In the early 24th century, an alien life form was discovered adrift in the Denorios belt of the Bajoran star system. The Bajoran people took him in for study, not realizing he was a sentient being. The Bajorans, under occupation by the Cardassians, had to translate all their findings into the Cardassian language, and this "unknown sample" was lost in translation and labeled as "nothing" - "Odo'ital".
The lead Bajoran scientist in charge of Odo, Mora Pol, subjected the sample to a multitude of experients. Electrocution, vaccuum chambers, protein decompiling, and so on. Odo is desperate for this scientist to recognize him as sentient, and copied the shape of a beaker on a laboratory table. The Bajoran scientists continued calling him Odo'Ital as a name, as structurally it had similarities to a Bajoran name.
Mora Pol and another scientist name Weld Ram continued raising Odo, who slowly learned how to copy a humanoid form. Odo had also been seen as a party trick, being asked to change shape for others' amusement. He eventually left the scientists with great resentment for the torture he had gone through before Mora Pol discovered he was sentient.
Odo finds work for the Cardassians, acting as their chief of security on board their Bajoran mining station, Terok Nor. He has a strong sense of justice and only desires to do what's right for other people, eventually learning that "justice" and "order" are two different things, and that he much preferred justice. The Cardassian occupation comes to an end, and under the new Starfleet command he continues to manage station security upon the newly-named Deep Space Nine.
He has a curiosity about his origins - where he came from, who the rest of his people are, what they're like. Unfortunately, when he finds them he learns they are a control-hungry species, ultimately led by the idea that "what you can control can't hurt you". They head a larger group of collective species referred to as The Dominion, exacting order throughout their quadrant of space, whether this means simply managing trade or completely wiping out any perceived threats. He is torn between desperately wanting to return to his species, to finally feel like he belongs - and staying loyal to the friends he's made during his time on Deep Space Nine.
The lead Bajoran scientist in charge of Odo, Mora Pol, subjected the sample to a multitude of experients. Electrocution, vaccuum chambers, protein decompiling, and so on. Odo is desperate for this scientist to recognize him as sentient, and copied the shape of a beaker on a laboratory table. The Bajoran scientists continued calling him Odo'Ital as a name, as structurally it had similarities to a Bajoran name.
Mora Pol and another scientist name Weld Ram continued raising Odo, who slowly learned how to copy a humanoid form. Odo had also been seen as a party trick, being asked to change shape for others' amusement. He eventually left the scientists with great resentment for the torture he had gone through before Mora Pol discovered he was sentient.
Odo finds work for the Cardassians, acting as their chief of security on board their Bajoran mining station, Terok Nor. He has a strong sense of justice and only desires to do what's right for other people, eventually learning that "justice" and "order" are two different things, and that he much preferred justice. The Cardassian occupation comes to an end, and under the new Starfleet command he continues to manage station security upon the newly-named Deep Space Nine.
He has a curiosity about his origins - where he came from, who the rest of his people are, what they're like. Unfortunately, when he finds them he learns they are a control-hungry species, ultimately led by the idea that "what you can control can't hurt you". They head a larger group of collective species referred to as The Dominion, exacting order throughout their quadrant of space, whether this means simply managing trade or completely wiping out any perceived threats. He is torn between desperately wanting to return to his species, to finally feel like he belongs - and staying loyal to the friends he's made during his time on Deep Space Nine.