take them back to the park and tie them to the trees near the fun house. Then I'll let you gentlemen decide what to do with them."

The Monkees were pulled to their feet and taken away. Black Jack looked at his first mate. "How goes the packing and how long until its done?"

"We're starting to load up now, Captain." The first mate replied. "We should have all the essentials on board before dawn."

"Very good. Keep a sharp lookout for anything suspicious. I want the Scavenger ready to leave at moment's notice."

"Aye sir." The pirate replied.

Black Jack walked away, already planning on what to do with the those interfering Monkees.

It wouldn't be good.

As the first rays of dawn began to slightly shine over the Pacific, the city began to come awake. At the marina, a few large pleasure cruisers started out on their way, taking advantage of the tide and lack of boat traffic.

On Happy Land Island, the sun also began to shine its ray down. Its inhabitants weren't just waking up, though, they had been busy through the night getting ready to leave. The only ones who took the time to watch the sunrise were the Monkees. That was because it might be the last one they would ever see. They had been tied to trees for several hours now, forced to endure whatever torture Black Jack and his pirates merrily thought up. Thus the four men had been subjected to everything from beatings to tickling. Black Jack of course hadn't forgotten about the hot poker he had ordered earlier for Mike. Finally, the pirates tired of their sport and went back to loading up their pirate ship with everything they would need for their new hide-out.

Black Jack and several of his pirates strode over to the exhausted Monkees. He noted with some surprise that despite the rough treatment, they still had spirit in them as they looked at him defiantly.

"Have a pleasant night, boys?" Black Jack asked sarcastically.

"Untie us and we'll show you." Micky replied.

Black Jack and his pirates laughed.

"Oh, we'll untie you boys." The pirate said, "But I'm the one that's going to show you!" He gestured to his men and they untied the four men from the trees. They were forced to stand in front of Black Jack. He looked at Mike, Peter and Davy.

"You three look terrible!" Black Jack said with false horror. "You boys need some time relaxing at the beach! Take them away!" He ordered.

"What about Micky?" Davy demanded.

"Oh, he's going to make a statement to the Navy and Coast Guard that they won't soon forget!" Black Jack replied.

The pirates dragged Mike, Peter and Davy away from Micky. Micky tried to follow, but was held back by his guards.

"You fiend!" Micky shouted, "Let me go with them!"

Black Jack just smiled wickedly and walked away. The pirates followed him, dragging Micky along too. Micky looked back to take a final look at his friends, and found they were looking back at him too. The pirates pulled Micky around a corner and his friends were gone from view. Perhaps forever.

Mike, Peter and Davy were taken back to the same beach Davy had been taken the day before. The slightly sloping shore was at the low tide mark. It was in between the high and low tide levels that they were forced to sit down and

remove their boots. Then they were forced to lie back, spread-eagled, and staked to the sand.

"Don't get a sunburn, boys!" One of the pirates laughed as he and the others walked away.

The three men struggled to pull free, but the ropes were too tight. Not too much later, they felt the cold ocean water begin to lap against their bare feet.

Black Jack led his band of pirates holding Micky over to the entrance gate of Happy Land Park. The once-majestic neon sign over the gate that welcomed people to the park was now rusty and covered in grime. Now once again it would be used to welcome people, but in a much more sinister way. For hanging over the sign was a very strong, very modern noose. Underneath the noose was a wooden box.

Micky saw the noose and began to struggle violently.

"NO PLEASE!" He begged, "You can't do this!"

But Black Jack simply pointed to the noose and the pirates dragged Micky forward. They tied Micky's hands behind his back, forced him onto the box and put the noose around his neck.

"I wouldn't fight if I were you, Micky." Black Jack said, "You might knock that box away."

Micky forced himself to stay still. If he lost his balance and fell, the noose would strangle him.

Black Jack looked out over the ocean, which wasn't too far from the entrance; the water had been claiming the shore in this section for a long time. He could see a few large pleasure boats a short distance away. Black Jack didn't give it another thought and turned to Micky.

"Well, Micky my boy, this is where we part ways. When the authorities arrive shortly, they'll see you swinging' here at the entrance to Happy Land. That will let them know what happens to those who cross Black Jack Shelack! Any last words?"

"Not to you." Micky said in a shaky voice.

"Defiant to the end." Black Jack said, shaking his head, "Y'know, you might've made a good pirate."

He walked over to Micky and made to kick the box away, when Micky shot his foot out and kicked Black Jack in the chest. The pirate let out an 'oof' and fell on his backside. Other pirates grabbed Micky's ankles and tied them together.

Black Jack got up with as much dignity as he could and walked back over to the box. He pushed the other pirates aside and looked up at Micky.

"Goodbye....scum!" Black Jack brought his foot up.....

Just then the roar of a small power boat came roaring up to the shore near the entrance. Driving it was Ray with Jill and Mary in the back. They quickly got out of the boat and ran ashore.

"Wait, Black Jack!" Ray yelled, "Don't hang Micky! I have your money!" He held up another small black bag. Black Jack sneered.

"What's in that bag? Another transmitter?" He asked angrily.

Ray was shocked that he had been found out, but kept a poker face.

"No..." Ray said slowly, "Its full of THIS!" Ray threw the bag at Black Jack's feet.

Immediately, it began to pour out black, thick smoke. The pirates began to cough.

At the same time, several men dressed in scuba gear surfaced near the shore and ran up to the entrance. They were carrying special waterproof machine guns. The pleasure boats were troop carriers in disguise.

"THIS IS THE U.S. NAVY!" One of the men shouted after he spit out his breather. "PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"

"Never!" Black Jack screamed. "Fire!" He yelled to his men.

Gunfire rang out as Black Jack's men fired at the Navy Seals as they retreated back to the park. The Seals fired back, wounding a few of the pirates. The Petersons had thrown themselves flat at the first shot. Ray didn't want his wife and daughter to come with him in the first place, saying how dangerous it would be, but they told him in no uncertain terms they were coming along. As the fight moved into the park, the Petersons got up and ran over to Micky. Amazingly, he was still standing on the box and unhurt despite the bullets whizzing around. They quickly got the noose off him and untied his hands and feet.

Micky jumped off the box and turned to Ray.

"They took the others to the beach!" Micky cried, "Where's that?"

"If its the same beach where I rescued Davy earlier, Its just down the shore to our left."

Micky took off at a run, with Mary, Jill and Ray following behind. He prayed his friends were still alive.

Mike, Peter and Davy shivered as the cold water now covered them up to their necks. A short while ago, they thought they heard gunfire. Peter, ever the optimist, thought it might be the Navy, while Mike and Davy thought it was the pirates shooting Micky. The water slowly crept up their bodies and now it was up to their chins. They kept their heads raised up as much as possible, but they were getting tired. Soon, the water would be over their heads anyway and they would drown.

“Its…its been nice knowing you fellas.” Peter gasped.

"Same..same here, shot...gun." Mike replied, shaking from the cold.

"Goodbye fellas." Davy whispered as the water flowed over their heads.

Micky and Mary, being younger than Ray and Jill, made it to the beach Ray had indicated first. To their shock, there was no sign of Mike, Peter or Davy. Seconds later, Ray and Jill joined them.

"Is this the right place?" Micky asked, hoping he was wrong.

"Yes it is, Micky..." Ray replied, but was cut off by Mary's scream. Everyone turned to see a bit of dark hair sticking out of the water.

"NO!" Micky screamed as he raced over to where he saw the hair. He reached

down and pulled Mike's head out of the water. Mike gasped for air. Micky reached into the water and pulled Davy's head up. He too let out the breath he had been holding and started to breath. Jill and Ray found Peter and pulled his head up, but he wasn't breathing! Micky, Ray, Jill and Mary quickly untied the three men and as soon as Peter was free, Ray and Micky pulled him further up on the shore. Jill knelt down and began to administer CPR to Peter.

After several anxious seconds, Peter coughed and spat out a mouthful of water. He slowly sat up.

"I'm alive!" Peter said happily. Everyone smiled at that. Micky made his way over to Mike and Davy.

"Are you guys all right?" He asked.

"We'll be all right, thanks to you." Davy replied, "What happened?"

Micky explained about the Navy Seals coming on shore and the gunfight with the pirates. Ray headed back up the shore to get medical help for the Monkees.

Micky and Mary embraced and gave each other a kiss.

"Thanks for coming back for me." Micky said.

"Mom and I weren't about to stay home, not knowing what had happened to you four." Mary replied. Micky gave Mary's hand a squeeze and they went to sit with his friends. But as soon as Mary had turned her back on the tree line, she felt someone grab her by the neck. She gasped. Everyone turned around to see Black Jack holding Mary around the throat with his arm. He had a gun in his other hand.

"Black Jack!" Micky snarled, "Let her go! Your fight is with me!"

"My fight is with all you scalawags!" Black Jack shouted. "Twenty years of hard work down the drain because of your meddling!" He raised the gun and pointed it at Micky. "It ends here!"

Suddenly Black Jack felt a tap on his shoulder. The pirate spun around...and was met with a right cross from Ray. Mary got in on the act by biting Black Jack's hand and stepping on his foot. He howled and moved away...only to be met by a right punch from Micky. Stunned, the pirate moved away...to be met by a punch in the stomach from Mike. Clutching his stomach, the pirate tried to run...but was tripped by Davy. Black Jack staggered to his feet...to be met by a slap in the face from Peter. Jill walked over to the half-conscious pirate and simply blew on him. Black Jack collapsed in a heap. The seven gave each other a satisfied smile.

The Monkees and the Petersons watched as Black Jack and his pirates were led away in chains. The pirates never had a chance after a Navy sub came and blocked the channel the pirates' boat was docked. Admiral Halsey walked over to them.

"I'm glad to see everybody's OK." He said, then looked at the Monkees. "The medics will be arriving soon to look you four over." "By the way, Ray, here's your million dollars back." He held out the black bag. Ray smiled and took it.

"There's also a large reward for capturing Black Jack as well." Halsey finished.

"Give it to them." Ray said, pointing to the Monkees. "They deserve it more than us."

The Monkees looked at Ray in shock. He looked at Micky. "You going to need some of it if you want to take my daughter out in style."

Everybody laughed at that. The medics came over to examine the Monkees.

After treating their injuries, Everybody was taken back to shore.

"Admiral Halsey," Mary asked, "What's going to happen to Happy Land?"

"The rides will be demolished and the whole island will be used for Coast Guard training." Halsey replied.

"Shame." She smiled, looking at Micky, "It would've been a nice place to go on a date."

Micky smiled and kissed Mary.

Micky and Mary had a long, loving relationship. But that's another story......