objecta[i] = new ObjectA(id, color(H, S, B), area, new PVector(position.x, position.y));     //defines ObjectA
 //add associates to arrayList of ObjectA and ObjectB
    objecta[i].associates.add(asso1);
    objecta[i].objectb.associates.add(asso1);
    objecta[i].associates.add(asso2);
    objecta[i].objectb.associates.add(asso2);
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
class ObjectA{
  ObjectB objectb;
  ArrayList objectCs;
  PVector origin;
  ArrayList associates = new ArrayList();
  int objectcCount = population;

  ObjectA(int id, int colour, int Size, PVector loc) {
    objectb= new ObjectB (id, colour, Size, loc);                
    //ObjectC
    objectCs = new ArrayList();
    origin = loc.get();
    for (int i = 0; i < population; i++) {
      objectCs.add(new objectC(id, Size, origin, false, i, associates));
//i think this is were i go wrong passing the arrayList 'associates' to objectCs 
    }
  }
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
class ObjectB {
  int id;
  color colour;
  int Size;
  int x;
  int y;
  PVector position;
  ArrayList associates = new ArrayList();

  ObjectB(int identity, int c, int area, PVector loc) {  
    id = identity;
    colour = c;
    Size = area;
    position = loc.get();
    }
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
class objectC{
  ArrayList associates = new ArrayList();

objectC(int identity, int Size, PVector loc, boolean mode, int whom, ArrayList asso) {
  associates = asso;
  }