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By Root 730 0

cave was indeed deserted, but if the two Starfleet officers expected to find a laboratory, however primitive, they were disappointed. What they found was a dirt-walled cavern only partially excavated from a natural formation, dimly lit by a few overhead lamps. Several rustic tables against the walls of this crudely formed room were cluttered with jars of various sizes and colors, obviously made by local craftsmen, as well as the transmitter which had led them here, which was indeed of Romulan design. There was also a computer terminal which seemed to have been cobbled together from modules salvaged from a vessel augmented with Romulan components.

“Hybridized Rigelian computer,” Sisko announced, just looking at it. “That particular style of interface is something they use.”

There was a refrigeration unit, also of Rigelian manufacture. Instead of specimens or test samples, the refrigerator was cluttered with containers of half-eaten food, much of it spoiled.

“Likely solar powered,” Sisko said, indicating the generator. “Might be able to find the collectors out there in the daytime.”

While he searched the fridge for anything resembling research samples and ending up with nothing more than moldy stew, Tuvok attempted to gain entry to the computer, something which proved not at all difficult. There were some rags and what looked like parts scavenged from a ship piled against one wall, covered in dust and cobwebs, and Sisko began picking through these as well.

“Clothing’s synthetic,” Sisko reported. “Modern stuff, not something you’d find woven on a handloom in a preindustrial society. Food looks local, though.” He heard the Vulcan’s indrawn breath at something on the computer screen. “What is it?”

“Pornography,” Tuvok said, repressing his distaste. “There seems to be nothing on the computer but that. I find no records, no experimental data-“

“Nothing but dirty pictures, huh? Maybe he’s got the data stored somewhere more portable. This is a hideout,” Sisko decided. “The kind of place a man goes to when the wife and kids get on his nerves.”

“Indeed. Perhaps Cinchona’s laboratory is elsewhere.”

“I’d be surprised if he had a laboratory at all.” Sisko picked up a few of the jars, opening the lids and alternately peering inside or sniffing at them. “Hilopon? It looks like dirt.”

Tuvok ran the tricorder over the jars. “Hilopon. As Selar suggested, a natural compound found in the soil of Renaga, just as the original Gnawing bacillus was found in the soil of Romulus.”

So saying, he ran the tricorder over the walls and the dirt floor of the cave and came up with the same readings. “The substances in the jars may have been refined to remove gravel and other debris, but it is essentially no different than the soil beneath our feet. Curious.”

“Or just plain dumb.” On a hunch, Sisko rubbed the contents of one of the jars on a small cut on one finger he’d acquired while chopping the last of the Vidalia onions he’d purchased on Tenjin. The cut healed instantaneously. “Cinchona was right about one thing. It does work for small stuff, at least on its own planet.”

“Cinchona was right about more than that,” a voice said behind them.

Selar motioned Zetha to join her in peering at the specimen under the microscope. The girl’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Is it the hilopon?” she wondered.

“Negative,” Selar replied. “After our departure from Quirinus, I derived a serum from the blood of the Romulan who was killed because the Quirinians believed he had brought the disease.”

“The one who had no… germs,” she pronounced the word carefully. “… in his body at all.”

“Correct. I treated several of the Catalyst mutations with the serum. These are the results.”

Zetha examined them again, just to make sure she understood. Before she could speak, Tuvok’s voice on the intercom interrupted.

“Dr. Selar? Can you beam into the cave at once? Your expertise is required.”

Selar brought Zetha with her. It seemed the logical thing to do. Besides-

“Please don’t leave me here by myself,” Zetha pleaded. “If anything goes wrong, I won’t know what