Saavik

Lieutenant Saavik is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe.

Fictional biography

Saavik's background was never explored on screen, but has been fleshed out in novels and comic books, though it should be noted that none of these sources are considered canon. According to the novels and comics, Saavik was born on Hellguard, an abandoned Romulan colony. She is half Vulcan and half Romulan. (A line of dialogue that would have revealed this in Wrath of Khan was edited out prior to the film's release and never restored; as a result, the canonicity of this piece of information has been debated for more than two decades. It does, however, explain her somewhat emotional behavior in that film, though she adopted a more proper Vulcan demeanor in later appearances.) Saavik's mixed parentage is referenced often in her appearances in Star Trek novels. It should be noted, however, that if Saavik's mixed ancestry were to be made canon, it would violate the continuity created by the ' episode "Balance of Terror" (which takes place after Saavik's birth) in which Starfleet learns for the first time that Romulans resemble Vulcans, a fact that appears to be unknown to Vulcans as well.

Related Topics:
Canon - Romulan - Vulcan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few sources have her (non-canon) origin story as, she was rescued from the colony, along with other children, by Mr. Spock, and she was adopted by his parents Ambassador Sarek and Amanda Grayson. Following in the footsteps of her step-brother and role model Spock she entered Starfleet Academy. In the novel Pandora Principle, however, she lives off Vulcan in other foster families until she is accepted into the Starfleet Academy. This agrees with the ' novelization which said Saavik has never been to Vulcan until then. After graduating, as a fresh lieutenant Saavik was on her cadet cruise on the Enterprise with Admiral James T. Kirk and Captain Spock when Kirk's old enemy Khan sought revenge and attacked the Enterprise.

Related Topics:
Mr. Spock - Sarek - Amanda Grayson - Starfleet Academy - ''Enterprise'' - James T. Kirk - Khan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spock died while saving the Enterprise during the events of Wrath of Khan, but before his death transferred his "katra" to Dr. Leonard McCoy (see Vulcans for more information on this ability). His coffin was fired from the Enterprise in orbit around the Genesis Planet and was believed to have been destroyed in the atmosphere. Saavik and David Marcus (son of Admiral James T. Kirk), subsequently were assigned to the research vessel U.S.S. Grissom to study the newly formed Genesis Planet. During this mission, Saavik discovered that Spock had somehow been regenerated, and was rapidly aging. As the new Spock entered his teenage years, he began experiencing the mating drive known as pon farr, and Saavik helped ease Spock through this difficult time. Saavik helped Admiral Kirk return Spock to Vulcan where his body and katra were reunited. After that, she remained on Vulcan with Spock's family for reasons never explained on screen; the film's writers intended that this was because she was pregnant with Spock's child as a result of the pon farr, but no references to her pregnancy made it into the finished movie and it was never followed up, thereby once again placing this development into a grey area in terms of canon.

Related Topics:
Dr. Leonard McCoy - Vulcans - Genesis Planet - David Marcus - James T. Kirk

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~