Masters & Students
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| File:Skyquakefaceoff.jpg "One shall stand, one-" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime." | ||||||
| "Masters & Students" | ||||||
| Production company | Hasbro Studios | |||||
| Airdate | February 11, 2011 | |||||
| Written by | David Slack | |||||
| Directed by | Todd Waterman | |||||
| Animation studio | Digitalscape | |||||
Starscream uses a distraction to find something more intriguing.
Synopsis
 Plot details for Masters & Students follow. |
Starscream reviews the footage of Megatron's destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the Vehicon troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself Emperor of Destruction, but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a Decepticon on the planet who is worthy to follow him.
Optimus Prime is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with Ratchet is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just Raf's volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian Autobots. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.
Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, Soundwave detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the energon deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost Decepticon.
Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.
Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an energon cube to revive him, revealing him to be none other than Skyquake. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the Battle of Technar. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a vehicle mode, so the two Autobots transform and fall back.
Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.
Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the space bridge explosion. Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the Minicon from his chest to follow his master.
Agent Fowler investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon scans his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.
Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of Dark Energon, which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the Nemesis.
As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.
Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.
On board the Nemesis, the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into stasis, and Starscream sincerely hopes he gets better.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?"
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am equipped to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, Emperor of Destruction!"
[Vehicons murmur]
- — The Vehicons find Starscream leaves a lot to be desired.
[Holding up an exhaust pipe] "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..."
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?"
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
- — Arcee and Jack attempt to build a motorcycle
"Air superiority achieved!"
- — Skyquake does an impression of Omega Supreme.
Notes
Animation or technical errors
- Fowler flies a plane without wearing a jumpsuit or oxygen mask.
- Starscream finds Megatron in space due to hearing Megatron gasping in pain, however sound cannot travel in space due to the lack of vibrating air molecules for which sound needs to travel.*
Continuity errors
- Optimus claimed Skyquake couldn't transform due to the fact that he hadn't scanned a jet, but why didn't he have a Cybertronian mode?
Transformers references
- Starscream styles himself "Emperor of Destruction", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
- As described in Exodus, Ratchet's model of Cybertron has two moons.
Foreign dubbing
Real-world references
Trivia
- Starscream was very touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into that slash plot.
- Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
- Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "Darkness Rising, Part 3".
