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 with it. A host can be joined to many symbionts over time; Yalu's current host is its eighth.

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 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).

Hosts

№	Name Sex	Born Place	Joined Age	Occupation(s)	Marriage(s) Partnership(s)	Child(ren)	Death Place Cause	Age at death Time joined
1	Zedro Tiburn Male	2107 Ledaro (Trill)	2140 33 years	Metrologist Subspace radio operator	Zennia Vekar (wife) (2110–2210) m. 2137–2160 (divorced) Luara Kojem (wife) (2114–2210) m. 2171–2193 (Zedro's death)	Kiabo Tiburn (son) (2143–2218) Dezru Tiburn (daughter) (2145–2233) Vemed Tiburn (daughter) (2146–2244)	2193 Tenara (Trill) Natural causes	86 years 53 years
2	Edanne Ozanis Female	2167 Devritane (Trill)	2193 26 years	Farmer Weaver	Laharno Meeros (husband) (2162–2256) m. 2196–2208 (Edanne's death)	Rajim Meeros (son) (2197–2242) Rekela Meeros (daughter) (2199–2284)	2208 Devritane (Trill) Accidental fall	41 years 15 years
3	Omed Petru Female	2179 Leran Manev (Trill)	2208 29 years	Civil servant Space colony administrator	Zevin Porax (husband) (2170—2259) m. 2203–2259 (Zevin's death) Olor Beex (husband) (2203–2308) m. 2270–2280 (Omed's death)	Erovo Porax (son) (2205–2307) Auzena Porax (daughter) (2206–2244) Bival Porax (son) (2208–2267) Yuvi Porax (daughter) (2210–2309) Mezim Porax (son) (2212–2315)	2280 Leran Manev (Trill) Natural causes	101 years 72 years
4	Keroga Tanesk Female	2258 Najana (Trill)	2280 22 years	Actor Dancer Singer	Renvo Reegahn (husband) (2253–2332) m. 2279–2282 (divorced)	None	2285 Leran Manev (Trill) Suicide by poisoning	27 years 5 years
5	Benim Kolad Male	2256 Gheryzan (Trill)	2286 30 years	Journalist Activist Novelist	Yaver Tallus (husband) (2268–2315) m. 2297–2315 (Yaver's death) Togar Mahl (partner) (2280–2377) p. 2325–2340 (separated)	Hraz Tallus (son) (2300–2315) Bror Tallus (son) (2301–2315)	2364 Ohmallera (Betazed) Natural causes	108 years 78 years
6	Auzell Altav Female	2340 Tenara (Trill)	2364 24 years	Starfleet officer Academy class of 2369	Gaiane Piruzian (partner) (b. 2337) p. 2371–2373 (separated)	None	2374 USS Tian An Men (Chin'toka system) Killed in action	34 years 10 years
7	Eira Lejef Female	2326 Leran Manev (Trill)	2374 48 years	Politician	Delu Vizaud (husband) (b. 2327) m. 2351–2392 (Eira's death)	Kedzall Vizaud (daughter) (b. 2353) Saban Vizaud (son) (b. 2355) Amon Vizaud (son) (2357–2388) Narud Vizaud (son) (b. 2359)	2392 Leran Manev (Trill) Illness	66 years 18 years
8	Yogan Verso Male	2362 Sarajevo (Earth)	2392 30 years	Physician Starfleet officer Academy class of 2397	None	None	n/a	n/a