Yalu (symbiont)

Yalu (born 2030) is a symbiont, a sentient vermiform lifeform native to the planet Trill. Yalu, like all symbionts, is capable of living symbiotically inside hosts of the humanoid Trill species. Each joining of Yalu to a humanoid host creates a new, unique individual, who carries the memories of the previous hosts. As of 2397, Yalu's eighth and current host is the former Yogan Verso.

Background

The Trill are a humanoid species, of whom a small percentage co-exist with a sentient symbiotic organism, the symbiont. The relationship between humanoid host and symbiont plays a significant role in Trill culture and spirituality. Joined Trill have personalities which are a synthesis of the two beings, including the memories, skills, and personalities of the previous hosts. Once Joined, the host and the symbiont cannot be separated without killing the host within hours.

While the Trill possess a similar average lifespan to Humans, Bajorans, and other Alpha Quadrant humanoid species, the symbionts are considerably longer-lived. When a humanoid host dies, the symbiont is joined to a new host, bringing the collected memories and personalities within. A host can be joined to many symbionts over time; Yalu's current host is the eighth.

History

Yalu was born in the Caves of Mak'ala on the Trill homeworld in 2030, and was tended to by Guardians during their early years. Presumably, Yalu mated and reproduced prior to their first joining in 2140.

From 2140 until 2285, Yalu lived within four hosts in succession–Zedro, Edanne, Omed, and Keroga–with only hours or days elapsing between a host's death and their successor's joining. This line was broken in 2285, with the death by suicide of Keroga Yalu at the age of 27. After Keroga's death, the Symbiosis Commission returned Yalu to the pools in the Caves of Mak'ala to recover from the trauma, as well as to be evaluated for suitability for joining in the future. Yalu was joined once again the following year, and has lived continuously within humanoid hosts–Benim, Auzell, Eira, and Yogan–since 2286.

As of 2397 and across eight hosts, Yalu has been married eight times–three as a husband and five as a wife–and partnered twice further. Yalu has been father to five children and mother to eleven.

Timeline

• 2030: Yalu is born in the Caves of Mak'ala on the Trill homeworld.
• 2140: Yalu is Joined to 33-year-old Zedro Tiburn (1st host).
• 2193: Zedro Yalu dies in Tenara (Trill) at the age of 86. Yalu is Joined to 26-year-old Edanne Ozanis (2nd host).
• 2208: Edanne Yalu dies in Devritate (Trill) at the age of 41. Yalu is Joined to 29-year-old Omed Petru (3rd host).
• 2280: Omed Yalu dies in Leran Manev (Trill) at the age of 101. Yalu is Joined to 22-year-old Keroga Tanesk (4th host).
• 2285: Keroga Yalu dies in Leran Manev (Trill) at the age of 27. Yalu is returned to the Caves of Mak'ala.
• 2286: Yalu is Joined to 30-year-old Benim Kolad (5th host).
• 2364: Benim Yalu dies in Ohmallera (Betazed) at the age of 108. Yalu is Joined to 24-year-old Auzell Altav (6th host).
• 2374: Auzell Yalu dies aboard the USS Tian An Men at the age of 34. Yalu is Joined to 48-year-old Eira Lejef (7th host).
• 2392: Eira Lejef dies in Leran Manev (Trill) at the age of 66. Yalu is joined to 30-year-old Yogan Verso (8th host).
• 2398: The consciousness of Talos Dakora is temporarily transferred into Yogan Yalu's body. Dakora's memories and personality imprint onto Yalu, creating an unofficial ninth "host," Talos Yalu.

Hosts

Hosts of Yalu
1. Zedro Tiburn (2140–2193) 2. Edanne Ozanis (2193–2208) 3. Omed Petru (2208–2280) 4. Keroga Tanesk (2280–2285) 5. Benim Kolad (2286–2364) 6. Auzell Altav (2364–2374) 7. Eira Lejef (2374–2392) 8. Yogan Verso (2392–present) Talos Dakora (briefly, 2398)