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Tox-En

2012-09-11T20:29:55Z

24.71.20.24: /* Prime cartoon */

:''Tox-En is a form of [[Energon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:Toxicity Tox-En.jpg|thumb|right|300px|From this angle, it looks a bit like a dying fish...but deadlier.]]
'''Tox-En''' is a highly poisonous [[Energon]] variant, easily identified by its sickly green color and visible fumes. It has the opposite effect as regular Energon on [[Transformer]]s, causing them to feel nauseous and weakened by the slightest physical contact. Prolonged exposure to Tox-En can outright paralyze a Transformer, eventually [[Death|extinguishing]] their [[Spark|spark]].

Needless to say, it's pretty nasty stuff which [[Bulkhead (Prime)|sane individuals]] will dispose of on sight. In the hands of a [[Megatron (Prime)|complete lunatic]], however, it can become a devastating weapon against [[Autobot|their enemies]].

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] found a way to refine raw Tox-En during the war, converting it into a bioweapon that devastated the Autobots. A sample of the substance came into Autobot possession and was stored in the [[Vaults]] of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. At some point, it ended up on [[Earth]], near a volcano at the equator. It fell into an active lava flow, which carried it some distance away from its projected coordinates, but neither the container nor its contents were damaged.

During the race to find the [[Project Iacon|Iacon relics]], the Tox-En was found by [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. Deeming it too dangerous to leave intact, he sought to destroy it in the fiery depths of the volcano. To stall Megatron's own search party - [[Hardshell]] and a group of [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] - Bulkhead left a small chunk of Tox-En in the canister, along with a grenade that destroyed the chunk and left one Insecticon with a neck full of toxic shrapnel.

After leaving a false trail of Energon to keep the Decepticons busy, Bulkhead took the remainder of the Tox-En with him on his trek to the top of the volcano. Unfortunately, his earlier ruse forced him to actively carry the toxic substance, rapidly weakening his body and mind as he struggled up the slope. Although the encouragement of [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] gave Bulkhead the strength to reach the crater, his fatigue allowed Hardshell and his remaining minions to catch up to him before he could destroy the Tox-En.

During the ensuing confrontation, Bulkhead used the Tox-En as a makeshift weapon against his foes, completely incapacitating one Insecticon and sapping Hardshell's strength. After a brief battle between the exhausted Cybertronians, Bulkhead further weakened Hardshell by forcing his face into the Tox-En. As Hardshell staggered back, Bulkhead tossed the Tox-En to him, causing the disoriented Insecticon to fall into the volcano. Although Hardshell survived, the Tox-En was dissolved in the molten rock. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

Unfortunately, the Tox-En exposure had taken its toll on Bulkhead; combined with a shot in the back from Hardshell, it was enough to leave him clinging to life. Ratchet was forced to put Bulkhead in stasis and diagnose him with sub-micronic system-wide shutdowns, preventing him from even beginning to operate on Bulkhead's other injuries until his patient had regained some strength. Meanwhile, Megatron was highly displeased at Hardshell's failure to secure the Tox-En, but the Insecticon managed to soothe his leader's wrath by his willingness to take responsibility for his own failure, as well as his claims of taking Bulkhead offline. Later, when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] fought Hardshell, he mockingly asked if the Insecticon couldn't handle an opponent who hadn't been weakened by Tox-En, but Hardshell replied that mid-battle banter was a sign of weakness. {{storylink|Hurt}}

==Notes==
* The name "Tox-En" name comes from its nature as "'''tox'''ic '''En'''ergon". Its pronunciation is similar to the word "toxin".
**Its name is similar to "Synth-En", [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet's]] nickname for his version of [[Synthetic Energon]]. Interestingly, both are an unnatural shade of green and detrimental to Transformers, but Synth-En mainly affected the user's mind, while Tox-En primarily affects the body.
* Between its appearance as a glowing green crystal and its potentially-lethal effect on Transformers, it bears a strong resemblance to [[Wikipedia:Kryptonite|Kryptonite]].

[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Iacon relics]]

Tox-En

2012-09-11T20:23:37Z

24.71.20.24: /* Prime cartoon */

:''Tox-En is a form of [[Energon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:Toxicity Tox-En.jpg|thumb|right|300px|From this angle, it looks a bit like a dying fish...but deadlier.]]
'''Tox-En''' is a highly poisonous [[Energon]] variant, easily identified by its sickly green color and visible fumes. It has the opposite effect as regular Energon on [[Transformer]]s, causing them to feel nauseous and weakened by the slightest physical contact. Prolonged exposure to Tox-En can outright paralyze a Transformer, eventually [[Death|extinguishing]] their [[Spark|spark]].

Needless to say, it's pretty nasty stuff which [[Bulkhead (Prime)|sane individuals]] will dispose of on sight. In the hands of a [[Megatron (Prime)|complete lunatic]], however, it can become a devastating weapon against [[Autobot|their enemies]].

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] found a way to refine raw Tox-En during the war, converting it into a bioweapon that devastated the Autobots. A sample of the substance came into Autobot possession and was stored in the [[Vaults]] of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. At some point, it ended up on [[Earth]], near a volcano at the equator. It fell into an active lava flow, which carried it some distance away from its projected coordinates, but neither the container nor its contents were damaged.

During the race to find the [[Project Iacon|Iacon relics]], the Tox-En was found by [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. Deeming it too dangerous to leave intact, he sought to destroy it in the fiery depths of the volcano. To stall Megatron's own search party - [[Hardshell]] and a group of [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] - Bulkhead left a small chunk of Tox-En in the canister, along with a grenade that destroyed the chunk and left one Insecticon with a neck full of toxic shrapnel.

After leaving a false trail of Energon to keep the Decepticons busy, Bulkhead took the remainder of the Tox-En with him on his trek to the top of the volcano. Unfortunately, his earlier ruse forced him to actively carry the toxic substance, rapidly weakening his body and mind as he struggled up the slope. Although the encouragement of [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] gave Bulkhead the strength to reach the crater, his fatigue allowed Hardshell and his remaining minions to catch up to him before he could destroy the Tox-En.

During the ensuing confrontation, Bulkhead used the Tox-En as a makeshift weapon against his foes, completely incapacitating one Insecticon and sapping Hardshell's strength. After a brief battle between the exhausted Cybertronians, Bulkhead further weakened Hardshell by forcing his face into the Tox-En. As Hardshell staggered back, Bulkhead tossed the Tox-En to him, causing the disoriented Insecticon to fall into the volcano. Although Hardshell survived, the Tox-En was dissolved in the molten rock. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

Unfortunately, the Tox-En exposure had taken its toll on Bulkhead; combined with a shot in the back from Hardshell, it was enough to leave him clinging to life. Ratchet was forced to put Bulkhead in stasis and diagnose him with sub-micronic system-wide shutdowns, preventing him from even beginning to operate on Bulkhead's other injuries until his patient had regained some strength. Megatron was highly displeased at Hardshell's failure. Later when Wheeljack was fighting Hardshell, he made fun of him saying he could never beat anyone with out the Tox-En, but Hardshell regarded this mid battle banter as a sign of weakness. {{storylink|Hurt}}

==Notes==
* The name "Tox-En" name comes from its nature as "'''tox'''ic '''En'''ergon". Its pronunciation is similar to the word "toxin".
**Its name is similar to "Synth-En", [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet's]] nickname for his version of [[Synthetic Energon]]. Interestingly, both are an unnatural shade of green and detrimental to Transformers, but Synth-En mainly affected the user's mind, while Tox-En primarily affects the body.
* Between its appearance as a glowing green crystal and its potentially-lethal effect on Transformers, it bears a strong resemblance to [[Wikipedia:Kryptonite|Kryptonite]].

[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Iacon relics]]

Forestonite

2012-09-10T19:02:31Z

24.71.20.24: /* Wings of Honor */

'''Forestonite''' (フォレストナイト ''foresutonaito'') is a super energy source found on [[Earth]]. Its nature remains largely mysterious, though it ''can'' be measured in kilograms.

==Fiction==
===''G-2'' comic===
In August of the year 199X, the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s detected the presence of forestonite on the planet Earth. Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and his [[Cyberjet]] warriors [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]], [[Skyjack]], and [[Space Case (G2)|Space Case]] attacked [[Japan]] in search of it, but were repulsed by the Autobots [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Electro]]. With the Decepticons defeated, Optimus Prime swore to defend the Earth and its forestonite with the aid of the young boy [[Junpei]]. {{storylink|The New Battle!!}}

===''TransTech''===
The [[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTech]] CEO of [[C-Kar Technologies]], [[Ego]], had sixteen kilos of forestonite in his personal collection. This was supremely impressive, even to his corporate rival [[Bulletbike (TransTech)|Bulletbike]], who, despite his vast resources, had to substitute [[solitarium]] for the element in some of his corporation's experiments. Learning that Ego not only had a sizable amount of forestonite, but also had the gall to put it on display, enraged Bulletbike to no end. {{storylink|I, Lowtech}}

===Wings of Honor===
The [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] general [[Sky-Byte (G2)|Sky-Byte]] has discovered a way to refine Forestonite for sinister purposes! Normally just a sub-par fuel source, the true potential of forestonite can be unleashed by bombarding it with high-energy particles. Thus charged, Forestonite can be used to give Transformers assorted powers that others would consider to be supernatural, although this comes at the cost of an [[Neon|impossibly garish color scheme.]] {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

Sky-Byte presented large amounts of forestonite to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 2}}
{{stub}}

===''Animated''===
[[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] has been known to carry a small reserve of this substance to give her super-speed in short bursts. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==Notes==
* No, seriously... the ''G-2'' comic basically says ''nothing'' specific about forestonite. It's on Earth and the Decepticons want it. That's it. We don't even get to see it in action... or even if it's a solid, liquid, or gas. As far as ill-defined super-power-sources go, this is the king.

[[Category:Animated substances]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Power sources]]
[[Category:Substances]]
[[Category:TransTech]]

Other Voices, Part 2

2012-09-10T18:35:35Z

24.71.20.24: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=26
|image=Other_Voices_2_Optimus_pod.jpg
|caption=[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Here we go again...]]
|title="Other Voices" Part 2
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 1]], [[1997]]
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Ezekiel Norton]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''As the alien machine begins destroying the planet's energon, Optimus devises a desperate plan to destroy the device.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Voices 2 Tigatron Cheetor.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Beautiful things never turn out good.]]
Out on patrol, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]] stare in awe at "the light at the end of the world", as [[Planet Buster|the alien machine]] continues powering up in space. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] makes contact and orders them to return to base. [[Rattrap]] is pessimistic about their chances of survival, but Primal assures him that [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] will find a way for them to survive.

The [[Bio-Dome|alien bungalow]] finishes transferring power to the moon, and in a flash, [[Vok|the aliens]] depart: "Termination sequence engaged. Return to [[Nexus Zero]]."

[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] observe this from [[Darksyde|their base]]. Confronted with a machine intended to destroy them, Megatron activates a special program and scans the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]], locating the spiders and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] within.

[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] is nearly finished converting a stored [[stasis pod]] into his escape ship. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] observes that it's a little cramped for two... but, weapon drawn, she has no intention of sharing the ride. Inferno arrives just then, blasts her, and sets Tarantulas on fire, knocking him out. Back at the Predacon base, Megatron detects the aborted flow of data to the stasis pod ship and reacts with fury.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Blackarachnia Inferno.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A girl that can handle a gun, awesome!]]
Inferno starts to examine Tarantulas's work, but is attacked by Blackarachnia, who eludes him with a display of gymnastics before blasting him with his own gun. Picking up Tarantulas's cyber-link goggles, she forms a link with the unconscious Tarantulas to obtain the data needed to finish the pod ship—but finds that staring into the abyss of the spider's mind means that it also stares back...

The Maximals arrive at base, alarmed to find the shields down. Inside, they find Rhinox and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] cyber-webbed to the ceiling. Optimus Primal sends [[Rattrap]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] to bring in their unwelcome visitors.

Megatron observes the data flow resuming, just as the altered moon opens fire on the planet with a broad, blinding power ray. Optimus Primal charges the Maximal base's shields as the external temperature begins climbing and deduces that the aliens intend to ignite the [[energon]] deposits. Megatron notes that this will obliterate the entire planet, an incredibly ruthless strategy that he rather admires. He assures his panicked troops that Tarantulas will save them, albeit inadvertently.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Optimus Blackarachnia.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Stasis pod or coffin? At episode's end no one's sure.]]
Blackarachnia finishes the pod ship, only to be discovered and held at gunpoint by Rattrap and Airazor. With Rhinox still out of commission, Optimus Primal is beginning to despair, when Rattrap summons him to the stasis hold. Primal is impressed by the ship and immediately orders Blackarachnia to change the command codes to respond to him. He intends to fly the ship up to the [[Planet Buster]] and detonate the [[transwarp cell]] to destroy it. With little alternative, Blackarachnia complies.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Megatron Optimus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Worst in-flight movie ever.]]
Soon all is ready, and Optimus Primal has poignant parting words with his worried crew before sealing the ship and launching it. Megatron scans the launch and notes with delight that Primal is flying the vessel. Primal soon reaches the Planet Buster, starts the ignition sequence, and gives the order to blow the hatch seals. But the hatch is sealed and locked! Megatron appears on his comm screen to gloat that he'd come up with the exact same plan—only in his version of events, the ship's pilot goes "up with the ship". As the timer counts down to zero, the Maximals frantically wait for Optimus Primal to make his escape. Primal pounds on the sealed hatch, to no avail. As the Maximals wonder what is going on, Blackarachnia tells them it's too late... in Tarantulas's voice.

The transwarp cell explodes, and high above the planet, the Planet Buster is annihilated... along with the pod ship and Optimus Primal.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Tigatron]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (5)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (6)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (7)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"Sufferin' circuits. What could it be?" 
"The light at the end of the world."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Tigatron''', watching the Planet Buster power up

'''Megatron''': Brilliant! They're causing a chain reaction which will rip this planet to atoms and destroy all traces of them—simply to deal with us! Such sheer ruthlessness. Such disregard for sentient life! ...I rather like these aliens. 
'''Terrorsaur''': Like them?! They're trying to ''destroy'' us! 
'''Waspinator''': Waspinator not want to be destroyed! Waspinator has ''plans''! 
'''Scorponok''': Megatron will save us! 
'''Megatron''': I think not. I've reserved ''that'' task for Tarantulas.
:—The Predacons react to the Planet Buster.

'''Blackarachnia''': We—I did it! 
'''Airazor''': ''Hooray'' for you. 
[''Blackarachnia finds herself held at gunpoint.''] 
'''Blackarachnia''': Did you know we have a truce?

"Cozy." 
"Just like a coffin."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Blackarachnia'''

"Oh, you [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Optimuses]] do love to sacrifice yourselves, don't you? Well, fortunately, this time your foolishness will destroy you and your Maximals. The Beast Wars are over, Optimus. You lose."
:—'''Megatron'''

"MEGATROOOOOON!"
:—'''Optimus Primal'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Blackarachnia grabs Inferno's gun, she clips into Inferno for a spit second.
* During Airazor and Rattrap's search for Blackarachnia, Airazor's gun floats in her hand when they jump into a hallway, and then gets "stuck" in her armpit as they walk towards the camera. Meawhile, her hands are posed grasping at nothing.
* As Optimus Primal lies back into the stasis pod, his shoulder pads are much smaller than they usually are. This was done to avoid clipping with the sides of the cramped stasis post model. It is an odd animation choice, however, given that simply folding his shoulder pads down is a normal part of his transformation, in much the same way he actually ''does'' do with his feet to allow the pod's canopy to close.
* When Megatron gloats to Optimus at the end of the episode, his hands seem to be switched, with his right arm ending in a normal hand instead of his beast-mode head. (It's easiest to see when Megatron is laughing triumphantly at the end of his speech.)

===Continuity errors===
* How exactly did anything organic survive the heating of the entire planet?
* When Blackarachia and Tarantulas attacked Dinobot in the previous episode, they caused him to fall through the glass of the elevator on the right hand side of the ''Axalon'''s command center (from Dinobot's perspective). In this episode, the smashed elevator glass has been switched to the other elevator on the other side of the room.
* The piece of cyber-webbing Airazor steps on when she exits the elevator was not present during the close up of Rattrap as he complained about the missing Rhinox and Dinobot.

===Transformers references===
*Megatron's line, "You Optimuses do enjoy sacrificing yourselves", is a reference to the [[Optimus Prime (G1)|original Optimus Prime]] and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|his numerous deaths]].
*When Tigatron volunteers to pilot the stasis pod ship, he says, "I owe this world." This refers to his grief over what happened in "[[Law of the Jungle]]". It may also refer to his decision to destroy the [[Vok]]'s self-propelled-completely-peaceful-heavily-armed-[[Brigadoon|floating-island]]-paradise-of-death in "[[The Trigger, Part 2]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les Voix d'Autre Monde - 2e partie'''" ("The Voices from Another World - Part 2")

:*''Title:'' '''Les Voix 2''' (Canada, "The Voices 2")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'arrivo - Parte 2'''" ("The Arrival - Part Two")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Heiwa o Mamoru Tame ni...'''" (平和を守るために・・・, "To Protect the Peace...")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 25|25 March]] [[1998]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Outras Vozes Parte 2'''" ("Other Voices Part 2")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' '''Otras Voces Primera Parte''' ("Other Voices Second Part")

===Trivia===
* At the script stage, this episode had the subtitle "Termination Day".
* When Tarantulas angrily dismisses Blackarachnia while attempting to work on the stasis pod, he is voiced by [[Scott McNeil]] (doing an impression of [[Alec Willows]]'s Tarantulas) for two lines.
* Inferno's got the moves in this episode! During his fight with Blackarachnia he pulls off all sorts of kung fu moves and even does a little Jet Li roundhouse kick. This still surprisingly doesn't keep her from blowing his head off though.
* This episode is the first of two where Inferno refers to Megatron by name rather than as "Royalty" or "my queen."
* A planned but never-produced Generation 1 cameo was planned for "Other Voices" Part 2. The intent was for Megatron to gloat to Primal while the latter was trapped in the stasis pod—by projecting an image of the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, on Primal's viewscreen as Primal raced for the false moon and met his demise.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&&q=%22Optimus+Prime%22 Bob Forward interview on alt.toys.transformers]</ref>
*When you see the little parts of Primal flying towards the camera near the end of the episode, you can see Optimus's head fly at the screen very quickly with a distressed look on his face.
* In [[Madman Entertainment]]'s ''Beast Wars Season 1'' DVD set, on a commentary track for this episode with fan consultant [[Ben Yee]] and story editor [[Larry DiTillio]], fellow story editor [[Bob Forward]] popped in to explain the significance of the slang term "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]". He explained that he looked up on refineries as he figured that robots would be made of steel, and one of the waste byproducts of creating steel was an unusable detritus called slag, which he thought would be an appropriate swear word for robots to use.
* Why couldn't Optimus just blast his way out instead of pounding the hatch? Firing his weapons might have damaged himself, but at that point it was better than the alternative.
** If one listens closely, just as the pod is entering the false moon, you can actually hear the sound of Optimus' arm-cannon firing, and glass shattering. It appears that he attempted to do just that, but too late to actually escape.
*The overall plot of this episode (and, to a lesser extent, the [[Other Voices, Part 1|previous episode]]), has several similarities to "Web World Wars", the season 2 finale of ''ReBoot'' (perhaps not coincidential, as both shows were produced by Mainframe):
**Both episodes feature the heroes and villains working against a common foe (The Vok in ''Beast Wars'', The Web in ''ReBoot'') who intends to destroy them all with a powerful weapon (The Planet Buster in ''Beast Wars'', a giant Web portal in ''ReBoot'').
**Both episodes involve the characters developing a plan to eliminate said foe's weapon (destroying the Planet Buster in ''Beast Wars'', closing the portal to The Web in ''ReBoot'').
**At the end of both episodes, the main villain betrays the heroes, shooting their leader into the enemy weapon right before its destruction (in ''Beast Wars'': Megatron traps Optimus Primal in the stasis pod-ship as it detonates in the Planet Buster; in ''ReBoot'': Megabyte traps Bob in a missile, firing it into the Web portal before using the Hardware to seal it).

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 ([[Universal]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Voices, Part 2

2012-09-10T18:33:54Z

24.71.20.24: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=26
|image=Other_Voices_2_Optimus_pod.jpg
|caption=[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Here we go again...]]
|title="Other Voices" Part 2
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 1]], [[1997]]
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Ezekiel Norton]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''As the alien machine begins destroying the planet's energon, Optimus devises a desperate plan to destroy the device.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Voices 2 Tigatron Cheetor.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Beautiful things never turn out good.]]
Out on patrol, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]] stare in awe at "the light at the end of the world", as [[Planet Buster|the alien machine]] continues powering up in space. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] makes contact and orders them to return to base. [[Rattrap]] is pessimistic about their chances of survival, but Primal assures him that [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] will find a way for them to survive.

The [[Bio-Dome|alien bungalow]] finishes transferring power to the moon, and in a flash, [[Vok|the aliens]] depart: "Termination sequence engaged. Return to [[Nexus Zero]]."

[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] observe this from [[Darksyde|their base]]. Confronted with a machine intended to destroy them, Megatron activates a special program and scans the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]], locating the spiders and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] within.

[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] is nearly finished converting a stored [[stasis pod]] into his escape ship. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] observes that it's a little cramped for two... but, weapon drawn, she has no intention of sharing the ride. Inferno arrives just then, blasts her, and sets Tarantulas on fire, knocking him out. Back at the Predacon base, Megatron detects the aborted flow of data to the stasis pod ship and reacts with fury.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Blackarachnia Inferno.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A girl that can handle a gun, awesome!]]
Inferno starts to examine Tarantulas's work, but is attacked by Blackarachnia, who eludes him with a display of gymnastics before blasting him with his own gun. Picking up Tarantulas's cyber-link goggles, she forms a link with the unconscious Tarantulas to obtain the data needed to finish the pod ship—but finds that staring into the abyss of the spider's mind means that it also stares back...

The Maximals arrive at base, alarmed to find the shields down. Inside, they find Rhinox and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] cyber-webbed to the ceiling. Optimus Primal sends [[Rattrap]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] to bring in their unwelcome visitors.

Megatron observes the data flow resuming, just as the altered moon opens fire on the planet with a broad, blinding power ray. Optimus Primal charges the Maximal base's shields as the external temperature begins climbing and deduces that the aliens intend to ignite the [[energon]] deposits. Megatron notes that this will obliterate the entire planet, an incredibly ruthless strategy that he rather admires. He assures his panicked troops that Tarantulas will save them, albeit inadvertently.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Optimus Blackarachnia.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Stasis pod or coffin? At episode's end no one's sure.]]
Blackarachnia finishes the pod ship, only to be discovered and held at gunpoint by Rattrap and Airazor. With Rhinox still out of commission, Optimus Primal is beginning to despair, when Rattrap summons him to the stasis hold. Primal is impressed by the ship and immediately orders Blackarachnia to change the command codes to respond to him. He intends to fly the ship up to the [[Planet Buster]] and detonate the [[transwarp cell]] to destroy it. With little alternative, Blackarachnia complies.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Megatron Optimus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Worst in-flight movie ever.]]
Soon all is ready, and Optimus Primal has poignant parting words with his worried crew before sealing the ship and launching it. Megatron scans the launch and notes with delight that Primal is flying the vessel. Primal soon reaches the Planet Buster, starts the ignition sequence, and gives the order to blow the hatch seals. But the hatch is sealed and locked! Megatron appears on his comm screen to gloat that he'd come up with the exact same plan—only in his version of events, the ship's pilot goes "up with the ship". As the timer counts down to zero, the Maximals frantically wait for Optimus Primal to make his escape. Primal pounds on the sealed hatch, to no avail. As the Maximals wonder what is going on, Blackarachnia tells them it's too late... in Tarantulas's voice.

The transwarp cell explodes, and high above the planet, the Planet Buster is annihilated... along with the pod ship and Optimus Primal.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Tigatron]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (5)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (6)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (7)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"Sufferin' circuits. What could it be?" 
"The light at the end of the world."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Tigatron''', watching the Planet Buster power up

'''Megatron''': Brilliant! They're causing a chain reaction which will rip this planet to atoms and destroy all traces of them—simply to deal with us! Such sheer ruthlessness. Such disregard for sentient life! ...I rather like these aliens. 
'''Terrorsaur''': Like them?! They're trying to ''destroy'' us! 
'''Waspinator''': Waspinator not want to be destroyed! Waspinator has ''plans''! 
'''Scorponok''': Megatron will save us! 
'''Megatron''': I think not. I've reserved ''that'' task for Tarantulas.
:—The Predacons react to the Planet Buster.

'''Blackarachnia''': We—I did it! 
'''Airazor''': ''Hooray'' for you. 
[''Blackarachnia finds herself held at gunpoint.''] 
'''Blackarachnia''': Did you know we have a truce?

"Cozy." 
"Just like a coffin."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Blackarachnia'''

"Oh, you [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Optimuses]] do love to sacrifice yourselves, don't you? Well, fortunately, this time your foolishness will destroy you and your Maximals. The Beast Wars are over, Optimus. You lose."
:—'''Megatron'''

"MEGATROOOOOON!"
:—'''Optimus Primal'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Blackarachnia grabs Inferno's gun, she clips into Inferno for a spit second.
* During Airazor and Rattrap's search for Blackarachnia, Airazor's gun floats in her hand when they jump into a hallway, and then gets "stuck" in her armpit as they walk towards the camera. Meawhile, her hands are posed grasping at nothing.
* As Optimus Primal lies back into the stasis pod, his shoulder pads are much smaller than they usually are. This was done to avoid clipping with the sides of the cramped stasis post model. It is an odd animation choice, however, given that simply folding his shoulder pads down is a normal part of his transformation, in much the same way he actually ''does'' do with his feet to allow the pod's canopy to close.
* When Megatron gloats to Optimus at the end of the episode, his hands seem to be switched, with his right arm ending in a normal hand instead of his beast-mode head. (It's easiest to see when Megatron is laughing triumphantly at the end of his speech.)

===Continuity errors===
* How exactly did anything organic survive the heating of the entire planet?
* When Blackarachia and Tarantulas attacked Dinobot in the previous episode, they caused him to fall through the glass of the elevator on the right hand side of the ''Axalon'''s command center (from Dinobot's perspective). In this episode, the smashed elevator glass has been switched to the other elevator on the other side of the room.
* The piece of cyber-webbing Airazor steps on when she exits the elevator was not present during the close up of Rattrap as he complained about the missing Rhinox and Dinobot.

===Transformers references===
*Megatron's line, "You Optimuses do enjoy sacrificing yourselves", is a reference to the [[Optimus Prime (G1)|original Optimus Prime]] and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|his numerous deaths]].
*When Tigatron volunteers to pilot the stasis pod ship, he says, "I owe this world." This refers to his grief over what happened in "[[Law of the Jungle]]". It may also refer to his decision to destroy the [[Vok]]'s self-propelled-completely-peaceful-heavily-armed-[[Brigadoon|floating-island]]-paradise-of-death in "[[The Trigger, Part 2]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les Voix d'Autre Monde - 2e partie'''" ("The Voices from Another World - Part 2")

:*''Title:'' '''Les Voix 2''' (Canada, "The Voices 2")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'arrivo - Parte 2'''" ("The Arrival - Part Two")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Heiwa o Mamoru Tame ni...'''" (平和を守るために・・・, "To Protect the Peace...")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 25|25 March]] [[1998]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Outras Vozes Parte 2'''" ("Other Voices Part 2")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' '''Otras Voces Primera Parte''' ("Other Voices Second Part")

===Trivia===
* At the script stage, this episode had the subtitle "Termination Day".
* When Tarantulas angrily dismisses Blackarachnia while attempting to work on the stasis pod, he is voiced by [[Scott McNeil]] (doing an impression of [[Alec Willows]]'s Tarantulas) for two lines.
* Inferno's got the moves in this episode! During his fight with Blackarachnia he pulls off all sorts of kung fu moves and even does a little Jet Li roundhouse kick. This still surprisingly doesn't keep her from blowing his head off though.
* This episode is the first of two where Inferno refers to Megatron by name rather than as "Royalty" or "my queen."
* A planned but never-produced Generation 1 cameo was planned for "Other Voices" Part 2. The intent was for Megatron to gloat to Primal while the latter was trapped in the stasis pod—by projecting an image of the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, on Primal's viewscreen as Primal raced for the false moon and met his demise.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&&q=%22Optimus+Prime%22 Bob Forward interview on alt.toys.transformers]</ref>
*When you see the little parts of Primal flying towards the camera near the end of the episode, you can see Optimus's head fly at the screen very quickly with a distressed look on his face.
* In [[Madman Entertainment]]'s ''Beast Wars Season 1'' DVD set, on a commentary track for this episode with fan consultant [[Ben Yee]] and story editor [[Larry DiTillio]], fellow story editor [[Bob Forward]] popped in to explain the significance of the slang term "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]". He explained that he looked up on refineries as he figured that robots would be made of steel, and one of the waste byproducts of creating steel was an unusable detritus called slag, which he thought would be an appropriate swear word for robots to use.
* Why couldn't Optimus just blast his way out instead of pounding the hatch? Firing his weapons might have damaged himself, but at that point it was better than the alternative.
** If one listens closely, just as the pod is entering the false moon, you can actually hear the sound of Optimus' arm-cannon firing, and glass shattering. It appears that he attempted to do just that, but too late to actually escape.
*The overall plot of this episode (and, to a lesser extent, the [[Other Voices, Part 1|previous episode]]), has several similarities to "Web World Wars", the season 2 finale of ''ReBoot'' (perhaps not coincidential, as both shows were produced by Mainframe):
**Both episodes feature the heroes and villains working against a common foe (The Vok in ''Beast Wars'', The Web in ''ReBoot'') who intends to destroy them all with a powerful weapon.
**Both episodes involve the characters developing a plan to eliminate said foe's weapon (destroying the Planet Buster in ''Beast Wars'', closing the portal to The Web in ''ReBoot'').
**At the end of both episodes, the main villain betrays the heroes, shooting their leader into the enemy weapon right before its destruction (''Beast Wars'': Megatron traps Optimus Primal in the stasis pod-ship as it detonates in the Planet Buster; ''ReBoot'': Megabyte traps Bob in a missile, firing it into the Web portal before using the Hardware to seal it).

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 ([[Universal]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Voices, Part 2

2012-09-10T18:32:26Z

24.71.20.24: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=26
|image=Other_Voices_2_Optimus_pod.jpg
|caption=[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Here we go again...]]
|title="Other Voices" Part 2
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 1]], [[1997]]
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Ezekiel Norton]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''As the alien machine begins destroying the planet's energon, Optimus devises a desperate plan to destroy the device.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Voices 2 Tigatron Cheetor.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Beautiful things never turn out good.]]
Out on patrol, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]] stare in awe at "the light at the end of the world", as [[Planet Buster|the alien machine]] continues powering up in space. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] makes contact and orders them to return to base. [[Rattrap]] is pessimistic about their chances of survival, but Primal assures him that [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] will find a way for them to survive.

The [[Bio-Dome|alien bungalow]] finishes transferring power to the moon, and in a flash, [[Vok|the aliens]] depart: "Termination sequence engaged. Return to [[Nexus Zero]]."

[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] observe this from [[Darksyde|their base]]. Confronted with a machine intended to destroy them, Megatron activates a special program and scans the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]], locating the spiders and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] within.

[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] is nearly finished converting a stored [[stasis pod]] into his escape ship. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] observes that it's a little cramped for two... but, weapon drawn, she has no intention of sharing the ride. Inferno arrives just then, blasts her, and sets Tarantulas on fire, knocking him out. Back at the Predacon base, Megatron detects the aborted flow of data to the stasis pod ship and reacts with fury.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Blackarachnia Inferno.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A girl that can handle a gun, awesome!]]
Inferno starts to examine Tarantulas's work, but is attacked by Blackarachnia, who eludes him with a display of gymnastics before blasting him with his own gun. Picking up Tarantulas's cyber-link goggles, she forms a link with the unconscious Tarantulas to obtain the data needed to finish the pod ship—but finds that staring into the abyss of the spider's mind means that it also stares back...

The Maximals arrive at base, alarmed to find the shields down. Inside, they find Rhinox and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] cyber-webbed to the ceiling. Optimus Primal sends [[Rattrap]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] to bring in their unwelcome visitors.

Megatron observes the data flow resuming, just as the altered moon opens fire on the planet with a broad, blinding power ray. Optimus Primal charges the Maximal base's shields as the external temperature begins climbing and deduces that the aliens intend to ignite the [[energon]] deposits. Megatron notes that this will obliterate the entire planet, an incredibly ruthless strategy that he rather admires. He assures his panicked troops that Tarantulas will save them, albeit inadvertently.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Optimus Blackarachnia.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Stasis pod or coffin? At episode's end no one's sure.]]
Blackarachnia finishes the pod ship, only to be discovered and held at gunpoint by Rattrap and Airazor. With Rhinox still out of commission, Optimus Primal is beginning to despair, when Rattrap summons him to the stasis hold. Primal is impressed by the ship and immediately orders Blackarachnia to change the command codes to respond to him. He intends to fly the ship up to the [[Planet Buster]] and detonate the [[transwarp cell]] to destroy it. With little alternative, Blackarachnia complies.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Megatron Optimus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Worst in-flight movie ever.]]
Soon all is ready, and Optimus Primal has poignant parting words with his worried crew before sealing the ship and launching it. Megatron scans the launch and notes with delight that Primal is flying the vessel. Primal soon reaches the Planet Buster, starts the ignition sequence, and gives the order to blow the hatch seals. But the hatch is sealed and locked! Megatron appears on his comm screen to gloat that he'd come up with the exact same plan—only in his version of events, the ship's pilot goes "up with the ship". As the timer counts down to zero, the Maximals frantically wait for Optimus Primal to make his escape. Primal pounds on the sealed hatch, to no avail. As the Maximals wonder what is going on, Blackarachnia tells them it's too late... in Tarantulas's voice.

The transwarp cell explodes, and high above the planet, the Planet Buster is annihilated... along with the pod ship and Optimus Primal.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Tigatron]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (5)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (6)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (7)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"Sufferin' circuits. What could it be?" 
"The light at the end of the world."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Tigatron''', watching the Planet Buster power up

'''Megatron''': Brilliant! They're causing a chain reaction which will rip this planet to atoms and destroy all traces of them—simply to deal with us! Such sheer ruthlessness. Such disregard for sentient life! ...I rather like these aliens. 
'''Terrorsaur''': Like them?! They're trying to ''destroy'' us! 
'''Waspinator''': Waspinator not want to be destroyed! Waspinator has ''plans''! 
'''Scorponok''': Megatron will save us! 
'''Megatron''': I think not. I've reserved ''that'' task for Tarantulas.
:—The Predacons react to the Planet Buster.

'''Blackarachnia''': We—I did it! 
'''Airazor''': ''Hooray'' for you. 
[''Blackarachnia finds herself held at gunpoint.''] 
'''Blackarachnia''': Did you know we have a truce?

"Cozy." 
"Just like a coffin."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Blackarachnia'''

"Oh, you [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Optimuses]] do love to sacrifice yourselves, don't you? Well, fortunately, this time your foolishness will destroy you and your Maximals. The Beast Wars are over, Optimus. You lose."
:—'''Megatron'''

"MEGATROOOOOON!"
:—'''Optimus Primal'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Blackarachnia grabs Inferno's gun, she clips into Inferno for a spit second.
* During Airazor and Rattrap's search for Blackarachnia, Airazor's gun floats in her hand when they jump into a hallway, and then gets "stuck" in her armpit as they walk towards the camera. Meawhile, her hands are posed grasping at nothing.
* As Optimus Primal lies back into the stasis pod, his shoulder pads are much smaller than they usually are. This was done to avoid clipping with the sides of the cramped stasis post model. It is an odd animation choice, however, given that simply folding his shoulder pads down is a normal part of his transformation, in much the same way he actually ''does'' do with his feet to allow the pod's canopy to close.
* When Megatron gloats to Optimus at the end of the episode, his hands seem to be switched, with his right arm ending in a normal hand instead of his beast-mode head. (It's easiest to see when Megatron is laughing triumphantly at the end of his speech.)

===Continuity errors===
* How exactly did anything organic survive the heating of the entire planet?
* When Blackarachia and Tarantulas attacked Dinobot in the previous episode, they caused him to fall through the glass of the elevator on the right hand side of the ''Axalon'''s command center (from Dinobot's perspective). In this episode, the smashed elevator glass has been switched to the other elevator on the other side of the room.
* The piece of cyber-webbing Airazor steps on when she exits the elevator was not present during the close up of Rattrap as he complained about the missing Rhinox and Dinobot.

===Transformers references===
*Megatron's line, "You Optimuses do enjoy sacrificing yourselves", is a reference to the [[Optimus Prime (G1)|original Optimus Prime]] and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|his numerous deaths]].
*When Tigatron volunteers to pilot the stasis pod ship, he says, "I owe this world." This refers to his grief over what happened in "[[Law of the Jungle]]". It may also refer to his decision to destroy the [[Vok]]'s self-propelled-completely-peaceful-heavily-armed-[[Brigadoon|floating-island]]-paradise-of-death in "[[The Trigger, Part 2]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les Voix d'Autre Monde - 2e partie'''" ("The Voices from Another World - Part 2")

:*''Title:'' '''Les Voix 2''' (Canada, "The Voices 2")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'arrivo - Parte 2'''" ("The Arrival - Part Two")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Heiwa o Mamoru Tame ni...'''" (平和を守るために・・・, "To Protect the Peace...")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 25|25 March]] [[1998]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Outras Vozes Parte 2'''" ("Other Voices Part 2")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' '''Otras Voces Primera Parte''' ("Other Voices Second Part")

===Trivia===
* At the script stage, this episode had the subtitle "Termination Day".
* When Tarantulas angrily dismisses Blackarachnia while attempting to work on the stasis pod, he is voiced by [[Scott McNeil]] (doing an impression of [[Alec Willows]]'s Tarantulas) for two lines.
* Inferno's got the moves in this episode! During his fight with Blackarachnia he pulls off all sorts of kung fu moves and even does a little Jet Li roundhouse kick. This still surprisingly doesn't keep her from blowing his head off though.
* This episode is the first of two where Inferno refers to Megatron by name rather than as "Royalty" or "my queen."
* A planned but never-produced Generation 1 cameo was planned for "Other Voices" Part 2. The intent was for Megatron to gloat to Primal while the latter was trapped in the stasis pod—by projecting an image of the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, on Primal's viewscreen as Primal raced for the false moon and met his demise.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&&q=%22Optimus+Prime%22 Bob Forward interview on alt.toys.transformers]</ref>
*When you see the little parts of Primal flying towards the camera near the end of the episode, you can see Optimus's head fly at the screen very quickly with a distressed look on his face.
* In [[Madman Entertainment]]'s ''Beast Wars Season 1'' DVD set, on a commentary track for this episode with fan consultant [[Ben Yee]] and story editor [[Larry DiTillio]], fellow story editor [[Bob Forward]] popped in to explain the significance of the slang term "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]". He explained that he looked up on refineries as he figured that robots would be made of steel, and one of the waste byproducts of creating steel was an unusable detritus called slag, which he thought would be an appropriate swear word for robots to use.
* Why couldn't Optimus just blast his way out instead of pounding the hatch? Firing his weapons might have damaged himself, but at that point it was better than the alternative.
** If one listens closely, just as the pod is entering the false moon, you can actually hear the sound of Optimus' arm-cannon firing, and glass shattering. It appears that he attempted to do just that, but too late to actually escape.
*The overall plot of this episode (and, to a lesser extent, the [[Other Voices, Part 1|previous episode]]), has several similarities to "Web World Wars", the season 2 finale of ''ReBoot'' (perhaps not coincidential, as both shows were produced by Mainframe:
**Both episodes feature the heroes and villains working against a common foe (The Vok in ''Beast Wars'', The Web in ''ReBoot'') who intends to destroy them all with a powerful weapon.
**Both episodes involve the characters developing a plan to eliminate said foe's weapon (destroying the Planet Buster in ''Beast Wars'', closing the portal to The Web in ''ReBoot'').
**At the end of both episodes, the main villain betrays the heroes, shooting their leader into the enemy weapon right before its destruction (Megatron traps Optimus Primal in the stasis pod-ship as it detonates in the Planet Buster, Megabyte launches a missile with Bob in it into the portal before closing it with the Hardware weapon).

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 ([[Universal]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Smokescreen (Prime)

2012-09-10T18:08:55Z

24.71.20.24: /* Toys */

{{factions|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{disambig3|Smokescreen}}
:''Smokescreen is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:NewRecruit-prettygoodplan.jpg|thumb|300px|I'm here to be an Optimus fanboy and make people suspicious, and I'm all out of being an Opti- wait, no I'm not...]]
'''Smokescreen''' is an eager young Autobot recruit, all too ready to fight in the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]]. While he may talk a mile a minute and be greener than [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'s paintwork, Smokescreen at least has the sense to use his wits when charging into a situation, rather than heading in firing blind.

{{bigquote|Now that was a plan!|Smokescreen|''[[New Recruit]]''}}

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor'': [[Nolan North]]
{{spoiler|New Recruit|September 14, 2012}}

[[Image:New-recruit-smokescreen-flashback-tfp.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Maybe if I punch the screen hard enough I'll be able to escape...]]

Back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the latter part of the war, Smokescreen was keen to be a soldier and underwent training with the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] though it was more of a boot camp at the time. To his disappointment he ended up on security detail at the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] [[Hall of Records]] guarding [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]]. Though he learned much, he still yearned for combat. He thought his chance had come when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked Iacon directly, but instead he was immediately knocked into stasis by a Decepticon bomb, and woke up much later on one of their transports. Giving the guard the slip, Smokescreen stole an escape pod which took him to [[Earth]].

Upon landing, he joined members of [[Team Prime]] in fighting off some Decepticons who had converged on the pod. His wild, reckless fighting ignited the pod's spilled fuel, which sent the Deceptions packing, but did little to impress Team Prime. Though the others were suspicious, Optimus accepted him upon his recounting of tales only Alpha Trion and Optimus would have known. They took him to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Outpost Omega One]] and the [[human]] [[Jack Darby]] gave him a tour during which he recognized some of the relics from the Hall of Records. Due to Smokescreen's inexperience, Optimus refused to let him go on a mission to recover [[Red Energon]], and instead he and Jack went to find him a new [[alternate mode]]. When Prime's team got into trouble, Smokescreen had the idea of using the [[phase shifter]] to help and convinced [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] to let him try. On the battlefield, he succeeded in using it to separate [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] from the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], ultimately resulting a victory (more or less) for the Autobots. With that success, Optimus welcomed him to Team Prime. {{storylink|New Recruit}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Prime===
*'''Smokescreen''' (Deluxe, [[November 24|11-24]]-2012)
**''ID number'': '''AM-26'''
**''Accessories'': Arms Micron

: A [[redeco]] (and potential [[retool]]ing) of [[Knock Out (Prime)#Toys|Knock Out]], Smokescreen is (currently) [[exclusive]] to the [[TakaraTomy]] ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)| Prime]]'' toyline. He transforms into a low-riding sports car. As part of the [[Arms Micron]] gimmick, he has extra [[5mm post]]-holes in both modes, allowing him to use the weapon-bots. He comes with a (currently unknown and unnamed) Arms Micron partner.
{{comingsoontoy}}

==Trivia==
*A speedy, enthusiastic rookie who looks up to [[Optimus Primal|an Optimus]] and tends to respond to problems with either reckless action or clever, sometimes unorthodox solutions (preferring the former)? Sounds [[Cheetor (BW)|familiar]]...

[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Prime Autobots]]

New Recruit

2012-09-10T18:01:39Z

24.71.20.24: /* Continuity notes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 44
|prev=Out of the Past
|next=The Human Factor
|image=NewRecruit-honortobehere.jpg
|caption=[[Superman]] meets [[Nolan North|Superboy]] for the first time.
|title="New Recruit"
|airdate=[[September 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''A Decepticon escape pod lands on Earth and the Autobot Smokescreen emerges, while Starscream uses the Apex Armor to go on a quest for Red Energon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NewRecruit-exercise.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jane Fonda would be doing a facepalm at this.]]

[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] cruise the [[Internet]] for pictures of [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures, while [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] forces [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to exercise so his legs don't atrophy. Jack notices a picture which Raf identifies as a Cybertronian escape pod. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] suggests bringing in [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] as Bulkhead still isn't combat-ready, which [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] promptly shoots down due to [[Hurt|recent events]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] orders Ratchet to come along with them instead, as there might be an injured Autobot in the pod. They [[GroundBridge]] into the crash site to find it's a Decepticon pod, and they're immediately under attack from their foe. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], augmented by [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]], turn out to be a challenge, but then a new figure appears running through the trees. The newcomer's fire accidentally hits the [[energon]] leaking from the pod, and the Autobots take cover as it explodes, taking out the Decepticons. The over-enthusiastic newcomer happens to be [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], an Autobot rookie who becomes in awe when he meets ''the'' Optimus Prime. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering [[Con Job|the last time a new Autobot turned up]], but Smokescreen's tales of [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] and guarding the Hall of Records convinces Prime that he is legitimate.

Back at base, Miko's excited to meet the new Autobot. Smokescreen relates the story of the last days of Iacon and how he was captured by Decepticons during the siege, before escaping from a Decepticon transport ship in an escape pod. Smokescreen thinks with him there they'll have the war ended in no time, and Bulkhead drags himself in to show the newcomer how the war is going. Miko volunteers Jack to show Smokescreen around.

[[Image:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So many gifs of animals, so little time.]]

In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] searches the Internet for interesting stuff and happens on an image of [[Red Energon]] at a construction site.

Jack shows Smokescreen around where the Cybertronian relics and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] are stored. Bulkhead is upset that the others have brought in a replacement for him, but as they point out, Smokescreen is a newbie and needs a lot of training. Raf finds the same Red Energon photo that Starscream did. Smokescreen's keen to go out on the mission, but the others point out his need for training and an [[alternate mode]].

Starscream arrives at the construction site, only to find it deserted and the Red Energon gone.

Smokescreen and Jack scope out vehicles driving near [[Jasper]], and the Autobot is disappointed in the available vehicle forms. Meanwhile, Prime, Arcee and Bumblebee arrive at the dock where the Red Energon's been moved, and discover Starscream is already there. The Decepticon activates the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and Optimus sends Arcee and Bumblebee to get the energon while he takes on Starscream. He reports back to base what's happening, and Smokescreen wants to go help, but is overruled by Ratchet.

Having dealt with Optimus, Starscream climbs up the crane after Arcee and Bumblebee. At base, Bulkhead urges Ratchet to let him go help, but Ratchet ignores him until they realize Smokescreen is missing. Ratchet finds him in the storeroom looking at the [[phase shifter]]. Meanwhile, Starscream reaches Arcee, only for Optimus to punch him right off the crane. Starscream tries to grab some of the Red Energon on the way down, breaking off a chunk. As Optimus starts hauling up the basket with the energon in it, Starscream grabs the bottom of the crane and tips it. He's interrupted by the arrival of Smokescreen through the GroundBridge. Using the phase shifter, the new Autobot kicks Starscream right out of the Apex Armor. While Smokescreen stands triumphant, Starscream fires off a missile at the crane, the ensuing explosion destroying the Red Energon meteor. Though the Autobots atop it survive, Starscream gets away with a chunk of Red Energon he broke off.

After they return to base, Smokescreen returns the phase shifter and the Apex Armor, after which Optimus officially welcomes him to [[Team Prime]]. Bulkhead looks on sadly, and though Miko tries to give him some encouraging words, he turns and limps back down the corridor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (10)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime) |Starscream]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"The tap-dancing monkey strikes again!"
:—'''Jack''' on Raf's latest anti-Bumblebee-sighting hack.

"All these Cons came out of one pod?" 
"Humans refer to the phenomenon as a 'clown car'!"
:—'''Arcee''' asks a question, and '''Ratchet''' offers an explanation.

'''Miko''': What's your story, Smoke? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How many blasters are you packing? 
'''Smokescreen''': So these are the lifeforms we're supposed to protect? Are they all like this? 
'''Ratchet''': Fortunately not.
:—Smokescreen meets Miko.

"The Red Energon is mine, humans, for you are powerless in the face of the mighty Star- What? Where is it?!"
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> melodramatic entrance is deflated.

"Any last words, Smokescreen?" 
"Just four—''kiss your armor goodbye!"
:—'''Starscream''' gets a last warning from '''Smokescreen''' before literally getting his tailpipe kicked.

"You aren't the only one sporting a fancy wrist-mounted device!"
:—'''Starscream''' on his fancy rockets.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* As the Autobots run from the upcoming pod explosion, Optimus' arm weapons silently transform back into his hands.

===Continuity errors===
* As Optimus's report on the situation didn't mention the Apex Armor, how did Smokescreen know he needed the phase shifter?
* The Insecticons seem to die very easily in this episode. Arcee and Bumblebee take out one in a few seconds when last time it took them an [[Tunnel Vision|entire episode]].
* How did Raf know the object crashing into Earth was a Cybertronian escape pod, having never saw one before?
*Whilst Starscream was browsing the internet, the Bumblebee picture that was removed during a [[One Shall Fall|previous episode]] by Raf was seen on the screen as well as the the Bumblebee picture replaced during the beginning of this episode, despite them being removed.

===Continuity notes===
* Bumblebee has gained more pictures of himself on conspiracy websites since "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* The Autobots remember when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] first arrived [[Con Job|and how that turned out]].
* Ratchet is still upset at Wheeljack for pulling that "revenge stunt" with Miko in "[[Hurt]]".
* Bulkhead is still recovering from the injuries he suffered in "[[Toxicity]]". By now, he can walk unaided (albeit at a slow limp), and a conversation with Ratchet implies that he can transform and drive around to some extent.
* The [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|spark extractor]], [[Partners|immobilizer]], [[Tunnel Vision|phase shifter]], and [[Armada (episode)|Airachnid]] are part of Jack's tour.
* Starscream still has the Apex Armor he obtained in "[[Triangulation]]". Well, ''had''.

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen references [[Constructicon (Prime)|Constructicons]], [[Halogen (Prime)|Halogen]], [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]], the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]], and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].
* Optimus recalls Alpha Trion as the master archivist in Iacon's Hall of Records, which was exactly his occupation in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''.
* Smokescreen bears the Autobot Elite Guard symbol from the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' series, and upon scanning an Earth mode, [[Smokescreen (G1)|continues the]] [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|tradition of]] [[Smokescreen (Movie)|Smokescreens wearing]] the number "38".
* In a likely coincidence (but with a chance of being intentional given the "[[Binder of Revelation]]"), in the [[TakaraTomy]] [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|''Prime'' toyline]], some of the [[Arms Micron]]s have [[Arms_Micron#Energon_Crystals|Energon Crystals dubbed "Fast" energon]]... which are reddish-orange in color, rather like the red speed-imbuing energon introduced in this episode.
* The Decepticon warship Smokescreen was held captive aboard is similar in shape to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' ship, [[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]].
* Smokescreen states that the Elite Guard was more of a boot camp for him, possibly as a reference to the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' episode "[[Autoboot Camp]]".

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet mentions the human phenomenon of the clown car.
* Starscream searches for information on the internet, or as many refer to it, "The Information Superhighway."

===Trivia===
* Starscream finds Earth humor funny. Guess Ratchet [[One Shall Fall|isn't the only one]].
* As usual, the vehicle mode Smokescreen chooses completely [[Masters & Students|matches]] [[Crisscross|his]] [[Loose Cannons|body]]. However, this ''is'' the first time a Transformer changes his paint job after getting a new vehicle mode; Smokescreen's Elite Guard logos are exchanged for his number "38" and checker racer decal.
* A new kind of Energon has been introduced with the regular, [[Dark Energon|Dark]], [[Synthetic Energon|Synthetic]], and [[Tox-En|Toxic]] forms, respectively. Time will tell if using Red Energon has any negative effects...
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

New Recruit

2012-09-10T17:56:53Z

24.71.20.24: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 44
|prev=Out of the Past
|next=The Human Factor
|image=NewRecruit-honortobehere.jpg
|caption=[[Superman]] meets [[Nolan North|Superboy]] for the first time.
|title="New Recruit"
|airdate=[[September 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''A Decepticon escape pod lands on Earth and the Autobot Smokescreen emerges, while Starscream uses the Apex Armor to go on a quest for Red Energon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NewRecruit-exercise.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jane Fonda would be doing a facepalm at this.]]

[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] cruise the [[Internet]] for pictures of [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures, while [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] forces [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to exercise so his legs don't atrophy. Jack notices a picture which Raf identifies as a Cybertronian escape pod. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] suggests bringing in [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] as Bulkhead still isn't combat-ready, which [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] promptly shoots down due to [[Hurt|recent events]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] orders Ratchet to come along with them instead, as there might be an injured Autobot in the pod. They [[GroundBridge]] into the crash site to find it's a Decepticon pod, and they're immediately under attack from their foe. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], augmented by [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]], turn out to be a challenge, but then a new figure appears running through the trees. The newcomer's fire accidentally hits the [[energon]] leaking from the pod, and the Autobots take cover as it explodes, taking out the Decepticons. The over-enthusiastic newcomer happens to be [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], an Autobot rookie who becomes in awe when he meets ''the'' Optimus Prime. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering [[Con Job|the last time a new Autobot turned up]], but Smokescreen's tales of [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] and guarding the Hall of Records convinces Prime that he is legitimate.

Back at base, Miko's excited to meet the new Autobot. Smokescreen relates the story of the last days of Iacon and how he was captured by Decepticons during the siege, before escaping from a Decepticon transport ship in an escape pod. Smokescreen thinks with him there they'll have the war ended in no time, and Bulkhead drags himself in to show the newcomer how the war is going. Miko volunteers Jack to show Smokescreen around.

[[Image:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So many gifs of animals, so little time.]]

In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] searches the Internet for interesting stuff and happens on an image of [[Red Energon]] at a construction site.

Jack shows Smokescreen around where the Cybertronian relics and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] are stored. Bulkhead is upset that the others have brought in a replacement for him, but as they point out, Smokescreen is a newbie and needs a lot of training. Raf finds the same Red Energon photo that Starscream did. Smokescreen's keen to go out on the mission, but the others point out his need for training and an [[alternate mode]].

Starscream arrives at the construction site, only to find it deserted and the Red Energon gone.

Smokescreen and Jack scope out vehicles driving near [[Jasper]], and the Autobot is disappointed in the available vehicle forms. Meanwhile, Prime, Arcee and Bumblebee arrive at the dock where the Red Energon's been moved, and discover Starscream is already there. The Decepticon activates the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and Optimus sends Arcee and Bumblebee to get the energon while he takes on Starscream. He reports back to base what's happening, and Smokescreen wants to go help, but is overruled by Ratchet.

Having dealt with Optimus, Starscream climbs up the crane after Arcee and Bumblebee. At base, Bulkhead urges Ratchet to let him go help, but Ratchet ignores him until they realize Smokescreen is missing. Ratchet finds him in the storeroom looking at the [[phase shifter]]. Meanwhile, Starscream reaches Arcee, only for Optimus to punch him right off the crane. Starscream tries to grab some of the Red Energon on the way down, breaking off a chunk. As Optimus starts hauling up the basket with the energon in it, Starscream grabs the bottom of the crane and tips it. He's interrupted by the arrival of Smokescreen through the GroundBridge. Using the phase shifter, the new Autobot kicks Starscream right out of the Apex Armor. While Smokescreen stands triumphant, Starscream fires off a missile at the crane, the ensuing explosion destroying the Red Energon meteor. Though the Autobots atop it survive, Starscream gets away with a chunk of Red Energon he broke off.

After they return to base, Smokescreen returns the phase shifter and the Apex Armor, after which Optimus officially welcomes him to [[Team Prime]]. Bulkhead looks on sadly, and though Miko tries to give him some encouraging words, he turns and limps back down the corridor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (10)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime) |Starscream]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"The tap-dancing monkey strikes again!"
:—'''Jack''' on Raf's latest anti-Bumblebee-sighting hack.

"All these Cons came out of one pod?" 
"Humans refer to the phenomenon as a 'clown car'!"
:—'''Arcee''' asks a question, and '''Ratchet''' offers an explanation.

'''Miko''': What's your story, Smoke? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How many blasters are you packing? 
'''Smokescreen''': So these are the lifeforms we're supposed to protect? Are they all like this? 
'''Ratchet''': Fortunately not.
:—Smokescreen meets Miko.

"The Red Energon is mine, humans, for you are powerless in the face of the mighty Star- What? Where is it?!"
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> melodramatic entrance is deflated.

"Any last words, Smokescreen?" 
"Just four—''kiss your armor goodbye!"
:—'''Starscream''' gets a last warning from '''Smokescreen''' before literally getting his tailpipe kicked.

"You aren't the only one sporting a fancy wrist-mounted device!"
:—'''Starscream''' on his fancy rockets.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* As the Autobots run from the upcoming pod explosion, Optimus' arm weapons silently transform back into his hands.

===Continuity errors===
* As Optimus's report on the situation didn't mention the Apex Armor, how did Smokescreen know he needed the phase shifter?
* The Insecticons seem to die very easily in this episode. Arcee and Bumblebee take out one in a few seconds when last time it took them an [[Tunnel Vision|entire episode]].
* How did Raf know the object crashing into Earth was a Cybertronian escape pod, having never saw one before?
*Whilst Starscream was browsing the internet, the Bumblebee picture that was removed during a [[One Shall Fall|previous episode]] by Raf was seen on the screen as well as the the Bumblebee picture replaced during the beginning of this episode, despite them being removed.

===Continuity notes===
* Bumblebee has gained more pictures of himself on conspiracy websites since "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* The Autobots remember when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] first arrived [[Con Job|and how that turned out]].
* Ratchet is still upset at Wheeljack for pulling that "revenge stunt" with Miko in "[[Hurt]]".
* Bulkhead is still suffering injuries from "[[Toxicity]]", but now he can limp along a bit.
* The [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|spark extractor]], [[Partners|immobilizer]], [[Tunnel Vision|phase shifter]], and [[Armada (episode)|Airachnid]] are part of Jack's tour.
* Starscream still has the Apex Armor he obtained in "[[Triangulation]]". Well, ''had''.

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen references [[Constructicon (Prime)|Constructicons]], [[Halogen (Prime)|Halogen]], [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]], the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]], and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].
* Optimus recalls Alpha Trion as the master archivist in Iacon's Hall of Records, which was exactly his occupation in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''.
* Smokescreen bears the Autobot Elite Guard symbol from the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' series, and upon scanning an Earth mode, [[Smokescreen (G1)|continues the]] [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|tradition of]] [[Smokescreen (Movie)|Smokescreens wearing]] the number "38".
* In a likely coincidence (but with a chance of being intentional given the "[[Binder of Revelation]]"), in the [[TakaraTomy]] [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|''Prime'' toyline]], some of the [[Arms Micron]]s have [[Arms_Micron#Energon_Crystals|Energon Crystals dubbed "Fast" energon]]... which are reddish-orange in color, rather like the red speed-imbuing energon introduced in this episode.
* The Decepticon warship Smokescreen was held captive aboard is similar in shape to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' ship, [[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]].
* Smokescreen states that the Elite Guard was more of a boot camp for him, possibly as a reference to the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' episode "[[Autoboot Camp]]".

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet mentions the human phenomenon of the clown car.
* Starscream searches for information on the internet, or as many refer to it, "The Information Superhighway."

===Trivia===
* Starscream finds Earth humor funny. Guess Ratchet [[One Shall Fall|isn't the only one]].
* As usual, the vehicle mode Smokescreen chooses completely [[Masters & Students|matches]] [[Crisscross|his]] [[Loose Cannons|body]]. However, this ''is'' the first time a Transformer changes his paint job after getting a new vehicle mode; Smokescreen's Elite Guard logos are exchanged for his number "38" and checker racer decal.
* A new kind of Energon has been introduced with the regular, [[Dark Energon|Dark]], [[Synthetic Energon|Synthetic]], and [[Tox-En|Toxic]] forms, respectively. Time will tell if using Red Energon has any negative effects...
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

New Recruit

2012-09-10T17:48:35Z

24.71.20.24: /* Continuity notes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 44
|prev=Out of the Past
|next=The Human Factor
|image=NewRecruit-honortobehere.jpg
|caption=[[Superman]] meets [[Nolan North|Superboy]] for the first time.
|title="New Recruit"
|airdate=[[September 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''A Decepticon escape pod lands on Earth and the Autobot Smokescreen emerges, while Starscream uses the Apex Armor to go on a quest for Red Energon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NewRecruit-exercise.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jane Fonda would be doing a facepalm at this.]]

[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] cruise the [[Internet]] for pictures of [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures, while [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] forces [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to exercise so his legs don't atrophy. Jack notices a picture which Raf identifies as a Cybertronian escape pod. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] suggests bringing in [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] as Bulkhead still isn't combat-ready, which [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] promptly shoots down due to [[Hurt|recent events]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] orders Ratchet to come along with them instead, as there might be an injured Autobot in the pod. They [[GroundBridge]] into the crash site to find it's a Decepticon pod, and they're immediately under attack from their foe. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], augmented by [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]], turn out to be a challenge, but then a new figure appears running through the trees. The newcomer's fire accidentally hits the [[energon]] leaking from the pod, and the Autobots take cover as it explodes, taking out the Decepticons. The over-enthusiastic newcomer happens to be [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], an Autobot rookie who becomes in awe when he meets ''the'' Optimus Prime. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering [[Con Job|the last time a new Autobot turned up]], but Smokescreen's tales of [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] and guarding the Hall of Records convinces Prime that he is legitimate.

Back at base, Miko's excited to meet the new Autobot. Smokescreen relates the story of the last days of Iacon and how he was captured by Decepticons during the siege, before escaping from a Decepticon transport ship in an escape pod. Smokescreen thinks with him there they'll have the war ended in no time, and Bulkhead drags himself in to show the newcomer how the war is going. Miko volunteers Jack to show Smokescreen around.

[[Image:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So many gifs of animals, so little time.]]

In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] searches the Internet for interesting stuff and happens on an image of [[Red Energon]] at a construction site.

Jack shows Smokescreen around where the Cybertronian relics and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] are stored. Bulkhead is upset that the others have brought in a replacement for him, but as they point out, Smokescreen is a newbie and needs a lot of training. Raf finds the same Red Energon photo that Starscream did. Smokescreen's keen to go out on the mission, but the others point out his need for training and an [[alternate mode]].

Starscream arrives at the construction site, only to find it deserted and the Red Energon gone.

Smokescreen and Jack scope out vehicles driving near [[Jasper]], and the Autobot is disappointed in the available vehicle forms. Meanwhile, Prime, Arcee and Bumblebee arrive at the dock where the Red Energon's been moved, and discover Starscream is already there. The Decepticon activates the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and Optimus sends Arcee and Bumblebee to get the energon while he takes on Starscream. He reports back to base what's happening, and Smokescreen wants to go help, but is overruled by Ratchet.

Having dealt with Optimus, Starscream climbs up the crane after Arcee and Bumblebee. At base, Bulkhead urges Ratchet to let him go help, but Ratchet ignores him until they realize Smokescreen is missing. Ratchet finds him in the storeroom looking at the [[phase shifter]]. Meanwhile, Starscream reaches Arcee, only for Optimus to punch him right off the crane. Starscream tries to grab some of the Red Energon on the way down, breaking off a chunk. As Optimus starts hauling up the basket with the energon in it, Starscream grabs the bottom of the crane and tips it. He's interrupted by the arrival of Smokescreen through the GroundBridge. Using the phase shifter, the new Autobot kicks Starscream right out of the Apex Armor. While Smokescreen stands triumphant, Starscream fires off a missile at the crane, the ensuing explosion destroying the Red Energon meteor. Though the Autobots atop it survive, Starscream gets away with a chunk of Red Energon he broke off.

After they return to base, Smokescreen returns the phase shifter and the Apex Armor, after which Optimus officially welcomes him to [[Team Prime]]. Bulkhead looks on sadly, and though Miko tries to give him some encouraging words, he turns and limps back down the corridor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (10)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime) |Starscream]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"The tap-dancing monkey strikes again!"
:—'''Jack''' on Raf's latest anti-Bumblebee-sighting hack.

"All these Cons came out of one pod?" 
"Humans refer to the phenomenon as a 'clown car'!"
:—'''Arcee''' asks a question, and '''Ratchet''' offers an explanation.

'''Miko''': What's your story, Smoke? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How many blasters are you packing? 
'''Smokescreen''': So these are the lifeforms we're supposed to protect? Are they all like this? 
'''Ratchet''': Fortunately not.
:—Smokescreen meets Miko.

"The Red Energon is mine, humans, for you are powerless in the face of the mighty Star- What? Where is it?!"
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> melodramatic entrance is deflated.

"Any last words, Smokescreen?" 
"Just four—''kiss your armor goodbye!"
:—'''Starscream''' gets a last warning from '''Smokescreen''' before literally getting his tailpipe kicked.

"You aren't the only one sporting a fancy wrist-mounted device!"
:—'''Starscream''' on his fancy rockets.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* As the Autobots run from the upcoming pod explosion, Optimus' arm weapons silently transform back into his hands.

===Continuity errors===
* As Optimus's report on the situation didn't mention the Apex Armor, how did Smokescreen know he needed the phase shifter?
* The Insecticons seem to die very easily in this episode. Arcee and Bumblebee take out one in a few seconds when last time it took them an [[Tunnel Vision|entire episode]].
* How did Raf know the object crashing into Earth was a Cybertronian escape pod, having never saw one before?
*Whilst Starscream was browsing the internet, the Bumblebee picture that was removed during a [[One Shall Fall|previous episode]] by Raf was seen on the screen as well as the the Bumblebee picture replaced during the beginning of this episode, despite them being removed.

===Continuity notes===
* Bumblebee has gained more pictures of himself on conspiracy websites since "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* The Autobots remember when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] first arrived [[Con Job|and how that turned out]].
* Ratchet is still upset at Wheeljack for pulling that "revenge stunt" with Miko in "[[Hurt]]".
* Bulkhead is still suffering injuries from "[[Toxicity]]", but now he can limp along a bit.
* The [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|spark extractor]], [[Partners|immobilizer]], [[Tunnel Vision|phase shifter]], and [[Armada (episode)|Airachnid]] are part of Jack's tour.
* Starscream still has the Apex Armor he obtained in "[[Triangulation]]". Well, ''had''; by the end of the episode, it's in Autobot hands. On the other hand, he ''does'' get away with a decent chunk of Red Energon...

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen references [[Constructicon (Prime)|Constructicons]], [[Halogen (Prime)|Halogen]], [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]], the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]], and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].
* Optimus recalls Alpha Trion as the master archivist in Iacon's Hall of Records, which was exactly his occupation in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''.
* Smokescreen bears the Autobot Elite Guard symbol from the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' series, and upon scanning an Earth mode, [[Smokescreen (G1)|continues the]] [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|tradition of]] [[Smokescreen (Movie)|Smokescreens wearing]] the number "38".
* In a likely coincidence (but with a chance of being intentional given the "[[Binder of Revelation]]"), in the [[TakaraTomy]] [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|''Prime'' toyline]], some of the [[Arms Micron]]s have [[Arms_Micron#Energon_Crystals|Energon Crystals dubbed "Fast" energon]]... which are reddish-orange in color, rather like the red speed-imbuing energon introduced in this episode.
* The Decepticon warship Smokescreen was held captive aboard is similar in shape to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' ship, [[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]].
* Smokescreen states that the Elite Guard was more of a boot camp for him, possibly as a reference to the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' episode "[[Autoboot Camp]]".

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet mentions the human phenomenon of the clown car.
* Starscream searches for information on the internet, or as many refer to it, "The Information Superhighway."

===Trivia===
* Starscream finds Earth humor funny. Guess Ratchet [[One Shall Fall|isn't the only one]].
* As usual, the vehicle mode Smokescreen chooses completely [[Masters & Students|matches]] [[Crisscross|his]] [[Loose Cannons|body]]. However, this is the first time a Transformer changes his paint job after getting a new vehicle mode. Specifically, Smokescreen's Elite Guard logos are exchanged for his number 38 and checker racer decal.
* A new kind of Energon has been introduced with the regular, [[Dark Energon|Dark]], [[Synthetic Energon|Synthetic]], and [[Tox-En|Toxic]] forms, respectively.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Stronger, Faster

2012-08-28T20:30:16Z

24.71.20.24: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 22
|prev=T.M.I.
|next=One Shall Fall
|image=StrongerFaster-peekaboo.jpg
|caption=More alive.
|title="Stronger, Faster"
|airdate=[[August 14]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Ratchet 'finalizes' the synthetic energon formula and uses himself as a test subject, but it ends up having some negative side effects.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] checks out a sample of [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] he's created, watched by [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]. Approving the stability of the energon, Ratchet tries it on a test engine, and it works fine. Raf's keen to try it on [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], but Ratchet says it'll require more testing first. Meanwhile, the base sensors pick up [[energon]] movement, but before [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] gives the order to roll out, Ratchet warns him about the depleted state of their energon reserves. Once Prime's team departs, Ratchet has the idea to try the synthetic energon on himself. The injection causes him to lose consciousness, and Raf rouses him from lying on the floor shortly afterward. The synthetic energon appears to be a success, giving him more fuel efficiency and better motor functions.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-surrounded.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I need you to hurry up now, 'cause I can't wait much longer.]]

Meanwhile Prime's team chases [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] through an icy canyon. The Decepticons aren't in any hurry to bridge out, as they're trying to "help" the [[Autobot]]s run out of energon. Some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s flying overhead blast the sheer sides of canyon, causing a rock fall that blocks off the Autobots' path. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] manages to drive over it in her motorcycle mode, despite Prime's warnings, and races after the two Decepticons, only to be hit by missiles from the Vehicons. She is swiftly surrounded by Decepticons, and things look grim until Ratchet comes flying through the GroundBridge and begins laying into them with gusto. Knock Out and Breakdown assume that the Ratchet's a new Autobot, but are forced to retreat as Optimus, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and Bumblebee come into view, firing at them. Ratchet finishes off the last of the Vehicons, to stunned looks from his teammates.

Back at base, Ratchet reveals his secret to the other Autobots, but Optimus doesn't think it's a good idea to test the synthetic energon on Autobots, and he underlines the importance of Ratchet's job as medic. Some time later, Ratchet's retelling his fight to Bulkhead, and in demonstrating a move, manages to throw his fellow Autobot through a nearby wall. The other Autobots are startled at his new personality. Ratchet goes and injects more of the synthetic energon into himself. When the sensors light up once more, Prime prepares to roll out again, but Ratchet volunteers to go along.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-crouchbehindrock.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Work it make it do it makes us.]]

As they head through a mountainous area, Ratchet moves ninja-style at the front of the team. They soon find some Vehicons and a [[Decepticon Miner|miner]] drilling into a rock face, and Ratchet immediately moves in. When the miner makes a run for it, Ratchet gives chase and knocks him down with a well-thrown rock. The other Autobots find Ratchet forcibly interrogating the miner with his blowtorch. Optimus stops him from finishing off the prisoner and begins to lecture him on doing harm where none is necessary, but Ratchet is agitated, believing they should be more proactive. As the argument heats up, Ratchet even manages to antagonize Arcee by bringing up [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]], and calls Prime out for his many missed opportunities to kill [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. Prime decides to confine Ratchet to base. Though Ratchet appears to go calmly through the GroundBridge, moments later, he charges back out, flattening Bulkhead and racing off. Prime's team returns to base, but is unable to get a fix on Ratchet's signal.

In a Decepticon energon mine, Breakdown is chatting with a miner when Ratchet walks into the cavern. Elsewhere, Megatron shouts at Knock Out for not finding a new energon source, but they're interrupted by Ratchet dropping Breakdown on the floor. Megatron scoffs at the newcomer, until a punch from Ratchet sends him flying. However, Megatron is made of sterner stuff, and he gives Ratchet a savage injury, telling Knock Out to take a sample of the resultant leaking fluids so they can find out how Ratchet got so amped up.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-KnockOutMegatronRatchet.jpg|left|thumb|300px|That that that that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger.]]

On the bright side, as the synthetic energon drains out, Ratchet is rendered visible to the sensors in the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], and Optimus, Arcee and Bulkhead use the GroundBridge to attack the mine.

Knock Out completes taking his sample and moves in to finish Ratchet off with his circular saw. When the sound of approaching fighting distracts the Decepticon, Ratchet takes the opportunity to fight back, resulting in Knock Out's saw getting stuck in the wall. Ratchet promptly grabs the synthetic energon sample and smashes it. Knock Out is outraged, but once more has to retreat as the other Autobots arrive.

Ratchet is hooked up to a drip back at base, and he apologizes for his behavior. Optimus points out the new supply of energon they got from the mine, and Ratchet promises to do more testing on the synthetic stuff before using it on Autobots again. Optimus is just thankful they destroyed Knock Out's sample, unaware of the fact that back at the mine, Knock Out has found a single drop of synthetic energon.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] (8) (flashback)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (7)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (9)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
*[[Decepticon Miner]] (11)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==
"HOOAAH!"
:—'''Ratchet''' gets a new catchphrase. He needed that.

'''Ratchet:''' (''clicks as he walks by'') How's it hummin'? 
'''Arcee:''' ...Did he just? 
'''Bulkhead:''' Stronger, faster, studlier.
:—Yeah, he did.

"It's all right! I'm an emergency vehicle!"
:—'''Ratchet''', engaging the Decepticons.

"Get melted, Autobot!" 
"''Melted''? Now there's a concept. (''activates blowtorch'') I won't ask you again! ''Where? Is? Megatron?''"
:—A '''Vehicon Miner''''s insult to '''Ratchet''' backfires horribly.

"Yeah, she's kinda domineering and the extra arms are weird, but... I find myself intrigued by her."
:—'''Breakdown''' chats to a miner about his thoughts on [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]].

'''Megatron:''' (''speaking to Knock Out'') ''That'' is your fearsome new adversary? (''Chuckles'') He's Optimus Prime's medic! 
'''Ratchet:''' (''speaking to Megatron'') Oh no, '''Megatron''', I am your doctor of doom! 
:-'''Ratchet''' boasts to '''Megatron'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*After Arcee continues to chase down Knock Out and Breakdown, air-support arrives. However, when they shoot Arcee, Knock Out and Breakdown have vanished from in front of her. Furthermore, when the other Autobots finally climb over the rock pile to help Arcee, she is only a few yards from the pile, whereas she should be several miles away.
*During his first fight with the Vehicons, Ratchet slices the arm off one and throws it to the ground, where it stays. When Ratchet moves on to his next opponent, the arm simply blinks out of existence.
*Bumblebee is shown returning with the other Autobots despite staying at base to operate the GroundBridge.
*The sample of synthetic energon Knock Out was holding was only about half full, but when Ratchet picked it up, it was completely full.
*Just before destroying the cylinder of synthetic energon, Ratchet's wound is not shown to be leaking. Mere moments after he's hit the ground, another puddle of energon has formed beneath him.
*Breakdown is knocked out by Ratchet just before he engages Megatron. When the Autobots show up at the end, however, Breakdown has vanished and he isn't shown fleeing with Knock Out.
*You can see several instances during Ratchet's first fight with the Vehicons where his shoulder-pad-thingies cut into his backpack, chest and torso.

===Other errors===
*Ratchet jumps onto and leaps off of a tree branch which seems totally capable of supporting all the weight of an SUV landing on top of it with all that force, then leaping off. Not so much as a wood chip or crack to be seen - though it does creak audibly.
*When Ratchet first injects himself, he drops the glass cylinder and it shatters on the ground. Later, when Knock Out collects a sample of the synthetic energon in a nearly identical cylinder, and Ratchet kicks it out of his hands, the cylinder flies ''across the entire room'' and lands without breaking. Then Ratchet throws it against a rock wall in the same room and it breaks instantly.
*When Arcee is hurt, she obviously couldn't move her leg, but when she walks through the GroundBridge she is magically healed.

===Continuity notes===
* The synthetic energon created in the episode is derived from the formula transcribed by Bulkhead in [[T.M.I.|the previous episode]].
* Ratchet's description of the Autobots having fought numerous battles recently is accompanied by flashbacks to various battles from the "[[Darkness Rising]]" five-part pilot among others, including "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and "[[Partners]]".
* The engine Ratchet uses to test the synthetic energon is a larger version of the device Ratchet built for [[Jack Darby|Jack's]] science project in "[[Masters & Students]]". Thankfully, it doesn't flip out like Jack's did.
* Knock Out confuses Ratchet for a "new" Autobot. Which makes sense, since he hasn't encountered him before. Ratchet ''was'' with the other Autobots when they charged in to rescue Bulkhead from Starscream and Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]", but it's entirely possible that Breakdown simply didn't see him, since he was focused on escaping and missing an eye at the time.

===Real-world references===
* Given that the plot centres on the idea of artificial enhancement, this episode's title is almost certainly a reference to the opening of the 1974 ''[[wikipedia:The Six Million Dollar Man|Six Million Dollar Man]]'' series, which promised a cybernetic secret agent who was "Better, stronger, faster."
** That said, there's also the possibility it could be a reference to the original [[Action Master]]s [[commercial/Generation 1#1990|commercial]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] described the new breed of Transformer as "Stronger, faster, more alive!"
** And we guess we wouldn't ''totally'' rule out the notion that it refers to ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' director/producer [[George Lucas]]'s desire for his actors to be "Stronger, faster— more intense!", or Daft Punk's 2009 [[Wikipedia:Grammy|Grammy]] winning song ''Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger''.
* It's also the same plot as about a billion after-school specials on the dangers of drugs.
* Ratchet referred to himself as Megatron's "[[Doctor Doom|Doctor of Doom]]." This goes without saying.
* Ratchet dabbling with a green liquid 'enhancement' is reminiscent of his voice actor, [[Jeffrey Combs]] in ''Re-Animator''.
* Ratchet's short-lived new catchphrase, "hooah", is the battle cry/general term of acknowledgement of the [[United States Army]].

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gegen die Vorschrift'''" ("Against the Rules")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 17|17 February]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Erősebb, gyorsabb'''" ("Stronger, Faster")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 7|7 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Più forte, più veloce'''" ("Stronger, Faster")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 10|10 December]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hapseong Eneojon'''" (합성 에너존, "Synthetic Energon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 3|3 January]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 2|2 April]] [[2012]]

'''Spanish (Spain)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Más fuerte, más rápido'''" ("Stronger, Faster")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 14|14 July]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*The episode was first broadcast on Canada's Teletoon channel. It later first aired in the United States on [[September 17]], [[2011]].
*When Ratchet transforms to attack the Decepticon miners, his [[license plate]] reads "'''449·EPQ'''".
*This was the last stand-alone episode until "[[Loose Cannons]]" in Season 2. It was followed by a seven-part story arc, a two-parter, and massive delays between episode airings.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Death

2012-08-19T17:36:03Z

24.71.20.24: /* Destruction of brain */

{{disambig2|the end of life|the Horseman of Unicron|Airazor (Armada)}}

[[Image:Battleofautobotcity.jpg|right|300px|thumb|And lo, the children did weep.]]

''Transformers'' is a children's franchise, but at its core, it's a story of war. This means that the '''death''' of major and minor characters sometimes figures into the fiction.

Given the ambiguous nature of [[Transformer]] physiology, there is very little consistency regarding what is fatal to a Transformer, even within a single storyline. Damage that one Transformer might shrug off can prove fatal to another, or even to the same character in a different story. Sometimes just a laser blast or two will do the trick. Other times, characters survive being melted, crushed into cubes, and even utterly disintegrated. It does not take a terribly cynical viewer to conclude that the threshold of survival is generally determined by the needs of the plot.

The out-of-universe reasons for a character's death can vary from plot development to the arrival of [[To sell toys|new toys]]. Conveniently enough for writers who are beholden to the whims of a toy company, the majority of Transformers characters are machines, which means that death isn't necessarily permanent. Across the various universes, characters that appear to have been killed have been known to pop up alive again at a later date, or go through some sort of resurrection.

{{quote|"How can you all be so cold and unfeeling? He died a hero!" "Don't you even have mechanical hearts?" "The humans don't understand! Our form of life is vastly different from theirs!"|[[Spider-Man]], [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Prisoner of War!]]"|noquote=true}}

==In-fiction causes of death==
[[Image:DEATH.jpg|left|thumb|400px|[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] is just as puzzled as the rest of us.]]

There is little consistency in what can kill a Transformer. Sometimes it takes just a shot. Other times, even totally annihilating a Transformer's body still doesn't do the trick. Even the most basic method of killing, which is to destroy or otherwise cause the loss of a Transformer's [[spark]], varies quite a bit in its details from story to story, character to character, and series to series.
{{--}}
===Weaponsfire===
{{bigquote|This was almost too easy, Starscream!|[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (like the fandom) is surprised to find how easily Autobots die, ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|200px|thumb|We're here aboard the Autobot shuttle, where we've secretly replaced Brawn's hyper-dense metal armor plating with styrene plastic. Let's see if anyone can tell the difference.]]

[[Image:TFTM UltraMagnus dies.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Prepare for your death today. Yer gonna die!!]]

[[Image:Magnusdeath.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ow! Hey! Cut it out, guys! That hurts!]]

[[Image:Blades1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Sorry, [[Outpost B-67 exo-structuring party|nameless guy]], your generic nature means you will never be miraculously resurrected.]]

Like humans, Transformers can be killed by damage caused by energy, projectile, and chemical weapons. Just how many shots it takes is widely variable, however.
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]:
** Many casualties of the [[Battle of Autobot City]] (and its run-up), including [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], were victims of energy weapons. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}} This was quite a change from the cartoon's M.O., wherein the same characters routinely got shot and blasted all the time and shrugged it off, or at worst spent some time in the repair bay. Brawn and Prowl both went down after ''one shot''.
** [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] subsequently "dies" after being shot a few times by the [[Sweep]]s, exploding into pieces. He is soon revived by the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], however. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
** In the Japanese continuity, Ultra Magnus dies ''again'', for real this time, after [[Sixshot]] shoots him a few times. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}
* In the [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel comics]]:
** [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] was cut down by a single head shot from [[Macabre]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}
** Most deaths in the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' book occurred from energy weapons, such as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}} as well as numerous generics. {{storylink|War Without End!}} Quite a few victims exploded spectacularly after being shot, including [[Tantrum]], {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], {{storylink|New Dawn}} and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}}
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon:
** [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] dies after incurring severe damage from numerous [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] weapons. {{storylink|Code of Hero}} Other characters have survived similar or worse levels of damage, but the episode gave a reason: Dinobot refuses to go into [[stasis lock]], which his onboard computer warns could "result in loss of Spark" if he keeps it up.
** [[Tigerhawk]] is disintegrated by the main cannon of the starship ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. The same cannon subsequently blasts [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]], apparently killing them, though their "death" may be permanent simply because there was nobody around to put them back together. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
* ''Armada'' cartoon: [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] dies holding back the [[Hydra Cannon]], the damage causing him to [[:Image:Sshot-arm-39-4.jpg|crumble to dust]]. {{storylink|Crisis}}
* [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] G1 comics: [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] is killed by [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} He got better. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}
* [[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]: [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] was shot and killed by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] during the final battle of the [[Universe War]].
* This happens a ''lot'' in the [[Movie continuity]]:
**[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] and [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] both died from weapons fire. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}
**A crapload of [[Protoform]]s were shot down by [[NEST]] soldiers. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
** [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] shoots and kill many Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers: Rising Storm}}.
** [[Crowbar |Crowbar]] was shot in the face by Ironhide. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
**[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] was shot in the back by [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]]'s Cosmic Rust Blaster.
**[[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]] was killed by a Decepticon protoform.
** All the [[Appliancebot]]s were killed by [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]].
* "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]": [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]] gets his face blown off/in by [[Cyclonus (SG)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 4}}
{{--}}
* Many goons during the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)| War for Cybertron]] died from being shot. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron}}

===Big explosions===
{{bigquote|They're going to blow us all to pieces! [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]]'s booby-trapped - packed with enough explosives to level this whole mountain!|[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], "[[The Wrath of Grimlock!]]"}}

Transformers characters often assume that explosions are more lethal than they really are; characters survive explosions all the time. An explosion's messy nature makes a good "out" for a writer to fake a character's death. {{storylink|The Wrath of Grimlock!}} {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}} Nevertheless, a few characters have been permanently killed by explosions. (This list omits characters who exploded from within, like Ultra Magnus up above.)
* In the Marvel comics:
** [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] was the victim of an interdimensionally triggered explosion that destroyed his body. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} However, in the UK continuity he survived as a raggedy, bodiless head. {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}}
** In an alternate future, a wounded [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] died in the fiery explosion of a crashing shuttlecraft. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}
** [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] was killed when a prototype [[pathblaster]] exploded in his face. {{storylink|Time Wars}}
** [[Finback]] was presumably killed in the explosion of a huge gun battery. [[Misfire]] tried to warn him off, and may have been killed in the same explosion. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
* ''Beast Wars'' cartoon:
** [[Optimus Primal]] was blown to bits — terminally so — by the [[transwarp]] explosion that destroyed the [[Planet Buster]]. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}
** [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] was killed by the explosion that resulted from [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]'s death (either his exploding spark, or the exploding energon shard that pierced it.) {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}
* Several of the [[Beast Era]] [[Wrecker]]s ([[Sonar (BW)|Sonar]], [[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]], the [[Deployer (BM)|Deployers]]) were destroyed when part of their ship exploded with them in it. {{storylink|Betrayal}}
* Energon: [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]] was killed when Storm Jet caused a massive explosion that engulfed them both.
* ''Prime'': [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] and the surrounding [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s were blown up by a grenade attached by the Autobots. Both the Vehicons and Makeshift were killed in the blast. (According to an interview at [[BotCon 2011]] with the ''Prime'' show runners, Makeshift was deemed too overpowered to be a regular in the show, so they killed him off at the end of the episode.) {{storylink|Con Job}}
*IDW Continuity: [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] and [[Skullgrin]] were killed when Springer blew them up with a grenade. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3}}
* ''Movie Continuty'': [[Crankcase (DOTM)|Crankcase]] blew up when Ironhide kicked him into a gas station. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)}}

===Impact trauma===
Falling off a cliff or mountainside or tall building is usually just as fatal to Transformers as it is to, say... Wile E. Coyote. Only on rare occasion does it result in death:
* ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' continuity: [[Hacksaw]] met his end by falling from a huge communications tower. {{storylink|The New World}}
* IDW G1 continuity: [[Doubledealer]] was shot, fell off a mountain and smashed to bits on impact. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}
* Movie continuity:
**[[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] fell off the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] after losing his balance when his arm was shot off, and he shattered to pieces as he tumbled down. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
** [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] was smashed to pieces and killed by being flung into a freeway column. {{storylink|Movie Adaptation issue 4|Movie Adaptation Issue Number Four}}
** [[Hatchet]] met his end when [[Mirage (Movie)|Dino]] sent him in crashing into a car.
* The [[Beast (G1)|Beast]] fell off a cliff and shattered. {{storylink|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences}} At least, we hope that's where and how it ended.
* ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)| Prime]]'': [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] crash-landed after [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] punched out vital components in his alternate mode, reducing his body to a partially transformed scrapheap.

===Crushing===
[[Image:Edgeofextinction-hardheadbombburst.jpg|thumb|right|175px|DO NOT WANT]]

Quite a few characters have been crushed into deactivation:
* In the Marvel comics:
** [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] was smashed between [[Unicron]]'s palms, while [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] met a similar fate when they were stepped on by Unicron. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
** [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] is apparently killed when a very large building collapses on top of him. {{storylink|Escalation!}}
* [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons:
** [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] is killed when caught between two folding sections of Unicron's external armor. {{storylink|Union}}
** [[Shockblast]] is crushed by Unicron's hand on [[Blizzard Planet]]. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}}
** His brother [[Six Shot]] meets a similar fate, crushed under the heel of a super-sized Galvatron. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}}
* IDW continuity:
** [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] was crushed when Megatron caused an avalanche to fall on him.
** [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]], [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]], and [[Skullcruncher]] were all crushed by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]].
** [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] was killed when a group of police set fire to a building and let it collapse on him, crushing him.
* Movie continuity:
** [[Dispensor]] was crushed under [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s foot.

===Melting===
[[Image:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Even having a new toy couldn't save Terrorsaur!]]

[[Image:Fallout title.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Primal's diet had gone horribly wrong.]]

They're made of metal; therefore, with enough heat or sufficiently acidic material, they can melt. This is one of the more fool-proof methods of killing a Transformer; few if any have survived it.
* In the G1 cartoon:
** An acid vat would apparently have been enough to destroy Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}
** Another acid vat was used to disintegrate living victims of Unicron. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
* In the Marvel comics:
** Victims of the Deception [[smelting pool]]s on Cybertron were reduced by intense heat into their base metals, including [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}}
** It is possible that an acid bath from (naturally) [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] offlined [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] [[Makin' Tracks!|(for a while anyway)]]. {{storylink|Dark Star}}
** [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] was partially melted by Unicron's flame-breath and subsequently died. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
** The [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]] used some kind of acid to rather messily eradicate some of their Decepticon ancestors, including [[Stranglehold]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}}
* In the Beast Era cartoons:
** [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] were apparently melted to death after tumbling into a lava pit within the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]]. {{storylink|Aftermath}}
** Optimus Primal's body was seemingly melted into the floor after his climactic face-off with [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. Considering how many god-like forces were unleashed and conflicting during the battle, his demise may be due to more than simple temperature-induced melting. {{storylink|Fallout}}

===Incineration===
{{bigquote|I saw the end! They died in a cosmic funeral pyre!|[[Shawn Berger]], "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2]]"}}

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime hangon to Galvatron.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Galvatron died to save everyone and came back ''twice''—you lose, [[Jesus]]!]]

Plasma, energy fields, and stellar atmospheres can all utterly destroy a Transformer's body. Like being melted, being reduced to one's component molecules would seem to be a surefire way of getting killed, but quite a few characters seem able to survive the process as ghosts and/or disembodied sparks:
* Generation 1 cartoon: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s spectacular death at the hands of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] might be categorized as incineration. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
* Quite a few characters met this fate in the Unicron Trilogy, but all survived it in some fashion:
** [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]'s spark persisted within his burnt-out body when he was dropped into the exploding Unicron. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}} {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}}
** [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s body was obliterated by an expanding energon grid, but his spark survived the process and was placed in a new body. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}
** [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] was destroyed when he threw himself into a star, but his spark was salvaged by the Autobots and, again, placed in a new body. {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}
** And finally, Megatron (Galvatron, whatever) threw himself into Primus's new energon sun to prevent Unicron from possessing him, killing himself yet again. {{storylink|The Sun}} This death was so inconsequential that his subsequent resurrection wasn't even explained! {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

===Consumption===
{{bigquote|...If we don't find the Matrix, some bad guy's gonna ''eat'' us! Right?|Longtooth, "[[Deadly Obsession]]"}}

[[Image:Wreckers Mutants.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The shocking death of the barely-seen guys with hardly any lines!]]
[[Image:Rocky mecannibal bartender marvel uk 240.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cannibalism is hilarious, kids!]]

Quite a few critters in the multiverse are equipped to devour giant robots. Being eaten (and, presumably, digested) generally proves fatal:
* In the G1 cartoon:
** Various life forms were routinely devoured by the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s on Quintessa. This included [[Kranix]], a mechanical life form, though not a Transformer. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] would have suffered this fate as well, but fought their way free. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
** Quite a few Transformers found their way into Unicron's gullet, though many survived the experience. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
* In the Marvel comic:
** The [[Mecannibal]]s ate robots routinely, including quite a few Transformers during their sojourn on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} {{storylink|Out to Lunch!}} There is some indication that they could actually reconstitute their victims from their "recycled" parts, though this is never explicitly shown. {{storylink|Recipe for Disaster!}}
** Unicron skewered [[Brainstorm]] and ate him. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
** The subsurface-dwelling [[demon]]s devoured [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
** The Swarm "devoured" innumerable Cybertronians and a handful of older-generation Transformers as well, though this was through a molecular process almost akin to incineration. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}} {{storylink|Total War!}} {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
* The Sharkticons killed two of the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]] by gobbling them up. Or ripping them apart. Or both. We don't really know. {{storylink|Betrayal}}
* [[Flanker]] was eaten up and killed by the [[Insecticon (G1)|"Deluxe" Insecticons]].

===Disassembly===

[[Image:Jazz DyingAction.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"HERE'S what I think of your resemblance to your G1 counterpart!"]]

Taking a Transformer apart into its component parts can occasionally kill them:
* Marvel comics:
**[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] met this fate in an alternate future, when Swoop used a machine to pull him apart into his component pieces. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
**A future version of Ultra Magnus may have been killed when a group of Decepticons mobbed him and ripped him up. {{storylink|Time Wars}}
* Movie continuity:
**Being ripped in half by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] killed [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] was killed when Bumblebee ripped his spine out, tearing him apart. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
**A Decepticon pilot was ripped to pieces by the Wreckers.
* IDW comic continuity: [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] was torn apart and killed while making a final stand against a mass of generic Decepticons. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}
* ''Prime'' cartoon:
** When fighting [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s zombie army, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] recommended dissection to [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] to "cut" them down to size. How this is more effective then just blasting the living slag out of them is still up for debate. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}
** [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] managed to offline [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] by tearing him limb from limb, leaving only a pile of mutilated body parts in her wake. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

===Decapitation===
{{main|Decapitation}}

[[Image:Cyclonus death.jpg|thumb|right|150px| "CHUK!" is good, but I could really go for a "Shakkooosh" right about now.]]

Sometimes cutting a Transformer's head off is fatal. Sometimes!
* In the Marvel comics:
** The Megatron clone killed Cyclonus by ripping his head off. {{storylink|Dry Run!}}
** Several of the Wreckers were killed by having their heads ripped or blasted off, including Twin Twist and Topspin, respectively. {{storylink|Time Wars}}
** [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] had his head cut off by a propeller fired by [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]], presumably (given the ''Generation 2'' book's emphasis on body count) killing him. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
* In the movie continuity:
** Characters frequently die by decapitation of some form: [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} and [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
** Decapitation was an inconvenience for [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] the first time. The second time, when the blow actually destroyed most of his head, was fatal.
** [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] are decapitated in the third movie. [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]]'s and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]'s heads fell off when they died, possibly to add finality to their demises. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
** [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]'s head was crushed by [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]]'s ''bare fist''.
* IDW comic continuity:
** The heads of [[Springarm]] and [[Wheelarch]] are removed and then mockingly put on display to creep out [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]].

===Bifurcation===
[[Image:VictoryUKAnnual.JPG|thumb|right|150px| Ahhhh, there we go...]]

{{bigquote|I have no desire to be carved up into Auto-sushi.|Tracks, "[[Make Tracks]]"}}

Getting chopped in half is pretty graphic for a kids' story, even one about robots, so it doesn't happen very often.
* Marvel comics: In a dream sequence, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] slices [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in half, killing him. {{storylink|Victory!}}
* Japanese G1 cartoon: [[Predaking]] gets sliced in half by Dai Atlas. The strike dissects what appears to be an organic brain in his head. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}
* ''Beast Wars Metals'': Terrorsaur was killed by being sliced in half by Primal's mace. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}
* Movie continuity: [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] dies when [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] slices his car mode in two. [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] slices [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] in half at the chest but Mixmaster survived this. Getting his skull stomped off, not so much. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* War For Cybertron: In the opening, a Decepticon goon was chopped in half by Optimus Prime.

===Destruction of brain===
{{bigquote|Next strike in the neural cluster, yes? Weakest spot on ''all'' Transformers...|[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], "[[Fire on High!]]"}}

In the early days of the franchise, a Transformer's life force was sometimes understood to be entirely contained within their [[brain module]], most prominently in the Marvel comics. Destroying the brain would kill the Transformer. This premise was eventually passed over in favor of the more esoteric concept of [[spark]]s.
* In the Marvel comics:
** In an alternate future, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] is blasted by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], who kills him by extracting and crushing his brain module. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}
** The [[Throttlebot]]s ''avoid'' death by having their brain modules removed from their bodies shortly before their bodies are destroyed (by crushing). {{storylink|Toy Soldiers!}}
* Movie continuity:
** Optimus Prime kills Sentinel Prime by shooting him in the head with Megatron's shotgun. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
* IDW Generation 1 continuity:
** Overlord blasts Rotorstorm right in the head, destroying his brain module. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4}}
** Impactor killed [[Snare]] by crushing his brain module. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4}}
** [[Squadron X]] were all shot in the head. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4}}

===Destruction of spark===
{{bigquote|RAW energon! Right through your twisted spark!|Depth Charge to Rampage, "[[Nemesis Part 1]]"}}

[[Image:Skyfallwontbethereforit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|And then he hung Skyfall from his ceiling.]]

Getting stabbed right through the spark is almost always fatal:
* In ''Beast Wars'': The supposedly immortal Rampage was killed when Depth Charge pierced his spark with an energon blade. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}
* ''[[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTech]]'': [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] died when [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] rammed his sword right through his chest. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 6}}
*Energon: [[Constructicon Maximus]] was killed when [[Storm Jet (Energon)|Storm Jet]] impaled and crushed his spark.
* ''Cybertron'': [[Megatron (Armada)#Cybertron cartoon|Galvatron]] died after being impaled with [[Rhisling]] by [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Unfinished}}
* Movie continuity: Optimus Prime died when Megatron stabbed him through the chest with his death-lock pincer, followed by a blast from his fusion cannon through the spark chamber. [[The Fallen]] also met his end when a resurrected Optimus punched through his chest and crushed his spark. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's Movie comics]]: Transformers have forcefields shielding their sparks, which can be externalized to protect bodywork. Jazz loved doing this, leaving him far more vulnerable to death by destruction of spark than he would otherwise be. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 6|Lost in Space 4: Jazz}}

That's not the only way to destroy a spark either:

* ''Beast Machines'' continuity: [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] - already reduced to a spark within the matrix - ceased to be when Megatron annihilated his spark from existence. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}
* IDW continuity: [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] has modified his vocal processor so that he can get his voice into synch with a spark's pulse and then get it to stop. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}}

===Loss of spark===
{{bigquote|Warning. Further expenditure will result in permanent loss of spark. Stasis lock ''must'' commence.|[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]'s internal computer, "[[Code of Hero]]"}}

[[Image:Jetstorm_with_extractor.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Lost, stolen, whatever...]]

Sometimes sparks can survive outside of a body; sometimes they cannot. In the Beast Era, there is some indication that a spark left outside a body will soon begin to return to the Matrix/AllSpark/another dimension.
* When Dinobot expires after his final battle, his Spark is seen exiting his body. The implication is that a sufficiently damaged body can no longer hold a spark within this dimension. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* ''Beast Machines'' subsequently showed living sparks existing outside of bodies on a regular basis. The sparkless bodies were simply considered shells, rather than "dead", due to the fact that the sparks were forcibly removed with a [[spark extractor]].
* ''Animated'' cartoon: Prowl dies when he intentionally relinquishes his own spark. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}
* Movie continuity: Jetfire rips out his own spark chamber to give Optimus a fighting chance. The Fallen also meets the similar fate, Optimus punching through his spark chamber and crushing his spark. Ouch. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

===Energy overload===
{{bigquote|We may need energon for power, but this is too much of a good thing.|[[Optimus Primal]], "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]"}}

[[Image:TFAnimated transformandrollout DEATH.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Death — the Optimus version of a power nap.]]
[[Image:Underbaseallmine.jpg|thumb|right|200px|He's got an Underbase in his underpants.]]

The average [[human]] needs a lot of [[water]] to survive. But too much water results in [[wikipedia:Water intoxication|a horrible death]]. Similarly, Transformers need energy to survive, but too much of it can be a very bad thing. Sometimes it's just plain old energy; other times it some special god-like force that does them in.
* In the Marvel comics:
** An [[Underbase]]-empowered Starscream slaughtered dozens of Transformers with energy blasts, {{storylink|Dark Star}} which reportedly burned out millions of their [[microchip]]s. {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} Some Transformers were seen to recover from these attacks, either via conventional repairs {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} or through the power of [[nucleon]]. {{storylink|The Void! (US)}}
** Starscream himself was killed when he absorbed all the energies of the Underbase. {{storylink|Dark Star}}
** [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] was apparently killed when struck by a blast of energy from the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], though the physical effect was more like being hit by an especially powerful laser blast. {{storylink|All Fall Down|All Fall Down (issue)}}
* ''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon: [[Sixknight]] died from an overcharge of BlackZarak's Devil Power. {{storylink|Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z}}
* IDW G1 continuity: [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] dies when one of the [[Reaper]]s zaps him full of energy, causing him to explode from within. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6}}
* Movie continuity: [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] was killed when [[Sam Witwicky]] shoved the [[AllSpark]] into his chest. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} [[Evac (Ride)|Evac]] did the same thing with the Allspark shard with Megatron {{storylink|Transformers: The Ride}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' cartoon: [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] got caught in an explosion of [[AllSpark]] energy that may have been sufficient to kill him, although he also fell off a very tall building immediately afterwards (Starscream was caught in the same explosion and survived, but was knocked offline for an unspecified period.)

===Energy depletion===
On rare occasion, Transformers can simply run out of energy completely and expire.
* Marvel comics: the ancient [[Overlord (rank)|Overlord]] died from a lack of energy. {{storylink|State Games}}
* Movie continuity: [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] explains that a lack of energon causes the Transformer equivalent of aging, such as rusting joints, mental confusion, and pieces falling apart, followed by an indefinite period of stasis that can only be reversed by an infusion of Allspark energy. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Vector Prime|Vector Prime]] dies after he helps the crew to time travel. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}}

===Suicide===
Sometimes a Transformer kills himself for some reason.
* Marvel comics
** Dirge and Nightbeat, rather than be eaten by the Swarm, self destructed.
* ''Beast Wars''
** Transformers can deliberately override the stasis lock protocols, even if this will result in death. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
** In the final battles, Depth Charge allowed himself to be blown up killing Rampage and Rampage let Depth Charge kill him {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}. [[Dinobot II]] let himself go down with the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
* ''Energon'': Galvatron, Starscream, and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] threw themselves into a sun and vaporized themselves. [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] and Demolishor may have also done this.
* ''Revenge of the Fallen'': Jetfire ripped out his entire spark housing for Optimus Prime to have enough power to kill The Fallen.

===Disease===

You may think giant robots couldn't have diseases but it turns out they can!

* Marvel comics: [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] contracted [[Corrodia Gravis]], a wasting disease where your body is consumed by rust as your metal breaks down at molecular level. Only a systems boost from a compatible donor could save Snarl {{storylink|Assassins}} but the disease came back anyway. The best cure is to store a Transformer's brain in remote storage and build a whole new body. {{storylink|Destiny of the Dinobots!}}

* IDW comics: [[Pharma]] engineered the [[Red Rust]] virus: spread by touch, triggered by transforming, and causes all the coolants, dispersants and anti-rusting agents in a Transformer to cross-contaminate and cause a molecular breakdown. The first sign is when the Transformer starts "crying" the fuel out. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}} Most of [[Delphi]] was killed. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}

==Non-fatal deactivation==
{{quote|"You mean he's still alive?!" "No! But neither is he what you would term 'dead'!"|[[Spider-Man]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], "[[Prisoner of War!]]"|noquote=true}}

[[Image:Zombiesbackfromthedead.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Braiiiiiin mooooodulllllles....]]

For almost every single cause of death listed above, there's been one or more Transformers who have survived it, sometimes without so much as a period of unconsciousness.

In particular, "deactivation" is the Transformers equivalent of being in a coma. Numerous Transformers are seen to enter this state and eventually recover, such as the Autobots deactivated by Shockwave, {{storylink|The Last Stand}} who later were repaired. However, the line between death and deactivation is a blurry one. Sometimes the two words are used interchangeably, even in reference to characters who are later revived. Most of Starscream's Underbase victims were described as deactivated, and were sometimes lamented as "dead" while at other times were shown undergoing repairs. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} {{storylink|The Gathering Storm}}

"[[Stasis lock]]" would eventually give a more concrete name to the state of deactivation. The inert Transformers on the crashed Ark were retconned as being in stasis lock. Various ''Beast Wars'' characters would go into stasis lock to maintain their spark when their body had sustained too much damage from weaponsfire or energon absorption. ''Animated'' showed a crew of Autobots voluntarily entering protective stasis lock in anticipation of a crash landing.

Some of the quasi-fatal things which can cause a Transformer to "deactivate" include:

===Impact trauma===
Smashing into something usually knocks out a Transformer, but almost never actually kills them:
* The crew of the original [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] is deactivated when the ship crashes on Earth and lies inert for 4 million years {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)}}
** ''Dark of the Moon'' also has the Ark crash onto the moon and offline the crew.
* Marvel comics: [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] falls to his "death", but is patched together and talking again in short order. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}}

===Decapitation===
[[Image:Sentinelprimeanimatedhumiliated.jpg|thumb|200px|In the movie continuity, this would've been fatal. In ''Animated'', it's just embarrassing.]]

{{bigquote|Anyone who can lop your head off in one blow is alright by me!|[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] jokes about [[Cloudburst]]'s near-death experience, "[[Recipe for Disaster!]]"}}

Like we said before, decapitation is sometimes fatal... and other times it isn't.
* Marvel comic:
** Optimus Prime was able to survive as just a head when Shockwave separated it from his body in an effort to get the Creation Matrix. {{storylink|The New Order}}
**[[Cloudburst]] was abruptly decapitated by sword, but was just fine after some repairs. {{storylink|Recipe for Disaster!}}
* G1 cartoon: Optimus Prime was disassembled into his component parts, but functioned just fine as nothing more than a head once [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] connected a few wires. {{storylink|City of Steel}}
* ''Beast Wars'' cartoon: [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] survives having his head blasted or otherwise knocked off multiple times, {{storylink|Spider's Game}} {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}} {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Code of Hero}} and even put it back on himself one time. He even accidentally swapped heads with Megatron once. Megatron was not amused. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}} And let's not even get started on how many times [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] has lost his head.
* IDW G1 continuity: [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] was just fine when one of the Reapers whacked his head off. (He didn't fare so well when another Reaper crushed his head with a boulder, however.) {{storylink|Devastation issue 6}}
* ''Animated'' cartoon: Decapitated victims of the ''Animated'' [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] rarely show any ill effects other than not having a body anymore. {{storylink|Headmaster (episode)|Headmaster}} {{storylink|The Return of the Headmaster}} {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}
* Movie Continuity: Frenzy survived his first decapitation by [[Mikaela Banes]].

===Dismemberment===
Transformers get ripped to pieces all the time, and recover from it:
* Marvel comic: Scorponok tears [[Tantrum]] to pieces. [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] slices [[Horri-Bull]] in half at the waist. Both are seen alive later on. {{storylink|Cold War!}}
* Last Stand of the Wreckers: [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] is torn in half by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] and is easily repaired. The same also happened to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]].

===Spark removal===
{{bigquote|His spark can't exist outside a living body!|[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], "[[Optimal Situation]]"}}

A Transformer's spark—their "soul", their living essence—can be removed from their body, or the body can be destroyed around them
* The destruction of Starscream's body, and his subsequent survival as a ghost, was eventually retconned to be his Spark enduring without a physical form. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}} {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} {{storylink|Possession}}
* ''Beast Wars'' cartoon: Tigatron and Airazor's sparks spent quite some time wandering around behind Tigerhawk, before combining and entering his body. {{storylink|Other Victories}}
* In the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon:
** Megatron de-sparked most of Cybertron's population and stored their sparks in a big barrel. Most were restored to bodies eventually. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}
** Blackarachnia's spark wandered around bodiless for a time. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}
** Megatron himself, his spark in a depolarized state, wandered the surface of Cybertron without a body for a time. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

The treatment of bodiless sparks in ''Beast Machines'' is seen by some fans as contradicting the canon established by ''Beast Wars'', particularly the quote above.

===Limbo===
Sometimes Transformers get shunted out of creation as we know it, and into various alternate, sub- and non-dimensions.
* Marvel comics:
** The [[trans-time dimensional portal]] crosses [[unspace]], "a bit of dimensional nothingness" where Ratchet and Megatron vanished and were believed dead. {{storylink|The Gathering Storm}}
** Transformers mass-displaced by time travel wind up in a formless dimension known as [[Limbo]].
* IDW comics: Megatron severely damaged Optimus Prime in battle and planned on finishing him off by crushing his [[Laser core|spark core]]. Optimus Prime feigned death by downloading his "consciousness" into his [[Combat Deck (G1)|trailer section]], causing his [[Brain Center|robot mode]] to appear dead. In the time it took for Prime's consciousness to transfer to his trailer, he briefly entered [[infraspace|limbo]], the transitional infraspace between life and death. {{storylink|The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation}}
*Generation 1 cartoon:
**Come on, we all know what REALLY happened to the likes of Seaspray and Tracks.

==Resuscitation==
Robots are machines. They can be switched off, taken apart, blown to bits, and put back together. Ergo, in many continuities and cases, "death" is not nearly as permanent a condition as it is for us fragile fleshy types.

===Reconstruction===
[[Image:PeoplePower-reprogrammed.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]

{{bigquote|I've done it! Optimus Prime lives!|A random Quintesson, "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]"}}

* Generation 1 cartoon: Optimus Prime was simply ''repaired'' back to life by a Quintesson. Some fixing of this and that, a burst of power, and boom, suddenly he was alive again. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}
* Marvel comics: Optimus Prime's mind was encoded on a disk. After a new [[Powermaster]] body was constructed for him, the disk's contents were loaded into it, and Optimus Prime lived again. (One wonders why they couldn't make as many Optimus Primes as they pleased.) {{storylink|People Power!}}

===Spark transfer===
Transferring a Transformer's spark into a new body constitutes a form of resurrection, particularly if the Transformer's previous body was destroyed.
* ''Beast Wars'' cartoon: Optimus Primal was restored to life when Rhinox managed to recall his spark from the Matrix, a special circumstance only enabled by a temporary window into transwarp space. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}
* "Beast Machines" various Vehicon generals were brought to life by placing other Transformer's sparks into them.
* ''Armada'' Smokescreen was shot through the chest at point blank range by the Requiem Blaster {{storylink|Sacrifice}} but his spark survived and was put into a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}
* ''Energon'' cartoon: Inferno and Demolishor both had their bodies ''atomized''; however, their sparks both survived, and were placed into new bodies. (The upshot of all of this is that it's nigh-impossible to kill a Unicron Trilogy Transformer, unless they do it themselves.) {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}} {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}
* ''Animated'' cartoon: The spark of a dying [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]] was placed into a new protoform body by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]; however, Yoketron consciously chose to let his life end, and expired anyway. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

==="Magical" substances===
* Marvel comics: The miraculous healing properties of Nucleon brought many Autobots back to life, as well as a few Decepticons. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}
* ''Energon'' cartoon: Megatron was revived by the all-encompassing power of energon, as was Unicron. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}}

===Primus and Primus-related powers===
{{bigquote|Where the Last Autobot is concerned, even death, it would appear, is an abstract concept!|Optimus Prime explains his latest revival, "[[End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!]]"}}

Anything tied to the primordial life-force of the Transformers' god Primus tends to be a cure-all for death. This includes Primus himself, his various power-wielding avatars and servants, and the assorted Matrixes and Allsparks, all of which can deliver an infusion of the essence of life itself. In some continuities, this is parsed as a Transformer's spark being brought back out of the Allspark dimension.

[[Image:RageInHeaven-HeroPrime.jpg|thumb|right|150px|]]

* In the Marvel comics:
** The [[Last Autobot]] was granted the power of recreation by Primus, which he used to raise numerous fallen Autobots from the battlefield. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)}}
** Optimus Prime was eager to find the lost Creation Matrix, stating that it would be able to restore many deactivated warriors to life. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}}
** Optimus Prime was restored to life by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] after it had ingested the energies and knowledge of the Matrix. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
* In the movie continuity:
** The Allspark is shown repeatedly to be capable of restoring just about anything. Frenzy gets a whole new body from its power, Bumblebee temporarily gets his voice back, {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} and Megatron is restored to life by merely a fragment of it. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
** Optimus Prime was restored to life by the Matrix of Leadership, an Allspark-related talisman. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
** Sentinel Prime is revived after crash landing on the moon by the Matrix of Leadership courtesy of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
* Sam Witwicky was brought back alive by the Primes, a creation of [[Primus]].
* ''Beast Machines'' cartoon: [[Optimus Primal]]'s body was destroyed, but the AllSpark granted him the choice of uniting with it or being reborn. He chose the latter, and ''poof'', just walked right out of the Oracle bubble in a brand new version of his previous body. {{storylink|Fallout}}
* ''Armada'' cartoon: [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] was brought back to life by the power of the [[Mini-Con]]s after his body was disintegrated. {{storylink|Miracle}}
* "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]": [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] was resurrected when he and his gestaltmates were combined together and reborn by Primus into [[Nexus Prime]]. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} Nexus Prime then brought [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]] back from the other side of the Allspark and infused him with some of Primus's power to become Galvatron. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 6}}

===Zombies===
* Dude, [[zombie]]s!

==Immortality==
===Immortal sparks===
Certain sparks have mutant qualities that allow them to, potentially, exist forever.
* Starscream survived his death at the hands of Galvatron; this was later explained as him having a "mutant indestructible spark". {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} {{storylink|Possession}} {{storylink|Bad Spark}}
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was created as an attempt to duplicate Starscream's immortal spark. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} He was eventually killed by [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]], so the attempt may be seen as unsuccessful. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}

===Other===
* [[Multiversal singularity|Multiversal singularities]] such as [[Unicron]] and [[The Fallen]] can be killed off in one dimension, only to still be alive and well in another (or many others), due to the varying properties of different dimensions (reverse-time dimensions, for example, are key to revival of the singularities).
* ''Animated'' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] could not be killed so long as he retained his Allspark fragment embedded in his forehead.
* Denizens of the [[Dead Universe]] could essentially regenerate themselves out of nothing, no matter how much damage was inflicted on them. This ability appears to no longer apply, post-[[Expansion]], except when in direct proximity to the Dead Universe.
* Thunderwing's Pretender shell seemed to make him nearly invincible. At the very least, he was able to withstand incredible amounts of salvo and not even flinch.
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] can never completely die no matter what for some reason. It's probably because if he died, the universe wouldn't be able to inflict pain on him anymore.

==Out-of-fiction causes of character death==
===Drama / character culmination===
[[Image:LastStandoftheWreckers5- Ironfistaneurism.jpg|thumb|200px|right|I told you I was ill.]]
At its best, character death can be a moving plot development, the fruition of an ongoing character arc.
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] spent much of [[Simon Furman]]'s Marvel US run conflicted and doubting himself, and under the weight of his pre-Headmaster self's reputation. He finally got past this and took the fight to Unicron, dying in the process, his last words asking Optimus if he'd done good. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
* Suspecting that they would have to remove a character from the show, the writers of ''Beast Wars'' began planning for Dinobot's death several episodes ahead of time. Thus, when it came, it was the outcome of the character's own choices, flaws, and history, and played a crucial role in the show's plot. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* Sunstreaker's death in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' is intended to follow a similar style of arc... only it's missing the whole choices, flaws and history thing. Oh well!
* Optimus Primal's death(s) in ''Beast Machines'' are likewise the outcome of his own choices and character. {{storylink|End of the Line}} {{storylink| Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}} His death in ''Beast Wars'', by contrast, was more a moment of dramatic pathos — knowingly walking into danger, his enemy got the better of him. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}
* [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s death in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' is his main plot arc, quietly built up in the background since the first issue.

===Consequences of war===
[[Image:Bulkhead Eradicon Darkness Rising 3.jpg|thumb|right|200px|His special large intestine! There's only one like it!]]
It's hard to take a war story seriously when nobody actually dies. The reality of war can be more readily portrayed when characters die. [[Generic]]s are particularly handy for this, allowing death to be shown while not removing primary characters (retail toys!) from the story. The results can range from high drama and pathos to numbingly pointless body counts.
* Impactor's death was used to drive home the threat of the Decepticons as well as the risks taken by the Autobots and their commanders. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}
* The ''Generation 2'' book featured several deaths which drove home the realities of war. Most notably, Red Alert's destruction served to make Grimlock acutely aware of just how badly he'd screwed up. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}
* Pretty much every death in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' comes under this.
* [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]], [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]], [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] and [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] are all killed in their first ''Prime'' episodes, due to just plain bad luck in the first three cases and because of a deliberate Autobot killing in Makeshift's. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] are presented as sentient ''and'' as being killed by Autobots in large numbers.

===Increased threat===
An enemy that kills is an enemy to be taken seriously. Thus a writer will frequently throw in some preliminary deaths to point out how seriously the bad guy should be treated.
* The generic who dies at the beginning of "[[City of Fear!]]" serves to show the zombies as a true life-threatening menace.
* Likewise for Runabout's death at the hands of the demons ; {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} knowing they can devour a Transformer makes the reader more concerned about the Dinobots' subsequent fate. {{storylink|Still Life!}}
* In "[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]", [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] makes corpses in practically every scene he's in!
* Cliffjumper in ''Prime'' was set up as a main character and then killed in five minutes, immediately putting the ''Prime'' Decepticons forward as a major threat.

===Cast thinning===
Transformers stories are notorious for acquiring gigantic casts as they roll on; Generation 1 was particularly notorious for this because of its longevity. A simple way to make things more manageable was simply to kill off large numbers of characters in battle. Examples are rife in the fiction, especially the Marvel comics.

* In the Marvel comics:
** The "[[Time Wars]]" storyline got rid of the [[Wrecker]]s and quite a few Decepticons as well.
** The [[Underbase Saga]] even more explicitly cleared out dozens of characters, leaving perhaps 2 dozen characters from each faction in the story.
** The battle with Unicron in "[[On the Edge of Extinction!]]" likewise got rid of a lot of older characters, leaving the story free to concentrate on more of a core cast (and associated newer toy characters.)
* [[Betrayal|Wreckers #2]] dealt with its oversized cast by killing off scads of characters right up front.

===Character motivation===
A quick and easy way to create emnity between characters is for the antagonist to kill someone close to the protagonist.

* In Marvel's comics, [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]]'s revenge plot against the new [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] is motivated by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s murder of [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]]. {{storylink|A Savage Place!}}
* In ''Energon'', [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber ''nee'' Dagger]] swore revenge on [[Shockblast]] after the murder of his partner, [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]]. {{storylink|Shockblast: Rampage}} He then forgot to care about Shockblast later but, y'know, ''Energon'' story.
* In ''Prime'', [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee's]] conflict is down to Airachnid's murder of [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]. {{storylink|Predatory}} She keeps throwing this in Arcee's face.

===Clear space for new toys===
{{main|To sell toys}}

[[Image:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|thumb|200px|right|(They also cease to appear on store shelves.)]]

Some fiction has an inherently limited capacity for characters. ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'' are by far the most prominent examples; their CGI animation made character animation expensive and necessitated removing an old character before a new one could be brought in. But any medium can be susceptible to this toy-driven phenomena.
* The numerous casualties of "[[The Transformers: The Movie]]" were fairly explicitly removed from the story to make way for a wave of new toy/characters.
* Terrorsaur and Scorponok had to be removed — quickly — to make room for the two upcoming Fuzor characters, hence their sudden, blink-and-you-miss-it death in "[[Aftermath]]".
* Airazor and Tigatron were removed for similar reasons. When their plot was finally resolved, it was, surprise, via [[Tigerhawk|a new toy]]!

{{-}}

==Fleshling death==
In general, ''Transformers'' fiction is pretty squeamish about showing the deaths of Earth's organic creatures. But it's a war, and sometimes it does happen. The out-of-universe reasons generally fall into three categories: Consequences of War, Emotional Pathos, and BLOOD IZ KEWL.

The various cartoons tend to show organic death the least, as they are most clearly aimed at, and easily accessible by, children. Comics tend to be less reluctant to show the impact of the Transformers' war on innocent lives, though the death rate varies by series. Latter-day Generation 1 books especially revel in high body counts, because squishing stupid humans is killer and awesome and radical and hardcore. Even the occasional [[Satellite of Doom|children's storybook]] has been known to off mass quantities of the dumb fleshies.

===Animal death===
[[Image:MurderedPuppy02.jpg|right|150px|thumb|One dead dog]]

[[Image:Sparkwar3 Dead noble.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Two dead dogs]]

Cute little animals are almost always killed off for reasons of Emotional Pathos:
* A little girl's pet puppy named [[Pis]] barked at [[Wilder]] and was kicked so hard he died. {{storylink|Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules}}
* The [[Murdered puppy]] was shot down by the Decepticons after running away from Megatron's experiments. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] reminded [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] that [[The Fallen]] once shot down a ship full of [[Antilian bumble-puppy|Antilian bumble-puppies]]. (Decepticons have a thing for killing puppies.)
* The dog-like [[Noble]] was shot at by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] because of his hatred for organics {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}} and was later mourned by his "owner", [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}
* A stray shot from [[Tigatron]] accidentally caused an avalanche which killed his friend [[Snowstalker]]. {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}}
* "[[Law of the Jungle]]" also portrays the deaths of four different forest animals (a bug is eaten by a frog, which is eaten by a snake, which is taken off to be eaten by a bird. Later, an orange tiger kills an antelope). This is a rare "Consequences of War" example.
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] also once ate an eagle, {{storylink|Power Surge}} while [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] ate a cute little rat, {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}} and nearly ate an antelope as well. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* In order to save [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] had to fight a [[saber-toothed cat|saber-toothed tiger]] off a cliff, killing it. {{Storylink|Bad Spark}}
* [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] used [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]]'s shield to knock a spikey rock onto a giant spider effectively killing it. She later used [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]]' axe to kill some new born baby spiders. {{Storylink|Along Came a Spider}}
* Human villain [[Trophy White]] had a grisly display of stuffed and mounted animal heads. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.10|Bring Me the Head of Optimus Prime}}
* A vulture was shot when [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]] landed on Africa.
* [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] killed a friggin' elephant in Africa. (In the adaption, at least.)
{{-}}

===Human death===
[[Image:Razorclawshootsahuman.jpg|right|thumb|150px|This didn't happen much.]]

* Marvel US: The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel book]] ignored or glossed over human casualties, which were rarely if ever shown; the panel at right, from [[Toy Soldiers!|US #37]], shows a ''very'' unusual instance of a human dying right in front of us. One of the few human(oid)s to die on-panel was [[Galen]], killed off to make way for [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' was much more explicit about human death, as Bludgeon and later [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] attacked Earth for the purpose of inflicting casualties.
* Marvel UK: The UK-original stories were much less reluctant to show human death; within the first year or so, humans had died in Autobot-induced car wrecks and at the hands of mind-controlled Autobots.
* In every US-aired cartoon series, humans essentially ''never'' die. Even ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'', which features the city of [[Detroit]] getting smashed by robot battles virtually every week, never once mentions humans getting killed.
** In [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'']], when [[MECH|human terrorists]] are featured they will often die. Piloted or driven vehicles explode and enemies are implied to be crushed.
** A human was shown slumped against a wall, a victim of Soundwave, though it wasn't clear whether he was dead or merely unconscious.
** When Nemesis Prime attacks the base. It is shown that he has probably killed soldiers.
* Contemporary toyline-based comics (''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'', ''[[Transformers: Energon (comic)|Energon]]'') seem to follow a similar policy, avoiding mention of human death — even when human cities are being directly attacked, as in "[[Multiplicity, Pt. 2]]".
* Japanese cartoons, by contrast, don't seem to mind showing human deaths (or [[Pis|dog deaths]], for that matter).
* The [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Dreamwave G1 comics]] really thought it was totally awesome and cool and radical to kill off those stupid humans. Thus, they start off with Megatron smushing some stupid humans. More smushing and killing and blowing up follows. DIE, dumb stubbies, DIE!
* [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW comics]] managed to avoid this for a long time, showing human death only when it was particularly integral to the plot... then ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' came down the pike. DIE, stupid fleshies, DIE!
* The live-action [[movie continuity]] implies a great deal of human death. ''Revenge'' mentions a body count of over 9,000 (don't even ''think'' about it), and massive damage is done during the battle of [[Mission City]], though little of it is shown on screen. And of course, the first film begins with Blackout wiping out an entire military base. A handful of humans are killed directly on-screen, most notably [[Patrick Donnelly|Donnelly]]. Then of course we get to Dark of the Moon, which has Decepticons laying siege to [[Chicago]], killing most of its citizens, including several being shot and exploding and disintegrating into just skulls ''directly in front of the camera''. Then of course we get to [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]], whose job it is to assassinate civilians, even if it means befriending their children to do it. Twisted.
** [[Dylan Gould]] was killed when he was shoved into [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime's]] space bridge generator, but given he was a villain it's not so much of a concern.
** [[Sam Witwicky]] was killed by Megatron but brought back to life by the Primes.
* The alternate timeline arc in Titan's Movie comic featured big wars on Earth and lots of destruction, clearly ''insinuating'' human death while not being explicit. The exceptions were in [[Transformers Comic issue 10|issue 10]], where [[NATO]] is said to be suffering losses of 11,506 and the [[France|Palais Bourbon]] is blown up when people are still clearly inside. [[Sam Witwicky]], meanwhile, was stated to have died.
[[Image:Convoy-kablooie.jpg|right|thumb|150px|They'll, uh, be okay, maybe.]]
* Titan quite blatantly stated that the [[Free Men]] had caused great loss of life at an air base, a rare example of humans killing humans. In the same story, [[Robert Epps]] opened fire on militia men, which kinda implies he was killing them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.10|Bring Me the Head of Optimus Prime}} Similarly, [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] of all people was seen zapping humans at close range during a Decepticon attack; with no "oh it was a stun beam" handwave and the 'Cons not pulling punches, it sure seems like he's murdered 'em! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}}
* In ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'', several [[Kiss Player]]s were seen being devoured by Legions.
{{-}}

==Characters who die a lot==
* [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Dirge (G1)]] — the unlucky guy who gets [[:Image:Dirge DeathSerpentor.jpg|killed]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathSwarm.jpg|off]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathTimelines.jpg|in]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathUnicron.jpg|many]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathArmada.jpg|continuities]]
* [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] — the unlucky guy who gets killed over and over in the same continuity, but doesn't seem to mind.
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] — the unlucky guy from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' who gets sliced, diced, and fricasseed every other episode only to be fully functional in time to get [[Slag (slang)|slagged]] ''again''. But he never actually dies.
** Other Beast Wars characters who died more than once include [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]. Both would eventually come back to life for the [[Universe war]].
* [[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)|Cy-Kill]] — a Go-Bots character transferred to many Transformers comics just to be killed off violently, for no other reason than the lolz of ending his toyline, his universe, and finally his life... repeatedly.
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)]] — the unlucky [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime lou.jpg|who]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime dw.jpg|must]] [[Megatron Origin issue 4|die]].
* [[Starscream (Animated)]] — the unlucky guy that constantly gets killed, decapitated, or maimed by others, only to be brought back to life, thanks to a fragment of the [[AllSpark]] embedded in his forehead.

==See also==
* [[Transformer funerary practices]]
* [[To sell toys]]

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Toxicity

2012-08-19T17:27:36Z

24.71.20.24: /* Real-world references */

{{picsneeded}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=Hurt
|image=Toxicity Tox-En.jpg
|caption=Despite the title, this episode has nothing to do with System of a Down.
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HardshellTeaser.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave [[Jack Darby|with]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|her]] [[Arcee (Prime)|team]] before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but his search is interrupted by the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. Although he takes a few hits, the Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Meanwhile, Hardshell comes to and heads off with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

[[Image:Prime-Hardshellvolcanovent.jpg|right|250px|thumb| Hardshell [[Master Blaster|is not so easily destroyed]].]]
Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

[[Hurt|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==



{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15) (flashback)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
|c4=
*[[Scraplet]]s (14) (flashback)
}}



==Quotes==
"I can haz cheeseburger!"
:—Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"Yeess, the Wrecker leaks from his wounds."
:-'''Hardshell''' pulling a [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] on us.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:—'''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Look soldier. You know as well as I do there's the mission. And the reason why you take the mission!..." 
"Honor... duty..." 
"Family. Which is why you need to do whatever it takes to finish this job and come home safely."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' tries to encourage a faltering '''Bulkhead'''.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
(''Insecticons surround Bulkhead, who sighs and takes out a grenade'') 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

"Fowler... mission accomplished. Though you might have to... tuck me in."
:—Half-dead from Tox-En poisoning, and all '''Bulkhead''' needs is a nap? ''Hardcore''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* After Hardshell punches Bulkhead during their first fight, the latter's cannons transform into maces without the usual sound effects.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Megatron receives Hardshell's report on the Tox-En, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is standing behind him, with his visor undamaged. This clashes with the continuity of the arc; Soundwave should either be absent from the ship (if he's still embroiled in his relic hunt) or sporting a cracked visor from his battle with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], as a later scene in this episode indicates that [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is still on his own relic hunt.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground. Although he could have transformed off screen.
* Speaking of that Insecticon, its fate is somewhat ambiguous. It falls over in a way that suggests that it's unconscious or dead, but Hardshell acts as though it is still online. Either way, it doesn't appear for the rest of the episode until Autumn 2012.

===Continuity errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* It has been shown previously that Insecticons have blasters, and they show awareness of Tox-En's debilitating effects on their bodies... so why don't any of them try attacking Bulkhead from range, reducing the risk of Tox-En exposure? Even if they're trying to avoid hitting the Tox-En, they could certainly at least flank Bulkhead and attack from opposite sides.
* As Fowler tries to contact Bulkhead during the battle in the volcano's caldera, we see Ratchet and Raf downloading the Iacon database in the background (as seen in [[Triage|the previous episode]]). However, when the same scene was shown in "Triage", Fowler was silent for the duration of Ratchet and Raf's conversation.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* During Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, the Insecticon delivers an attack that looks eerily similar to how [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] killed [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. The actual hit is obscured (the camera is set behind Hardshell), but it doesn't seem to do any visible damage (although this could be why Bulkhead was leaking energon after the fight).
**At the end of the fight, Bulkhead clocks Hardshell with a wicked uppercut, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]"; the mandible even sticks point-first in the ground.
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to scenes from previous episodes when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several instances where his life was threatened, including:
**Leading [[Scraplet]]s through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Clashing with Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Being wired to one of [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'s bombs in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get an amnesiac Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage". Wrecker style, indeed.

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses in the foreground looks a lot like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]]. The reddish one behind it looks similar to the [[generic]] impaled by Megatron during Ratchet's flashback to the beginning of the Great War in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Green-tinted energon that emits visible fumes and is toxic to Cybertronians was previously seen in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)| Energon]]''. Given Bulkhead's flashback, Megatron's refined, weaponized version of Tox-En may be a small-scale version of the energon gas that plagued that series' version of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* When Bulkhead arrives at the relic site (a barren landscape at the foot of a volcano), he comments on the stench. This is a common trait of active volcanoes; specifically, the smell comes from sulfur and other chemicals in the magma.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* Apparently, Bulkhead has been inside Decepticon barracks at some point (possibly on a mission for the Wreckers back on Cybertron). They are very, very smelly, but not as much as the landscape near an active volcano.
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.
* Bulkhead tells Fowler that the relic would likely survive a dip in molten rock while hunting for it in a cooled lava flow. Not only is this technically untrue (the Tox-En only survived its fall due to its container), but a drop into lava is exactly how Bulkhead disposes of the relic in the end.
* Despite having at least one more grenade on his person, Bulkhead doesn't attempt to leave the entire Tox-En cache in his Insecticon trap. Presumably, it wouldn't have been enough to completely destroy the toxic fuel, or it wouldn't have fit in the canister, giving Hardshell's team warning that something was up.
* Bulkhead finally finds something even ''worse'' than Scraplets. Incidentally, he saw the effects of both Scraplets and Tox-En during the war, and neither was a pleasant experience.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Nemesis Prime (episode)

2012-06-19T16:15:42Z

24.71.20.24: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Nemesis Prime}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 34
|prev=Crossfire
|next=Grill
|image=NemesisPrime-NemesisPrime.jpg
|caption=The first person to suggest a race gets banned.
|title="Nemesis Prime"
|airdate=[[April 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Optimus Prime appears to attack Agent Fowler, the Autobots discover MECH's ultimate plan.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NemesisPrime truck vs car.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] drives out of a military base, listening to [[The Touch|a few tunes]], when a semi truck begins to tailgate him too close for comfort. He realizes that it's more than a case of road rage when the truck rams him. Fowler notices a familiar symbol on his attacker's grille-the [[Autobot]] [[insignia|symbol]]. He contacts the Autobot base, where [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is not present. The apparent Optimus Prime continues to attack, and as Fowler comes upon a bridge, he pushes his car through the divider, where it hangs precariously. The Autobots receive his message and bridge in, causing Prime to flee and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to give chase. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] catches Fowler's car as it falls, but the bumper detaches, and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] catches it before it hits the ground. Arcee comes upon Optimus, but is knocked out when he runs her over.

The next thing she knows, she's back at base, being checked up on. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] doubts Arcee's assertion that Optimus ran her down, and the big 'bot arrives at base. The team goes on guard, but as Optimus offers proof that he's been at an underground energon site, the team stands down.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis Prime truck in base.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
The other "Optimus" drives full speed into [[Alden Military Base]], wrecking helicopters and prompting chase until he stops. As soldiers surround him and open the door to find no driver, he transforms, and aims a weapon at them. Speaking in Prime's own voice, the double clearly announces himself as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, before laying waste to the base around him. The other Prime tears through lines of soldiers, prompting Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead to bridge to his position. The fake retreats, and arriving military helicopters fire on the Autobots. They retreat to base.

Fowler fields a call asking about the attack, and receives the news that all Transformers, regardless of allegiance, are to be shot on sight. The team realizes that [[MECH]] has finally succeeded in replicating Cybertronians, inside and out, using human-made parts after studying Transformer anatomy so carefully.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Silas at controls.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Meanwhile, the false Prime arrives at a MECH bunker, where it is revealed that the robot is a remotely operated drone unit, with [[Silas]] in the control seat, expressing extreme satisfaction at the test run.

In attempting to locate the MECH base, Optimus notes that, unlike them, the duplicate (dubbed "Nemesis Prime" by Miko) must rely on its vehicle mode to travel, having no access to a [[GroundBridge]]. This places its lair within driving distance of both incidents, giving a range for them to search. The 'bots fan out, and Bumblebee comes upon a large complex. Optimus and the rest plan to rendezvous at his position. He enters, while Silas watches him. He powers up Nemesis Prime, and sends it out. Bumblebee is briefly fooled by the fake, until Silas slips and reveals he cannot understand Bumblebee's speech. The scout attacks but is quickly overpowered by the more imposing robot.

The rest of the Autobots enter the compound, cautious of any lookalikes. Bulkhead and Arcee are both taken out individually, leaving Optimus for the final showdown with his doppelganger.

At base, Ratchet attempts to isolate the control frequency of Nemesis Prime to pinpoint the location of its operator. He does, and Fowler insists on bridging in, citing that he is the one best equipped to deal with the "human element".

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis vs Optimus.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Nemesis squares off against Optimus, showing equal strength and agility. Fowler bridges in, and makes for the control bunker as the two Primes continue to spar. Nemesis catches Optimus, and shoves its blade into the Autobot leader. Silas gloats, commenting that he cannot feel pain through the robot, unlike his opponent, and revealing his intentions to build an army of these soldiers, when Fowler enters. They spar as well, and Fowler falls to Silas' superior hand-to-hand combat skills, only to reveal that he was just buying time for Optimus to beat the now-directionless copy. The real Prime dominates Nemesis, and their fight collapses the ceiling of the bunker, sending Silas's creation and a ton of rubble crashing down on top of him, putting Nemesis Prime out of commission in the process.

Optimus meditates on MECH's seemingly impaired functionality, now that it lacks a leader. However, Fowler brings him troubling news — in the pile of wreckage, no body was found.

Elsewhere, a group of MECH scientists monitor Silas' condition, noting that his injuries are terminal by normal standards — yet MECH is anything but, as they have the body of [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] all wired up to their leader.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (1)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH|MECH soldiers]] (12)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (13)
*[[MECH Commando]] (14)
|c4=
*[[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Yes, that's it. Follow the light." 
"Wait, what? Not the best choice of words, Ratchet."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Arcee'''

"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, and I bring you this message."
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' steals one of Optimus's catchphrases.

"They actually did it. Those butchers managed to crack the code!"
:—'''Ratchet''' realizes that [[Project Chimera]] has produced results.

"Be on your guard. My double could be anywhere." 
''*Bumblebee beeps a reply*'' 
"I'm sorry. What?"
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' tries and fails to fool Bumblebee.

"Look [[Ratchet (Prime)|doc]], I don't plan on dancing with any bots, but there's a human element in play here. And in case you haven't noticed, I happen to be a highly-trained, government-grade, human."
:—'''Agent Fowler'''; accept no substitutes!

"My robot chassis possesses all your strength, speed...and firepower!" 
''*Optimus lunges at Nemesis Prime, only to be thrown off with ease*'' 
"Add my extensive combat training, and MECH has clearly achieved the perfect meld of man and machine!"
:—'''Silas''' brags about his new toy.

"This is only the beginning. Imagine an army of transforming robots! No one will stand against the newly rebooted MECH!" 
"Think again, Sy!"
:—'''Silas''''s gloating is interrupted by '''Agent Fowler''''s arrival.

"The internal damage to his organs is massive, and beyond the scope of conventional medicine. Fortunately for our leader, MECH is [[Breakdown (Prime)|anything]] but conventional."
:—A '''MECH Surgeon''' on Silas's future.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Due to model reuse, Fowler's car has the same [[license plate]] number as June Darby's.
*After calling the Autobots to ask about Optimus, Fowler is seen approaching a bridge at least a half mile away. But, when the camera shifts, it shows him already on the bridge.
*No matter what size, shape, weight, or speed a car is going, it will ''never'' be possible to break through a concrete barrier and come out with as little damage as Fowler's car had.
*Bulkhead is somehow able to fall faster than Fowler's car, despite dropping from the bridge later than it.
*Before Optimus Prime climbs the tower, you can't hear his blaster turn back into his hand.
*Despite being ordered by Optimus to go covert, Arcee does not have her holographic driver on when in her motorcycle form.
*How exactly did MECH extract Silas from under several tons of robot with the US military overhead and Fowler in the room?

===Continuity notes===
*With the construction of Nemesis Prime, MECH has finally yielded results from [[Project Chimera]].
*MECH has Breakdown's reassembled remains, which they collected after [[Airachnid]] killed him in "[[Crossfire]]".
*Ratchet recalls MECH's study of Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
*Optimus recalls the theft of Starscream's T-Cog, which they learned about in "Crossfire" after it happened in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
*Silas took a scan of Optimus at the end of "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", which is evidently how he was able to produce a nearly-identical copy of him in this episode.
*Silas learned how Transformers scan a vehicular form in "[[Crisscross]]", when he saw Airachnid scanning Agent Fowler's helicopter.
*MECH learned that their knockoff Transformer required Energon to function in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]". This episode also showed that they had managed to duplicate the scanning process.
*Optimus's right sword, which was broken in "[[One Shall Fall]]" and last seen still broken in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", has been repaired at some point.
*This is the [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|second time]] Bumblebee has tried and failed to save a car on screen. Only this time, someone was inside the car when he loses part of it.
*As this is Fowler's first time in the GroundBridge, he experiences nausea, similar to the effect on the children in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
*Fowler listens to an instrumental version of "[[The Touch]]" on his car radio.
*The first transformation of the fake Prime on the military base is in a similar animation layout to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|another Optimus Prime]]. The attack itself bears no small resemblance to Blackout's attack on the [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base|base]] in the first film.
*Miko and Ratchet refer to the false Optimus Prime as "Nemesis Prime", a name first established in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' as indicating an evil version of Optimus Prime and used [[Nemesis Prime (disambiguation)|a number of times since]].

===Real-world references===
*The opening scene with Fowler references [[Steven Spielberg]]'s 1971 film ''Duel'', starring an evil truck.
*Nemesis Prime's eyes and weapons glow yellow, similar to the yellow glowing "eye" on K.A.R.R, the evil version of K.I.T.T from the TV show, ''Knight Rider''. (K.A.R.R was also, in one episode, voiced by Peter Cullen.)

===Trivia===
*Silas is a former member of the Special Tactics branch of the military, while Fowler is an ex-Army Ranger.
*Nemesis Prime's transformation uses a modified version of the regular transformation sound effect, which makes it sound as if the transformation is not as smooth as that of an actual Cybertronian.
*Nemesis Prime's body is tarnished and dirty-looking, with heavily faded colors. The overall effect makes it look [[Zombie|undead]], even though it is more of a puppet than anything.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Nemesis Prime (episode)

2012-06-19T16:13:03Z

24.71.20.24: /* Trivia */

{{disambig3|Nemesis Prime}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 34
|prev=Crossfire
|next=Grill
|image=NemesisPrime-NemesisPrime.jpg
|caption=The first person to suggest a race gets banned.
|title="Nemesis Prime"
|airdate=[[April 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Optimus Prime appears to attack Agent Fowler, the Autobots discover MECH's ultimate plan.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NemesisPrime truck vs car.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] drives out of a military base, listening to [[The Touch|a few tunes]], when a semi truck begins to tailgate him too close for comfort. He realizes that it's more than a case of road rage when the truck rams him. Fowler notices a familiar symbol on his attacker's grille-the [[Autobot]] [[insignia|symbol]]. He contacts the Autobot base, where [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is not present. The apparent Optimus Prime continues to attack, and as Fowler comes upon a bridge, he pushes his car through the divider, where it hangs precariously. The Autobots receive his message and bridge in, causing Prime to flee and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to give chase. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] catches Fowler's car as it falls, but the bumper detaches, and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] catches it before it hits the ground. Arcee comes upon Optimus, but is knocked out when he runs her over.

The next thing she knows, she's back at base, being checked up on. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] doubts Arcee's assertion that Optimus ran her down, and the big 'bot arrives at base. The team goes on guard, but as Optimus offers proof that he's been at an underground energon site, the team stands down.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis Prime truck in base.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
The other "Optimus" drives full speed into [[Alden Military Base]], wrecking helicopters and prompting chase until he stops. As soldiers surround him and open the door to find no driver, he transforms, and aims a weapon at them. Speaking in Prime's own voice, the double clearly announces himself as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, before laying waste to the base around him. The other Prime tears through lines of soldiers, prompting Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead to bridge to his position. The fake retreats, and arriving military helicopters fire on the Autobots. They retreat to base.

Fowler fields a call asking about the attack, and receives the news that all Transformers, regardless of allegiance, are to be shot on sight. The team realizes that [[MECH]] has finally succeeded in replicating Cybertronians, inside and out, using human-made parts after studying Transformer anatomy so carefully.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Silas at controls.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Meanwhile, the false Prime arrives at a MECH bunker, where it is revealed that the robot is a remotely operated drone unit, with [[Silas]] in the control seat, expressing extreme satisfaction at the test run.

In attempting to locate the MECH base, Optimus notes that, unlike them, the duplicate (dubbed "Nemesis Prime" by Miko) must rely on its vehicle mode to travel, having no access to a [[GroundBridge]]. This places its lair within driving distance of both incidents, giving a range for them to search. The 'bots fan out, and Bumblebee comes upon a large complex. Optimus and the rest plan to rendezvous at his position. He enters, while Silas watches him. He powers up Nemesis Prime, and sends it out. Bumblebee is briefly fooled by the fake, until Silas slips and reveals he cannot understand Bumblebee's speech. The scout attacks but is quickly overpowered by the more imposing robot.

The rest of the Autobots enter the compound, cautious of any lookalikes. Bulkhead and Arcee are both taken out individually, leaving Optimus for the final showdown with his doppelganger.

At base, Ratchet attempts to isolate the control frequency of Nemesis Prime to pinpoint the location of its operator. He does, and Fowler insists on bridging in, citing that he is the one best equipped to deal with the "human element".

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis vs Optimus.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Nemesis squares off against Optimus, showing equal strength and agility. Fowler bridges in, and makes for the control bunker as the two Primes continue to spar. Nemesis catches Optimus, and shoves its blade into the Autobot leader. Silas gloats, commenting that he cannot feel pain through the robot, unlike his opponent, and revealing his intentions to build an army of these soldiers, when Fowler enters. They spar as well, and Fowler falls to Silas' superior hand-to-hand combat skills, only to reveal that he was just buying time for Optimus to beat the now-directionless copy. The real Prime dominates Nemesis, and their fight collapses the ceiling of the bunker, sending Silas's creation and a ton of rubble crashing down on top of him, putting Nemesis Prime out of commission in the process.

Optimus meditates on MECH's seemingly impaired functionality, now that it lacks a leader. However, Fowler brings him troubling news — in the pile of wreckage, no body was found.

Elsewhere, a group of MECH scientists monitor Silas' condition, noting that his injuries are terminal by normal standards — yet MECH is anything but, as they have the body of [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] all wired up to their leader.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (1)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH|MECH soldiers]] (12)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (13)
*[[MECH Commando]] (14)
|c4=
*[[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Yes, that's it. Follow the light." 
"Wait, what? Not the best choice of words, Ratchet."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Arcee'''

"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, and I bring you this message."
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' steals one of Optimus's catchphrases.

"They actually did it. Those butchers managed to crack the code!"
:—'''Ratchet''' realizes that [[Project Chimera]] has produced results.

"Be on your guard. My double could be anywhere." 
''*Bumblebee beeps a reply*'' 
"I'm sorry. What?"
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' tries and fails to fool Bumblebee.

"My robot chassis possesses all your strength, speed...and firepower!" 
''*Optimus lunges at Nemesis Prime, only to be thrown off with ease*'' 
"Add my extensive combat training, and MECH has clearly achieved the perfect meld of man and machine!"
:—'''Silas''' brags about his new toy.

"This is only the beginning. Imagine an army of transforming robots! No one will stand against the newly rebooted MECH!" 
"Think again, Sy!"
:—'''Silas''''s gloating is interrupted by '''Agent Fowler''''s arrival.

"The internal damage to his organs is massive, and beyond the scope of conventional medicine. Fortunately for our leader, MECH is [[Breakdown (Prime)|anything]] but conventional."
:—A '''MECH Surgeon''' on Silas's future.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Due to model reuse, Fowler's car has the same [[license plate]] number as June Darby's.
*After calling the Autobots to ask about Optimus, Fowler is seen approaching a bridge at least a half mile away. But, when the camera shifts, it shows him already on the bridge.
*No matter what size, shape, weight, or speed a car is going, it will ''never'' be possible to break through a concrete barrier and come out with as little damage as Fowler's car had.
*Bulkhead is somehow able to fall faster than Fowler's car, despite dropping from the bridge later than it.
*Before Optimus Prime climbs the tower, you can't hear his blaster turn back into his hand.
*Despite being ordered by Optimus to go covert, Arcee does not have her holographic driver on when in her motorcycle form.
*How exactly did MECH extract Silas from under several tons of robot with the US military overhead and Fowler in the room?

===Continuity notes===
*With the construction of Nemesis Prime, MECH has finally yielded results from [[Project Chimera]].
*MECH has Breakdown's reassembled remains, which they collected after [[Airachnid]] killed him in "[[Crossfire]]".
*Ratchet recalls MECH's study of Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
*Optimus recalls the theft of Starscream's T-Cog, which they learned about in "Crossfire" after it happened in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
*Silas took a scan of Optimus at the end of "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", which is evidently how he was able to produce a nearly-identical copy of him in this episode.
*Silas learned how Transformers scan a vehicular form in "[[Crisscross]]", when he saw Airachnid scanning Agent Fowler's helicopter.
*MECH learned that their knockoff Transformer required Energon to function in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]". This episode also showed that they had managed to duplicate the scanning process.
*Optimus's right sword, which was broken in "[[One Shall Fall]]" and last seen still broken in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", has been repaired at some point.
*This is the [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|second time]] Bumblebee has tried and failed to save a car on screen. Only this time, someone was inside the car when he loses part of it.
*As this is Fowler's first time in the GroundBridge, he experiences nausea, similar to the effect on the children in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
*Fowler listens to an instrumental version of "[[The Touch]]" on his car radio.
*The first transformation of the fake Prime on the military base is in a similar animation layout to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|another Optimus Prime]]. The attack itself bears no small resemblance to Blackout's attack on the [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base|base]] in the first film.
*Miko and Ratchet refer to the false Optimus Prime as "Nemesis Prime", a name first established in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' as indicating an evil version of Optimus Prime and used [[Nemesis Prime (disambiguation)|a number of times since]].

===Real-world references===
*The opening scene with Fowler references [[Steven Spielberg]]'s 1971 film ''Duel'', starring an evil truck.
*Nemesis Prime's eyes and weapons glow yellow, similar to the yellow glowing "eye" on K.A.R.R, the evil version of K.I.T.T from the TV show, ''Knight Rider''. (K.A.R.R was also, in one episode, voiced by Peter Cullen.)

===Trivia===
*Silas is a former member of the Special Tactics branch of the military, while Fowler is an ex-Army Ranger.
*Nemesis Prime's transformation uses a modified version of the regular transformation sound effect, which makes it sound as if the transformation is not as smooth as that of an actual Cybertronian.
*Nemesis Prime's body is tarnished and dirty-looking, with heavily faded colors. The overall effect makes it look [[Zombie|undead]], even though it is more of a puppet than anything.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Nemesis Prime (episode)

2012-06-19T16:10:10Z

24.71.20.24: /* Continuity notes */

{{disambig3|Nemesis Prime}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 34
|prev=Crossfire
|next=Grill
|image=NemesisPrime-NemesisPrime.jpg
|caption=The first person to suggest a race gets banned.
|title="Nemesis Prime"
|airdate=[[April 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Optimus Prime appears to attack Agent Fowler, the Autobots discover MECH's ultimate plan.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NemesisPrime truck vs car.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] drives out of a military base, listening to [[The Touch|a few tunes]], when a semi truck begins to tailgate him too close for comfort. He realizes that it's more than a case of road rage when the truck rams him. Fowler notices a familiar symbol on his attacker's grille-the [[Autobot]] [[insignia|symbol]]. He contacts the Autobot base, where [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is not present. The apparent Optimus Prime continues to attack, and as Fowler comes upon a bridge, he pushes his car through the divider, where it hangs precariously. The Autobots receive his message and bridge in, causing Prime to flee and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to give chase. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] catches Fowler's car as it falls, but the bumper detaches, and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] catches it before it hits the ground. Arcee comes upon Optimus, but is knocked out when he runs her over.

The next thing she knows, she's back at base, being checked up on. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] doubts Arcee's assertion that Optimus ran her down, and the big 'bot arrives at base. The team goes on guard, but as Optimus offers proof that he's been at an underground energon site, the team stands down.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis Prime truck in base.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
The other "Optimus" drives full speed into [[Alden Military Base]], wrecking helicopters and prompting chase until he stops. As soldiers surround him and open the door to find no driver, he transforms, and aims a weapon at them. Speaking in Prime's own voice, the double clearly announces himself as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, before laying waste to the base around him. The other Prime tears through lines of soldiers, prompting Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead to bridge to his position. The fake retreats, and arriving military helicopters fire on the Autobots. They retreat to base.

Fowler fields a call asking about the attack, and receives the news that all Transformers, regardless of allegiance, are to be shot on sight. The team realizes that [[MECH]] has finally succeeded in replicating Cybertronians, inside and out, using human-made parts after studying Transformer anatomy so carefully.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Silas at controls.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Meanwhile, the false Prime arrives at a MECH bunker, where it is revealed that the robot is a remotely operated drone unit, with [[Silas]] in the control seat, expressing extreme satisfaction at the test run.

In attempting to locate the MECH base, Optimus notes that, unlike them, the duplicate (dubbed "Nemesis Prime" by Miko) must rely on its vehicle mode to travel, having no access to a [[GroundBridge]]. This places its lair within driving distance of both incidents, giving a range for them to search. The 'bots fan out, and Bumblebee comes upon a large complex. Optimus and the rest plan to rendezvous at his position. He enters, while Silas watches him. He powers up Nemesis Prime, and sends it out. Bumblebee is briefly fooled by the fake, until Silas slips and reveals he cannot understand Bumblebee's speech. The scout attacks but is quickly overpowered by the more imposing robot.

The rest of the Autobots enter the compound, cautious of any lookalikes. Bulkhead and Arcee are both taken out individually, leaving Optimus for the final showdown with his doppelganger.

At base, Ratchet attempts to isolate the control frequency of Nemesis Prime to pinpoint the location of its operator. He does, and Fowler insists on bridging in, citing that he is the one best equipped to deal with the "human element".

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis vs Optimus.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Nemesis squares off against Optimus, showing equal strength and agility. Fowler bridges in, and makes for the control bunker as the two Primes continue to spar. Nemesis catches Optimus, and shoves its blade into the Autobot leader. Silas gloats, commenting that he cannot feel pain through the robot, unlike his opponent, and revealing his intentions to build an army of these soldiers, when Fowler enters. They spar as well, and Fowler falls to Silas' superior hand-to-hand combat skills, only to reveal that he was just buying time for Optimus to beat the now-directionless copy. The real Prime dominates Nemesis, and their fight collapses the ceiling of the bunker, sending Silas's creation and a ton of rubble crashing down on top of him, putting Nemesis Prime out of commission in the process.

Optimus meditates on MECH's seemingly impaired functionality, now that it lacks a leader. However, Fowler brings him troubling news — in the pile of wreckage, no body was found.

Elsewhere, a group of MECH scientists monitor Silas' condition, noting that his injuries are terminal by normal standards — yet MECH is anything but, as they have the body of [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] all wired up to their leader.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (1)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH|MECH soldiers]] (12)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (13)
*[[MECH Commando]] (14)
|c4=
*[[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Yes, that's it. Follow the light." 
"Wait, what? Not the best choice of words, Ratchet."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Arcee'''

"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, and I bring you this message."
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' steals one of Optimus's catchphrases.

"They actually did it. Those butchers managed to crack the code!"
:—'''Ratchet''' realizes that [[Project Chimera]] has produced results.

"Be on your guard. My double could be anywhere." 
''*Bumblebee beeps a reply*'' 
"I'm sorry. What?"
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' tries and fails to fool Bumblebee.

"My robot chassis possesses all your strength, speed...and firepower!" 
''*Optimus lunges at Nemesis Prime, only to be thrown off with ease*'' 
"Add my extensive combat training, and MECH has clearly achieved the perfect meld of man and machine!"
:—'''Silas''' brags about his new toy.

"This is only the beginning. Imagine an army of transforming robots! No one will stand against the newly rebooted MECH!" 
"Think again, Sy!"
:—'''Silas''''s gloating is interrupted by '''Agent Fowler''''s arrival.

"The internal damage to his organs is massive, and beyond the scope of conventional medicine. Fortunately for our leader, MECH is [[Breakdown (Prime)|anything]] but conventional."
:—A '''MECH Surgeon''' on Silas's future.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Due to model reuse, Fowler's car has the same [[license plate]] number as June Darby's.
*After calling the Autobots to ask about Optimus, Fowler is seen approaching a bridge at least a half mile away. But, when the camera shifts, it shows him already on the bridge.
*No matter what size, shape, weight, or speed a car is going, it will ''never'' be possible to break through a concrete barrier and come out with as little damage as Fowler's car had.
*Bulkhead is somehow able to fall faster than Fowler's car, despite dropping from the bridge later than it.
*Before Optimus Prime climbs the tower, you can't hear his blaster turn back into his hand.
*Despite being ordered by Optimus to go covert, Arcee does not have her holographic driver on when in her motorcycle form.
*How exactly did MECH extract Silas from under several tons of robot with the US military overhead and Fowler in the room?

===Continuity notes===
*With the construction of Nemesis Prime, MECH has finally yielded results from [[Project Chimera]].
*MECH has Breakdown's reassembled remains, which they collected after [[Airachnid]] killed him in "[[Crossfire]]".
*Ratchet recalls MECH's study of Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
*Optimus recalls the theft of Starscream's T-Cog, which they learned about in "Crossfire" after it happened in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
*Silas took a scan of Optimus at the end of "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", which is evidently how he was able to produce a nearly-identical copy of him in this episode.
*Silas learned how Transformers scan a vehicular form in "[[Crisscross]]", when he saw Airachnid scanning Agent Fowler's helicopter.
*MECH learned that their knockoff Transformer required Energon to function in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]". This episode also showed that they had managed to duplicate the scanning process.
*Optimus's right sword, which was broken in "[[One Shall Fall]]" and last seen still broken in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", has been repaired at some point.
*This is the [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|second time]] Bumblebee has tried and failed to save a car on screen. Only this time, someone was inside the car when he loses part of it.
*As this is Fowler's first time in the GroundBridge, he experiences nausea, similar to the effect on the children in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
*Fowler listens to an instrumental version of "[[The Touch]]" on his car radio.
*The first transformation of the fake Prime on the military base is in a similar animation layout to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|another Optimus Prime]]. The attack itself bears no small resemblance to Blackout's attack on the [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base|base]] in the first film.
*Miko and Ratchet refer to the false Optimus Prime as "Nemesis Prime", a name first established in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' as indicating an evil version of Optimus Prime and used [[Nemesis Prime (disambiguation)|a number of times since]].

===Real-world references===
*The opening scene with Fowler references [[Steven Spielberg]]'s 1971 film ''Duel'', starring an evil truck.
*Nemesis Prime's eyes and weapons glow yellow, similar to the yellow glowing "eye" on K.A.R.R, the evil version of K.I.T.T from the TV show, ''Knight Rider''. (K.A.R.R was also, in one episode, voiced by Peter Cullen.)

===Trivia===
*Silas is a former member of the Special Tactics branch of the military, while Fowler is an ex-Army Ranger.
*Nemesis Prime's transformation uses a modified version of the regular transformation sound effect, which makes it sound as if the transformation is not as smooth as that of an actual Cybertronian.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Nemesis Prime (episode)

2012-06-19T16:07:04Z

24.71.20.24: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Nemesis Prime}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 34
|prev=Crossfire
|next=Grill
|image=NemesisPrime-NemesisPrime.jpg
|caption=The first person to suggest a race gets banned.
|title="Nemesis Prime"
|airdate=[[April 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Optimus Prime appears to attack Agent Fowler, the Autobots discover MECH's ultimate plan.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NemesisPrime truck vs car.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] drives out of a military base, listening to [[The Touch|a few tunes]], when a semi truck begins to tailgate him too close for comfort. He realizes that it's more than a case of road rage when the truck rams him. Fowler notices a familiar symbol on his attacker's grille-the [[Autobot]] [[insignia|symbol]]. He contacts the Autobot base, where [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is not present. The apparent Optimus Prime continues to attack, and as Fowler comes upon a bridge, he pushes his car through the divider, where it hangs precariously. The Autobots receive his message and bridge in, causing Prime to flee and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to give chase. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] catches Fowler's car as it falls, but the bumper detaches, and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] catches it before it hits the ground. Arcee comes upon Optimus, but is knocked out when he runs her over.

The next thing she knows, she's back at base, being checked up on. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] doubts Arcee's assertion that Optimus ran her down, and the big 'bot arrives at base. The team goes on guard, but as Optimus offers proof that he's been at an underground energon site, the team stands down.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis Prime truck in base.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
The other "Optimus" drives full speed into [[Alden Military Base]], wrecking helicopters and prompting chase until he stops. As soldiers surround him and open the door to find no driver, he transforms, and aims a weapon at them. Speaking in Prime's own voice, the double clearly announces himself as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, before laying waste to the base around him. The other Prime tears through lines of soldiers, prompting Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead to bridge to his position. The fake retreats, and arriving military helicopters fire on the Autobots. They retreat to base.

Fowler fields a call asking about the attack, and receives the news that all Transformers, regardless of allegiance, are to be shot on sight. The team realizes that [[MECH]] has finally succeeded in replicating Cybertronians, inside and out, using human-made parts after studying Transformer anatomy so carefully.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Silas at controls.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Meanwhile, the false Prime arrives at a MECH bunker, where it is revealed that the robot is a remotely operated drone unit, with [[Silas]] in the control seat, expressing extreme satisfaction at the test run.

In attempting to locate the MECH base, Optimus notes that, unlike them, the duplicate (dubbed "Nemesis Prime" by Miko) must rely on its vehicle mode to travel, having no access to a [[GroundBridge]]. This places its lair within driving distance of both incidents, giving a range for them to search. The 'bots fan out, and Bumblebee comes upon a large complex. Optimus and the rest plan to rendezvous at his position. He enters, while Silas watches him. He powers up Nemesis Prime, and sends it out. Bumblebee is briefly fooled by the fake, until Silas slips and reveals he cannot understand Bumblebee's speech. The scout attacks but is quickly overpowered by the more imposing robot.

The rest of the Autobots enter the compound, cautious of any lookalikes. Bulkhead and Arcee are both taken out individually, leaving Optimus for the final showdown with his doppelganger.

At base, Ratchet attempts to isolate the control frequency of Nemesis Prime to pinpoint the location of its operator. He does, and Fowler insists on bridging in, citing that he is the one best equipped to deal with the "human element".

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis vs Optimus.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Nemesis squares off against Optimus, showing equal strength and agility. Fowler bridges in, and makes for the control bunker as the two Primes continue to spar. Nemesis catches Optimus, and shoves its blade into the Autobot leader. Silas gloats, commenting that he cannot feel pain through the robot, unlike his opponent, and revealing his intentions to build an army of these soldiers, when Fowler enters. They spar as well, and Fowler falls to Silas' superior hand-to-hand combat skills, only to reveal that he was just buying time for Optimus to beat the now-directionless copy. The real Prime dominates Nemesis, and their fight collapses the ceiling of the bunker, sending Silas's creation and a ton of rubble crashing down on top of him, putting Nemesis Prime out of commission in the process.

Optimus meditates on MECH's seemingly impaired functionality, now that it lacks a leader. However, Fowler brings him troubling news — in the pile of wreckage, no body was found.

Elsewhere, a group of MECH scientists monitor Silas' condition, noting that his injuries are terminal by normal standards — yet MECH is anything but, as they have the body of [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] all wired up to their leader.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (1)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH|MECH soldiers]] (12)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (13)
*[[MECH Commando]] (14)
|c4=
*[[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Yes, that's it. Follow the light." 
"Wait, what? Not the best choice of words, Ratchet."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Arcee'''

"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, and I bring you this message."
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' steals one of Optimus's catchphrases.

"They actually did it. Those butchers managed to crack the code!"
:—'''Ratchet''' realizes that [[Project Chimera]] has produced results.

"Be on your guard. My double could be anywhere." 
''*Bumblebee beeps a reply*'' 
"I'm sorry. What?"
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' tries and fails to fool Bumblebee.

"My robot chassis possesses all your strength, speed...and firepower!" 
''*Optimus lunges at Nemesis Prime, only to be thrown off with ease*'' 
"Add my extensive combat training, and MECH has clearly achieved the perfect meld of man and machine!"
:—'''Silas''' brags about his new toy.

"This is only the beginning. Imagine an army of transforming robots! No one will stand against the newly rebooted MECH!" 
"Think again, Sy!"
:—'''Silas''''s gloating is interrupted by '''Agent Fowler''''s arrival.

"The internal damage to his organs is massive, and beyond the scope of conventional medicine. Fortunately for our leader, MECH is [[Breakdown (Prime)|anything]] but conventional."
:—A '''MECH Surgeon''' on Silas's future.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Due to model reuse, Fowler's car has the same [[license plate]] number as June Darby's.
*After calling the Autobots to ask about Optimus, Fowler is seen approaching a bridge at least a half mile away. But, when the camera shifts, it shows him already on the bridge.
*No matter what size, shape, weight, or speed a car is going, it will ''never'' be possible to break through a concrete barrier and come out with as little damage as Fowler's car had.
*Bulkhead is somehow able to fall faster than Fowler's car, despite dropping from the bridge later than it.
*Before Optimus Prime climbs the tower, you can't hear his blaster turn back into his hand.
*Despite being ordered by Optimus to go covert, Arcee does not have her holographic driver on when in her motorcycle form.
*How exactly did MECH extract Silas from under several tons of robot with the US military overhead and Fowler in the room?

===Continuity notes===
*With the construction of Nemesis Prime, MECH has finally yielded results from [[Project Chimera]].
*MECH has Breakdown's reassembled remains, which they collected after [[Airachnid]] killed him in "[[Crossfire]]".
*Ratchet recalls MECH's study of Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
*Optimus recalls the theft of Starscream's T-Cog, which they learned about in "Crossfire" after it happened in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
*Silas took a scan of Optimus at the end of "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", which is evidently how he was able to produce a nearly-identical copy of him in this episode.
*MECH learned that their knockoff Transformer required Energon to function in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
*Optimus's right sword, which was broken in "[[One Shall Fall]]" and last seen still broken in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", has been repaired at some point.
*This is the [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|second time]] Bumblebee has tried and failed to save a car on screen. Only this time, someone was inside the car when he loses part of it.
*As this is Fowler's first time in the GroundBridge, he experiences nausea, similar to the effect on the children in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
*Fowler listens to an instrumental version of "[[The Touch]]" on his car radio.
*The first transformation of the fake Prime on the military base is in a similar animation layout to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|another Optimus Prime]]. The attack itself bears no small resemblance to Blackout's attack on the [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base|base]] in the first film.
*Miko and Ratchet refer to the false Optimus Prime as "Nemesis Prime", a name first established in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' as indicating an evil version of Optimus Prime and used [[Nemesis Prime (disambiguation)|a number of times since]].

===Real-world references===
*The opening scene with Fowler references [[Steven Spielberg]]'s 1971 film ''Duel'', starring an evil truck.
*Nemesis Prime's eyes and weapons glow yellow, similar to the yellow glowing "eye" on K.A.R.R, the evil version of K.I.T.T from the TV show, ''Knight Rider''. (K.A.R.R was also, in one episode, voiced by Peter Cullen.)

===Trivia===
*Silas is a former member of the Special Tactics branch of the military, while Fowler is an ex-Army Ranger.
*Nemesis Prime's transformation uses a modified version of the regular transformation sound effect, which makes it sound as if the transformation is not as smooth as that of an actual Cybertronian.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Toxicity

2012-06-15T18:55:57Z

24.71.20.24: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=
|image=
|caption=
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

{{picsneeded}}
'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave [[Jack Darby|with]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|her]] [[Arcee (Prime)|team]] before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but his search is interrupted by the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. Although he takes a few hits, the Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Meanwhile, Hardshell comes to and heads off with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

==Featured characters==



{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
}}



==Quotes==
"I can has cheeseburger!"
:—Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:—'''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Look soldier. You know as well as I do there's the mission. And the reason why you take the mission!..." 
"Honor... duty..." 
"Family. Which is why you need to do whatever it takes to finish this job and come home safely."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' tries to encourage a faltering '''Bulkhead'''.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
(''Insecticons surround Bulkhead, who sighs and takes out a grenade'') 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

"Fowler... mission accomplished. Though you might have to... tuck me in."
:—Half-dead from Tox-En poisoning, and all '''Bulkhead''' needs is a nap? ''Hardcore''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* After Hardshell punches Bulkhead during their first fight, the latter's cannons transform into maces without the usual sound effects.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Megatron receives Hardshell's report on the Tox-En, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is standing behind him, with his visor undamaged. This clashes with the continuity of the arc; Soundwave should either be absent from the ship (if he's still embroiled in his relic hunt) or sporting a cracked visor from his battle with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], as a later scene in this episode indicates that [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is still on his own relic hunt.
* Only one Insecticon is shown accompanying Hardshell when the latter figures out that the Energon trail is a decoy. Although the other one could be scouting ahead, all previous scenes with the Decepticons tracking Bulkhead showed all three Insecticons in a group.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground.
** Speaking of that Insecticon, its fate is somewhat ambiguous. It falls over in a way that suggests that it's unconscious or dead, but Hardshell acts as though it is still online. Either way, it doesn't appear for the rest of the episode.

===Continuity errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* It has been shown previously that Insecticons have blasters in their beetle mode (and, as Hardshell demonstrates at the end of the episode, in robot mode), and they show awareness of Tox-En's debilitating effects on their bodies... so why don't any of them try attacking Bulkhead from range, reducing the risk of Tox-En exposure? Even if they're trying to avoid hitting the Tox-En, they could certainly at least flank Bulkhead and attack from opposite sides.
* As Fowler tries to contact Bulkhead during the battle in the volcano's caldera, we see Ratchet and Raf downloading the Iacon database in the background (as seen in [[Triage|the previous episode]]). However, when the same scene was shown in "Triage", Fowler was silent for the duration of Ratchet and Raf's conversation.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* During Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, the Insecticon delivers an attack that looks eerily similar to how [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] killed [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. The actual hit is obscured (the camera is set behind Hardshell), but it doesn't seem to do any visible damage (although this could be why Bulkhead was leaking energon after the fight).
**At the end of the fight, Bulkhead clocks Hardshell with a wicked uppercut, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]"; the mandible even sticks point-first in the ground.
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to scenes from previous episodes when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several instances where his life was threatened, including:
**Leading [[Scraplet]]s through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Clashing with Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Being wired to one of [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'s bombs in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get an amnesiac Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage".

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses in the foreground looks a lot like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]]. The reddish one behind it looks similar to the [[generic]] impaled by Megatron during Ratchet's flashback to the beginning of the Great War in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Hardshell says "yes" in a suspiciously familiar fashion, [[Megatron (BW)|yesss...]]
* Green-tinted energon that emits visible fumes and is toxic to Cybertronians was previously seen in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)| Energon]]''. Given Bulkhead's flashback, Megatron's refined, weaponized version of Tox-En may be a small-scale version of the energon gas that plagued that series' version of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* Apparently, Bulkhead has been inside Decepticon barracks at some point (possibly on a mission for the Wreckers back on Cybertron). They are very, very smelly, but not as much as the landscape near an active volcano.
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.
* Bulkhead tells Fowler that the relic would likely survive a dip in molten rock while hunting for it in a cooled lava flow. Not only is this technically untrue (the Tox-En only survived its fall due to its container), but a drop into lava is exactly how Bulkhead disposes of the relic in the end.
* Despite having at least one more grenade on his person, Bulkhead doesn't attempt to leave the entire Tox-En cache in his Insecticon trap. Presumably, it wouldn't have been enough to completely destroy the toxic fuel, or it wouldn't have fit in the canister, giving Hardshell's team warning that something was up.
* Bulkhead finally finds something even ''worse'' than Scraplets. Incidentally, he saw the effects of both Scraplets and Tox-En during the war, and neither was a pleasant experience.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Tunnel Vision (episode)

2012-06-15T18:34:48Z

24.71.20.24: /* Trivia */

{{picsneeded}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 38
|prev=Flying Mind
|next=Triangulation
|image=
|caption=
|title="Tunnel Vision"
|airdate=[[May 5]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Andrew Robinson|Andrew R. Robinson]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Arcee and Bumblebee go deep into New York's "underground" in an attempt to beat Megatron to the next four Iacon relics.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Team Prime|Autobot team]], having obtained the same coordinates for four [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] relics as the [[Decepticon]]s, plan their next course of action. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] suggests a dispersal so they can obtain all the relics simultaneously. Despite initial resistance from [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], the [[New York City|New York]] site and the relic contained beneath its streets are selected for Arcee and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to scout. [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] volunteers her knowledge of subways and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] his ability to cover for the mission; all four prepare to roll out.

Having moved away from Manhattan, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] assigns [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] the discreet task of obtaining the relic there. At a disadvantage without [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]], Knock Out is unwillingly appointed an [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] partner, along with a small detachment of [[Decepticon Miner|Vehicon miners]]. Beyond frustrated with Knock Out's lack of concern beyond his paint job, Megatron sends them off.

In a New York alleyway, Arcee, Bumblebee, Jack and Miko bridge in. They quickly locate a construction site where they can enter the vast subway network. As they walk, Bumblebee nearly steps on a third rail, but Jack warns him of the danger just in time. A familiar sound echoes through the tunnels—a [[Energon Driller|Decepticon drill]], which Miko pinpoints the direction of. She tears off through an access tunnel, Jack in tow. On the other side, they are confronted by [[Vogel]], a sweeper train operator, and Miko constructs a hasty lie that saves their tail. He offers to take them for a ride.

Vogel's personality soon becomes clear as he recounts tales of monsters that creep through the subways—including the mole men, who he believes are amassing their armies. Miko and Jack make an escape jumping off the back of the train, Vogel totally oblivious.

Arcee and Bumblebee find Knock Out and the miners, but don't see the Insecticon creeping up behind them. It attacks the duo, alerting Knock Out to their presence. Arcee and Knock Out exchange blows while Bumblebee occupies the Insecticon; Arcee makes a grab for the relic, but is knocked out by an electron prod to the back. Bumblebee is also quickly floored by the Insecticon. Satisfied, Knock Out cracks the relic's packaging and prepares to field-test the device on his new subjects.

Jack and Miko bicker in the tunnel about Jack's sojourn to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], but are stopped in their tracks by the sound of footsteps. It's Vogel, none too happy about being ditched. Miko, capitalizing on the man's conspiratorial bent, gets Jack to tell him the truth. Vogel is enthralled and they all board his train to find their friends.

Knock Out's field test is interrupted by the arriving sweeper. The Insecticon sidesteps it, but Knock Out is hit and dragged a distance between the wall and train, suffering serious cosmetic damage. Arcee and Bumbleebee, now conscious, start fighting back as Knock Out peels out with the relic. Arcee goes after the train with the Insecticon following while Bumbleebee chases after the fleeing medic.

On the train, Vogel reveals that the brake line went out and that their course is for a dead end. Arcee is able to catch up with the train and jump onto the back of it. Informed of the approaching wall, she drives ahead for the turn switch. Trying to change the tracks, she snaps the lever, forcing her to change the track alignment physically. She succeeds just in time and with the train safe, she faces her foe. Recalling Bumblebee's previous encounter, Arcee lures the Insecticon into touching the third rail, which instantly kills it.

Knock Out faces off against the Autobot scout in a chase. Bumblebee accidentally activates the relic during a tussle which clamps onto his wrist. The train barrels in and heads straight for an oblivious Bumblebee, whom it passes right through without a scratch. It instead strikes Knock Out, grinding his face and body on the pavement for a good distance before the train comes to a stop. Horrified at his total cosmetic disfigurement, he flees, minus a wheel.

The relic is revealed to be a [[phase shifter]], which allows the user to pass through solid objects. The problem turns to Vogel, who knows about the Cybertronians. A hasty call forces [[William Fowler|Fowler]], who's now awake back at base, to deputize the worker as a "deputy of interstellar relations". Vogel is ecstatic about his new position even when he is told to maintain complete radio silence until he is called upon. As Vogel watches the Autobots and the kids leave, he ponders the idea of robots disguised as vehicles while looking at his sweeper train.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (2)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (8)
*[[Decepticon Miner]]s (9)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] (10)

|c3=
* [[Jack Darby]] (11)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (12)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (13)
* [[William Fowler]] (14)
* [[Vogel]] (15)
|}}

==Quotes==

"Face."
:—'''Jack''', throughout the episode.

"Well, I've actually been in subway stations. I grew up in a major metropolis. Unlike Mr. 'I've never been outside of Jasper, Nevada'." 
"I ''have'' been to Cybertron." 
"Cybertron doesn't have subways! ... Does it?"
:—'''Miko'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s argument against '''Jack''' soon falls short.

"Bananafish!"
:—'''Agent Fowler'''

'''Knock Out:''' "You have lovely features. Perfect for a painful little procedure I like to call the ''nip and tuck.''" 
''*Arcee dodges, and kicks Knock Out*'' 
'''Arcee:''' "Dodge and kick." 
''*Arcee runs for the relic, but gets plugged in the back by Knock Out's prod*'' 
'''Knock Out:''' "Shock and drop."
:—'''Knock Out''' and '''Arcee''' carry on witty repartee.

"You scratch my face, I scratch yours!" 
''*Arcee and Bumblebee cock their blasters*''
:—'''Knock Out''' tries and fails to reference a [[Speed Metal|previous episode.]]

''*Vogel watches the Autobots and kids leave*'' 
"Robots who turn into vehicles. Hmmm..." 
''*Vogel turns to look at his sweeper train*''
:—It's okay, '''Vogel''', we've all done it before.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*After the phase shifter attaches itself to Bumblebee, he stands straight up while inspecting it. However, his position is reversed when he stands: Knock Out is now in front of him instead of behind when the runaway sweeper train comes around the corner.
*If the phase shifter can allow the user to pass through any solid object, shouldn't it have caused Bumblebee to pass through the ground as well?
*The scratch marks from Knock Out's first encounter with the sweeper train seem to have disappeared after his transformation into vehicle mode onwards.
*Jack and Miko tell Arcee and Bumblebee to stay away from the third rail or they will be fried. They touch it multiple times throughout the episode, then Arcee uses it to kill the Insecticon.
* Vogel's fire axe ends up back on the wall without him actually putting it there.

===Continuity notes===
* Agent Fowler is still recovering from getting zapped in the [[Flying Mind|previous episode]].
* Knock Out wants to retrieve the relic in [[Crossfire|memory of Breakdown]].
* Miko's starting to [[Convoy (episode)|hate trains]].
* Knock Out refers to how Bumblebee was unable to transform in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* The phase shifter was alluded to in "[[Sick Mind]]" by Megatron when he was trying to figure out why he couldn't attack Bumblebee while they were in his subconscious, but he called it [[phase displacement armor]] instead.
* Near the end of the episode, Fowler appears to be communicating with someone, telling them to "[[Toxicity|dump that rock and come on home]]." A later episode will reveal that he is talking to Bulkhead.

===Transformers references===
*The phase shifter, or at least a device like it, was what [[Razorbeast]] used to defeat [[Magmatron]] in ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering]]''.
*The Autobots receive help from a human labourer wearing a yellow [[hard hat]].

===Real-world references===
* The zoom-in from the sweeper train to the dead end references to the elevated train scene in ''Spider-Man 2''.
* Jack's description of the third rail on subway trains is real, as is the fatality of touching it.
* Knock Out's "nip and tuck" line to Arcee is a colloquial phrase for cosmetic surgery.
* Jack claiming to be the "Face" and his explanation for it might be a resemblance to Templeton Peck from ''The A-Team'', who was also mostly known as 'Face'.

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode that we see Knock Out mention his [[Breakdown (Prime) | partner's]] death.
* There is a surprising lack of trains in the tunnels of New York.
* Insecticons are revealed to have blasters in their robot modes. Unlike most transforming guns seen so far, their blasters emerge from their forearms.
* In [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|the first episode]], the Autobots take on the burden of watching over and protecting the [[human]] children because they witnessed them in robot-mode or got caught in the crossfire of a Decepticon battle. Vogel, despite having the same "qualifications", is dispatched with a hasty cover story and left to fend for himself without Autobot protection. Apparently, you only get a "guardian" if you're tiny and cute.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Decepticon Biological Warfare Program

2012-06-15T16:35:40Z

24.71.20.24: /* Prime cartoon */

:''The Decepticon Biological Warfare Program is a [[Decepticon]] program in the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

Ever seeking an advantage in the Great War, the Decepticons set up a '''Biological Warfare Program''', designed to kill [[Autobot]]s with disease. You might wonder how biological warfare would affect robots, as they are [[NBE|non-biological]], but trust us, they have their ways.

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===

During the Great War, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] managed to develop [[Cybonic plague]] as part of the Biological Warfare Program. The plague was a success, wiping out millions on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, Megatron made sure to develop a cure in the event that he was infected. {{storylink|Sick Mind}}

Megatron also discovered a means of refining raw [[Tox-En]] into a devastating weapon, which may have also been a project in the Biological Warfare Program. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Prime]]

Toxicity

2012-05-31T21:36:07Z

24.71.20.24: /* Continuity notes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=
|image=
|caption=
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

{{picsneeded}}
'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave with her team before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but he's soon alerted to the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. The Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Hardshell comes to and heads with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"I can has cheeseburger!"
:— Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"Leave it to Megatron to send a bug to do his dirty work." 
"You would know a thing or two about dirty work yourself, Wrecker."
:— '''Bulkhead''' receives a "right-back-at-you" from '''Hardshell'''.

"Well, what're you talkin' to me for? Get far away from that Tox-En, pronto! If it's as deadly as they say, the 'Cons won't want it either." 
"No, they'll want it even more! During the war for Cybertron, Megatron figured out a way to refine raw Tox-En; turned it into a weapon of mass destruction. I witnessed an entire unit wiped out by this sickness... no way can I leave this stuff for the 'Cons to find and abuse!"
:— '''Agent Fowler''' and '''Bulkhead''' debate what to do with the Tox-En.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:— '''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* Both of Bulkhead's maces silently transform during his first fight with Hardshell.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* At the end of Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, he hits the Insecticon upside the head, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]".
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to numerous episodes from the first season when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several instances where his life was threatened, including:
**Leading [[Scraplets]] through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Clashing with Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Being wired to one of [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'s bombs in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get an amnesiac Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage".

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses looks like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]].
* Hardshell says "yes" in a suspiciously familiar fashion, [[Megatron (BW)|yesss...]]

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Toxicity

2012-05-31T21:28:20Z

24.71.20.24: /* Continuity notes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=
|image=
|caption=
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

{{picsneeded}}
'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave with her team before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but he's soon alerted to the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. The Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Hardshell comes to and heads with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"I can has cheeseburger!"
:— Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"Leave it to Megatron to send a bug to do his dirty work." 
"You would know a thing or two about dirty work yourself, Wrecker."
:— '''Bulkhead''' receives a "right-back-at-you" from '''Hardshell'''.

"Well, what're you talkin' to me for? Get far away from that Tox-En, pronto! If it's as deadly as they say, the 'Cons won't want it either." 
"No, they'll want it even more! During the war for Cybertron, Megatron figured out a way to refine raw Tox-En; turned it into a weapon of mass destruction. I witnessed an entire unit wiped out by this sickness... no way can I leave this stuff for the 'Cons to find and abuse!"
:— '''Agent Fowler''' and '''Bulkhead''' debate what to do with the Tox-En.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:— '''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* Both of Bulkhead's maces silently transform during his first fight with Hardshell.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* At the end of Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, he hits the Insecticon upside the head, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]".
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to numerous episodes from the first season when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several instances where his life was threatened, including:
**Leading [[Scraplets]] through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Clashing with Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Being wired to one of [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'s bombs in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina]]".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get an amnesiac Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage".

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses looks like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]].
* Hardshell says "[[Megatron (BW)|Yessss...]]" in a suspiciously familiar fashion.

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Toxicity

2012-05-31T21:17:17Z

24.71.20.24: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=
|image=
|caption=
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

{{picsneeded}}
'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave with her team before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but he's soon alerted to the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. The Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Hardshell comes to and heads with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"I can has cheeseburger!"
:— Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"Leave it to Megatron to send a bug to do his dirty work." 
"You would know a thing or two about dirty work yourself, Wrecker."
:— '''Bulkhead''' receives a "right-back-at-you" from '''Hardshell'''.

"Well, what're you talkin' to me for? Get far away from that Tox-En, pronto! If it's as deadly as they say, the 'Cons won't want it either." 
"No, they'll want it even more! During the war for Cybertron, Megatron figured out a way to refine raw Tox-En; turned it into a weapon of mass destruction. I witnessed an entire unit wiped out by this sickness... no way can I leave this stuff for the 'Cons to find and abuse!"
:— '''Agent Fowler''' and '''Bulkhead''' debate what to do with the Tox-En.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:— '''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* Both of Bulkhead's maces silently transform during his first fight with Hardshell.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* At the end of Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, he hits the Insecticon upside the head, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]".
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to numerous episodes from the first season when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several battle scenes, including:
**Leading [[Scraplets]] through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]" and "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina]]".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage".

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses looks like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]].
* Hardshell says "[[Megatron (BW)|Yessss...]]" in a suspiciously familiar fashion.

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Toxicity

2012-05-31T21:09:13Z

24.71.20.24: /* Continuity notes */

Tox-En

2012-05-31T20:12:48Z

24.71.20.24:

:''Tox-En is a form of [[Energon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

'''Tox-En''' is a toxic version of [[Energon]], a sample of which was formerly stored in the [[Vaults of Iacon]]. It has the opposite effect as regular Energon on [[Transformer]]s, causing them to feel nauseous and weakened by the slightest physical contact. Prolonged exposure to Tox-En can outright paralyze a Transformer, eventually [[Death|extinguishing]] their [[Spark|spark]].

Needless to say, it's pretty nasty stuff which sane individuals will dispose of on sight. A [[Megatron (Prime)|complete lunatic]], however, can use it as a devastating weapon against [[Autobot|their enemies]].

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{spoiler|Toxicity|June 26, 2012}}
[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] found a way to refine raw Tox-En during the war, converting it into a bioweapon that devastated the Autobots. A sample, formerly held in the Vaults of Iacon, ended up on [[Earth]] where it was found by [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] near a volcano at the equator. Deeming it too dangerous to leave intact, he sought to destroy it in the fiery depths of the volcano. Debilitated by the Tox-En's hazardous effect on his body and mind, Bulkhead gradually made his way up the volcano, followed every step of the way by [[Hardshell]] and a group of [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]]. During a confrontation atop the solidified lava inside the volcano's crater, Bulkhead threw the Tox-En to Hardshell, who was immediately disoriented by the tainted Energon, falling into the volcano and dropping the Tox-En into the lava, destroying it. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

==Trivia==
* Tox-En's name is likely a pun on the word "toxin".
* Between its appearance as a glowing green crystal and its potentially-lethal effect on Transformers, it bears a strong resemblance to Kryptonite.

[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Prime]]