Drabble #6.

Prompt was "air".

"Breathe. That's right." Phlox adjusted the mask on Ensign Maria Gomez's face. "As deeply as you can. There now, does that feel better?"

The young geologist nodded, wide-eyed as much from the aftermath of her encounter with alien pollen as from the floating luminescent blobs in the jar attached to her Starfleet Medical issue nebulizer.

Phlox didn't miss the wary gaze. "Kreetassan Zephyrs produce an anti-histamine like substance that's highly effective in Humans. They're also useful night-lights."

Maria gave the Doctor a dubious look as she continued to breath in deeply. She could have sworn one of the blobs had winked at her.

oOo

Drabble #7.

Prompt was "copper".

It was disturbing, to say the least.

Malcolm swept the area with his eyes and tried not to focus on the smell permeating the corridors of the Seleya. Disturbing ... because it brought to mind homey memories, rather than visions of death and dying. Every so often a wave of sweet smelling copper-based blood would remind him of the antique tea kettle Mum would bring out for special occasions or the ancient pennies in Father's coin collection he once had permission to touch. He could even taste it on his tongue and that thought alone was making him nauseous.

oOo

Drabble #8.

Prompt was "flowers".

Stop and smell the flowers. Wasn't that how the saying went?

Ethan Novakovich shot the transporter a terrified glance as he passed it by. Stop and smell the flowers! Look what that had got him! Permanent scars and the knowledge that his molecules had been torn apart and recombined with plants, rocks and who-knows-what-else, like some modern day creature from one of Commander Tucker's infamous 20th century movies.

He should have listened to Aunt Sophie and taken that position with the Smithsonian. Or, he thought back to last night's movie, maybe not. With his luck, some mummy would have come to life.

oOo

Drabble #9.

Prompt was "pickle".

Trip pulled at the gooey substance they'd fallen into. "This is a fine pickle we've gotten into."

"This appears to be a hydrocarbon-based substance rather than a brine, Commander."

"It means predicament, Sub-Commander." Travis stood and tried to walk, looking like an automaton as the gooey substance made very movement achingly slow. "So does 'jam'… and this stuff kinda looks like it."

Hoshi smirked, "Another term is 'hot water', which, ironically, we could use right now."

"Hush!" Malcolm threw down a rope. "That creature might hear you and I'm fairly certain this is a defense mechanism to protect a nest."

oOo

Drabble #10.

Prompt was "cover".

He saw it land a few feet away and ducked for cover.

One.

Two.

Three.

The concussive force of the explosion was enough to shake the floor like an earthquake. For a moment, Sergeant Vincent Martinez thought the bulkheads might rupture and the entire team would be sucked out into space.

"Bloody hell. They're suicidal." Lieutenant Reed's words echoed his own thoughts.

The tactical officer silently motioned instructions. Vincent nodded back in confirmation and turned around, motioning to Jacobs and Liana. A beat, and then the three of them crept around the corner while the others gave them cover fire.