Dragon Father stood a ways off and looked at his daughter jump over the fence and into the base of the Martian Space Pirates.

Dragon Little was only 4 years old - it was her fourth birthday, in fact, although I am not sure Dragon Father realized it. Dragon Father therefore watched intently for any danger that might arise. 

He saw Dragon Little cling to the side of the wall and slowly peek in through the window. 

There were three Martian Space Pirates inside. The Martian Space Pirates are some of the few criminals that Dragon Little and Dragon Father never caught in all the years I had been there. They remained behind when Dragon Father disappeared, but they never caused too much trouble when he was gone unless they were already a part of the adventure. 

Dragon Little took out her laser pistol and unsheathed a small sword. 

“Don’t go in through the front door, Joy,” Dragon Father whispered to himself. 

Dragon Little went to the front door, armed in both hands. 

Dragon Father waved his hands, trying to get her attention. “Joy!” he whispered as loudly as he could. “Joy!” 

She took in a deep breath. 

“Joy!” he whispered loudly. “The element of surprise! The element of surprise!” 

As she looked aside, she saw him wave at her. 

She gestured at him that she couldn’t hear him. 

“The element of surprise!” he whispered, waving his open hand from side to side to indicate not to do what she was doing. “The element of surprise!” 

Dragon Little waved back at him and smiled. 

“No! No! Go up! Up!” he gestured with his finger. “To the roof!” 

She copied his gesture but her face said that she didn’t understand what he was saying. 

“Up! To the roof! To the roof!” 

Suddenly Dragon Little’ face cleared. She understood and smiled. 

Then she waved her father dismissively, walked up to the door, and knocked twice.

“Oh, no…” Dragon Father put his hand to his forehead. “Joy…” 

She knocked twice again. 

A Martian Space Pirate opened the door. “You!” he shouted. 

Tomorrow I will tell you what happened next.

—Told by The Red Dragon