Name: Sentient Goo / Goo Description: Sentient gelatin, the invertebrate mass of organic material can come in varying shapes, sizes, colors and temperaments. It's not uncommon for one of these masses to mimic the fauna around them in shape, behavior and social habits. It's rather easy to spot them in a crowd, considering their physical makeup. Goos can be killed with fire, or simultaneous lacerations (i.e. Mince a Goo like you would a carrot and it'll die.). Goos lack central organs, comprised mostly of stem cells. These cells perform all functions to some degree, certain sectors allocated for different things. Some may be in charge of breaking down plant matter that's been ingested while others are in charge of doling out the energies gained from the food. Goos also lack a central brain, severely limiting any sense of permanence they may have. They rely on bits of information being stored in key cells throughout their bodies. To think of it as RAM is not far from the truth. They can recall what they have stored quickly, but their capacity is severely neutered. Behavior: By and large, the sentient Goos encountered by researchers and travelers have been passive beings. They excel in mimicking members of other animals, though they do not share the same physical needs as those they mimic. For example, a Goo found in a pack of wolves will run and play like one, but they will not partake in the hunting or eating of whatever the pack has killed. Social creatures, they seek to integrate, whether it's with one of their own or with other beasts depends largely on the geography and what is readily available. This is not to say that these Goos are not capable of inflicting damage. It is rare an animal will try to eat a Goo. On the off chance a predator believes its next meal will be a sentient squish ball, the Goo is adept at gumming a predator's mouth shut or, if the specimen is large enough, suffocating its attacker. Depending on those they try to mimic, a Goo may be attacked by a group's alpha, tolerated when key seasons (such as mating season and hibernation) have passed, or simply ignored and left to mingle. Obviously, not all creatures are fine with leaving a strange beast around their brood, and many Goos have met their demise at the raw end of a defensive mother's claws. Most if not all known Goos are able to communicate through basic means. This includes rippling their gelatinous forms, standard body languages (i.e. Just as a dog may cower when scared, a Goo will shrink itself and cower when scared. Simple.) and 'warbling'. Tamability: Depending on the size and intelligence of the goo encountered these creatures can be tamed. It is strictly on a case-by-case system. Depending on the specimen's intelligence, it may prefer the familiarity of one person, rather than roam with a group of animals. Taming a goo is much like befriending any dog or cat. Learn what they like and don't like. Live the motto "Feed me, love me, never leave me." On average, a Goo is about as intelligent as your standard canine, some on the lower and higher ends of the spectrum. To tame a Goo, one must spend a tremendous amount of time with their selected Goo. Goos have no 'brain', and all of their memory is stored in key cells, limiting their sense of permanence. Typically, they have 'space' for objects pertaining to survival, reproduction and a small amount is left for things they acquire in their daily routine. Where is it found?: Goos typically reside underground, in swamps or in humid forests. So long as it's wet outside and there's something solid under them, they can live there. While Goos can't be manufactured, there have been numerous attempts at mimicking their make-up. Typically, Synthetic Goo beings are superior to natural Goos in every way. Rarity: Naturally occurring Goos are rare. The majority of Goos one will meet in their lifetime are not actually Goos, but labmade beings of similar compositions. Diet/Method of gaining nutrients and energy: - Goos, by and large, prefer plant matter as their source of nutrients. They are primary consumers, feeding off of the sugars plants create through photosynthesis. Products?: - Their excrement makes for a good cosmetic cream. It's essentially dying, blank cellular material. Good for a short time. Remove by peeling it off of your face. The cream is rather expensive compared to synthetic items that do just as good of a job. But, if you're into being 100% organic, there's nothing better. Reproduction: - A naturally occurring Goo will find a mate. The mate can be any shape, size, color, what have you. Once the process begins, the two merge and swap DNA. If you find a Goo in the wild with a discolored ball in its center, you've stumbled upon a pregnant Goo couple. The baby ball is left behind and the two merged Goos stay in their merged form for a few days longer before separating once again. The baby Goo must find its way in life from there. The whole process lasts between 8-9 weeks. Size: - Varies. Some can be large, some can be small. Larger Goos require more energy, meaning they're almost constantly looking for suitable vegetation to ingest. The largest Goo to date stood at 5'8", found mimicking its Avian caretaker. Weight: Varies. Typically weighing between 1 - 50 lbs. Lifespan: Varies. Provided the Goo does not succumb to disease, famine, exhaustion, etc. it's theorized they can live up to 100 years. No specimens have been found who are dated beyond 50. Abilities: Goos can shapeshift, though the process requires a large amount of energy and time. They typically pick one form and stick with it until A.) They merge for the mating process, or B.) The form is no longer feasible to maintain. This can occur when a Goo is without suitable food sources for an extended period of time. They are restricted to what forms they can take by the amount of material that composes them. Flaws: Naturally occurring Goos are rare. There are not abundant specimens throughout the known universe. Goos are easily destroyed by fire and are susceptible to dry conditions. They are easily dissolved in bodies of salt water. They shrivel when salted. Goos will have a difficult time surviving conditions where the temperature drops below the freezing point of water (32°F, 0°C). When the temperature drops to this point, their cells will have a harder time moving, performing what actions it needs to keep functioning, and help generate heat to keep the Goo warm. They also require an exponential amount of food to fuel their increased physical demands, which they typically cannot find when temperatures are as low as they are. Goos begin to 'freeze' and, ultimately, will die if they do not relocate to an area with a more suitable climate. Other: [*] Goos are not tasty. Most predators that try to eat them know no better. Most people who try to eat them find that they typically don't like the taste of chewed up acetominophen in pudding form. [*] Goos may be social, but they are not typically fond of being confined to one space. Having one as a pet on your ship is, typically, a bad idea. They can become depressed, resulting in lack of apetite, resulting in a quick and agonizing demise for your beloved Goo. Walk them regularly or let them come and go as they please. [*] Goos cannot speak. They can warble, they can 'dance' their way into your heart, but they are about as literate as a dog. [*] Goos are naturally occurring. In most ways, they are inferior to their synthetic counterparts. [*] Goos do not enjoy being burnt, shocked, drowned or most forms of physical pain. On a side note, synthetic Goos are those that are created in a lab. They can vary from their natural 'cousins' in many ways, the most popular being their resilience to lacerations and their intelligence. Synthetic Goos outperform natural Goos because they are purpose-created. If a person wanted a Goo for a pet, they are much better off with a synthetic production due to their abundance with respect to their natural counterpart's numbers, intelligence through gene therapy and cellular architecture and their longevity. Synthetic Goos generally outlive natural Goos because they are much more receptive to therapeutic drugs or even mass injections of replacement cells when its own become damaged. Natural Goos lack the ability to have their cells replaced. The cells in its body do all of the work in keeping it alive, and that includes acting as anti-bodies. Most medicines are set upon by an overwhelming majority of cells in its body, making medication a near impossibility for a sick or damaged Goo found in the wild.
