Optimus and his team discover the effects of what Megatron found, that being the sinister substance named Dark Energon. When Optimus and Ratchet go on a mission to find out more, Bulkhead is left in charge of keeping the Autobot base safe. Unfortunately, US Army Special Agent Fowler's arrival may interrupt the human kids' lounging...
Tropes:
- Alien Abduction: Laserbeak upon Fowler.
- Big Damn Heroes: Subverted on two occasions:
- Jack and Raf ground bridge to Miko's location planning on rescuing her. The moment they arrive on location, Bulkhead has to rescue them from a couple of Vehicons.
- Miko tries to do this by hitting a Vehicon in the head with a rock. Guess how that works out?
- Casual Danger Dialog: Fowler reacts very nonchalantly to being tortured.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: Starscream does this, to a human."Bring the prod."
- Continuity Nod:
- This episode resolves some of the continuity issues with Dark Energon seemingly brought up in the previous episode. Both Optimus and Ratchet know of its existence and even the rumor that it brings the dead back to life. Supplies of it were just so scarce as to be non-existent, hence their inexperience with it.
- However, it does create another continuity problem, as Megatron (and Starscream, for that matter) have both had Dark Energon in their systems before. Not only that, once Cybertronians have had Dark Energon in their system, they will die without it (As proved by Shockwave's experiments in Exodus), so how did Megatron survive the withdrawal? Or perhaps he always had Dark Energon in his system, but then what was the point of inserting it into his Spark chamber? Regardless, Starscream's "worry" about Megatron not knowing what it would do was completely inaccurate.
- It also establishes the first two of a series of recurring links between Earth and Cybertron. Beyond Energon and war-time battles on Earth, a significant number of additional Cybertronian influences and objects on Earth would present throughout the series.
- This episode resolves some of the continuity issues with Dark Energon seemingly brought up in the previous episode. Both Optimus and Ratchet know of its existence and even the rumor that it brings the dead back to life. Supplies of it were just so scarce as to be non-existent, hence their inexperience with it.
- Deadpan Snarker: Agent Fowler when Starscream begins torturing/interrogating him for the Autobot base location.
- Defiant to the End: And yet Fowler refuses to ever reveal the location since if the Autobot base were to be discovered, the Decepticons can lay waste on human civilization with ease.
- Delegation Relay: Arcee, you're in charge...Bulkhead, you're in charge...Jack, you're in charge...Raf, you're in charge."Of who?"
- Electric Torture: Fowler is on the receiving end of this.
- Groin Attack: Check out where Starscream sticks Fowler with the Energon prod. Ouch!
- Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: Starscream electrocutes Fowler with an Energon prod for info on where the Autobot base could be. Fowler refuses to talk.
- Large and in Charge: Miko thinks that if Optimus is busy, Bulkhead due to being the biggest should be in charge. Ironic enough, Optimus picks Arcee - the smallest of the Autobots - to be in charge, and her first order is to put Bulkhead in charge.
- Large Ham: Megatron is in top form today.Megatron: BEHOLD! THE POWER OF DARK... ENERGON!!!
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall:Optimus: I know why you're here, Megatron.
Megatron: Hardly a surprise, Optimus. After all, you and I have been at this a long time. - Light Is Not Good: When Megatron raises the Terrorcons, he goes all glowy.
◊ - Mythology Gag:
- Bulkhead has a compartment similar to his Animated incarnation, but higher up on his chest. Objects end up there when he transforms from vehicle mode.
- The concepts of the Transformers seeding Energon on Earth and having had wars there in the distant past before have turned up in recent fiction, IDW's comics and Revenge of the Fallen. The latter was also in an '80s Ladybird Book, "Galvatron's Air Attack".
- When Megatron arrives at the graveyard, his transformation uses a sound more like the classic G1 cartoon than the updated Prime sound.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero / Idiot Ball: Fowler stupidly says "Autobot base" on the phone in an area that is "Soundwave-tracable". At that time, his mind was clouded by anger (to put it in Optimus's words) because he just found out the Autobots made contact with human children and let them into their base.
- Ninja Pirate Robot Zombie: The Terrorcons, robot alien zombies.
- Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: Bulkhead at first refuses to rescue Fowler when he is abducted by Laserbeak, claiming "Fowler's a jerk!"
- What the Hell, Hero?: Jack gives Bulkhead this treatment when Bulkhead appears to be willing to allow Fowler to be captured by the Decepticons.Bulkhead: Location scan was incomplete. Oh well.Jack: Uh, "Oh well?" Seriously?Bulkhead: Fowler's a jerk!Jack: Whoa! Whether you like the guy or not, the Decepticons may have him!
- Zombie Apocalypse: Megatron uses some of his Dark Energon to raise an army of undead Cybertronians to fight Optimus and Ratchet.
