I’ve gotten more than a few asks on how I view Cybertronian Reproduction, so I figured why not just make a post to clear up any questions!
I headcanon that Cybertronians can be sparked in several different ways!
note: sparkling, bitlet, and new spark all mean the same thing: a baby transformer! Protoform also means the same, but this term is most often used for the process of Cold Construction (which is discussed below!)
One way would be through the Allspark exclusively, where of course it alone generates the actual spark of a new born Cybertronian, then later transferred into a pre made adult protoform mold.
This method required virtually no Creator coding, as the Allspark took care of that all on its own. Despite these Cybertronians already being full grown once pieced together in their adult protoformed frame, they still require a mentor or at the very least a guardian during their first few years of life. These were often specially appointed sergeants of the Elite guard who take on this task. Overall, this is the method I would call the ‘Cold Construction’ version of TFA.
After the Allspark fell during the war, this method was lost to Cyberton. The rift caused between the newly named Autobot and Decepticon factions switched the production line from Worker frames, Flight frames and War frames, to exclusively Civilian and Service frames after the Autobots seized the Allspark.
When the Decepticons were driven out of Cybertron, the Cold Construction of ‘Decepticon’ Cybertronians came to a complete stop. When the Allspark was missing after they sent it through the Space Bridge, this half of this CC process was lost until further notice (which was ya know, INDEFINITELY bc it broke)
Another method in which a new spark can be made, is through Creator coding and a pre protoformed frame. I’ve decided to call this process ‘Creator Harvesting’ This was the way Cybertronians we’re reproduced post war.
Even though the Allspark was missing, Cybertron still had their Protoform Forge in operation, so protoforms were of no issue in supply, is was only the coding for the actual spark that was needed. (Yes, this does imply that the Decepticons has absolutely NO access to the Forge or this form of reproduction throughout their exile)
Two bots had to come together under the medical supervision of a ‘Harvester’ to take tendrils of Spark Energy and light to provide the building blocks for the creation of an entirely new spark.
This eligibility process is EXPREMELY long and requires a multitude of interviews and testing before two creators can be approved for a Spark Energy donation. The Elite Regime (which includes all factors of government and enforcement ex: The Guard, The Court, The Ninja Corps.) was extremely tight knit and wanted to ensure blood lines stayed ‘Autobot Pure’ for the creation of their future generations.
Any Cybertronian with a single line of Con coding would be immediately turned away.
These potential Creators could volunteer together, or they can be could be completely randomized, note that these potential Creators turn over their consent for a chosen partner once they’ve been approved. Not every bot could wind up be compatible together.
Volunteers for this process in the creation for new soldiers exclusively were highly rewarded, while Creators who begged for this process so they could have their own sparkling had to jump through massive amounts of legal loop holes to even be considered for this opportunity. Not to mention the cost is nearly unattainable unless you have friends in high places.
Protoforms are sacred, Cyberton couldn’t be giving them out to hopeful Creators when soldiers would always be the better option.
Once two Creators are approved, the medical process of harvesting Spark Energy can begin.
Seeing as this is a completely unnatural way of sparking a bitlet, there is a huge window for error where either of the two Creators could suffer a fracture in their spark chamber, or both could accidentally cause one another to go into Spark Overdrive, then into a blackout if the process turns sideways.
High risk, high reward of course. If the Creators are successful, their harvested energy can be used to warp dozens of new sparks.
Again, these Creators are highly respected and paid HANDSOMELY after a successful harvesting. Plus they’re pampered in Cybertron’s most Elite hospital for months after the event.
This is how all Autobot New Sparks came into creation post-war.
Creator Construction (Carrying)
The last method in which a New Spark can be made is through the ‘Creator Construction’ process, or Carrying! After Cold Construction was out of the picture, this left Carrying and Creator Harvesting the only options for the creation of sparklings.
This method had always existed, but was considered taboo until the highly exclusive Creator Harvesting was modified to be accessible to all hopeful Creators. Carrying is the 2nd most natural way a Cybertronian can produce after the Allspark was destroyed.
Sparking a bot is actually fairly difficult to do. Both sparks must be in sync during a merge, and both must have a healthy frame to even begin to contribute a part of their being to create a whole new Cybertronian (this is why Reiki, the daughter of Ratchet and Drift, was a complete ANOMALY)
A bot can become sparked through the act of merging while interfacing, or a merge soon after interfacing. It doesn’t matter which bot was ‘top or bottom’ because the post-overload harmonized sync of the bot’s sparks allows the conception, not whoever donated transfluid in who.
So YES. If there is a merge during or after interfacing, both bots have an equal chance of carrying. But not both at the same time! This is not possible as there is no way a spark could hold that much energy to spark both bots at the same time.
Carrying is a two bot job. With out a Sire to support the Carrier with frequent merges for both the health of their Mate and the New Spark, there’s absolutely no way the New Spark would make it to term.
The Carrier already has to go through the strain of forging the protoform with their own frame, so the Sire holds the job as the provider for the majority of the Spark Energy that the Carrier and New Spark need in order to survive.
As mentioned in a previous post, this job is precious. It allows the Sire to bond with their Sparkling pre Emergence, as well as provide comfort for to their Mate during their long months of carrying.
This job is also not exclusive to the Sire, a third bot may be allowed into the picture if the Sire is unable to provide the sufficient energy for the Carrier and sparkling.
(These frequent merges don’t contribute to the coding of the spark that’s already in existence, only energy, so the third party bot doesn’t run any risk of tampering with the Sire’s coding within the New Spark)
So yes, Carrying is taboo because of how fragile and needy the process is. The Carrier must keep their frame fully fueled and their environment comfortable in order to have a smooth carriage.
This is why new, healthy Decepticons were not often born during the war. Constant fuel shortages as well as extremely stressful and unstable war ridden environments couldn’t properly support a Carrier. Plus, all the forged medics with the adequate training to aid a Carrier through the process were all secured on Cybertron.
Without a proper medic to support a Carrier through the Spark Descent and the Emergence, Carrier could very easily die.
With no guarantee to access to the Forge anytime soon, this was a risk the Decepticons dared not to take. Building up their soldiers to be faster and stronger seemed like a safer option rather than try and increase their forces through Creator Construction.
The most dangerous points in a carriage is the Spark Descent and the Emergence. The Spark Descent is where the new spark descends from the carrier’s spark chamber to the forge, where it joins with the protoform. The new spark tearing away from the Carrier’s spark must happen quickly and cleanly, or the Carrier’s spark chamber could fracture, causing a flare, and instantly smother the new spark. This split second moment happens no more than a week before the Emergence.
Immediately after this, the protoform and forge begins it’s descent towards the Emergence Channel.
New sparks (no matter which coding they hold, Con or Bot) are extremely small and can often be held in the palms of the Creators post emergence. For lack of a better phrase, yeah,, one size fits all!! This of course isn’t always the case, for example, a mini bot or a mini con with a full sized Decepticon could have an issue with this if their lines of coding matched up to produce a sparkling that large.
Emergence doesn’t hold the risk of being dangerous from the size of the sparkling, the only thing that’s dangerous is the chance of the Forge rupturing from stress induced pressure, leading to internal bleeding which could cause fatal energon loss. Tears in the valve could be fatal if not treated properly post Emergence as well.
Again, high risk and high reward. Sparklings born in this manner are cherished and seen as a tremendous feat of strength from the Creators, was well as beautiful physical embodiment of the both love and harmony formed between two Creators.
In summary: there are several ways a Cybertronian can be born: Cold Construction, Creator Harvesting, and Creator Construction(Carrying)
Cold Construction is no longer possible without the Allspark, it was the safest and most common method of creating Cybertronians.
Creator Harvesting was an extremely exclusive process that was used burning the post war era on Cybertron. The Decepticons had no access to this method. Creator Harvesting is now much safer for both Creators due to reforms made after the fail of the Decepticon Uprising, and the fall of the Elite’s Regime.
Creator Construction is the 2nd safest method of conception after Cold Construction (which no longer exists) but still holds a high risk even without he stress inducing war environment. This is how Cybertron will likely build up their future generations with hopefully both Decepticons and Autobots united once again.
