Rosy Sphere

One of a trio of Precursor artifacts whose mystical link to each other has been sensed by Pkunk psychics, given simple names based on their color and shape. (The other two artifacts being the Aqua Helix and the Clear Spindle.) Also one of many apparently useless Precursor relics obtained by the Druuge from the Utwig in exchange for the Ultron. The Utwig, using the Ultron's own power, predicted that in this storehouse of unidentifiable, unusable Precursor relics they had accumulated would be hidden the secret of changing and purifying the racial nature of the Druuge, and gave them these relics as a charitable act. The Druuge, angry at being cheated of their truly sought prize, the incredibly powerful Precursor bomb the Utwig had found, proceeded to unload as many of these relics on foolish travelers as they could.

Ironically, one of these relics was a copy of a component of the Ultron itself that became necessary to repair the Ultron after it was damaged by the Utwig High Proctor. The Druuge perhaps realized this, since they kept the Sphere in a special secure vault separate from their other wares, perhaps hoping to offer to repair the Ultron in exchange for the Bomb. However, they otherwise seemed to place very little value on the Sphere, and when the Human Captain Zelnick arrived bearing objects valuable to the Druuge, they were willing to trade the Sphere to him without even requiring the customary trade of slaves that they demanded for other Precursor artifacts. This allowed Zelnick to complete his own project of repairing the Ultron and gaining the gratitude of the Utwig, allowing him to claim the Bomb himself.

The sphere is relatively small, about 5 centimeters in diameter, translucent and perfectly smooth, possessing the unusual property of being ferromagnetic while completely non-conductive to electric current.