User:CzechOut/Sandbox

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

Reassociation is a term introduced by—and exclusive to—the DS9 episode "Rejoined". It primarily describes the continuation of a romantic relationship by one Trill host of a symbiont with a partner of a previous host.

[edit] Reassociation as forbidden by "Rejoined"

Almost everything that is known about reassociation comes from non-Trills. Although Benjamin Sisko claims to have heard the word defined by Curzon Dax, in fact the word is never used by a Trill in any part of canon. The fullest explanation the audience gets about the concept is the one Dr. Bashir gives to Kira.

"One thing I don't understand is why Dax and Lenara can't just... pick up where they left off. I mean, if they're still in love with each other --"

"Ah, but there's the rub. Even if they do harbor feelings for each other, it's strictly against the rules of Trill society for them to acknowledge it in any way."

"The rules?"

"It's more of a . . . taboo, really. Having a relationship with a lover from a past life is called "reassociation", and the Trill feel very strongly that it's . . . unnatural."

- a portion of Bashir's comments on the concept to Kira

Despite Bashir's insistence that it is a taboo, it carries with it some force of law. The expected punishment for committing an act of reassociation is exile from the Trill homeworld.

"...I know how you feel about Lenara... but I want you to think about what'll happen if you pursue this. If you're exiled from Trill...there'll be no further hosts for your symbiont. When Jadzia dies... Dax dies."

- Sisko, weighing the options of reassociation with Dax

Jadzia and Lenara are shown to explicitly agree with this possible consequence. The other Trills in the episode— Dr. Pren and Bejal—are shown to be concerned with Jadzia and Lenara's apparent affection for one another, but never mention the consequences of reassociation directly.

[edit] Rationale for ban

Bashir provides the audience with the sole rationale for the ban.

"The whole point of joining is to allow the symbiont to accumulate experiences over the span of many lifetimes. But in order to move on from host to host, the symbiont has to let go of the past... let go of parents, children, siblings, even spouses."

- From "Rejoined"

This explanation seems to broaden the meaning of reassociation to include a much broader range of relationships than "Rejoined" actively contemplated. It seems to imply that, ideally, Trills should live wholly new lives after each joining.

[edit] Reassociation as seen elsewhere in canon

Prior to "Rejoined", the idea of reassociation was never suggested. When the Trill species was first introduced in "The Host", the essential substance of the plot was the Odan symbiont's love of Beverly Crusher across multiple hosts. Unlike the similar "Rejoined", "Host" shows a Trill enthusiastically persuing an act of reassociation with vigor.

Though the term is not used outside of "Rejoined", the basic concept has appeared several times. On no occasion has it actually led to Trill exile. The closest the rest of Trek comes to the meaning and consequences conveyed in "Rejoined" is in the immediate aftermath of the transfer of the Dax symbiont to Ezri Tigan. On this occasion the newly formed Ezri Dax is forced to deal with Jadzia's recently-widowed husband, Worf.

"Maybe he's just trying to respect your customs—he knows that joined Trill aren't supposed to get involved with the people their previous hosts were married to."

"That doesn't mean we can't talk to each other. Worf knows that."

- Sisko and Ezri talk in "Afterimage"

In this instance, there is no mention of penalties for breaking the reassociation "ban". Moreover, the episode makes it clear that the substance of the conversation Ezri desires with Worf will involve an acknowledgement of their past relationship—something that Bashir calls a violation of the policy in "Rejoined".

Indeed, Ezri Dax on the whole seems much less concerned with reassociation than Jadzia. In the immediate aftermath of joining, she chose to continue her strong bond with Sisko, She choses to remain on DS9, despite being allowed to continue her assignment onboard USS Destiny. This decision allows for several acts of romantic reassociation to occur. A date with Jadzia's former lover, Captain Boday, is implied in "Penumbra". She risks her life to find Worf in sleeps with Worf again. Even her sexual relationship with Bashir could be said to be an act of reassociation since Ezri reveals that had not Worf come along, Jadzia would've ended up with the doctor.

When the Trill species was first introduced in "The Host", the essential substance of the plot was the Odan symbiont's love of Beverly Crusher across multiple hosts. The relationship isn't ended by fear of the penalties associated with reassociation, but merely Crusher's sexual preference. Later, in "Dax", Jadzia upholds commitments made to a past lover, at the risk of losing both her life and that of the Dax symbiont. Most obviously, in "Rejoined" itself, no penalty is assessed to either Dax or Khan, despite strong suspicion amongst other Trills that their relationship has resumed. And, finally, except for Sisko's single statement in Season 7, Ezri indulges in acts of reassociation with frequency. Ezri is known to have slept with Worf. It's also implied in "Penumbra" that she at least enjoyed the romantic attention of Captain Boday, a former lover of Jadzia. Her series-ending sexual relationship with Bashir seems also to have been a violation of the rule, because Ezri reveals that "if it hadn't been for Worf" Bashir and Jadzia would have ended up together.

In "Playing God", Jadzia never mentions the subject to her Trill initiate.

Platonic friendships without a romantic element are not subject to this rule, and may be resumed. Since the point of each successive host is for the symbiont to acquire new lifetimes of experiences, Trill consider re-connecting with relationships from a past life "unnatural". Joined Trill who reassociate are exiled from Trill society, and their symbionts die with the current host since they no longer have access to new hosts. This is a dire consequence, since for Trill nothing is more important than protecting the life of the symbiont. (DS9: "Rejoined")

Some things about reassociation seem to conflict with what was seen in TNG: "The Host", when the Odan symbiont appeared willing to rejoin with Beverly Crusher after its transference into a new host. In addition to this, Ezri Dax joined the crew of Deep Space 9 with no apparent trouble. It is possible that this law does not apply to non-Trill.