Sarek--biography

A Boy in a Hall

SAREK T’PIRIKAN began life I’Api 4, 8802, in the hall of the Tribal Ceremonial House at Taimun. The firstborn child and lineal heir to T’Pir Setarikan, a favorite of the Great Chief T’Patris, Sarek received training in the ancient ceremonial traditions of Taimun and Daicun and was privately educated in ShiKar. Following in his mother’s footsteps, he entered the Academy of Sciences at the age of 21, completing the required course of study and attaining the scientific rank of morsm in 8830.
During the next three decades, the Morsm Sarek was twice decorated by the (Vulcan) Scientific Legion of Honor for his contributions to the highly regarded but somewhat unpopular research being conducted at that time by his mother’s team at Sinse Laboratories (ShiKar). His keen interest in a wide spectrum of scientific topics returned him to the Academy of Sciences on many occasions, both as student and teacher. Those who had the distinction of being counted among his private students would be known in the 90th Century as the best of their world in their respective fields.

A Tutor’s Inspection

Following a “wasted” season, the unmarried 63-year-old arrived on Earth in late 2273 (8865) as a last-minute addition to a scientific information exchange initiative that the interstellar press termed a “precursor” to talks concerning Vulcan’s entry into the Federation. Based in Washington, DC, it was here that Sarek would meet his future wife, A. J. (Amanda) Grayson, then an undergraduate at a nearby university.
While Federation admission overtures stalled, and with tribal attentions focused elsewhere, a friendship began to evolve between the unlikely pair. Unaware of her friend’s distinguished status on his own world, AJ accepted Sarek’s offer of tutoring for a frustrating biostatistics course, and what had begun as a casual acquaintance strengthened to an alliance of mutual respect and trust. When neither could deny, in their own customs, the depth of devotion between them, the two were married quietly and without notice in 2274.

A Sacrifice Most Dear

As the Terran year 2275 dawned, Sarek and his student wife took advantage of the relative anonymity of the Cambridge, Massachusetts winter where the former had accepted a position as visiting professor in the mathematics department at M.I.T. The Vulcan year 8867 was also unfolding with tribal intrigues and political pressures. Although the duties to family were never very far from Sarek’s thoughts, he chose not to share them with AJ, thinking to allow her some measure of peace and privacy in their newlywed life.
In gratitude for a secret act of sacrifice the previous fall, an apprenticeship for Sarek on the newly formed Vulcan outworld diplomatic team materialized as the summer semester began. As his homeworld finally accepted the amended Federation charter, and a new chief was seated in Taimun, Sarek returned to his birthplace where he found family plans for his wedding to a highborn Daicun woman being finalized.

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Destiny Deferred

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A Most Distant Blood
LLWELLYN S. MACLEOD
Illustrated by MARY STACY