Hian

Hi-Eukaryota Gelatina is native to Hi, discovered in the earth year 3909 by a demetian expedition to establish a colony on the last moon of Icari. When they arrived, they catalogued the objects as..."...strange plant-like structures with a gelatinous makeup. They seem to have the ability to move, but the method is currently unknown. Samples have been taken back to Sekira for analysis."When they took the sample back to the ship, they unknowingly planted the seed in the "minds" of the Hian life that would change the moon's fate. 
The life forms were watching them. One took the initiative to rearrange itself into a form that was more mobile, seeking out these une and attempting to find out what they were doing with the one they took. The form it took was that of the une they were following. 
Contact was made days later when the Hian was found in the foliage nearby working up the courage to approach the ship. It was taught to speak simple words over the course of several days and, as it was found to not be toxic, allowed to join them on the ship. 
== Cellular Structure ==
Hi-Eukaryota Gelatina is a very basal form of the Eukaryota domain in Hi's genesis group, covering an entire domain, that of Gelatina. It has been described as "Primordial" by some scientists on Demet, but the potential of such creatures is near limitless.
The bodies of H-E. Gelatina are composed of a total of 3 cell types. Musculoskeletal, Hemogastric, and Nervous cells. Each of these cell types are used for very broad purposes in the body, but in three distinct categories.
=== Musculoskeletal Cells ===
Musculoskeletal cells form the outer layers of the Hian body. They are capable of expanding and contracting to allow movement and articulation, and can constrict to form hard surfaces. The outer membrane can be supplemented from other parts of the body, sacrificing strength in unimportant areas to increase strength where it is needed. 
Inside the body, they make up a number of valves and chambers filled with fluids that move nutrients throughout the body. This fluid is water based and rich in proteins, utilizing the hemogastric cells to carry nutrients to where they are needed for regeneration. 
=== Hemogastric Cells ===
Hemogastric cells function to break down food and carry nutrients from the internal fluids to wherever they are needed. These are distributed throughout the body evenly. In the event that a portion of the body becomes damaged, these cells are responsible for averaging the thickness of the outer membranes of M-S cells, and building new nervous tissues.
=== Nervous Cells ===
Nervous cells are general purpose nerve cells that are spread throughout the body. These all function as brains and nerves with each collection capable of functioning as its own brain. Collections of these cells exist throughout the body, residing in their own pockets of fluid between and around the standard vascular cavities, within the walls of the valves and outer membrane of the body. 
If a Hian was split in two, it would have no issues either recombining into one being or living as two seperate, much less intelligent beings. However, the two halves will instinctively attempt to recombine. This was the case with the specimen taken by the demetian scientists. When the sample was severed from the body, it continued to violently move within the case and attempt to escape from its captors. The rest of that individual became inspired by the demetian to take on a humanoid form and retrieve the part of its body that it had lost. 
== Internal Anatomy ==
A Hian does not have a fixed internal anatomy. Within minutes, the structure of the valves and chambers that make up the "organs" can be rearranged and totally unrecognizable from the former layout. Despite this fact, a few things remain consistent no matter the form. 
=== Digestion Chamber ===
A vascular chamber near the center of mass is primarily responsible for digestion. From there, the nutrients gained from it can be moved to the rest of the body for use. 
=== Nerve Channels ===
Dedicated spaces for the nervous tissue is always present. 
=== Light Sensitive Nervous Tissue ===
Originally used for determining where plants were located for feeding, a Hian often has yellow-white masses of nervous tissue that serves to detect light. Utilizing thin layers of musculoskeletal cells shaped into lenses, they were able to focus incoming light to achieve vision comparable to that of a heavily nearsighted human, though they remain colorblind no matter the form these take. 
=== Vocal Tract ===
If the body has been configured for interaction with demetian life, it will have an air pocket and "mouth" that it can use to reproduce speech. 
== Needs ==
=== Water ===
The Hian biology requires ample access to water. For this reason they were restricted to the densest parts of Hi's jungles closest to the seas, as most of the moon's surface is dry and rocky. This caused them to diversify over time, adaptations for the specific environment causing separate traits to rise from each of the planet's regions. 
=== Food ===
Hian digestive processes are capable of breaking down all types of organic matter, given enough time. This was tested with plant life from Hi in the form of grasses and leaves, Demetian plant life, and synthetic meat and bones created using the Sekira's on-board assembler. Unused matter is allowed to sink out of the body through the lowest points, whether that is their base, or their feet. 
=== Temperature ===
While a their bodies are an even greater percentage of water than a human's is, they are able to survive in both heat and cold, capable of living anywhere that their water content does not freeze or evaporate. Their fluid internal anatomy can adjust to allow flow of their hemogastric fluid in spite of any changes in viscosity, and their regular metabolic processes usually keep their body temperature at or near 80 degrees fahrenheit, or 27 celsius, which is the average temperature of their preferred environments on Hi. Category:Sentient Life
Category:Flora and Fauna