Savan: Difference between revisions

* '''Other Species’'': Unlike other Vulcans, Savan does like Andorians for their strong martial quality. He is fascinated by Deltans but is hesitant to meet any after his intense experience with Irian. Savan has gotten along rather well with Klingons, thanks to his mok’bara training and his high fluency in Klingon. Being around Klingons for a sustained time can bring out deeper, more “primitive” emotions, so Savan has learned to moderate his company with this species.  

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | Born in T'Vral Kol, Voroth Province, Vulcan, T'Val was a botanist in the Vulcan Colonial Corps. Like her husband, T'Val suffered from severe ESFD after exposure to Trellium D. Following Varis' death, she became extremely withdrawn and, unable to properly care for Savan, found the logical decision was to to transfer custody of Savan to her older brother, Staran. T'Val now lives in a remote care center in a rural area of Voroth Province, where she maintains the facility's arboretum and garden. Savan has a difficult relationship with his mother because of her ongoing condition. He last saw her before he entered Starfleet Academy. Under the effects of ESFD, T'Val was overjoyed to see her son and expressed her love for him. However, she felt deep embrassment at her mental state and said that she does not want to see him because of her disorder, preferring a life of seclusion. Doctors say that T’Val’s condition is stable but that it is unlikely she will ever improve.

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" |  Born in T'Vral Kol, Staran considered entering Starfleet but, because of family obligations, decided to serve in Vulcan's self-defense forces. While Staran was a sub-commander on a cruiser in the Vulcan home system during the Dominion War, he received news of his sister's accident. He did his best to raise Savan after receiving custody, but as a disciplined, logical officer with heavy responsibilities, he could not handle the emotional and often unruly child. While Staran had difficulty in maintaining contact with his nephew, he did reach out finally to Savan after he entered the Academy to say that he was impressed by his young nephew's perseverance and ability to rise above the adverse conditions that were presented to him. Savan appreciated the message deeply. The two now stay in occasional contact. Savan will to reach out to his uncle when he needs a clear viewpoint, unfettered by emotion. Currently, Staran now holds the rank of commander in the Vulcan fleet. Following the threats posed to Vulcan since the Dominion War and the later collapse of the Romulan Star Empire, Staran would prefer a return to the days of the Vulcan High Command, when Vulcan could protect itself more effectively. While he does not at all favor the militarism and climate of deception that arose at the end of the High Command's era (before being dismantled in the 22nd century) and does believe in the more pacifist philosophy of the present, Staran considers the reliance upon Starfleet and his planetary government's overt avoidance of the use of force as illogical and potentially threatening for all of Vulcan. For the time being, though, he usually keeps this opinion to himself. Though he now maintains a residence in the capital with his wife, Staran prefers the simplicity of the life on board ship, especially with missions that take away from the politics of the home system.

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | The only son of a former Vulcan Starfleet officer Selon and and a human mother in Federation Ambassadorial corps, Stephanie Bergen, Torin was raised between San Francisco and Vancouver. After joining Starfleet, his father Selon grew progressively enamored with alien and particularly human cultures, including human women. As Bergen was the last in her family line, she notably insisted Torin take her family name. (Selon knew to not object to his wife.) Nowadays, Torin only uses his full name for academia. For all other interactions, he will use his Vulcan name. Because of Selon’s fascination with humanity and his mother’s strong personality, Torin was raised mainly in the Terran tradition. But his father did school him in Vulcan language and philosophy regardless, but, unlike many Vulcan fathers, he insisted his son follow his own path. Torin thinks this may be due to that a few of his family's ancestors were V'tosh K’atur. With age, Torin has progressively embraced Vulcan culture over the years and shared it with his family. Savan's presence in his life only served to increase his interest in his fathers culture. After several research posts, he currently serves as a professor of interspecies anthropology at the University of California. He lives in Santa Cruz with his wife of 35 years, Tevai. He expressed some disappointment that Savan joined Starfleet instead of pursuing a career in the planetary parks service, partially as he has truly considered Savan as his own son and wanted him to stay near. However, Torin remains supportive of Savan's career decision but is not sure if Savan can follow such a by-the-book career path. He has repeatedly told him: "Savan, because of the circumstances of your life, you have grown an appreciation for the wild and unconstrained. You need to honor this within you, lest this passion overwhelms you one day."  

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | Born and raised in Tahiti, Tevai Heremoana Duval is a noted former surf champion. Following her surf career, Duval became a doctor specializing in sports medicine. Tevai found Savan's presence initially challenging when he first arrived, finding difficulty in supporting Savan's deep emotional problems. But the two became close after Savan, age 14, went on a surf trip home with her and her sons to the South Pacific. After the trip, Savan opened up and told her that the trip was the first time he had been happy since before the accident. Duval now considers Savan like her own son.

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | Cousin: The eldest son of Savan's adopted father Torin, Taurin is three years older than Taurin. He is a champion surfer and has won several planetary competitions. Taurin now splits his time between the South Pacific and Southern California, where he has become a leading surf teacher. He still occasionally competes but has realized he prefers the role of coach and teacher. His nick name is Tau. Taurin has shown more interest in Vulcan culture than his younger brother and has even learned to speak conversational Vulcan but finds it difficult–like most things Vulcan. Savan has looked up to Taurin as an other brother, especially as Taurin helped his brother adapt to life on Earth and understand Earth customs and culture. Taurin was notably the first person to insist that Savan get rid of his typical Vulcan haircut. Out of the two brothers, Taurin is the quieter, more introspective one.

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | Torin and Duval's youngest son, Tarek is a year younger than Savan. Tarek was also a competitive surfer but also pursued a competitive swimming. He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia and serves as a university coach. While he is called Tarek by his father, his mother and friends often call him by his Tahitian middle name, Marama. Tarek appreciates his Vulcan heritage but associates far better with his human side. In fact, for Tarek, being Vulcan is just like being a particular ethnicity on Earth. Despite Torin's efforts, Tarek gave up learning Vulcan at a young age. But thanks to Savan, he has learned the basic of using the lirpa and rudimentary Suhs Mahna. Tarek made a point to thank Savan for the training when it saved from a concussion during a bar fight in Sydney. Tarek has a much more humorous relationship with Savan and will regularly joke around and try to make his cousin laugh, especially in public. Tarek is often successful.

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | Savan met John his sophomore year at the Interspecies Day School of California, where Torres' family enrolled him so he could get a better understanding of other species. The two became close friends and later shared an apartment while attending the University of California. Torres would regularly introduce Savan as "the baddest ass Vulcan you'll ever meet," to which Savan would often cock his eyebrow and frown. Nevertheless, Torres’ introduction would often lead to interesting experiences while they were in college. It is partly because of Torres—or, in Savan’s words, Torres’ fault—that Savan will no longer drink tequila. (In fact, the smell of it and similar spirits makes him nauseous.) Torres has calmed down quickly after graduating university. Now in his late 20s, John is now married and works as an architect in Mexico. Torres and his wife have one child, Isabela, for whom Savan is the proud godfather. Torres is the person who has the easiest time in making Savan laugh, even more so than Tarek. Torres has no hesitation about telling Savan the truth about what he think and has not problem in calling Savan out when he feels his friend is out of line. Though they have argued on occasion because of this, Savan appreciates Torres' honesty. Despite the distance and current professional responsibilities, Savan and Torres stay in close touch. After his family, Torres is the first person that Savan will visit when on Earth.

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" |  A former Starfleet Marine, Ironwood received several commendations during the Dominion War. Shortly thereafter, he left the service and returned to Earth and became a teacher. Ironwood met Savan in a tactical training class during Savan's senior year at university. Seeing a natural talent, Ironwood gave him private instruction and later encouraged him to join Starfleet. Through his old contacts, Ironwood notably got Savan the rare opportunity to train with a group of Starfleet Marines in Alaska. Savan considers Ironwood to be the first mentor in his life and holds him in high esteem. He will drop everything to assist his teacher should he need it.  

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | During the beginning of his junior year at university, Savan became attracted to a Deltan exchange student, Irian. The two spent a significant amount of time over a few months, discussing a variety of topics and often exploring the surrounding wilderness , and Savan later expressed his feelings and how he wanted to turn the relationship into something more. While not under an Oath of Celibacy—only required for Deltans in Starfleet and other kinds of similar interstellar posts—Irian chose to not turn the relationship into a romantic one–especially as he was uncertain how contact with a Deltan would affect a Vulcan, especially one as sensitive as Savan. Nevertheless, Savan was deeply effected by the experience and Irian’s subsequent return to Delta IV, which, along with other occurrences, made him decide to take a semester off. Savan still has often vivid dreams of Irian, but he finds them overwhelming and discusses them with absolutely no one. He has considered looking for Irian at times but has chosen to focus on his career in Starfleet. That said, Savan is unsure and, perhaps, even afraid of what might happen should he meet Irian again.

| style="background:#ffffff;" align="left" | While Savan’s intense schedule at the Academy left little time, Savan did develop a particularly close relationship with a cadet from Magna Roma, Gnaeus Aelius Galeo, who was in training to become a marine. Several cadets thought the two were romantically attached, but both insisted their relationship was a fraternal one. While they were rarely seen together at social events, they were usually only seen together sparring or training in the gymnasium or in the mess hall after all. The only time they spent together off campus were on hikes and one short trip during a break to see Roman and Greek ruins in the Mediterranean. Galeo also taught Savan the basics of Magna Roman military physical training. For a long time, Savan did not know how to define their relationship, which was closer and more important than a regular friendship, even a strong one like he has with John Torres. When Savan explained the situation to his adopted father Torin, Torin suggested the Vulcan term ''th’y’la'', which was probably not taught to Savan since his Vulcan education stopped so early. Torin did make note of the word’s ambiguity, as th’y’la can mean "friend," “brother," or “lover.” Eventually, Savan told Galeo how he appreciated their friendship and explained the word th'y'la to him. To Savan's surprise, the Magna Roman smiled and offered that there was actually similar word, ''erostoïs'', that developed in one of his planet’s prominent ancient cultures—one very similar to Ancient Greece on Terra. It is still used today, added Galeo. Since then, in private, Savan refers to Galeo as his th'y'la, while Galeo calls him his erostoïs. In a sense, the relationship remains a mystery to Savan, as it touches a part of him so deep he can barely understand it. He does know, however that he would sacrifice himself without question to save Galeo if his th’y’la’s life were ever in changer. Savan keeps remains in touch with Galeo and keeps his picture next to his family mementos. Galeo will finish his marine training and graduate from the Academy over the next year. Savan secretly hopes they can be posted together. Savan's best friend John Torres has tried a few times to express his thoughts on what Savan's relationship to Galeo actually is, but Savan has cut him off every time. It's the one topic where Savan will not take his friend's advice. Torres gave up eventually and decided to let Savan figure things out for himself, though he thinks the nature of their real relationship, though still unfulfilled, is clearly obvious.

The rigors of his security training at Starfleet Academy left Savan little time for any romantic pursuits. Savan did develop a close relationship with Magna Roman cadet Gnaeus Aelius Galeo, whom Savan calls his th’y’la, to express his deep connection. To this point, the relationship, though deep, is not a romantic one. Prior to graduation, Savan had some interest in a younger cadet, Vresan, a Romulan refugee. After the two became friends, Vresan said that Savan reminder her of a famous Romulan hero, adding that it was always her dream to meet him. Because Savan was assigned to oversee her group as a senior cadet, the two eventually decided that any fraternization would be against regulation.

Savan was the child of two young Vulcan researchers—Varis, a geologist, and T'Val, a biologist, both of whom had promising careers in the Vulcan Colonial Corps, often assisting with new Federation colonies. The coupled married at an early age, shortly after completing their university studies. While in their mid-twenties (Earth standard), T'Val gave birth to Savan in the city of T'Vral Kol, at her family estate that overlooked the Voroth Sea. Much of Savan’s early childhood was without incident and quite typical of Vulcan children. The only exception was that he accompanied his parents to two new Federation colonies at age 5 and age 7. On each occasion, the family spent a year away from Vulcan. His parents appreciated the chance to interact and learn about alien cultures. This gave Savan an early exposure to other species and fostered his curiosity about other worlds and cultures, a quality encouraged by his parents.

On Stardate 237405.02, when Savan was approximately 10 Earth years, he once again accompanied his parents. Their journey meant to take them from Vulcan to the then-new Vulcan colony, V’Radan. During the final leg of their journey, the independently run transport became caught in an ion storm, causing irreparable repair to the warp drive and leaving the ship with no option but taking refuge in a nearby unexplored solar system. Unbeknownst to the the Vulcans, the transport was carrying a large shipment of Trellium D that had been safely contained. However, a breach in the containment field caused for a gradual release of Trellium D into the ship’s ventilation system. Eventually, Savan’s parents suffered from moderate exposure. While the exposure did not lead to the violent, irreparable state that had been seen on a Vulcan ship  in the 22nd century, Varis and T'Val both lost control of their emotional suppression, leading to progressively worse states of paranoia and rage. After the couple nearly killed the ship’s captain, the physician managed to put sedate them and put them into stasis. Savan had been in a different area of the ship and suffered a lesser degree of exposure. While the exposure was not fatal for his parents, both were never fully able to recover and sent to a hospital facility on Vulcan.  

In the months after the accident, the family was treated first in a Federation medical facility and then transferred back to Vulcan. Initially, it was thought that the family could regain a normal life. Varis' treatments--which even included a session with a Vulcan priest--proved to be ineffective. Faced with the end of any career and irreparably permanent loss of emotional control, Varis, committed suicide about two years after the accident. T'Val managed to show more improvement but the loss of Varis affect her deeply, leading her to seek refuge in a Vulcan clinic located in Voroth province. Before going into retreat, T'Val passed custody of Savan to her older brother Staran, an officer in the Vulcan self-defense fleet who, despite his initial and genuine efforts, gradually realized he was unable to raise the child on Vulcan. The Trellium D exposure, coupled with the loss of his parents, left Savan unable to develop the emotional suppression common in Vulcans, consequently rendering him unable to effectively function and thrive in the rigorous education expected of the average Vulcan youth. A near fatal attack on two schoolmates led to Savan's permanent supsension from school, leading Staran to look for some way to send the child off-world for a better life.

Evantually, Staran was able to find his distant cousin Torin, a half-Vulcan who was an interspecies anthropologist in Northern California. Torin’s father, Selon, joined Starfleet and married a human female, with whom he had one son, Torin being the youngest. Despite his father’s preference for alien cultures, Torin did learn much from Selon and managed to raise his own two sons with some Vulcan culture and taught them basic mental disciplines in order to help contain any vestigal Vulcan drives, all the while knowing their dominant human blood left them for all intents and purposes humans in the eyes of fellow Vulcans. (Their Vulcan features do make other humans consider them as Vulcans.) While Torin could not consider himself a pure Vulcan, he did pride himself on his Vulcan ancestry, over the years, and was eventually able to reestablish and restablished contact with his father’s family.(Selon had a falling out with his father when he joined Starfleet and later did not invite his family to his wedding.) Thankfully, the family hailed from the small city of T’Vral Kol, located on the shores of the Voroth Sea, Vulcan's largest ocean. In keeping with the general culture of T’Vral Kol, the family was far more liberal and open-minded compared to Vulcan's elite, who have congregate around the capital, Shi'Kahr. (Notably, Varis belonged from such a notable family but, having found the environment repressive at times, preferred the more relaxed environment of T'Vral Kol.) It is through this link with his family in T’Vral Kol that Staran was able to learn about and communicate with Torin.

After several months of long-distancediscussion between Staran and Torin, Torin travel to Vulcan to meet Savan to see if the adoption would be welcome. After a positive meeting with the child and his uncle, Savan took the then 12-year-old Savan into his custody and brought him to Santa Cruz. Savan soon proved to be an entirely new challenge for the adoptive father. Unlike his own children who were of a mixed background—and hence with more moderate human traits—Savan was a pure Vulcan who possessed the strong emotions and passions of his ancestors. In some ways, Savan had the raw, unfiltered rage fit for a Klingon youth—an emotional quality that Torin knew came from Savan’s loss of his two parents and the inability for Vulcan society to accept him or his parents. Moreover, the prescribed medical and psychiatric treatments from Vulcan and Earth proved only to be moderately effective at best. As an anthropologist, Torin contacted parents of mixed species children for desperate advice. The parents of two part-Klingon children had found one successful outlet for their children: intense physical activities that required immense discipline. Their advice proved to be an effective channel for Savan. Torin managed to enroll Savan into various martial arts classes and wilderness survival programs. Then came the ocean. Torin's wife, Tevai, was a human and originally an accomplished surfer from Tahiti. Already in their late teens, his sons, Tauvin and Tarek, had proved highly successful in their mother's posrt  and eventually taught Savan the art of wave riding and competitive swimming. As the human expression goes, Savan took to the sport like a fish to water. Tevai and his cousins would eventually take Savan on trips around Terra to different surf spots, including Hawaii, Tahiti, Australia and Indonesia. It was during these travels that Savan discovered a love for the sea and tropical climates.

* SD 238501.15 - After a very lackluster first semester his junior year caused, in part, by an overactive social life, Savan takes a leave of absence during the 2nd semester. He hikes several mountain ranges on Terra.

* SD 238712.12 - Savan (age 23)graduates with a BA in Environmental Studies with High Honors from the University of California.

* SD 239303 - Savan arrives at Starbase 118 for his cadet cruise.