Lal
Gender:	Male
Species:	Vian
Occupation:	Scientist
Status:	Alive (2268)
Played by:	Alan Bergmann

For the android of the same name, please see Lal.

Lal was a Vian scientist who, along with another Vian named Thann, conducted a bizarre experiment to determine if a planet in the Minarian star system that was threatened with destruction from a supernova should be saved. They would base their decision on whether the inhabitants of the planet, who were empaths, would show compassion and self-sacrifice toward other beings. The experiment involved one of the planet's inhabitants named Gem and members of the crew of the USS Enterprise. After Captain James T. Kirk and Doctor Leonard McCoy were tortured by the Vians, Gem saved them both, and her world was deemed worthy of saving. (TOS: "The Empath")