Optimal Situation

Template:Episodenav Writers: Bob Forward

With Optimus Prime in critical condition after Megatron's attack, Optimus takes on his spark to save the timestream.

Major Characters (in order of appearance): Characters

Minor Characters (in order of appearance): Characters

Original Air Date: October 24, 1998

Summary

As a time storm ravages reality, Megatron gloats to the fading Maximals, as his attack on Optimus Prime ensures that the Autobots lose to the Decepticons, resulting in the Predacons having control of Cybertron. However, Blackarachnia is also affected by the time storm, and activates Teletraan I's security system, forcing Megatron out of the Ark. Finding help in Silverbolt, the two manage to stabilize Optimus Prime. The other Maximals arrive, and upon seeing Prime, realize that they must save him. However, his spark is fading. Believing there is no other choice, Optimus Primal merges his spark with Prime's to save it. He succeeds, and Rhinox begins repairs, but it causes Primal to transform into a new, larger body, similar to the Autobot leader.

Megatron and Inferno arrive and attack, though Primal manages to save the Maximals, while Blackarachnia uses the commotion to escape. Outside, Waspinator provides cover fire by shooting the rocks above the Ark. The Predacons destroy the cave entrance and flee, but Megatron notices a trapped Blackarachnia. Enraged by her betrayal, Megatron shoots her as the Maximals break free. Knowing that they are heading for the Axalon, Primal and Cheetor race off. As Silverbolt cradles the damaged Blackarachnia, he begs to fight on, and praises her defiance of Megatron. She maintains that what she did was self-survival, but Silverbolt points out that she also saved him and the universe, and tells Blackarachnia that he loves her, something which seems to shock her. Believing she is dying, Silverbolt askes her one last time to join the Maximals. Although she maintains that she's still a Predacon, Blackarachnia joins the Maximals for him, then goes off line. Rhinox, however, reveals that she's merely in stasis lock.

Primal and Cheetor manage to down Megatron, Inferno, and Waspinator, but Primal discovers that Rampage and the Arachnoids are litterally trying to drag the base away. Optimus manages to sever the lines and dispatch Rampage, but not before Rampage fires a missle which delfects off Primal and hits the Axalon. Falling off the cliff, the Axalon crashes into the river. Knowing that he must return Prime's spark, Optimus and Cheetor withdraw to rejoin the Maximals.

Back in the Ark, the repairs are finished. Returning the spark causes Optimus Prime to briefly reactivate, but almost immediately returns to stasis lock. Rattrap is less than happy, as they now have the difficult task of protecting the Ark from the Predacons. With the timestream safe—for the moment—Optimus orders the Maximals, including Blackarachnia, who still maintains she's a Predacon, to begin rounding up every piece of salvage and make fortifications.

They're moving into Mount St. Hilary.

Quotes

• [The Maximals discover Optimus Prime's damaged body]
  Optimus: Well, that's just prime.
  Rattrap: Or what's left of him.
  [Rhinox gives Rattrap a well deserved smack]

• Megatron: This is not the end of it, Optimal Optimus. Nooo. The universe cowered once in fear at the name of Megatron, and it shall do so again!
  Optimus: Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Megatron.
  Megatron: Then they better stay out of my way!

• Silverbolt: Blackarachnia, dark poison of my heart, abide with me yet still.
  Blackarachnia: You got a way with words there, rover. You all most make me wish I was a better girl.
  [Offscreen, Rattrap resisting the urge to shoot both of them]

• Cheetor: Boy, Optimus sure learns a new body fast!
  Rattrap:well wha'd ya expect? he changes 'em often enough!

Notes

Technical/Animation Glitches

• Glitch

Continuity Errors

• Error

Transformers References

• After returning Optimus Prime's spark to him, Optimus Prime reactivates, but almost immediately returns to stasis lock.
• When confronting Megatron on the Ark's bridge, Optimus Primal tells Megatron "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings", the motto of Optimus Prime. Later, he tells the Maximals to "transform and roll out".

Real-World References

• Reference

External Links

• Link
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.