Turn 24
You first try to dislodge whatever grabbed you. When that fails, you fill one of the stingers on the pseudopod with extra enzymes and contract the cell's membrane until it completely breaks off of the main body. Whatever's in there will get a nasty surprise for ripping off one of your arms! You lie in wait outside of the hole, waiting for it to come out. As expected, it doesn't take long.
A wormlike thing erupts from the hole, writhing in enzyme-induced agony!
It has a row of violently-twitching, stubby legs down the length of its semi-segmented body. Around its head are mandible-like graspers. Beware its fiery sting!
Common Name: Lifespark
Scientific Name: Vitascinti cuspis, "Spiky Spark of Life"
Sentience: Rank 2: A bit more intelligent than a Copepod. (10/20)
Cell Types:
- Armor Cell (Spiked Silica Plate)
- "Brain" Cell (Central Nucleus, Central Data-Processing Unit, Cell Wall)
- Focus Cell (Silica Crystal)
- Factory Cell (Enzyme Producer, Many Ribosomes)
- Manipulator Cell (Regular Pseudopod - Silica Blade, Enzyme Injectors)
- Mouth Cell (Closable Opening, Silica Teeth)
- Propulsion Cell (Flagella)
- Sensory Cell (Cilia)
- Sight Cell (Photoreceptive Patch)
- Stomach Cell (Nutrient Harvester, Enzyme Storage, Contractile Vacuole)
- Storage Cell (Glucose<->Glycogen, Protein)
- Buffer Cell (Data-Processing Subunit and Conduits)
Energy: 86
DNA: 7
RNA: 4
Protein: 31
Fat: 14
Glucose: 72
Basic -> Improved -> Complex
Basic
Cell Wall: Outside the membrane, provides a stiff wall to keep threats at bay. Found in plants and fungi, for the most part.
Contractile Vacuole: Removes or adds water to and from the cell and its outside.
Cytoskeleton: Structures and moves the cell when the cell lacks any other propulsion.
Enzyme Injector (Basic Organelle, Basic Membrane, Basic Cell Wall): Injects enzymes into other cells. Right now, it has very little penetration force.
Nutrient Harvester (Extracting: Silicon and Oxygen [Silica Production]): Takes water brought into the cell from the contractile vacuole and extracts useful nutrients from it for use.
Photoreceptor: Patch of light-sensitive proteins that can detect light. Highly unfocused. No color.
Sensory & Chemical Cilia: Detects changes in the water, both chemical and physical. Also provides some degree of additional mobility.
Improved
Data-Processing Organelle (with Labeling System): Processes input from the cilia and photoreceptors as well as managing the cell's data flow. Labels enzymes so they don't activate inside the cell without priming; however, it also labels foreign genetic material for packaging.
Membrane: The most elemental part of the cell- the phospholipid bilayer that keeps out unwanted material and holds the entire cell together.
Nucleus: Stores all of the cells genetic material. Allows for more advanced *NA.
Ribosomes: Produces all sorts of enzymes and proteins, helps in organelle construction. The cell's "factory." Moderately complicated production.
Complex
Cytoplasm: The goop that fills the cell, transports materials, and stores many things.
Flagellum: A tube of protein that spins like a corkscrew to move the cell. Very fast.
Mitochondria: Provides aerobic respiration in order to harness glucose to the max. Used in synthesis of Energy (or ATP for all you geeks).
Silica Armor: The armor that protects the cell. It is somewhat self-repairing and is extremely tough. Spiked. Comes in a plate, each attached to a special cell that can add stored silica onto the plate as it deteriorates.
Location:
Near the water's surface in a large field of ice chunks (not at the surface yet, but close enough to swim there whenever).
Visible:
A wormy thing coming out of a hole in the ice. It seems to be upset.
To-Do List
1. Photosynthesis (Need to obtain Chloroplasts)
2. Break Points/Fortune Cookie from Hell
3. Laz0rs