In the fictional universe of Star Trek, David Marcus (2261 - 2285) was the son of James T. Kirk and Dr. Carol Marcus and a major character in the films Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. He was played in both films by the late Merritt Butrick. In biology, a species is the basic unit of biodiversity. ... This article is about modern humans. ... The shield and spear of the Roman god Mars are often used to represent the male sex. ... The shield and spear of the Roman God Mars are often used to represent the male sex In heterogamous species, male is the sex of an organism, or of a part of an organism, which typically produces smaller, mobile gametes (spermatozoa) that are able to fertilise female gametes (ova). ... Human beings have many variations in hair color and texture. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... It has been suggested that Genesis Planet be merged into this article or section. ... Merritt Butrick (September 3, 1959 in Gainesville, Florida – March 17, 1989 in Los Angeles, California of AIDS) was an American actor who was best known for his role as Captain James T. Kirks son David Marcus in the movies Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek... Star Trek collectively refers to a science-fiction franchise spanning six unique television series, 726 episodes and ten feature films in addition to hundreds of novels, computer and video games, fan stories and other works of fiction all set within the same fictional universe created by Gene Roddenberry in the... James Tiberius Kirk, played by William Shatner, was captain of two starships Enterprise (NCC-1701 and NCC-1701-A) in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Dr. Carol Marcus was one of the leading molecular biologists in the Federation. ... Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Paramount Pictures, 1982; see also 1982 in film) is the second feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Paramount Pictures, 1984; see also 1984 in film) is the third feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Merritt Butrick (September 3, 1959 in Gainesville, Florida – March 17, 1989 in Los Angeles, California of AIDS) was an American actor who was best known for his role as Captain James T. Kirks son David Marcus in the movies Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek...

Overview

(Note: little background on David was provided on screen. Some of what follows is based upon literary sources, which are not considered canon.) In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ...

David was born in 2261. He grew up in a single-parent environment with his mother, immersed in a world of scientific research. David knew that Kirk was once part of his mother's life, but the boy had no idea that the famous Starfleet admiral was his father, nor that his mother effectively banned Kirk from his life. Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... Admiral is a word from the Arabic term Amir-al-bahr (commander of the sea). ...

David's professional choices were heavily influenced by his mother's status; by the age of 23 he had earned his doctorate and soon became a member of his mother's research team.

In 2284, David began work on Project Genesis with his mother. As they progressed, traces of his father showed in David; he was impatient for results and eager for solutions. This led him to employ protomatter, denounced by many scientists as hazardous and highly unstable. Nevertheless, it appeared to solve the problems. It has been suggested that Genesis Planet be merged into this article or section. ... In the Star Trek science fiction universe, Proto-matter a dangerously unstable substance. ...

David's closeted scientific world was interrupted when Khan Noonien Singh, took control of Commander Pavel Chekov and forced him to announce that he was taking Genesis away from Carol's team on orders from Kirk. This threat was part of Khan's ruse to lure Kirk to them, and it provided the volatile backdrop to the first meeting between father and son. Khan Noonien Singh is a villain in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Pavel Andreyevich Chekov (Cyrillic: Павел Андреевич Чеков), a character from the fictional Star Trek universe, was the Navigator and Weapons Officer on the Starship Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk. ...

This encounter actually began as more of a confrontation; David displayed the same eagerness for action as his father when he attacked the admiral with a knife, presuming that Kirk's intent was to take Genesis. Carol intervened, and it was after seeing her that Kirk guessed David was his son. David got a chance to see his father in a more positive light when Kirk battled it out with Khan. David remained on the bridge of the USS Enterprise, acting as advisor on the Genesis wave, and was impressed by his father's courage and abilities. The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), following the 2270-2272 refit In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701 was the ship in the original NBC TV series Star Trek, which chronicled the vessels most famous assignment, a five-year mission of exploration and dipomacy under...

After this brush with death, David showed his compassion by trying to comfort the man he once despised, when Kirk was grieving over the death of Spock. David apologized to Kirk for misjudging him and added, "I'm proud, very proud, to be your son." Spock, also called Mr. ...

Shortly afterward, David was assigned to the USS Grissom with Lt. Saavik to study the planet created in the Genesis explosion. At first, he was thrilled with the array of environments, but when he beamed down for a closer look he found the planet in a state of environmental chaos, and recognized the cause as being the protomatter's instability. The USS Grissom was an Oberth Class Federation science vessel, commanded by Captain J.T. Esteban, and seen in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. ... Lieutenant Saavik is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. ...

David's naïveté showed through when a group of Klingons arrived and demanded the Genesis Device. He honestly believed the Klingons wouldn't harm them because, as a planet-building device, it was an obvious failure. To the Klingons, however, Genesis was a powerful weapon, and a hostage was selected to die as proof of their serious intent. // Klingons (tlhIngan in the Klingon language) are a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Genesis Device was an experimental terraforming device. ...

As a d'k tahg knife was raised to Saavik's neck, David lunged toward the Klingon in a burst of courage which might have been expected of his father, tackling him and briefly taking him to the ground. However, David lacked Kirk's fighting prowess and physical strength; he was quickly overpowered and killed with a single thrust of the three-bladed knife.

David Marcus's untimely death in 2285 was the result of his youthful impatience and fiery temper. He had a brilliant future ahead of him, but he was unable to curb his excitable disposition, and this lack of control cost him his life. He did not die in vain, however, for his actions saved the lives of both Saavik and Spock. Kirk was so enraged over David's death that he lured the Klingons into coming on board the Enterprise just before it self destructed, killing most of the contingent of the Klingon Bird of Prey, and Kirk furthered his vengeance on the planet below, when he shot down the Klingon who had killed David and later sent the Klingon commander falling to his death. Bird-of-prey is a common name for various makes of Romulan and Klingon warship in the Star Trek fictional universe. ...

Notes

• The writers of The Wrath of Khan originally intended for David to have a romantic relationship with the Vulcan Lt. Saavik but this was cut from the final film. The novelizations of The Wrath of Khan and The Search for Spock depict a full-blown romance, however, although this is not considered canon.
• There was a brief debate during the writing of the third film as to who should die on the Genesis planet, David Marcus or Saavik. It was ultimately decided that David should die as punishment for playing God so to speak, and to die only by sacrificing himself to save the others in an act of redemption.

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

External links

• David Marcus article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki