Lost Androids

Lost Androids

The term "Lost Android" can describe a wide variety of mechanical humanoids created by a long-forgotten race of technologically advanced beings. Specifically, this article will describe the most well-known type of Lost Android, those that house a completely aware, sentient consciousness.

"The Lost" - so called because their civilization fell so long ago that no races currently travelling the galaxy can recall them - were a largely pacifistic society, focused on the development of technology to improve all aspects of life. Being physically frail, when the Lost were confronted by aggressors, they turned their technological wizardry to war. Many foes targeted these peaceful technophiles over the ages, and the Lost's military might grew proportionally, rising to every challenge.

Because the Lost valued life and the continuation of individual existence so much, they turned their scientific prowess to a form of artificial immortality. One of their highest achievements was the Soulsphere, a complex crystalline storage matrix capable of housing the entirety of a living consciousness (later, spheres were developed that could hold multiple souls, which were used as a sort of lifeboat in the field). When a Lost was on the verge of death, he or she could ask to be 'transferred' to a sphere, which was then housed within a mechanical shell. These living machines became the commanders and masterminds of the Lost's military, marshalling legions of 'lesser' robots and androids driven by mere programmed AI.

Soon enough, the scientists of the Lost discovered that the individual consciousness, or 'soul' could produce nearly limitless quantities of power, especially when the frailties of an organic body were no longer a factor. They set about researching a way to harness this 'life energy', and shortly, the higher living machines were transformed into terrible engines of destruction. Further advancements followed in the years and decades to come, including the ability to preserve the physical appearance of a soul's former organic body.