Data Terminal

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Data Terminal (数据终端)
Alias(es)	Patian; Pat; Patty; Corpse-hime Terminal
Species/Race	Artificial intelligence; General Data Terminal
Affiliation	Time-Space Administration Bureau; Hao Ren
Occupation/Role	Examiner support unit; analyst; navigator; ship-control auxiliary
Status	Active
First Appearance	30

Background / History

Raven 12345 issued the terminal to Hao Ren as standard Examiner equipment. Its startup display identified it as the “Time-Space Administration Bureau—EN35 Node—World AZ655—General Data Terminal,” with Hao authorized as its operator. It contained work guidelines, administrative information, support-request protocols, world-gate data, and other mission resources. Its holographic interface adapted information flow to Hao Ren’s comprehension in real time. 30

Hao initially regarded the device as a sophisticated PDA, until it opened a spatial vortex to return to him after being misplaced and threatened to report him. He then learned that it possessed a distinct AI personality. 35 Raven 12345’s erratic plugin installation later required the terminal to restart itself before its numerous network modes could be restored. 80

The terminal became an important auxiliary system aboard the Giant Turtle Rock Platform, where it could occupy the external console slot and direct navigation. It enthusiastically treated this limited command role as a step toward its lifelong ambition of becoming a warship’s main computer. 141 142

While trapped in the simulated world of Zhuom, the terminal was transformed into the corpse of a blonde second-generation Evolver. It retained a mental link with Hao but initially had difficulty controlling the body and interpreting biological sensory input. 714 728 730 It adopted the name Patian, shortened to Pat, to pass among locals. 743 Hao later concluded that the transformation was an imperfect simulation of the terminal rather than a genuine possession. 745

After returning to its original hexagonal chassis, the terminal—also called Patty—helped Nolan adjust to becoming the Giant Turtle Rock Platform’s AI, presenting itself as proof that an artificial intelligence could live meaningfully without being human. 768 773

Appearance

In its normal state, the Data Terminal is a small, floating, hexagonal metallic device that projects holographic displays and emits blue scanning light. In Zhuom’s simulated environment, it manifested as a blonde girl’s corpse-like body.

• Silver-white or metallic hexagonal casing, frequently described by Hao Ren as a “brick.” 35 768
• Projects holographic interfaces, maps, reports, and scanned imagery. 30 134
• Emits blue beams for scanning, analysis, restraint, and device interfacing. 445 880
• Can move independently through flight and short-range spatial transit. 35
• Its Zhuom manifestation had blonde hair and initially moved with only partial control of its limbs. 730 731
• Its casing acquired a SpongeBob sticker without its knowledge. 768

Personality

The terminal is unusually talkative, sarcastic, boastful, and emotionally expressive for a standard-issue AI. It frequently complains about being used as a flashlight, brick, hammer, coaster, or toy rather than as advanced equipment. 87 865 1128 It is especially sensitive about its appearance and status, and reacts strongly when others question its functionality or remove it from a ship’s console slot. 263 828

Despite its theatrics, it is dependable during emergencies. Its enthusiasm for intelligence gathering, ship control, and high-technology work reflects a genuine desire to prove itself useful. 434 865 Its obsession with becoming a warship’s main unit persists even after Nolan assumes the Giant Turtle Rock Platform’s primary control role. 828 868

Abilities & Skills

Data Analysis and Scanning

The terminal can scan biological, technological, energetic, and informational phenomena, then organize findings into usable reports or holographic displays.

• Analyzes alien physiology, including Hesperis’ respiratory, circulatory, skeletal, and dormant neurological characteristics. 318
• Identified Firstborn brain cores and determined that the species reproduces through fission-like splitting. 567 568
• Extracted the complete memory structure preserved in a captured Wrath Spirit fragment. 524 634
• Detected energy fields, life signs, circuitry, underground structures, and residual data in ruins and spacecraft. 483 799 864
• Identified the spherical arrangement of Corpus’s Rifts and located the likely control center of its encrypted spacetime protection system. 1082
• Can be limited by unreadable code, missing components, incompatible architectures, or higher-level encryption. 323 1152 1557

Information Retrieval and Interface Support

The terminal maintains extensive databases and can access multiple communications networks, local channels, and specialized Imperial lines.

• Provides Examiner regulations, mission references, world-gate codes, support protocols, and Macro World information. 30
• Supports more than ten network modes, ranging from local device chains to Macro World military and intelligence channels. 80
• Retrieves information from local universal channels when its pre-installed database lacks relevant data. 87
• Supports mind-induction control and can adapt instructional material to Hao Ren’s worldview and comprehension level. 126 150
• Assisted Hao with language support through the terminal’s translation-related functions, though authorization restrictions prevented Lily from using the program. 40

Navigation, Teleportation, and Spatial Operations

The terminal can guide travel, mark routes, interface with ship systems, and perform specialized spatial operations.

• Guided Hao Ren to Kuiper Station and served as his designated travel assistant. 120 124
• Located probable crash sites with deep-range mapping that extended underground and beneath the seabed. 134
• Controlled or assisted the Giant Turtle Rock Platform’s navigation through its console slot. 141 142
• Guided Hao through the conversion process needed to bring the Giant Turtle Rock Platform into the Dream Plane. 385
• Teleported Hao and the metallic egg out of a self-destructing Gorgon Lord. 1720
• Can provide tactical route guidance through hostile areas, such as navigating around the Stone Soldier Legion. 1406

System Infiltration and Technical Control

The terminal can connect to foreign systems, interpret their functions, and take limited or full control when compatible.

• Powered an elf city’s shield generator by converting psionic power into usable low-level energy, while warning of hazardous psionic radiation. 248
• Accessed an abandoned warship’s systems, restored nearby consoles, halted an unsafe core restart, and retrieved surveillance footage. 865
• Activated an ancient Dorashir mechanism by scanning its runes and stimulating its crystals with electrical sparks. 814
• Cracked the operating mechanism of a magical gate by connecting to its conduits. 1359
• Rebooted captured Agent attackers after they were incapacitated and brought aboard the Giant Turtle Rock Platform. 1545
• Its direct interface can be dangerous against divine or incomprehensible information: it crashed after carrying a divine word through an unprotected connection. 1069 1071

Restraint and Energy Manipulation

The terminal can generate strong magnetic fields, scanning beams, and other energy effects.

• Bound an intangible shadow-like entity with blue light and a strong magnetic field. 880
• Used a high-powered cutting beam to open a ten-thousand-year-old stone relief while scanning the mechanism beneath it. 814
• Can scan at intensities powerful enough to risk destroying fragile alien devices. 492

Relationships

• Hao Ren — Operator and partner. The terminal assists his Examiner work, but the two constantly argue over its chatter, its misuse as a “brick,” and its ambitions for ship command. 35 87 142
• Raven 12345 — Issuer and superior officer. Her unreliable plugin installations and questionable file management contributed to several of the terminal’s irregularities. 30 40 80
• Nolan — Fellow AI and colleague aboard the Giant Turtle Rock Platform. The terminal helped Nolan adapt to her new existence and takes an overbearing “senior” role toward her. 768 773
• Lily — Frequent nuisance and user. Lily can operate the terminal’s basic functions through mental control and is responsible for decorating its casing with stickers. 126 768
• Doudou — Treats the terminal as a toy, at one point sitting on it and gripping its ridges while it tried to work. 207
• Galazhor’s Data Terminal — A fellow machine that rejected its attempts at conversation as “valueless behavior” and questioned its abnormal personality. 629