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Transformers: Beast Wars, Season 2

Aftermath

Airdate: 26 October 1997
Written By: Larry DiTilio
Japanese Title: "We're Back"

Synopsis: Following the events of last episode, the Maximals and Predacons all react to Optimus Primal's death. The Maximals are in a state of shock, while the Predacons are celebrating. However, the destruction of the Planet Buster causes a surge of energy which his the planet. In the Maximal base, Rattrap, Cheetor as well as Tarantulas' dead body are affected, causing them to glow. In the Predacon Base, the energy surge rocks it, causing Waspinator to fall into the CR pool, while Megatron, Terrorsaur and Scorponok are all affected by the surge. Scorponok and Terrorsaur lose control of their hover-platforms and collide into each other, and tumbles into their death in the lava below. After the surge has passed, Waspinator emerges from the CR pool, happy to have survived. He sees Megatron, having been upgraded by the surge into a new Transmetal body.

Meanwhile, Rattrap and Cheetor found themselves in new Transmetal bodies as well, and they try out their new Beast and Vehicle modes, but end up crashing into stuff. Tigatron and Airazor goes off to hunt Blackarachnia, who has sneaked off during the chaos. Meanwhile, Blackarachnia is controlled by Tarantulas' mind, and he forces her to leave the Maximal base while dragging Tarantulas' newly-Transmetalized body along. Unnoticed by the spiders, Inferno's severed head, meanwhile, glow back online.

Meanwhile, Rhinox and Dinobot come back online. After Rattrap tells the entire story to them, Dinobot tries to wrestle command, but Rhinox throttles him and forces him to back off. Blackarachnia and Tarantulas escape the Maximal Base, but are intercepted by Tigatron and Airazor. However, Megatron brings a full Predacon assault on the Maximal base (which, technically, amounts to Waspinator and himself). They join forces with the Tarantulas- possessed Blackarachnia, and knock out Airazor and Tigatron.

Rhinox, taking temporary command, sends the two Transmetals outside while Dinobot and himself set up perimeter defences. Inferno, however, having put himself together, barges into the control room and blasts Rhinox. Dinobot attacks the Predacon and a brawl ensues.

Outside, Tarantulas forces Blackarachnia to retreat despite Megatron's (and Blackarachnia's) orders. Waspinator battles Cheetor, but the Maximal's new flight mode sends the Predacon packing. However, Megatron's new Transmetal body is much more powerful than before, and knocks both Cheetor and Rattrap in quick succession, and prepares to kill them.

Meanwhile, Rhinox, having recovered from the blow, grabs Inferno and throws him out of the base lift, and opens fire at Megatron with his 'Chaingun of Doom'. Megatron, realising that all his troops have been knocked out, retreat.

Elsewhere, in a stormy area, three stasis pods are lying in a barren area, their machinery malfunctioning. A hand emerges...

Featured Transformers: Rattrap, Airazor, Tigatron, Cheetor, Blackarachnia, Waspinator, Megatron, Terrorsaur (killed by lava pool), Scorponok (killed by lava pool), Tarantulas, Inferno, Rhinox, Optimus Primal (flashback), Dinobot

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Coming of the Fuzors, Part 1

Airdate: 2 November 1997
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese Title: Enter the New Warriors! Snippety-snip, Sir.

Synopsis: The Predacon base's sensors detected two stasis pods that have crashed in Delta Quadrant. Desperate for more troops, Megatron and Inferno heads off to claim them. Waspinator buzzes around, noting that there is only one moon now, before saying 'Waspinator knows!'. Dinobot is also observing the single satellite from afar. Dinobot sneaks into the Predacon base and walks towards where the Golden Disks are kept. Waspinator is there too, and Dinobot grabs him. They confirm their observations about the moon, and that they are on Earth now. The Disks can foretell the future. Surprisingly, Waspinator offers to join forces with Dinobot to steal the Disks, but Dinobot instead throws Waspinator onto the forcefield, overloading it. Dinobot steals the Golden Disks, escapes and blasts the computers.

Blackarachnia hauls Tarantulas' body to his lab and half-heartedly shoots Dinobot. Meanwhile, having been reduced into a crushed cube but ignored by Blackarachnia, Waspinator drags himself into the restoration chamber, grumbling all the way.

Meanwhile, the Maximals have found a sparkless, 'blank' protoform. Tigatron and Airazor, meanwhile, head out for an extensive survey to see the effects that the Planet Buster has on the planet. Rattrap is not impressed at the blank protoform, but Rhinox seems to have a use for it. Elsewhere, the two pods activate their DNA scanners but they malfunction, and the Transformers emerge, finding themselves a strange fusion of two animals. One is a wolf/eagle, while the other is a scorpion/cobra. The scorpion/cobra thinks that he could beat the wolf/eagle up, and attacks. Inferno arrives and attacks both of them. Megatron, observing the three-way battle, alters the new Transformers' command codes into Predacons. Megatron introduces himself and tells the confused Fuzors that they are Transformers. The scorpion/cobra Fuzor names himself Quickstrike, while the wolf/eagle names himself Silverbolt.

Meanwhile, Dinobot, ruminates to himself about the Golden Disks., debating with himself about destiny and whether he should peek and find out how he would die. (For a complete transcript of his monologue, see the quote-unquote section). He decides to be the master of his own fate, and resolves to know the truth, but later. He places the real Golden Disk under a rock, and takes the Alien Disk to the Maximal Base.

At the Maximal Base, Rattrap dispatches Cheetor to find Dinobot, while Rhinox hooks himself up to a massive piece of machinery. Cheetor encounters the now four-strong Predacon army. Cheetor contacts Rattrap, who tries to wake Rhinox up. However, the computer informs him that any disturbance to Rhinox or the machinery will separate Rhinox's consciousness from his body. Dinobot arrives with the Alien Disk and asks Rattrap what's going on, since Sentinel is under full alert. Dinobot and Rattrap arm themselves with additional weapons, and decides to take the fight away from the base.

Meanwhile, Tarantulas' mind is restored to his now Transmetalized body, but a strange side-effect kicks in. Tarantulas now has a psychic link with Blackarachnia. Megatron contacts Waspinator, who tries to tell his leader about the theft of the Disks, but Megatron orders Waspinator to rendezvous with the other Predacons. On a dusty plain, the Predacons, double the Maximal numbers, prepare to attack.

To be continued...

Featured Transformers: Inferno, Megatron, Waspinator, Dinobot, Tarantulas, Blackarachnia, Rhinox, Rattrap, Cheetor, Airazor, Tigatron, Quickstrike, Silverbolt

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Coming of the Fuzors, Part 2

Airdate: 9 November 1997
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese Title: Convoy Reborn

Synopsis: Following the events of the last episode, Dinobot, Rattrap and Cheetor battle the six Predacons, buying time for Rhinox. Megatron orders the Predacons not to take survivors, causing Silverbolt to protest. This earns him a beating from the Predacon leader. The battle continues and Silverbolt is confused about the Maximals' resistance, and Megatron thorizes that the Maximals are keeping them away from their base. Waspinator and Silverbolt are dispatched to assault the Maximal base, and they are met by Cheetor. A reluctant Dinobot rides an equally-disgusted vehicle-mode Rattrap, opening fire on the Predacons.

Meanwhile, Tarantulas uses their psychic link to force Blackarachnia to search for information concerning the Golden Disks. She apparently discovers something of importance, but refuses to share it with Tarantulas. The battle causes Tarantulas to be rendered unconscious by a boulder, giving Blackarachnia the opportunity to download the information into her brain and destroying Megatron's computer she was using (claiming that is was booby-trapped).

As they reach the Axalon, Silverbolt is shot down by the autoguns and is captured by the Maximals. Dinobot is ready to destroy the Fuzor, but Rattrap and Cheetor takes Silverbolt into a CR Chamber to be repaired. Meanwhile, Rhinox disengages from the machinery and tells the Maximals they must stand their ground for a little while longer. As the Maximals head out, a charge hits Rhinox's device and heads off to the blank Protoform. Axalon's shields fail under the fire, and the Maximals find themselves out of ammunition, and the Predacons proceed to give them a savage beating.

The Predacons are ready to deliver the killing blow, but before they can finish the Maximals, an explosion rocks the hull of the Axalon. Maximals and Predacons turn as one to see the cause of the explosion, namely a reborn Optimus Primal. Primal uses his new Transmetal body to scatter the Predacons, before taking to the air with his 'surfboard' and knocking out all the Predacon stooges. Megatron engages Primal and nearly delivers a killing stroke, but Silverbolt arrives and knocks Megatron off a cliff, proclaiming his defection to the Maximals.

After repairs, Rhinox remarks that all the energon within the area have been detonated or converted into more stable forms, so energon overload is no longer a problem. Tigatron and Airazor have yet to return from their survey on the rest of the planet, though. Primal resolves to get to know Silverbolt better and to drive out Rattrap from his quarters.

Meanwhile, at the Predacon base, Blackarachnia informs Megatron of Dinobot's theft of the Golden Disks, as well as the destruction of the computers. Both Megatron and Tarantulas ask her whether anything from the backups can be recovered, to which she replies negative. Megatron declares that the Beast Wars has entered a new phase, while some lines of binary code flashes across Blackarachnia's eyes...

Featured Transformers: Tarantulas, Megatron, Inferno, Cheetor, Dinobot, Rattrap, Quickstrike, Silverbolt, Waspinator, Rhinox, Blackarachnia, Optimus Primal

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Tangled Web

Airdate: 16 November 1997
Written By: Len Wein
Japanese Title: Grand-slam Tarantulas

Synopsis: Megatron assigns Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Quickstrike to develop a refueling station at a newly-detected cache of energon cubes. Meanwhile, Waspinator and Inferno are sent to construct a jamming tower. As the Predacons move out from their base, Tarantulas sneaks a transmitter into Quickstrike's equipment, apparently to attract the Maximals. Blackarachnia 'convinces' Quickstrike to help her carry the load.

Meanwhile, Rhinox conducts experiments on Optimus Primal's new Transmetal body to test its limits. The equipment short-circuits. Just then, Cheetor reports of a strange Predacon signal being broadcasted on a Maximal channel. Rattrap and Silverbolt are patrolling nearby and are told to investigate.

Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Quickstrike arrive at their destination, and Tarantulas is quick in deciding that the site would be a perfect replacement for his old lair, which was destroyed during the Quantum Surge. Changing plans, he destroys the transmitter which is attracting the Maximals. Blackarachnia thinks along the same lines, mentioning it to Tarantulas. Tarantulas tells her about his plan to use the site as a staging ground against Megatron and the Maximals, forcing Blackarachnia to join via their psychic link. Blackarachnia and Tarantulas persuades Quickstrike to join their 'arachnid rebellion'. Meanwhile, Rattrap and Silverbolt loses the signal and are forced to follow their noses to track down the Predacons.

Meanwhile, Megatron relaxes in his CR jacuzzi, and is contacted by Inferno and Waspinator, who have completed the jamming tower. Megatron turns around to contact Tarantulas' team (failing to see the tower collapsing on Waspinator) and is frustrated when he couldn't do so, realising that they are up to something.

Meanwhile, Blackarachnia decides that she has had enough and is determined to terminate the psychic link between her and Tarantulas, threatening to blow up all the energon there. Tarantulas learns that their psychic link goes both ways and that pain is shared between them, so he agrees to break the link. Quickstrike arrives, telling them of the Maximals' arrival. Rattrap and Silverbolt gain the upper hand, but Silverbolt refuses to fight Blackarachnia because she's a girl. Blackarachnia has no such reservations.

After a fierce battle, Rattrap and Silverbolt realises that the Predacons are guarding the cave and attempts to break in. However, the entrance blows up and seals the cave in. Rattrap congratulates Silverbolt, thinking that the Fuzor did it, but Silverbolt claims that he didn't do it. The Predacons retreat to Megatron, and receive a scolding from the Predacon leader. A short time later, it is revealed that Tarantulas blew up the entrance so he could return and claim it as his new lair...

Featured Transformers: Waspinator, Inferno, Quickstrike, Megatron, Tarantulas, Blackarachnia, Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap, Silverbolt

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Maximal, No More

Airdate: 23 November 1997
Written By: Patrick Barry
Japanese Title: I Quit

Synopsis: In the Maximal base, Dinobot ponders about the Golden Disk, observing that Megatron's plan proceeds, even without the disk. Dinobot ponders his fate, and whether he is betraying his Predacon heritage. Optimus Primal interrupts, ordering him for a survey mission, and Dinobot puts his thoughts aside for now. Dinobot rides vehicle-mode Rattrap into Predacon territory, and they are ambushed by Inferno and Quickstrike. The Maximals have the upper hand until Silverbolt arrives and gets shot down by Waspinator (yes, you read that right). Silverbolt crashes onto Dinobot, knocking them both out. The Predacons retreat with the unconscious Dinobot, but Rattrap manages to take out Waspinator and rescues Silverbolt.

At the Predacon base, Megatron is eager to chat with his former subordinate. After a scuffle, Dinobot offers to change sides. He convinces the Predacons to prove his loyalty with a challenge. Quickstrike is selected as an opponent and they both get ready to battle. Meanwhile, Rattrap sends the injured Silverbolt to inform Optimus while he goes off to track down Dinobot.

After a brutal face-off, Dinobot soundly defeats Quickstrike. Megatron orders Dinobot to finish off Quickstrike, but Dinobot refuses on the grounds that Quickstrike is an able fighter. Megatron accepts the excuse, but demands that Dinobot return the Golden Disks. The Alien Disk is still with Rhinox, but Dinobot takes the Predacons to where he had hidden the original Golden Disk.

Rattrap, not aware of Dinobot's betrayal, tails the Predacons when he sees them. Dinobot takes the Predacons to where he had hidden the Golden Disk and returns it to Megatron reluctantly. Megatron is about to attack him when Rattrap arrives, shooting Megatron. However, Rattrap is in turn attacked by Dinobot. Megatron orders Dinobot to kill Rattrap as a final test of loyalty. After a long moment of hesitation, Dinobot turns his sword towards Megatron, telling him that his ambitions are insane and will destroy both the Maximal and Predacon races. Optimus and Silverbolt arrive on the scene, forcing Megatron to retreat.

Dinobot confesses his treachery to Optimus Primal. He had foolishly believed that he wanted to share Megatron's victory, and now resolves to fight with the Maximals until the end. Optimus leaves the decision to Rattrap, who, after several insults and angry outbursts, allow Dinobot back among the ranks.

Featured Transformers: Dinobot, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Silverbolt, Inferno, Quickstrike, Waspinator, Megatron, Tarantulas, Blackarachnia

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Other Visits, Part 1

Airdate: 8 February 1998
Written By: Larry DiTillio
Japanese Title: Huh? The Flower?

Synopsis: Rhinox scans all the known alien sites (the stone formation, the floating island and all that) while Dinobot observes. Both of them notice a pattern, and according to the pattern the next location is on course with Tigatron and Airazor, who are out on patrol. They try to alert the duo, but the Predacons' jamming tower prevents them from doing so. Dinobot and Rattrap heads off to destroy the tower, while Optimus, Silverbolt and Cheetor flies off to warn Tigatron and Airazor. Meanwhile, Tarantulas is repairing his lair, muttering that the rest of the Predacons are too busy helping Megatron. His computer alerts him to alien presence. Tarantulas transforms into bike mode and races off.

In the Predacon base, Blackarachnia is dozing off while watching a monitor, complaining that being loyal to Megatron is boring, not knowing that the Predacon leader is standing behind her. But before he could reprimand her, Blackarachnia detects Tarantulas on the scanners, moving in a rush across grid Vaxon. Blackarachnia suggests to Megatron that they follow Tarantulas to find out what he's up to, but Predacon leader is a little reluctant. Just then, Inferno reports that Waspinator and Quickstrike, on the jamming tower, are under attack. Inferno suggests that he help out at the jamming tower, but Megatron tells Blackarachnia and Inferno that with only Rhinox on the Axalon it would be an opportunity to steal the Golden Disk.

Tigatron and Airazor, meanwhile, see a clearing full of plant life, untouched by the Planet Buster's attack. Airazor and Tigatron transform to scan the unique plants, and share a moment. However, plant vines suddenly sneak up on them and bind them. As the vines raise them into the sky, they say that their sparks will find each other. Then, the two are abducted in flashes off light, just as Cheetor arrives.

While Cheetor laments his friends' fate, Tarantulas knocks Cheetor out. However before the spider has a chance to analyse the Vok site, Optimus Primal and Silverbolt arrives, forcing the spider to lay low. Cheetor comes to and tells Optimus and Silverbolt what happened. Rattrap calls them, saying that he and Dinobot had taken care of the jamming tower. At mention of Tigatron and Airazor's disappearances, though, all the Maximals head back to their base.

Rhinox is shocked by the news, but he keeps on his work, analysing the beam that abducted Tigatron and Airazor. However the base alerts him to Megatron attacking outside. An irate Rhinox opens fire on Megatron, not noticing as Blackarachnia and Inferno sneaking into the base and shutting off the defense systems. Rhinox tries to radio Optimus and the others, but Inferno interrupts him, and the two fight each other. Blackarachnia grabs the Golden Disk as Inferno and Rhinox punch each other's chins. Rhinox knocks Inferno out, and was about to blast Blackarachnia, but Megatron arrives. Megatron disarms Rhinox (literally), knock him out and take the Golden Disk, before retreating.

The rest of the Maximals arrive back at base, and Rhinox is repaired. Although Cheetor insist that they rescue Tigatron and Airazor, Dinobot and Optimus decide to stop Megatron before the aliens strike. The Maximals head off to the alien site. Meanwhile, Tarantulas contacts Megatron. Tarantulas claims that while he is no longer a proper Predacon, he is Megatron's only chance of surviving the imminent attack, and the two form an alliance.

Tarantulas orders the Predacon goons to ram posts onto the ground in the alien site. Megatron questions why Tarantulas would help, and Blackarachnia (since they shared minds previously) tells Megatron that Tarantulas hates the aliens. Megatron is pleased with this answer, since hatred is an emotion he could trust. After a quick monologue Megatron and Tarantulas then has a little 'evil laugh' contest, but this is interrupted by the Maximals. The two factions are ready to face off, but the aliens' beam comes down, interrupting the battle, and a giant silver spaceship-thing materialises. The top of the domelike ship opens, releasing and energy surge which knocks everybody out...

To be continued...

Featured Transformers: Dinobot, Rhinox, Tarantulas, Blackarachnia, Megatron, Inferno, Tigatron (abducted by Vok), Airazor (abducted by Vok), Silverbolt, Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Waspinator, Quickstrike, Rattrap

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Other Visits, Part 2

Airdate: 15 February 1998
Written By: Larry DiTillio
Japanese Title: Huh? The Face?

Synopsis: The Transmetals recover quickly from the structure's blast. Megatron walks around the Vok structure, noting that it did not react to Transmetals. Tarantulas tells Megatron that they must act quickly, and they activate the devices that they planted earlier, creating a forcefield that kept the Maximals out. Despite Optimus' warnings, Megatron uses the Alien Disk to open a way into the Vok structure. Optimus dispatches Cheetor and Silverbolt to take the non-transmetals (Dinobot and Rhinox) back to their base for repairs.

After figuring out that beast modes hide them from the Vok, while Transmetals are as good as invisible to their sensors, Tarantulas hacks into the structure's systems. Megatron uses the control interface of the structure, controlling it with the Alien Disk. Meanwhile, Rattrap uses several bombs to take out the forcefield web. Tarantulas takes Quickstrike out to repel the Maximals. As the four duke it out outside, Megatron causes the entire structure to rise and float above the ground. Megatron, successfully controlling the structure, discovers how to control the weapons, knocking out Optimus. Megatron uses the structure's powers to levitate all his troops, plus the deactivated Optimus.

A gigantic Megatron face appears in the base's side, allowing him to speak with his troops. Megatron tells Tarantulas that the aliens no longer matter and dissolves their alliance, dropping the spider to the ground. Megatron repairs the non-transmetals, and scoops in all the Predacons plus Optimus. Rattrap, having evaded the ray, watches as the base teleports away. The rodent is soon confronted by a battered Tarantulas.

The base rematerializes over the mountain where Inferno originally found the Alien Disk. Megatron needs time to prepare, and sends off Waspinator and Inferno to take the transwarp cells from the Darksyde to their new 'base'. Meanwhile, at the Maximal base, Dinobot and Rhinox are brought back online. Rattrap arrives with Tarantulas in tow. The rogue Predacon helps the Maximals to locate the alien basease. He also detects Inferno and Waspinator returning with the cells.

Meanwhile, Optimus Primal awakens in bonds, finding out that Megatron intends to take the alien base to Cybertron. Optimus tries to warn Megatron that the Vok would follow them, but Megatron is confident he could take the aliens in a fight. Megatron is convinced that the base would convince the Predacon Alliance that conquest is the right path.

Meanwhile, the Maximal forces attack, drawing the Predacon troops away from the base and generally providing a distraction. Rattrap and Tarantulas infiltrate the base. However, halfway through their journey, Tarantulas ditches Rattrap alone. Rattrap is close enough to the main room to stop Megatron from initiating the teleportation sequence, and to free Optimus. Optimus battle Megatron, while Tarantulas reappears, sending a download into the alien systems. Everyone flees the base. The base teleports into space, but before it could enter the transwarp portal it explodes. Afterwards, Optimus Primal swears to find Tigatron and Airazor.

Featured Transformers: Rattrap, Optimus Primal, Dinobot, Rhinox, Tarantulas, Megatron, Quickstrike, Cheetor, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia, Inferno, Waspinator

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Bad Spark

Airdate: 22 February 1998
Written By: Greg Johnson
Japanese Title: N/A (was released as part of the pilot movie for the Beast Wars Metals)

Synopsis: Cheetor spots a giant stasis pod marked with a big yellow X crashed in a patch of unstable enrgon deep inside a swamp. Optimus Primal tells Cheetor not to open the pod until he arrives. Optimus and Rhinox leave, and Rhinox seems pretty spooked. Megatron sends Waspinator and Blackarachnia to retrieve the pod, and subtly places a listening device on Blackarachnia. Megatron taps his armrest, seemingly aware that Tarantulas has bugged it with a listening device of his own.

Optimus, Silverbolt and Cheetor land near the pod, and Optimus finds, to his relief, that Protoform X seems to be dead. Cheetor and Silverbolt question Prmal about this. He tells them that the pod holds ‘the dark secret of Axalon’s journey’, Protoform X. It was created in experiments attempting to replicate the immortal spark of Starscream. However, X grew insane and sadistic, so after it was captured Primal was ordered to dump X somewhere barren during their journey. The Predacons choose this moment to strike. Silverbolt refuses to strike Blackarachnia because his code of honour wouldn’t allow him to hit a female.

Tarantulas arrives and threatens Blackarachnia, and Silverbolt attacks Tarantulas. In the process, he accidentally ignites the energon beneath X’s stasis pod, which explodes and scatters the combatants for miles. Blackarachnia and Silverbolt land next to each other. Silverbolt’s wing is broken, and the two grudgingly agree to team up. Tarantulas lands near the pod, and finds that it is empty. Something looms over him, and he screams.

Optimus and Cheetor are too damaged to search for Silverbolt and return to their base for the time being. Blackarachnia and Silverbolt journey on foot, and begin to trust each other. The two find one of Tarantulas’ limbs hanging on a tree. Meanwhile, Megatron and Inferno eavesdrops on their quasi-romantic alliance. Megatron notes that Blackarachnia no longer needs Silverbolt to protect him with Tarantulas out of the way.

This turns out true as Blackarachnia is ready to shoot Silverbolt at one point. However, a saber-toothed tiger attacks Blackarachnia. Silverbolt defeats the animal, but is left dangling precariously on a cliff. Blackarachnia saves Silverbolt, awkwardly saying that it was in case of more tigers. As the two walk on, Silverbolt tries to appeal to Blackarachnia’s inner Maximal nature, but the Predacon fires at him. The two then finds the rest of Tarantulas’ body, torn apart violently. Silverbolt then tells Blackarachnia (and by extension Megatron) about Protoform X. Megatron prepares an energon blade.

Blackarachnia and Silverbolt suddenly find themselves with Protoform X. none of their attacks damage the monster, and it tries to crush Silverbolt in his powerful claw. Optimus Primal and Cheetor arrive, and together with Blackarachnia fire at Protoform X, freeing Silverbolt. During the attack, X is finally knocked down a cliff, but Blackarachnia fell down the other side in process. Silverbolt jumps after the Predacon despite his damaged wing, but he succeeds in saving the Predacon. The Maximals let her go. Blackarachnia watches them go, before departing herself.

Meanwhile, Protoform X, barely active in a pile of energon, sees Megatron loom above him with an energon blade. X wakes up in the Predacon base, finding that Megatron had carved out a piece of his spark and placed it in a tiny cage, that, when squeezed, is able to cause X pain. Megatron renames X ‘Rampage’, and is pleased that the monster is now under his command.

Featured Transformers: Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Silverbolt, Protoform X/Rampage, Megatron, Blackarachnia, Waspinator, Tarantulas, Inferno, Quickstrike, Dinobot

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Code of Hero

Airdate: 9 March 1998
Written By: Ian Weir
Japanese Title: Farewell

Synopsis: At the Maximal base, Dinobot meditates in his room, turning the blade around. After a moment, he throws it aside, growling in frustration. Meanwhile, Rhinox has been calculating the path of the transwarp wave from the Planet Buster’s destruction. Rhinox states that the transwarp wave is traveling through time at an accelerated wave, and will reach Cybertron in the ‘present’, alerting Cybertron to their location in space-time. Optimus Primal is afraid that Megatron has discovered the same thing and decides to increase their defences.

In his bad mood Dinobot nearly fights Rattrap who teases him about turning over the Disk to Megatron. The two walk off, disgruntled at each other. Dinobot reflects that his past actions cannot be undone, but they may be mitigated. He then heads out of the base. Meanwhile, Cheetor finds Megatron and Rampage moving suspiciously, but is driven off. Cheetor reports the sighting to Dinobot, who says that he would follow the Predacons.

In his lair, Tarantulas is about to eat an antelope when Dinobot suddenly bursts out of the ground, demanding to know the information on the Golden Disk. Tarantulas claims that he doesn’t know, saying that Megatron kept the Disk on his person at all times. Dinobot holds Tarantulas at gunpoint and uses the transmetal as his ride.

Megatron lands on a proto-human village, scattering them away. Rampage mocks Megatron, saying that the Maximals will soon arrive from Cybertron, and says that he’s looking forward to Megatron’s death. Megatron replies that this would only happen if history remains as it is. Megatron explains that the Golden Disk contains images recorded in the future.

As a demonstration, Megatron shows a picture of a mountain in the Golden Disk. They see the same mountain, and Megatron orders Rampage destroys the mountain. After a moment, the image on the disk changes to reflect the altered timestream, much to Megatron’s delight. Dinobot, having observed this from a distance, realizes Megatron’s full plan, which is to change the future.

Megatron explains that the proto-humans there would evolve into the human race, and would help the Autobots win the Great War, which would in turn lead to the Maximals to rule over the Predacons. Megatron summons the rest of his troops, ordering them to destroy the valley and all the proto-humans there, to ensure that the human race would cease to exist. Dinobot is engrossed at the display, allowing Tarantulas to get the jump on him. Dinobot squashes the spider under a rock, before contacting Optimus Primal.

Optimus orders him to maintain position, but Dinobot knows that there is no time. Dinobot says that he is ready to face his destiny. Dinobot moves in, attacking the entire Predacon army single-handedly. While he defeats all the Predacon goons, he loses all his weapons and suffers a lot of damage. His systems warn him repeatedly that he must enter stasis lock to survive, a command that Dinobot overrides.

As all the Predacons are knocked out, Megatron confronts the damaged Dinobot, gloating over his imminent victory. Dinobot lunges at Megatron, but Megatron uses a proto-human hostage to make Dinobot halt. However, Dinobot is still a warrior at heart. Stealthily creating a makeshift weapon from a rock and a wooden stick, Dinobot knocks the Disk out of Megatron’s hand. With his final energy, he blasts the Golden Disk with an optic blast.

The Maximals arrive, and Megatron escapes, lamenting his failure. The Maximals gather around Dinobot, but it is too late to help him. Optimus assures Dinobot that he has saved the lives of millions, and Dinobot exchanges a final round of insults with Rattrap. Dinobot tells the Maximals to tell his story truthfully, both his good deeds and the bad. With that, Dinobot dies. Rattrap leads the rest of the Maximals in a salute as Dinobot’s spark leaves his body, and Primal wishes that it would go into the Matrix to join Cybertron’s finest.

The next morning the Maximals hold a funeral for Dinobot. The fliers soar through the air in a missing man formation, while Rattrap and Rhinox dissolve Dinobot’s remains. Meanwhile, at the valley, a proto-human finds Dinobot’s hammer, and uses it to fend off a giant snake.

Featured Transformers: Dinobot (killed), Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Rattrap, Cheetor, Rampage, Megatron, Tarantulas, Waspinator, Inferno, Blackarachnia, Quickstrike, Silverbolt
Notable Others: Protohumans

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Transmutate

Airdate: 10 March 1998
Written By: Christy Marx
Japanese Title: I'm A Crab

Synopsis: Rampage tries to steal back his spark from a sleeping Megatron, but gets a lesson in pain from the Predacon leader. Megatron then dispatches an Rampage and Inferno to deal with Rattrap, Silverbolt and Cheetor, who are searching for a jamming tower in an unstable mountain range. Optimus Primal, worried about earthquakes, heads out to intercept his troops.

A large earthquake sends several energy discharges, knocking Rattrap and Cheetor under an avalanche. It also uncovers a stasis pod buried in the mountains. Inferno lands beside the pod, which is malfunctioning. Silverbolt takes Inferno out, and both Rampage and he watches as the pod warns that 'deconstruction' is imminent. Rampage urges the powerful spark within to fight its way free, and it does, exploding to reveal its passenger.

Rattrap and Cheetor free themselves from the rubble, and witnesses the new arrival, a grotesque, misshapen creature. Rampage, impressed, tries to convince the newcomer to destroy the Maximals, while Silverbolt offers friendship. The newcomer is confused, but suddenly Inferno emerges, attacking the newcomer by mistake. The newcomer responds with a sonic shriek that knocks the Maximals and Inferno out. Rampage, not affected as badly as the others, leads the newcomer, dubbed 'Transmutate', away. Rampage tells Transmutate that he is its only friend.

Inferno catches up with Rampage and Transmutate, and demands that the creature be returned to Megatron. Rampage nearly comes to blows with Inferno, but a holographic projection of Megatron appears, intrigued with Transmutate. However, when he learns that Transmutate could not transform, Megatron orders that it be destroyed. Rampage asks Megatron to give Transmutate a chance to prove his worth by destroying the Maximals.

Optimus and Silverbolt split up to search for Transmutate, while the others head back. Rampage and Inferno use Transmutate to lure Silverbolt into an ambush. However, Transmutate refuses to finish off Silverbolt, causing Inferno to aim his weapon at the Maximal himself. Seeing this, Transmutate uses a sonic scream to blast Inferno away. Optimus arrives moments later, burying Rampage in a rockslide. Transmutate, seeing Rampage hurt, nearly attacks Optimus until Silverbolt talks him down. Transmutate, able to fly, help Optimus to take the injured Silverbolt back to base. Rampage breaks free and goes off to get Transmutate back.

Meanwhile, Rhinox scans Transmutate and finds that his malformed structure makes it a danger to itself and everyone else. Rhinox recommends putting Transmutate into stasis. Silverbolt argues against this, and in the heat of the argument Transmutate wanders off. Rampage chooses this moment to call him, and Transmutate breaks out of the Maximal base. Silverbolt, angry at the team, stalks off. Optimus Primal then orders the Maximals to find Transmutate.

Rampage welcomes Transmutate into the Predacon fold. Silverbolt arrives and a battle ensues. Transmutate watches the two. As the battle reaches its climax, Rampage and Silverbolt both launch missiles at each other. Transmutate jumps in front of the missiles, crying out 'Stop'. Transmutate uses his power to destroy the missiles, overloading himself in the process.

Rampage cradles Transmutate's dying head in his head as his spark fades away, and Transmutate mumbles some final words. Optimus arrives, but Silverbolt tells Optimus to leave the grieving Predacon alone, for they are 'brothers' for the moment.

Featured Transformers: Megatron, Rampage, Rattrap, Silverbolt, Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Inferno, Rhinox, Transmutate (killed)

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

The Agenda, Part 1

Airdate: 11 March 1998
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese Title Meow You're Under Arrest

Synopsis: Rhinox announces that the Transwarp wavefront released by the destruction of the Planet Buster would reach present-day Cybertron soon. An unhappy Megatron has also made the same conclusion. Inferno reports that their attack on the protohumans had caused them to scatter, making wiping them out impossible. Megatron decides to implement his final plan, a gamble that includes Blackarachnia. The Predacon in question, meanwhile, leaves the base and meets Silverbolt in a secluded location. Silverbolt gives Blackarachnia a graviton generator, offering her a place among the Maximals, to which Blackarachnia refuses. They then began to flirt a bit with each other.

In the future, a. Cybertronian Predacon outpost in space is violently rocked by the Transwarp wavefront. The Tripredacus Council meets, tracing the wavefron back to Megatron. After several discussion, they detonate a Cybertronian satellite to ensure that the Maximal sensors don't detect the wave, and they send an operative to go to the past, find and terminate Megatron with extreme prejudice.

The Predacons assault the Axalon, and after a short siege the Predacons begin to gain the upper hand. Suddenly, someone opens fire at the Predacons from above, forcing Megatron to order a retreat. The Maximals watch as a sleek ship turns visible and lands. Their invisible ally snipes the Maximals' weapons out of their hands, and Optimus Primal realizes that their new 'ally' is a Decepticon who was granted amnesty after the Great Wars and rebuilt as a Predacon. Their 'ally' turns visible and reveals himself—Ravage.

Ravage apologizes to the Maximals for disarming them, saying that he was concerned that they would attack himwithout first hearing him out. Rattrap agrees, saying that a Decepticon is worse than a Predacon. Optimus tells Rattrap to shut up, and tells Ravage that Megatron had been less than friendly to them. Ravage apologizes to the Maximal on behalf of the Predacon Alliance for Megatron's actions, telling them that the Predacon Alliance did not sanction Megatron's actions. Ravage then tells the Maximals that he is there to neutralize Megatron, and enlists their help. When the Maximals question him about why the Cybertron-bound Maximals did not come, Ravage lies, saying that the Transwarp wave was too weak and was only detected by Predacon sensors, and that only Megatron's energy signature was detected.

Meanwhile, Blackarachnia has finished building a flying stasis pod with the equipment brought to her earlier by Silverbolt. Megatron calls Blackarachnia, as well as the rest of the Predacons, ordering them to fortify their base, anticipating an attack from the Maximals. Waspinator is dispatched on a 'special mission'.

Meanwhile, the Maximals ride Ravage's ship. Cheetor is unsure about their plan, but the advantages provided by the ship's ability to extend Ravage's cloaking ability. Ravage also notes that they have another ally inside the Predacon base. As they near the Predacon base, Tarantulas is alerted to it. Tarantulas transforms and sets off towards the Predacon base as well. Ravage and the Maximals begin their assault on the Predacon base. During the battle, Silverbolt refuses to open fire on Blackarachnia, despite Optimus' orders. Blackarachnia, meanwhile, takes off after where Waspinator had flown off to.

Meanwhile, Ravage uses his ship to open fire on the Predacon base. Megatron, sitting in his command chair, is ready to make a last stand. Energy chains suddenly appear and bind Megatron, and the base's energy is cut off. The Maximals and Ravage enter, and Ravage tells Megatron that he's under arrest under the name of the Predacon Alliance and the Pax Cybertronia, and that the Beast Wars is over...

To be continued...

Featured Transformers: Rhinox, Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Silverbolt, Megatron, Inferno, Blackarachnia, Tripredacus Council (Sea Clamp, Cicadacon and Ramhorn; not named), Waspinator, Rampage, Quickstrike, Ravage, Tarantulas

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

The Agenda, Part 2

Airdate: 12 March 1998
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese Title: I Do Love You

Synopsis: After the events of last episode, the Maximal prepare to hunt down the Predacon troops. Optimus Primal summons Silverbolt and confronts him about Blackarachnia. Silverbolt argues that Blackarachnia was originally a Maximal, but Optimus doesn't want to hear it. He confines Silverbolt to his quarters and dispatches Cheetor to hunt down Blackarachnia.

In his cell, the imprisoned Megatron chides Ravage for siding with the Maximals. Ravage responds that Megatron is nothing compared to the original Megatron. Megatron offers a stash of energon as a bargain, but Ravage reveals that he already knew about the energon stash, and proceeds to tell Megatron that Lieutenant Tarantulas is a Predacon secret police.

Cheetor apologizes to Silverbolt for being assigned this mission, but Silverbolt tricks Cheetor and knocks him out. Rattrap sees this and raises the alarm, forcing Silverbolt to flee. Some time later, Cheetor and Optimus fly to where Tarantulas had told them the energon stash was. They find that the energon crystals stored are unstable, and is guarded by Inferno. The energon build-up had driven the non-Transmetal Inferno crazy, and he ignites the energon crystals. The Maximals escape, but the cave collapses, and Inferno is seemingly incarcerated. The Maximals report this to Ravage.

Silverbolt manages to find Blackarachnia, who is following Waspinator with her hover-pod to a mountain. Silverbolt begs for Blackarachnia to come with him, but Blackarachnia shoots the Maximal. Silverbolt points out that it was non-fatal, and that the Predacon does care for him. However, the hover-pod they were in slams onto Waspinator, blowing him into pieces. Silverbolt saves Blackarachnia from the fall.

Meanwhile, Megatron still tries to bargain his way out from Ravage. Megatron points out that Ravage has no intention of letting the Maximals or Predacons stranded on Earth survive. Ravage admits this, and prepares to execute Megatron. Megatron then desperately tells Ravage that he had another motive for stealing the Golden Disk, something which could affect the Great War. Ravage laughs, noting the Disk's destruction, but humours Megatron anyway and releases his bindings. Megatron reveals that a fragment of the Disk still remain, and plays the message encoded in the Disk that Ravage will believe. Namely, a message from the original Megatron, leader of the Decepticons, during the Great War. The original Megatron had left instructions in the Golden Disk for his descendants to travel back in time to ancient Earth. Although the message cuts out, the sight of his former leader convinces Ravage to release his Predacon namesake.

Meanwhile, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia have discovered that Megatron had been there before, discovering that a tunnel had been drilled through and resealed with rocks. The two bicker for a bit as they clear away the rocks blocking the tunnel. Optimus Primal and Cheetor return to the Maximal base. Rattrap warns them a little too late that Ravage has switched sides. Ravage's ship looms behind the two Maximal fliers, with Megatron riding on top. Ravage transforms, and begins an attack on the Maximals...

To be continued...

Featured Transformers: Optimus Primal, Silverbolt, Megatron, Ravage, Tarantulas, Cheetor, Rattrap, Inferno, Waspinator, Blackarachnia, G1 Megatron (recording)

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

The Agenda, Part III

Airdate: 12 March 1998
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese Title: Once Upon A Time

Synopsis: Ravage and Megatron, in Ravage's shuttle, continue to assault the Maximal base. The remaining Predacons join in as well. Rattrap manages to latch himself onto the back of Ravage's shuttle unnoticed, and begins cutting into the ship's hull. Meanwhile, Optimus and Cheetor are pinned down by the Predacons' firepower. Quickstrike is shot down and subsequently crushed by a passing Rampage. Between Rampage's tank mode and Ravage's shuttle, the Maximal base's force field is quickly taken down. Rhinox joins the fray, holding Rampage back.

Aboard the shuttle, Ravage and Tarantulas prepare to launch a gigantic missile that would obliterate the Maximal base. Before they could fire it, however, Rattrap bursts in and tosses a pair of bombs that latch themselves onto Tarantulas. The bombs tear Tarantulas and the weapons around him apart. As the fireball expand throughout the shuttle, Ravage faces it stoically with a cry of 'Decepticons forever' before he, too, is consumed. The rermains of the shuttle crash inches from Rampage, and the missile detonates, taking the Predacon crab out. Rattrap manages to jump into the safety of Rhinox's lap. Alone with no troops, Megatron flees the battle. Optimus notes that the Predacon is not headed back to his base, and orders the Maximals to pursue.

Meanwhile, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt make their way into the inner caves of a dormant volcano, revealing what Blackarachnia was after — the Ark. Blackarachnia retells to Silverbolt the story of how the Ark — with the best Autobots and Decepticons aboard — had crashed on Earth four million years before the Great War. As she finishes the story, Megatron arrives, knocks Silverbolt out and seals the entrance with another rockslide.

The Maximals try to dig their way through the rockslide. Megatron uses the unconscious Silverbolt as a hostage to force Blackarachnia to give him the access codes to the Ark that she had downloaded off the Golden Disk. Reluctantly, Blackarachnia agrees. As the Maximals arrive, Megatron and Blackarachnia enter the Ark and seals the entrance

Blackarachnia is ordered to activate the ship's defences while Megatron goes off to do something more permanent. As the Maximals battle the autoguns, Megatron enters the main bridge of the ship, talking about the Decepticons and Autobots as he passes their deactivated bodies. He hovers in front of his intended target, Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, who defeated the Decepticons and caused the Predacons to be subservient to the Maximals. Even though the risk of changing history is too great, Megatron carries out his predecessor's instructions and charges up his weapon, aiming it at Optimus Prime's head.

The Maximals defeat the autoguns and force the door open. But as the horrified Maximals watch, Megatron opens fire, tearing up Optimus Prime's head. A time storm begins to form, spreading from Earth into space. The Maximals find themselves phasing through past bodies, as Megatron laughs at his triumph.

To be continued...

Featured Transformers: Megatron, Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Quickstrike, Rampage, Rattrap, Rhinox, Ravage (killed), Tarantulas (blown up), Silverbolt, Blackarachnia, Optimus Prime (flashback and present, shot in the head), Prowl (flashback and present), Ironhide (flashback and present) Jazz or Bluestreak (flashback), Ratchet (flashback), Skywarp, Thundercracker, Starscream, Soundwave

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

 

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