Infiltration Unit Zeta

Infiltration Unit Zeta is a fictional character, the main character of the show The Zeta Project. He is a synthoid designed by the government to destroy targeted individuals. He runs away from the NSA, and meets Ro Rowen, a 15 year old run away who convinces him to search for his creator, Dr. Selig. According to Ro, the name Zeta is "just too creepy," so he is nicknamed Zee. Zee seems to be Zeta's preferred name, as he commonly uses the alias Zee Smith.

Contents

1 Features 1.1 Physical 1.2 Holograms 1.3 Programming 2 Personality 3 Character Relationships

Features

Physical

• Made of titanium alloy
• Laser cutter in one arm
• Buzz saw in other arm
• Hologram Projector
• Voice imitator
• Retractable claws
• Can elongate arms and legs
• Amplified sight and hearing
• Scanner- can check environment conditions
• Originally equipped with plasma cannon and grenade launcher, but got rid of them when he left the NSA
• Can turn feet into paddles for swimming
• Can repair himself

Holograms

Zeta is a synthoid, meaning a robot with the ability to appear human. He comes with a hologram projector and a voice imitator, which can allow him to look and sound like anyone he wants. However, he generally remains in the form Ro designed for him: a young man with dark hair, blue eyes, and a navy blue trenchcoat. This is known as the Zee Smith form. However, he occasionally adopts the little Zee form, when trying to blend in with children or appear to be Ro's brother. He can also create forms that encompass more than one person, or create non-human forms. There is some debate about the consistency of the hologram; in one episode, Agent West is able to identify him as a synthoid by poking people to see if they are solid, but in other episodes he touches people without them knowing he is made of metal.

Programming

• Programmed with many science facts
• Can calculate complicated equations in his mind
• Programmed with complete works of Shakespeare
• Conscience module
• Can replay memories like a video

Personality

Although sentient, Zeta is not human, and this gives him no lack of trouble. He lacks a basic understanding of human customs, thoughts, and emotions that tends to leave him confused. Zeta understands friendship, compassion, trust, and kindness as well or better than humans do, but he is lost at humor, relationships, fun, or revenge. Zeta does seem to feel emotions: he can visibly be seen as sad, happy, angry, and especially confused. However, he generally appears quiet and thoughtful. Zeta is very quick to trust and to make friends, and he refuses to harm even his enemies. His view on fighting is always passive: he won't fight unless he absolutely has to, and even then he will never fight to kill or harm more than necessary. He is extremely loyal to his friends, and always quick to forgive. He is very naive, to the point where he gets himself in trouble. Zeta believes the best about everyone, although he is not an optimist; at times he can be nearly pessimistic about his own fortunes. Zeta is generally fascinated with life, keeping himself entertained for hours by watching cockroaches, and he finds beauty in everything, even things Ro scoffs at. He does, however, have a skeptical side, and has a tendency to be very blunt. Zeta has an intelligence and thoughtfulness that seems very old, but at times he acts like a small child.

Character Relationships

Ro Rowen

Ro is undoubtedly Zeta's best friend. She is with him from the first episode, and immediately the pattern is started of constantly saving each other's lives. Zeta is very protective of Ro- the few times he gets angry are usually when she is threatened. Ro is usually very short with Zeta, but he generally doesn't mind. Zeta is often very confused by Ro, however- she is one of the only humans he's been in close contact to for long periods of time, and he doesn't understand many of her quirks. He does seem to see her as a source of wisdom for all things human, and tries to imitate the things she does in order to learn more about humans. In "Shadows", for example, Zeta is perplexed when he tries to understand Ro's rather unusual idea of fun. He does not understand her slang, idioms, or jokes, and often takes what she says far too literally. However, he definitely learns from her. He starts out not knowing what sarcasm is, but by the end of the show he has said some very sarcastic things himself. There is some speculation among fans as to their relationship- although many feel that Zeta and Ro have a brother-sister relationship, there are quite a large group of fans who feel that they are or have the potential to have a romantic relationship. This fans are called ZeeRo Shippers. It's also interesting to note that both ro and zeta are letters of the Greek alphabet.

Bucky Buenventura

Zeta obviously thinks of Bucky as a friend. He is very willing to help Bucky save his parents and later Zeta saves Bucky himself. He also realizes that there is a definite tension between Bucky and Ro, but he puts it down to dislike. Originally, Zeta did not trust Bucky, as Bucky originally treated him as something like a toy. At the end of their first meeting, Zeta was very stern and nearly threatened him. When he comes after he and Ro in "The Next Gen", Zeta welds his shoes to the dock so Bucky can't follow. However, he is also very quick to forgive and accept Bucky, having to do more with Zeta's own nature than with Bucky himself.

Dr. Selig

Zeta has only spoken to Dr. Selig twice, but seems to hold the scientist in very high regard. The first time he sees him, he is in awe, and every time he speaks to him, he acts almost shy. Zeta seems to regard Dr. Selig as something like a father figure, or an idol. Although the series ends with "The Hologram Man", we have already seen how depressed Zeta gets at the scientist's death.

Agent Bennett

Although Bennett is Zeta's enemy, Zeta has quite a lot of respect for the man. He seems to think, to Ro's frustration, that Bennett is really a good person and would not be after him if he didn't think Zeta was dangerous. And this may actually be true. We have already seen, through some of his confrontations with Zeta, particularly "Quality Time", that Bennett is not really a 'bad guy.' However, it remains to be seen if Bennett would be willing to give up his pursuit of Zeta.

Agent Lee

Zeta seems to regard Agent Lee as a friend as well, although he hasn't known her as anything but an enemy for very long. Lee certainly has proved herself to be trustworthy, and Zeta has always been ready to trust.