Vulcans Heart (Star Trek)

Customer Review: Bravo, about covers it, IMHO...

(and about TIME too, geeze...)

Just an FYI, from all accounts a romance between Spock and Saavik was planned from the get go, but for some reason the plotline was dropped after ST3. From the beginning I saw this one coming and I was quite pleased that they were going there once I got a good look at Saavik. I must admit I much prefer Kirstie Alley’s incarnation of the character to Robin Curtis but in so far as the character is concerned I have nothing but affection. I have enjoyed her appearances in other sanctioned books, and in this series in particular.

To those who decry the relationship as inappropriate may I point out the fact that during the time Saavik was growing up Spock was not acting as a parent per se, but more as a mentor. Most of the novels that have explored her history clearly indicate that she was reaching maturity during the time that Spock was still serving in Starfleet, on the Enterprise as Kirk's first officer. No offense, but being a military brat myself I can tell you that attempting to parent a child while serving on a long term missions isn't really logical. Saavik in ST3 stated that she had never previously been to Vulcan, but she does seem well known by Spock's family and it's implied that Spock's mother Amanda in particular is fond of her. And that too is "logical" given that Sarek is a diplomat who has probably spent more time on Earth since his son's birth than not.

Spock may have been Saavik's legal guardian, but that doesn't make him her father. From what we have seen a more likely conclusion would be that Spock took some time off to get her settled, and then returned to his duties on the Enterprise, keeping in touch as much as possible, and visiting when he could.

The Saavik [that] Spock found on Hellguard wasn't an "innocent." Not even really still a child. She was an uncivilized savage who would do almost anything to survive. That she stole, lied, perhaps even killed to survive is likely as she DID survive in a place that even a devil would hesitate to call home. She was most likely the product of rape, and she knew what that meant in terms of her joining Vulcan society. While they might shelter her and give her all she needed, being a half-breed, the likely result of an act of violence would put her at the fringes of Vulcan society, would be awkward, at least at first. That she did not automatically lay a claim on being "Vulcan" that she instead chose to be her own person, to admit to being BOTH Romulan and Vulcan, says a lot about her.

She could have chosen adoption into a Vulcan clan and completely disowned her Romulan half and perhaps in time married etc, but instead she chose to go to [Starfleet], to find herself, and eventually to adopt the Vulcan way as something she wanted for HERSELF. Probably she originally did that because she wanted to follow Spock's example, but in the end she was her own woman, and clearly much admired by those who encountered her.

When you think about it, aiding Spock with his Pon Far on the Genesis world must have been horribly awkward for her, but she did it, to save him. To save him, as he had once saved HER. That the act was likely to bring them together in a new way, that someday Spock might remember and that they would have to deal with being more than teacher and student, friend. That is a risk she must have considered immense but worthy of taking.

It is not logical to assume that Spock would remain unbonded for the rest of his life. Finally putting attempts at a more religious life behind him, Kohlinar, he like any other of his race, would therefore have to carry on with the matter of acquiring a mate at some point or another. Sarek might have (as was custom) arranged it? But I do think Saavik was Spock's choice. and I think Spock was SAAVIK'S choice. I think Sarek realized it and being the ultimate diplomat suggested the match to make it less awkward for both of them. They are in a word "perfect" mates. Who can understand Spock's struggles with his dual-heritage better than Saavik? Who else but Spock can accept and understand her struggle to understand and to be herself?

I have often thought Spock's desire to unite the two people, Romulan and Vulcan, must have started with his relationship with Saavik. "It seemed the logical thing to do..." That is what Sarek once said to his son about why he married his first human wife. If you ask me that statement also applies to Spock and Saavik. :)