His mother, a Bajoran by the name of Tatyana Vash, was a gifted musician and linguist who was smuggled off Bajor with her husband Martin Tikaru, shortly after Benedict was born. Tatyana's parents arranged this through the Resistance. They fled the oppression of the Cardassians, Tatyana wanting a place to raise her son in peace, and seeing the opportunity in escaping to the Federation. His father, Martin Tikaru, was a Japanese Human - a trader by profession, and an ex-soldier. Benedict was raised in the Japanese way of life by his father, and in Bajoran religious education by his mother.

He was considered to be a child prodigy, with music and a solid talent for languages being established by the time he was eight years old. At 13 he was admitted to study at the Academy of Arts on Nova Terra Australis, the Tikaru’s new home. He completed his Masters Degrees in Linguistics and Classical Music by the time he was 16 years old.

His father had made contacts with the Bajoran Resistance, and with many dissatisfied colonists within the region bordering the Cardassian Frontier. As a gifted soldier, his expertise was used as a military advisor, and later as a willing participant.

Benedict was a gentle boy, taught in the ways of his Oriental father in his martial skills, but tempered by the gentle loving nature of his mother, and her Bajoran teachings, and his love of his music. He craved to see his home world, Bajor, and find the path of his life amongst his own people.

His mother received word that her parents had been taken by the Cardassians to a Labour Camp for aiding the Resistance. They were tortured to death in the hopes of gaining information.

Martin and Tatyana returned to Bajor, and joined the Resistance. They left Benedict on Nova Terra Australis, but he gained passage to Bajor aboard a tramp freighter smuggling weapons to the Bajoran Resistance.

Martin Tikaru, and his wife Tatyana were captured by the Cardassians, after a raid on a Resistance Stronghold. They were taken alive. Their son did not get to see them.

Martin apparently managed to commit suicide after the Cardassians raped, mutilated and murdered his wife before his eyes. He died a hero of the Resistance, preferring his own death rather than give information to the enemy.

Benedict was sheltered by a Bajoran couple, and he joined the Bajoran Resistance at the age of 17. He put aside his gentle ways. His father had once told him that a Samurai warrior had to know the arts of war and of peace, but most importantly, when to put aside one, or the other.

As a mark of his respect and love for his father, Benedict had a tattoo artist paint the image of a golden tiger (his father's spirit animal) in metallic colours across his back, shoulders, legs, and arms. The animal wraps around his body, and it shines and reflects light as he moves, seemingly alive. Bajorans who know Benedict, say that his pagh or life force, strength and courage flows from the Tiger, and is blessed by the Prophets.

Benedict was feared by the Cardassians. The "Golden Tiger" was known as an assassin. Cardassian Officers posted rewards for him, and hunted him. But in the darkness – Benedict hunted them. He led a Bajoran Resistance cell and trained members of the Resistance in his father's human martial arts. They became known as the "Night Tigers," and they dealt in death. His face was unknown, but the image of the tiger became his weapon of fear against his enemy.

Benedict’s favourite weapon is the blade. Benedict's Katana is a high tech version of the ancient blades of his father's kin. The vibro-blade can cut through personal armour as if it was silk, and it is as silent as it is deadly.

By the time Benedict was 19, he had the deaths of 52 Cardassian Officers to his personal credit, but had become too infamous to be able to operate effectively. The occupation of Bajor was finally under threat in 2366, and Benedict concentrated on freeing his people held in the internment camps. He did not hate the Cardassians – he had no emotion as far as they were concerned. He killed them, by any means necessary. To Benedict it was a Holy War, to be fought, won and then put aside. He always felt the presence of his father when he fought, and the spiritual healing of his mother when it became time to put aside his blade.

Some Bajorans believed that he was part Vulcan, or Klingon, for in battle he would be emotionless, and totally unafraid of death. His comrades followed him because they felt the power of his pagh, and the invincibility of his prowess in battle.

Benedict embraced his Bajoran Ways, and came to terms with his role in life; he would give everything he had, every drop of his blood, to give freedom to his people.

In 2367, he met Alayessa T’Kal, a Human-Klingon female interned in a Cardassian Labour Camp freed by his Resistance Cell. He rescued her from a pit of filth and delivered her to her jailer, who was so afraid of the tattooed Bajoran that he grovelled and begged for his life.

Benedict threw her a blade and watched dispassionately as she vented her fury on the Cardassian. In the fight for the prisoners, she witnessed the lightning death inflicted by the blade of Benedict, and saw in him a warrior's heart. He made her blood sing. They fought side-by-side for the next two years, and Benedict fell in love with the brave woman who followed him into the reach of death so easily. Alayessa taught Benedict the intricacies of love the Klingon way, and he taught her that a warrior could be as gentle as he was fierce. She learned a new respect for her human blood.

They were so close that they were hardly ever apart. And as the conflict raged about them, they clung to life and to each other and celebrated each day as it came.

Benedict’s Code of Honour was the ancient Japanese Code of Bushido, the Samurai Way, and it was so close to the Klingon Way that Alayessa T’Kal considered Benedict to be Klingon. In 2369 they were married.

The end of the Cardassian occupation and the treaty between the Cardassians and the Federation in 2370 brought Benedict to consider ending the fighting. His people were free.

He was so bound up with the Resistance that both he and Alayessa T’Kal Tikaru were inevitably drawn into the fight of the Maquis. He would only attack Cardassian targets, and argued vehemently against fighting the Federation. Alayessa died seven months later while attacking a Cardassian Supply Depot. She died in Benedict's arms and the last words she heard were: "You take my heart with you when you go. I take your name, so that your enemies will not forget you my love. I am Benedict T’Kal and your blood sings in my veins." Alayessa smiled at him, "Qapla my beloved." As he stared into her eyes, she died. Benedict screamed to the heavens that a warrior was on her way.

He killed many enemies that day. It was the first time that rage filled his soul, his blood seemed to boil with it, and he no longer killed – he murdered in vengeance.

He was devastated by her loss, and returned to Bajor. His heart needed healing, and his return to Bajor eventually took him to Deep Space Nine. His reputation as the Golden Tiger was remembered with fear. He kept his tattoo hidden, and sought resolution in the temples of his people. He enlisted in Starfleet to escape his past, hoping to cleanse the blood on his hands with service. His name became T’Kal, and Tikaru, the Golden Tiger was left behind.

In 2371 he entered Starfleet Academy. He undertook training in Tactical, and Security. His experience with the Bajoran Resistance allowed him to attain the highest scores in his class. He was an expert marksman, and natural leader.

He was alone, the loss of Alayessa has left a hole in his soul that he yearns to fill. He wears her name as his own and always feels her presence, as he does his father and mother. He feels her loss every day, even after five years.

In last 2374, T'Kal was promoted to Lieutenant junior grade while serving on board the USS Galaxy during the Dominion war. T'Kal was again promoted in early 2375 to full Lieutenant