Ultron (Star Control)
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The Ultron is a fictional device featured in the sci-fi Star Control computer game series.
The device, while extremely high-tech, is of indeterminate function and is believed by some to have fantastic uses, and by others to be a useless piece of junk. It was first encountered by mankind when the protagonist met the plant-race Supox, who kept the Ultron safe after the Utwig proctor broke it by accident.
During the voyages, a few things are learned of the Ultron. Among these is that the Ultron has been owned by the Crimson Corporation of the amoral Druuge before they sold it to the Utwig. The Druuge promised that the Ultron would give the consulter the power to know everything that is knowable, lead you through life, help you with all your decisions, etc.
The Utwig fell for the Druuge but demanded a test with the Ultron. After testing the praised device, the Utwig proctor agreed to buy the Ultron, but before the Druuge could name their price, the Utwig proctor said that the Ultron has revealed the price the Druuge desired and handed them a boatful of useless artifacts. Since the Druuge could not confess that the Ultron was a hoax, they had to agree to the trade and to the date of the game are still trying to unload the gained items upon innocent travellers.
After the protagonist repairs the Ultron, it is revealed that the device actually is a Precursor tool known as the "Appendages of Dawn," and does actually grant the highly-advanced Utwig brain some sort of mental powers, most notably an ability approximating to clairvoyance, although the human scientists are incapable of discovering any use for it. Upon delivering the broken version to Hayes, he gives this scientific report: "We wouldn't have gotten results any different had we done them on a fork." (abbreviated) The real use of the Ultron is unknown. It could indeed do nothing but flash its silly lights.
In the end of Star Control 3 it is revelated that the Ultron is in fact a unfinished artifact built by the Precursors to optimise the Eternal Ones' sentience harvest, that absorb all sentient energy in the universe from time to time. See Eternal Ones.
