And although Jake’s journey is often analyzed in the context of his famous father, his story is unique within all of Star Trek. Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton at a 2012 Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images“I wouldn't have been involved if I didn't have the blessing of Avery Brooks,” Lofton tells Inverse. “I also look at this episode as a bridging of two different generations of Star Trek; we are part of the legacy Star Trek now, one of the first five shows, and now this is the future of Star Trek.”The idea that Starfleet Academy is the future of Star Trek is as literal as it is philosophical. But for Lofton, Avery Brooks and Star Trek are huge parts of his life.