Just like any other day, it was a perfect day for exploring in the Kingdom of Roddenberry.

“This way, Bagsley,” Ranger Cathy ordered. “There’s still plenty of uncharted territory on Mars to add to our map!”

“Ooh, I’m comin’, Ranger Cathy,” Bagsley, a humble felt dice bag, bounded alongside Ranger Cathy on his cardboard legs, offering a sheepish smile of blue paint.

Ranger Cathy unfolded her Martian map, carefully cut from her favorite space encyclopedia. Her Kingdom only covered a thirtieth of the planet, meaning every discovery to be made in the other twenty-nine was hers for the taking. She sprinted towards the great crimson unknowns, ready for the next terror or wonder to leap out at her.

“Ooh, careful there, Ranger Cathy,” Bagsley called out. “Ya don’t wanna go too fast now!”

Ranger Cathy halted. Her hand wandered up to her chest, where her heart had tangled another one of its sneaky knots without her noticing.

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In. Out. In. Out.

In…

Out…

“I’m sorry, Bagsley,” she said. “I just want to be able to keep up with whatever we find out here.”

“Maybe you won’t have to,” Bagsley said, hopping up onto her shoulder. “Something exciting’s come to Roddenberry all on its own.”

“Something exciting? Like what?”

“Roddenberry has a visitor…” Bagsley pointed a cardboard tube of a hand up at the white tile sky. “From the stars!”

“An extraterrestrial!” Ranger Cathy cheered. “What do they look like?”

“She’s bright red,” Bagsley said, “a bit like our new home, actually.”

As he spoke, Ranger Cathy looked straight ahead, imagining Roddenberry’s visitor right beside her.

“She’s covered in scales like a lizard, with sharp claws, too - on her hands and feet. In fact, she’s got big dinosaur feet, so I think she doesn’t bother shoe-shopping. Instead of ears, she’s got these two big fins that stick out. I think they ruffle a bit when she shows her teeth. Oh, yeah, and her teeth - lots of them, and sharp, too. I think she could eat a corn on the cob like a popsicle. And she’s got green eyes - green like, um… Like apples that aren’t ripe yet.”

Ranger Cathy looked Roddenberry’s new visitor up and down. Their tongue wandered out in a hungry hiss as they paced around her on all fours. Their lengthy, serpentine tail cornered her and Bagsley where they stood. They let out an indignant huff that came with a thick cloud of black smog.

“But I’m sure she’s very nice,” Bagsley added.

Ranger Cathy tilted her head at the sight of the looming dragon. Her hand found its way to her chest again.