To Trill and Back Again - When Silence is Naught
Posted on Wed Dec 3rd, 2025 @ 8:32pm by Commander Rosa Coy
746 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
For Bajor!
Location: On Approach to Trillius Prime
The runabout Yenisei hummed with that dependable, unassuming little-engine-that-could energy, the kind of ship whose personality was built entirely out of patience. Rosa sat at the helm, eyes forward, posture as crisp as regulation demanded, and as rigid as discomfort required.
Her co-pilot, Ensign Kalev Varri, clearly hadn’t gotten the memo about the silence she hoped to keep.
“There!” he said, pointing at the viewscreen as if Rosa couldn’t see the incoming shuttle. “Trill registry. Right on schedule. You Trill folks run things like clockwork.”
A tiny muscle jumped in Rosa’s cheek. “So I’ve been told,” she said.
I could run circles around their shuttles blindfolded.
“Not. Helping,” she muttered under her breath.
Kalev shot her a curious look, but the shuttle was already hailing. The emblem of the Trill Science Ministry pulsed gently in the side monitor, and in a swirl of transporter light, three figures materialized behind them.
A specialist Olaris, an aide Toval and a pretty-young symbiosis trainee Jexa who looked like she might faint from excitement.
“Commander Rosa Prilen-Coy,” the lead specialist greeted warmly. “It’s an honor to meet the symbiont’s current host.”
Rosa’s jaw tightened at “current.” She stood politely, though her spine felt like someone had swapped it for a rod of cold steel.
“Welcome aboard,” she said. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
Kalev was already turning in his seat, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.
“Specialist Olaris! I’ve read about Trill joining since I was a cadet. Is it true the symbiont can...”
Before he could finish, the trainee, Jexa, jumped in. “Yes! They retain full memory through every life cycle. And there are emotional overlays and inherited skill proclivities and...”
“Oh wow, so like… if you were joined someday, you’d remember every person your symbiont ever loved?”
The trainee turned pink. “Technically... yes.”
Some of us loved quite a lot of people.
Rosa shut her eyes briefly, praying for cosmic mercy.
Kalev leaned forward conspiratorially. “What’s it like? The whole joined thing? Does it feel...”
Rosa answered before he could dig her deeper into conversational hell. “It feels,” she said calmly, “like something best discussed in an academic setting.”
The specialist chuckled. “Meaning: not in a confined vessel between DS9 and the homeworld.”
Rosa allowed a thin smile.
Kalev didn’t take the hint. “Still, it must be amazing! Like having a whole committee of experts in your head! Do you ever disagree with yourself? Or...”
“Oh yes,” said the aide brightly. “Some hosts reported strong internal debates, especially when personality conflicts arrise...”
Tell him about the time you threatened to strangle me with your own hands.
“Ignore him,” Rosa said firmly.
Kalev blinked. “Him?”
Rosa coughed. “Engine noise.”
The specialist, politely pretending not to notice, gestured toward the passenger seats. “Commander, we appreciate the escort. Your presence will make the transfer back to the Sunfire significantly smoother.”
Rosa nodded. “Of course.”
Kalev started again. “Is it true a symbiont can...”
Rosa cut in sharply. “Ensign. Set our return vector.”
“Oh! Right! Sorry, Commander.”
He turned back around, whispering an audible wow under his breath, starstruck by the Trill in the room and oblivious to the particular kind of suffocating discomfort poking at every one of Rosa’s synapses.
The specialist settled in, the aide unpacked a portable data pad, and the trainee sat ramrod straight, stealing shy looks at Rosa like she was some kind of legendary creature.
And through it all, Coy remained nearly silent. They’re judging you. They’re wondering if you’re good enough. If we’re whole. If you’re worthy.
Rosa breathed slowly through her nose. Not today. Not in front of Kalev. Not in front of them. Her hands glided over the controls, smooth and flawless.
Professional. Composed. Untouched by the chaos beneath her skin.
“Returning to the Sunfire,” she announced. “Engaging warp in three.” Then, very quietly, just for herself, “And let’s get this over with.”
The runabout leapt forward. Stars stretched thin. Behind her, Kalev’s chatter resumed like the universe’s least necessary soundtrack. Rosa kept her eyes ahead, flying into silence, carrying her discomfort like an extra passenger.
Coy didn’t speak again, but she felt him. Thoughtful. Coiled. Waiting.
This was going to be a long flight. And the specialists had no idea the most volatile part of the joining was sitting right at the helm.
TBC
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