Other Voices, Part 2
As the alien machine begins destroying the planet's energon, Optimus devises a desperate plan to destroy the device.
Summary
Out on patrol, Cheetor and Tigatron stare in awe at "the light at the end of the world," as the alien machine continues powering up in space. Primal makes contact and orders them to return to base. Rattrap is pessimistic about their chances of survival, but Primal assures him that Rhinox will find a way for them to survive.
The alien bungalow finishes transferring power to the moon, and in a flash, the aliens depart, their final words being "Termination sequence: engage. Return to Nexus Zero."
Megatron and the Predacons observe this from their base. Confronted with a machine intended to destroy them, Megatron activates a special program and scans the Maximal base, locating the spiders and Inferno within.
Tarantulas is nearly finished converting a stored stasis pod into his escape ship. Blackarachnia observes that it's a little cramped for two...but, weapon drawn, she has no intention of sharing the ride. Inferno arrives just then, blasts her, and sets Tarantulas on fire, knocking him out. Back at the Predacon base, Megatron detects the aborted flow of data to the stasis pod ship and reacts with fury.
The Maximals arrive at base, alarmed to find the shields down. Inside, they find Rhinox and Dinobot cyber-webbed to the ceiling. Primal sends Rattrap and Airazor to bring in their unwelcome visitors.
Inferno starts to examine Tarantulas's work, but is attacked by Blackarachnia, who eludes him with a display of gymnastics before blasting him with his own gun. Picking up Tarantulas's cyber-link goggles, she forms a link with the unconscious Tarantulas to obtain the data needed to finish the pod-ship—but finds that staring into the abyss of the spider's mind means that it also stares back...
Megatron observes the data flow resuming, just as the altered moon opens fire on the planet with a broad, blinding power ray. Primal charges the Maximal base's shields as the external temperature begins climbing and deduces that the aliens intend to ignite the energon deposits. Megatron notes that this will obliterate the entire planet, an incredibly ruthless strategy that he rather admires. He assures his panicked troops that Tarantulas will save them, albeit inadvertently.
Blackarachnia finishes the pod ship, only to be discovered and held at gunpoint by Rattrap and Airazor. Primal is despairing, as Rhinox is still out of commission, when Rattrap summons him to the stasis hold. Primal is impressed by the ship and immediately orders Blackarachnia to change the command codes to respond to him. He intends to fly the ship up to the Planet Buster and detonate the transwarp cell to destroy it. With little alternative, Blackarachnia complies.
Soon all is ready, and Primal has poignant parting words with his worried crew before sealing the ship and launching it. Megatron scans the launch and notes with delight that Primal is flying the vessel. Primal soon reaches the Planet Buster, starts the ignition sequence, and gives the order to blow the hatch seals. But the hatch is sealed and locked! Megatron appears on his comm screen to gloat that he'd come up with the exact same plan—only in his version of events, the ship's pilot goes "up with the ship." As the timer counts down to zero, the Maximals frantically wait for Primal to make his escape. Primal pounds on the sealed hatch, to no avail. As the Maximals wondering what is going on, Blackarachnia tells them it's too late...in Tarantulas's voice.
The transwarp cell explodes, and high above the planet, the Planet Buster is annihilated...along with the pod ship and Optimus Primal.
Quotes
Megatron: Brilliant! They're causing a chain reaction which will rip this planet to atoms and destroy all traces of them—simply to deal with us! Such sheer ruthlessness. Such disregard for sentient life! ...I rather like these aliens.
Terrorsaur: Like them?! They're trying to destroy us!
Waspinator: Waspinator not want to be destroyed! Waspinator has plans!
Scorponok: Megatron will save us!
Megatron: I think not. I've reserved that task for Tarantulas.
- —The Predacons react to the Planet Buster.
Blackarachnia: We - I did it!
Airazor: Hooray for you.
[Blackarachinia finds herself held at gunpoint.]
Blackarchinia: Did you know we have a truce?
Primal: Cozy.
Blackarachnia: Just like a coffin.
Rattrap: Just in case you don't come back... Can I have your quarters?
Primal: No.
- —Rattrap's version of a final farewell.
Stats
Writers: Larry DiTillio and Bob Forward
Original Air Date: April 1, 1997
Major Characters (in order of appearance): Characters
Minor Characters (in order of appearance): Characters
Notes
Technical/Animation Glitches
- Glitch
Trivia
- A planned but never-produced G1 cameo was planned for "Other Voices Part 2". The intent was for Megatron to gloat to Primal while the latter was trapped in the stasis pod—by projecting an image of the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, on Primal's viewscreen as Primal raced for the false moon and met his demise. [1]
Continuity Errors
- Error
Transformers References
- Referencing the newly revealed Planet Buster, Megatron says, "I'd say it was the instrument of our destruction." This may be a reference to Instruments of Destruction, one of the songs used in The Transformers: The Movie.
- Megatron's line, "You Optimuses do enjoy sacrificing yourselves," is a reference to the original Optimus Prime and his numerous deaths.
Real-World References
- Reference
External Links
- Link
