DEEP SPACE NINE: "The Assign... " - REV. 09/12/96 - ACT THREE    35.

30   CONTINUED:	(2)

	O'Brien finishes examining the isolinear rod, retrieves 
	it, closes the panel. O'Brien studies Rom hard for a 
	moment -- to the point of making Rom shift 
	uncomfortably.

					ROM 
			Is something wrong, Chief?
				(a beat) 
			I can work slower if you want me 
			to...

	But O'Brien is thinking about something much more 
	important.

					O'BRIEN 
			Rom... I need your help, and I 
			need you to keep your mouth shut. 
			Can I count on you?

					ROM 
			Is that a trick question?

					O'BRIEN 
			Rom -- this is serious.

					ROM 
			You can depend on me, Chief.

	O'Brien nods, he has no choice but to believe in Rom.

					O'BRIEN 
			We're going to make some 
			modifications to several of the 
			station's systems. You're not to 
			breathe one word about this to 
			anyone. That includes Dax, Odo, 
			Captain Sisko, Worf...

					ROM 
			They don't know?

					O'BRIEN 
			Of course they know. Some of 
			them, anyway. But they have to 
			pretend they don't. This is a top 
			secret Starfleet operation.

					ROM
				(nods conspiratorially) 
			Culpable deniability. I 
			understand. Don't worry about me, 
			Chief. My lips are sealed. 
			Nobody will get anything out of 
			me. Not even my name.