Initially hailing from a bustling corner of London's western side, an infant boy's parents had made the joint decision to relocate. It seems that this dense locale of people and noise and commotion had finally proven too much for them to bear, particularly with what seemed to be a rather sensitive child.
Several years further into his life, he had begun to settle, possibly due to exposure to outer stimulation during his schooling. His parent's closely-shielded wariness and unease of non-humans had been subsequently - and subtly - trained into his young mind, seeping into his subconscious like a slow-kindling fire. This learned trait saw him through his formative years, a mild influence to his timid and closed nature, bleeding into his outward demeanour from time to time. He had occasionally run into strife with other students, but with those happenings being so rare, a mild reprimand and refresher class was all that had been required. That is what it had seemed, anyway.
Throughout his childhood, he had been raised mostly in seclusion by introverted parents, in a meagre township with a small populace. Remote is but one term to ascribe to such a town, its location forged along rocky plains in Ireland's cold north. Despite all of the expansion in population and housing of other portions of the globe, this small piece had remained seemingly untainted, partly untouched by the hands of industry in order to preserve its wonderfully pristine state. Some instances of current technology can be sighted here and there – hover vehicles for one – but not as prominent as one would expect from places such as London or San Francisco. Being cities of major importance, those two locales would of course be much more densely populated and possess much greater examples of technological achievement. As for this little township, it is not the sole instance of its kind; many more are scattered across various parts of humankind's home. Locales such as this are deemed necessary for the globe's preservation, much like the vast rainforests, and it is for the benefit of the planet that these parts be left alone.
Like many raised in such enclosed places, the young boy and his family had little contact with outsiders – that is, those hailing from other planets. On close observation, one might infer that this family could have been quite wary of peoples not of Earth, with such non-existent contact. This inference is most surely true, in the case of this family.
With such a guarded development, it was indeed quite a mild shock when the boy – now a teenager – wished to enlist in Starfleet. Having displayed incredible aptitude and high grades throughout his schooling, perhaps it was not as big a surprise as it should have been. The boy was brilliant, and wanted to go further.
ooo
Once admitted to the Academy, he had at once begun his diligent study, entering into the required general courses and then majors of his choosing. After settling into Academy life, his elected areas of study had included Biochemistry, Quantum Chemistry, Exochemistry, Engineering and Theoretic Engineering. An interesting range of subjects indeed, qualifications from which could effortlessly have landed him in the Engineering or Medical or Science sections of any starship. And yes, all classes he had passed with the highest grades of his peers. Despite his excellence in these fields and his high intelligence, he had somehow flubbed his way through Interspecies Ethics and Interspecies Protocol, only achieving average grades from these classes. This latter fact could have only been brought about by his secluded upbringing.
For some, the following years may seem trying; others, exhilarating. However, for this cadet, one would say the next several years had been taken in his stride.
ooo
As with the multitude of those who came before him, a cadet still in the prime of his youth wanders out of the Academy gates. Youth, in his case, may be an understatement; his age at graduation only bested by that of a young Pavel Chekov, dubbed a "whizz kid" by his colleagues aboard the Enterprise. And, while many cadets appease themselves with the best possible grades they can attain, an admirable goal in itself, this particular student may be labelled an "over-achiever".
Yes, his peers would strive for whatever level of greatness they can grasp; yet, this young man had allotted himself a tier above. His mind – his every waking moment – would be occupied with his studies. Some would call it determination, others an obsession; that is, if one had become well enough acquainted with him. No friends had been made during his years at the Academy, human or otherwise. Barely an interaction had been engaged with him, aside from the sporadic group assessments in which he was required to participate. If one had taken note of his apparent - albeit very mild - wariness towards his fellow Earth-born students, then one would have probably spotted the same level of caution with those of a different species. That latter may seem odd, with interspecies relations being the Federation's vanguard. That could merely amount to the reclusive nature of this cadet, as none – human or not – had ever "gotten to know" him.
Moreover, while many cadets would relax or even recreate in their free hours – little as it is at times – this student would not. Even the brilliant cadet Nyota Uhura – a high achiever in her own right and a linguistics expert – would attend the local tavern not far from campus grounds to "unwind" with acquaintances and alcoholic drink after lengthy hours of study. There is no strict regulation against such activity, particularly when study remains unhindered. And yet, in spite of this fact, this particular young man had steered clear of any and all such ventures, utilising the time solely on his studies. One might ponder if he even allowed himself sleep; if one came to know him well enough, that is.
While most – if not all – cadets depart the Academy gates with a swell of hope, this russet-haired cadet instead fuels his determination further. His years of fervent study have at last rewarded him a posting on the Federation's flagship vessel.
None could foretell what he might carry out in the year to come.
