Trill Questions

Posted on 11 Jan 2026 @ 5:41am by Lieutenant JG Cajag Lagnas & Lieutenant Commander Temerant Bast

1,429 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Ten Forward
Timeline: Current

::ON::

Ten forward was traditionally a starships central hub for all members of the crew to gather, relax and enjoy each others company. It was more often than not situated in forward section of a Starfleet star ship saucer section, port side at about the ten O'clock position on a Terran earth clock.

However Caj was still getting his bearings on the nebula class star ship, let alone one with all the upgrades. So Caj walked in and noticed the lack of ceiling, instead what looked like a transparent aluminium ceiling showing the stars above streaming along at warp speed, he was not sure where on the ship he was. But gave a satisfactory nod at seeing the bar and the XO ordering a drink.

"Good Evening Sir" said Caj politely as he moved up to the bar.

Bast rested his elbows on the bar while he waited for his synthale, taking in the sights of the new lounge. It was a major improvement from the old Fat Alice's - the new holoceiling was particularly impressive. Even though they were sandwiched between decks, holoemitters connected directly to the sensor relays reproduced the exterior view, making it seem as though they were standing outside. Some people might experience vertigo or find the sight a bit unsettling, and thus the view could be customized or turned off at will.

He turned when he heard Caj's voice. "Cajag," he greeted. "We're off-duty, you can drop the 'Sir'," he said.

The waiter returned with Temerant's synthale, a stout replica with a generous foam. He locked eyes with the Benzite waiter, and nodded in Cajag's direction, prompting the waiter to get the Science officer's order.

“Long Island Ice Tea please” said Caj to the bartender. “Difficult
Commander, I mean sir….sorry I mean Temerant….” Responded Caj with a fumble of words and ranks. “I’m still getting use to people calling me sir” Caj pointed to the new pip on his collar. “Let alone calling command staff by their first name.”


"You get used to it," said Temerant. As the waiter returned with Cajag's order, Temerant led the way toward the table where he'd already set up. A stack of data PaDDs was there waiting for him, with detailed test plans from nearly every department for his review. Commander Stovek had already given his input, now it was the First Officer 's turn to put his stamp of approval.

"How do you like our new ship?" he asked as they took a seat.

“Well I grew up on a galaxy class starship so this nebula class, even with its refit, feels a lot like home. She is a beauty of a ship……..but she has been through a lot. As have her crew….well some of them. I hope we don’t get a divide between old crew and new.”

Temerant nodded in agreement. Over half the crew was new, and hadn't lived through what the other half had just experienced. They wouldn't see the ghosts haunting the deck that the rest of the survivors would see. But he knew they were professionals. Trauma aside, this was no different from the launch of a brand-new ship, that needed to develop cohesion among a brand-new crew. If anything, Starfleet officers were empathetic, understanding and compassionate. He said as much to Cajag.

"It will be a challenge," he acknowledged. "But I know we'll be able to rise above it. As far as getting used to the new ship, we're all on equal footing, everything having changed so much. As for integrating new and old crew, I would think the department and division heads would organize team-building exercises."

Caj made a mental note. He was still getting use to being a department head. Let alone in charge of anyone or anything. So he probably get the science department together "You see thats why your in charge Mr Bast sir. Good ideas like that....."

"You'll get the hang of it," said Bast, taking a sip of synthale. "When he made you department head, the Captain didn't choose blindly. He acted according to your evaluation reports from your previous postings. He knows you have the potential, and the necessary qualities to become a good one. That little spark, that je ne sais quoi that can't be taught. Some things, you need to learn to become a good department head. Those you can pick up following holocourses from Starfleet Academy. But the spark that makes you a great leader - what Kirk had. What Picard had, Archer, Pike, Nelson - that's in you. You'll find out how to take that seed of leadership, and make it blossom."

Caj nodded to himself thoughtfully and wondered what the Captain new about his last posting that he didn't.....which was a lot. The Trill took sip of his own drink. "Are you a joined Trill Sir....I mean Mr Bast...sorry i mean Temerant."

Temerant suppressed a smile at Cajag's obvious discomfort at addressing him by his first name. He'd given permission, now it was up to the junior officer to pick what he was most comfortable with.

"Yes, I am," he replied. "The Bast symbiont has been with me for nearly four years now."

Caj shuddered a little a the thought of something else alive inside him. "Can you, you know, feel it like wiggling inside you?"

Temerant, who had been lifting his synthase to take a sip, paused with the glass raised to his mouth, the rich foam tickling his lips. He stifled a chuckle but barely succeeded, and blew a few drops onto the table. Of all the questions he might have expected about the joining experience.... This one had never made the list. Which didn't make the question indiscreet, inappropriate or invalid - just unexpected.

"The normal digestive process has your stomach continually contracting and twisting on itself," he said. "The same goes for the intestines. I don't feel Bast moving around any more than you feel your stomach or your bowels."

Caj made a funny face. “But sometime when you have eaten something bad you might get indigestion or an unpleasant bowel movement…can you feel when it is upset?”

Had they been on Trill, the comparison of the symbiont with an upset stomach or a loose bowel movement might have been considered offensive at most, or in bad taste at the least. But Temerant knew that Cajag hadn't grown up on Trill, or even among Trill aside from his parents, who hadn't been joined themselves. His exposure to Trill culture was limited, so he was not offended by the question.

"Bast is me. I am the fusion of Temerant Lochees, and of the Bast symbiont, who also carries the memories, personalities and experiences of Lamora and of Wilem, who were the previous hosts. If Bast is upset, then I am upset."

He took a sip of his synthale. "That being said, it is possible for either the host or the symbiont being injured or ill, while the other is perfectly fine." As if to remind him, his artificial eye suddenly sprang into action, and displayed readings on air pressure and the temperature of his synthale, the characters hovering in his field of vision. He blinked them away. "It happened just recently actually, when I was injured in the near-destruction of the Cygnus. The symbiont was fine."

Caj took a long thoughtful sip of his drink. His tone got a bit more serious “Does it bother you at all that the symbiot creates an elite ruling class system on Trill? Like if you don’t get a symbiot you don’t get to be in charge of anything and even if you are your never going to be listened to over someone that does have a symbiot? You know what i mean? Doesn’t it create a minority ruling a majority?”

Bast almost choked on his synthale. He coughed, spraying foam on the table. "Now where would you get an idea like that?" he asked. "Half of the Maer's cabinet is unjoined, and nearly two-thirds of the Trill Diplomatic Corps."

Caj shrugged a little and took a sip of his drink “I dunno it just….you know…”. Clearly Caj was struggling to find the right words. “It’s just….doesn’t it worry you or your symbiot that create an elite class system like….just looking at it from the outside in…..” he shrugged again “I dunno my parents never took me to Trill…..” Caj finished his drink “anyway best get off. Thanks for the drink”

 

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