Dark science

"Fencing diamonds, fixing cockfights, publishing indecent magazines. / You'll pay for every crime! / Knee-deep in electric slime! / You'll suffer 'til the end of time, / enduring tortures, most of which rhyme, / trapped forever, here in Robot Hell!"

Dark science is a source of power residing in every Transformer, albeit in dormant state. It seems to be related to the power of their gods and entails a deep understanding of the possibilities of their heritage.

It should not be confused with magic, which has nothing on science.

“	That's dark science for you! There are more things in the universe and Cybertron than are dreamed of in your philosophy!	”
—Bludgeon puts down Shockwave, who only has a grasp on average science, "Revelation"

Fiction

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Bludgeon, Bugly, and Mindwipe had split from their former faction and formed the Chaos Trinity. Residing in Kalis, the three used dark science to conjure a swarm of insectoid robots to rain vengeance on their enemies. Yet in the middle of the proceedings, they were approached by The Fallen, who poked fun at what little understanding they actually had about the dark arts. He then offered them access to powers far greater if they would be willing to help him find the "four angles in the geometry of dissolution" for a ceremony called "the Unbinding". Naturally, they accepted. Fragmentation

After helping with the preparations at the Seal of Primus, Bludgeon voiced the Chaos Trinity's need for some proof of the power The Fallen had promised them. The Fallen indulged, giving Bludgeon a vision of what realm lingered in the forgotten corner of the Transformer race's origins. By this, Bludgeon was more than motivated to carry out the rest of The Fallen's orders. Utilizing both his intellect and grasp on dark science, he designed for two of the angles, Grimlock and Jetfire, to deliver themselves into their hands. Escalation Jetfire arrived to meet with Shockwave as arranged in the Neutral Territories, where the dark science-enhanced Chaos Trinity took them out with ease and proceeded to abduct Jetfire. Grimlock, however, had gotten around their scheme and launched a surprise attack the three stood powerless against. Not amused, The Fallen came into action then himself to take out Grimlock, Revelation and ordered the Chaos Trinity to go after Hot Spot while he'd use his power to get the final angle, Blitzwing, out of Autobot imprisonment. Confrontation

Taking power from the four unique sparks they had collected, The Fallen started the Unbinding to force Primus out of his hiding and, as a result, return Unicron from his banishment. Meanwhile, on the planet's surface above, the Chaos Trinity was assigned to keep the joined forces of the Decepticons and Autobots at bay long enough for the Unbinding to succeed, at which point they'd receive their reward. But even with their already awakened abilities, they were no match for the legion of Transformers that came to stop whatever was going on, and were taken out. The Fallen also did not fare very well; for all the power at his disposal, he could not prevent Grimlock and Jetfire from sabotaging the ceremony and destroying him. Conflagration

3H comics

Unicron and his servants had thrown up dark science shields to prevent Primus from spying on them. Homecoming

Ask Vector Prime

Dark science was a form of Machōkon. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/20

Notes

• The unofficial story "Alignment"—written, like most the fiction above, by Simon Furman—was the first Transformers fiction to mention dark science. It was practiced by a former acolyte of Unicron named Direwolf, who used his powers to bring together the sparks of himself, Ramjet, Ravage, and Soundwave to provide the energy needed to revive Megatron.