Recap / Transformers Prime S 2 E 19 The Human Factor

"The perfect meld of man and machine...Exquisite... Thank you all for your dedication and a lifetime of service. But I now seem more suited to keep the exclusive company... of titans."

Cylas

At one of their hidden bases, some MECH grunts are working on something. It turns out they're doing something with Breakdown's corpse, which they aquired earlier. It's been stitched up, and fueled with energon, and after an electric surge, it comes back online. Only to speak in Silas's voice. The truth comes out: Silas has been placed inside Breakdown, fused with his nervous system to keep him alive. "The perfect meld of man and machine." In glee over his new body, Silas kills his former minions, thinking himself beyond them now. Shortly afterwards, Silas rolls up to a military base, and rolls down the window to introduce himself.

Meanwhile, it's a rainy evening at the Autobot base, where Ratchet and Miko are trying to get bulk to keep up with his recovery. Discouraged by Smokescreen's presence, Bulky is at first resistant, but when Smokescreen offers the recently aquired Apex Armor as a way for the big guy to get back in the game, he drags himself back up to continue the process. Meanwhile, Raf is grounded in his house for neglecting his classwork in favor of helping Team Prime.

Back on the Nemesis, bringing Breakdown's body back into operation has garnered the attention of Knock Out, who goes to investigate with Megatron's permission. Finding Breakdown with mismatched eyes, and stealing something from the military base, Silas asks Knock Out to, "Take me to your leader" with Knock Out's obvious disapproval.

Fowler is quick to report to the Autobots about "Breakdown" coming in to steal Project Damocles, a prototype Kill Sat with pinpoint accuracy (and apparently fires solar beams). Bulkhead even notes it's been a long time since any of the Autobots have seen Breakdown. Since the stolen satellite was Silas's creation, they figure that maybe MECH has allied with the Decepticons. Regardless of whether they have, they resolve to protect the control code at a base in colorado.

Back on the nemesis, Megatron is clearly put off from a human inhabiting one of his former elites. Introducing himself as CYLAS (CYbernetic Life form Augmented by Symbiosis), he proposes to offer his Kill Sat to Megatron as an admission ticket for "a place at the table" with the Decepticons. Megatron, though still skeptical of the human, agrees to retrieve the activation code, and see what Damocles can do.

At the base, Soundwave tricks the soldiers into leaving using a recording of Fowler. The 'Cons set up shop, while Soundwave gets to work downloading the important data for remote satellite use. Team Prime shows up at the base and start shooting up Vehicons. When his attempt at buddying up with Megatron is quickly put down, he is quick to point out that Soundwave can use Damocles from where he is. They activate the satellite, narrowly missing Smokescreen, and frying the Vehicon that was grappling with him. Seeing the raw power, Megatron admits the new weapon is, "promising". Now with Damocles protecting Soundwave, Optimus calls for Ratchet to find a way to take down the satellite remotely, but Rachet admits that he's clueless to these things without Raf. Thus, Miko, Jack and Agent Fowler are bridged to Raf's room and enlist his help.

Meanwhile, Bulkhead pleads to get back in the game. Rachet's still reluctant to have him go when he's still not back to a better strength, but protesting that Breakdown's his Arch-Enemy and that all the rest of the team is in action, Bulkhead gets cleared for duty - a duty of Ratchet's choice. Meanwhile, Raf is trying to hack Damocles's propulsion system in order to prevent the 'Cons from using it. Poor Fowler has to sneak his way to the bathroom while this is happening.

The 'Cons take note of Raf's hacking, and Megatron orders Cylas down to deal with it. Cylas protests that there must be other subordinates to do the job, but Megatron just scowls, and sends Cylas on his way. Cylas comes within a few seconds of obliterating the human team, but Bulkhead rams him aside, having been given guard duty of the kids rather than trying to get to Soundwave. Driving him into a ditch, Bulkhead is clearly surprised when he hears a voice other than Breakdown's coming out of his body, but realizing it's Cylas, he moves to battle right away.

Hearing the clashes, Ratchet requests that Optimus divert a member to assist Bulkhead, while Raf comes closer to finish hacking Damocles. Irritated by Cylas's slow progress, Megatron instead orders Soundwave to target the hacker via Damocles. One VERY close call later, and Raf successfully manages to send Damocles plumetting into the atmosphere, causing it to burn up on reentry. Raf's mom chooses this moment to come in on her son and his circle of friends, but Raf quickly explains that it's a "study group."

Meanwhile, Bulkhead's injuries are showing, as Cylas is easily beating him down. Fortunately, Smokescreen was sent to help, and together, they drive Cylas off, finally starting to bond over their battle together.

Back on the Nemesis Megatron says that Cylas has indeed earned a place at the table. "Knock Out's dissection table.". Cylas in horror emits a Big "WHY?!". Megatron explains that Cylas brought the best he had to offer, and that "the human factor" won the day for his enemies. Knock Out is quick to dish out an electric shock to stun Cylas, and promises to be as thorough as possible in dissecting Cylas as his vengeance for Breakdown. Cylas is then dragged off-screen to meet his fate, still in horror at his imminent death.

Tropes:

• Avenging the Villain: Knock Out's pretty eager to get back at Cylas for desecrating Breakdown's corpse. Once Cylas loses his only means to impress Megatron, he allows Knock Out to do as he sees fit with the human/machine abomination.
• The B Grade: A-minus, actually, but is the reason why Raf is grounded in this episode. It may be a bit much since he's normally a straight-A student but, being a genius among the human trio, his time with Team Prime caused him to miss a few homework assignments and fail a test or two.
• Be Careful What You Wish For: Raf, due to his grounding, is stuck at home and can't come to the base or spend time with the Autobots. Clearly, he wishes that he could help his friends out. He gets his wish when CYLAS and the Decepticons take Damocles, and he not only has to worry about his friends and Agent Fowler being seen by his mother, but Damocles targets his house.
• Big Bad Duumvirate: Cylas clearly thinks will be the case between him and Megatron, though the Decepticon Leader is quick to put Cylas in his place.
• Big Damn Heroes: Bulkhead is finally cleared for duty, and arrives for curbside duty just before Cylas can open fire on Raf's house. When Bulk is nearly taken out, Smokescreen arrives to back him up.
• Big "NO!": Cylas screams this as Knock Out drags him off to dissect him. Considering Knock Out's sadistic glee, this is an extremely appropriate response.
• Big "YES!": Bulkhead when finally cleared for duty again.
• Bittersweet Ending: While Raf is grounded, he helps Team Prime take down Cylas' satellite weapon. Bulkhead returns to duty to defeat Cylas with Smokescreen backing him up, allowing them to finally bond. As for the Decepticons, Megatron and Knock Out not only make him pay for using the late Breakdown's body but, though they lose out on a powerful weapon, they now officially acknowledge the role the three human children play for their enemies and can potentially exploit it. In case it's not clear by now, Silas/Cylas gets what's coming to him for messing with everything Cybertronian.
• Call-Back: The photo Soundwave took all the way back in "Darkness Rising, Part 5" finally makes a reappearance as Megatron fully acknowledges the threat humans can pose to his operations.
• Consolation Backfire: Smokescreen offers Bulkhead to use the Apex Armor to give him a means to fight effectively. Unfortunately, Bulkhead takes offense to it, only seeing it as being offered a crutch.
• Continuity Nod: In the previous episode "Hurt" (after learning that Hardshell was killed by Miko), Megatron begins to see that humans aren't as weak or harmless as he thought. Here, he openly acknowledges that the humans on Team Prime are more of an asset to them than he previously believed. He even allows CYLAS to work with them for a while...although considering their reactions to what MECH did to Breakdown, that doesn't last very long.
• Death from Above: The Damocles satellite (Also counts as Meaningful Name).
• Did Not Think This Through: Silas never considered keeping his staff of MECH around instead of killing them off after saving him. And he certainly didn't think his presence in the late Breakdown's body would piss off Megatron and Knockout.
• Do with Him as You Will: Breakdown was one of Megatron's top officers, and worked well (as well as often) with Knockout. Naturally, the latter two are horrified/disgusted when they learn that not only has Breakdown been dead for a considerable amount of time, but a human (one who had kidnapped and tortured him) stole his corpse and is now using it as his new body. Thus, it comes as no surprise when Megatron (while smiling) tells Knockout that he can do this trope to Cylas.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Megatron was clearly disgusted when Knockout brought Silas fused in Breakdown's body aboard the ship, seeing it a crime against Cybertronian nature.
  Megatron: Knockout! What is this abomination!? And why have you brought it here!?
  • Knock Out was obviously furious what happened to his partner's body.
• Everyone Has Standards: Bulkhead hates Breakdown, but even he is visibly shocked and disgusted learning what Silas did to his old rival's body.
• Exact Words: Silas approaches Megatron with a plea to receive "a place at the table". After his failure, Megatron assures him he's earned his place on Knock Out's dissection table.
• False Reassurance:
  Megatron: CYLAS, you have earned your place at the table.
  CYLAS: Lord Megatron, I am honored.
  Megatron: Knockout's dissection table!
• Full-Name Ultimatum: Raf's mom says "Rafael Jorge Gonzales Esquivel" when calling him out.
• Fun with Acronyms: Silas takes on the new name of "Cylas" (CYbernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis).
• Hollywood Hacking: Ratchet once more calls on Raf for help hacking into the Damocles systems. He manages to throw the satellite off course and burn it in re-entry.
• Innocently Insensitive: Smokescreen sees offering Bulkhead the Apex Armor as a way for him to get back in the field faster. Bulk coldly refuses what he views as a "crutch".
• Internal Reveal: Both Autobots and Decepticons finally learn of Breakdown's death many episodes prior, though not even Bulkhead or Knock Out have such of a reaction.
• Karmic Death: Every time Silas appeared in the series, he was attempting to kill or mangle Cybertronians (no matter which faction they belonged to). He never respected that they were sentient, and subjected them to his inhumane experiments. So, when left at the mercy of the Decepticons, he's made into Knockout's newest science project, which promises to end very badly for him.
• Kill Sat: Cylas retrieves a powerful laser satellite called "Project Damocles", and uses it as a bargaining chip to join the Decepticons.
• Laser-Guided Karma: Of all the Transformers in the series, Breakdown was the one who suffered the most at the hands of Silas and MECH. Ripping out his eye, damaging his pride and using his corpse for their experiments and Silas' new body? Not to mention capturing Arcee, stealing Bumblebee's T-Cog, then stealing Starscream's T-Cog, then trying to frame Optimus Prime via Nemesis Prime...There was no question the Decepticons were going to let him have it after Team Prime foiled his plan. Cylas being turned into the lab rat of the very organisms he'd been hunting down the entire series was a very fitting end.
  • Even then, he disposed of his fellow MECH companions, deeming them no longer useful. After Damocles is destroyed, Megatron has the same feelings toward Cylas.
• Meaningful Echo: At the start of episode, at the Autobot base:
  Ratchet: You need to regain your strength. The time will come when—
  Bulkhead: When what? When all of you will need an assist? Isn't that what the new guy's for?!
  • And later on, near the end of the episode, when Smokescreen saves Bulkhead from Cylas:
    Smokescreen: Assist—what the new guy's for!
• Nothing Is Scarier: Cylas is dragged out of Megatron's sight when he fails to impress him. One can only imagine what Knock Out has planned for the human desecrating his partner's corpse.
  Megatron: He will be a fascinating case for study.
  Knock Out: I will leave no fiber or fiberoptic unexamined.
• Oh, Crap!: Bulkhead when he learns that Silas is piloting Breakdown's corpse.
• Pragmatic Villainy: To clear the base of humans, Soundwave mimics Fowler's voice when reporting a radiation leak and ordering a full evacuation. That way, no equipment is damaged and the area is fully secured before the Autobots arrive.
• Pre-Mortem One-Liner: Silas attempts one at Smokescreen.
  Silas: One new guy to another... This is your last day on the job.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Knock Out wants to dissect Cylas over what was done to Breakdown in "Operation: Breakdown". He gets his wish at the end of the episode.
  "Breakdown would be tickled."
• Slasher Smile: Knock Out has a truly terrifying one as he moves to subdue Cylas.
• Status Quo Is God: Project Damocles, a devastating weapon, is destroyed in the same episode it's fully introduced in, not to mention that Cylas is relegated to a lab rat, despite having extensive knowledge of the human world Megatron could use to his advantage over the Autobots.
• Take Me to Your Leader: Cylas says so to Knock Out.
• A Taste Of His Own Medicine: Cylas spent most of his time since his debut appearance capturing and dissecting Transformers. After Damocles imploded, Megatron sentences Cylas to dissection and experimentation for failing to be of any military use.
• Title Drop: Cylas tells Megatron that the "Human Factor" has been an advantageous asset for the Autobots. Megatron spitefully throws it back at him rebuking, but acknowledging, how it tipped the scales in favor of the Autobots.
• Thought You Were Dead:
  • Team Prime learns from Fowler that "Silas" retrieved an old weapon after riding along a Decepticon. They soon discover there is more to it when encountering CYLAS.
• Ungrateful Bastard: The remnants of MECH restored Silas to life by fusing him with Breakdown's body, and succeeded. Silas achieves the perfect fusion of human and machine like he wanted. And how does he thank his loyal soldiers? By killing them all off.
• Verbal Backspace: CYLAS corrects himself to call Megatron "Lord", remembering that he is now with the Decepticons, not MECH.
• Villain Team-Up: Silas/CYLAS offers this to Megatron. The Decepticon leader plays along with the weapon he brought, but soon punishes the human for his failure and desecrating a fellow Decepticon's body. Apparently, Silas had forgotten this didn't work out well when Starscream offer his services to MECH. Once Project Damocles is gone, he is on the receiving end of the breakup.
• We Have Reserves: Megatron's reaction when Damocles accidentally kills one of the Vehicons? Admiring the destructive capability of the weapon.
  Megatron: Promising.
• We Meet Again: When Bulkhead stops Cylas from opening fire on Raf's house, albeit not in the way he expects. It's turned around on him when he realizes he's not facing his Arch-Enemy.
  Bulkhead: You're not Breakdown.
  Cylas: But you are Bulkhead and this is the last time you'll interfere in one of my operations!
• Wide Eyes and Shrunken Irises: While not as visible as it would be on human characters, both Knock Out and Bulkhead have this reaction when they realize that they are not talking to Breakdown, but a human controlling his body.
• Would Hurt a Child: Silas had no qualms about preparing to shoot and blow up Rafael's house while he and the others were there. Luckily he was stopped by Bulkhead.
• You Are Grounded!: Raf's punishment by his mother for only getting A minuses instead of solid A's in school.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness:
  • Silas turns on his own subordinates after they fuse his body with Breakdown's.
  Silas: Thank you all for your dedication and a lifetime of service. But I now seem more suited to the exclusive company...of titans.
  • Megatron does this to Cylas when the attempt with Damocles fails, sentencing him to be dissected by Knockout. While Megatron does this a lot, it's hard to say this wasn't justified.
• You Have Failed Me: Megatron turns on Cylas because "Damocles was the best [he] had to offer."

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Megatron: But the human factor did indeed tip the scales... in favor of my enemies."