#spark development

a Node commonly contains between 5-12 polyp clusters.

each cluster can contain 1-8 polyp sparks.

the Nodes slowly climb up the walls + veins of the Well (and hotspots) as the Nodes develop.

Nodes membranes get thinner the farther they develop and clime up; the membrane brakes when polyp sparks separate from their polyp clusters and finalize development.

lakes + rivers (cracks) are also classified as hotspots.

hotspot developing sparks/Nodes tend to be more exposed to outside factors and "marine" wildlife than the Well and contained hotspots.

the 0.1% (the green sparks) emerge as a stage 5 development in the 2nd sector level of the Well (or hotspots); while normal sparks will emerge as stage 5 out of the 1st sector.

Nodes and developing sparks can be removed artificially (as early as a 3rd sector in a stage 1), but they'll tend to be more at risk of becoming unstable.

mature-ready sparks can stay in the Well/hotspots for up to 5 months (the cybertronian equivalent) inside before it's forced to exit and start gathering any available metals to stabilize and further develop, or it'll get re-absorbed or eaten.

stage 1: sparks are classified as planula at this stage as they just start development within Nodes. they'll divide into small segments before entering stage 2.

stage 2: polyps (sparks) further develop and grow inside the Node and the segments then form a polyp cluster; this is where 0.1% sparks have a chance at being identified.

stage 3: developing polyp clusters continue to develop and grow, their inner-energy now starting to develop and the individual spark-polyps become livelier and start separating from the cluster (soon to be identified as sparks instead of polyps). combiner class sparks however will separate at stage 4 because their connection an important stage of development.

stage 4: spark polyps are now classified as pre-mature sparks since they are (usually) fully separated from the clusters and all have successfully emerged from the Node (the Node membrane being very thin; it'll get reabsorbed).

stage 5: the now mature sparks have fully developed their inner-energy, the outside becoming a protective "skin" around it. they are also ready to emerge from the Well/hotspots and either naturally develop a protoform or be put into a pre-made body. they will be seen either bobbing at the top of the Well or slowly floating around in the 1st sector.