Our next stop is the planet of JB-103, an earth-like planet located in the Kulpar system. This planet is however considered a water world as 98% of the planet’s surface is covered in water, save for the sparse sand bars where  explorers landed their ships when mapping this world out. The water is very similar to earth’s oceans, with similar attributes such as being salty water which experiences currents and varies in temperature. In fact, the waters of JB-103 are so similar to earth’s, they may as well be identical. The average depth of the oceans of earth is 3,682 meters, while on JB-103 the oceans are deeper being on average 4,011 meters deep. The average temperature of oceans on earth is 21.1 degrees Celsius, while the waters of JB-103 experience around 20.3 degrees Celsius on average. The polar regions are much colder than the ones on earth with much of the water there freezing solid year-round, and of course following this trail of logic, it has been found that the equatorial region has a much higher temperature than even the warmest oceans on earth with this thin band of the planet experiencing up to 38 degree’s temperature in the waters. Of course, this vast diversity of the oceans on JB-103 has lead to life taking root, not matter how bizarre.

Diving into the oceans of JB-103 we find ourselves surrounded by a deep blue expanse of nothingness, however if you look closely, you will notice that the surface level, known as the Light-zone, is teeming with small and nearly invisible creatures. These creatures play a vital role in the ocean’s oxygen supply and thus the very continuation of life rests in their tiny hands. These creatures are simply known as the “Upper Conglomerate,” as there are so many of them that naming every single on as a separate species would be a herculean task. The Upper Conglomerate makes up around 25% of life on JB-103, and due to this it is highly unlikely that they will every experience a significant drop in population. The Upper Conglomerate can be most found near the equator however there have been findings near the poles during the summer. Our next stop takes us to the Twilight Zone.

The Twilight Zone is where sunlight begins to become dimmer, and the waters colder. In this zone we find three more life forms. The first form of life we find down here are known simply as the “Silver fish.” These tiny critters feed on stragglers from the Upper Conglomerate who float down to the Twilight Zone. Silver fish are small, triangular fish who have a large mouth and four eyes to help with field of vision. The Silver fish are made prey to the quick “Vipers.” These snake like predators are the rulers of the Twilight Zone they are however unable to feast upon the much larger “Sea Titans,” a group of vegetarian giants who feed on the various forms of plants which grown on the ocean floors. The plants which they feed on are simply a collection of various water planets. The Sea Titans resemble a mixture of the Manatees and Whales of Terra and are on average 15 meters in length. All three of these life forms travel between the Light-zone and Twilight zone in search of food.

As we go deeper into what is known as the “Midnight Zone.” Here we find the emptiest part of the ocean, yet this layer is highly intriguing. Here we find a nearly endless forest of Kelp, which seem to be one of three forms of life in this part of the vast ocean. Light barely penetrates this deep and so it is nearly pitch black. The second form of life we find here are called “Silt worms.” These creatures are simple, made of a long and thin body with no eyes, and a tube-like mouth which is used to suck up nutrients from thermo-vents. The other form of life, which is not the Kelp, is known as the “Pressure walkers.” These creatures are built for the high pressures and strong currents which occur down here, and resemble spider crabs from Terra, only with a flatter body and slightly shorter legs. These crabs live in the kelp forests and eat the same chemical soup which is served up nice and hot from the thermos-vents.

Although JB-103 has shown us a lot of interesting life, especially for a planet with no land mass, we have not quiet seen it all just yet. The most interesting life form we find here is the Kelp, because this Kelp is completely Sentient. The Kelp simply known as “Deep Kelp” is fully sentient just like Terrans and Cosmo-dogs. The only major difference is that because the Kelp is a plant and does not possess any control over its limbs, the Kelp could not alter its environment. The way in which the Kelp gets what it wants is by secreting a toxin which, through ways which are still unknown, manipulates any nearby creatures (Mainly Pressure Walkers and Silt Worms) into serving the Kelp by making sure that the Hives (Refer to section below for more information) are secured from danger by building shelters out of silt and rock for them. This has created a parasitic relationship between these species, where the plant controls the animals.

If we move down into the deepest, and darkest parts of JB-103 called the Abyssal zone, it is here that we find the Hives. These are the root of the Kelp’s tendrils, and the brain of Deep Kelp forests. The tendrils which can connect to the hives can grow up to 500 meters in length, covering both the Abyssal and Midnight zones. The Hives are similar in size to a large boulder and are filled with micro-organisms who process waste and nutrients. Often Hives are situated in caves, so that they are afforded the most protection from currents and other dangers which may appear. The Kelp forests seem to be an additional layer of protection and camouflage. It appears that only the Hives are sentient, as the tendrils have not been shown to possess any function other than protection and housing for subservient Pressure Walkers and Silt Worms. It seems a cruel joke which has been played on the Deep Kelp, the way that evolution granted sentience at the expense of being unable to move or care for itself. Deep Kelp will forever be immobile and trapped in the deep dark depths of JB-103.