Star Trek: Hidden Frontier; Boldly Going... Corey Aster, Ro Nevin, Jorian Zen
Title: Boldly Going Where No Fan-Series Has Gone Before
Author: setos_puppy
Fandom: Star Trek: Hidden Frontier, Star Trek: Odyssey, Star Trek: Helena Chronicles
Pairing(s): Corey Aster, Ro Nevin, Jorian Zen
Spoilers: A lot. Synopses of scenes in seasons 1-7 of Hidden Frontier, scenes in seasons 1-2 of Odyssey and Helena Chronicles. This is done to keep those who have not seen the series to understand the flow of the essay but major plot spoilers are avoided as best as possible.
Warnings: Copious use of photos and quotes and personal opinion. (Do these even count as warnings?)
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine; they belong to the mind of Rob Caves and the writers and Areakat Productions/Hidden Frontier Productions
Notes: I’m shocked this all fit in one entry!
Part I: Introduction to Fandom
It all started about two years ago, when through bored, late night wikipedia searching, I discovered the fanfilm known as Star Trek: Hidden Frontier. It had concluded or was just about to conclude its seven season run when I had stumbled into a world that would grab hold of me and never let me go.
Being a fan since I was young, growing up with TNG, DS9 and Voyager, I had always loved the complex world of Star Trek. The progressiveness that went along with it and the series’ devotion to its characters only furthered my love.
However, my love for Hidden Frontier didn’t rekindle until about two months ago. I had watched the series off and on, but had never concluded it, due to both lack of time and lack of interest - not in the series or the characters, but more lack of motivation. After re-watching season five and starting seasons six and seven (which I had not previously watched) my love of three particular characters - Corey Aster, Ro Nevin and Jorian Zen - sparked and their complex love triangle sucked me in.
From then on, I became and still am dedicated to their stories as they unfold in the spin offs Helena Chronicles and Odyssey.
Part II: Story Synopsis
Hidden Frontier takes place in the Briar Patch, a nebulous area of the Alpha Quadrant. Several ships under the command of Deep Space 12 guard the area from various threats, mostly that of the Grey, the Tholians and later the mysterious Siroc. There are also mysterious artifacts nicknamed as the Tetrahedrons which seem to cause nothing but trouble.
Odyssey takes place directly after Hidden Frontier, the USS Odyssey was dispatched to the Andromeda Galaxy to destroy an Archein wormhole which threatens Romulan space. Once in the Andromeda galaxy a heated battle ensues cutting the Odyssey’s command crew down to almost none and traps the Odyssey within the Andromeda galaxy over two million light years from home (or, for those of you wondering, 5095 years and 207 days). With a shaky crew and left stranded in alien space with no allies and no charts to guide them, the Odyssey is on an adventure. Ro has now been put in command of the ship and must do all he can to get his crew and ship home.
Helena Chronicles is a corresponding show to Odyssey. The USS Helena was dispatched by Starfleet to retrieve the USS Odyssey and bring her home. Along the way, however, the Helena encounters problems with Starfleet as well as various obstacles impeding its mission to retrieve the USS Odyssey.
Ro Nevin - Mark One
We meet Ro Nevin in the second episode of the series, introduced as the brother of Ro Lauren. He is played by Arthur Bosserman and is generally a background character, an ensign in the engineering/science department and good at what he does. In the first season and the first half of the second season Ro Nevin goes rather unnoticed.
Then Corey Aster shows up and Ro Nevin’s world is knocked off balance (HF: 2.05 - Enke). We learn that Ro and Aster knew each other back in the academy on Earth and had several classes together. While Aster boasts he remembers Ro, Ro admits that he doesn’t remember the other. However, when Nevin asks Corey if he is attracted to him, he is disturbed and confused when Corey replies that he does.
Ro tells Corey that he doesn’t feel the same and the dejected Aster returns to his post on a neighboring ship with his friendship with Nevin in tact, but nevertheless, changed forever.
We don’t hear much on the development of the Aster-Ro relationship front until the third season (HF: 3.07 - Ashes). In this episode we learn that Corey Aster has been permanently reassigned to the USS Excelsior and has been there for approximately three months, during which time, Ro Nevin has been actively avoiding him; even going so far as to skipping his shifts in engineering.
Nevin is deeply confused by his feelings for Corey, unsure of whether or not he’s attracted to him stating that he’s ‘never felt that way about anyone.’ He is finally confronted by Corey several times throughout the episode for dates, or to simply talk about their relationship - or lack thereof. Towards the end of the episode, Nevin reveals his family’s plans for him; raising a family, getting married, passing on heirlooms to his children. Aster, shocked by the rigidity of Nevin’s family and religious devotion, leaves despite Nevin asking him to stay. The episode concludes with Nevin asking Corey to watch a hoverball tournament with him and Corey agreeing.
However, this bliss does not last, as in season four; we see that the complexities in their relationship have driven a schism between them. Nevin is still struggling with the idea of having feelings for a man, and Corey has all but given up hope with Nevin and pursues a relationship with Jorian Zen.
This relationship only serves to further confuse Ro as he grows jealous over the relationship with Jorian and Corey and is deeply concerned with his friend’s well being in the relationship (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads; HF: 5.03 - Darkest Night).
Ro Nevin Mark One as played by Arthur Bosserman is a character struggling to find his identity. Nevin thinks he knows who he is and is fairly happy with being an efficient worker, with few but very dear friends and a love for girls. This identity is challenged by Corey Aster and causes Ro to begin a journey of self discovery down a path he never saw coming to a future he would never expect.
Ro Nevin - Mark Two
This Ro Nevin is played by the wonderfully glorious Bobby Rice for seasons six and seven and the first episode of Star Trek: Odyssey. Still struggling with his sexual identity and most likely bitter due to the loss of Corey, Nevin begins a relationship with a female Bajoran reporter named Tara Abis (HF: 6.03 - Homeport).
From the very beginning their relationship is shaky, oddly paced and deeply emotionless. It is clear that Tara has more invested in the idea of a relationship than Ro is. Oddly, during the first few weeks/months of their dating, Ro shields Corey from Tara’s existence, and it is only through an accidental meeting (when Corey seeks advice from Nevin and Tara enters Nevin’s quarters) that they meet (HF: 6.04 - Beachhead). It is through Tara that we learn that Nevin talks incessantly about Corey, and because of this she has wanted to meet him for some time, however, because of ‘opposing duty shifts’ (whether real or made up) they have been unable to.
It is, in my opinion, the following episode (HF: 6.05 - Vigil) that changes the Corey and Nevin dichotomy forever. In this episode, Tara finally gets her wish to meet with Corey Aster, as she spots him in the dining hall when she and Nevin are eating, and boldly invites him over. As she moves off from the table to gather their drinks and food, she sees Corey and Nevin avidly and animatedly talking, smiling and laughing together and sees Nevin in a happy state she herself has been unable to cause.
It is later that night, when Corey and Nevin meet secretly on the holodeck to talk. They are all alone and Corey has been made to look Bajoran - which Ro asked him to do for fun and tells him ‘he looks good as a Bajoran’. This is the following conversation:
RO: I need to confess something; I lied.
ASTER: Lied?
RO: When you first came aboard the Enke mission, I lied.
ASTER: About what?
RO: I told you I didn’t remember you from the academy. The terraforming class we both had, I was failing it.
ASTER: I know.
RO: I know you knew. A PADD with all the notes to prepare for the final exam mysteriously showed up in my dorm room. I know you gave me those notes.
ASTER: How?
RO: I asked around. You didn’t cover your tracks very well.
ASTER: And you never said anything. Ever!
RO: I didn’t know what to say! Or what I was feeling, and so I lied. And I kept lying, and I’m tired of it, and I need to you and I need to tell Abis what I’m feeling.
ASTER: And what are you feeling?
RO: I love you, Corey. Look, I know my timing is terrible and this is the last thing you need to hear with everything going on between you and Zen but I - (He is stopped by Corey’s finger to his lips).
ASTER: Let’s just sit with this for a while.
RO: Corey I… (He leans in for a kiss before pausing) Computer, end program. (The holodeck fades, leaving Nevin standing alone in the room).
[Nevin admitting his feelings to Holo-Corey]
This scene is pivotal in so many ways, not only does it allow for a glimpse into Nevin’s true feelings - ones he never before was able to confess, but also his history with Corey. It also shows Nevin as fearful - he was unable to confront the real Corey Aster just yet and reveal his feelings - not wanting to come between his friend and his friend’s boyfriend, despite their currently rocky relationship (which will be discussed later), instead he fashions a holographic Corey to whom he can pour his heart out to; who he can tell everything, but still, he is unable to kiss him.
After this scene, Nevin returns to his room and to Abis, who he tells of his feelings for Corey. She admits that she thinks she knew, but she was hiding from it. She gathers her things, wishes him happiness and leaves.
However, Nevin is unable to confront Corey, and instead sits back fearfully and watches his friend’s relationship flounder and fall apart.
Season Seven has the largest arc for Nevin’s character, in the second episode of the season (HF: 7.02 - Bound) he is first confronted by his friend Matt about his attitude towards Corey. Matt says the two of them are ‘dancing around each other’; Matt then encourages Nevin to ask out Nej’ta, a Klingon captain.
Nevin and Nej’ta endure a rite of passage together, and end up passionately kissing at the end of it. (It is one of the steamiest kisses in the series, if not the steamiest.) This relationship seems more of a mix of emotion and sex than Nevin’s relationship with Abis, and lasts much longer, but still, Nevin’s feelings for Corey are evident.
Corey and Nevin meet up after several weeks apart and catch up on things (HF: 7.05 - The Widening Gyre). Corey expresses shock that Ro is in a relationship with a Klingon, but is happy for his friend. Nevin says while being with Nej’ta is nice and he has feelings for him, he wishes for a relationship like one Jorian and Corey have. It is then he learns that there is trouble brewing with his best friend’s relationship. He learns that Corey is conflicted in what he should do and asks the other what he wishes for:
RO: What do you want?
ASTER: I don’t know anymore.
RO: Matthew told me something, before I started with Nej’ta, he said that you and I have been dancing around with each other for a while.
ASTER: (scoffs) Yeah… I guess so.
RO: But are we ready to dance together? Jorian will come back to you, and Nej’ta wears his feelings on his sleeve. Are we ready to hurt them? For what? The arboretum is romantic and I’ve had too much blood wine?
ASTER: This isn’t working out the way I thought it would…
RO: You thought… After the Klingon, a little romance? A little mood lighting?
ASTER: I thought we’d be back at my quarters right now.
RO: Would you like to go back to your quarters?
ASTER: Jorian will be back. I have to give him a chance.
[Nevin and Corey discuss what they want]
Nevin has moved beyond the shy, unsure Bajoran we once knew. He knows his feelings for Corey are true, strong, and impossible to ignore. He loves Nej’ta, but it isn’t a ‘something special’ like he so desperately hopes for. While his feelings for Nej’ta remain strong, his time with Nej’ta is cut short with an untimely kidnapping and the death of his Klingon lover (HF: 7.06 - Things Fall Apart).
It is only after he has been rescued that he learns of Nej’ta’s death and mourns the other in a traditional Klingon manner. It is six months after this that he gets what he truly wishes for, someone special to be with - his husband - Corey Aster (HF: 7.08 - Its Hour Come Round at Last).
However, good things must come to an end, and that is where we find ourselves in Odyssey. A new alien threat coming from the Andromeda Galaxy puts a damper on Corey and Nevin’s honeymoon plans. The two, who are specialists when it comes to slip stream technology, are needed for a project to stop the threat from invading forces. They are split onto two separate ships, Nevin on the USS Odyssey and Corey on the Klingon ship the R'Kargh. A heated battle ensues in which the Odyssey is stranded in the Andromeda Galaxy and the R’Kargh is destroyed, its passengers ejecting into escape pods. (OD: 1.01 - Iliad)
This, as is obvious, puts a serious strain on the Corey/Nevin relationship and will no doubt push it to the limit.
Ro Nevin - Mark Three
This version of Nevin is played by the Bradon McConnell. Stranded so far from home, this is a very different Ro from the first two we’ve seen. He must take command of the USS Odyssey and take the crew home. Thousands, if not millions of light years from home, he must mature and adapt quickly.
Brandon’s Nevin is harder, more callous, he is a tough leader as he needs to be, but as we see, when he is in private, he is still soft, still nervous, and quite obviously lonely. Due to the obvious inability of the situation, Brandon’s Nevin has yet to have interacted with Corey, so we have no idea of where the relationship will go.
We know, however, that he still loves Corey (OD: 2.01 - On The Knees of the Gods). We also know that Corey is a guiding force in his life - as a Prophet appears to him as Corey (OD: 1.04 - Vile Gods).
Nevin is Odysseus, lost and traveling with a wayward crew, desperate to find his way home. The journey no doubt will be long and life changing, but we are anxious to take it with him.
Corey Aster
Played by J.T. Tepnapa, Corey Aster is a deeply interesting and complex character. He is Terran/Human, cousin to Jeremy Aster and an orphan. His parents were killed in WOLF 359 by the Borg, of whom he both greatly resents and greatly fears. He holds slightly psychic powers, as he has premonitions which present through dreams.
As previously stated, we meet Corey Aster in season two (HF: 2.05 - Enke), he is openly gay and crushing on Ro Nevin. Though spurned by Nevin, he finds friendship with the Bajoran and later marries him (HF: 7.08 - Its Hour Has Come At Last).
Corey is pivotal in many ways to the Star Trek universe, he is the first openly gay male to have an on-screen relationship, and he is the initiator of the first on-screen male-male kiss in Star Trek history! (HF: 4.04 - Grey Matters) A kiss with a gay Cardassian no less.
[First gay kiss in Trek history!]
He later enters a relationship with Jorian Zen, a Trill whom has been after him for some time (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads).
Their relationship, however, is tested when on their first year anniversary; Jorian’s old mentor comes back and asks Jorian to take his symbiot. (HF: 5.06 - The Battle is Joined) Trill are a species in which there are symbiotic beings: a host (which has a humanoid body, with reddish brown markings on the body) and a symbiot (a grey, worm like parasite). When a host is joined with a symbiot it gains the memories of all the previous hosts the symbiot joined with and allows its own memories to be added to the symbiot.
Jorian takes the symbiot illegally, shunning himself from his family and home world forever if the joining was ever discovered, and becomes Jorian Dao. Now with the knowledge of seventeen previous lifetimes, Dao becomes an important member of the crew.
There is one key factor to this whole equation which causes a problem - Cassius Dao, who was Jorian’s mentor - was exiled from Trill society for renewing a relationship from a previous lifetime with a woman.
Things are further complicated when Jorian is promoted to a secret assignment to research Grey technology due to Dao’s years of experience. Jorian is unallowed to tell Corey what is going on, and this causes problems. (HF: 6.03 - Homeport)
The problems come to a head when Jorian must visit Trill to research and gain information. Corey has no issue with his lover returning home, however, he has no idea that while there, Jorian will be meeting with Tesla Mor, one of Dao’s past lovers (HF: 7.03 - Past Sins).
This only grows worse as she is kidnapped for information and Jorian goes on a wild goose chase to find her. (HF: 7.04 - Hearts and Minds - HF: 7.07 - Things Fall Apart) It is in (HF: 7.07 - Things Fall Apart) that we open to find Jorian and Tesla entwined, naked in bed.
Jorian is torn, the love he feels for Tesla obvious and the love he thinks he feels for Corey obligatory. Corey is angered by what happens and runs off. Later, he and Jorian have a conversation over their relationship:
ZEN: Corey!
ASTER: What is it Jorian? I’m trying to get the Excelsior back.
ZEN: Nechayev’s ordered it abandoned, there’s no time for repair. Come on. Come with me, I have a ship assignment for us.
ASTER: That’s insane, the Excelsior could be lost.
ZEN: That’s out our hands now.
ASTER: So that’s it? You’re giving up. Just giving up on everything we’ve invested.
ZEN: Corey, wait. Please… Talk to me…Give me that.
ASTER: I’ve given you enough.
ZEN: I need you to understand.
ASTER: Here’s what I understand, you left me.
ZEN: I did, and I can only imagine how betrayed you feel, but Corey, I came back! It won’t happen again.
ASTER: Happen again? Jorian, I’m not talking about this thing with your old girlfriend! You left me the day you joined with Dao.
ZEN: Corey, I’m right here! Despite my joining with Dao I’m here for you. I know where my loyalties lie.
ASTER: Of all the lives you’ve lived and you still haven’t figured this out; loyalty isn’t love! You have to feel as if you can’t live without it! Love can’t be an obligation!
ZEN: You were more than an item on my to-do list! I loved you.
ASTER: And then you didn’t.
[“And then you didn’t.” - Corey Aster ends it with Jorian]
Their relationship has fallen apart, but it is Corey who realizes it first, as much as he loves Jorian - as much as he has loved Jorian - they must move on. They remain friends however, as Jorian is Corey’s best man at his and Ro’s wedding.
After the events of Odyssey, and Corey’s escape from the R’Kharg in an escape pod, we meet up with him in Helena Chronicles. We learn for the past six months he’s been in a coma, having been deeply injured by the blast which followed the destruction of the R’Kharg and was found by Romulans who did little to care for him, before he was returned to the care of Starfleet via the USS Helena.
Upon awaking, he finds Jorian at his bedside and grows confused, demanding Ro. Jorian soothes Corey as best he can and explains the situation, the USS Odyssey has been declared officially lost if not already completely destroyed and her crew dead. Corey grows angry at this, refusing to believe Nevin is dead, stating that he can feel him and that he knows he’s alive.
After a vision and gaining mysterious wounds on his hands, Corey sees it as a sign of life from Nevin and fights bitterly to prove he’s right. (HC: 1.01 - Sanctuary Lost and HC: 1.02 - Obsessions)
When his desire to find Ro leads to disaster, Corey leaves the Helena to find his own way to find his husband. (HC: 2.01 - Minstrel Boy)
What will come of Corey and his search for Nevin leaves much to hope. In the sense of the Odyssey, Corey is Penelope - waiting anxiously, patiently for his husband to return. It leads to many questions, how long will his wait be? What will his husband be like when he returns?
Jorian Zen
Played by the very talented Adam Browne, we first meet him in season three (HF: 3.07 - Ashes). He has a single line and seems to be very shy, but very smitten with one Corey Aster, who is kind to him in return but sends him on his way without a fuss.
We know not much of Jorian’s past, except like Corey, his parents were lost in WOLF 359 and he’s always wanted to be joined with a symbiot. (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads) We learn that he’s always admired and been attracted to Corey since joining the Excelsior but did nothing because he did not want to get in the way of Ro and Corey’s relationship.
Jorian is shy and timid but deeply cares about Corey and is very possessive and protective of him. He wishes to meet up with and start a friendship with Ro Nevin so there is no animosity between them, but finds this hard to do. (HF: 5.03 - Darkest Night)
It is after his joining with Dao in season five (HF: 5.06 - The Battle is Joined) that his relationship and personality begin to change. His timid, sweet, shyness fades for a more assertive, bold and almost smartass attitude. He’s cocky and condescending; he assures Corey that he’s ‘always looking out for his best interest’.
In many ways, their relationship becomes almost parent-child or teacher-student. He cares for Corey as Dao, but he no longer loves him as he once did. He feels obligated to be with Corey because he cares for him and he knows Corey has feelings for him, but as previously stated by Corey - loyalty isn’t love and Jorian Dao needs to learn that.
In Helena Chronicles Jorian is the first officer to Captain Fisal. He finally has control and the ability to assert and maintain the control he needs and craves. He is a good second in command, stern, but also loving at times and a good voice of reason to Fisal as well as other members of the crew.
Where Jorian Zen is headed I have no idea. I do however; know that I have grown to love him as a character. I loved him, hated him, and am back to loving him again. He is quirky, sweet and loyal to a fault. He is trusting and honest and a dear friend. He is also stubborn as a mule, strongly opinioned and humorous in a witty, sometimes deadpanned way.
There are so many directions in which this character can go and I am eager to explore them.
Part IV: Relationships
Corey and Nevin - Whatever Powers Your Starship
In a word, these two are soul mates. It takes them a while to get there, but once they reach it, it’s damn obvious. Though their relationship starts before we can witness it at the academy, it blossoms on the USS Excelsior. Even after turning Corey away from him as a potential lover, Ro wishes for his friend to remain hopeful and gives him words of encouragement and of love:
One of these days a good looking guy is going to fall in love with you. He’s going to be very lucky. (HF: 2.05 - Enke)
[“He’s going to be very lucky.”]
It is clear that while he doesn’t love Corey in the romantic sense (yet) that he holds a deep care for him.
The two have a palpable connection that many can sense and none can sever, this is referenced several times and almost always by Jorian Zen:
ASTER: I never see you in Ten Forward [which is a holodeck simulation]. Are you always hiding up here?
ZEN: I guess I get a bit focused on work. MacFarlane can be a bit of a perfectionist.
ASTER: But we all need a little holodeck time. You know, you should join Ro and I for lunch.
ZEN: Ensign Ro? I don’t know…
ASTER: Why not?
ZEN: You don’t think he’ll mind?
ASTER: Why would he mind?
ZEN: I just thought you guys would like… you know, privacy?
ASTER: Oh! (laughs) No. Things never quite worked there. Long story.
ZEN: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply anything.
ASTER: No, Ro and I are just friends. What we tried for… well, let’s just say he can’t figure out what he wants and I can only spend so much time waiting for someone to face their inner demons. I think we’re both happy with our friendship.
The above conversation (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads) tells much of the Aster and Ro relationship. It tells us with finality that Ro and Aster are no longer dating, or have given up trying, but despite that, they remain friends. This conversation also shows that despite their being friends they have a chemistry to those observing them.
This chemistry is mentioned again by Tara Abis when she confronts Ro about his feelings (HF: 6.05 - Vigil):
TARA: Nevin, you’ve been on edge for weeks. You need to talk to me.
RO: You’re right. I do. It’s about Corey. I have feelings for him.
TARA: I think I knew that. I’ve been hiding from it as much as I think you were. We both need to do something about it. (She begins to gather and pack her things).
RO: What do you mean? Abis, what are you doing?
TARA: I’m not… angry with you Nevin. I want you to be happy. That can’t happen with me here. I’m leaving right away so you have no reason not to deal with this.
She, like Nevin, has been lying to herself, that the chemistry is just a good friendship, that she and Nevin have something special. However, when Nevin comes to terms with his feelings and admits them to her, she realizes that she must no longer hide or shield him and that she must push him to do what he must and admit these feelings to Corey.
The next and perhaps the final nudge for Ro comes from his friend Matt McCabe who chastises Nevin for ‘dancing around Corey’. It is probably the most significant turn of events for Nevin in the series when it comes to his relationship with Corey (HF: 7.02 - Bound).
MACABE: Whatever happened to that reporter you were seeing? [Tara Abis]
RO: Ah, things didn’t work out.
MACABE: What happened?
RO: We weren’t… compatible.
MACABE: Uh-huh. You keep doing this dance, Nevin! It gets old! Corey waited for you and then someone else came along; get over it!
RO: I thought we were talking about Abis. You treat it like it’s a straight forward thing Matt, and its not.
MACABE: Lie to yourself, its not just you that gets hurt. You keep pining for Corey, especially with him and Zen on the skids and everybody involved gets hurt.
RO: You don’t think I know that?! I don’t want to screw things up for them! I think I’ll just stay in my quarters and be a hermit - it’s safer there.
The most ironic thing about the above conversation is how quickly it turns. Matt orders a round of drinks and sends an order of blood wine over to Nej’ta on Ro’s behalf. Matt in an odd way, is pushing Nevin to accept a relationship with a man, perhaps even Corey.
The transcendent bond of Ro and Aster is mentioned twice more once again by Jorian Zen and once by a person who has never met either - Maya Stadi. They both occur after Ro and Aster’s wedding; the first Corey wakes from his coma and learns of the loss of the Odyssey. While everyone else has given up hope that Nevin and the ship are lost forever, Corey has not. His psychic powers are capable of sensing Nevin and when he admits this to Zen, the other, after some conversation, sees this as a possibility (HC: 1.01 - Sanctuary Lost).
[Corey wakes to find Nevin lost]
ASTER: When I close my eyes I can feel his heart beat. Why won’t you believe me? You know of all the people on board, why won’t you believe me?!
ZEN: You have to understand, I empathize, I really do. I’ve had eighteen lifetimes of getting used to losing people I love but… you and Ro… even when we were together there was a connection I couldn’t touch; couldn’t break.
ASTER: The connection is still there. He’s alive.
ZEN: You can’t get stuck here, Corey. You have to let him go…
Corey clings to these fleeting mental - psychic glimpses into Ro’s existence, the connection he has is unbreakable, as Zen says and no matter what others say, he won’t give up hope. He gains further hope when (in attempt to escape his sickbay confinement) he falls, sees a vision of Ro and gains curious sub dermal burns on his hands which - according to his vision - he gained from picking up Ro’s earring. He sees these burns as a map or other sign of location to Ro. Everyone believes these wounds are further proof of Corey’s instability, thinking they’re either psychosomatic or self-inflicted. Yet Jorian begins to believe in the visions and beliefs that Corey is feeling.
FISAL: How’s Aster?
ZEN: Physically, he suffered a setback. Mentally… Corey believes that the wounds on his hand came from his vision. He refuses to let Dr. Ness remove the scars and Dr. Ness believes that at best they’re psychosomatic, at worst self-inflicted. Corey was alone long enough in sickbay to find a laser scalpel.
FISAL: And what do you believe?
ZEN: I don’t know. Lt. Cmd. S’Tal believed she had a connection with Andrew Barrett that defied distance, and in the end was proved correct. And when the Borg attacked Fairpoint Station, Corey knew about it before the news reached us.
FISAL: Do the patterns on his hands have any significance?
ZEN: I don’t know, but I owe it to him to find out.
These suspicions of the wounds on Corey’s hand are later proven correct when Commander Lefler and Jorian reference a deep cluster in Archien space within Andromeda. The burns on Corey’s hand reference where the USS Odyssey was when Corey had his vision giving Starfleet a reference point on where to start looking. (HC: 1.02 - Obsessions)
[The mysterious wounds on Corey’s hand]
The second is during a happier time, just before the two get separated during the Odyssey mission (OD: 1.01 - Iliad). The two, saddened by the fact that they will have to wait one month before seeing each other again, engage in a session of quick newlywed goodbye sex. In doing so, they miss their transport to the Odyssey and during the transfer they catch, this is the following conversation:
ASTER: How are we going to explain to the Captain that we missed the 16:50 transport?
RO: The truth.
ASTER: Right.
RO: What you think I’m kidding?
ASTER: I think you better let me do the talking.
STADI: I think you should let me handle this.
RO: Why is that?
STADI: Because neither of you is going to impress the Captain if you say what you’re planning.
RO: How Betazoid of you.
STADI: Lt. Maya Stadi, Chief of Security, at your service.
RO: A pleasure. Since you already know who we are, I guess a formal introduction isn’t necessary.
STADI: Not at all. I wasn’t reading your minds; your body language said it all.
RO: In that case Lieutenant Commander Ro Nevin, science and slip stream specialist.
ASTER: Lieutenant Commander Corey Aster, I’m just here for the day.
[Nevin and Corey discuss what to say to their Commanding Officer]
Both are glowing, touchy-feely and adorably cute in the above scene. They don’t have a care in the world, they know, or rather, think their work will go off without a hitch and they’ll see each other again soon. Corey, cute and smug as always, enjoys bantering with his husband and has not a care how others will perceive him or his introduction of being ‘just there for the day’.
Another interesting thing is how Corey addresses Ro. As a Bajoran, Ro’s name is much like Asian names today, family name before personal name. Nevin is his name, but Ro is how he is often addressed as it is more polite. However, Corey addresses him as Nevin and is on a strictly first name basis with him and it is something Nevin allows. (HF: 3.07 - Ashes)
One final tidbit on the Aster-Ro relationship is on the finality of their relationship. Reading forum threads on the progression of their relationship by the series’ writers has given me such interesting information that shocked and awed me. Originally, the writers intended for Aster and Zen to marry at the end of season seven, for them to come through their hardships better for it. I understand where they come from and not knowing the original scripts and having no access to them, I cannot properly judge that I would not agree, but even discounting seasons six and seven, I find it hard to see a happy conclusion for Zen and Aster.
Perhaps it is simply pessimism on my part, but… I find that when Zen joined with Dao it firmly ended his relationship with Corey. Zen had warned him repeatedly that when he became joined he may no longer be the person he was and may no longer hold the same feelings for Aster. This, in my opinion, is proof that unless Jorian Zen remained forever unjoined, that a future with Aster was impossible.
Furthermore, having known each other since the Academy years and constantly being brought together, to forever deny their feelings and to never pursue a relationship seems rather unrealistic for Ro and Aster. Joining together, not necessarily in marriage, but in a loving way, appeared to be the next logical step for the two and it seems impossible to see it any other way.
Corey and Jorian - The Man Dedicated to Making Me an Honest Man
Zen and Corey are complex, deeply passionate and ravenously in love. They are, in many ways the exact type of couple that makes me happy to be a fangirl. They are each other’s best friend and equal. They play off of each other and are so very human in their relationship that it’s nearly impossible not to love them and even harder when they split apart.
Like Corey with Ro, Zen secretly pines after his object of affection. He is flustered easily around Corey and has a serious crush on him. He however, falls under the illusion that Corey is unavailable due to a relationship with Ro Nevin. He is so shy, that when he finally gets his chance with Corey, like any first love, he bolts off. Ironically, this invitation comes after a discussion of one Ro Nevin (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads):
ZEN: It’s pretty normal for Trill’s to be with others of the same sex. Bajorans tend to be more narrow minded where sexuality is involved; their culture is deeply rooted in religion and family, but I can understand what Ro is feeling - he can only be who he is.
ASTER: I should have never pursued a relationship with him.
ZEN: Ensign Ro doesn’t know what he’s missing… Well, we should really finish this up so I can report back to MacFarlane…
ASTER: Jorian, would you like to have a snack in Ten Forward, just us, no Ro.
ZEN: I… Uhm…should really finish this before… I gotta go (runs off)
[Aster asking Zen out for the first time]
ZEN: Lt. Aster…
ASTER: Zen! What brings you here at this hour?
ZEN: I wanted to redo the impulse regulators and I was reconsidering your offer.
ASTER: That was fast work, Jorian. Not bad. So, what was the offer?
ZEN: Ten Forward, just you and me? I’m sorry I got scared off earlier, it’s just… I’ve been attracted to you since that first day I met you in engineering, but I’ve been hesitant to say anything.
ASTER: So, you’re not seeing anyone?
ZEN: I’ve kind of shied away from relationships… I’ve lost too many people I’ve cared about.
ASTER: WOLF 359.
ZEN: How’d you know?
ASTER: I don’t know I just… sensed it.
ZEN: That’s a bit betazoid of you.
ASTER: My parents were at WOLF 359.
ZEN: I guess I’ve always wanted to be in a relationship but I’m not sure I can have one right now.
ASTER: I don’t understand.
ZEN: I’m in the Trill Initiate Program; I wouldn’t want to risk hurting someone if I became joined someday.
ASTER: Why would that hurt?
ZEN: I might not be the same person. I might not have the same feelings for them anymore.
ASTER: There are risks in everything, sometimes we need to accept the possibility of pain in our lives. Nothing tried, nothing gained.
ZEN: I wish it was that simple. I think you deserve better. Like you said, you can only wait so long for someone to face their inner demons. I don’t want to be another Ensign Ro.
ASTER: Well, who I wait for is up to me. So, how about that late snack? You hungry?
ZEN: A little…
This rather large chunk of dialogue tells us several very important and key things:
1) It shows us how alike Jorian and Corey are. That they both pined after the person they love for a long time and that they both have lost people they care for deeply in their lives - in the same disaster no less.
2) This also shows Corey’s psychic link to those he loves and cares for greatly. Without words he knew what Jorian meant and that it linked them together further.
3) It shows Jorian’s initial fears of hurting Corey if he becomes joined, his fears that he may not be able to live up to Corey’s expectations. It can be seen in many ways as foreshadowing to the bumpy road ahead.
4) Lastly, it is deeply interesting that within their conversation Ro Nevin keeps getting referenced.
Many conclusions can be drawn just from these points, but I do not wish to speculate on semantics.
The next point in their relationship is the joining between Zen and Dao which happens on Corey and Jorian’s one year anniversary (HF: 5.06 - The Battle is Joined).
Cassius Dao visits Jorian to inform him that he is dying and that he has been barred from their world for breaking their biggest law - Reassociation. In short Cassius found one of Dao’s former lovers and contacted and began a relationship with her. This causes conflict and a self-crisis for Jorian who has always wanted to be joined but who now fears being joined because of his love for Corey and his fear of breaking Corey’s heart. It is only after prompting from Corey who tells him that he should listen to his heart and do what his heart tells him that he decides to join with the Dao symbiot. Their last night together before the joining goes as follows:
ASTER: You’ve decided?
ZEN: I have. I’m going to do it.
ASTER: So tonight’s our last night together, as us.
ZEN: But it’ll have to be a secret, only Dr. Hanglaar and some of the command staff will know.
ASTER: Of course, but you’ll be a different person, how will you be able to keep that a secret? What will I call you?
ZEN: Dao’s just going to have to get used to going by my name. It’s going to drive him crazy. Corey… I can’t promise I’ll feel the same way about you. Dao got into this because of his love for a woman. I don’t know how much of that motivation will survive the joining.
ASTER: Jorian, you know I love you. But you have to do this. So I guess being friends will have to do.
ZEN: For a long time I felt like I had to prove myself worthy of you. Like I had to compete against what you felt for Ensign Ro.
ASTER: Jorian… you don’t…
ZEN: Corey, you deserve better than this. But I want you to know how much I love you.
[Aster and Zen say ‘goodbye’ before the Joining]
This conversation very much mirrors the first conversation they ever had about their relationship; the same fears and worries - loss of love, inability to compete, and Ro mentioned all over again.
Jorian is then joined with the Dao symbiot and wakes several hours later with a worried Corey sitting at his side. There are several things I noticed right away: Jorian’s expressions changed, his voice did as well - only slightly, a little deeper and more assertive. He expresses worry over Corey and suggests making him some tea saying that it a ‘very soothing ritual’ something Cassius Dao had early said to Jorian. Concerned, Corey asks ‘how much of him is Zen’. Jorian lays a hand on Corey’s cheek, smiles and assures him - ‘enough’.
This is the start of the decline of their relationship.
We first get a glimpse into the growing schism between Dao and Corey when Dao’s expertise is needed in researching the Grey (HF: 6.03 - Homeport). He is asked by his commanding officer Naros to help in the mission:
NAROS: Dao is considered to be one of the most brilliant researches in the field... Despite his exile and presumed death.
ZEN: You’re recruiting me? Sir, you realize this endangers my - Zen’s standing on Trill. I’m illegally joined.
NAROS: I won’t lie to you Ensign, there is that risk. But the stakes, quite literally, are galactic in scale.
ZEN: And my work at the facility, I assume that would require me to keep things from Corey - Lt. Aster.
NAROS: Of course.
ZEN: Why ask, sir? Why not simply reassign me? I’m only a lowly Ensign.
NAROS: I prefer a volunteer, sir.
This shows the pedestal that Jorian Dao is now held upon, he has lived eighteen lifetimes, he has exponential knowledge that even a nearly seven hundred year old Al-Elurian has a profound respect for. This also shows that Dao doesn’t consider himself and Jorian one and the same and that Dao has no issue lying to Corey.
Their relationship is tested again, when Corey begins having visions and Dao shows little empathy for the stress and confusion (HF: 6.04 - Beachhead):
ZEN: Corey… Wake up Corey…Corey…
ASTER: (muttering in sleep) Red alert… The Grey! The Grey!
ZEN: Its okay, you’re awake now.
ASTER: What?
ZEN: It’s almost like you’re being tortured. Can’t Elbry or Dr. Hanglaar do something about this?
ASTER: I’m so tired of going to them every time that I have a bad dream.
ZEN: We both know these are more than bad dreams. Now that we know Admiral Knapp is experiencing the same thing… maybe you should tell the Captain.
ASTER: (scoffs) You have the answers for everything now, don’t you?
ZEN: I’m sorry, I’ve lived too long to ignore my instincts. You need to tell the Captain.
ASTER: Why do you keep throwing your age and your past lives in my face like this? You know, between your secret research and your condescending tone… I feel like I can’t count on you right now.
ZEN: Condescending? Corey I only have your best interest -
ASTER: That’s exactly what I mean! I’ll go to the Captain, Jorian… Or should I say Dao?
[The schism between Corey and Jorian grows]
It is after this fight, as well as Jorian’s adamant work with Naros and the Grey research that people begin to notice and talk. It is only after Jorian is reassigned to the USS Helena (HF: 7.01 - Heavy Losses) that we get a full conversation between him and Naros about the status of Jorian’s relationship with Corey (HF: 7.02 - Bound):
NAROS: A penny for your thoughts Lieutenant?
ZEN: In some cultures you’d get change back.
NAROS: I’d like to say something, Lieutenant. It’s out of line; I know that going in but… I feel that the two of us have a unique perspective on life and love. Jorian Zen wouldn’t know that some cultures give change back. He wouldn’t use that as an idiom. He wouldn’t go to the ship’s counselor to try and rectify problems in his relationship. And he wouldn’t question the strength of his love or doubt that of his lover’s either; but Dao would. Dao would question if he could love a man the way Zen does. Only Dao could answer that.
ZEN: Zen and Dao are one being now, Tolian. Whatever I was before, whatever I felt before is not the only thing that is. Dao wouldn’t expect to live its life as a second class sentience, regardless of the circumstances of its joining. It wouldn’t be fair.
NAROS: Dao, you told me a while back that it was a struggle bringing Jorian into line. That he had strength in ways you didn’t give him credit for. I would suggest that he doesn’t be made to feel second class either. When he loved, if that love was true, he showed that love every day to Lt. Aster. Was it true?
ZEN: It was true.
NAROS: Then I think, if we’re talking in fairness, that you should allow him to show it again. Show it again, and be true.
This conversation makes Dao think, he does what Naros asks, and decides to show Corey how much he loves him. (In what seems to be a very romantic evening and probably next few days). However, in the next episode (HF: 7.03 - Past Sins) we learn that he is going to Trill for further research on his mission and in so doing, meeting with one of Cassius’ lovers; and he has not told Corey. This woman, Tessla Mor, becomes the object of his obsession and desire for the next few episodes, and in the end, the two of them end up sleeping together (HF: 7.07 - The Center Cannot Hold).
It is finally at the end of this episode that Corey realizes he and Jorian can no longer be together. [Dialogue previously referenced]
It is in a situation when they both think that they are doomed that Corey and Jorian finally have a moment to confess (HF: 7.08 - Its Hour Come Round at Last):
ZEN: You know Corey; I’m not that different than I was.
ASTER: Yes you are. We both are. It’s nobody’s fault. Nobody failed.
ZEN: You think I’m worried about whose fault it is? Am I that shallow? I’ve lived eighteen lifetimes, have I mentioned that lately?
ASTER: You must have spent that time living in a cave. Social skills of a raccoon.
The two have finally come to terms with one another, and in so doing, have ended the tension between them. The ending of their relationship leaves both on good terms with the other and they remain friends.
Ro and Zen - One Trip To The Holodeck And You Could Put Ridges On Him
[From left to right; Corey, Jorian and Ro]
To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure what to put here. Ro and Zen are never even alone together in a scene in the entirety of Hidden Frontier. They never make an attempt to come to terms with one another and they most certainly don’t have a romantic relationship.
They both have a jealousy for the other and his connection to Corey. Ro is jealous of Jorian’s openness with himself and his ability to admit his feelings for Corey not only to himself but to others as well. Ro is also jealous that Jorian has the connection with Corey; he craves an actual romantic relationship.
Jorian is jealous that Corey had feelings for Ro for so long and in some ways, still does. He, as previously mentioned, cannot touch or break the connection Aster has with Ro. He is deeply envious of that.
Their relationship to each other is a slow dance with around Corey. Actually, a game of tug-of-war is perhaps the best way to put it. Both are greedy and eager to have Corey to themselves, jealous, possessive, untrusting and unable to be happy for the other. Corey is stuck in the middle of the rollercoaster ride, torn between two men he loves deeply and cannot choose between.
This dance/game of tug-of-war finally leans towards Nevin during the final episodes of season seven, but for a long time, could have gone either or neither way. Both could have lost Corey in their bitter feud and ended up alone.
It seems, however, post Hidden Frontier that the men have come to have a mutual respect and understanding for one another. They banter playfully at the wedding, where Jorian serves as Best Man and we learn in Helena Chronicles (HC: 1.02 - Obsessions) that he along with Captain Fisal were the ones to finally bring Corey and Nevin together.
Jorian helps Corey search tirelessly for Nevin even when Fisal has given up hope and stretches his imagination and resources as far as he can in order to facilitate finding Nevin. Clearly he cares for him and wants him back, if only for Corey’s sake.
[Wedded Bliss - left to right; Zen, Ro, Shelby, Aster, Fisal]
Part V: Names and Destiny
I always read too much into things, I find; especially when it comes to a person’s name. I’m a huge believer in the meanings of names and their application to certain people and what a name says for a person.
Corey Aster: The name Corey means ‘God’s Peace’ but also has an alternative meaning as ‘hollow’ not in the emotional sense of empty, but as in the wooded copse/meadow or as in the hollow of a tree - both of which provide shelter. This name I find suitable to Corey, as he is not only at peace with who he is, but provides peace and shelter to those he cares for and those he loves. Aster is the name of a flower genus which derives its name from the shape of the flower which is a star. The symbolism of this flower is that of love and patience, all too befitting of Corey Aster.
Corey’s role in the Odyssey mythos is obvious to me, he is Penelope. Destined to wait for his lover, his husband to return to him. This raises questions as Penelope was pursued by dozens of men to be her suitor, will this too arise with Corey? Will he, like Penelope, be forced to wait long years and fight off countless advances?
Ro Nevin: I could find no name meaning to the surname Ro aside from ‘red haired’ which plays little to no role in the character of Nevin as he is not red headed. Nevin however, is a much more fascinating name. It is an anglicized version of the name Nevan/Neven which means ‘follower of the saint/holy one’. As a Bajoran that is what Nevin is born and raised to do. To follow the Prophets’ guidance and to remain rooted to his spiritual self. Nevin has stated on several occasions that he is a deeply spiritual person, and that while he may not follow his people’s religion to the letter he does follow his beliefs and does his best to discover the truth.
Nevin, without a doubt is Odysseus - far from home and on a whirlwind journey through sights and sounds unknown. How far will this journey take him? Will he, like Odysseus be lured in to an illusion by Calypso? Will he return to his husband and stave off ruthless suitors?
Jorian Zen-Dao: The name Jorian is a remodulation of the name George which means ‘earth-worker’. I thought about this name and its application to Jorian for a good long while and I finally think it befitting. Jorian is a hard worker; he is also down to earth. I know that this is not exactly the direct meaning of the words as it is meant to translate as ‘farmer’ but even so. Farmers are generous people and also very committed, which is exactly what Jorian is. Zen is a simply meant term; it is a state of knowledge which is gained through meditation and self-awareness. Dao or Tao is the doctrine of balance and unity - ying and yang. These names show the balanced nature of the Trill and his dedication and level-headed character.
Jorian was one of the hardest to place as a character in the Odyssey, but after much deliberation, I have dubbed him the role of Telemachus who in the original epic is the son of Odysseus and Penelope. Telemachus’ role in the Odyssey is the protection of Penelope while Odysseus is away. He is often described as having ‘a stout heart and an active mind, and sometimes even a bit of a temper’, which is Jorian Zen-Dao in as many words.
Part VI: Impact
The impact of Hidden Frontier on the Star Trek fandom has been substantial. It has allowed GLBTQ fans of Star Trek to finally feel included within the fandom finally. It has proven that fans can and do make a difference as the series is by fans, for fans, with fans.
It has shown that not only can Star Trek have gay characters but it can have gay Cardassians, gay Trills, gay Klingons and even gay Bajorans who will not be scrutinized against.
The series has returned to Rodenberry’s dream of pushing the envelope and making a difference socially.
From a personal point of view, Hidden Frontier, Odyssey, and Helena Chronicles, truly have boldly gone where no Star Trek series has gone before. They have made me feel included, not only as a woman, as a fan, but also as a person with alternative sexuality. It has accomplished what no other series, fan or otherwise (in my opinion) could have done by dealing with sensitive topics in a caring and gentle manner and in a realistic, uncompromising and normal way.
Part VII: Closing and Links
I hope you have enjoyed my essay and that I may have given some of you, or even one of you, the curiosity to check the series out. I hope that this essay has given you a glimpse or maybe even a big roadmap as to why I love this series and its characters so much.
Sadly, as it is a fan series, there is a very minimal but very loyal fanbase. There are no communities to speak of on livejournal and extensive googling has yielded no luck with fansites so I only have a few links for you.
http://www.hiddenfrontier.com This is the main site where you gain get updates and download the episodes from all the series.
http://forums.hiddenfrontier.com/ This is the forum linked to the main site where a small fanfiction section is located (fics with ratings higher than PG 13 not allowed). This is also where fans chat and get to know one another and even gain sneak peeks to the next episode.
http://en.hiddenfrontier.com This is the series wikipedia, it has character biographies as well as descriptions for the species I have talked about throughout the essay for those who aren’t as technobabble inclined.
http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/movies/2006/6/hidden.html A report by www.afterelton.com on Hidden Frontier
http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/movies/2006/8/frontier.html A follow up report to the one above!
Thank you!
PS: Mods, I wasn't sure about the tagging, so I input my own, if that's not okay, let me know and I'll change it!
PPS: Cross-posted to my own journal and link given on Hidden Frontier forum!
Author: setos_puppy
Fandom: Star Trek: Hidden Frontier, Star Trek: Odyssey, Star Trek: Helena Chronicles
Pairing(s): Corey Aster, Ro Nevin, Jorian Zen
Spoilers: A lot. Synopses of scenes in seasons 1-7 of Hidden Frontier, scenes in seasons 1-2 of Odyssey and Helena Chronicles. This is done to keep those who have not seen the series to understand the flow of the essay but major plot spoilers are avoided as best as possible.
Warnings: Copious use of photos and quotes and personal opinion. (Do these even count as warnings?)
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine; they belong to the mind of Rob Caves and the writers and Areakat Productions/Hidden Frontier Productions
Notes: I’m shocked this all fit in one entry!
Part I: Introduction to Fandom
It all started about two years ago, when through bored, late night wikipedia searching, I discovered the fanfilm known as Star Trek: Hidden Frontier. It had concluded or was just about to conclude its seven season run when I had stumbled into a world that would grab hold of me and never let me go.
Being a fan since I was young, growing up with TNG, DS9 and Voyager, I had always loved the complex world of Star Trek. The progressiveness that went along with it and the series’ devotion to its characters only furthered my love.
However, my love for Hidden Frontier didn’t rekindle until about two months ago. I had watched the series off and on, but had never concluded it, due to both lack of time and lack of interest - not in the series or the characters, but more lack of motivation. After re-watching season five and starting seasons six and seven (which I had not previously watched) my love of three particular characters - Corey Aster, Ro Nevin and Jorian Zen - sparked and their complex love triangle sucked me in.
From then on, I became and still am dedicated to their stories as they unfold in the spin offs Helena Chronicles and Odyssey.
Part II: Story Synopsis
Hidden Frontier takes place in the Briar Patch, a nebulous area of the Alpha Quadrant. Several ships under the command of Deep Space 12 guard the area from various threats, mostly that of the Grey, the Tholians and later the mysterious Siroc. There are also mysterious artifacts nicknamed as the Tetrahedrons which seem to cause nothing but trouble.
Odyssey takes place directly after Hidden Frontier, the USS Odyssey was dispatched to the Andromeda Galaxy to destroy an Archein wormhole which threatens Romulan space. Once in the Andromeda galaxy a heated battle ensues cutting the Odyssey’s command crew down to almost none and traps the Odyssey within the Andromeda galaxy over two million light years from home (or, for those of you wondering, 5095 years and 207 days). With a shaky crew and left stranded in alien space with no allies and no charts to guide them, the Odyssey is on an adventure. Ro has now been put in command of the ship and must do all he can to get his crew and ship home.
Helena Chronicles is a corresponding show to Odyssey. The USS Helena was dispatched by Starfleet to retrieve the USS Odyssey and bring her home. Along the way, however, the Helena encounters problems with Starfleet as well as various obstacles impeding its mission to retrieve the USS Odyssey.
Ro Nevin - Mark One
We meet Ro Nevin in the second episode of the series, introduced as the brother of Ro Lauren. He is played by Arthur Bosserman and is generally a background character, an ensign in the engineering/science department and good at what he does. In the first season and the first half of the second season Ro Nevin goes rather unnoticed.
Then Corey Aster shows up and Ro Nevin’s world is knocked off balance (HF: 2.05 - Enke). We learn that Ro and Aster knew each other back in the academy on Earth and had several classes together. While Aster boasts he remembers Ro, Ro admits that he doesn’t remember the other. However, when Nevin asks Corey if he is attracted to him, he is disturbed and confused when Corey replies that he does.
Ro tells Corey that he doesn’t feel the same and the dejected Aster returns to his post on a neighboring ship with his friendship with Nevin in tact, but nevertheless, changed forever.
We don’t hear much on the development of the Aster-Ro relationship front until the third season (HF: 3.07 - Ashes). In this episode we learn that Corey Aster has been permanently reassigned to the USS Excelsior and has been there for approximately three months, during which time, Ro Nevin has been actively avoiding him; even going so far as to skipping his shifts in engineering.
Nevin is deeply confused by his feelings for Corey, unsure of whether or not he’s attracted to him stating that he’s ‘never felt that way about anyone.’ He is finally confronted by Corey several times throughout the episode for dates, or to simply talk about their relationship - or lack thereof. Towards the end of the episode, Nevin reveals his family’s plans for him; raising a family, getting married, passing on heirlooms to his children. Aster, shocked by the rigidity of Nevin’s family and religious devotion, leaves despite Nevin asking him to stay. The episode concludes with Nevin asking Corey to watch a hoverball tournament with him and Corey agreeing.
However, this bliss does not last, as in season four; we see that the complexities in their relationship have driven a schism between them. Nevin is still struggling with the idea of having feelings for a man, and Corey has all but given up hope with Nevin and pursues a relationship with Jorian Zen.
This relationship only serves to further confuse Ro as he grows jealous over the relationship with Jorian and Corey and is deeply concerned with his friend’s well being in the relationship (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads; HF: 5.03 - Darkest Night).
Ro Nevin Mark One as played by Arthur Bosserman is a character struggling to find his identity. Nevin thinks he knows who he is and is fairly happy with being an efficient worker, with few but very dear friends and a love for girls. This identity is challenged by Corey Aster and causes Ro to begin a journey of self discovery down a path he never saw coming to a future he would never expect.
Ro Nevin - Mark Two
This Ro Nevin is played by the wonderfully glorious Bobby Rice for seasons six and seven and the first episode of Star Trek: Odyssey. Still struggling with his sexual identity and most likely bitter due to the loss of Corey, Nevin begins a relationship with a female Bajoran reporter named Tara Abis (HF: 6.03 - Homeport).
From the very beginning their relationship is shaky, oddly paced and deeply emotionless. It is clear that Tara has more invested in the idea of a relationship than Ro is. Oddly, during the first few weeks/months of their dating, Ro shields Corey from Tara’s existence, and it is only through an accidental meeting (when Corey seeks advice from Nevin and Tara enters Nevin’s quarters) that they meet (HF: 6.04 - Beachhead). It is through Tara that we learn that Nevin talks incessantly about Corey, and because of this she has wanted to meet him for some time, however, because of ‘opposing duty shifts’ (whether real or made up) they have been unable to.
It is, in my opinion, the following episode (HF: 6.05 - Vigil) that changes the Corey and Nevin dichotomy forever. In this episode, Tara finally gets her wish to meet with Corey Aster, as she spots him in the dining hall when she and Nevin are eating, and boldly invites him over. As she moves off from the table to gather their drinks and food, she sees Corey and Nevin avidly and animatedly talking, smiling and laughing together and sees Nevin in a happy state she herself has been unable to cause.
It is later that night, when Corey and Nevin meet secretly on the holodeck to talk. They are all alone and Corey has been made to look Bajoran - which Ro asked him to do for fun and tells him ‘he looks good as a Bajoran’. This is the following conversation:
RO: I need to confess something; I lied.
ASTER: Lied?
RO: When you first came aboard the Enke mission, I lied.
ASTER: About what?
RO: I told you I didn’t remember you from the academy. The terraforming class we both had, I was failing it.
ASTER: I know.
RO: I know you knew. A PADD with all the notes to prepare for the final exam mysteriously showed up in my dorm room. I know you gave me those notes.
ASTER: How?
RO: I asked around. You didn’t cover your tracks very well.
ASTER: And you never said anything. Ever!
RO: I didn’t know what to say! Or what I was feeling, and so I lied. And I kept lying, and I’m tired of it, and I need to you and I need to tell Abis what I’m feeling.
ASTER: And what are you feeling?
RO: I love you, Corey. Look, I know my timing is terrible and this is the last thing you need to hear with everything going on between you and Zen but I - (He is stopped by Corey’s finger to his lips).
ASTER: Let’s just sit with this for a while.
RO: Corey I… (He leans in for a kiss before pausing) Computer, end program. (The holodeck fades, leaving Nevin standing alone in the room).
[Nevin admitting his feelings to Holo-Corey]
This scene is pivotal in so many ways, not only does it allow for a glimpse into Nevin’s true feelings - ones he never before was able to confess, but also his history with Corey. It also shows Nevin as fearful - he was unable to confront the real Corey Aster just yet and reveal his feelings - not wanting to come between his friend and his friend’s boyfriend, despite their currently rocky relationship (which will be discussed later), instead he fashions a holographic Corey to whom he can pour his heart out to; who he can tell everything, but still, he is unable to kiss him.
After this scene, Nevin returns to his room and to Abis, who he tells of his feelings for Corey. She admits that she thinks she knew, but she was hiding from it. She gathers her things, wishes him happiness and leaves.
However, Nevin is unable to confront Corey, and instead sits back fearfully and watches his friend’s relationship flounder and fall apart.
Season Seven has the largest arc for Nevin’s character, in the second episode of the season (HF: 7.02 - Bound) he is first confronted by his friend Matt about his attitude towards Corey. Matt says the two of them are ‘dancing around each other’; Matt then encourages Nevin to ask out Nej’ta, a Klingon captain.
Nevin and Nej’ta endure a rite of passage together, and end up passionately kissing at the end of it. (It is one of the steamiest kisses in the series, if not the steamiest.) This relationship seems more of a mix of emotion and sex than Nevin’s relationship with Abis, and lasts much longer, but still, Nevin’s feelings for Corey are evident.
Corey and Nevin meet up after several weeks apart and catch up on things (HF: 7.05 - The Widening Gyre). Corey expresses shock that Ro is in a relationship with a Klingon, but is happy for his friend. Nevin says while being with Nej’ta is nice and he has feelings for him, he wishes for a relationship like one Jorian and Corey have. It is then he learns that there is trouble brewing with his best friend’s relationship. He learns that Corey is conflicted in what he should do and asks the other what he wishes for:
RO: What do you want?
ASTER: I don’t know anymore.
RO: Matthew told me something, before I started with Nej’ta, he said that you and I have been dancing around with each other for a while.
ASTER: (scoffs) Yeah… I guess so.
RO: But are we ready to dance together? Jorian will come back to you, and Nej’ta wears his feelings on his sleeve. Are we ready to hurt them? For what? The arboretum is romantic and I’ve had too much blood wine?
ASTER: This isn’t working out the way I thought it would…
RO: You thought… After the Klingon, a little romance? A little mood lighting?
ASTER: I thought we’d be back at my quarters right now.
RO: Would you like to go back to your quarters?
ASTER: Jorian will be back. I have to give him a chance.
[Nevin and Corey discuss what they want]
Nevin has moved beyond the shy, unsure Bajoran we once knew. He knows his feelings for Corey are true, strong, and impossible to ignore. He loves Nej’ta, but it isn’t a ‘something special’ like he so desperately hopes for. While his feelings for Nej’ta remain strong, his time with Nej’ta is cut short with an untimely kidnapping and the death of his Klingon lover (HF: 7.06 - Things Fall Apart).
It is only after he has been rescued that he learns of Nej’ta’s death and mourns the other in a traditional Klingon manner. It is six months after this that he gets what he truly wishes for, someone special to be with - his husband - Corey Aster (HF: 7.08 - Its Hour Come Round at Last).
However, good things must come to an end, and that is where we find ourselves in Odyssey. A new alien threat coming from the Andromeda Galaxy puts a damper on Corey and Nevin’s honeymoon plans. The two, who are specialists when it comes to slip stream technology, are needed for a project to stop the threat from invading forces. They are split onto two separate ships, Nevin on the USS Odyssey and Corey on the Klingon ship the R'Kargh. A heated battle ensues in which the Odyssey is stranded in the Andromeda Galaxy and the R’Kargh is destroyed, its passengers ejecting into escape pods. (OD: 1.01 - Iliad)
This, as is obvious, puts a serious strain on the Corey/Nevin relationship and will no doubt push it to the limit.
Ro Nevin - Mark Three
This version of Nevin is played by the Bradon McConnell. Stranded so far from home, this is a very different Ro from the first two we’ve seen. He must take command of the USS Odyssey and take the crew home. Thousands, if not millions of light years from home, he must mature and adapt quickly.
Brandon’s Nevin is harder, more callous, he is a tough leader as he needs to be, but as we see, when he is in private, he is still soft, still nervous, and quite obviously lonely. Due to the obvious inability of the situation, Brandon’s Nevin has yet to have interacted with Corey, so we have no idea of where the relationship will go.
We know, however, that he still loves Corey (OD: 2.01 - On The Knees of the Gods). We also know that Corey is a guiding force in his life - as a Prophet appears to him as Corey (OD: 1.04 - Vile Gods).
Nevin is Odysseus, lost and traveling with a wayward crew, desperate to find his way home. The journey no doubt will be long and life changing, but we are anxious to take it with him.
Corey Aster
Played by J.T. Tepnapa, Corey Aster is a deeply interesting and complex character. He is Terran/Human, cousin to Jeremy Aster and an orphan. His parents were killed in WOLF 359 by the Borg, of whom he both greatly resents and greatly fears. He holds slightly psychic powers, as he has premonitions which present through dreams.
As previously stated, we meet Corey Aster in season two (HF: 2.05 - Enke), he is openly gay and crushing on Ro Nevin. Though spurned by Nevin, he finds friendship with the Bajoran and later marries him (HF: 7.08 - Its Hour Has Come At Last).
Corey is pivotal in many ways to the Star Trek universe, he is the first openly gay male to have an on-screen relationship, and he is the initiator of the first on-screen male-male kiss in Star Trek history! (HF: 4.04 - Grey Matters) A kiss with a gay Cardassian no less.
[First gay kiss in Trek history!]
He later enters a relationship with Jorian Zen, a Trill whom has been after him for some time (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads).
Their relationship, however, is tested when on their first year anniversary; Jorian’s old mentor comes back and asks Jorian to take his symbiot. (HF: 5.06 - The Battle is Joined) Trill are a species in which there are symbiotic beings: a host (which has a humanoid body, with reddish brown markings on the body) and a symbiot (a grey, worm like parasite). When a host is joined with a symbiot it gains the memories of all the previous hosts the symbiot joined with and allows its own memories to be added to the symbiot.
Jorian takes the symbiot illegally, shunning himself from his family and home world forever if the joining was ever discovered, and becomes Jorian Dao. Now with the knowledge of seventeen previous lifetimes, Dao becomes an important member of the crew.
There is one key factor to this whole equation which causes a problem - Cassius Dao, who was Jorian’s mentor - was exiled from Trill society for renewing a relationship from a previous lifetime with a woman.
Things are further complicated when Jorian is promoted to a secret assignment to research Grey technology due to Dao’s years of experience. Jorian is unallowed to tell Corey what is going on, and this causes problems. (HF: 6.03 - Homeport)
The problems come to a head when Jorian must visit Trill to research and gain information. Corey has no issue with his lover returning home, however, he has no idea that while there, Jorian will be meeting with Tesla Mor, one of Dao’s past lovers (HF: 7.03 - Past Sins).
This only grows worse as she is kidnapped for information and Jorian goes on a wild goose chase to find her. (HF: 7.04 - Hearts and Minds - HF: 7.07 - Things Fall Apart) It is in (HF: 7.07 - Things Fall Apart) that we open to find Jorian and Tesla entwined, naked in bed.
Jorian is torn, the love he feels for Tesla obvious and the love he thinks he feels for Corey obligatory. Corey is angered by what happens and runs off. Later, he and Jorian have a conversation over their relationship:
ZEN: Corey!
ASTER: What is it Jorian? I’m trying to get the Excelsior back.
ZEN: Nechayev’s ordered it abandoned, there’s no time for repair. Come on. Come with me, I have a ship assignment for us.
ASTER: That’s insane, the Excelsior could be lost.
ZEN: That’s out our hands now.
ASTER: So that’s it? You’re giving up. Just giving up on everything we’ve invested.
ZEN: Corey, wait. Please… Talk to me…Give me that.
ASTER: I’ve given you enough.
ZEN: I need you to understand.
ASTER: Here’s what I understand, you left me.
ZEN: I did, and I can only imagine how betrayed you feel, but Corey, I came back! It won’t happen again.
ASTER: Happen again? Jorian, I’m not talking about this thing with your old girlfriend! You left me the day you joined with Dao.
ZEN: Corey, I’m right here! Despite my joining with Dao I’m here for you. I know where my loyalties lie.
ASTER: Of all the lives you’ve lived and you still haven’t figured this out; loyalty isn’t love! You have to feel as if you can’t live without it! Love can’t be an obligation!
ZEN: You were more than an item on my to-do list! I loved you.
ASTER: And then you didn’t.
[“And then you didn’t.” - Corey Aster ends it with Jorian]
Their relationship has fallen apart, but it is Corey who realizes it first, as much as he loves Jorian - as much as he has loved Jorian - they must move on. They remain friends however, as Jorian is Corey’s best man at his and Ro’s wedding.
After the events of Odyssey, and Corey’s escape from the R’Kharg in an escape pod, we meet up with him in Helena Chronicles. We learn for the past six months he’s been in a coma, having been deeply injured by the blast which followed the destruction of the R’Kharg and was found by Romulans who did little to care for him, before he was returned to the care of Starfleet via the USS Helena.
Upon awaking, he finds Jorian at his bedside and grows confused, demanding Ro. Jorian soothes Corey as best he can and explains the situation, the USS Odyssey has been declared officially lost if not already completely destroyed and her crew dead. Corey grows angry at this, refusing to believe Nevin is dead, stating that he can feel him and that he knows he’s alive.
After a vision and gaining mysterious wounds on his hands, Corey sees it as a sign of life from Nevin and fights bitterly to prove he’s right. (HC: 1.01 - Sanctuary Lost and HC: 1.02 - Obsessions)
When his desire to find Ro leads to disaster, Corey leaves the Helena to find his own way to find his husband. (HC: 2.01 - Minstrel Boy)
What will come of Corey and his search for Nevin leaves much to hope. In the sense of the Odyssey, Corey is Penelope - waiting anxiously, patiently for his husband to return. It leads to many questions, how long will his wait be? What will his husband be like when he returns?
Jorian Zen
Played by the very talented Adam Browne, we first meet him in season three (HF: 3.07 - Ashes). He has a single line and seems to be very shy, but very smitten with one Corey Aster, who is kind to him in return but sends him on his way without a fuss.
We know not much of Jorian’s past, except like Corey, his parents were lost in WOLF 359 and he’s always wanted to be joined with a symbiot. (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads) We learn that he’s always admired and been attracted to Corey since joining the Excelsior but did nothing because he did not want to get in the way of Ro and Corey’s relationship.
Jorian is shy and timid but deeply cares about Corey and is very possessive and protective of him. He wishes to meet up with and start a friendship with Ro Nevin so there is no animosity between them, but finds this hard to do. (HF: 5.03 - Darkest Night)
It is after his joining with Dao in season five (HF: 5.06 - The Battle is Joined) that his relationship and personality begin to change. His timid, sweet, shyness fades for a more assertive, bold and almost smartass attitude. He’s cocky and condescending; he assures Corey that he’s ‘always looking out for his best interest’.
In many ways, their relationship becomes almost parent-child or teacher-student. He cares for Corey as Dao, but he no longer loves him as he once did. He feels obligated to be with Corey because he cares for him and he knows Corey has feelings for him, but as previously stated by Corey - loyalty isn’t love and Jorian Dao needs to learn that.
In Helena Chronicles Jorian is the first officer to Captain Fisal. He finally has control and the ability to assert and maintain the control he needs and craves. He is a good second in command, stern, but also loving at times and a good voice of reason to Fisal as well as other members of the crew.
Where Jorian Zen is headed I have no idea. I do however; know that I have grown to love him as a character. I loved him, hated him, and am back to loving him again. He is quirky, sweet and loyal to a fault. He is trusting and honest and a dear friend. He is also stubborn as a mule, strongly opinioned and humorous in a witty, sometimes deadpanned way.
There are so many directions in which this character can go and I am eager to explore them.
Part IV: Relationships
Corey and Nevin - Whatever Powers Your Starship
In a word, these two are soul mates. It takes them a while to get there, but once they reach it, it’s damn obvious. Though their relationship starts before we can witness it at the academy, it blossoms on the USS Excelsior. Even after turning Corey away from him as a potential lover, Ro wishes for his friend to remain hopeful and gives him words of encouragement and of love:
One of these days a good looking guy is going to fall in love with you. He’s going to be very lucky. (HF: 2.05 - Enke)
[“He’s going to be very lucky.”]
It is clear that while he doesn’t love Corey in the romantic sense (yet) that he holds a deep care for him.
The two have a palpable connection that many can sense and none can sever, this is referenced several times and almost always by Jorian Zen:
ASTER: I never see you in Ten Forward [which is a holodeck simulation]. Are you always hiding up here?
ZEN: I guess I get a bit focused on work. MacFarlane can be a bit of a perfectionist.
ASTER: But we all need a little holodeck time. You know, you should join Ro and I for lunch.
ZEN: Ensign Ro? I don’t know…
ASTER: Why not?
ZEN: You don’t think he’ll mind?
ASTER: Why would he mind?
ZEN: I just thought you guys would like… you know, privacy?
ASTER: Oh! (laughs) No. Things never quite worked there. Long story.
ZEN: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply anything.
ASTER: No, Ro and I are just friends. What we tried for… well, let’s just say he can’t figure out what he wants and I can only spend so much time waiting for someone to face their inner demons. I think we’re both happy with our friendship.
The above conversation (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads) tells much of the Aster and Ro relationship. It tells us with finality that Ro and Aster are no longer dating, or have given up trying, but despite that, they remain friends. This conversation also shows that despite their being friends they have a chemistry to those observing them.
This chemistry is mentioned again by Tara Abis when she confronts Ro about his feelings (HF: 6.05 - Vigil):
TARA: Nevin, you’ve been on edge for weeks. You need to talk to me.
RO: You’re right. I do. It’s about Corey. I have feelings for him.
TARA: I think I knew that. I’ve been hiding from it as much as I think you were. We both need to do something about it. (She begins to gather and pack her things).
RO: What do you mean? Abis, what are you doing?
TARA: I’m not… angry with you Nevin. I want you to be happy. That can’t happen with me here. I’m leaving right away so you have no reason not to deal with this.
She, like Nevin, has been lying to herself, that the chemistry is just a good friendship, that she and Nevin have something special. However, when Nevin comes to terms with his feelings and admits them to her, she realizes that she must no longer hide or shield him and that she must push him to do what he must and admit these feelings to Corey.
The next and perhaps the final nudge for Ro comes from his friend Matt McCabe who chastises Nevin for ‘dancing around Corey’. It is probably the most significant turn of events for Nevin in the series when it comes to his relationship with Corey (HF: 7.02 - Bound).
MACABE: Whatever happened to that reporter you were seeing? [Tara Abis]
RO: Ah, things didn’t work out.
MACABE: What happened?
RO: We weren’t… compatible.
MACABE: Uh-huh. You keep doing this dance, Nevin! It gets old! Corey waited for you and then someone else came along; get over it!
RO: I thought we were talking about Abis. You treat it like it’s a straight forward thing Matt, and its not.
MACABE: Lie to yourself, its not just you that gets hurt. You keep pining for Corey, especially with him and Zen on the skids and everybody involved gets hurt.
RO: You don’t think I know that?! I don’t want to screw things up for them! I think I’ll just stay in my quarters and be a hermit - it’s safer there.
The most ironic thing about the above conversation is how quickly it turns. Matt orders a round of drinks and sends an order of blood wine over to Nej’ta on Ro’s behalf. Matt in an odd way, is pushing Nevin to accept a relationship with a man, perhaps even Corey.
The transcendent bond of Ro and Aster is mentioned twice more once again by Jorian Zen and once by a person who has never met either - Maya Stadi. They both occur after Ro and Aster’s wedding; the first Corey wakes from his coma and learns of the loss of the Odyssey. While everyone else has given up hope that Nevin and the ship are lost forever, Corey has not. His psychic powers are capable of sensing Nevin and when he admits this to Zen, the other, after some conversation, sees this as a possibility (HC: 1.01 - Sanctuary Lost).
[Corey wakes to find Nevin lost]
ASTER: When I close my eyes I can feel his heart beat. Why won’t you believe me? You know of all the people on board, why won’t you believe me?!
ZEN: You have to understand, I empathize, I really do. I’ve had eighteen lifetimes of getting used to losing people I love but… you and Ro… even when we were together there was a connection I couldn’t touch; couldn’t break.
ASTER: The connection is still there. He’s alive.
ZEN: You can’t get stuck here, Corey. You have to let him go…
Corey clings to these fleeting mental - psychic glimpses into Ro’s existence, the connection he has is unbreakable, as Zen says and no matter what others say, he won’t give up hope. He gains further hope when (in attempt to escape his sickbay confinement) he falls, sees a vision of Ro and gains curious sub dermal burns on his hands which - according to his vision - he gained from picking up Ro’s earring. He sees these burns as a map or other sign of location to Ro. Everyone believes these wounds are further proof of Corey’s instability, thinking they’re either psychosomatic or self-inflicted. Yet Jorian begins to believe in the visions and beliefs that Corey is feeling.
FISAL: How’s Aster?
ZEN: Physically, he suffered a setback. Mentally… Corey believes that the wounds on his hand came from his vision. He refuses to let Dr. Ness remove the scars and Dr. Ness believes that at best they’re psychosomatic, at worst self-inflicted. Corey was alone long enough in sickbay to find a laser scalpel.
FISAL: And what do you believe?
ZEN: I don’t know. Lt. Cmd. S’Tal believed she had a connection with Andrew Barrett that defied distance, and in the end was proved correct. And when the Borg attacked Fairpoint Station, Corey knew about it before the news reached us.
FISAL: Do the patterns on his hands have any significance?
ZEN: I don’t know, but I owe it to him to find out.
These suspicions of the wounds on Corey’s hand are later proven correct when Commander Lefler and Jorian reference a deep cluster in Archien space within Andromeda. The burns on Corey’s hand reference where the USS Odyssey was when Corey had his vision giving Starfleet a reference point on where to start looking. (HC: 1.02 - Obsessions)
[The mysterious wounds on Corey’s hand]
The second is during a happier time, just before the two get separated during the Odyssey mission (OD: 1.01 - Iliad). The two, saddened by the fact that they will have to wait one month before seeing each other again, engage in a session of quick newlywed goodbye sex. In doing so, they miss their transport to the Odyssey and during the transfer they catch, this is the following conversation:
ASTER: How are we going to explain to the Captain that we missed the 16:50 transport?
RO: The truth.
ASTER: Right.
RO: What you think I’m kidding?
ASTER: I think you better let me do the talking.
STADI: I think you should let me handle this.
RO: Why is that?
STADI: Because neither of you is going to impress the Captain if you say what you’re planning.
RO: How Betazoid of you.
STADI: Lt. Maya Stadi, Chief of Security, at your service.
RO: A pleasure. Since you already know who we are, I guess a formal introduction isn’t necessary.
STADI: Not at all. I wasn’t reading your minds; your body language said it all.
RO: In that case Lieutenant Commander Ro Nevin, science and slip stream specialist.
ASTER: Lieutenant Commander Corey Aster, I’m just here for the day.
[Nevin and Corey discuss what to say to their Commanding Officer]
Both are glowing, touchy-feely and adorably cute in the above scene. They don’t have a care in the world, they know, or rather, think their work will go off without a hitch and they’ll see each other again soon. Corey, cute and smug as always, enjoys bantering with his husband and has not a care how others will perceive him or his introduction of being ‘just there for the day’.
Another interesting thing is how Corey addresses Ro. As a Bajoran, Ro’s name is much like Asian names today, family name before personal name. Nevin is his name, but Ro is how he is often addressed as it is more polite. However, Corey addresses him as Nevin and is on a strictly first name basis with him and it is something Nevin allows. (HF: 3.07 - Ashes)
One final tidbit on the Aster-Ro relationship is on the finality of their relationship. Reading forum threads on the progression of their relationship by the series’ writers has given me such interesting information that shocked and awed me. Originally, the writers intended for Aster and Zen to marry at the end of season seven, for them to come through their hardships better for it. I understand where they come from and not knowing the original scripts and having no access to them, I cannot properly judge that I would not agree, but even discounting seasons six and seven, I find it hard to see a happy conclusion for Zen and Aster.
Perhaps it is simply pessimism on my part, but… I find that when Zen joined with Dao it firmly ended his relationship with Corey. Zen had warned him repeatedly that when he became joined he may no longer be the person he was and may no longer hold the same feelings for Aster. This, in my opinion, is proof that unless Jorian Zen remained forever unjoined, that a future with Aster was impossible.
Furthermore, having known each other since the Academy years and constantly being brought together, to forever deny their feelings and to never pursue a relationship seems rather unrealistic for Ro and Aster. Joining together, not necessarily in marriage, but in a loving way, appeared to be the next logical step for the two and it seems impossible to see it any other way.
Corey and Jorian - The Man Dedicated to Making Me an Honest Man
Zen and Corey are complex, deeply passionate and ravenously in love. They are, in many ways the exact type of couple that makes me happy to be a fangirl. They are each other’s best friend and equal. They play off of each other and are so very human in their relationship that it’s nearly impossible not to love them and even harder when they split apart.
Like Corey with Ro, Zen secretly pines after his object of affection. He is flustered easily around Corey and has a serious crush on him. He however, falls under the illusion that Corey is unavailable due to a relationship with Ro Nevin. He is so shy, that when he finally gets his chance with Corey, like any first love, he bolts off. Ironically, this invitation comes after a discussion of one Ro Nevin (HF: 4.05 - Crossroads):
ZEN: It’s pretty normal for Trill’s to be with others of the same sex. Bajorans tend to be more narrow minded where sexuality is involved; their culture is deeply rooted in religion and family, but I can understand what Ro is feeling - he can only be who he is.
ASTER: I should have never pursued a relationship with him.
ZEN: Ensign Ro doesn’t know what he’s missing… Well, we should really finish this up so I can report back to MacFarlane…
ASTER: Jorian, would you like to have a snack in Ten Forward, just us, no Ro.
ZEN: I… Uhm…should really finish this before… I gotta go (runs off)
[Aster asking Zen out for the first time]
ZEN: Lt. Aster…
ASTER: Zen! What brings you here at this hour?
ZEN: I wanted to redo the impulse regulators and I was reconsidering your offer.
ASTER: That was fast work, Jorian. Not bad. So, what was the offer?
ZEN: Ten Forward, just you and me? I’m sorry I got scared off earlier, it’s just… I’ve been attracted to you since that first day I met you in engineering, but I’ve been hesitant to say anything.
ASTER: So, you’re not seeing anyone?
ZEN: I’ve kind of shied away from relationships… I’ve lost too many people I’ve cared about.
ASTER: WOLF 359.
ZEN: How’d you know?
ASTER: I don’t know I just… sensed it.
ZEN: That’s a bit betazoid of you.
ASTER: My parents were at WOLF 359.
ZEN: I guess I’ve always wanted to be in a relationship but I’m not sure I can have one right now.
ASTER: I don’t understand.
ZEN: I’m in the Trill Initiate Program; I wouldn’t want to risk hurting someone if I became joined someday.
ASTER: Why would that hurt?
ZEN: I might not be the same person. I might not have the same feelings for them anymore.
ASTER: There are risks in everything, sometimes we need to accept the possibility of pain in our lives. Nothing tried, nothing gained.
ZEN: I wish it was that simple. I think you deserve better. Like you said, you can only wait so long for someone to face their inner demons. I don’t want to be another Ensign Ro.
ASTER: Well, who I wait for is up to me. So, how about that late snack? You hungry?
ZEN: A little…
This rather large chunk of dialogue tells us several very important and key things:
1) It shows us how alike Jorian and Corey are. That they both pined after the person they love for a long time and that they both have lost people they care for deeply in their lives - in the same disaster no less.
2) This also shows Corey’s psychic link to those he loves and cares for greatly. Without words he knew what Jorian meant and that it linked them together further.
3) It shows Jorian’s initial fears of hurting Corey if he becomes joined, his fears that he may not be able to live up to Corey’s expectations. It can be seen in many ways as foreshadowing to the bumpy road ahead.
4) Lastly, it is deeply interesting that within their conversation Ro Nevin keeps getting referenced.
Many conclusions can be drawn just from these points, but I do not wish to speculate on semantics.
The next point in their relationship is the joining between Zen and Dao which happens on Corey and Jorian’s one year anniversary (HF: 5.06 - The Battle is Joined).
Cassius Dao visits Jorian to inform him that he is dying and that he has been barred from their world for breaking their biggest law - Reassociation. In short Cassius found one of Dao’s former lovers and contacted and began a relationship with her. This causes conflict and a self-crisis for Jorian who has always wanted to be joined but who now fears being joined because of his love for Corey and his fear of breaking Corey’s heart. It is only after prompting from Corey who tells him that he should listen to his heart and do what his heart tells him that he decides to join with the Dao symbiot. Their last night together before the joining goes as follows:
ASTER: You’ve decided?
ZEN: I have. I’m going to do it.
ASTER: So tonight’s our last night together, as us.
ZEN: But it’ll have to be a secret, only Dr. Hanglaar and some of the command staff will know.
ASTER: Of course, but you’ll be a different person, how will you be able to keep that a secret? What will I call you?
ZEN: Dao’s just going to have to get used to going by my name. It’s going to drive him crazy. Corey… I can’t promise I’ll feel the same way about you. Dao got into this because of his love for a woman. I don’t know how much of that motivation will survive the joining.
ASTER: Jorian, you know I love you. But you have to do this. So I guess being friends will have to do.
ZEN: For a long time I felt like I had to prove myself worthy of you. Like I had to compete against what you felt for Ensign Ro.
ASTER: Jorian… you don’t…
ZEN: Corey, you deserve better than this. But I want you to know how much I love you.
[Aster and Zen say ‘goodbye’ before the Joining]
This conversation very much mirrors the first conversation they ever had about their relationship; the same fears and worries - loss of love, inability to compete, and Ro mentioned all over again.
Jorian is then joined with the Dao symbiot and wakes several hours later with a worried Corey sitting at his side. There are several things I noticed right away: Jorian’s expressions changed, his voice did as well - only slightly, a little deeper and more assertive. He expresses worry over Corey and suggests making him some tea saying that it a ‘very soothing ritual’ something Cassius Dao had early said to Jorian. Concerned, Corey asks ‘how much of him is Zen’. Jorian lays a hand on Corey’s cheek, smiles and assures him - ‘enough’.
This is the start of the decline of their relationship.
We first get a glimpse into the growing schism between Dao and Corey when Dao’s expertise is needed in researching the Grey (HF: 6.03 - Homeport). He is asked by his commanding officer Naros to help in the mission:
NAROS: Dao is considered to be one of the most brilliant researches in the field... Despite his exile and presumed death.
ZEN: You’re recruiting me? Sir, you realize this endangers my - Zen’s standing on Trill. I’m illegally joined.
NAROS: I won’t lie to you Ensign, there is that risk. But the stakes, quite literally, are galactic in scale.
ZEN: And my work at the facility, I assume that would require me to keep things from Corey - Lt. Aster.
NAROS: Of course.
ZEN: Why ask, sir? Why not simply reassign me? I’m only a lowly Ensign.
NAROS: I prefer a volunteer, sir.
This shows the pedestal that Jorian Dao is now held upon, he has lived eighteen lifetimes, he has exponential knowledge that even a nearly seven hundred year old Al-Elurian has a profound respect for. This also shows that Dao doesn’t consider himself and Jorian one and the same and that Dao has no issue lying to Corey.
Their relationship is tested again, when Corey begins having visions and Dao shows little empathy for the stress and confusion (HF: 6.04 - Beachhead):
ZEN: Corey… Wake up Corey…Corey…
ASTER: (muttering in sleep) Red alert… The Grey! The Grey!
ZEN: Its okay, you’re awake now.
ASTER: What?
ZEN: It’s almost like you’re being tortured. Can’t Elbry or Dr. Hanglaar do something about this?
ASTER: I’m so tired of going to them every time that I have a bad dream.
ZEN: We both know these are more than bad dreams. Now that we know Admiral Knapp is experiencing the same thing… maybe you should tell the Captain.
ASTER: (scoffs) You have the answers for everything now, don’t you?
ZEN: I’m sorry, I’ve lived too long to ignore my instincts. You need to tell the Captain.
ASTER: Why do you keep throwing your age and your past lives in my face like this? You know, between your secret research and your condescending tone… I feel like I can’t count on you right now.
ZEN: Condescending? Corey I only have your best interest -
ASTER: That’s exactly what I mean! I’ll go to the Captain, Jorian… Or should I say Dao?
[The schism between Corey and Jorian grows]
It is after this fight, as well as Jorian’s adamant work with Naros and the Grey research that people begin to notice and talk. It is only after Jorian is reassigned to the USS Helena (HF: 7.01 - Heavy Losses) that we get a full conversation between him and Naros about the status of Jorian’s relationship with Corey (HF: 7.02 - Bound):
NAROS: A penny for your thoughts Lieutenant?
ZEN: In some cultures you’d get change back.
NAROS: I’d like to say something, Lieutenant. It’s out of line; I know that going in but… I feel that the two of us have a unique perspective on life and love. Jorian Zen wouldn’t know that some cultures give change back. He wouldn’t use that as an idiom. He wouldn’t go to the ship’s counselor to try and rectify problems in his relationship. And he wouldn’t question the strength of his love or doubt that of his lover’s either; but Dao would. Dao would question if he could love a man the way Zen does. Only Dao could answer that.
ZEN: Zen and Dao are one being now, Tolian. Whatever I was before, whatever I felt before is not the only thing that is. Dao wouldn’t expect to live its life as a second class sentience, regardless of the circumstances of its joining. It wouldn’t be fair.
NAROS: Dao, you told me a while back that it was a struggle bringing Jorian into line. That he had strength in ways you didn’t give him credit for. I would suggest that he doesn’t be made to feel second class either. When he loved, if that love was true, he showed that love every day to Lt. Aster. Was it true?
ZEN: It was true.
NAROS: Then I think, if we’re talking in fairness, that you should allow him to show it again. Show it again, and be true.
This conversation makes Dao think, he does what Naros asks, and decides to show Corey how much he loves him. (In what seems to be a very romantic evening and probably next few days). However, in the next episode (HF: 7.03 - Past Sins) we learn that he is going to Trill for further research on his mission and in so doing, meeting with one of Cassius’ lovers; and he has not told Corey. This woman, Tessla Mor, becomes the object of his obsession and desire for the next few episodes, and in the end, the two of them end up sleeping together (HF: 7.07 - The Center Cannot Hold).
It is finally at the end of this episode that Corey realizes he and Jorian can no longer be together. [Dialogue previously referenced]
It is in a situation when they both think that they are doomed that Corey and Jorian finally have a moment to confess (HF: 7.08 - Its Hour Come Round at Last):
ZEN: You know Corey; I’m not that different than I was.
ASTER: Yes you are. We both are. It’s nobody’s fault. Nobody failed.
ZEN: You think I’m worried about whose fault it is? Am I that shallow? I’ve lived eighteen lifetimes, have I mentioned that lately?
ASTER: You must have spent that time living in a cave. Social skills of a raccoon.
The two have finally come to terms with one another, and in so doing, have ended the tension between them. The ending of their relationship leaves both on good terms with the other and they remain friends.
Ro and Zen - One Trip To The Holodeck And You Could Put Ridges On Him
[From left to right; Corey, Jorian and Ro]
To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure what to put here. Ro and Zen are never even alone together in a scene in the entirety of Hidden Frontier. They never make an attempt to come to terms with one another and they most certainly don’t have a romantic relationship.
They both have a jealousy for the other and his connection to Corey. Ro is jealous of Jorian’s openness with himself and his ability to admit his feelings for Corey not only to himself but to others as well. Ro is also jealous that Jorian has the connection with Corey; he craves an actual romantic relationship.
Jorian is jealous that Corey had feelings for Ro for so long and in some ways, still does. He, as previously mentioned, cannot touch or break the connection Aster has with Ro. He is deeply envious of that.
Their relationship to each other is a slow dance with around Corey. Actually, a game of tug-of-war is perhaps the best way to put it. Both are greedy and eager to have Corey to themselves, jealous, possessive, untrusting and unable to be happy for the other. Corey is stuck in the middle of the rollercoaster ride, torn between two men he loves deeply and cannot choose between.
This dance/game of tug-of-war finally leans towards Nevin during the final episodes of season seven, but for a long time, could have gone either or neither way. Both could have lost Corey in their bitter feud and ended up alone.
It seems, however, post Hidden Frontier that the men have come to have a mutual respect and understanding for one another. They banter playfully at the wedding, where Jorian serves as Best Man and we learn in Helena Chronicles (HC: 1.02 - Obsessions) that he along with Captain Fisal were the ones to finally bring Corey and Nevin together.
Jorian helps Corey search tirelessly for Nevin even when Fisal has given up hope and stretches his imagination and resources as far as he can in order to facilitate finding Nevin. Clearly he cares for him and wants him back, if only for Corey’s sake.
[Wedded Bliss - left to right; Zen, Ro, Shelby, Aster, Fisal]
Part V: Names and Destiny
I always read too much into things, I find; especially when it comes to a person’s name. I’m a huge believer in the meanings of names and their application to certain people and what a name says for a person.
Corey Aster: The name Corey means ‘God’s Peace’ but also has an alternative meaning as ‘hollow’ not in the emotional sense of empty, but as in the wooded copse/meadow or as in the hollow of a tree - both of which provide shelter. This name I find suitable to Corey, as he is not only at peace with who he is, but provides peace and shelter to those he cares for and those he loves. Aster is the name of a flower genus which derives its name from the shape of the flower which is a star. The symbolism of this flower is that of love and patience, all too befitting of Corey Aster.
Corey’s role in the Odyssey mythos is obvious to me, he is Penelope. Destined to wait for his lover, his husband to return to him. This raises questions as Penelope was pursued by dozens of men to be her suitor, will this too arise with Corey? Will he, like Penelope, be forced to wait long years and fight off countless advances?
Ro Nevin: I could find no name meaning to the surname Ro aside from ‘red haired’ which plays little to no role in the character of Nevin as he is not red headed. Nevin however, is a much more fascinating name. It is an anglicized version of the name Nevan/Neven which means ‘follower of the saint/holy one’. As a Bajoran that is what Nevin is born and raised to do. To follow the Prophets’ guidance and to remain rooted to his spiritual self. Nevin has stated on several occasions that he is a deeply spiritual person, and that while he may not follow his people’s religion to the letter he does follow his beliefs and does his best to discover the truth.
Nevin, without a doubt is Odysseus - far from home and on a whirlwind journey through sights and sounds unknown. How far will this journey take him? Will he, like Odysseus be lured in to an illusion by Calypso? Will he return to his husband and stave off ruthless suitors?
Jorian Zen-Dao: The name Jorian is a remodulation of the name George which means ‘earth-worker’. I thought about this name and its application to Jorian for a good long while and I finally think it befitting. Jorian is a hard worker; he is also down to earth. I know that this is not exactly the direct meaning of the words as it is meant to translate as ‘farmer’ but even so. Farmers are generous people and also very committed, which is exactly what Jorian is. Zen is a simply meant term; it is a state of knowledge which is gained through meditation and self-awareness. Dao or Tao is the doctrine of balance and unity - ying and yang. These names show the balanced nature of the Trill and his dedication and level-headed character.
Jorian was one of the hardest to place as a character in the Odyssey, but after much deliberation, I have dubbed him the role of Telemachus who in the original epic is the son of Odysseus and Penelope. Telemachus’ role in the Odyssey is the protection of Penelope while Odysseus is away. He is often described as having ‘a stout heart and an active mind, and sometimes even a bit of a temper’, which is Jorian Zen-Dao in as many words.
Part VI: Impact
The impact of Hidden Frontier on the Star Trek fandom has been substantial. It has allowed GLBTQ fans of Star Trek to finally feel included within the fandom finally. It has proven that fans can and do make a difference as the series is by fans, for fans, with fans.
It has shown that not only can Star Trek have gay characters but it can have gay Cardassians, gay Trills, gay Klingons and even gay Bajorans who will not be scrutinized against.
The series has returned to Rodenberry’s dream of pushing the envelope and making a difference socially.
From a personal point of view, Hidden Frontier, Odyssey, and Helena Chronicles, truly have boldly gone where no Star Trek series has gone before. They have made me feel included, not only as a woman, as a fan, but also as a person with alternative sexuality. It has accomplished what no other series, fan or otherwise (in my opinion) could have done by dealing with sensitive topics in a caring and gentle manner and in a realistic, uncompromising and normal way.
Part VII: Closing and Links
I hope you have enjoyed my essay and that I may have given some of you, or even one of you, the curiosity to check the series out. I hope that this essay has given you a glimpse or maybe even a big roadmap as to why I love this series and its characters so much.
Sadly, as it is a fan series, there is a very minimal but very loyal fanbase. There are no communities to speak of on livejournal and extensive googling has yielded no luck with fansites so I only have a few links for you.
http://www.hiddenfrontier.com This is the main site where you gain get updates and download the episodes from all the series.
http://forums.hiddenfrontier.com/ This is the forum linked to the main site where a small fanfiction section is located (fics with ratings higher than PG 13 not allowed). This is also where fans chat and get to know one another and even gain sneak peeks to the next episode.
http://en.hiddenfrontier.com This is the series wikipedia, it has character biographies as well as descriptions for the species I have talked about throughout the essay for those who aren’t as technobabble inclined.
http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/movies/2006/6/hidden.html A report by www.afterelton.com on Hidden Frontier
http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/movies/2006/8/frontier.html A follow up report to the one above!
Thank you!
PS: Mods, I wasn't sure about the tagging, so I input my own, if that's not okay, let me know and I'll change it!
PPS: Cross-posted to my own journal and link given on Hidden Frontier forum!