Tribblepod One.

Chapter One.

"Kathy," crewman Crewman Liz Cutler hissed urgently at her friend. "What have you got there?" She poked the bag Crewman Kathy Williams was carefully holding on her lap.

"Leave it, Liz." Kathy's command was whispered fiercely in response. "I'll tell you later. We don't want them finding out."

'Them' were Captain Jonathan Archer, Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, who were all busy at the controls of the shuttlepod as it returned to 'Enterprise'. The crew had been spending some time visiting the planet they were now orbiting, and this was the last trip the shuttlepod was making to bring everyone back up. 'Enterprise'would be leaving orbit as soon as they were on board.

"But Kathy," Liz insisted, "I saw it move."

"All the more reason to keep quiet." Kathy glared at Liz, who managed to remain silent for the rest of the short flight.

Liz accompanied Kathy to her quarters, determined to find out what her friend had brought back from the planet. She had seen it move several times now, so she knew it was something alive. Kathy was rather fond of bringing weird souvenirs back from planetside trips, and Liz thought that maybe her friend had gone a bit too far this time.

Kathy keyed in her door code and entered quickly, pulling Liz in after her.

"I found the cutest little thing on a stall in the market, Liz. I just had to have it."

"Well, show me then."

Liz was consumed with curiosity as Kathy carefully opened the bag.

She reached in and drew out a small, round object. It looked like a furry ball about fifteen centimetres in diameter, and when she placed it in Liz's hands, it was warm and soft. It moved a little and made soft cooing noises. It sounded content. The fur was long, silky and a golden brown colour. Liz fell in love with it immediately!

"Oh, isn't it sweet?" she cooed. "What is it?"

"The stall holder said it was a tribble."

oo000oo

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And you know what tribbles mean, don't you? Trouble!