Catharsian
The Catharsians are a race of mechanical aliens, similar in size and stature to Cybertronians. Unlike Cybertronians, however, they are incapable of transformation and lack sparks, instead deriving sentience from their "warm-wired" physiology.
Fiction
IDW Generation 1 continuity
 Spoiler warning: Plot details for Chasing the Infinite follow. |
Several Catharsians set up shop on Troja Major's Howling Town; they were known to hire other species to work for them in their trade: literally extracting and selling the grief of other sentient species as a commodity. An Axe to Break the Ice
A Catharsian named Mengel had fallen in with the "Grand Architect" Scorponok in his quest to build a better breed of Cybertronian, eventually developing a new variety of Transformer known as an "Infinite." Chasing the Infinite
The Howling Town merchant and ex-Decepticon Agonizer was not fond of the Catharsians, considering them an untrustworthy and barbarous race. An Axe to Break the Ice Velocity and Nautica would later seek out Mengel for help regarding Nautica's deceased love Skids — a quest that ended poorly for Nautica. Chasing the Infinite
