The Spark

The name or term "Spark" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Spark (disambiguation).

Template:Episodenav Writers: Larry DiTillio

Rhinox and Cheetor assist a downed stasis pod and the damaged protoform within.

Characters (in order of appearance): Tarantulas, Megatron, Rhinox, Cheetor, Tigatron, Scorponok, Blackarachnia, Waspinator, Terrorsaur, Airazor (first appearance), Optimus Primal, Rattrap,

Original Air Date: November 11, 1996

Summary

In safe orbit around the planet, a Stasis pod is clipped by a piece of space debris, causing the pod to descend to Earth. The pod is discovered by Tarantulas and Megatron, who dispatch Scorponok and Blackarachnia.

Meanwhile, Rhinox happens to be scouting the landing area in his Beast Mode, observing that the local raw energon deters the Predacons from properly fortifying the terrain. He witnesses the pod descending and, unable to radio for support, takes to recover the pod by himself. In another area, the relaxing Cheetor sees the pod and, after radioing the news to Tigatron, heads to where he anticipates the pod will land.

Rhinox is first to reach the pod, but finds that because of the local energon, his robot mode is in risk of damage from prolonged exposure to the energon radiation. Worse, the protoform within the pod could soon expire if the pod itself isn't soon repaired.

Tigatron freezes Scorponok's journey to the stasis pod. But Blackarachnia paralyzes Tigatron with a does of her Cyber-venom.

Cheetor's arrival at the landing crater provides Rhinox with the component the pod needs replce. Cheetor deactivates to allow Rhinox to harvest the hardware that protects the Maximal from energon damage. While in deep sleep, Cheetor envisions himself learning from Rhinox the concept of a Transformer spark. After Cheetor reactivates, Rhinox tensely installs the chip and gives the dormant Transformer a second chance.

Blackarachnia arrives and exchanges in trash talk as she battles against Cheetor, who makes sure to conservatively use his robot mode. Cheetor manages to shove her own venom dart in her forehead, knocking her out of commission. Next, Cheetor faces Waspinator and Terrorsaur. With his robot mode pushed to the max, Cheetor uses his Beast Mode to draw the two fliers away.

Rhinox tries to interface his own systems with the stasis pod to assist the situation, but is disconnected by feedback and left trapped in his own Beast Mode.

Cheetor fries Waspinator with some maneuvering around one of the local natural Energon Geysers. Terrorsaur is able to score a direct hit to Cheetor and proceed to the pod, no longer effectively protected by any Maximals. But at the last possible moment, the pod scans bird circling overhead, providing the biological information needed to complete the new Maximal.

The fresh-from-case avian Transformer lifts Terrorsaur away from the crash site. His attempts to fry the bird with gunfire are dodged. Announcing her name to be Airazor, the new Maximal transforms and blasts the Predacon to pieces before he hits the ground.

Back at the Axalon, the rest of the Maximals are introduced to their new friend.

Quotes

explaining what a spark is during Cheetor's dream.
Rhinox: When a Spark goes online, there is great joy. When one is estinguished, the universe weeps.

trash talking
Cheetor: By the way, how do you dance with all those skinny legs?
Blackarachnia: Ugh, this must be my day for cats!

Notes

• Tarantulas snickers to himself after detecting the pod. It's possible that had Megatron not taken notice, Tarantulas would have secured the pod for his own purpose, as he tried to do when Inferno's pod landed.
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.