Everything was going smoothly for the crew of the Enterprise NX-01. they had just returned to open space after having met with an interesting and friendly species. Every one was very upbeat and cheery, not since they first set out from Earth had a first encounter gone so smoothly. The species that they met with lived on a desert like planet that was a popular spot for trading. The name of the species was the Kalpanans, the crew fo the Enterprise was not allowed down on the planet for their own safety, or at least that was what the Kalpanan Minister told them. they did however get to meet some Kalpanans when they visited the Enterprise.

"Anything ahead Travis?" asked The Captain.

"No sir. The only thing remotely close is the Kalpanan homeworld." Replied Ensign Mayweather.

Archer walked over to the com panel on the wall beside the turbolift.

"Archer to Tucker." He spoke, awaiting a reply.

"Tucker here." Came his answer.

"Trip have you found out what the gift from the Kalpanan Minister is yet?" asked The Captain. The Kalpanans had given them a baseball sized black ball as a gift and they had no idea what it was.

"Not yet, Cap'n but we'll figure it out." Said Trip's voice.

"I'm gonna come down and have a look, if that's okay with you Trip." Said Archer.

"Sure cap'n your always welcome."

" T'Pol, you have the bridge." Said the Captain as the turbo lift doors closed.

When the Captain arrived in Engineering, everything seemed so coordinated. Everyone was doing his or her duties quite productively. He spotted Trip in a corner with a few crewmen and the misterious black ball.

"Trip, hows it comeing?" he asked.

"Didn't you just ask that cap'n?" Trip said, with a twinkle of humour in his eyes.

"Just wanted to see if there was anything new since I last spoke to you."

"You mean in the last five minutes?" Trip asked, smirking.

"Yes." Said Archer's eager voice. He was very curious to see what the ball did.

"No sir, nothing new." Just as Trip said this, an ensign behind him gasped.

Trip and Archer looked over to see the Black ball glowing blue. It rose a couple inches over the desk it stood on.

"Guess you'll get to find out what it does sooner than ya think cap'n." whispered Trip, still in awe at the ball.

The captain just nodded dumbly, too amazed for words as the bal started spinning. The blue light grew brighter and brighter until it enveloped all of engineering, and Archer guessed the rest of the ship as well. They sheilded their eyes as the ball increased the volume of light higher and higher until it stopped. The light disappeared and everything went black.