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. As of 2397, Yalu's eighth and current host is the former Yogan Verso.

History

Yalu was born in the Caves of Mak'ala on the Trill homeworld in 2030, and was tended to by Guardians during its early years. Presumably, Yalu mated and reproduced prior to its 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 its 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 Yalu–since 2286.

As of 2397 and across its 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.

First host: Zedro Tiburn (2140–2193)

Innovative inventor with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

Zedro Tiburn was a subspace radio operator and metrologist in the 22nd century. He was born in 2107 in Ledaro, and was joined to Yalu in 2140 at the age of 33.

Zedro married twice. His first marriage to Zennia ended in divorce in 2160 after 23 years. The marriage produced three children. He remarried in 2171 to Luara, with whom he had no children. They remained married until his death.

Zedro died of natural causes in Tenara in 2193 at the age of 86, having been joined for 53 years.

Second host: Edanne Ozanis (2193–2208)

Extraordinarily social and popular, always eager to help.

Edanne Ozanis was a farmer and artisan weaver in the 22nd and 23rd centuries. She was born in 2167 in Devritane, and was joined to Yalu in 2193 at the age of 26.

Edanne married Laharno in 2196 and had two children. They remained married until her death.

Edanne died from injuries sustained in an accidental fall in 2208 in Devritane at the age of 41, having been joined for 15 years.

Third host: Omed Petru (2208–2280)

Bold and practical experimenter, master of all kinds of tools.

Omed Petru was a civil servant and space colony administrator in the 22nd and 23rd centuries. She was born in 2179 in Leran Manev, and was joined to Yalu in 2208 at the age of 29.

Omed married Zevin in 2203, and the couple had five children. She became a widow when Zevin died in 2259, and remarried in 2270 to Olor, with whom she had no children. They remained married until her death.

Omed died of natural causes in Leran Manev in 2280 at the age of 101, having been joined for 72 years.

Fourth host: Keroga Tanesk (2280–2285)

Spontaneous, energetic, and enthusiastic, around whom life is never boring.

Keroga Tanesk was a world-famous actor and singer in the 23rd century. She was born in 2258 in Najana, and was joined to Yalu in 2280 at the age of 22.

Keroga married Renvo in 2279 and divorced in 2282. The couple had no children.

Keroga died from suicide in Leran Manev in 2285 at the age of 27, having been joined for 5 years. Due to the traumatic nature of her death, Yalu was not immediately rejoined to a host, and was instead returned to the Caves of Mak'ala for recovery and evaluation.

Fifth host: Benim Kolad (2286–2364)

Quiet and mystical, yet very inspiring and tirelessly idealistic.

Benim Kolad was a journalist, author, and political activist in the 23rd and 24th centuries. He was born in Gheryzan in 2256, and was joined to Yalu in 2286 at the age of 30.

Benim married Yaver in 2297 and adopted two sons. Benim unexpectedly became a widower in 2315 when his husband and sons died in a shuttlecraft accident. He became partnered with Togar in 2325, but did not remarry. The relationship ended in 2340 and thereafter Benim remained single until his death.

Benim died of natural causes in Ohmallera (Betazed) in 2364 at the age of 108, having been joined for 78 years. He is both the longest-lived and longest-Joined of Yalu's hosts.

Sixth host: Auzell Altav (2364–2374)

Smart, energetic, and very perceptive, who enjoys living on the edge.

Auzell Altav was an officer in the Federation Starfleet in the 24th century (Academy class of '69). She was born in Tenara in 2340, and was joined to Yalu in 2364 at the age of 24.

Auzell never married and had no children. She was partnered with Gaiane Piruzian from 2371 to 2373, and had an on-again, off-again relationship with her thereafter.

Auzell was mortally wounded during the First Battle of Chin'toka in 2374, when her ship, USS Valley Forge, was destroyed by the Jem'Hadar. She survived long enough to be rescued by the USS Tian An Men, but died en route to Starbase 375 at the age of 34, having been joined for 10 years.

Seventh host: Eira Lejef (2374–2392)

Bold, imaginative, strong-willed leader, always finding a way, or making one.

Eira Lejef was a politician and member of the Trill Senate in the 24th century. She was born in Leran Manev in 2326, and was joined to Yalu in 2374 at the age of 48.

Eira married Delu in 2351 and had four children, one of whom predeceased her. She remained married to Delu until her death.

Eira died of an incurable illness in Leran Manev in 2392 at the age of 66, having been joined for 18 years.

Eighth host: Yogan Verso (2392–present)

Main article: Yogan Yalu

Poetic, kind, and altruistic, always eager to help a good cause.

Yogan Verso is a physician and officer in the Federation Starfleet (Academy class of '97). He was born in Sarajevo (Earth) in 2362, and was joined to Yalu in 2392 at the age of 30.

Yogan has never married and has no children as of 2397.