Out of Character Information
Name: Laura
Username: cartoonheroine
Are you over the age of eighteen?: ayup
Current characters in Baedal: H.R.M. Mycroft Holmes • diogenesis

In Character Information
Basics
Character Name: Data
Username: asimovsdream
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Played By: Brent Spiner
Icon: here.

Canon Character Section
Physical Description: Data was created and activated 32 years ago, though he doesn’t age—he retains the appearance of a slim humanoid male in his late-20s (though he is capable of activating an aging program if he wishes). His hair is completely smooth and chestnut-brown, and it has the ability to grow if Data wishes it to do so (he’s also capable of growing facial hair). Though he appears otherwise convincingly human, Data’s skin is an extremely pale gold color with a metallic sheen, and his eyes are a matching bright gold.

Despite being made of non-biological materials and having the ability to bear enormously heavy amounts of weight, Data still only weighs about 100 kg (220 lbs). His legs are exactly 87.2 cm (34.3 in) in length; overall, he’s approximately 177.8 cm (5’10”) tall. His positronic brain has an ultimate storage capacity of 88.81784197 petabytes—which is 50 times the identifiable storage capacity of the human brain—and functions nearly twice as quickly as a human brain, at 60 THz. Conveniently, Data is able to be dismantled and then re-assembled again with no damage done (even after almost 500 years). A master “on/off switch,” which only his close friends know about, is located on his back, concealed between his shoulder blades. More detailed technical specs regarding his physical makeup (materials used, etc) can be found here.

It should be noted that it is in no way obvious that Data is an android. He is always mistaken for a biological life form in the series unless others are already familiar with his name or appearance. He is able to eat and drink even though he only requires the occasional “semi-organic nutrient suspension in a silicon-based liquid medium” to “lubricate his biofunctions.” As Dr. Bashir is so surprised to note, Data even simulates breathing and the presence of a pulse, and his blinking program uses a Fourier series to simulate randomness.

Sexuality: Data has only had sex once in his life, and that was with Lieutenant Tasha Yar when the entire crew (including Data himself) was “drunk” thanks to polywater intoxication. Despite the impromptu (and brief) nature of their affair, Data retained what seemed like a fondness for Tasha that was distinct from the way in which he regarded his other friends and crewmembers. He kept a holographic image of Tasha in his room to remember her by after her death, even though he has perfect recall. This makes it obvious that a sexual bond makes a heavy impact with him.

As far as his orientation goes, we’re never shown whether Data is attracted to any particular gender over another (or to any gender at all). Sex is something Data would take part in to please the other person; I don’t think it’s ever something he’d go after for his own sake. For Data, a lover might be a friend—someone he is more ‘accustomed’ to via routine than anyone else, whose absence he would notice most sharply (as he notices the absence of both Yar and LaForge, when Geordi is thought to be dead). The gender identity of this person doesn’t matter (and nor, in fact, does their species, since by necessity any relationship of Data’s would be interspecific).

Data would not pursue any type of romantic relationship of his own volition at this point in his character arc, as he is incapable of feeling emotional attraction. Canonically, however, we have been shown that if he is approached by someone he considers a friend (or even a friendly acquaintance, like Jenna D’Sora) who desires a romantic relationship with him, he is quite open to the idea. Data is also constantly curious, especially with regards to humanoid rituals and emotions, and has no sense of embarrassment.

History: Everything you’d ever want to know. I am playing Data from his canon point shortly after the final episode of ST: TNG (“All Good Things...”).

Powers:

• Super-human strength, speed (both physical and mental), dexterity, and durability
  
• Inability to feel physical pain (or pleasure)
  
• Does not require rest of any kind
  
• Not affected by poison, biological illness, environmental changes, mind-altering substances, drowning, or the vacuum of space
  
• Not affected mentally by psychic powers of any kind and cannot be read by telepaths or empaths
  
• Can perfectly replicate any voice he has ever heard
  
• Has hearing more sensitive than a dog’s, and can identify several hundred different distinct sound patterns simultaneously (such as different voices in a crowded room or different songs playing over one another); sense of touch is also canonically shown to be heightened (ie: ability to feel very small details in texture, identify materials, and find imperfections in said materials via touch); sight is likely heightened as well
  
• Can perform self-diagnostics

Talents/Abilities: It sounds like an exaggeration, but Data is capable not only of learning nearly anything that is achievable by a human, but also of performing a task to technical perfection immediately after learning it. We see this ability in action during the series multiple times—one good example is when Dr. Crusher teaches him how to dance.

Data does have particular interests, though, which he spends greater amounts of time pursuing than others regardless of his talent level. These include acting/theater, music (his favored instrument is the violin; he also sometimes plays classical guitar and oboe, and also sings), art (mainly painting), poetry writing, and playing poker.

Personality:

• Overall, Data is a polite, well-mannered, personable individual. People who have met him and then found out afterward that he’s an android have expressed surprise at these traits as well as his “lifelike” appearance, often stating as much right to his face. He's gentle and somewhat soft-spoken, and avoids violence (and especially killing) unless it's absolutely necessary for self-defense. Due to his programming, it is impossible for him to lie (though he can omit details or refuse to answer), and he has an almost childlike sense of wonder and naïveté (which can translate into exceptional gullibility). He's able to get along with practically anyone, as long as they're open-minded enough to see him as a person.
  
• Since he is incapable of feeling emotion on his own, Data cannot be offended, saddened, or angered, whether it be on his own behalf or on that of a friend. He does, however, notice any logical fallacies in others’ statements, and over the years has learned how to determine when such fallacies point to willful ignorance or hatred on the part of the speaker. Because of this, he does tend to come to the defense of his friends when he thinks it might be prudent, and he’ll defend himself as well (he even went to court to protest his treatment as Starfleet property). Due to his ethics program, he has a strong sense of right and wrong and of fairness, and whether it be thanks to his creator or his own personality, Data’s ethics have a very progressive bent. In canon, he’s often the one to point out to other crew members that carbon-based humanoids are not the be-all end-all of life forms in the universe. At least two different times, he fights to save the lives of newly-discovered sentient computer-based beings which would have otherwise been carelessly killed by everyone else. He’s also the only crew member outside of Picard to get along with Q, and is Q’s only friend while the omnipotent being is in human form.
  
• Regarding the statement that he cannot feel emotions “on his own”—in canon, Data did experience emotion prior to the installation of his emotion chip at least twice, but only due to the interference of others. The first time, Q gave Data the experience of amusement and laughter as a gift for being a friend and mentor. Later on, Data’s brother Lore was able to affect Data remotely using an emotion chip, but only allowed him to feel negative emotions like anger.
  
• Despite not being able to feel emotions as humanoids do, Data has many insights and opinions that are completely his own, and his thoughts seem to exist somewhere in-between the realm of pure logic and the existence of emotion. He tends to easily become philosophical and question the nature of his own existence, and is extremely curious and eager to learn new things. During his time on the Enterprise, he often visited the ship’s counselor, Deanna Troi, in order to discuss his personal thoughts and the subject of his pursuit of “humanity.”
  
• Data is fixated on becoming more “human;” this desire drives much of his character arc throughout canon. It’s unclear why he wants this so much, or why he equates emotions with humanity—we’re only left to assume that it’s because he was created by a human, was raised by and around humans, and pursued a lifelong career with a dominantly human organization. Data does admit in canon that he decided to become a Starfleet officer because he was re-activated and rescued by Starfleet after everyone else on his home planet was killed. In general, Data tends to imprint easily and is very gullible; in instances where the results of this are obvious and bizarre, his friends usually help him onto his own path again, but his entire fixation on humanity itself and on becoming more human seems to be one long instance of this that no one around him has picked up on. This would obviously be because everyone around him is either human or another species of humanoid carbon-based lifeform, and sees this as the norm—of course it’s what Data wants to be. Of course Pinocchio wants to be a “real boy.” (And, subconsciously, the thought is probably there that an android who doesn’t love humanity is exceedingly dangerous—Lore made himself the perfect example—so best to continue to encourage Data to model himself after humans.) Frankly, I would like to address this issue when Data is brought into Baedal... Maybe he’ll make some friends there who will instead encourage him to be the best android he can be.
  
• For the record, I don’t see Data’s desire for or curiosity about emotions, on their own, as being a part of the aforementioned problem. Lore had emotions and didn’t feel connected to humanity at all—in fact, Lore felt a very strong draw toward other androids and cyborgs (go figure that he ended up being the “evil” brother while Data, who was attracted to humanity, became the “good” brother). I just think it’s important for Data to learn to separate the two concepts: humanity and emotion. “Humanity” is so often used as a synonym for “goodness” or “decency” that I think a part of Data has internalized the idea that in order to be “good,” one must be “human.”
  
• It’s not entirely clear how much of Data’s personality was specifically designed to be the way it is and how much of it is a result of various other, smaller programs (such as his ethics and modesty programs) interacting with each other in a more organic, unpredictable way. Lore, a slightly earlier model of Soong-type android, was a radically different person than both Data and the android incarnation of their “mother” Juliana Soong, despite having very similar programming. One sure thing is that Data can change and grow as a person—in fact, it could be said that to do so is his greatest goal in life.

Object: Data’s “object” will be his emotion chip. He’ll also be accompanied by his pet cat, Spot.

Reason for playing: Data is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time, and by far my favorite character from the Star Trek series. I was raised on Star Trek from birth, and TNG was the first series I saw and the one that will always own my heart. While it’s not as dark a series as many of those Baedal draws from, it’s classic science fiction and is famous for spotlighting social issues and placing characters in moral grey areas. As you’ve seen with the other characters from the Trek franchise who are already in the game, this series also prepares characters for landing in Baedal in a way many other characters are not able to be prepared (such as my first character, Mycroft).

That leads nicely into the second major reason I’m very excited to play Data—how different he is from Mycroft. On one hand, they seem quite similar; they’re both analytical, have trouble with expressing emotion, are extremely intelligent, and are isolated from the rest of their own societies. It’s obvious I have a character type, haha (you can probably guess I’m a big Spock fan, too). However, playing Data will be far different than playing Mycroft. Data is a very social and outgoing person with a generally friendly disposition and a heart-wrenching innocence about him. He’ll be extremely active on the Network and, I believe, have vastly different opportunities for CR than Mycroft.

Gods: Kavan! Data is literally made of technology, after all. Perhaps Ceith, since she also has ties with technology, and Data is going to be making heavy use of the Network.


Writing Samples

First-Person Network Post:
[ The CiD comes on in video mode, aimed properly at the speaker's face. His golden eyes make direct contact with the camera; he obviously knows his way around this level of technology. He's extremely calm, though he looks slightly perplexed. There is meowing in the background. ]

Greetings. I am Lieutenant Commander Data of the Federation Starship Enterprise-D.

[ His head tilts just a tiny bit. ]

Based on the information on your local Network, it seems traditional to inquire here about opening the door to this room. I am able to remain here indefinitely, but I cannot say the same for Spot.

Additionally, if Captain James T. Kirk and Doctor Leonard McCoy are available, I believe it would be helpful to speak to them.

First-Person Journal Post:
Second Officer's Personal Log. Stardate: Unknown.
I have seen many types of anomalies during my time aboard the Enterprise, but I believe the one in which I find myself now to be unique. It is called the City of Baedal—interesting in that it shares a name with a city of ancient Earth legend. According to the citizens here, the city is ruled by twelve "gods" who will sometimes interact with citizens directly. Research has shown this to be true: a post on the cohort CeidaryBlue523's Network shows the "goddess" known as Ceith conveying a message in person. The actual species of the "gods" is not yet known, but the message on the Network shows Ceith appearing in a humanoid form.

Although the current cohort has been active for 11 months 1 day 8 hours 56 minutes and the city's history extends back over 500 years, there has not yet been any discovery of a method by which to return to one's home dimension. Some individuals seem to return home at random, only to be called back to Baedal again. Perhaps if energy patterns are studied during a disappearance or arrival, further progress may be made toward a more reliable mode of transportation.

Third-Person Arrival Post:
It's a well-documented fact that transporters are not always the most reliable things. Being broken down into microscopic particles and subsequently reassembled is a study in precision, to say the least. When Data finds himself in a small, green-tiled room as opposed to on the surface of the nearest colonized planet, his first thought is that an engineer needs to go over the transporter he used as soon as possible. Since other officers are due to follow him shortly, he taps his comm badge without wasting any time.

"Enterprise, this is Lieutenant Commander Data. The transporter seems to have malfunctioned. I did not arrive in the targeted area."

He waits for an answer. Upon hearing nothing, he tries again.

"Enterprise, come in. Do you—"

An indignant 'meow' sounds from behind him.

Data turns around. Within his view is a low table, upon which is a pamphlet (Finding Baedal: A Settlers [sic] Guide to the Wondrous City), a handheld electronic device, and his emotion chip. Also within his view is Spot, who has begun hesitantly sniffing one of the table's legs and mewing at it suspiciously.

"What are you doing here?" Data asks her. He sweeps her up into his arms and looks at her questioningly. She offers him an additional meow.

Something about the situation calls a phrase to Data's mind that he'd heard Commander Riker say a few times. There's no one present to let him know whether he's using it correctly in this instance, but the cat is generally a lenient judge when it comes to such things.

"Spot, I do not think we are in Kansas anymore."

Misc
Other: