Winner Takes Trouble — Jane M. Lindskold

Soon after Captain “Allie” Ah-Lee of the single-ship Mercury wins the adorable alien creature Gittchy in a poker game, she realizes there’s a lot more to her new companion than the frills and furbelows Gittchy adores. When the formidable Silent Watch expresses just a little too much interest in Gittchy, Allie realizes she must learn where Gittchy comes from or risk losing her new friend forever.