This is excellent and unique! Is there more?

This was amazing the way you you wrote it is amazing. A couple times I had tonread over some parts then it was easy to see what the had gotten from the previous drivers of the vehicles.I'm just wonder for the Stunticons original drivers that are alive if they saw the vehicles what would there reaction be to what the Decepticons did to them.

I've come across this story several times, and I can't believe i've never reviewed it before. I love how well-planned and thought out this is. You're an amazing writer and i look forward to read more of your work. Awesome poem btw. :)

I was never truly interested in the Decepticon gestalts (or any gestalts, really) until I stumbled upon this amazing fic. But now my attention is fully caught by your complex and very detailed descriptions and explanations of their dysfunctional personalities. It makes me wonder still, even now that I've finished reading this for the millionth time, how EXACTLY these traits were installed within mechs - mechanical beings that shouldn't really be branded with such words as 'paranoid', 'pessimistic', or 'psychotic'... traits that are reserved specifically to describe humans.

Yet your idea of their personality origins makes so much sense... and it is so deeply chilling. Seriously, when I first read this fic, I felt a coldness creep up my spine in many parts (more especially when Vortex is mentioned as being a medic). This was so original and in depth, well-thought out and planned... and completely captivating.

And there's something about the term you coined in the end, "Ghost in the machine", that just made me shiver in fear and apprehension. Like another reviewer pointed out, you never know what you're leaving behind in old discarded parts... the life of a past deeply embedded into machinery. It's strange how far spirits can reach out and still influence a person to this day.

Thank you so much for writing this insight and wonderful story. I really hope you'll make more fics for the gestalts someday... These mechs are so often overlooked compared to the others, but they're much more complex and interesting, and not to mention fun to write about.

Wow... the first time I read through this, I skipped the first few fuges, thinking they were unimportant and boring. However, after I realized their importance and read back through everything...

Holy crap man. Bravo.

What is this awesome story I have come across? :D

An interesting and challenging story. Who knows what we leave behind, expecially in things with which we work closely for a number of years.

What sets this story apart is its level of detail; how it draws out the characters and makes them more than two-dimensional cartoon characters. I also liked the 'memories' that the Combaticons and Stunticons got from their former existances. The touch of them becoming slightly distorted and overlapping towards the end of the story was particularly nice and slightly chilling.

A way-above-par TF-G1 story. Well done!

BenRG's Rating: 8.5/10

What I enjoyed most about this story is how imaginative it is. As other reviewers have said, it works well with canon, integrating the terrestrial origins of the Stunticons and Combaticons with both Swindle's actions in "B.O.T." and the Stunticons' mental disorders. But the story goes beyond that, gives very realistic glimpses into the minds and motivations of all the characters and even travels back to the original owners of the machines to flesh the characters out even more. I also like the hint of hope at the end, the possibility that despite their problems, the Stunticons can still be productive and keep their place among the Decepticons.

And Breakdown's poem is awesome.

I read this story a while ago; it was great to find it here.

Let me congratulate you for one of the best TF stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. Not only you came into a very original plot, but you developed it brilliantly.

Thank you for getting deeper into the personalities of so fascinating characters. The Stunticons and the Combaticons deserved much more than what the cartoon showed. Their personalities were quite complex and with this story you closed a circle.

Congratulations, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this.

I love this story. Great explanation for Swindle's behaviour, and the Stunticons craziness. Well thought-out and well written. Even better because it matches canon perfectly. :)

This is genius. Raw genius. The idea itself is very creative, but the depth of the back rounds of the characters that used to be was also beautifully done. Especially loved the tie ins, and well thought out manner of this piece. These two are my favorite gestalt, and to see them joined like this is really a sight for sore eyes.

"Ghost in the Machine". Very nice view on it. I had a flash back to what people call a "Ghost Limb" (when a limb is now gone but the body still acts/feels like it is there) when reading that part...did that have anything to do with it?

Only problem I see is a few grammar erros. (Those can be easily fixed).

Keep up the wicked work compadra.

~Bandit

First time reviewer, long time fan of yours through the halo slash lj community. I have to say I love this this story. It explains their personalities (craziness)in a way I've never would've thought possible.

And now I've begun thinking that it might be the reason the Aerialbots are quirky too. Silverbolts fear of heights is making so much sense right now.

You know what, something just occurred to me. Weren't the Aerialbots constructed out of old, abandoned shuttles on Cyberton? I mean, is it possible for a non-sentient vehicle driven/flown by Transformers to be imprinted upon by those Transformers, or is it only humans who can leave impressions on inanimate objects?

Very intriguing and thoughtful view on the behaviors of both teams (especially in explaining 'b.o.t.'). I wasn't too certain where you were going when I started but I will say that this idea was presented in a creative and captivating way. No other thing I've seen- whether canon or fanon -has delved into the personalities/dysfunctions of either (let alone both) groups. This is likely my favorite explanation of their 'quirks'. Much appreciated for the story.

I have seen something similar but not as in depth and it was more along the lines of "blame megatron because he wanted them(stunticons) born to hate the autobots".

But -WOW! This was enlightening and enjoyable read. Please keep on writing wonderful stories like this