Aqua Helix

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 Aqua Helix is a crystalline gemstone, composed of a homogeneous substance, that appears to have been naturally grown in the shape of a flat strip twisted in a three-dimensional spiral. It is extremely hard (rated Mohs-13, able to scratch a diamond) and its internal structure remains unknown. The Thraddash revere it as a holy object, and its shape appears to be the inspiration for their religious belief that social evolution must be shaped by cycles of destruction and rebirth. While in the Thraddash shrine constructed for it in a mountainous cave of the continent of Funt on their home planet of Zeta Draconis I, the Helix constantly gave off pulses of intensely bright light by an unknown process; control of the shrine and the Helix was regarded as the ultimate symbol of the ruling authority of each successive Culture, and within the shrine was inscribed in ritual hieroglyphics the history of each Culture. This custom has lasted for all 2,000 years of Thraddash history, only briefly challenged by the two-week reign of the heretic Culture Nine.

The ascension of Thraddash Culture Twenty, based around the teachings of the human Captain Zelnick, led to an invitation by the Thraddash to allow their new leader to view their most sacred artifact. Having learned something of the Helix's nature from the Pkunk, Zelnick allowed his crew to violate the Thraddash shrine and steal the Helix, disturbing its structure and quelling its ancient glow, causing the Thraddash to turn against Zelnick and throwing Culture Twenty into turmoil. This decision however proved wise, as the Helix proved to be one of the parts necessary to repair the Utwig's Ultron.