Andrei was put on the doorsteps of Vronsky's home by his mother's husband, who did not want to raise a son who was not his. Vronsky knew about Andrei, but had never seen him and took the death of his former mistress badly. He knew that his own fragile marriage would end if Andrei was discovered, and therefore sent him to England to go to school there, wanting to give Vivicia's son a chance to get a proper education.
Andrei spent six years in England, where he attended St. Matthew's Public Boarding School in Kent. He was a keen student and picked up English surprisingly easily. He still practiced his own language, usually in letters to his real father. Andrei wanted to become a painter, having no idea why since he forgot most about his mother. He was happy in England, getting along easily with the other children and loving the old mansion where St. Matthews had their classes. When he was 10, his father's wife died and a year later Andrei returned to Russia to live with his father and half-brother. His brother, Alec, was anything but thrilled of having Andrei there, and often beat him up. But Andrei and his father got along splendid, more as a result of how many interests they shared. His father encouraged him, and as time passed the violence between Andrei and Alec settled to mere resentment.
Andrei finished his schooling at the age of 19, and was accepted to the St. Petersburg University of Art and Music. He wanted to become a painter, but also he wanted to know about art. He has a particular love for Rubens as well as for the impressionists. He stumbled over a painting called Chaos one year into his studies. It was painted by his mother and showed a young boy and a woman, sliced up into pieces. It was after that he investigated more about his past, and discovered the truth about his mother.
Frightened by the fact that her mental illness could be inherited, not to mention the fact that he was walking in her footsteps, Andrei quit his studies and decided to take something else. He wanted something that was far from art, yet something he could do. Medicine became the obvious choice, but since Andrei lacked some of the studies his only chance was Starfleet. He joined and was surprisingly accepted to train as a doctor.
He had to work pretty hard for it, but proved to have a certain natural talent with general medicine, as well as good bedside manners. He learned naturally what others struggled with, yet was a little behind when it came to the basic chemistries that he needed to understand the whole picture. He met Akane Yamaoto during his second year, and fell in love with her. Or more, it was one of the biggest crushes he had ever experienced. She was taken with his charm and looks, being swept up into it all. He asked her to marry him and she accepted, but a week before the wedding she broke it up. Her sister had made her realise that blind love was not all that was needed in a happy marriage. Andrei was heartbroken, but recovered and started pouring his soul into his studies rather than looking for love.
After graduation he was offered an internship under Dr Anna Travelyan, a Betazoid surgeon who was married to a Russian and living in Moscow. Her internship would offer him a great chance to learn, but no advances within Starfleet since it was a civilian hospital. His year there helped him greatly along as a doctor, and he took a great pleasure in it. He worked mostly with children though, mostly because of his friendliness. Being in Moscow offered him a great chance to go and visit his father, and their bond deepened as Andrei become more and more involved with the medical profession. In 2381 he was transferred to the USS Galaxy, to work there as an Ensign and a medical officer.
Andrei views himself as a true Russian and is proud of his country's history, despite the bad points they have had. He sees it all as a part of Russia's development, and believes that 'his people' are brave and noble in a way that some tend to forget. Andrei is quick to offer drinks to his friends and anyone who come to his quarters, as well as something to eat. Though other doctors say he drinks too much, he is always sober at work and never drinks just to get drunk. He is often seen in his quarters, playing the piano with a bottle of vodka on it, or sitting in the bar writing poetry with a Bloody Mary in front of him.
