An Empty is the name for a mech that is suffering from long term starvation( running on empty) and is almost exclusively applied to the denizens of a city’s Dead End. Normally when a mech reaches a certain point without energy they’d shut down/enter stasis.
However, while the reason is unknown, instead of a full shut down, only parts of the mech shut down, and their frames slowly cannibalize itself, hence the ghoulish appearance. At this point they are still fully mechs inside their minds, though perhaps simpler since a number of operations and programs have been closed to conserve more energy. At this point they are just poor mechs slowly starving to death, more like an unfortunate on skid row then a monster. Most enter full shut down and off line after reaching this point.
Very rarely though, instead nearly every part of their programming that makes the mech themselves, shuts down in a last ditch attempt to save even more energy and prolong life. All that’s left is the frames need for energon, however it can get it. There are no ethics, no guilt, no love or hate, just starvation and a need to survive.
Possibly that would explain why siphoning is a practice in the Dead End. Better to keep your sense of self then becoming a machine or animal that has to be put down.
Empties are not to be confused with zombies or Terrorcons, reanimated dead mecha often under the control of another, generally through possession, dark energon, or long ranged radio signals.
Have you ever had someone try to chew your arm off because they are so hungry they are nothing but hyperactive survival instincts?
BettSplendens Tumblr Evac 