# content
Full name: Mechanical Emergent Lifeform / Artificial Newly Intelligent Entity
Gender: Female
Species: Holographic character in robotic body
Activated: 2375

MEL/ANIE was a humanoid robot controlled by an internal holographic program.

In the 2370s, the character of Melanie was added to the 1960s Las Vegas holoprogram aboard Deep Space 9. Melanie's creator had developed relationships with other characters in the program but needed to leave the station, so Melanie was created as a replica who would match her creator in appearance and always stay in character.

Melanie started running full-time in 2375 when the holoprogram she was added to began running around the clock. In this new environment, Melanie began to realize she was a fictional character.

At some point in the 2380s, Melanie was given a robotic body that her program could be loaded into, allowing her to leave the program and walk around the station.

In the year 2399, Melanie boarded the USS Paramaribo on its way back to Deep Space 9. At the time, she was nervous about reaching her 24th "birthday", because it would mean she was closer to 32 than to 16.