History Recap / TransformersPrimeS1E20Partners

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: This version of Optimus is more than willing to give his opponents a second chance for redemption, as opposed to his Movie counterpart who just thinks of tearing off their heads with axes. Though as this show progressed Optimus does become far more ruthless and accepting of violence.

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron is very furious at Airachnid, not because she failed to retrieve the Immobilizer, but because she left Starscream in the hands of the Autobots. He is concerned about the possibility that that Autobots will gain Decepticon intelligence from Starscream. Megatron swears to Airachnid that she will be punished for deserting his second-in-command, much to her dismay.

* PuppyDogEyes: From Bumblebee ''and'' Starscream.

* ArsonMurderAndJayWalking: Starscream hates Airachnid for the following reasons: she acts like the boss even though she clearly isn't, defamed him into Megatron, stole his position as second in command of the Decepticons and (allegedly) taking credit for killing Cliffjumper.

* NeverSayDie: "Terminated" and "extinguished".

* WoundedGazelleGambit: Arcee did take a nasty hit, but when she gets knocked down, she lies there and mumbles quietly. When Starscream leans in close to gloat, she delivers a beatdown.

* PutOnABus: Starscream becomes disillusioned with both Autobots and Decepticons, after both sides threaten his life, that he flies off to be a neutral individual.

* WhatTheHellHero: Arcee is about to finish a defeated Starscream, but then sees Bumblebee watching her. He doesn't make a peep, but Arcee (and the audience) can see this trope in his sad eyes.

* VillainHasAPoint: Starscream's reasoning to join the Autobots when they say he's always been a Con. Keep in mind, [[{{Hypocrite}} he's not innocent in these accusations himself]].

* VillainHasAPoint: Starscream's reasoning to join the Autobots when they say he's always been a Con. Keep in mind, {{Hypocrite he's not innocent in these accusations himself}}.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: As Arcee acknowledges, her actions allow Starscream to escape and rob the Autobots of valuable intelligence.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Megatron ''thinks'' this is the case upon learning Airachnid left Starscream with the Autobots, thus endangering Decepticon intelligence. While that is not the case, Airachnid's actions were the final impetus for Starscream to go on his own way. [[spoiler:Starscream's next appearance is in Season 2's "Orion Pax" trilogy, where his status aides the Autobots and harms the Decepticons.]]

* TalkToTheFist: How Bumblebee gets the drop on Airachnid.

* PlayingPossum: Twice.

Aboard the Nemesis, Starscream confesses his sins before Soundwave and claims to have made peace with his position as second-in-command. He goes to the bridge where Airachnid is telling Megatron about one of his indiscretions, a failure to disclose the location of the crash site of the Harbinger, a Decepticon transport ship that crashed on Earth while containing an experimental weapon. Megatron orders him to lead Airachnid to the crash site to retrieve the weapon.

Arcee stands at Cliffjumper's graveside and talks to her old partner, promising to find the Decepticon responsible for his death.

Starscream and Airachnid reach the Harbinger crash site, but Airachnid is deliberately cagey about what the weapon is they're looking for. She's impressed by the fact that Starscream was the one who terminated Cliffjumper, but reveals she knows about the fact that Megatron was planning to terminate him at the energon mine. They burrow their way down to the buried wreck, and Airachnid accesses the ship computer to find the location of the cargo. Starscream warns that the signal might alert the Autobots.

Indeed, at that moment Ratchet alerts Optimus that the base sensors have detected an ancient Decepticon signal.

Airachnid finds that corridor to the weapon ends in a stone wall. The ship broke in half before crashing, and the weapon is in the other half of the ship. Starscream won't tell her where the other half is, so she binds him in a web, and threatens him until he blabs. She leaves him there with the suggestion that she might come back, but runs into the Autobots in a corridor. Forced to double back, she drills her way through the ground, and is followed by Arcee, much to Optimus' concern. On the surface, Airachnid swiftly gets the better of Arcee, but Prime's arrival forces Airachnid to retreat in 'copter mode. Optimus reminds Arcee that trying to seek revenge for Tailgate's death isn't a good idea. Bulkhead and Bumblebee resurface with Starscream as a captive, and they're all surprised when the Decepticon says he wants to switch sides. Optimus, Arcee, and Bulkhead have a brief discussion and decide to take Starscream along, for now.

Airachnid finds the other half of the Harbinger and pulls the experimental weapon, a staff, from its container.

The Autobots arrive at the stone arch. Optimus believes they should seriously consider letting Starscream join the team because allowing the Decepticons redemption will be important to establishing peace. He leaves Arcee guarding Starscream, and takes Bumblebee and Bulkhead to find the ship. As Prime's team approaches the Harbinger, Airachnid begins opening fire with the staff, a weapon named the Immobilizer, and freezes Bulkhead in place.

Starscream tries to convince Arcee that he's safe to let go, but inadvertently lets Arcee know that he was the one who killed Cliffjumper. He frantically attempts to convince her that is was a mercy killing, but Arcee doesn't buy it. She throws down the key to the cuffs so he can free himself and make it a fair fight, but he tricks her into getting close enough that he can wound her with his claws.

Optimus and Bumblebee take cover behind a rock, but Airachnid burrows underground, coming up behind them and zapping Prime. Bumblebee starts exchanging fire with the Decepticon.

Airachnid gloats over her new trophies, but the dust kicked up by Airachnid's weapon strikes on a nearby rock gives Bumblebee an idea. He blasts the rock face some more, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. Airachnid sweeps the cloud with the Immobilizer, and when the cloud clears, Bumblebee stands motionless. While Airachnid goes back to talking to Prime, Bumblebee sneaks up behind her and sucker punches her. As the Immobilizer is thrown into the air, Bumblebee shoots it and it shatters. Airachnid flees under fire from Bumblebee.

Starscream gets the upper hand in his fight against Arcee, kicking her around brutally. As he moves in to finish her off, she reveals she's been playing possum, and delivers a series of blows that brings him down. Arcee has her blades at Starscream's throat, ready to kill him, when she realizes that they're being watched by Bumblebee. She lets Starscream limp away and collapses.

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron is very furious at Airachnid, not because she failed to retrieve the Immobilizer, but because she left Starscream in the hands of the Autobots, knowing of a possibility that that Autobots will gain Decepticon intelligence from Starscream. It is then Megatron swears to Airachnid that she will be punished for deserting his second-in-command, much to her dismay.

Back on the Nemesis, Megatron is very furious at Airachnid, not because she failed to retrieve the Immobilizer, but because she left Starscream in the hands of the Autobots, knowing of a possibility that that Autobots will gain Decepticon intelligence from Starscream. It is then Megatron swears to Airachnid that she will be punished for deserting his second-in-command, much to her dismay.