When Optimus Prime is critically damaged in a Decepticon ambush, Bumblebee leads a team to Cybertron to recover a component crucial to saving the Autobot leader's life. Meanwhile, Megatron plots to attack the now vulnerable Ark.
Tropes:
- Combat Pragmatist: Starscream, recalling how easily Optimus beat him up in the previous episode, puts the humans at a munitions plant in the line of fire. Optimus takes damage shielding them from an explosion, and Starscream directs his fellow Seekers to spam the weakened Optimus.Starscream: Hit him with everything!
- During the final battle, he encourages the Decepticons to conserve their energy in case the Autobots have any surprises. Megatron doesn't listen.
- Early-Installment Weirdness:
- The Matrix as a concept had not yet been finalized, so it is not seen in Optimus' chest casing, nor is it mentioned.
- Optimus' spark (also not finalized as a concept yet) is referred to as a "laser core".
- Made of Iron: Optimus. Getting his chest cavity torpedoed by Laserbeak almost kills him, but it would have been instant death to most Cybertronians.Sparkplug: They sure don't build 'em like that anymore.
- The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: This comes back to bite Megatron when the revitalized Optimus emerges to challenge him. Starscream objects to butting into the two leaders' sacred rivalry, and smugly watches Megatron takes an inevitable pounding.Starscream: He accepted your challenge, leader. The battle code requires you to engage him in combat. Alone.
- Riddle for the Ages: What exactly is a cosmitron? All that is known is that according to the TFWiki, it's vitally important to a Transformer's well-being, and the lack of one results in death.
