Ruri Hoshino, Girl Genius
( "I'm a girl", Ruri replying to Minato's comment that she was smart for a child. ) Of Nordic ancestry and albino, she was born of genetic engineering 07-07-2185 in a laboratory and raised in a clinical setting. Sold to Nergal as a child, she was commissioned as a bridge crew member of the Battleship Nadesico-ND001 as Computer Specialist at age eleven and later became captain at age sixteen.
There are many Nadesico sites out there that describe Ruri as emotionless. I totally disagree with this assessment of her! It is my contention that she may actually be more emotional than most of the rest of the crew. But due to her brilliant mind which demands logic rule her directions, her emotions are kept below the surface (a private demon to do battle with?). Such also is it with another of my favorite characters from three-hundred years earlier, Sherlock Holmes. I see many similarities between these two characters (as well as similarities to the character Jarod from the PRETENDER series currently on TV). Unlike the Vulcan characters of the Star Trek series who are intelligent but never allow their emotions to surface, remaining cold and cynical, both Ruri and Sherlock have moments where their deep seated hearts surface and reveal their core humanity. While they both find it difficult to relate to most around them, even those closest to them (who they deeply love), they continue to place themselves in a position of service to those that need their expertise most. This reveals a great compassion in these characters. They could easily go off to do research work in a laboratory , away from the annoyances of the masses, but instead choose to be in the midst of the messes and battles that daily life presents, both on large and small scale.
Ruri's relationship to Omoikane, Nadesico's self-aware computer system, is also interesting. She constantly asks Omoikane to tell her about her past. Omoikane replies she has asked that question 'um-teen' times and the answers are still the same, no additional information is available. Ruri insists that the info be displayed again, regardless. She is seeking her identity. In a very special episode where she comes to Omoikane's defense and enters it's central core, she shows a great tenderness in her approach to the situation.
The scene where she slaps a certain man (additional info with-held to prevent a spoiler for those who have yet to see that episode) is one of the most emotionally charged scenes of the entire series! In the scene where Meg is teasing Yurika about performing a marriage, sending her running off crying, Ruri tells Meg, "You're mean". When Gai dies, the only other major character besides Akito who pays noticable tribute to him is Ruri, "Anyway Yamada, you've done well...". There are countless other subtle instances I could site. A cold, shallow and emotionless girl? Most certainly not! Ruri Hoshino is one of the most deep and complex characters of any series ever and anywhere.