Questions About Data

[The Silence and I]

DATA
Although I do not require
sustenance, I occasionally ingest
a semi-organic nutrient suspension
in a silicon-based liquid medium.

DATA
It would be more accurate to
say it is "good for me" as it
lubricates my bio-functions.

I think this quote may be misrepresented in this thread...Data specifically mentions he does not need sustenance. His "bio-functions" could include a variety of different things--from a simulated pulse to micro hydraulics (which I suppose he uses as facial muscles) to saliva to sexual functions. He needs none of them yet they may require occasional maintenance (hydraulic fluid needs replacement, same with the fluid for his pulse).

The nutrient component in his drink does suggest something is alive within him, and my idea is hair. Data's hair can actually grow, and I suspect utilizing bacteria to achieve this is somewhat easier than micro factories. And of course with every hair grown nutrients are used.

Honestly the weirdest thing about Data IMHO is his infection by that strange virus--by all later accounts that should not have happened
*Reads the script*
Well, plogging through the dialog was painful, but apparently Data is perfectly normal when he entered Yar's quarters, and was intoxicated upon leaving, although he was apparently more competent than the others--his abilities were not compromised, he just acted very oddly. As for why he was affected in the first place...I am hard pressed to say; he has carbon within him that may be utilized by the funky water molecule, and apparently he is actually very similar to humans in design--both physical and mental. He has a subconcious and a concious mind and his physical brain structure may be similar enough to a humans to be adversely affected by the presence of alcohol molecules within the brain structure. Startrek loves to play up the unlikely odds, and computers (modern ones, this says nothing about funky positronic ones) can e stragely affected by unexpected environmental circumstances and other factors. For example just yesterday our family car's battery died while idling--the computer controlling the wipers and lights and clickers and everything else went physcho, randomly turning on/off and acting generally possessed because of the low power from the old battery. If a simple car computer can act drunk during low power is it so hard to concieve of Data's highly complex brain going nutz when alien molecules invade?

Well that's the best I have right now.

[Metrion Cascade]

Brian, can you read? He HAS been infected with a disease. He HIMSELF refers to some kind of biological function or component. He gets out-reacted by Worf in combat, bullets might not kill him but a simple SPEAR will, etc etc. I read a fanfic once where Data was a superstrong armoured killing machine... just like NOT on Star Trek.

The Psi 2000 pathogen wasn't a virus. According to Crusher it was some funky form of water. That it infected him says nothing at all about the effect a virus or bacterium or prion will have on him, only that pathogens can get into his brain by touch.

But that raises the question of why Data was never the carrier for any other disease. Surely some of them should have been able to survive inside him.