When Chekov came around, the first thing he noticed was the delightful soft blanket that covered him; he was warm, so so warm! He let out a long sigh and snuggled deeper into the warmth. The next thing he noticed was the lack of smell. A deep breath through the nose confirmed his suspicions; it was good to not be surrounded by that stench anymore. He could hear the soft bouncing of the sick bay monitor told him where he was. Opening his eyes, he looked around and saw Sulu lying in the bed next to his yet something seemed to be missing. He moved his hands around.
"Everything all right Pav?" It was Mccoy.
"Yes Doctor. When I was beamed back, was there a small fluffy creature with me?" he asked. It was Fido who was missing and he wanted to know where he'd gone. Surely he couldn't survive down on the planet in that cold.
"I only have you and Sulu here," McCoy said as he passed the scanner over his body. The whir of the device was comforting; it was so good to be back on the Enterprise in the warmth.
"Damn, he was a good little critter," Chekov said.
"Who?"
"He was a little dog like creature that helped us to build our pile of leaves to hide under. He helped us scan some of the objects down on the planet too. I called him Fido," Chekov explained.
"Spock brought up a creature for analysis, do you mean that one?"
"No," Chekov said shaking his head, "I hope he stays warm down there."
"He's a native Pav, he'll be fine," McCoy said as he removed the scanner, "And you've sustained no lasting damage either, rest here for a while though, that's an order."
"Yes Doctor." Chekov let his eyes close once more, hoping that Fido was all right.
Scotty bent to pick up the last of the tools; the engine room was finally beginning to look like somewhere to work and not an accident in a bomb factory. The creature had been the best help he could have asked for; he'd grasped what Scotty was doing and copied it. They had cleared the room in half the time and the playful noises that it made was comforting and very far from the banshee wail it had uttered a few minutes ago. Now at least, he could grab a coffee and maybe some food before the next major job. The door hushed open and Scotty looked up. An out of breath ensign occupied the door-frame, "What is it man?"
"The creature Spock brought on board – it's gone!"
"What do you mean gone?"
"It's missing."
The creature began to yap, "Not now!" Scotty said waving his hand at it, "Have they found it?"
"Not yet."
The barking turned feverish; a horrible cold sensation ran through Scotty, as though he were being watched. The colour drained from the ensign's face. Slowly, Scotty turned around.