Editing The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers:<br>Lost Light]]'' #12
|prev=The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks
|next=Sardines
|image=LL12_cvrA.jpg
|title="The Plotters' Club (Part 3):<br>Journey's End"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 27]], [[2017]]
|coverdate=November 2017
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]] (pgs 1-7, 12-20), [[Andrew Griffith]] (pgs 8-11)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]], [[John-Paul Bove]], and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''The Protectobots make their stand against Getaway.'''

==Synopsis==
After pushing [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] into the oil reservoir, [[Getaway]] counts to thirty—the length of time it takes [[scraplet]]s to strip a mech down to their [[life cord]]—and considers the deed done. [[Atomizer]] feels a pang of guilt over Riptide's death, especially the needlessly cruel way Getaway spoke to him beforehand, but Getaway has already moved on to finding ways to beef up security on the ship. As the ''[[Lost Light]]'' exits the [[Warren]] and returns to regular space (four minutes ''before'' they left, thanks to its time-and-space bending properties), Getaway instructs [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to put in a call to someone that will be able to help out with that matter. But it turns out that Getaway and Atomizer have left the oil reservoir just a bit too soon: a moment later, Riptide bursts out of its depths, having survived by transforming to boat mode despite the fact the blast he received from Getaway's [[nudge gun]] should have made that impossible.

Getaway and Atomizer show [[Froid]] the "time window" created by [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]]'s [[time case]], allowing them to look back on a moment from the recent past when [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], and the rest of the team they exiled, were enjoying a drink in [[Swerve's]]. Getaway falls silent when he witnesses [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] sharing a moment, in which Skids calls the [[Caminus|Camien]] his "best friend," only speaking up again to voice his belief that the castaways have all survived their encounter with the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] and will be coming after the ''Lost Light''. But Getaway announces he is perfectly happy about this, since that means they'll be there to see him achieve his victory, finding [[Cyberutopia]] and becoming a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. Froid idly muses about ''[[primus apotheosis]]'', but ''assures'' Getaway he doesn't think ''his'' desire to be a Prime means ''he'' is delusional. Getaway notes that condition was first identified by [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]; Froid notes that his old rival is the most likely candidate to have died at the DJD's hands, and makes a point of describing him as "one of life's good guys."

Later, Getaway takes Atomizer to the medibay, where [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] all lie unconscious, trapped in memory loops. Sensing Atomizer's growing doubt, Getaway places a gun in his hand and instructs him to choose one of the Protectobots to kill, nominally to prevent them from forming [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] should they ever escape, but more than that, to deal with Atomizer's wavering conviction by dirtying his hands past the point of no return. Atomizer seems about to blast [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], but at the last moment, shoots [[Rook (Generations)|Rook]] instead, blowing him to pieces. Atomizer is left distraught by what he has been forced to do, but neither he nor Getaway realize the scene has been witnessed by Riptide, hiding the vents in the ceiling.

On the planet [[Frayus]], the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] are living up to their name scrounging around in the abandoned [[Decepticon]] outpost [[Camp Conclave]] for a rumored "secret stash" of [[ununtrium]] to get rich off of, but they find nothing of use. The misfits emerge from the soundproofed bunker to discover that the forces of the [[Galactic Council]] and the [[Black Block Consortia]] are at war on its doorstep, with [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and his troops—now under the command of former DJD member [[Nickel]]—caught in the middle! Nickel is puzzled as to the Consortia's sudden interest in this sector of space; Deathsaurus notes that it is rich in raw materials for [[eco-structuring|cyberforming]], but that export of those materials was recently taken over by a mysterious third party. The Scavengers, meanwhile, discover that the teleportal they used to get from [[Weak Anthropic Principle|their ship]] down to Frayus's surface has disappeared, evidently due to the orbiting ship being damaged in the battle—but a new avenue of escape opens when another portal appears right in front of them. On the other side, an unseen figure that the group recognizes beckons them through, offering them "everything they've ever wanted," and the Scavengers don't hestiate to jump in... followed a moment later by Nickel, who is unintentionally hurled through by an explosion.

Back on the ''Lost Light'', Riptide awakens First Aid from his memory loop and fills him in on recent events; the medic is able to deduce that Riptide is "naturally immune" to the nudge gun thanks to his low intelligence. The pair wake up the other sleepers, and, realizing that the whole ship is against them, they decide to make a run for it. However, Getaway and the security team are in the shuttle bay to greet the new arrival Blaster contacted earlier, so to get past them all, the team make a stop at the ship's morgue to pick up the corpse of [[Ambulon]], who is able to take the departed Rook's place as a leg for the Protectobots' combined form. As Defensor, the team smashes into the shuttle bay and start tearing through the security team, while Thunderclash tackles Getaway himself. Unfortunately, Thunderclash is immediately blasted by Getaway's "new hire": former enforcer of the [[Tyrest Accord]] and religious lunatic [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]! Mirage entreats Star Saber to stand down and listen so he can explain what is going on, but Star Saber is heedless: he slices Mirage to pieces, then cleaves Defensor into his component Protectobots. The security team cuts them down where they stand, save for First Aid, who tries to lug Thunderclash to safety with Riptide's help. They are only able to escape when Atomizer has an attack of conscience and leaps on Star Saber's back, blasting him with the nudge gun, allowing the three survivors to flee aboard Star Saber's ship.

As they exit the Warren again a little later, Getaway contacts Froid to request another "favor" from [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]]: Getaway has murdered Atomizer with his bare hands in retribution for his betrayal, and needs the security team's memories altered to make them think Thunderclash did it during the fight. Sunder's rising life cord price is too steep to pay, but before they can argue it out, Blaster breaks into the call with incredible news—the ''Lost Light'' has just arrived at its final destination. Before the ship lies a brilliant, shining, rainbow-hued metallic world.

They have found [[Cyberutopia]]!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Atomizer]] (1)
*[[Getaway]] (2)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (3)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] (4)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (6)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (7)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (8)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (9)
*''[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]]'' (10)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'' (11)
*''[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]]'' (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'' (14)
*''[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]'' (15)
*''[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'' (16)
*''[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]]'' (17)
*''[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]'' (18)
*''[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]]'' (19)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (21)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (22)
*[[Rook (Generations)|Rook]] (23)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (24)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (26)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (27)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]] (30)
*[[Mirage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Mirage]] (39)
*[[Ambulon]]'s corpse (40)
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (41)
*[[Pointblank]] (42)
*[[Aquabat]] (43)
*[[Grotusque]] (44)
*[[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]] (45)
*[[Doublecross]] (46)
*[[Powerflash]] (48)
*[[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (49)
*[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] (50)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Fulcrum]] (28)
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (29)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (31)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (32)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (33)
*[[Eaglebreast]] (34)
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (35)
*[[Liokaiser]] (36)
*[[Tigerbreast]] (37)
*[[Nickel]] (38)
|c4=
*''[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]]'' (12)
*[[Froid]] (20)
*[[Galactic Council]] troops (34)
*[[Black Block Consortia]] troops (35)
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] (47)
}}

==Quotes==
"You're '''winning,''' Getaway. You needn't be so cruel."
:—'''Atomizer'''


"Look, I know what you've been thinking. Ever since Froid. Ever since Sunder. 'He's gone too far.' And you know what? You're right. I '''have''' gone too far. And now... so have you."
:—'''Getaway''' torments Atomizer after making him kill Rook


'''Fulcrum:''' "If there '''had''' been any ununtrium, I bet it would've been hidden behind a series of '''traps'''—each one more deadly and elaborate than the last."<br>
'''Misfire:''' "Yeah, but by overcoming each trap we'd have learned something important about ourselves."<br>
'''Crankcase:''' "Just so we're clear, by the end of our labors, would we have realized that friendship is more precious than metal?"<br>
'''Spinister:''' "Great—another pretend adventure you've had without me."


"On the day Primus was handing out '''brains''', you were at the back of the line. In fact, you weren't even '''in''' the line. You joined a different line by mistake."<br>
"I don't understand."<br>
"...is a gentler way of putting it, yes."
:—'''First Aid''' and '''Riptide'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The time window in Swerve's was introduced in [[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50]]. The final panel of that story revealed that Getaway had discovered it, at some point prior to the events of this story. Atomizer notes that the window was originally discovered while he and Getaway were "in the brig," between issues [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]] and 50.
*As we observed in our notes for last issue, Getaway believes he is destined to be a Prime because, as revealed in [[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]] he has displayed the [[Signs of Affinity]] for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. The signs are listed in this issue as being: "liberty blue" optics, the same color as the [[Matrix Flame]]; finding [[living metal|sentio metallico]] wet to the touch; becoming "giddy" while standing on a [[hot spot]]; and being able to make a [[photonic crystal]] "snap" when placed in your chest (though Roberts notes the specific meaning of the word "snap" in this context is deliberately left ambiguous, possibly referring to making it break, making it make a noise, or something else<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/944918662326243329 James Roberts on "making a photonic crystal snap" on Twitter]</ref>). Of these, the idea that one's optic color is connected to Matrix affinity was first expressed in the prose story "[[Zero Point]]," in which [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'s eyes were noted to be "an arresting, thousand-watt Matrix Blue," indicating that he was "Compatible." 
*''Primus apotheosis'', the identity sickness that makes one think they are [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]], was introduced in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', in which [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] suffered from it.
*It's not clear if "Camp Conclave" is the literal name for the Decepticon base the Scavengers explore, or if it's a nickname Misfire is giving it. Either way, the name refers to the "[[conclave]]" of high-ranking Decepticons originally mentioned in [[Life After the Big Bang|''More than Meets the Eye'' #4]], at least one of whom it was noted was needed to be present to formally perform the [[Rite of the Deceptibrand]], which Crankcase describes undergoing in this story. Its design—a giant honking Decepticon symbol carved into a mountain—is very similar to a Decepticon base seen in [[Shining Armor issue 5|''Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor'' #5]].
*Crankcase reveals that before undergoing the Rite and receiving his [[Insignia|Decepticon badge]] proper, he was a [[Genericon]]—a lowly ranking class of cannon fodder troops introduced in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #4 where First Aid noted that their badges were a different size and shape. See also "Real-life references" below.
*The Scavengers are visiting Camp Conclave in search of [[ununtrium]], the super-metal used to create [[Phase Sixer]]s, introduced in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]]. The same issue noted that [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s infusion with the substance likely represented the last ununtrium remaining anywhere at all.
*The Council and Consortia were previously established to be fighting over Frayus last issue, when Getaway turned down a request for aid from the planet's natives.
*Deathsaurus and Nickel last appeared in [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|''More than Meets the Eye'' #55]], when they abandoned the DJD to their fate at Megatron's hands. Deathsaurus was noted to be famous for cyberforming organic worlds in [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]], while Fulcrum had been established to have been part of a cyberforming unit in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]]; this issue consolidates the two by revealing that Fulcrum served under Deathsaurus.
*The [[Breastforce]] were originally shown to be under Deathsaurus's command in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #39. This issue reveals that they have the power to combine into Liokaiser in this continuity—though given the general rarity of combiners in IDW continuity, exactly ''how'' that can be remains to be seen. See "Transformers references" below for more on Liokaiser, but also "Errors".
*Riptide's lack of intelligence has been his predominant characteristic since ''More than Meets the Eye'' #31, in which he sorrowfully recalled how much he struggled with exams.
*Ambulon died in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]], and had his remains rebuilt into a cannon by [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue #20]]. Evidently, Ratchet restored him to normal and reattached the bisected halves of his body for interment.
*The idea that a dead Transformer can still combine with others was established in [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #28]], in which the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] were able to do so with [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]. Defensor winds up a lot more mobile than [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] did, however; the Constructicon combiner had a "dead leg" as a result.
*Star Saber was last seen in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]. Getaway refers to the "bad blood" that exists between him and [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], who defeated him in a duel in that issue, and shrugs off his own bad blood with Saber (who helped imprison and torture him) by saying he was only following Tyrest's orders. It might seem strange that the zealot is already so close to Cyberutopia when his rendezvous with Getaway occurs, but the ship is shown travelling through the Warren at least once more afterwards before finally arriving.

===Transformers references===
*Liokaiser is drawn based directly on his [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|''Transformers: Victory'' cartoon]] [[character model]], but is colored like the ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Liokaiser toy, with a black-and-yellow helmet (teal on the original), a grey abdomen, and teal hips (both black on the original). But, see "Errors."
*First Aid laments about the fact he never got to know Rook, a tongue-in-cheek reference to his recent addition to the Protectobot Team as a result of the ''Combiner Wars'' toyline back in 2015.

===Real-life references===
*Crankcase refers to the Genericons' badges as "learner plates"; in [[James Roberts]]' native [[United Kingdom]] (and a few other countries besides) probationary drivers are required to display {{w|L-plate}}s on their vehicle before they have passed their driving test.

===Errors===
*On the final page, Blaster's face is colored grey rather than yellow.
*Having been drawn based on his classic character model, Liokaiser therefore has [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]] for a left arm. In IDW continuity, Hellbat died in [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 4|''Empire of Stone'' #4]], and wasn't part of Deathsaurus's unit—stand-in member [[Deathcobra (Victory)|Deathcobra]] took his place, and should be the arm here. Also, the wings on Liokaiser's chesplate, which should be teal since they're part of [[Leozack]], are incorrectly colored (one magenta, one blue) as if they are part of [[Guyhawk]] and Hellbat; only his left hip is teal while his right is grey like the rest of his pelvis and abdomen; and he's got blue thighs, which isn't based on either the classic colour scheme or the ''Combiner Wars'' one that's otherwise being used here.
*The situation with Ambulon and Defensor is ridden with errors:
**Getaway identifies First Aid and Rook as Defensor's legs, but Rook only ever formed one of the combiner's arms in previous appearances. We will note, however, that Rook and First Aid are forming his legs in [[:File:Defensor Combiner Wars.jpg|TFWiki's picture of the toy]]... 
**Regardless, ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' showed [[Enigma of Combination|Enigma]]-generated combiners as having fully-interchangeable limbs, rendering the whole point moot.
**Getaway further states that only the Protectobots, not Mirage or Thunderclash, can combine... but Mirage ''is'' a combiner limb, having been merged into [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]] during ''Combiner Wars''. This could be chalked up to Getaway not knowing about Mirage's combining ability, but if he managed to find out about Defensor, it seems likely that he would also know about Mirage. What's worse is that Mirage and the Protectobots should definitely know, meaning they don't actually ''need'' to use Ambulon's dead body to complete Defensor! This could be no-prized by everyone assuming that Mirage can only function as an arm (as he does as a component of Optimus Maximus), rather than a leg.
**Defensor suffers no obvious ill effects from using a "dead" leg. Previously, when the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|tried this]] with the cadaver of [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] ended up with a non-functioning leg. Of course, Devastator was on the surface of Cybertron, while Defensor is confined within the shuttle bay of the Lost Light - ill effects might not be as obvious within this context.
**Half or all of Ambulon's corpse was turned into a gun back in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|"Arm the Lonely"]]. His body could have been rebuilt as a matter of respect, but then why has he just been lying in the morgue for years instead of being properly buried? First Aid's long-standing issues with corpses and Ambulon's death in particular may have something to do with it.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in November, this issue arrives noticeably late, in the final week of December.
*This issue's covers ''all lie''. Defensor isn't formed with Rook and never even gets close to Getaway, and as for Mirage being invisible and covered in blood... your guess is as good as ours.
*It's not really clear on the page ''why'' Riptide isn't eaten by the scraplets despite being able to transform, since he's still submerged under the oil for thirty seconds regardless. His high-speed exit from the reservoir, launching himself to safety in a way that wouldn't be possible in robot mode, suggests he's been whizzing around below the surface, evading the critters until he could burst free.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJUJTGUH0mc Planet Sizes]" by {{w|Steve Mason (musician)|Steve Mason}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOK_vqtXgbk Beat Surrender]" by {{w|The Jam}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Defensor looms over Getaway, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' An invisible Mirage, spattered with energon, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover C:''' Getaway versus Defensor, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron by [[Livio Ramondelli]]; companion piece to Ramondelli's Optimus Prime cover for [[The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|''Optimus Prime'' #13]]

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==External links==
*[https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-transformers-lost-light-12/ Preview]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]