What would you do if you found yourself on a time machine adventure? What if you found yourself nearly 300 years into the past surrounded by pirates?
That's what happens to red-headed ten-year-old Millie! After winning a competition to meet her hero Dr Midas she becomes caught up in an amazing adventure involving two chatty parrots, a robo-dog and a treasure hunt. Not to mention 'mad monkeys,' a long-dead headless pirate and some very stinky socks.
Dr Midas
Dr Midas is a reluctant TV celebrity famous for his life-threatening exploits saving lost treasures, often under government orders. A kind of Bruce Parry meets Indiana Jones character who is based at a museum.
He also has a secret - he has invented a time machine which he will use to find other artefacts, accompanied by his faithful robo-dog, Sniffer.
But his first trip hits a hiccup - the unexpected arrival of Millie, who he reluctantly agrees to take with him, on the understanding that it will be a very, very short trip.
Unfortunately things do not go as planned...
Sniffer
Sniffer is another of Dr Midas's creations, a large robot dog that can detect evil with his extra powerful nose and who has the advantage of looking like a real dog when he wears his fake fur. He can work several looks depending on his outfit but there's no disguising that big nose!
Whenever Midas gets into trouble you can guarantee the metal hound will come to his rescue - but even he might have met his match on this adventure...
Meet the pirates
Clockwise: Blackbeard, his flag, and his head hanging from a ship
Blackbeard
Real name Edward Teach, is believed to have been from Bristol, England and was born around 1690.
He was one of the most feared pirates, with a reputation for being very cruel and bloodthirsty.
He had long black hair and as you may expect a long black beard which he braided into thin plaits. He used to put burning tapers sticking out of his hat, so he would look even more menacing as the smoke billowed out.
Blackbeard thought he was invincible and terrorised the seas. He also had a reputation for liking the ladies - marrying fourteen times!
After plundering merchant ships he finally met his end in 1718 of the coast of California where he battled his enemy Lieutenant Maynard. Blackbeard was shot and stabbed numerous times, the last wound a slash to his throat, killing him. As a warning to other pirates his head was chopped off completely and was hung from the bow of the ship!
His treasure has never been found.
Captain Kidd His body was tarred and hung in a cage
Captain Kidd
Captain William Kidd was born in Scotland, 1645 but moved to New York as a young boy. He was originally employed to capture pirates,. He travelled to Madagascar, but his ship the Adventure galley got into difficulties and sank in the harbour of St Mary's Island. His men deserted him and so he decided to turn his fortunes around by becoming a pirate himself. Unfortunately he picked on the wrong ship taking items belonging to the British East India Company. He was arrested and shipped to England where he was sentenced to death by hanging. The first two attempts went badly - the rope broke. There was no last minute reprieve. The third time the rope held. Kidd's body was then tarred and hung in an iron cage by the Thames as a warning to other pirates. His treasure has never been found. Could it be on St Mary's Island?
Israel Hands
Israel Hands
Israel is best known as a character in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, but he was in fact a real pirate. He was Blackbeard's second in command and would probably have met his end in that same battle if Blackbeard had not already shot him in the knee. Very little is known about Israel but it is understood he was pardoned for piracy after giving evidence against his crewmates. He is believed to have ended up dying a beggar in London, but what if he had survived, determined to return to sea?