"Let's crack the egg and say hello!"
—Rattrap, "Coming of the Fuzors, Part One"
The fetal form of a modern Cybertron is a partially organic, partially robotic pre-body called the Protoform. Protoforms are neither manufactured nor born, but something in between. The exact process which creates a protoform is kept secret by the higherups of Maximal and Predacon government (as is the process which creates a Spark, though it's been rumored that a few couples have figured this one out through their own experimentation...). However, most Cybertrons know that Protoforms originate from one of two places: the Matrix and the Pit.
The Matrix that provides a Protoform is not that same Matrix where lost Sparks go, although there are some similarities. It is rather a place named for that same Matrix, where Maximal protoforms originate. A Maximal protoform is a silvery form shaped like a humanoid robot. They are angular humanoid forms coated in a kind of blue, glowing gel. A spark is placed in the central torso cavity.
Predacon protoforms originate from a complex known as the Pit—alternately called the Inferno due to the fiery red glow of the gels that congregate there. Predacon protoforms are typically golden, and with a red sheen, but otherwise resemble Maximal protoforms in every way. Maximals tend to view the Inferno as the Matrix's direct opposite—as a place where unworthy sparks go to be tortured in the afterlife. True Predacons, however, view their Pit with a sense of pride.
Protoforms are usually fitted with sparks upon their formation, although some are not. A protoform without a spark is called a "blank." Blank protoforms are kept on hand for emergency situations, as it is sometimes possible to transfer a spark from a dead body into a fresh protoform.
A protoform which has received a spark is ready for the second stage of formation. This involves choosing the Cybertron's secondary form and installing her personality and memory files. Memory files typically include information on the race and alliance of the new protoform as well as information about Cybertron itself. Cybertrons are, in effect, born full-grown, though sparks and protoforms differ in their capabilities. A Cybertron may seem young if fitted with "a young spark," or may seem very old the minute she emerges.
Protoforms, whether they are blank or fertilized, are rarely completed in the complex itself. Protoforms are stored in Cybertronian-sized "stasis pods," which are airtight shells fitted with scanning equipment and central processing units. Stasis pods are loaded in great numbers onto exploration ships, which are sent into the galaxy searching for worlds to colonize. When a suitable world is found, the protoforms within the pods are activated.
Errors in stasis pods have resulted in fascinating amounts of difficulties, ranging from Cybertrons who protoform without any sight, to Cybertrons who emerge with no concept of who they are and what they are doing. It was a spectacular error in protoformation which resulted in the first of the Fuzors—life-scanners which were meant to choose only one beast form accidentally chose and fused two of them. Cybertrons with protoformation errors who are created on Cybertron itself are typically destroyed, especially by the Predacons, who believe handicap has no place in their society. However, colonization ships have very little choice in what their protoforms become.
Protoforms are nearly always Maximal or Predacon in nature. However, a Cybertron who had his ancestry in the days of Autobots and Decepticons was built rather than formed, and therefore is not of the Matrix or Pit. There are rumors that a third type of protoform does exist: the type which spawned the Tripredicus Council. These protoforms have descended from Unicron himself, and are a greater fear to Cybertron than any Predacon or Maximal war.
"Scanning for lifeforms..."
—Maximal Stasis Pod, routine procedure
Beast modes were first chosen in order to dull the effects of raw energon damage to robotic bodies. Cybertrons discovered other advantages to being part animal, as well, and many prefer it to the archaic notion of having only a vehicle for a secondary mode.
Predacons and Maximals retain their differences as groups. Maximals nearly always choose mammals, birds, or fish for their beast modes. Predacons, on the other hand, choose from the creatures that creep and crawl: reptiles, arachnids, insects, and crustaceans. This difference in choice is nothing spoken of or written in stone; it is only a matter of personal preference. Plenty of Cybertrons have gone against the grain in their alliance without much retribution, but, for the most part, this unwritten rule is followed.
Cybertrons are not sure if it is beast mode which reflects the personality of the individual, or personality which reflects the choice of beast. However, Cybertrons always seem to choose a beast which compliments their spirit. A Cybertron's beast is typically evident in his robot mode appearance: perhaps the tiger's stripes still decorate the arms, or the bee's wings still grace the back.
The beast mode for a Cybertron is typically chosen right before he emerges from his stasis pod. The pod does a quick scan for lifeforms in the area, chooses the most appropriate one, then protoforms the Cybertron. Fuzor stasis pods combine two animals from the scan. Some Cybertrons are fortunate enough to choose their beast mode on their own; they inspect a scan, then choose the form they like best. This is a method used when native Cybertrons explore a new planet for the first time. Cybertrons often change even their names to reflect a change in alternate mode. Each Cybertron has a name immediately upon emerging from his stasis pod, and after altering the body to a new form, the act of choosing a name for oneself to reflect this change is common and well-understood.
Cybertrons only die when death overtakes them by force. Cybertrons do not die of old age, so, in effect, they may live forever. The Autobots and Decepticons who finished the Great War were millions of years of age, so, among any given group of Cybertrons, it is easily assumed that there can be an age range of any type—from the newly protoformed to the ancient.
In practice, the ancient are few, having left the near galaxies at the end of the Great War in search of a final respite. The newly protoformed are many, as Cybertron tries to reclaim the galaxies it once knew. Some of Cybertron's greatest warriors are less than a few hundred stellars of age. They are old by human standards, but a far cry from the age of the warriors who fought in Cybertron throughout time. Many of Cybertron's newer leaders are young indeed.
Cybertrons, like humans, have two definite sexes: male and female. During the Great War, females nearly died out entirely. A small faction of Autobot females hid themselves from the warring around them, and though they learned to take an active part in ending the fighting, they were never at the front line of combat. Females were considered a resource that was to be protected. Few female frames were built during the Great War, as builders automatically chose male frames for combat purposes.
Now that Protoformation as opposed to direct construction is the method of Cybertron procreation, females have again begun to populate Cybertron. Their numbers are swiftly rising to catch up with the males of the planet, although there are never as many as the males would like. It is estimated that the ratio is still flawed: there is perhaps a woman on Cybertron for every three men. Maximals claim equality for all females of their race, and, for the most part, this is practiced, as women are given mostly the same opportunities as males. However, there are those males that still see them as a rarity that should be sheltered, and would keep them from having an active part in the war. Predacons do not sublimate their women.
Cybertrons of all newer factions, being partially organic, enjoy the benefits of having two distinct sexes. This includes gawking, flirting, topless bars, anatomical correctness... The Autobot "interface" procedure is said to have been fairly stale; the Cyberorganic type is anything but. (Perhaps that's why there were millions of years of fighting in those days, say some of the young Predacon females.) There is no sanctioned marriage "ceremony" on Cybertron, but there is the occasional couple who decides to become mates for life. Cybertrons who decide to become official lifemates must be of the same Alliance; otherwise, the mating will not be recognized by others. Lifemates are registered with their Alliance's government. Lifemating is much more common among Maximals than Predacons.
As there are things that make Cybertrons like humans, there are things which make them like robots. One of these traits is the need for "repair" as opposed to medicine. Maximal doctors operate with screwdrivers and wrenches. Most Maximal exploration or battle ships are equipped with standard Critical Recovery Chambers (CR Chambers for short, or "R Chambers," Recovery Chambers) which will automatically take care of repair and refueling for the injured. A more Predacon invention is the Recovery Bath, which combines leisure with repair work.
Being robots, Cybertrons tend to be loud during movement. Cybertrons, especially the larger variety, have servos that move their larger joints, and the heavier Cybertrons can have very loud footsteps. Luckily, fur, feathers, and other flesh mute these noises completely in a Cyberorganic beast mode, and the lighter and smaller a Cybertron is, the less likely she is to have joints that sing every time she bends her arms or legs.
Cybertrons typically "sleep" during the night, as humans do, to recover energy. This is accomplished by going into a mode called "Stasis Lock," where all but the most vital functions are shut down and the body begins recharging energy and doing simple repair work. Cybertrons in stasis lock may experience dreams, which are a function of the data being passed back and forth through their circuits. A Cybertron who is injured to the Incapacitated level will go into Stasis Lock immediately. He is not dead, but will require repairs before he is functional again. (This can be counteracted with Spark; see below.)
Cybertrons all have an internal repair function which can heal minor injuries. Internal repairs function at a variable rate; see Chapter Four for more information. Cybertrons also have an internal computer that will give them occasional warnings when they have reached critical damage. Strangely, the computer for those of Maximal alliance is most often male in nature, the Predacon computer female.
The ability to adapt to new situations by choosing a secondary form is one of the prides of the Cybertron species. Transformation is in the very core of being of every robot on the planet.
Transformation is assumed to be automatic for any uninjured character. That character need only inwardly articulate his activation code. For Maximals, the code to shift to robot mode is most typically the Maximal's name, followed by the word, "Maximize!" Predacons use the activation word "Terrorize!" A shift downward into beast mode is accomplished with just those words: "Beast mode!" Shouting the code for transformation is used in heavy battle situations or any other situation where alliance is openly declared. Sometimes, there just isn't time to yell.
If a character is injured greatly, he may lose his ability to transform. A Cybertron who has reached the Wounded health level or below must make a Stamina plus Primal-Urge roll to transform to or from his beast mode. Penalties to the pool incurred by injury still apply, but only one success is required to transform successfully. Once a successful transformation is made, it is readily assumed that that character is capable of transforming to either form until he is injured again. An Incapacitated character will go into Stasis Lock in whichever mode he was in before taking the final health level of damage; he does not transform into his "native mode." (Injured characters who would like to alter modes before going into Stasis Lock may spend a Willpower to do so.)
Transforming uses up an entire round of combat. If a character would like to, for example, transform and attack in the same round, he must spend a point of Energon for the extra action.