Lexie just stared blankly at the thing that stood in front of her, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Kirk, Lexie, Scotty, and McCoy had beamed down to explore a tropical type planet, when they came face to face with a lizard.
One which seemed to recognise them, it came right up to Lexie and nuzzled its scaly head against her hand.
"So this is where you come from Komodo." Lexie said happily as she rubbed the lizards head. "It's nice to see ya again boy."
The lizard hissed happily before running over to the others, rubbing its head against their legs like a scaly cat.
"I can't believe it, what are the chances?" Scotty said as he rubbed the lizard back. "Higher than you would think Scotty."
McCoy replied, watching their reptilian friend walk back over to Lexie, but instead of standing next to her it did something else.
It took Lexie's gloved hand gently in its mouth and began to lead her off in a direction. "I think he wants you to follow him lass."
Stated Scotty with a small chuckle, "Ya think…" Lexie replied. "Alright boy, alright I'll follow."
Lexie simply went wherever her friend wanted her to go, while the others just followed closely behind.
"Wonder where the lads taking you to lass." Scotty asked as he stepped over a tree root. Lexie looked over her shoulder at him.
"I have no idea Scotty, but I think we'll find out soon." Lexie then turned to face Kirk, "Sorry about this Sir."
Kirk gave her a warm smile, "Don't be sorry Lex, we're explorers after all." Lexie just returned her Captain's smile.
It wasn't long before they came to a large clearing, where a semi-large burrow sat.
With a soft hiss, the reptile scurried his way down beneath the Earth, "Is that his home?" Questioned McCoy.
"What sort of question is that Bones?" Joked Kirk, McCoy glared at him while folding his arms. "I'm a Doctor Jim, not a vet."
Lexie couldn't help but chuckle, "To answer your question McCoy yes, this is his home. Komodo Dragons live in burrows."
McCoy was grateful that someone was kind enough to give him an answer, just then something emerged from the ground.
"I was starting to wonder if you would…" Lexie stopped dead, while the others just gasped. "Are those?" Asked Kirk.
Lexie nodded slowly, "They sure are Captain, they're baby Komodo Dragons." As she spoke twenty little heads popped up.
Scotty just stared, "You mean to say that…" "Yep, Komodo isn't a 'he'… but a 'she' and a mother at that." Lexie replied.
Kirk couldn't help but smile, "No wonder she was so scared when she got beamed onto the ship, she was missing her babies."
Lexie couldn't agree more, it seemed that their friend was a very protective mother.
However, she seemed more than happy to introduce Lexie and the others to her children.
They all watched as one by one the tiny dragons emerged from their home, to come and say hi.
While Komodo made her way over to Lexie, who sat down on the ground. "So this is what you wanted to show me, your babies."
Her reptilian friend nodded before resting its head on Lexie's lap, "I guess I'll have to give ya a new name then."
But first, Lexie had to think of one. "I know, what about Renee? What do ya think?"
By the way that her friend was jumping about, she assumed that she liked her new name. "Well then, Renee it is."
Renee jumped up and licked Lexie's cheek, which felt more than a bit odd, but it was very cute.
The group spent several hours just playing around with Renee's babies, that was until they had to go.
"We've got to go now Renee." Lexie said sadly as she stroked her friend on the head, who hissed sadly in reply.
"Don't worry lass, we'll come back to visit one day." Scotty stated, which seemed to make Renee happy, along with Lexie.
Before they left, they snapped a quick picture so they could all remember this moment.
Lexie watched as Renee and her babies waved goodbye as they were beamed back up to the ship.
"I've always dreamed of seeing baby Komodo Dragons." Lexie said as she stepped off the pad.
"And you'll see them again, once they've grown a bit." Replied Scotty as he placed an arm around her shoulder.
Sure, Lexie was gonna miss Renee, but she had her work cut out looking after twenty babies. But Lexie knew she would be a great mother, so she had nothing to worry about.
