Sim (Star Trek)
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| Sim | |
|---|---|
| Species: | human/clone |
| Gender: | male |
| Affiliation: | Starfleet |
| Portrayed by: | Connor Trinneer (adult), Shane Sweet (age 17), Adam Taylor Gordon (age 8), Maximillian Orion Kesmodel (age 4) |
Sim, short for 'simulated', is a clone of NX-01 Enterprise chief engineer Charles 'Trip' Tucker. He appeared in the episode 'Similitude'. After his creation, Sim lived only a few days before dying in the line of duty.
Sim was created when Commander Tucker was critically injured in an explosion in engineering. Doctor Phlox suggested making use of one of the exotic creatures kept in his sickbay, a creature which can mimic any alien DNA fed into it. A DNA sample was obtained from Tucker and introduced into the creature, producing a viable clone of Tucker (in the hopes that the clone's neural tissue could be employed to save Tucker's life).
Given the alien nature of Sim's creation, the infant grew rapidly through childhood and adolescence in only a few hours. It also possessed all of the original Trip's knowledge, experience, and even personality. In short order, Sim had matured into a fully grown adult, completely identical to Tucker.
Ever since Sim's creation was proposed, it was always understood that Sim would have a limited lifespan - clones produced by the alien in sickbay would always live for a very short time. Sim anticipated his own death and was fully prepared to sacrifice his life to save Tucker - until it became possible to extend Sim's own life past the 'breaking point'. Sim came to realize that he wanted to live, after all, and tried to convince Captain Jonathan Archer to let him join the crew and take Tucker's place - after all, Sim was indistinguishable from Tucker, so what possible harm could there be?
In the end, Archer ordered Sim to provide the neural tissue necessary to save Tucker's life, reasoning that the Enterprise needed its real chief engineer. Sim agreed - and died soon after the procedure was complete.
Sim was buried with full honors in a ceremony attended by the entire crew - including Trip himself.
