Conjunx Endura

Also, when are you going to take out the trash?

A Conjunx Endura is a Transformer's significant other, an individual that they deeply love. In human terms, Conjunx Endurae^[1] are the equivalent of spouses; for example, when the life of a Transformer is threatened to the point of unconsciousness, it falls upon their Conjunx Endura to make medical decisions on their behalf.^[2] Traditionally, a Transformer chooses a prospective partner through the ritual known as the Conjunx Ritus, four acts of affection and mutual kindness which cement the bond between the two individuals:

• Act of Intimacy, such as holding hands
• Act of Disclosure, confessing the other something secret
• Act of Profference, giving the other a gift
• Act of Devotion, performing a spectacular demonstration of one's love.^[3]

A bonded pair may be referred to as Junxies as an affectionate nickname.^[4]

Some Transformers think close relationships like these are embarrassing. Bluntly asking a stranger about their Conjunx is considered a bit gauche.^[5]

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

Back in Sentinel Prime's day, the concept of Conjunx Endurae was known as "Sparkmates". Last Light

Few Transformers have more than one Conjunx Endura in their lifespan, and many don't even have one. Chromedome was an exception, having had at least four. This may be a unique case as every time one of his Conjunx Endurae died, Chromedome used his abilities as a mnemosurgeon to remove all his memories of Scattergun, Mach and Pivot in turn, making it as if they had never existed in order to spare himself the pain. Each time Brainstorm objected and each time Chromedome appeared to agree to hold off, before performing the procedure the moment Brainstorm left the room. This had the side effect of leading Chromedome to believe he was "born dry," the only person in history born without innermost energon. In fact, he had taken part in the ceremony of leaving a vial of innermost energon next to a friend or loved one so often, he literally had nothing left to give. The Gloaming

When Rewind died, Under Cold Blue Stars Chromedome planned to remove the memory again, over Brainstorm's by-then ritualistic objections, but a final message from Rewind convinced him not to go through with it. The Gloaming

Before the war, Tracks would needle Needlenose by saying his brother's friend Horri-Bull was his Conjunx. Needlenose denied it at the time, but millions of years later, he'd angrily tell Tracks that Horri-Bull was the only one he'd ever loved. It is unknown if Horri-Bull returned his feelings. The Transgressors

The tradition survived on some of the Cybertronian colonies, such as in the societies of Caminus slaughterhouse and Velocitron. Knock Out's Conjunx Endura is Breakdown, an atypically slow Velocitronian. Windblade vol. 2 #4 The Torchbearers Dust Up and Jumpstream are Conjunx Endurae. Ghost Stories Tigatron and Airazor are portrayed in a romantic relationship but it is unknown if the inhabitants of Eukaris would refer to this bond as a Conjunx Endura. Windblade vol. 2 #6 The Carcerians Greenlight and Lancer were also in a romantic relationship but never used the term. The Will of the Few The Camien Lightbright formed a bond of affection with the Firecon Sparkstalker, leading the latter to ask her to become his Conjunx Endura, which she agreed to. Choose Me

Getaway described a preliminary set of rituals that would lead to becoming Conjunx Endurae, called the Conjunx Ritus, and revealed he had been secretly walking Tailgate through the rituals: The "Act of Intimacy" was their holding hands as he taught him chirolinguistics; the "Act of Disclosure" was his tale of his birth; the "Act of Profference" was the giving of the needles as a gift; and now all he needs is for Tailgate to carry out the "Act of Devotion" by performing a spectacular demonstration of his love... Later on Tailgate realized that when he was on his deathbed, Tailgate and Cyclonus unknowingly performed the Four Acts themselves—Tailgate held Cyclonus's hand, confessed his fear of death, and gave him the gift of a replacement horn, while Cyclonus proved his devotion by sharing the energy of his spark to save Tailgate's life. The Lopsided Triangle

Lug noted that Anode had made Drift "collapse in front of his Conjunx Endura." Drift was with Rodimus at the time, but awoke in the arms of Ratchet. Dissolution Part 2: Anomie In the centuries following the end of the Lost Light's adventures, Ratchet and Drift became official Conjux Endurae. How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2

Lug and Anode themselves were Conjunx Endurae. An Axe to Break the Ice

Ask Vector Prime

The songwriter Feedback of the Rock Bots had three sequential Conjunx Endura relationships since achieving interstellar stardom. His syk-addiction may have something to do with the rapid spousal turnover. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/28 Vector Prime and Scorpia became Conjunx Endurae on their voyage to Nebulos. Ask Vector Prime, 2016/02/14

Beast Wars: Uprising

The Cyberdroids Nucleon and Kari were Conjunx Endurae. A Brush With Infamy–Prologue

Bazooka and Crazybolt had developed a close bond during their adventures on Metascan Omega, leading acting-captain Magmatron to wonder if he would have to perform a Conjunx Ritus in the near future. Intersectionality

Notes

• James Roberts found that both IDW and Hasbro were "supportive and indeed encouraging" about having Chromedome and Rewind as an explicit couple.^[6]
• "Conjunx" is Latin for "spouse".
• An alternate term for essentially the same concept, "lifebond partner", was given with the Cyber Key Codes-unlocked bonus content for Cybertron Downshift.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Conjunx Endura (コンジャンクス・エンデュラ Konjankusu Endyura)

See also

• Amica Endura

References