The Octonauts and the Pirate Ship Predicament (complete)

Chapter Two

It was Dashi who first noticed the large ship just above them in the water. The dark silhouette was casting a gloomy shadow over the Octopod and the surrounding reef, so it was hard not to notice it. But Dashi didn't want to alert everyone just yet, just in case it was nothing to worry about. Plus she was the only one still in the HQ, so if it was just an old ship that hadn't sunk yet she wouldn't be disturbing anyone. She pressed the button on the dashboard for the Octo Scope and watched the screen as the camera extended from the top of the Octopod, rising up until it broke the surface of the water.

A quick scan around revealed that what she was looking at was indeed a ship: dark and wooden with a large sail that billowed in the wind. But it looked old and the sail had rips and tears in it. Dashi narrowed her eyes as she tried to make out the symbol on the small flag on the very top of the flagpole. That could give them some idea of who or what they were dealing with here.

"Zoom and enhance," she instructed the Octo Scope camera. Obligingly the camera zoomed in on the small symbol, and as the wind blew the flag in the Octo Scope's direction Dashi could finally make out the image emblazoned on the flag. Her eyes widened.

"No way!"

And the dachshund's paw came down on the Octo Alert, wasting no time. "Octonauts, to the HQ! You have to see this!"

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The Captain was the first to emerge from the Octo Chute, looking confused, closely followed by Tweak. From the other side came Shellington, Inkling, Peso and Tunip. "What is it?" Barnacles enquired to Dashi.

Dashi met his eyes, and the excitement in them told him something was up. "I've just found a ship on the Octo Scope! And I think it's a pirate ship, look - on the flag. There's a skull and cross-bones symbol."

"I don't know," wondered the Captain. "I agree, it looks like a pirate ship, but it doesn't look very - lived in. It's practically falling apart!"

Dashi shook her head quickly. "No, I think there may be people living in it. Listen." To the computer she instructed clearly: "Enhance sound by 80%. Clarify."

As the volume increased on the screen the Octonauts strained their ears to hear the sound. Dashi was right; they could make out distant shouting and singing deep in the ship.

"Well, this is exciting," enthused Inkling. "A pirate crew, with a pirate ship! We haven't met pirates before, other than Kwazii, obviously."

"Where is Kwazii anyway?" wondered Peso.

Right on cue, the orange cat hurtled up through the Octo Chute, flipping and landing easily on his feet a few metres away from the chute. "Sorry I'm late, I was just polishing my spy glass!" Then he noticed the look on the others' faces. "What? What is it?"

As an answer Dashi gestured to the screen. "We've found a pirate ship, Kwazii."

Kwazii's jaw dropped as he looked at the screen. "Pirates - real life pirates?"

"It seems so," replied the Captain with a smile.

Excitement filled the cat's eyes. "Well, what are we waiting for? We have to go and find them! We have to go and meet them! We have to go and -"

"Let's go," agreed Barnacles. "Octonauts, let's do this. To the Launch Bay!"