At the Last Second

« Transformers: Titans Return ep 5
Life is a highway I wanna ride it all night long
"At the Last Second"
Production company	Hasbro Studios, Machinima
Airdate	December 5, 2017
Written by	Eric S. Calderon F.J. DeSanto Adam Beechen
Director	Yuzo Sato
Animation studio	Tatsunoko Production

When Metroplex falls, Hot Rod and Windblade resort to Plan B.

Synopsis

In the leveled city, the battle between Metroplex and Trypticon continues to intensify, despite Metroplex's handicap. Hot Rod arrives and meets Windblade at the scene, who is surprised by his new form. Suspecting the cause of Metroplex's new power, Hod Rod moves in closer, with Windblade following. Windblade attempts to distract Trypticon, but the Titan is unfazed and knocks Metroplex down, pinning him with his foot. Emissary reports they are low on power and begs Metroplex to hang on, but Metroplex declares they are out of time and demands the Titan Master escape, to which he reluctantly complies. Hot Rod fires a blast at Trypticon, as the latent Starscream personality recognizes its fellow council member. Windblade again attempts to fire on Trypticon, but he smacks her out of the air. He turns back to the fallen Metroplex and leaps high in the air before landing on the other Titan, finally extinguishing Metroplex's spark. A grieving Windblade runs towards him, but Hot Rod restrains her. Emissary emerges from a hatch in Metroplex's side, apologizing for not being able to help, but Trypticon notices him. Though he tries to escape, Trypticon swallows Emissary and forcibly bonds the Titan Master to his systems, granting him the ability to breath fire. Windblade and Hot Rod get clear of the encroaching flames while Emissary struggles to resist from within, causing Starscream to howl in agony.

Megatron enters the darkened Primal Basilica, seeking to speak with the Mistress of Flame about a religious matter, but discovers her body lying in a pool of her own oil. The Mistress of Flame slowly regains consciousness and asks Megatron if the Combiners have yet awakened Fortress Maximus. Not having an answer, Megatron asks who attacked her. The councillor only manages to respond with Overlord's name before her spark finally gives out, leaving Megatron unsurprised but apprehensive at Overlord's return.

The missile volley fired from Fortress Maximus finally descend from the sky, striking Trypticon, but the Titan is still standing when the smoke clears. Hot Rod declares he's going to rescue Emissary, as Fortress Maximus will need him to defeat Trypticon. Over Hot Rod's protests, Windblade follows him towards Trypticon and distracts the Titan while Hot Rod shoots a hole in Trypticon's tail and enters inside. Moments later, Hot Rod drives out of Trypticon's eye with Emissary riding inside, and Windblade flies forward to catch them. Realizing she won't reach them before Trypticon's thrashing tail does, Hot Rod throws Emissary to Windblade just before he is struck and knocked to the ground. Damaged but alive, Hot Rod tells Windblade to get Emissary to Fortress Maximus, with the Cityspeaker promising to send Ratchet to patch him up as she departs. Still in pain, Hot Rod falls back and stares up at the falling rain...only to be interrupted by Overlord's arrival. Hot Rod tries to fire on him, but Overlord brushes off the shot, declaring he didn't come to fight. Instead, he decides that Hot Rod will "do nicely" and forces a glowing purple object into Hot Rod's chest, laughing over his screams.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Camiens
Metroplex (2) Hot Rod (4) Emissary (5)	Trypticon (1) Starscream* (6) Megatron (7) Overlord (9)	Windblade (3) Mistress of Flame (8)

*Voice-only appearance

Quotes

"Mistress of Flame? Before you redline your temperature gauge, I'm only here to talk about one of your favorite topics: religion."

—Megatron makes a begrudging entrance.

"Well, I suppose I should bow my cab and...say a few nice words...but who am I kidding?"

—Megatron, master eulogist.

"Okay, so what's our plan?"
"Uh, our plan? You just hang here and set up the victory parade."
"Oh, like he doesn't put his wheels on one tire at a time like the rest of us?"

—Hot Rod leaves Windblade in the dust.

"Think of a plan, think of a plan... Okay, Windblade: if you're coming along, I need a favor."
"No, I will not paint your portrait at your 'moment of triumph'."

—Hot Rod gets on Windblade's last nerve.

"Get ready for a mid-air rescue! We'll be coming out of a different opening!"
"Which one?"
"Not sure...but I'm really hoping it's above the waist."

—Hot Rod proves to Windblade his humor is even more lowbrow than ours.

"We weren't formally introduced. I'm-"
"Windblade, Cityspeaker. We Titan Masters have heard about you."
"Really? Well, ain't I a fan-favorite?"

—Windblade and Emissary's meta levels are off the charts.

"Suck. My. Exhaust. Pipe."

—Hot Rod takes a shot at Overlord.

"Oh, no, no. I'm not here to fight you, boy. There's just something I want you to carry. And then...I'm gonna watch the sparks fly. Literally."

—Overlord gets all foreshadowy.

Notes

Transformers references

• Hot Rod escapes Trypticon by driving through his eye, similar to what he did with Unicron in the climax of The Transformers: The Movie.

External links

• "At the Last Second" on Go90 (US only)