Spark bonds are essentially, Cybertronian relationships. There are many types of bonds, just as many as there are types of relationship, and no two Cybertronians experience or view bonds the same way. There are hundreds of types of bonds, but most share a few general traits. Most bonds allow mecha to project feelings and emotions across the bond, and sense their bondmates’ emotions in return. Most also allow communication, which is essentially telepathy, but restricted to those in a bond. Distance is not a factor in this. Almost every type of bond (with the exception of one, Cognatio) allows memory projection, which is letting another experience your memories from your perspective. When two mecha are bonded, swirls of spark energy that match the color of their bondmates’ spark(s) swirl around their own. There are too many bond types to name, but here are the most well-known ones:
Gemin Endura: The official term for split-spark bonds is Gemin Endura, but most prefer to use the simpler term. It cannot be muted, and emotions cannot be hidden. If it’s more than two, it’s called a Gestalt, and the emotional projection is weakened. These bonds are almost exclusively found in Warframes, as civilian frames’ sparks are typically too weak to split, with the exception of large ships and shuttles. Due to the lack of emotional privacy, twins tend to either have great relationships, or horrendously terrible ones. Many twins share a resentment for one another, but breaking twin bonds is heavily discouraged by most cultures.
Trinum Endura: A Trinum, or Trine bond is similar to a split-spark bond, but feelings can be hidden and muted at will, and is willingly formed. The term Trinum does not refer to split-spark triplets, though they are still considered trines. This bond type is exclusive to Seekers, and can only support three mecha. One’s Trinemates are typically referred to as Wingmates, Wingsiblings, Wingbrothers or Wingsisters depending on their pronouns. Trine bonds have a very important place in Vosian culture, as ones Trinemates are considered their family, but they are encouraged to be broken if unhealthy. Vosians, unlike most other cultures, prize familial bonds over romantic bonds. You are expected to live with your Trine or Amica in Vos.
Fratres Endura: A Fratres Endura is found primarily amongst carformers and other grounders. It’s a form of sibling bond, familial in nature— it’s essentially declaring someone your brother, sister, or sibling forever. Communication is possible through the bond, as is divulging feelings and sending emotions and memories through. It is remarkably similar to a twin bond, save for the fact that the participants can choose what goes through and what does not, allowing them privacy of their emotions and minds.
Vecto Endura: This bond type is found amongst speedsters, bikes, and other lightweight racers. It’s pseudo-familial, blurring the lines between kin and friend. It’s not as deep as some others, participants can only feel a hint of the others’ emotions bleeding through, and communication is limited to short sentences. Vecto bonds are viewed by Nyonian and Altihexian (the cities it appears in) cultures as forming a pact with a group of friends and swearing to stay together for life. It’s quite common amongst racing teams, and childhood friends.
Cognatio Endura: This bond is familial in nature as well, and all frametypes being capable of it. It is the bond between a caretaker and their wards. It isn’t formed with spark to spark contact, instead being formed by a caretaker holding a sparkling close. A Cognatio bond is not very deep, at most allowing feeling projection, and it fades with age. By the time a sparkling can properly speak, it’s gone.
Storge Endura: Storge a Endura is a form of Cognatio Endura, but this bond is far closer and is done when a ward and caretaker wish to remain close even into the ward’s adulthood. In some cultures, this bond type is quite common, as mecha are expected to remain close with family, but in others, where less emphasis is placed on family, this bond type is incredibly rare. This bond allows communication and feeling projection, and is as deep as an Amica or Fratres bond.
Conjunx Endura: Conjunx bonds are purely romantic, and formed between committed lovers. Conjunx rites vary wildly across Cybertron, and the cultural associations of them vary as well. Most cultures do not place them as the most important bond type, with some cities such as Vos devaluing them in favor of familial bonds such as Trine or Fratres bonds. Conjunx bonds are exclusively formed willingly, and can be broken by one member alone. In most cities, breaking a conjunx bond is never something to be judged for, whether the relationship was toxic, or merely unfulfilling. Conjunx bonds, along with many other types can cause “echoes” when broken via death.
Binary Bond: A binary bond is done between a Gunformer and their close partner. Each individual bond can only support one Gunformer and one non-Gunformer, and allows communication, feeling projection, and some pain projection. Binary bonds are entirely platonic in nature, but are still considered incredibly important bonds. To a Gunformer (and their partner) they are a life-defining thing, and never taken lightly in any way, shape, or form. To casually suggest that two mecha are in a binary bond is considered deeply offensive to Gunformers. In general, Gunformers are quite picky about those they let touch them, let alone handle them— a bond that involves their very soul is a very particular thing. Many of them will live with or beside a binary bonded partner, and may form bonds besides the Binary bond (such as Fratres or Amica) with their partner.
Amica Endura: Amica Endura bonds are deeply personal bonds between close friends. They can go just as deep and be just as personal as any other type of bond (including conjunx bonds) and are frequently valued just as much as, if not more, than other types. Living with ones Amicas is common, and encouraged in many city-states. Amica bonds can occasionally blur the lines between romantic and platonic.
“Echoes” are a phenomena that occurs when close bonds are broken via death. Almost all bonds allow sharing of memories and feelings— “echoes” are the post-mortem remnants of that ability. Most bonds (save for Storge) are made by exchanging pieces of the spark, which manifests as swirls of the one’s spark color spinning around and mixing with the spark of their bonded’s. When bonds are broken willingly, the spark energy dissipates. Sometimes, when a bond is broken in a painful, abrupt, or traumatic way, the spark energy of the deceased remains in their bondmate’s spark(s). This can cause the bondmates to receive the final memories of the spark, often repeatedly. They live an “echo” of their bonded’s death. This is a rare phenomenon, but it is becoming much more common due to the war.
— Authored by Decepticon Seeker Bitstream, edited by Decepticon electronic warfare officer Red Wing
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