Dal R'El

Warning! This page contains information regarding Star Trek: Prodigy, and thus may contain spoilers.

Dal R'El was a male Human augment hybrid who lived during the late 24th century.

Early life[]

Dal was created as a Human Augment hybrid by the protégés of geneticist Dr. Arik Soong through artificial hybrid speciation. While his baseline was Human, Dal's Human DNA was blended with the most recessive genetic traits of 26 other species, including Vulcan and proto-Organian. (PRO: "Masquerade", "Mindwalk")

Dal was raised on board the Damsel by DaiMon Nandi, a marauder and con artist. He slept under the ship's engine in a hammock that consisted of cloth with its two ends tied to piping. Nandi taught Dal to steal and the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, but nothing about the Federation. He also had known about dabo through Nandi's playing of the game (although at one point she claimed to be done with it). (PRO: "First Con-tact")

Dal believed that Nandi thought of him as a son, but at some point, Nandi sold Dal as a slave to The Diviner as one of The Unwanted, who mined chimerium at the Tars Lamora prison colony. Dal was left believing that he had been kidnapped, while Nandi, in turn, purchased the robot Pik-Pox with the resulting profit, a partner who Nandi thought was more adept at stealing. (PRO: "First Con-tact")

USS Protostar[]

While mining chimerium, Dal recorded the timing of mining machines in the hope that he could use it to escape one day. In 2383, he tried to escape after Zero sabotaged the mine and his security anklet lost power. His attempt to leave on a ship ultimately failed. He was then tasked by Gwyndala to find Zero, and should he fail, he would be punished.

Dal went looking for Zero in the Northwest Crevasse. While working with Rok-Tahk there, he escaped aboard the recently discovered Federation starship USS Protostar. With the starship's universal translator, Dal quickly befriended Zero, Rok-Tahk, Jankom Pog, and Murf, who tried to escape the mine and fend off Drednok and The Diviner's Watchers. Just before the Protostar took off, the group captured Gwyn. (PRO: "Lost and Found")

Dal appointed himself captain of the Protostar to the dismay of his crewmates. After struggling to lead the crew, he learned an important lesson by testing his skills with the Kobayashi Maru scenario on the holodeck. After repeated failures, the holographic representation of Spock helped him realize that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and a good captain listens to his crew. (PRO: "Kobayashi")

Dal was reunited with Nandi after she sent a false distress call claiming that her ship systems have been compromised with orphans ill with the Phage. When they first met, Nandi lied to Dal that she had lost him and spent years searching for him. Dal regarded Nandi as a friend until he was told the truth behind his enslavement on Tars Lamora: she had sold him. (PRO: "First Con-tact")

When the Protostar eventually reached Federation territory and docked with subspace relay station CR-721, Dal was surprised to find that Starfleet had records of his species, even though he himself knew nothing about his own race or origins. Unfortunately, the station was destroyed when Lt. Barniss Frex attempted to download information from the Protostar. (PRO: "Asylum") Soon after, Gwyn remembered that her father told her about a deadly weapon aboard the Protostar-called the Living construct which, when hooked up to Starfleet systems, would destroy Starfleet from within. Though they were able to locate the weapon, it was discovered that it couldn't be disabled or removed. (PRO: "Let Sleeping Borg Lie")

Later, while at Noble Isle in the Romulan Neutral Zone, Dr. Jago, a geneticist, was mesmerized by Dal who she described him as a "beautiful specimen". A scan revealed that he was a Human hybrid, composed of the recessive DNA of 26 alien species. However, Dr. Jago's admiration ended when she discovered that Dal was created by the protégés of Arik Soong. Calling him the product of "sloppy work", Dr. Jago offered to "fix" Dal by implanting an epigenetic dermal device which would activate his dormant genes. Though the crew assured Dal that he didn't need fixing, he secretly had Jago perform the procedure. Unfortunately, it resulted in all of his dormant genes being activated at once, with disastrous results. Afterwards, Rok and Zero were able to remove the implant before his genetic changes could become permanent. (PRO: "Masquerade")

In the meantime, the Protostar was being chased by the USS Dauntless under the command of Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway, who considered them criminals who'd stolen a Starfleet vessel and destroyed a relay station. Desperate to find a way to explain their situation, Zero theorized that Dal, who possessed Organian genes might be able to telepathically contact Admiral Janeway. The attempt resulted in a mind swap between the Admiral and Dal. Though Dal attempted to impersonate the Admiral and diffuse the situation regarding the Protostar, he was in over his head and his erratic behavior only managed to get the Admiral declared medically unfit and sent to sickbay. Luckily, he escaped sickbay with help from the Diviner who explained that the was repaying Admiral Janeway's kindness in saving his life. Ultimately, Dal and the admiral were able to switch back bodies, however, Dal's actions on the Dauntless led to the admiral being taken immediately to the brig before she could explain the situation. (PRO: "Mindwalk")

Thanks to the living construct, the Protostar crew no longer had control of the ship, which was headed for the heart of Federation space, where it was met by an armada of Starfleet vessels. When Starfleet vessels began attacking one another, thanks to the living construct, Dal decided that the only solution was to destroy the Protostar. When Jankom stated that that would destroy everything in this solar system, Rok countered that it wouldn't if the set the ship to explode as it was going into proto-drive. Unfortunately, since the self-destruct was off-line, the core would need to be detonated manually. Dal volunteered to go down with the ship. but Holo-Janeway declared that she should be the one to stay behind.

As Dal and the others escaped on a bare-bones, makeshift shuttle that Rok created using the vehicle replicator, the Protostar destroyed itself in mid-jump, disabling the living construct.

One month later, Dal and the others finally made it to Starfleet Headquarters on Earth. The group found themselves in front of a Starfleet tribunal where they faced various criminal charges, such as stealing a Federation starship. Admiral Janeway argued in their behalf that the kids did everything in an effort to warn Starfleet. Thanks to the Admiral's impassioned speech, all criminal charges were dropped and although they weren't allowed immediate entrance into Starfleet Academy as they hoped, the crew, with the exception of Gwyn who'd decided to go to Solum to try to unite her people, would be permitted to serve under the admiral as warrant officers-in-training. (PRO: "Supernova, Part 2")

Physiology[]

When first encountered by the Denobulan Lieutenant Barniss Frex, he described Dal R'El as a "colorful fella", before he attempted to guess his species, beginning with Sakari, but correcting himself and settling on Talaxian – neither of which were correct – before being scanned. While Dal himself did not know his species or origins, he indicated that he had been told many times what he might be, and "If I had a credit for every time someone thought they could tell me...", but was interrupted to be told that Starfleet indeed had a record of his species on file, but of it, divulged only that he was to report directly to them. (PRO: "Asylum") This was most likely due to Dal being an Augment, something that had been banned in the Federation following the Eugenics Wars. (PRO: "Masquerade", "Mindwalk")

Dal was humanoid in terms of physiology and apparent strength, but differed in coloration as well as having large spots present on much of the body. One noteworthy feature was a prehensile skull ganglia located at the back of the head, just below where the hairline ended. (PRO: "A Moral Star, Part 1") When overwhelmed with heightened emotions, such as when Dal met Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway for the first time, his cranial tail twitched uncontrollably. (PRO: "Crossroads")

During their stop at Noble Isle in the Romulan Neutral Zone, Dr. Jago described him as a "beautiful specimen", before noting his "interesting mandibula [..] unique coloration, [and] skull ganglia." Later, upon learning of his origins, she ultimately opined that he was a product of "sloppy work", and told him that it was a "miracle you can talk". (PRO: "Masquerade")

A DNA analysis revealed that Dal was the product of genetic manipulation by the protégés of Arik Soong. Dal was a hybrid of many species, using Human as a base, mixed with twenty-six different species, of which Dr. Jago only mentioned Vulcan and proto-Organian. Later, Dal mutated under the effects of an implant that activated dormant genes, also showing psychic abilities, increased agility, production of a bluish viscous substance, and physical traits of a Klingon, Vulcan, Tellarite, and Andorian. (PRO: "Masquerade")

As a result of his hybrid physiology, Dal has dormant telepathic abilities caused by one or more of his genetic sources, including Dal's proto-Organian DNA. When Dr. Jago's implant activated his dormant genes, Dal was able to read the minds of those around him, although his telepathy was deactivated once again when the implant was removed. Under the guidance of Zero, a Medusan, Dal attempted to use his telepathy to communicate with Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway, but a phaser blast from the USS Dauntless striking in the middle of the attempt and Dal's Organian DNA resulted in the two switching bodies instead. Janeway was later able to reverse the switch by shooting Dal in her own body with a phaser blast after they were prevented from physically touching. (PRO: "Masquerade", "Mindwalk")

Appendices[]

Appearances[]

Background information[]

Dal is voiced by Brett Gray.

According to his official Nickelodeon description:

Dal, 17, is an orphan who quickly becomes Captain (by his own declaration) of the U.S.S. Protostar. His past is shrouded in mystery, and Dal has always searched for a place to belong. A charming, occasionally selfish jokester, Dal distrusts authority and marches to the beat of his own drum. Above all, he holds on to the most important thing: hope. [2]

External links[]

• Dal R'El at StarTrek.com
• Dal R'El at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works