Basic Information

• Full Name: Data
• Gender: Male (modeled appearance)
• Age: Chronologically in his mid-20s to mid-30s (though his mechanical age is much older)
• Rank/Title: Lieutenant Commander
• Occupation: Starship Officer, Operations and Science Officer, Android
• Species: Android (Positronic Brain)
• Affiliation: United Federation of Planets, Starfleet
• Homeworld: Omicron Theta (created by Dr. Noonien Soong)

Physical Appearance

• Height: 6'0″ (approximately)
• Build: Tall and lean, with a perfectly symmetrical, athletic build
• Hair Color: Black, short and neatly combed
• Eye Color: Golden or amber
• Skin Tone: Pale, with a slightly metallic sheen
• Distinguishing Features:
  • Slightly robotic features, though humanoid in overall appearance
  • Golden eyes and pale skin set him apart from other humans
  • He maintains a neutral, calm expression, even under stress
• Uniform: Standard Starfleet uniform, typically in yellow (denoting operations or engineering division), with Starfleet insignia and rank markings

Personality

• Key Traits:
  • Logical and Analytical: Data approaches every situation with cold logic, often using his incredible computational abilities to assess complex problems and predict outcomes.
  • Curious: Despite his lack of emotions, Data is deeply curious about human behavior, often trying to understand and emulate emotions and social interactions.
  • Innocent and Naive: Lacking emotional experience, Data often appears innocent or naive when it comes to social and emotional nuances, which can lead to awkward or humorous situations.
  • Reliable and Loyal: Data is a dependable officer, and his loyalty to his crewmates, especially Captain Picard, is unwavering.
  • Emotional Journey: Over time, Data develops a desire to experience human emotions and understand the human condition, though he struggles to fully grasp them.
• Leadership Style:
  Data is methodical, efficient, and highly capable as a leader in scientific and operational matters. His approach is strictly logical, and he is careful to avoid emotional bias in his decision-making.

Backstory

• Creation:
  Data was created by Dr. Noonien Soong, who built him as a more refined and stable version of his earlier android, Lore. Data was discovered on the planet Omicron Theta after the colony where he was built was destroyed. He was later activated and joined Starfleet to explore the universe and develop his understanding of humanity.
• Starfleet Career:
  Data quickly rose through the ranks of Starfleet, becoming a lieutenant commander aboard the USS Enterprise. His exceptional intelligence, strength, and problem-solving abilities make him an invaluable asset to the crew. However, Data’s real journey is his quest to understand the intricacies of human emotions and behaviors.
• Key Events:
  • Lore Conflict: Data’s relationship with his “brother” Lore is strained, as Lore’s emotional instability and malevolence are a stark contrast to Data’s neutral disposition. This relationship is a source of conflict for Data as he navigates his own development.
  • Emotional Chip: At one point, Data experiments with an “emotion chip” designed by Dr. Soong to allow him to experience human emotions. This creates a major turning point in his journey toward understanding what it means to be human.
  • Sacrifice: Data is known for his willingness to put the safety of others above his own existence, reflecting his deep loyalty and sense of duty.

Skills and Abilities

• Superhuman Strength:
  Data’s android body grants him physical strength far superior to that of any human, allowing him to perform feats of great endurance and power.
• Superhuman Intelligence:
  Data has an incredibly fast and powerful positronic brain, capable of processing information far beyond the capacity of a human mind. He can perform complex calculations, analyze data, and recall vast amounts of information instantly.
• No Need for Sleep or Sustenance:
  Data does not require food, sleep, or oxygen to survive, making him highly efficient and adaptable in hostile environments where organic life would struggle.
• Scientific Expertise:
  Data is proficient in multiple fields of science, including physics, biology, astronomy, and engineering. His ability to analyze and synthesize information makes him one of Starfleet’s top scientific officers.
• Emotional Detachment:
  Though this can be seen as a limitation, Data’s inability to experience emotions allows him to remain calm and rational even in the most dangerous or stressful situations.
• Piloting and Combat:
  Data is a highly skilled pilot and combatant, with abilities far beyond those of humans. He has demonstrated expertise in piloting starships, hand-to-hand combat, and the use of various weapons.

Weaknesses

• Lack of Emotions:
  While Data is highly intelligent and logical, his lack of true emotions limits his ability to fully connect with his human counterparts. This also makes him vulnerable to manipulation by those who exploit his emotional naivety.
• Desire for Humanity:
  Data’s deep longing to become more human, while a noble goal, sometimes leads him into situations where he is vulnerable to emotional confusion or misunderstanding of human behavior.
• Ethical Programming:
  Data’s ethical subroutines prevent him from violating Starfleet regulations or harming sentient beings, which can be exploited by enemies who manipulate these constraints.

Notable Relationships

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Captain):
  Data shares a deep respect for Captain Picard, who in turn treats Data as a valued member of the crew and as an individual. Picard often encourages Data in his quest for understanding humanity.
• Geordi La Forge (Chief Engineer):
  Data and Geordi share a close friendship, and Geordi frequently assists Data in maintaining and upgrading his systems. Their camaraderie is one of the most genuine relationships Data has aboard the Enterprise.
• Lore (Brother):
  Data’s relationship with his brother Lore is complex. Lore’s emotional instability and jealousy toward Data create tension, as Lore frequently challenges Data’s desire to embrace humanity in a more balanced way.
• Dr. Noonien Soong (Creator):
  Soong views Data as his greatest creation and successor. Data’s connection to Soong is driven by a desire to understand his creator and the reasons behind his own existence.

Core Motivations

• Understanding Humanity:
  Data’s primary motivation is to understand what it means to be human. He strives to learn about emotions, relationships, and social behavior, constantly exploring ways to grow beyond his programming.
• Quest for Perfection:
  As an artificial being, Data is driven by the idea of self-improvement, both in terms of his technical abilities and his capacity to understand human life. He seeks to refine his understanding of what it means to be truly sentient.
• Loyalty and Duty:
  Data’s loyalty to Starfleet, Captain Picard, and the crew of the Enterprise is unshakeable. His sense of duty compels him to protect and serve his shipmates to the best of his abilities.

Catchphrases

• “I am fully functional.”
• “I do not understand.”
• “I would like to know what it means to be human.”

Arc Opportunities

• Emotional Journey:
  Data’s ongoing journey to understand emotions provides rich storytelling opportunities, particularly as he grapples with the consequences of his emotion chip.
• Ethical Dilemmas:
  Data’s highly developed sense of ethics can be challenged in scenarios where he must weigh strict Starfleet rules against the complexities of human morality.
• Self-Identity:
  As Data explores his humanity, he could face challenges related to his own identity—whether he defines himself as an android or something more.