Our episode begins with the humans from “Code of Hero” led by dude-with-dinobot’s-hammer. There’s two kids (Named Una and Chak. I don’t think they get named until the next episode they show up in) and an older cavemen in this group, and something is stalking them from the bushes. Eventually the older one is seemingly killed, hammer dude is chased off by one the predators: A silver cyborg velociraptor whom he manages to outrun, leading it to corner the kid. Thankfully Optimus and Silverbolt happen by. Silverbolt is shot by the raptor’s eye lasers, but Optimus makes short work of the cyborg.
Back at the base, Rhinox confirms that a metallurgical analysis of the raptors confirms they are Cybertronian in origin. Optimus gravely announces that it means Megatron’s behind this. Hrrrm…. No shit Optimus? Who else is there on the entire planet? A Mad Scientist caveman? It’s not exactly the Vok’s style either. And that’s not without even counting Megatron’s history of cloning a raptor a certain time. Rhinox adds that this is based off transmetal technology, and that it’s unlikely Megatron just had the one raptor.
Rattraps’ walking around the base when he see Blackarachnia sneak out of a room with a bunch of tapes (Apparantly Maximals are still big on magnetic data storage. And not the cartridge type either, the type on reels. Transwarp technology but 1950s computer technology). This leads on a side plot I intend to ignore as it is sort of pointless and stupid. Long story short: Cheetor’s got a crush on Blackarachnia. She’s not interested. It makes Cheetor look bad by blatantly hitting on someone whom he knows is in a couple, and it make Silverbolt look bad for being aggressively jealous of this (Is he that insecure and untrusting of Blackarachnia?). It goes nowhere; its only contribution is a line 2 episodes down and giving Cheetor motivation to finally get some character development beyond being the Team Kid. There. I just saved us all a lot of time, so let us ignore every scene relating to that.
Anyway, the kids run around the base, having adorable antics, and Optimus notes they need to return to their tribe. But the Tribe’s sort of scattered, humans don’t show on Autobot scanners and Optimus insists that having the kids lead the way under escort is the only way. I don’t know, I figure having Silverbolt and Cheetor fly around and look for humans using those Mark 1 eyeballs they have (Especially since a previous episode, Deep Metal, established that Cheetor has telescopic vision). Seems much more likely to succeed than wandering in cyborg-raptor infested forests hoping the two kids know the jungle like the back of their hands. But Optimus’ decided, so he has Blackarachnia and Cheetor escort the kids, because Silverbolt’s still damaged, the kids like Cheetor, and Blackarachnia knows how Megatron thinks so she might be an asset to protect the kids.
Thus the fearsome foursome leaves off. Una immediately starts looking up to Blackarachnia as some sort of idol, trying to mimic her, which annoys the crap out of the mixed-allegiance Predacon since she’s not much of a people person to begin with, and even less of a kids person. It’s pretty much the usual “Person who doesn’t like kids is now surrounded by them and forced to learn a lesson about caring” plot which has been seen before (Teen Titan’s episode where they stuck Raven with a bunch of kids comes to mind). To the episode’s credit, this doesn’t take over the episode so the cliché’s not annoying that way.
Rattrap voices his concerns over what he saw Blackarachnia do, pilfering their antique storage medium gallery (At least she didn’t take Rattrap’s collection of 5½ floppies and Betamax because then there’d be hell to pay) but those are brushed aside by Rhinox and buried when Silverbolt comes out of CR.
Megatron spies on the foursome fearsome using his Magical Security Cam. He readies another batch of Raptors and sends them with Waspinator and Tarantulas to ambush the kids. The plan’s pretty brilliant: The Maximals will need backup (Blackarachnia and Cheetor aren’t exactly the Maximal heavy hitters) which will leave the Ark under protected, allowing him, Inferno, Quickstrike and Rampage to seize it. And their own base is secure thanks to Sentinel.
And of course it happens, the Maximals and cavekids are attacked by a Raptor, they radio back to base (Especially as Cheetor attempts a stunt that gets him blown off a cliff), Blackarachnia disgusts by her willingness to put her life on the line to save the kids. Unfortunately Megatron’s jamming them. At the base, Optimus realizes he lost contact and sets out with Silverbolt in tow. By the way, Optimus has ‘’’horrible’’’ peripheral vision as he doesn’t notice the 4 largest Predacons standing not 30 away from him, in plain view, outside of cover, as he flies out of the base.
- Megatron: Aaah, exactly as I had anticipated, the base is undermanned and unprotected, ours for the asking.Quickstrike: Aww, now, we ain't gonna ask, are we? How's about we just blast our way in there, an' slag everybody 'n' TAKE IT?!Megatron: Mmmmm... okay!
The foursome is almost at the kid’s home when the Raptors and 2 preds catch up, Optimus and Silverbolt arrive, but Optimus is rapidly taken out by a shot of Cybervenom Tarantulas prepared, which makes his head inflate and makes him sing. No really. Meanwhile, the battle for the Ark is sort of going badly. Megatron goads Quickstrike into sacrificing himself to take out a trap, but Rhinox and Rattrap are no match for three remaining Predacons. They radio a poisoned Optimus (What happened to the jamming?????)
- Rattrap: Rattrap to Optimus… hate to interrupt your picnic, but we got big Pred problems!Optimus: Just hang on, Rattrap. You and Rhinox are our last hope. Defend the… defend the…[sings] There he is, my little guyyyyy! There he is; my little guy. Isn’t he cute?Rattrap: That’s not what I wanted to hear.
Blackarachnia takes a shot for the kids, Silverbolt goes to her, noting how she was willing to sacrifice herself for the kids. At base Rhinox takes a shot and is taken out. Back in the fields, the Raptors move in for the kill when dude-with-dinobot’s-hammer shows up, jumping on a Raptor and using the aforementioned hammer to smash the control system there, which makes the raptor flip out, hopping up and down before exploding. Optimus realizes that’s their weak spot and the maximals all fire on the remaining raptors’ control modules, the exploding raptors taking out the two preds (the first leaping high in the air to catch a flying Waspinator and stomp on him). Waspinator reports their failure to Megatron. Megatron orders the taking of hostages, but he’s shot in the back mid-sentence by an arriving Depth Charge, who proceeds to take out Inferno’s cover, scaring the crap out of them, deflecting Megatron’s fire and pelt the Predacons with gunfire. This gives Rattrap and Rhinox a chance to open fire, and the trio of Preds retreat, in front of this new opposition. So yeah, Depthcharge can totally take Inferno, Megatron and Rampage all at once. He’s that baddass. Meanwhile Optimus seems to recover from the venom. The kids leave with hammer dude, waving goodbye to Cheetor. Backarachnia extracts a chip from a fallen raptor, to study later in private. Back in the Darksyde, Megatron notes that his Transmetal II technology works but seems to prove unstable without a spark. And it just so happens he has half of one to spare – the half he removed from Rampage.
This episode marks be beginning of the "Transmetal 2" arc, which is the closest we get to a story arc this season. Somewhat far removed from Season 2's heavily serialized format. Still, it's a mostly nice episode when you avoid its crappy subplot, with some good elements and funny scenes. And the Depthcharge fanboy inside me likes seeing him making three Predacons flee with their tails between their legs.
- Obviously, lots of what happens has bearings on coming episodes, so listing all of it can be sort of pointless.
- Rattrap still shows animosity towards Depthcharge despite him saving his life again. This, along with Depthcharge's anti-hero status draws lots of parallels between him and Dinobot.
- We have no reason why Tarantulas is again working under Megatron, having previously been seen watching the Axalon's with the implication he had a plan in mind (Which will play up in a ;ater episode).
- One of the Raptor is sort of never dealt with. The first Cheetor and Blackarachnia encounters sort of just wanders away, as only 2 raptors are there for the final battle, and three left the Darksyde.
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