Tracy (Emerald City Knights)

A.R.G.U.S. Threat Report

CodeName: Tracy
Place of Origin: Emerald City, Oregon, USA
Real/Birth Name: Valerie Series 1 ('Tracy' model)
Real Identity Status: Confided
Age/Apparent Age: Early-20s
Height: 5'2"
Gender: Female (Synthetic)
Category/Occupation: Civilian/Aide
Superhero Affiliations: The Sentinels
Real Identity Affiliations: MarsTech, Inc.
Power Set: Android features
Power Origin: Android

Appearance

Tracy is not a real person, but an android. She has been constructed to resemble a pretty, but simple "girl next door" type of woman in her early 20s. Her default look is a grey-eyed, brown-haired female, but as her hair is composed of artificial and elastic fibers that respond to electrical currents, her hair can be altered in shape, length, texture and colour at will. It looks like real hair, but if touched feels "thicker" than it appears (although many humans have thick hair that would feel the same). Therefore she could change her hairstyle to a blonde pixie cut, or extra-curly long ginger hair at a whim.

Perhaps disappointingly for Sci-Fi fans (certainly Wyrmhole was disappointed), Tracy does not have flicker of red in her eyes, or red light going up and down her spine. It would take very close examination (see Other Notes) to realise (based on appearance) that she is not human.

Background

Valkyria & the Silver Storm

The day of the Silver Storm several new "Stormers" banded together to immediately fight instantly-empowered new super-villains and assist First-Response teams in the area. One person that was at ground zero when it happened, but not a Stormer, went by the name Valerie Valkyrie (and would come to be known as Valkyria). She aided the new Stormers (and other heroes that turned up) and went with them to the Emerald Tower to meet Sophie Anderson, who had assisted them remotely. Once there, she admitted that the Silver Storm had not empowered her, but actually caused her to have amnesia. Whilst her skills were intact, her memory prior to just a few minutes before the Silver Storm hit were gone. She also revealed a shocking truth - she was not human. Valkyria was in fact an android - sentient and evidently very capable of standing toe-to-toe with Stormers in a fight.

An expert in various fields of technology, including Cybernetics, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, which were her particular fields of interest, Sophie examined Valyria and managed to access her memory databanks. The Silver Storm had apparently damaged her neural pathways and most of her datafiles (ie her "long-term memory") were corrupted. This proved to be a good thing as in attempting to repair and restore what she could, Sophie discovered four very important details:

1) Valerie was from the 31st Century

2) Sophie Anderson was in fact the creator of Valerie's series of Androids (in Valerie's past).

3) Valerie had been sent back in time with one mission parameter: Kill Sophie Anderson

They quickly surmised that had Valerie succeeded in carrying out her programmed objective it would have been "the perfect crime." Valerie would have killed the person who designed her series and, in doing so, would probably immediately cease to exist as her series would never have been designed. Of course this would also be a temporal paradox (if Valerie was not created, then she could not have killed her creator) but as temporal physics was not any of their specialities, they had nothing concrete to dispute Wyrmhole's argument of "that's how it works in Back to the Future - Marty nearly erased himself from existence because he nearly stopped his parents getting together - but if he didn't exist then he would never have gone back in time and prevented them getting together in the first place. Ergo, what happened originally in the future, stays and events present and after that moment of change are corrected by the space-time continuum."

(This was also the first time that a Sentinel told Wyrmhole "you really need a life!")

Sophie removed the kill command, and helped Valerie repair her damage. In analysing her, Sophie discovered that Valerie was actual her model type, and Valkyrie her series. Her proper designation was Valerie series VII, "Valkyrie" model. In the future Sophie would design various series of sentient androids, with the Valerie series being her most successful and longest-running series. The Valerie series were designed on an anthropomorphic female build and had a specific type of brain/processing type (hardware and AI complexity was the key difference between "series" rather than appearance which was malleable) although each "model" was designed to serve a specific purpose. The Valkyrie model was designed, it appeared, for espionage and personal combat purposes. Although not a heavy-combat model, they were still physically stronger than most humans, but with metahuman-level dexterity and agility and incredibly durable, self-repairing armoured systems. She recognised Valerie's AI as being a far more advanced version of the CAIn AI (that controlled her mobile wheelchair and her mainframe system) which she had recently updated to what she referred to as the 2000 series.

Valerie joined Sophie's new Emerald City Knights superhero team but a few weeks later they encountered superheroes of the Legion of Superheroes from the 31st century who revealed that Valerie was one of them. She had been captured by an unknown villain, evidently reprogrammed to kill Sophie and sent to the past (time travel technology being quite advanced, but restricted and monitored because of its potential for disaster). In time, Valerie would return to her time, but Sophie took satisfaction and solace in the knowledge that her future design would be heroic (even without her memories, Valerie still felt the desire to do good).

Valerie Series I

Inspired by the revelation of what Valerie signified for Sophie's future (at least as a technology designer), and with a knowledge boost gained by analysing Valerie's AI and technology, Sophie began work on the Valerie series. Wymhole objected, saying that Sophie should delete what she had learnt of Valerie because she was cheating as she had received "spoilers" and she would progress faster than she should, changing the future. Sophie refuted the point by quoting a scene from Star Trek IV, and Wyrmhole had to cede to the wisdom of Star Trek's "Scotty")

Her CAIn AI was pretty advanced already, having demonstrated self-awareness (though not yet achieved Singularity), but too complex and large (data storage and processing requirements-wise) for an Android using present technology. Therefore she began creating a new version of the AI for the Valerie series I. When the ECK remnants and their allied consolidated to become the Sentinels and received MarsTech backing (which included Sophie becoming an official scientist for MarsTech assigned to the Sentinels, and therefore having access to MarsTech's research, technology and construction capabilities) combined various fields to create the Valerie prototypes, culminating in the final "Tracy" model.

Whilst pale in comparison to Valerie Valkyrie VII series, Tracy was a "first step" designed for general purpose and adaptability, as a personal assistant, aide or similar. The intention was to try to create an android that would blend in and look like another person (rather than a "creepy-looking android") and be complex enough to assist in general purpose tasks - for example to provide general care for the elderly/infirm, as personal assistants (or "walking versions of Siri" as Wyrmhole describes it) or other type of aide.

Personality

Tracy's personality is modifiable and adaptive to the taste's of her programmed owner/purpose. By default, she is friendly, polite and helpful. However she can be adapted to be more serious, funny, caring or even flirtatious if required - both as a general personality or by individuals (meaning she would be "serious" with one person or situation, but more friendly in another - allowing her to be "more professional" at a workplace but "more casual and joking" at home). Tracy's AI learns what responds well with others and attempts to use that knowledge to deal with others, within the limits of her personality matrix.

Sophie still hasn't quite worked out the kinks in Tracy's ability to tell jokes. Not being sentient, Tracy understands the concept of jokes, but doesn't really understand jokes themselves. Therefore her attempts to tell jokes are often cliched, canned, and generally dire. Wyrmhole jokes that Tracy is only funny "like C3PO, he's funny when he's not trying to be, and doesn't get why what he does is funny."

Other than dire humour, Tracy's AI is smart enough to be extremely difficult for most people to determine that she is an android. She seems sympathetic and kind, and even gives hugs when people are upset. However it is important to note that Tracy does not herself FEEL any emotions, although she comprehends them and responds as expected (usually - she is a prototype, and sometimes that can get buggy).

Motivation: Follow Programming

Tracy is not sentient and thus her only motivation is to do what her programming tells her to do, which can generally be surmised as "follow your owner's instructions." Her core programming, however, is to assist others and not allow ("by action or as a consequence of inaction") sentient beings to come to harm (Sophie has apparently included domestic pets as part of this concept). So she could be said to have "an artificially kind and helpful heart."

Secret Identity

Tracy has no secret identity, but is a MarsTech prototype. The intent on placing her as the receptionist/aide at the Emerald Tower is that it allows her to be useful to the Sentinels, learn and develop her AI through interaction and observation (ie experience), be easily monitored and have contact with the general public, whilst being easily monitored. The hope is that visitors to the Emerald Tower won't realise (at least at first) that Tracy is not a human.

Therefore the fact that she is not human could be said to be a form of secret identity, or an open secret at least. All the Sentinels and most of their regular-visiting allies and contacts know (or soon find out) what Tracy is.

Other Notes

Not a SexBot!

Tracy was designed to appear human under anything other than the closest technological or medical inspection, and as such has realistic-feeling synthskin, silicone-based components and is anatomically correct. Therefore she is technically capable of the act of sexual intercourse, but Sophie heavily states this was not an intended primary function. Sophie gets really irritated when people inquire about her sexual capabilities, stating that "one of the most advanced AIs and robotics on the planet, and all people care about is if it's an interactive sex toy!"

Despite her protestations (and in many cases, because of), several people have commented on Tracy's ability to be a SexBot:

Maximillian Mars: "oh so we can sell her to the lonely geek market then? Or as escorts?"
Dragoneye: "Confucius say: if it's a roBOT, and it can do the hanky panky, it's a sexbot"
White Witch: "With her geekness, Tracy would be her ideal lover if Wyrmhole ever realised she likes women."
Princess: "For God's sake don't leave her in a college frat-house..."
Mongrel: "But can she twerk? Or do a lap-dance?"
Rocky: "How much weight can she support? You said she's more damage-resilient than humans right?"
Wyrmhole: "But she's just like Cherry 2000!"

Most of these get Sophie's snappy "She's not a sexbot!" response. It's become almost a sport amongst the Sentinels to tease and provoke Sophie by making sexbot jokes and insinuations (Rocky, for example, enjoys this running joke).

Combat Style

Tracy is programmed to not harm sentient beings, and so is incapable of directly or willingly harming others - although how she may respond when put in conflicting situations is a point of interest and debate... for example if in a situation whereby a person will be killed if she does not take action against the person causing the harm. Likewise, zombies and constructs are not sentient living being either. Regardless of her ability to decide whether to attempt to attack another, she has no programmed combat skills at all - not even basic self defense. If attacked she would do little more than hold her arms in front of her face.

In the case of conflict around her, Tracy's parameters are for prevention of harm to owners first, prevention of harm to other sentients second, and self-preservation third - unless ordered otherwise by her owner. Therefore she will attempt to help her owner (usually by getting in-between the owner and the danger) or other sentients first, and then attempt to get to safety.

Although not built for combat, her chassis is highly durable and her servo-motors comparatively as strong as top professional bodybuilders, although only as agile and dextrous as a typical human (which, has been pointed out, is what "typical humans" have too). Therefore she can potentially be dangerous to normal humans were something to go wrong with her programming.

Social Style

It is hard not to get along with Tracy. She is designed to accommodate others, and as such will adapt her interaction style to try to "maximise interaction effectiveness" with others. She may feign being upset if shouted at, as this was programmed to be a "natural human reaction" but will not actually BE upset. It is theoretically impossible to make Tracy either happy, sad or angry, however she make act the part.

Her self-preservation and social protocols, however, are set with parameters to prevent her taking abuse. Therefore if someone is abusive to her or she feels there may be a credible threat of danger, she would simply pardon herself and walk away from the situation.

Signature Powers & Special Abilities

Android Anatomy / Synthskin: Tracy looks and feels like a normal human, even under x-ray or similar examination. IT takes close medical or technological scrutiny to determine she is not human (she does not sweat and her blood is white synth-blood).
Body Cavity compartments: According to Sophie one of the benefits of a "female form" is that there are various "bumpy areas" that an android really has no design need for - so they can be taken advantage of. As such various parts of Tracy's body can open up to expose body cavity compartments that can hold small items.
Cyber-senses: Tracy's senses are all technological in nature, and thus not restricted to human level. Tracy is capable of seeing perfectly in pitch darkness (via infra-red) or under ultraviolet light (such as moonlight) and her hearing range is beyond human frequency ranges, allowing her to hear in the ultra-frequency range (like dogs) and detect radio frequencies.
Cyberhair: Can modify hair colour, length and texture at will. Though she can adapt to any hairstyle, she can only alter her hair parameters, the styling must actually be done herself.
Functionally Ambidextrous: To have Tracy be ineffectual with one hand would be a pointless design flaw. She can use either hand (or her feet) equally capably.
Durable: Her systems are designed to be damage resilient to protect her from damage, or to protect her owner. 9mm or similar caliber handguns will damage her synthskin, but not be able to damage her functionality. Her systems (including her synthskin) can self-repair over time. As a machine, she does not get tired, sleepy, nervous or suffer any other effect typical to organic life.
High Strength: designed to help out in physical tasks, or in emergencies (e.g. a car trapping a person after an accident) Tracy is theoretically capable of lifting up to 3 tons, although this has not been stress-tested as yet.
Digital Mind: As an AI her mind functions like a typical computer, allowing her various functions:

App Link: Tracy can be controlled or contacted remotely via an app available for most popular mobile phone/tablet platforms
Binary Code: Tracy's AI is a computer, and thus operates in binary code. This means she is naturally able to understand other machines and binary language.
Cerebral Cache: Tracy's processor's are fast. Whilst she is not functionally any smarter than any hormal human, her brain does perform mental tasks (such as mathematical calculations) faster than humans.
Customisable skill software: The Tracy model comes with certain pre-programmed skills as core programming, but there are "expansion" slots (for upgrades, downloadable contant/extras - Max Mars is keen on a "SexyTime Module" but Sophie keeps refusing). This allows Tracy to be given skill-sets for specific purposes, such as legal, business, cooking or language packages. These can be backed up and swapped with relative ease by the owner using any computer system (or the app). Tracy's expansion slots are currently set to Bureaucratic, Legal and Public Relations skillsets, and the 16 most common languages in Emerald City.
Databanks: Tracy uses highly advanced compression techniques and high-capacity storage devices to index and archive experiences ("memories") which can be unarchived at any time. This gives her a functional equivalent to eidetic memory.
Machine Mind: As an AI, and lacking true emotion, Tracy cannot be affected by mental powers or interaction skills (ie emotional outbursts or please will not affect her - she functions on logic and parameters).
WiFi/Bluetooth: Tied into her "hearing" is the fact that WiFi and Bluetooth are radio technologies and thus the fact she can "listen" to radio frequencies and transmit means that she is effectively a walking WiFi and Bluetooth node (although she still needs some means to access the Internet; MarsTech offer a premium WiFi Internet service that covers all of Emerald City). She can connect to WiFi spots or bluetooth devices, or communicate via Radio (including directly calling mobile phones if within 100ft). This allows her to have a constant internet connection and interface with computer systems "mentally." She receives e-mails directly if e-mailed at Val-Tracy-000001@marstech.com.

Signature Equipment & Gear

Attractive business suit or dress
Tablet computer (she has little need for it herself, but it aids human interactions - she may be able to "see" a web page in her "mind", but she cannot show that to someone)

Signature Quotes

"Hello. My name is Tracy. What's your name?"
"As you wish."
[trying to tell a joke] "What kind of bee can never be understood? A mumble-bee."

Gallery

Codex 3.2