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Dweller In The Depths (Cyberverse)

2020-09-07T22:59:50Z

HuskyMuskrat: /* Transformers references */

{{disambig3|Dweller in the Depths}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Transformers: Cyberverse]]'' ep 60
|image=Cyberverse DwellerDepths.jpg
|caption=''In those grisly eyes were mirrored all the unholy things and vile secrets that sleep in the cities under the sea-''
|prev=Rack 'n' Ruin 'n' Ratchet
|next=Silent Strike
|title="Dweller In The Depths"
|airdate=[[February 25]], [[2020]] (UK) [[May 31]], 2020 (USA)
|production company=[[Allspark Animation]]
|writer=[[Zac Atkinson (writer)|Zac Atkinson]]
|animation studio=[[Boulder Media Studio]]
|director=[[Jean Texier]]
}}

'''Chromia and Bumblebee venture into Cybertron's gaseous Argon Sea in search of Windblade.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Chromia (Cyberverse)|Chromia]], [[Ratchet (Cyberverse)|Ratchet]] and [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] stand before [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]], preparing to upload what they have of her mind. Just as they finish, a shark-bot breaks into the sickbay and steals their friend. Taking a shuttle, Bumblebee and Chromia follow the thief to the [[Argon Sea]] and dive in. Meanwhile, [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] assembles the Autobots in a strategy meeting. Just before he finishes, he freezes as the [[Matrix of Leadership]] floats out of his chest.

In the Argon Sea, Bumblebee and Chromia find a beautifully populated landscape under the surface and spot the thief, immediately giving chase. Unfortunately, he topples nearby structures to throw them off. Upon escaping, Bumblebee and Chromia dive deeper to find a giant transmission of Windblade's face screaming for help. It disappears and local wildlife attacks them. Meanwhile inside the Matrix realm, Optimus finds himself surrounded by 12 slabs belonging to deceased members of the [[Thirteen]]. [[Maccadam]] emerges from one of the slabs.

Back in the Argon, the sea creatures manage to damage the shields on the shuttle. Once the creatures leave, the shark-bot arrives and smashes the window. Bumblebee mounts and incapacitates the shark-bot with a surge from his [[stinger (weapon)|stinger]] but falls into the ravine. As Chromia follows Bumblebee down, the captured shark-bot awakens in a grumpy mode over his current condition. An argument breaks out, which ends with the shark-bot introducing himself as [[Hammerbyte]], the Argon Sea's Guardian, and admitting that he was under the thrall of a recently-awakened beast known as the [[Dweller (Cyberverse)|Dweller]]. Chromia and Hammerbyte set off to rescue Bumblebee and Windblade.

Finding Bumblebee, they follow him down a hatchway. Just before Hammerbyte enters, a tentacle appears and hits him with an orange gas, sending him into a mind-controlled trance. He quickly catches up to Chromia, who flees until she reaches a mind-controlled Bumblebee. Evading both of them, Chromia reaches a large room with Windblade floating in the middle. The Dweller reveals that he was awoken by one of the cityspeaker's psychic shards and sent Hammerbyte to retrieve her so he could return the piece to her.

Quickly working out that the Dweller a [[Titan (group)|Titan]], Chromia strands defiant. The Dweller sics Bumblebee and Hammerbyte on her, though Chromia quickly turns Bumblebee's stinger against them, breaking them out of their trances. Not willing to lose potential citizens, the Dweller releases more hypnotic gasses. Bumblebee, Chromia, and Hammerbyte grab Windblade and manage to escape, though at the cost of their shuttle. Returning Windblade to her friends, Hammerbyte apologizes for his Dweller-induced actions and heads back into the Argon Sea.

Back in the Matrix realm, Optimus asks how Maccadam could also be in the Matrix. Revealing himself as [[Alchemist Prime]], the former bartender instructs Optimus to destroy [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s Matrix. A confused Optimus worries that destroying the alternate Matrix will destroy the other [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]s, but Alchemist reveals that a piece of Windblade is also inside. As Optimus returns to the real world, he rounds up the Autobots for a universe-saving mission on their hands.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]]
*[[Chromia (Cyberverse)|Chromia]]
*[[Ratchet (Cyberverse)|Ratchet]]
*[[Hammerbyte]]
*[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]]
*[[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]]
*[[Arcee (Cyberverse)|Arcee]]

*[[Rack'n'Ruin (Cyberverse)|Rack'n'Ruin]]

|c4=
*[[Maccadam]]/[[Alchemist Prime]]
*[[Dweller (Cyberverse)|Dweller]]
}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*By the end of this episode, 80% of Windblade's scattered mind has been gathered due to the Dweller having returned the psychic shard that reactivated him to her.
**It is also revealed that the remaining 20% of Windblade's mind is currently in the alternate Matrix in Megatron's possession.
*The Argon Seas was first mentioned by [[Sky-Byte (Cyberverse)|Sky-Byte]] in "[[The End Of The Universe II]]".
*Like [[Croaton]] before him, the Dweller is able to possess a cityspeaker, suggesting that this may be an ability of the Titans.
*When Optimus hosts his meeting with the other Autobots, he mentions the discovery made by Rack'n'Ruin in the previous episode.

===Transformers references===
*When faced by the possessed Bumblebee, Chromia swears by the [[Mistress of Flame]].
*The Dweller first appeared in the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode which this one [[The Dweller in the Depths|takes it name from]].
*We finally learn the truth about Maccadam and, as we totally called, he is none other than [[Alchemist Prime]], taking inspiration from the idea put forth in ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'' that the old barkeep was one of the [[Thirteen]] Primes.
*Speaking of the Thirteen, the other eleven slabs seen within the Matrix in addition to Alchemist's are identified in concept art as belonging to [[The Fallen|Megatronus]], [[Prima]], [[Micronus Prime|Micronus]], [[Solus Prime|Solus]], [[Alpha Trion (Cyberverse)|Alpha Trion]], [[Vector Prime|Vector]], [[Nexus Prime|Nexus]], [[Onyx Prime|Onyx]], [[Liege Maximo|Liege Maximo]], [[Quintus Prime|Quintus]], and [[Amalgamous Prime|Amalgamous]]. In other words, this universe's version of the Thirteen is mostly in line with their depictions in the "Aligned" and 2005 IDW continuities.

===Real-world references===
*Though [[Dweller (G1)|the original Dweller]] was a [[Quintesson]] [[Trans-Organic]], this version is a monstrous tentacle-wielding Titan that has some heavy Lovecraftian vibes. Specifically, he calls to mind Lovecraft's most famous creation Cthulhu.

===Other trivia===
*The [[mechanimal]]s of the Argon Sea appear to be based on the Cambrian Era ''{{w|Opabinia|Opabinia regalis}}'' and ''{{w|Anomalocaris|Anomalocaris canadensis}}''.
*The reason why Optimus does not have a slab for himself in the Matrix realm, despite it showing up in concept art, was to ensure that a dead Optimus would have to be an alternate counterpart.<ref>"[https://shikai-the-storyteller.tumblr.com/post/613237429097365504/i-absolutely-didnt-go-back-through-and-edit-this Transformers: Cyberverse – Mae Catt Q&A Session (Unedited Edition)]"</ref> This explains why there is a slab for Optimus in the Matrix realm featured in the following episodes.

===Animation and technical errors===
*TBA

===Foreign localization===
*TBA

==Home video releases==
*TBA

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7IiUEaF3Hc "Dweller In The Depths" on YouTube]

[[Category:Cyberverse episodes]]

Ten

2020-08-24T23:20:20Z

HuskyMuskrat: /* 2005 IDW continuity */

:''Ten is a [[Legislator]] from the [[2005 IDW continuity|2005 IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:MTMTE40 minimus and ten.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|<strike>I am Groot.</strike> Ten is so nice he lets other people share his profile pic.]]
Originally created by [[Chief Justice]] [[Solomus|Tyrest]] as enforcers of his own personal brand of justice, the Legislators were defeated by the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Afterwards, the [[Autobot]] [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] salvaged one of the deactivated drones with a "bruised brain" and hacked it to work as a doorman, enforcing the three laws of his bar—no guns, no [[sword]]s, and no [[time case|briefcase]]s. Whether because of the pre-existing damage or Swerve's ham-handedness, the Legislator was left with the ability to say just one word: '''Ten''', so Swerve painted the number 9 on his back because it was funny.

Despite his origins and oft-fearsome appearance, Ten is a gentle soul who prefers creating and the company of more linguistically advanced robots to any rough stuff. He wants to be liked and he wants to help. Unfortunately, his speech difficulties mean many people have ignored him or assume he's stupid.

{{quote|Ten.|Ten|"[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air]]"}}

==Fiction==
===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|''More than Meets the Eye'' #29]]}}

[[File:Ten words hang in the air.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|<s>Pikachu.</s>]]

At Swerve's request to find a suitably-intact Legislator for use as a bouncer, [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] discovered Ten's inactive form buried under the ruins of Swerve's own bar. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Roughly six months after the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s second departure from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] had fully recovered from his [[cybercrosis]] and been promoted to a full Autobot. Heading to [[Swerve's]] to celebrate, he and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] found their way blocked by Ten, who refused to allow Cyclonus to enter until he had relinquished his [[Great Sword]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} He returned the sword when Cyclonus left. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}

Despite the "no briefcases" rule still being in effect, [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] managed to get past Ten with briefcase still in hand. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}} Ten was shortly afterwards seen lying inactive beside the entrance to Swerve's, suggesting either that Ten was affected by Brainstorm's "electro-sensitive poison" (in turn implying that ex-Legislators need a drink too, sometimes), or that Brainstorm disabled him before entering the bar. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

Though Swerve ridiculed Ten mercilessly–especially after failing the [[Ambus Test]]–Ten was in fact quite intelligent and creative. He had also developed a fondness for fellow lawman [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]], and, seeking to swap gifts, took one of Magnus's personal datapads in exchange for a tiny figurine of [[Minimus Ambus]].

[[File:ten tentententen.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb|<s>Hodor.</s> Wait until you see his friendfics.]]
[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] was first alerted to the Legislator's artistic side when Ten built a new hoverboard for Tailgate, capped off with a decal of the little 'bot holding the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. After meeting Ten in his makeshift "quarters" beyond a ventilation shaft, Ratchet discovered the Legislator had created a large mural of the ship's crew and a broad assortment of miniatures of the same (poignantly, Swerve was not among them). Ratchet also realized Ten's attachment to Ultra Magnus, and before his departure from the ''Lost Light'', encouraged Magnus to befriend his fan. Perhaps out of gratitude, Ten gifted Ratchet with the replica he'd made of [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] before he set out to find the genuine article. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

Back on the job at Swerve's, the Autobots began to relax more around Ten. [[Grotusque]] was seen painting Ten's chestplate with pretty, pretty flowers. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

A time fissure in Swerve's allowed people to briefly look back at departed crew members. Ten chose to look back at the time Jackpot and Swerve had found him. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

[[Getaway]] had been planning a mutiny and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] was one of the Autobots he knew would stand in the way; a psychic message was sent to lure those 'bots to the Necrobot's planet and was distorted into causing them torment. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} Swerve heard him and Ten arguing about the [[Ambus Test]], with the Legislator accusing him of being a bad boss and not treating him as a real person. Guilty, Swerve decided to be nice to him {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}} but unfortunately decided to start by taking Ten with him to the Necrobot's [[Necroworld|planet]], thinking it'd be a nice jolly. The Decepticons duly put them under siege. Ten thought fast and took some of the Necrobot's flowers into the fort with him {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}, working out the residual spark energy in them could be used to create a forcefield. Unfortunately he couldn't get anyone to ''listen'' to his plan.

After listening to the two arguments about whether to flee the planet to survive or stay to protect slumbering organics, Ten was part of the unanimous decision to stay. After leaving a drawing for the others spelling out his plan, he then followed [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] on his recon mission, intending to help. Ravage decided he could help... as a ''decoy'', tricking him into revealing himself to the Decepticon hordes and allowing Ravage to sneak in unnoticed during the commotion. Just as the Autobots realised what Ten had been trying to say, he was being ripped apart and only the sudden arrival of Ratchet and Drift saved him. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}}

[[File:mtmte52 evacuating ten.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|<s>Radda radda</s>.]]
The badly mangled Ten mostly sat out of the ensuing battle, but managed to get in one good swing, intercepting [[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]] as it leaped at Ratchet. He was evacuated along with Drift and Ratchet when the duo's shuttle arrived, piloted by, ironically, Ravage (who didn't seem guilty at all). {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}} He was fully patched up twenty minutes before sundown, able to hand over a newly made fusion cannon for Megatron to use during the siege. But time was soon up and, after Rodimus thanked Ten and everyone for travelling with him, the crew charged the Decepticon guns {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}} powered up thanks to Skids. When the crew's new power wore off and they were surrounded, Megatron arrived and held off the Decepticons to allow the crew to retreat to the fortress. There, Ten looked on in sadness as Nautica cradled Skids, who had lost his life giving the crew the strength needed to fight back. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} After the fighting was over, he stood by as the Disappeared were welcomed back to the world. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

Ten was present when Braintorm unveiled his teleportation "den" for returning them to Cybertron. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}}

Realizing that not all the Disappeared awakened at once, Swerve, Ten, and Whirl went downstairs to investigate the pods more thoroughly. A bored Whirl accidentally reactivated his own nemesis, [[Killmaster]]. They scattered as Killmaster burst from his pod and immediately began attacking them. The hulking Decepticon blasted Ten with his wand, leaving only a pair of smoldering footprints where once the Legislator stood. Swerve was furious but was soon zapped as well. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}} After Killmaster's defeat, Brainstorm figured out how to restore Ten and Swerve from the Decepticon's "pocket prison". {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}} Extrapolating the science to their larger predicament, Brainstorm was able to return Necroworld and everyone on it back to their own universe. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}}

Ten used his strength to help reconfigure the forcibly [[Size changing|mass displaced]] corpse of [[Skip]] into spaceship mode and left the planet with [[Team Rodimus]] to track down the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|After Megatron}}

Aboard Skip, Ten participated in the prank war between Swerve and Anode. When things started getting weird and Skip started shrinking, everyone was shocked when Ten speaks clearly, telling everyone that the fate of the universe depended on doing exactly as he said! {{storylink|Sardines}} Unbeknownst to everyone, Ten was being used by the [[Omega Guardian]]s to lure the crew to [[Mederi]] so that they could enact their grand plan. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremembering}} Through Ten, the Omega Guardians instructed the crew to take a shortcut to Mederi, which presented itself as the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]].

After being released from the Omega Guardians' control, Ten was found by Rodimus. Unaware of what had happened to him prior, Ten was granted his greatest wish of speaking with his own voice, which was possible thanks to Mederi's utopia-granting program. After expressing his gratitude for everything the crew of the ''Lost Light'' had done for him, the euphoric Ten "ascended" to the Matrix—as part of Mederi's euthanasia program. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}}

Ten's self-made figurine, as well as the figurines of other notable deceased crew members, were left alongside Rung's model ''Lost Light'' during the crew's final goodbyes to the ship. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}

[[Category:Comic-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 drones]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) characters]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]

Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's

2020-07-19T16:34:00Z

HuskyMuskrat: Added caption

{{disambig3|Swindle}}
{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #20
|prev=Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down
|next=Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors
|caption=Law & Horror
|image=TF2019 20 cvrA.jpg
|title="Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 17]], 2020
|coverdate=April 2020
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Anna Malkova]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The search for The Rise leads the 'bots of Security Operations into Iacon's criminal underbelly, but who's hunting who amidst Swindle's hive of scum and villainy?'''

==Synopsis==
In his quarters, a dejected [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] tunes into [[Andromeda (G1)|Andromeda]]'s latest news broadcast: since the fall of the [[Tether]], [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] has denounced the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s and put out a bounty on several key members of [[The Rise]] accused of involvement in the recent attacks, but the Ascenticons are now openly questioning the effectiveness of [[Security Operations]] against The Rise and the failure of the [[Autobot]]s to effectively govern. Not even the arrival of Prowl's old colleague [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] shakes him out of his funk; as tensions heighten and civil unrest sweeps [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Prowl admits that his inability to prevent the crisis has made him feel like a failure. Nightbeat tries to cheer up his friend by telling him that they might still have a chance to turn things around—there's someone in custody that Prowl might like to speak with...

Elsewhere, in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s [[Xeno-Quarter]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] assesses the damage to the city's [[A'ovan habitat]], and [[A'ovan]] representative [[Pra'tyne]] reports that they may have lost a tenth of the arcology's native species during the Tether's destruction. Hound finds his somber condolences cut off when [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] bounds onto the scene to demand a place in Hound's new counterterrorism unit. Already turned down by [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]], Sideswipe's crestfallen when Hound tactfully explains that he lacks the experience and discipline Hound requires from his troops, and warns him not to push himself into being something he's not ready to be. As Hound walks off, Sideswipe grumbles that he ''does'' want to be something: something ''useful''.

[[Strongarm (BWU)|Strongarm]] and [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] watch as Nightbeat introduces Prowl to [[Singe]], arrested for stealing energon during the Tether's collapse. Prowl's angry and straightforward tactics toe the line of what's acceptable, but Nightbeat assures a concerned Strongarm that Prowl knows what he's doing. Indeed, the interrogation proves fruitful; as Bumper and Strongarm gear up for their next major operation, Strongarm worries for her safety and the increasingly fraught political situation on Cybertron. With Security Operations overstretched so, hundreds of Ascenticons have formed a blockade around [[Ascenticon Headquarter]]s to keep out [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]'s officers; thousands of protesters have convened outside of the [[Senate]], [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] remains injured and unable to fly, the [[Winged Moon]]'s orbital trajectory has sent it spinning towards Cybertron's sun, and fighting between Autobot and Ascenticon supporters threatens to consume the [[Tagan Heights]]. But, as Sideswipe pulls up to join the team on their raid, Prowl encourages Strongarm to keep faith: thanks to Singe's tipoff, Security Operations might finally get the chance to get on the trail of The Rise to hit them ''before'' they strike... and that trail starts at [[Swindle's]], whose shady proprietors employed Singe as part of an energon fencing operation, and who might have willingly supplied Rise members with stolen energon. Prowl lays out the plan: the inconspicuous Bumper will infiltrate the clientele, Sideswipe will take watch on the roof, while he, Strongarm, and Nightbeat will stay in reserve until needed—overriding Sideswipe's moaning and Bumper's concerns, Prowl tells the two to get into position.

Inside Swindle's, Cybertronians mingle, enjoy contraband energon, and place extravagant bets on the rowdy [[skitter]] races. [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] officiates the latest such race from his skybox, [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] runs numbers, and [[Trickdiamond]] works the crowd, but their new business partner [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] and his compatriot [[Whisper (G1)|Visper]] have little patience for their black-market sleaze—they're just here for the stolen energon Swindle promised. Unfortunately for them, Swindle explains that he doesn't ''have'' the goods, not after Singe's arrest partway into the heist. Correctly deducing that the police must be onto him, Mindwipe promptly lays into Swindle for foolishly inviting him here despite the danger, and his suspicions are vindicated when he spies Bumper in the crowd below, intently watching Visper's every move. On his private comms channel, Bumper reports his findings back to Prowl—when he mentions that Visper's winged compatriot might be on to him, Prowl immediately recognizes Bumper's description of the suspect and warns him to keep his distance; Mindwipe's ability to emit data-loaded light pulses makes him an extremely dangerous foe. Bumper asks for more information, before a quiet voice from over his shoulder cuts him off: Mindwipe has taken advantage of his distraction to ambush him from behind!

Nightbeat, Prowl, and Strongarm promptly kick down the door, and, as the other patrons panic, Visper transforms and nails Nightbeat in the chest with his [[alternate mode]] while Mindwipe takes advantage of the sudden chaos to first order a hypnotized Bumper to kill Prowl, then call in [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] to scramble all nearby communications. Storm Cloud does so, then dives straight through the building's roof—but Sideswipe promptly leaps after Storm Cloud and stuns the Riser with a single jab of his [[thermal lance]]. Swindle, [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]], and Trickdiamond feign innocence as Prowl and Strongarm struggle to pin down the brainwashed Bumper; Visper takes advantage of the distraction to escape, followed by Mindwipe. As the pair soar away, Mindwipe puts through a call to [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], cutting through his superior's furious bluster to warn him that Storm Cloud's capture might further compromise the Rise. With the situation now mostly under control, Prowl instructs Strongarm to keep Bumper pinned down until the hypnosis wears off, then storms off to confront Swindle. Brushing aside Swindle's fake outrage, Prowl warns him that, with a confirmed Riser now in police custody, Swindle's going away for a long time: Prowl ''will'' convince Storm Cloud to tell him everything he knows... and he's certain that the info will include the fact that Swindle's cut a deal with the terrorists.

At Rise headquarters, [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] unlocks a secure room, and informs [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] that they're getting ready to scuttle their current base in anticipation of another security crackdown. With all of Cybertron out for their blood, Sixshot reminds them they'd ''better'' not give him any trouble during the move...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (16)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] (18)

|h2=[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (11)
* [[Flywheels|Skytread]] (12)
* [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (12)
* [[Whisper (G1)|Visper]] (45)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (46)
* [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (47)
* [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] (48)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (49)
* [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] (50)

|h4=Cybertronians|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Andromeda (G1)|Andromeda]] (1)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (3)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (4)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (5)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (7)
* [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] (8)
* [[Strongarm (BWU)|Strongarm]] (9)
* [[Singe]] (12)
* [[Pointblank]] (13)
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (14)
* [[Vibes]] (15)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
* [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] (19)
* [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] (20)
* "[[Two-headed NAIL]]" (21)
* [[Vanquish (G1)|Vanquish]] (22)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (23)
* [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] (24)
*"[[Starscream (MW)|''Machine Wars'' Starscream]]" (25)

{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}

* [[Megaplex]] (26)
* [[Photon (G1)|Photon]] (27)
* [[Anode]] (28)
* [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]] (29)
* [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] (30)
* [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (31)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (32)
* [[Trickdiamond]] (33)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (34)
* [[Nautilator]] (35)
* [[Trip-Up]] (36)
* [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]] (37)
* [[Hubs]] (38)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (39)
* [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (40)
* [[Sledge (G1)|Sledge]] (41)
* [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (42)
* [[Sharpclaw]] (43)
* [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] (44)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
{{!}}}

|h5=Others|c5=
* [[Green]] (2)
* [[Pra'tyne]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"I used to start every cycle wondering what I didn't know. Thinking about how I could find out. Now, I start each cycle wondering what I haven't done. And who'll '''die''' because of it."
:—'''Prowl'''

"I'm just saying, I've had two deployments since I graduated and on '''both''' of them I wound up getting shot at. '''I'm cursed, Bumper.'''" 
"Nah. Streetwise gave you a '''commendation''', didn't he? Primus just knows you can '''take''' getting shot at." 
"And how would that be different from a curse?"
:—'''Strongarm''' and '''Bumper'''

"Oh, no." 
"What's the problem?" 
"Sideswipe's here. I'm '''definitely''' going to get shot at again." 
:—'''Strongarm''' and '''Bumper'''

"That's against the natural order of things, Headlock. In a time of crisis, everyone should be looking for a '''escape'''. Trickdiamond, throw out some '''bargains'''. Gotta stamp on caution's shameful, unprofitable face whenever it shows itself."
:—'''Swindle'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Decepticons are rising! [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] has followed through on his threat to denounce the Ascenticons as liars—"''Decept''icons"—a threat he made in the [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|previous issue]]. In [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four|#10]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] had previously encouraged the Senate to rebrand [[The Rise]] with a new name, although all he only got as far as "Dece-" before he got cut off.
* After more than a year, Prowl's pet returns; last seen in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Five|issue #5]], this issue dubs her "[[Green]]" and notes that Prowl purchased her egg from a [[Voin]] trader. Prowl explains that her species, the [[flyt]]s, attach their egg strands to [[Leviathan (G1)|Leviathan]]; this is consistent with Leviathan's appearance in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Three|issue #3]], which saw the massive crawler surrounded by a flock of flyts as she trundled along.
* [[Rubble]] briefly passed by the [[A'ovan habitat]] in issue #5, while [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]] had [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] mention that the [[skitter]]s who appear here at an illegal (but also very cute!) gambling racetrack stowed away in [[A'ovan]] refugee ships and subsequently turned invasive after arriving on the planet.
* [[Singe]] last appeared in [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|issue #18]], where he and [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] raided an energon storage yard; while Gutcruncher escaped, Singe got the snot knocked out of him after he shot at [[Gauge]] and attracted [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]'s unwanted attention, leading to his arrest. ''This'' issue reveals that the pair weren't just randomly looting: they were deliberately trying to procure extra energon for [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s under-the-table operations.
* Strongarm mentions that she's seen action twice since joining Security Operations; her first mission took place in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Two|issue #15]], where she helped provide covering fire during a standoff in the [[Cybertronian Mountains]], and her second adventure occurred in issue #18, where she helped bring in Singe after Arcee took him down.
* Strongarm mentions receiving a commendation from [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]; he received a previous namedrop in the last issue, which established that he ran one of Cybertron's police academies.
* Following her battle with [[Vigilem]] in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|issue #17]], [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] remains wounded. Orion Pax tells [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] to prepare her Titan for a weaponized refit to pursue Vigilem, whom [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] observed had gone missing in the last issue.
* Sideswipe previously wielded his [[thermal lance]] in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|issue #9]].
* [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]]'s last chronological appearance was also in issue #9; however, it's not clear if he's ''always'' worked for Swindle or if this is a more recent job he's taken on since Prowl busted him. Either way, when Sideswipe takes down Storm Cloud, Headlock is shown to have already made his escape through a nearby door... presumably so that he doesn't repeat his encounter with Cybertronian law enforcement.
* Ever since his infamous run-in with [[Rubble]] in issue #5, [[Quake (G1)|Quake]]'s absence has proven conspicuous; confirming what prior issues implied, this issue reveals that he's under the clandestine protection of The Rise along with [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], the 'bot suspected of killing [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] just before the events of [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|issue #1]].
* An old poster in Frenzy's room reads "IACON ARENA: [[Apeface|APEFACE]] vs. [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|LUGNUT]]." The ''[[Transformers Valentine's Day Special]]'' one-shot touched upon Apeface's former [[gladiatorial combat|gladiator]] career, while [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] remembered a bout with Lugnut during a flashback in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|issue #16]].

===Transformers references===
* Prowl watches a news broadcast that features [[Andromeda (G1)|Andromeda]]; although her [[Andromeda (TransTech)|original incarnation]] hailed from the multiversal city of [[Axiom Nexus]], subsequent ''[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]'' tales eventually established the existence of a nigh-identical "[[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]]" version of the character. Continuing this unexpected [[Fun Publications]] homage, Andromeda specifically describes [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the other members of The Rise as "Cybertron's most wanted," in what's assuredly a reference to the [[Cybertron's Most Wanted|2015 BotCon comic of the same name]] (a comic in which, coincidentally, ''TransTech'' Andromeda appeared).
* Obscure female Autobot [[Vibes]], who last appeared in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' miniseries, makes a cameo in this issue as a Security Operations member alongside [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] and [[Pointblank]] during a standoff with the [[Ascenticon Guard]].
* Features of Cybertron alluded to in this issue include the [[Tagan Heights]], which played a major role in the ''[[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|The Dark Ages]]'', and the [[Rust Sea]].
* The riot at the Tagan Heights include a pair of dragon-ish Transformers who appear to be based on [[Doublecross]] and [[Grotusque]]. What's not clear is if they're actually meant to ''be'' these characters, as "Doublecross" is green and "Grotusque" is blue. Another robot in the same scene, meanwhile, sports [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s head, but isn't immediately recognizable as a pre-existing character.
* The splash panel on page ten features a ''huge'' variety of Transformers watching the skitter race. ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' original characters [[Anode]], [[Photon (G1)|Photon]], and [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] appear, and other prominent characters from the [[2005 IDW continuity|prior IDW universe]] include [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]—drawn specifically to resemble [[Nick Roche]]'s concept art for the character as he appeared in ''More than Meets the Eye''—[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]], based on his appearance in the ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' miniseries, [[Vanquish (G1)|Vanquish]], who featured in ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'', and a [[Two-headed NAIL|two-headed Transformer]] who cameoed in the earliest issues of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''. Other faces in the crowd include [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] and [[Nautilator]], a mini-Megatron lookalike that's undoubtedly ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' character [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]], [[Megaplex]], who is modeled upon [[Starscream (Armada)|''Armada'' Starscream]]'s [[Starscream (Armada)/toys#Energon|''Energon'' toy]] based on a [https://i.pinimg.com/originals/be/7f/e6/be7fe653043cad56e7b4d7271c7ec271.jpg digital mockup], and the [[Micromaster]]s [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]], [[Trip-Up]], [[Hubs]], [[Sledge (G1)|Sledge]], and [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] (phew!) Finally, the red dog-faced bot sitting next to Sledge on the bottom right is [[Sharpclaw]], an original ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' character created by the daughter of prominent ''Transformers'' artist and writer [[Nick Roche]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1113496674540953600 Nick Roche on Twitter, 3 April 2019]</ref>
* Non-specific characters in the crowd includes a character based [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|''Machine Wars'' body]]; below them is an off-white Transformer who appears to sport [[Quark]]'s head. Another face in the crowd on page thirteen resembles [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], although he shares [[Toxitron (Universe)|Toxitron]]'s lime and purple paint job.
* [[Trickdiamond]] debuted in the ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' manga as part of [[Megaempress]]'s [[4 Guards]]. Although her [[bio]] noted that she possessed a connection to Swindle, this never really played a role in any of her adventures in the ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' or ''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Legends]]'' comics, but her appearance here takes direct inspiration from her original profile and reimagines her as one of Swindle's business partners.
* Trickdiamond hawks double measures of [[engex]], an intoxicating beverage that appeared throughout the [[2005 IDW continuity]]; [[K-Juice]], [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]'s drink of choice in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''; and illicit "multiworld simulations," a reference to [[Multi-World|the computer game]] that appeared in [[Afterdeath!|issue #26]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US Marvel comic]].
* Mindwipe sardonically notes that Swindle probably pushes [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]], which in addition to its more famous [[Action Master]]-creating properties, has been used as a narcotic in various ''Transformers'' stories such as ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''; and [[syk]], an illegal circuit booster that debuted in Marvel UK's [[Earthforce]] stories.
* When Storm Cloud lands in front of Swindle and Trickdiamond, "[[Vortex_(G1)|Vortex]] Rulez" is scrawled on the wall behind him.

===Real-life references===
* One of the protest signs at the Senate reads "No Justice, No Rule," a variant on the "{{w|No justice, no peace}}" slogan often used during anti-racism protests.

===Errors===
* The credits page for this issue accidentally misspells artist [[Anna Malkova]]'s name as "Asnna Malkova."
* Issue #18 depicted Singe as all-black in keeping with his [[Singe#War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' toy]]; ''this'' issue, however, colors him to resemble his [[Singe#The Transformers|original 1988 figure]], with white forearms and blue thighs. However, this issue ''also'' takes the liberty of depicting him with a white helmet and blue crest, a trait that none of his toys possess.
* On page 8, Prowl's line "Bumper take a look" is missing a comma.

===Other notes===
* Originally solicited for April 1st, this issue was deliberately pushed back to mid-June as part of [[IDW Publishing]]'s response to the 2020 {{w|COVID-19 pandemic}}. Unfortunately, however, this meant that the comic ''also'' landed smack-dab in the middle of the historic {{w|George Floyd protests|George Floyd protests}}, an event that has led to many real-world institutions taking a frank look at issues of police brutality and race. While ''Transformers'' is no stranger to [[The Transformers: Autocracy|morally-questionable depictions of the police]], some of the imagery in this comic—which include Prowl implicitly abusing the limits of his power by roughing up a suspect in police custody, a later panel that depicts him pointing a gun at a prone, handcuffed Storm Cloud, and a sign at the Senate protests that reads "no justice, no rule"—provoked backlash due to the comic's (unintentional, but admittedly poor) timing. [[Brian Ruckley]] later apologized on Twitter; although he clarified that the issue had been finalized months in advance and that he did not intend his story to parallel real-world issues, he understood the criticism and promised to take it into account when writing. <ref>[https://twitter.com/brian_ruckley/status/1273536889237143552 Brian Ruckley on Twitter, 18 June 2020]</ref> Malkova apologized for including the sign, which was not a part of Ruckley's script. <ref>[https://twitter.com/anna__malkova/status/1273604045626839040 Anna Malkova on Twitter, 18 June 2020]</ref> Finally, editor [[David Mariotte]] issued a formal apology and promised to review future issues more stringently. <ref>[https://twitter.com/IDW_David_M/status/1273724000309370880 David Mariotte on Twitter, 18 June 2020]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': The shadow of Mindwipe looms over Nightbeat, Strongarm, and Bumper, by [[Ed Pirrie]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
* '''Cover B''': Hound makes a friend, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Prowl and Nightbeat make a raid on Swindle's, by [[Blacky Shepherd]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 20 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 20 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 20 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection]]'' [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|#11]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. The Terminator]]''
* ''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.allspark.com/2020/06/idw-transformers-20-full-preview/ Preview]

[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]