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In answer, Selar placed a sample virus in the detector and activated it. Its almost inaudible hum grew in intensity as the crystals shook faster and faster. There was a single burst of noise-which sounded to Zetha like a tiny, abbreviated shriek-then a winding down to silence as Selar shut down the device and the crystals ceased their vibration.

“Did you hear that?” she asked Zetha.

“Yes.”

“Can you distinguish it from this?” Selar replaced the contaminated crystal, treating the new one with a fresh viral sample and activating the device. This time when the virus shook free, the sound Zetha heard was more like the snap of a twig. She told Selar this.

“The first was the neoform, the second a mutated herpes virus,” Selar explained. Was there a tinge of pride in her voice, pride in Zetha’s accomplishment? “A human would hear nothing but the vibration of the crystal. You hear like a Vulcan. That is sufficient for our purposes.”

Selar had taught her to codify a number of viruses. By now she could identify the Gnawing neoform by its sound, distinct from anything else Selar could test her with. The sense of accomplishment was something new and, as she listened to Selar explaining the process of squeak testing to Uhura, she savored it.

Albatross slipped into the moil of traffic above Tenjin as the planet’s orbit took it out of Federation space into the Zone. Deftly Sisko adjusted her trajectory until she was running upstream against the flow of Federation-registered vessels moving grudgingly back into their own space, until he had maneuvered her into the queue of nonaligned vessels waiting to cross into the Zone, then slowed the old girl to station keeping. He could feel more than see Tuvok’s quizzical look.

“May I ask-?” Tuvok began.

“There’s a big old Draken multipod astern, coming up to starboard,” Sisko explained. “She’s going to pass within a couple of kilometers of us, and we’re going to let her. When the seventh pod is parallel to us, we’re going to match her course and speed. We’re small enough, if we’re quiet enough, to play shadow until we’re out of range of Tenjin’s sensors.”

“And avoid any potential challenge from Romulan-allied vessels in the sector,” Tuvok surmised. “Very inventive.”

Sisko caught himself shrugging like Zetha. “Just common sense.”

“In summary,” Uhura had said before Sisko shut down the holos to rig for silent running prior to crossing over into the Zone, “we know what this bug looks like-and, apparently, what it sounds like-and we have a fair idea who created it. We still have no idea how it has spread across this much space, and so quickly, even into controlled environments. But we go forward.

“Once we’ve acquired the live R-fever from Starbase 23, Dr. Crusher will compare it with the neoform and possibly tease out the differences. Albatross, you will continue your research from space on the worlds you pass, and on the ground where possible. Set course for Quirinus.”

“Quirinus,” Sisko said, trying the name out on his tongue. His mouth had gone suddenly dry at the thought that they really were inside the Zone now. The danger was almost palpable, like a change in the temperature or the humidity in the creaky old ship, and he found himself sweating. Maybe if he kept talking, he could talk his fears away. “Sounds Romulan.”

“The inhabitants are Romulan in appearance,” Tuvok replied. “However, Quirinus’s location within the Zone precludes it from seeking membership in the Empire without violating treaty. In some respects, its citizens have become more Romulan than Romulans. And there is not inconsiderable resentment toward humans and the Federation.”

“This ought to be fun!” Sisko said wryly.

“It will be challenging,” Tuvok admitted. “Selar and I will have to perfect our Romulan personae well before we arrive.”

Part of that included learning to use an honor blade. Tuvok, adapted by training to any form of weaponry, had mastered the nuances before they left Earth. Selar, whose most powerful weapon had heretofore been a laser scalpel, was less apt. Eager