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       #Post#: 375--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: December 21, 2013, 12:55 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 26 – Let it Snow
       Airdate: Saturday 21st December 2013
       Synopsis: The Dawn Katana is resting on the surface of Fothai,
       its surface ever-so-slightly iced over. Waspinator, Snapjaw,
       Prophecy, Mirage and Wildfire are in the ship’s bridge, awaiting
       the return of the others. The ship’s A.I. notes that the
       planet’s temperatures are at their lowest of the solar cycle –
       if they remain here for much longer, the ship will be frozen up
       and unable to leave.
       Cross-Shot leads her team through the dark caverns of the
       planet, the four obviously suffering from the temperature
       (although Scale notes that it should be even colder on the
       surface). As they continue down another forked path, Paladin
       chats with Swingback, who responds with her usual upbeat (and
       rather flirtatious) manner.
       Paladin: So what did you specialise in, as an athlete?
       Swingback: A lot of running, bit of gymnastic stuff, some
       ball-sports…
       Paladin: You keep fit, then.
       Swingback: Don’t you just know it. I’ll have to show you how
       flexible I am some time, huh?
       Scale is baffled by the two, while Cross-Shot tries to out-right
       ignore them. They enter a wide space, and Scale notes the
       hundreds of creatures high above at the cavern’s ceiling.
       Cross-Shot suggests that they make no loud noises, and they make
       their way across the space. Aboard the ship, Mirage has returned
       to her quarters, star-gazing via her celestial holo-map.
       Wildfire bounds in, and the immortal fembot disinterestedly
       scolds him for not knocking. He starts to question the various
       constellations on the holo-map, as well as the objects in her
       quarters, irritating her to the point of snapping. She stalks
       out of her room, with Wildfire following apologetically.
       Prophecy tackles him from behind, squeezing him and calling him
       cute, which flusters him and gives Mirage the chance to head
       elsewhere. Waspinator talks to the Arcrise egg, questioning her
       decision to grant Dinobot an ounce of her power; pondering it,
       he proposes that she may actually want to side with the
       Archaicons when she returns.
       Waspinator: Why did you give him power? What could lead you to
       thinking that was the right thing to do? Prophecy was there too…
       *pause* I… suppose that you’re not truly a Maximal. You could
       join the Archaicons, couldn’t you?
       Obviously hurt by this thought, he leaves, encountering Mirage
       in the hallway. He greets her, but she tells him that she has no
       time for him. Annoyed, Waspinator points out that she is not the
       only person with troubles or who has suffered loss. Mirage
       concurs, adding that she simply does not care about the pain of
       random people, and heads off, leaving Waspinator angry. Heading
       along, he finds Prophecy tickling a desperate and flustered
       Wildfire; chuckling a touch, he moves Prophecy away from him,
       stating that he needs the chance to breathe. Wildfire thanks the
       departing Waspinator as he catches his breath.
       As the fragment-hunting team reach the other side of the space,
       Cross-Shot congratulates them, only to realise that the fragment
       is no closer now than when they were on the other side of the
       space… meaning it is somewhere within it. Scale transforms and
       starts to ascend the wall, hoping to find a sign of the fragment
       amongst the nesting creatures, while the other three split up to
       cover the ground. Snapjaw, bored, researches methods for
       preventing freezing, while the ship’s A.I. notes each drop in
       core temperature.
       Dawn Katana: 203 Kelvin… 202.5 Kelvin…
       Snapjaw: Can’t you list in your head?
       Dawn Katana: But then how would you know what- 202 Kelvin- the
       temperature is?
       Snapjaw: Who knows how much a Kelvin is?
       Dawn Katana: Kelvin is defined as the fraction 1⁄273.16 of
       the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water-
       Snapjaw: Die-cast ships, now brought to you with no concept of
       rhetoric…
       Mirage stalks past, carrying a box full of guns; Snapjaw asks
       what she is up to, and she remarks that it is none of his
       concern. She heads outside, even as the A.I. warns her that the
       temperatures are extremely low. Scale carefully weaves through
       the nesting creatures, which he identifies as quadrupedal bats,
       and locates the tip of a fragment embedded in the ceiling.
       Cross-Shot attaches the fragment extractor to an arrow and fires
       it up to him; he catches it, and discards the arrow, which
       Swingback catches before it hits the floor. The former-mercenary
       carefully extracts the fragment, but once it is removed, the
       bats awaken – he quickly leaps down to the ground, landing
       expertly, as he and the others make their way out, the disturbed
       bats following. Wildfire enters the bridge, and starts asking
       Snapjaw questions about his time as a Predacon, but Prophecy
       catches up and starts tickling him again before Snapjaw can
       answer any questions. The hyena-bot, obviously annoyed, attempts
       to ignore them as he continues researching. Waspinator then
       enters, separating Wildfire and Prophecy again, and asks if
       Mirage has been through. Snapjaw notes that she went outside,
       and Waspinator heads out too – the ship’s A.I. complains
       fruitlessly.
       Dawn Katana: But the temperature is at 196.5 Kelvin, and still
       dropping! If you- wait, Waspinator! You’ll freeze!
       Snapjaw: *patting the console* That’ll do, ship. That’ll do.
       Mirage is stood in the midst of the snowy expanse, testing and
       exchanging various guns, combining them into her arm as she
       does. Elsewhere, Cross-Shot, Scale, Paladin and Swingback charge
       out of the cavern, rushing towards the Dawn Katana with the
       quadrupedal bats following. Snapjaw notices, and grumbles as he
       opens the entrance to the ship; the four board, and Cross-Shot
       mans the ship’s weaponry as the alien creatures draw close.
       Waspinator finds Mirage out in the snow; shrugging off his
       surprise at her use of the upgrade’s abilities, he tells her to
       stop moping, but she insists that she is not, and that she
       simply needs time away from him and his crew.
       Waspinator: … this is why Constant needs to include manuals with
       his upgrades… Mirage, knock it off. Stop moping about out here.
       Mirage: I’m not moping. I’m giving myself room to breathe.
       Spending time with you and the others is exhausting and
       demeaning.
       He points out that, if she is so bothered by being on a team,
       she should never have joined, and Mirage calls him out on his
       hypocrisy, as he was the one who insisted she join them. She
       fires on him, damaging him, and he assimilates another weapon,
       firing back, and the two continue to damage one another as they
       argue and approach one another. Mirage assimilates a huge
       weapon, too big for her frame to support, and heavily damages
       Waspinator upon firing while blowing the gun and her own arm to
       pieces. As the two reach one another, their heated words
       suddenly and surprisingly turn into passionate kisses, and they
       tumble (or collapse) to the snow.
       Waspinator: I’m ordering you to stand down!
       Mirage: You’d be better off falling down, in that state, you
       useless hunk of scrap!
       Waspinator: You will listen to what I say!
       Mirage: Ha! The arrogance!
       Waspinator: You’re the arrogant one here!
       Mirage: And what’re you going to do about it?
       *a beat, and then they suddenly embrace, kissing each other
       deeply, and after a moment, collapsing to the floor*
       The other Maximals fire warning shots from the ship’s weaponry
       to try and ward the bats off, although some still approach.
       Cross-Shot switches to a lower setting, and stuns the creatures,
       knocking them back until they all start retreating. The Maximals
       are relieved, only for the ship’s power to vanish. The A.I.
       explains that power is too low, and he is having to reroute
       almost all of it to his core to prevent fatal freezing. If the
       Maximals do not leave soon, the ship will become totally frozen
       and they will never be able to escape.
       Cast:
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 383--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: December 28, 2013, 12:33 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 27 – Chill Factor
       Airdate: Saturday 28th December 2013
       Synopsis: Waspinator and Mirage sit back-to-back amidst the
       strengthening snow-storms, not talking. After a moment,
       Waspinator tries to contact the ship, to no avail. Mirage
       suggests they brave the blizzards instead of awaiting pick-up,
       and struggles to her feet; she heads off, as Waspinator follows,
       irritated.
       Aboard the Dawn Katana, the other Maximals are gathered in the
       bridge, contemplating what to do now. Cross-Shot suggests some
       of them head out to find Waspinator and Mirage, but the ship
       notes that the temperature is too low for them to be able to
       tolerate it for long. Though Wildfire suggests that Prophecy
       chronoskim outside and spend the time looking for them, Prophecy
       points out that even she cannot bear the cold for too long.
       Cross-Shot instead posits the idea of detecting the two, and
       then waiting until they are close enough to easily retrieve. The
       ship’s A.I. adds that the two, being immortal, should be able to
       function longer in the low temperatures.
       Cross-Shot: I could try and detect the two of them. Once they’re
       close enough, we could head out to retrieve them.
       Dawn Katana: Waspinator and Mirage are both immortal, so they’ll
       be able to withstand the cold longer than the rest of you. It’s
       a good idea.
       Scale reminds them that they cannot wait too long, or the ship
       might lose the ability to leave; thinking over this, Cross-Shot
       sends Scale, Wildfire and Swingback to work out a way to keep
       the ship going, while she, Snapjaw, Prophecy and Paladin will
       ponder the rescue of Waspinator and Mirage. All the while,
       Paladin sits in silence, eyeing his team-mates with an air of
       unease. Waspinator and Mirage continue through the volatile
       weather, with Waspinator pointing out how it is somewhat similar
       to their first adventure in the desert. Mirage turns to him, and
       explains that their ‘entanglement’ is not to be considered
       anything more than an accidental incident. Waspinator bluntly
       agrees, and continues on ahead of her.
       Mirage: Listen. Our… our entanglement… it means nothing. It WAS
       nothing. It was an accidental incident that needs no more
       consideration.
       Waspinator: Agreed.
       With that, he stumbles, falling to the ground, and Mirage eases
       him back to his feet (as best as possible with one arm). They
       stare into each other’s eyes, before turning away from one
       another, at which point Waspinator, without support, falls
       again. Mirage eases him up, and promises to support him as they
       continue on. The snow is falling more heavily now, the winds
       blowing stronger, and the light is fading.
       Scale, Wildfire and Swingback are sat in the common room,
       discussing the ship’s dropping internal temperatures. Wildfire
       suggests they light fires around the engines, but Scale points
       out that it could cause the fuel to ignite and destroy the ship.
       Swingback jests that at least they will stay warm; Scale sighs.
       He notes that they could potentially start the engines up and
       route the resultant heat throughout the ship, but they do not
       have enough fuel to waste. Wildfire asks if they cannot simply
       use something else as fuel, and Swingback suggests she run on a
       treadmill to generate power – Scale asks her to take it
       seriously.
       Wildfire: We could always use something else as fuel, though,
       right? That way we can still use up what we have AND make it to
       a fuelling place?
       Swingback: Hey, we could attach a treadmill and I’ll run on it!
       Scale: Could you take this seriously? It’s our lives at stake.
       In the bridge, Cross-Shot is focusing on locating Waspinator and
       Mirage, while Snapjaw, Prophecy and Paladin ponder how to
       quickly retrieve the two. Snapjaw asks Prophecy if her energy
       bubbles are insulating, and she claims that it could be
       possible, but it would be different to her normal types and
       require figuring out. Paladin enquires if there are any thermal
       suits or insulating materials on the ship that they could use,
       but Snapjaw points out that if there were, they would not be
       pondering this. At this point, the ship’s A.I. interrupts,
       noting that the temperature is now too low for any power to be
       wasted anywhere else; he wishes the Maximals luck, and shuts
       down, rerouting all power to the core except for a single
       reading of the temperature. Outside, Waspinator and Mirage can
       just about make the ship out through the blizzard. They continue
       on, slow now, as Waspinator notes that they may not even make
       it. He scolds Mirage again for having left the ship, and she
       states that she had to have some time to herself. Waspinator
       slyly suggests that she come to him if she wants time to
       herself, at which she threatens to leave him in the snow.
       Waspinator: … if you want time to yourself, you could always
       come and see me…
       Mirage: I’ll leave you out here. I seriously will.
       The leader clarifies that he is only considering her apparent
       feelings for him, and she snaps back that he was the one who
       initiated the kiss.
       The Maximals have all re-gathered in the bridge, with Prophecy
       creating swirls of light to keep the room illuminated with the
       power gone and the sun all but set. The bots are still
       contemplating what to do; Snapjaw proposes they depart without
       Waspinator and Mirage if they do not come within range in the
       next few minutes, although the others disagree, especially
       Cross-Shot, who states that she could not lead the team well
       enough (though the other Maximals seem to think otherwise).
       Snapjaw: If we still don’t see them in another few minutes, I
       say we go without them. The mission is more important than-
       Wildfire: You’re kidding, right?
       Paladin: We can’t just leave them.
       Scale: Mhm…
       Swingback: That’s just harsh.
       Prophecy: We need them!
       Cross-Shot: The others are right. And anyway, it’s not like I
       could really lead us as well as Waspinator.
       Paladin: I think you could.
       Swingback: Yeah. I mean, it’s beside the point, but you’d
       manage.
       Snapjaw says that he does not wish to freeze to death on this
       planet, and Prophecy’s lights touch her painting, causing it to
       light up and further illuminate the room. Seeing the images of
       the journey still to come, the Maximals gain determination anew,
       and Swingback ponders aloud if the new fragment will help. The
       others are surprised at the obviousness of this, and Paladin
       suggests that the bats had been roosting around it as it
       supplied heat. He takes the fragment extractor and rushes into
       the ship, while Cross-Shot notes that Waspinator and Mirage are
       now within a safe distance. Snapjaw takes her hand and phases
       them out of the ship; they rush over to the two, who are still
       bickering, while Paladin reaches the ship’s core and implants
       the fragment into it. Waspinator, Cross-Shot, Snapjaw and Mirage
       enter the bridge, and Cross-Shot immediately suggests they go to
       the CR room, just as Paladin enters too, giving Waspinator a
       darkly concerned look. The power starts to ebb back on. Later,
       the ship is heading through space. Waspinator and Mirage are
       healing in CR chambers – they come to an agreement that their
       fraternising means nothing, but can continue, when Paladin
       enters the room, asking to speak with Waspinator in private.
       Mirage: Okay. So. We don’t… love each other.
       Waspinator: Of course not.
       Mirage: No way in the Pit.
       Waspinator: And it’s because of that that we can mess around all
       we want.
       Mirage: Totally.
       Waspinator: Because we don’t love each other.
       Mirage: Exactly.
       Waspinator: Why would we?
       Mirage: True.
       Waspinator: You’re a pain in the skid-plate.
       Mirage: Well you’re a moron.
       Waspinator: And no one loves a moron.
       Mirage: You said it.
       Waspinator: But the other stuff, that’s fine.
       Mirage: Yeah, that’s totally fine.
       *a knock at the door, and Paladin enters*
       Paladin: Erm, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to speak to
       you, Waspinator. Alone.
       Mirage leaves, saying that she is restored enough anyway, and
       Paladin explains to Waspinator that he has been picking up stray
       thoughts amongst the crew. He adds that he chalks it up to
       events with Sawblade. Waspinator presses him, and he explains
       that, although he is unsure who… someone is considering joining
       the Archaicons.
       Cast:
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 386--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: January 4, 2014, 1:07 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 28 – Role Model
       Airdate: Saturday 4th January 2014
       Synopsis: A pitch-black prison cell – inside, Sawblade bemoans
       his fate, asking what he did to deserve imprisonment. The cell
       door opens, and Dinobot stands in the light, explaining that
       Sawblade defaced and disgraced the Archaicon faction. However,
       he has made preparations for the anarchist to learn… and offers
       for him to join them.
       An alien city, at night. A young alien woman, Haravas, is
       travelling in the back of a vehicle; it comes to a stop outside
       a hotel, she’s escorted inside past a mob of people. Reaching
       her room, she lies down, chuckling to herself, before a call
       comes through. It’s from reception – the receptionist informs
       her that she has special visitors. Sighing, Haravas heads back
       down, and finds the Dawn Katana crew waiting in the lobby.
       Waspinator introduces them, and explains to Haravas that,
       several weeks ago, she would have wound up with a fragment
       embedded in her. Smirking, she informs Waspinator that the
       fragment has given her more than she could ever desire, and
       walks away. Snapjaw comments that he does not like her. As
       Lacerator explains the basics of the faction to Sawblade,
       Dinobot and Huntdown watch on. The latter asks if having
       Sawblade join them – especially as part of the inner circle – is
       a wise idea, but Dinobot notes that Sawblade has the potential
       to be a powerful ally.
       Huntdown: You’re really thinking of putting him in the inner
       circle? Are you sure that’s a good idea?
       Dinobot: Positive. Given the chance, and a push in the right
       direction, he could become a powerful ally for us.
       Giving him responsibility amongst the faction will grant him
       purpose. Huntdown is evidently unconvinced. The Maximals, back
       onboard the Dawn Katana, investigate Haravas. The ship’s A.I.
       explains that she is presently one of the most successful
       pop-stars on the planet, Righ. The peak of her success coincides
       with the Matrix destruction, and the A.I. adds that waveform
       comparisons between her performances before and after indicate
       that she previously used pitch correction software. Wildfire
       declares the fragment to be ‘auto-tune in crystal form’, though
       Scale muses if it is perhaps more about advancing potential or
       realising ambitions. Waspinator realises that Haravas will be
       unwilling to surrender her fragment, and Mirage proposes using
       subterfuge to get it, before suggesting they discuss it further
       in his quarters.
       Waspinator: If it’s the foundation for her career, she won’t
       give it to us just from asking.
       Mirage: So, subterfuge, then?
       Waspinator: I assume so.
       Mirage: Okay, then. Let’s head to your quarters and, you know,
       discuss it.
       Waspinator agrees, and he tells the others to prepare for a
       morning strike while he heads off with Mirage, leaving the group
       a little bemused.
       The next morning, Haravas wakes up to a news report on her
       fraternising with another celebrity, which it treats lightly and
       casually – the singer is pleased with this, and calls for her
       chauffeur. As she heads outside, she finds the usual baying mobs
       absent – instead, only the Maximals are stood there. Paladin
       explains that he used the telepathy granted by his fragment to
       send an impulse to leave across the crowd. Waspinator adds that
       each of them have fragments too – and they need to gather all of
       the other fragments for the sake of reality. Haravas expresses
       her lack of concern, and Waspinator informs her that she is
       being given one chance to surrender it willingly, or else they
       will take it from her, by any means.
       Haravas: Aww, that’s nice. Now look at my face and try to figure
       out if I give a damn.
       Waspinator: This is your one and only chance. You can let us
       take the fragment from you, or we’ll find a way to without your
       permission.
       Haravas responds with a laugh, as two bodyguards flank her and
       she enters her vehicle. It drives off, and Mirage remarks that
       it is time for the subterfuge to commence. On Maradon, Sawblade
       is being toured around the Archaicons’ base by Sickleclaw and
       Airazor – who, of course, are flinging insults at one another
       all the while. Sawblade starts to fan the flames between them,
       eventually causing Sickleclaw to very nearly hit Airazor;
       Huntdown holds her fist and tells her that hitting him is not
       worth it. Chuckling, Sawblade thanks the two for their tour, and
       heads off on his own.
       Sawblade: Well, that sure was educational. Thanks for the tour,
       guys!
       The Maximals head through the city, as Cross-Shot tracks
       Haravas. Prophecy rambles about none of the keys being here,
       before pouncing at Wildfire again. Paladin and Swingback
       continue their semi-flirtatious chats, while Snapjaw and Scale
       try to ignore them. Trailing behind, Waspinator and Mirage
       discuss their plan to get Haravas’ fragment – Wildfire
       (struggling in Prophecy’s hold) notes how they seem closer since
       Fothai, which flusters both of them. The younger bot is confused
       by their response, and the two emphatically deny anything.
       As Sawblade explores the base, he encounters Scorpinax in a
       corridor, watching the courtyard. The new member insinuates that
       Scorpinax is a stalker, but the mysterious bot notes that he has
       things on his mind. He then asks Sawblade if he has any
       comprehension as to what the Archaicons stand for yet, to which
       the shark-bot responds that it is tension, in-fighting and
       eccentricity. Chuckling, Scorpinax states that it is all about
       forging a new path, but Sawblade comments that they will only
       dig themselves into a pit at this rate as he walks off. It is
       now evening on Righ, and Haravas is rehearsing a routine; her
       dancers make a mistake, and she snaps at them, telling them that
       they are pathetic. One of them quietly comments that she has let
       her ‘miracle’ vocal ability go to her head, and she responds by
       kicking him.
       Dancer: Just because some ‘miracle’ gave you an amazing voice…
       doesn’t mean you have to treat everyone like dirt…
       Haravas: Then try not to act like dirt, loser. *she kicks him*
       Her manager informs her that she has two minutes, and that she
       has a visitor. Waspinator approaches her, and states that he
       admires her. The singer explains that, since the fragment
       granted her a strong singing voice, she has grabbed her dream of
       fame with both hands. Waspinator tells her that he has no
       interest in her fragment; he was testing her passion and drive.
       Haravas adds that she hates her fans, but loves the attention
       and the allowances for any misdeed.
       Haravas: I can’t stand the fans. They’re mindless hordes who’ll
       eat any old rubbish as long as it’s done to a beat. But they
       give me a stage and they lap up every word I sing. And I love
       it. They let me get away with anything, too. I’m everyone’s
       little darling.
       The two share a deep kiss, before she heads out on stage… only
       to find the entire crowd booing her. Turning, she sees that the
       screen behind the stage is linked to a hidden backstage camera,
       and Waspinator waves at her, fragment extractor in hand.
       Distraught, Haravas tries to sing, only to find her voice poor.
       The crowd starts to leave as Haravas curses at them. The
       Maximals, in the crowd, applaud Waspinator’s work, only to
       notice that Mirage is missing. At that moment, Waspinator and
       Mirage, kissing passionately, tumble into shot on the stage’s
       screen. The team are shocked, and Waspinator and Mirage
       continue, blissfully unaware. In the Archaicons’ base, Sawblade
       sets up his new quarters, smirking.
       Cast:
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Haravas – Ashley Roberts
       Receptionist – David Leisure
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       Dancer – Tom Kenny
       Manager – Ron Perlman
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 387--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: January 11, 2014, 11:42 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 29 – The Lives Left Behind
       Airdate: Saturday 11th January 2014
       Synopsis: Dinobot and Lacerator are holding a strategic meeting
       as the other members of the inner circle watch on outside the
       room. Suddenly, an alarm goes off; the five rush off, heading to
       the front of the base, where they find a lone fembot, breathing
       heavily and snarling, stood amidst the base’s sensors. She tells
       them that she heard their message – she is here to join them.
       Sawblade goes to approach the new arrival, but she snarls at
       him, pouncing and slicing his outer layers with her claws.
       Angered himself now, the Archaicon uses his circular saw to try
       and slice her hands off, but Huntdown steps between them before
       any more damage can be dealt. The Lycaenops-bot informs her that
       they do not mean her harm, and introduces himself; the fembot
       says her name is Toxiclaw (at which Airazor suggests to
       Sickleclaw that they adopt the name ‘the Claw sisters’), and
       adds that she wants to speak to the leader. Huntdown explains
       that he is otherwise occupied, but that the bots present are
       most of his inner circle and can answer any questions. All the
       while, Sawblade starts to writhe about on the ground: Toxiclaw
       remarks that her claw-tips are laced with cyber-venom, and that
       her own mech-fluid contains the antidote (this is, of course, in
       case she scratches herself accidentally).
       Toxiclaw: Ah.
       Huntdown: Ah?
       Toxiclaw: That would be the cyber-venom. On the tips of my
       claws… if he needs an antidote, it’s in my mech-fluid. Easiest
       place to keep it, and if I accidentally scratch myself, it
       doesn’t affect me.
       Without help, Sawblade has ten minutes to live. Huntdown orders
       Scorpinax and Airazor to carry Sawblade to the med-bay, while he
       and Sickleclaw escort Toxiclaw there. As Scorpinax and Airazor
       lift Sawblade up, Airazor asks his secretive ally what his life
       was like before he joined the Archaicons. Upon prompting, he
       adds that he is (begrudgingly) gathering data for Lacerator.
       Scorpinax asks in turn what Airazor’s back-story is, and the
       flier explains (‘narrating’ as we see it) that his home colony
       was in constant disarray due to a coalition Maximal/Predacon
       government. Street fights would often strike up, and Airazor,
       already conflicted, wound up in the crossfire of one fight.
       While recovering, he swore to find a new path.
       Airazor (as narration): They’d fight. Like, all the time. You’d
       just be walking down the street, and BOOM! Fight! Maximals and
       Predacons, spilling fluids and shooting each other to scrap.
       Thing is – and I’d know, because I’m amazing – when you fight,
       you don’t care about collateral. I actually pondered if I should
       change my name to that. ‘Collateral’. I only got shot once, but
       it seriously messed me up. I was recovering for ages. Stuck on a
       med-slab… it gave me time to think. I knew there was a better
       way, somehow. It was up to me to find it.
       Scorpinax chuckles, and notes that his reasoning is much simpler
       (again narrating flashbacks): he saw the fallibility, the
       weaknesses, in every bot he saw, and aspired to meet others like
       him and find perfection. He isolated himself, bar his computer
       systems, until the day he located allies. Airazor ponders aloud
       if Scorpinax has a superiority complex, although Scorpinax notes
       that he too is flawed, but unlike others, he is aware of it.
       In the med-bay, Sawblade is writhing in agony on a med-slab
       while an Archaicon medic goes to extract a sample of Toxiclaw’s
       mech-fluid. The fembot, however, states that she can do it
       herself, as she is a trained medic.
       Archaicon medic: Okay, I’m just going to take a sam-
       Toxiclaw: I’m a medic. I can do it myself. Don’t touch me, or
       you’ll find that there’s pain that even a medic can’t handle.
       Airazor enquires about her past, although he notes that, as she
       is not amongst the inner circle, he does not need to learn about
       her. Snarling under her breath, Toxiclaw explains that she was a
       member of a Maximal team who dealt with Predacon threats. As she
       continues her explanation, we watch events unfold: while
       confronting a venomous Predacon, she was infected with
       cyber-venom which fused to and mutated her CNA, warping her into
       her present form. The Predacon was killed, but she lashed out at
       her allies in a disoriented and enraged state, and thinking that
       she was now a monster, they abandoned her on the planet, unable
       to kill her. Toxiclaw explains that she despises both factions
       for what they did to her, and has steadily made her way from
       planet to planet, refining her skills and killing members of
       either faction. She finishes her story, as well as the
       mech-fluid extraction, and injects it into Sawblade, who starts
       to relax. He comments weakly that he likes her story, and
       explains (as we see) that his is far less interesting – he has
       no concern for factions, and is simply an unaligned and
       intelligent bot who grew restless on his home colony. He found
       pleasure in anarchy, and joy in the pain of others.
       Sawblade: That’s a good story. It’s interesting. No, really.
       Mine’s got nothing on that-
       *we start to see his past, as he continues explaining*
       Sawblade (as narration): I’ve never really cared about factions.
       It’s just two fixed ways of looking at things, when in my
       opinion, each individual should act as they want. That’s what
       they call anarchy, I guess. I just call it being smart. I was
       always too smart. The world was passing by and I was stuck at
       everyone else’s pace. So I took their advice, and became an
       anarchist… and it’s actually pretty fun. Nothing matters, no one
       matters; crush them as you please. It feels so good to hurt
       people… like being a god. You control their fate. I guess that’s
       why I could use that memory-alteration power so well – I’ve had
       experience in playing god.
       Toxiclaw counters that aimless rage is utterly futile. Scorpinax
       notices as Hatchet enters, speaking to the medic about an injury
       he had sustained a few days ago. As Sawblade notes that he is
       feeling better already, Dinobot and Lacerator enter.
       Dinobot and Lacerator talk with Toxiclaw off in the corner of
       the med-bay, while the other inner-circle members talk amongst
       themselves. Airazor asks Huntdown about his past, and the bot
       explains that his ideas contrasted with both the Maximals and
       Predacons. We see his past as he elaborates; he was against the
       discrimination towards Predacons, which put the Maximals
       (especially the Gogaxian Maximal Council) at odds with him, and
       when he suggested that the Predacons put themselves at the
       Maximals’ mercy, to which the Predacons took exception.
       Aggravated with both factions, Huntdown warmly welcomed
       Dinobot’s offer. He adds that both Dinobot and the Maximals
       seemed to recognise him, though he is not sure why, and it seems
       as though they were not expecting him (noting that Dinobot had
       muttered something about ‘Havoc’).
       Huntdown: Strange thing is, Dinobot kind of… recognised me. The
       Maximals, too, or at least their leader… like they knew me. I’d
       never met them, but I think they’d met me, somehow. Then again,
       it was more like surprise. I don’t think they were expecting me.
       When we left – me, Dinobot and Sickleclaw – I heard Dinobot
       mutter something about ‘Havoc’.
       Airazor turns to Sickleclaw, who sighs before he even asks, and
       tells him that she was simply not welcomed by either faction.
       There was no betrayal, no injury, no restlessness or hatred. She
       simply chose to live without faction, and the Sherellan
       colonists, of both factions, treated her with vitriol. Happy
       with this answer, Airazor brazenly approaches Dinobot, and asks
       him his back-story. The Archaicon leader explains his past in
       the briefest of terms (without flashback), and leaves Airazor
       stunned.
       Airazor: Hey! Hey, Lord Dinobot of Maradon; what about you?
       What’s your story?
       Dinobot: Predacon. Maximal. Honour lead me down darkening paths.
       Then I destroyed the Matrix.
       Airazor: … well… that’s different.
       With that said, Dinobot turns to the others, and explains that,
       as with Sawblade, he is appointing Toxiclaw as a member of the
       inner circle. Hearing this, Hatchet becomes angered, snapping
       that brand new members keep being appointed to the inner circle
       for no discernable reason, while long-standing members such as
       himself have been constantly ignored. He storms off, stating
       that he is done with the faction, and Dinobot scowls while
       Scorpinax seems concerned. The leader notes that he and
       Lacerator have mapped out major areas of conflict that they
       shall intercept, and orders them to head to the meeting room. As
       they head off, Airazor informs Lacerator that he has gathered
       all the back-stories, but is curious as to hers. In response,
       she touches a spine to his forehead, and he witnesses flashes of
       mass-slaughter, solitude and grief. She heads off, leaving
       Airazor reeling.
       Cast:
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       Toxiclaw – Jennifer Hale
       Archaicon medic – Scott McNeil
       Hatchet – Frank Welker
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 394--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: January 18, 2014, 12:30 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 30 – All in the Mind
       Release date: Saturday 18th January 2014
       Synopsis: Waspinator is being taught by Paladin, both wielding
       swords, all while quietly discussing the traitor in their ranks
       as Cross-Shot trains alone nearby. She misses one target,
       cursing under her breath, before noting to Waspinator that she
       can sense a fragment.
       The Dawn Katana flies into the airspace of Trasda, which the
       ship’s A.I. starts to explain to the gathered Maximals is a
       major Cybertronian colony in the outer regions, when the ship is
       rocked. It starts to plummet to the ground, as the Maximals
       struggle for control; Wildfire attempts to use his telekinesis
       to slow their descent, to little effect. A Maximal ship appears
       beside them, which helps to break their fall, and they land down
       roughly but safely on the planet’s surface. The other ship
       leaves before the Maximals can contact them, and they quickly
       realise that they have landed down amidst a major conflict
       between Maximals and Predacons. Cross-Shot notes that the
       fragment-bearer is close, and the team heads off; as Waspinator
       and Mirage walk side-by-side, the others give them awkward
       glances. The Archaicons are heading through space in their ship;
       Sickleclaw trains with her sword by herself in the main hall,
       when Dinobot and Lacerator walk past. The young fembot tries to
       talk to Dinobot, but he notes that he is busy, leaving her
       rather sour. Airazor teases her, and she draws the sword
       dangerously close to his neck.
       Airazor: Awh, Big Bad Feathers hasn’t got time for his baby
       girl-
       *Sickleclaw spins her sword at him, halting it an inch from his
       neck*
       Sickleclaw: Shut your mouth or I’ll carve it wide open.
       The Maximals locate the fragment-bearer, lying stiff on the
       ground. Waspinator approaches him with the fragment extractor,
       only for the body to explode with colour and light. When their
       eyes readjust, they find their surroundings altered, vastly more
       vibrant and surreal, and the bot is now stood atop a pillar,
       arms raised, welcoming the Maximals to the perfect world. At
       that moment, he loses balance, falling from the pillar, only to
       bounce back up. Waspinator states that this is likely to do with
       his fragment (Snapjaw points out how obvious that is), and
       bounces his way over to the strange bot, who introduces himself
       as Backyard (he insists that it is yard as in the unit of
       measurement).
       Waspinator: Okay… well I imagine that’s something to do with his
       fragment…
       Snapjaw: We’re so lucky to have you here, Nightbeat.
       *Waspinator bounces over to the fragment-bearer*
       Waspinator: My name’s Waspinator.
       Backyard: Named after a bug-spray. I’ve heard better. My name’s
       Backyard – that’s yard as in the length, I’m not named after
       someone’s garden, so don’t bother with all the jokes, I’ve heard
       ‘em all before.
       The Maximal leader explains that they need to take his fragment,
       but Backyard states that they will have to catch him first,
       before rocketing off in a burst of flames, leaving Waspinator
       covered in scorch marks.
       Backyard lands down in a large field of flowers, which start to
       yell at him for disrupting their serenity. The fragment-bearer
       starts arguing with them, which ends with him transforming (and
       mass-shifting quite notably) into an industrial combine
       harvester, ploughing through the flowers as they scream. The
       Maximals trek on, in the direction that Backyard took, with
       Mirage proposing that he has not re-written reality, but simply
       drawn them into his own illusion. To illustrate this, she
       attempts to use her natural illusion-casting abilities, and
       finds that they are heavily suppressed, only good for making
       reality faintly appear. A group of birds start to attack the
       group, although the (non-diegetic) music remains the same; Scale
       finds a dial on the wall, which he turns to change the backing
       music to an action piece. The Maximals fight off the birds, with
       Paladin saving Swingback from a close call, for which she thanks
       him with a flirty tone.
       Paladin: Keep your eyes peeled.
       Swingback: If that’s what you want me to do.
       Paladin: I might have to write a list.
       Eventually, Prophecy manages to trap the birds in energy orbs,
       which float off like bubbles, much to the peculiar fembot’s
       amusement. Snapjaw starts to realise that they can potentially
       shape the world too; he takes a nearby leaf, rolls it up, and
       uses it as a telescope, locating Backyard in combine harvester
       mode. The Maximals continue on their way. After a quick
       faction-turn transition ala Generation 1, we see Huntdown,
       Scorpinax and Sawblade patrolling the Archaicon ship. Sawblade
       trails behind, and notices Toxiclaw experimenting in the ship’s
       lab; entering, he remarks that he forgives her for trying to
       kill him, but finds it fascinating that she would make that her
       first reaction.
       Sawblade: Well, I suppose it needs to be said… I forgive you.
       Toxiclaw: Hm?
       Sawblade: For the ‘almost killing me’ thing. I mean, it’s
       amazing that that’s the first thing you tried when you saw me,
       but I don’t mind.
       Toxiclaw looks up at him, and informs him that she has no
       personal investment in him living, and that she will kill him if
       given the opportunity. Sawblade laughs at this, and leaves.
       With the flower field now empty, Backyard transforms back into
       robot mode, and finds a door within the soil; opening it, he
       finds a bar located below the ground. As he enters, he witnesses
       a bar-fight occurring, although the fight naturally avoids him
       as he makes his way to the bar. As Backyard orders a drink, he
       watches a television screen, which depicts the Maximals above
       ground, looking into the bar, before heading down and finally
       reaching Backyard. He turns around, and Waspinator explains that
       they need his fragment to save all of reality. Backyard asks
       offhandedly if that includes Trasda, before the bar shifts into
       a stage, and the fighting bots start performing the can-can. The
       Maximals are kicked about as Backyard rushes off; recovering
       themselves, the bots rush after their target, heading out of the
       theatre and into a bustling city. As the door to the theatre
       slams shut, the city-goers all stop, and turn, revealing that
       they are all facsimiles of the Maximals. Waspinator orders the
       group to split into three to make things easier and cover more
       ground, and they fan out, searching for Backyard.
       Waspinator: … right. This is going to be tough. Let’s split into
       groups, cover more ground and make it less likely that we get
       confused by the facsimiles.
       Waspinator, Cross-Shot and Prophecy attempt to track his
       fragment, but the building they enter is full of Mirage
       facsimiles, who surround Waspinator and flirt with him as he
       bashfully tries to make his way through. Scale, Mirage and
       Wildfire end up trapped in a closed-off space as the surrounding
       facsimiles morph into walls. Snapjaw, Paladin and Swingback
       scour the area from atop a building, and locate Backyard, garbed
       in a red and white striped cloak, shuffling through the crowd of
       dupes – Paladin and Swingback’s talk turns to flirting, and
       Snapjaw shoves them off of the building in annoyance, before
       following; they proceed to float off after Backyard, who starts
       to run more frantically.
       Paladin: Got him.
       Swingback: What’s with the cloak?
       Paladin: A disguise, I guess.
       Swingback: He could’ve made the facsimiles himself…
       Paladin: Guess he though it would be better to confuse us with
       ourselves…
       Swingback: Or thought we’d get distracted.
       Paladin: Yeah, a hundred versions of you, I dunno where to look.
       Swingback: Awh, and I thought I was all you’d ever need.
       Paladin: Well-
       Snapjaw: ‘Got him’ leads to getting him, idiots.
       *he shoves them off of the building, before jumping after them*
       He enters the town hall, with the trio following him, and stands
       before a large red button (encircled by the phrase ‘In the name
       of Hilarity and Not Giving a Carp’). Waving at the trio,
       Backyard states that they can spend forever in fantasy, before
       hitting the button.
       Cast:
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Backyard – Seth McFarlane
       Flowers – Tom Kenny
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Toxiclaw – Jennifer Hale
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 396--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: January 25, 2014, 12:17 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 31 – Virtual Insanity
       Airdate: Saturday 25th January 2014
       Synopsis: In the town hall, things seem to remain the same, with
       Backyard stood at the button and Snapjaw, Paladin and Swingback
       ahead of him. The fragment-bearer notes that the Quantum Reset
       Button – or rather, the Big Red Button – should have done
       something after the cliffhanger. At that, the whole building
       falls away, and unveils a fantastical world; after a grand
       pan-out, Backyard declares it ‘sweet’.
       The facsimiles all vanish, and the other Maximals are able to
       see the trio with Backyard. They start to walk towards them,
       only for their first step to shunt them straight over to their
       team-mates. Backyard informs the gathered Maximals that they
       will never rob him of his world, before spinning rapidly and
       burrowing into the ground like a drill.
       Backyard: You’re never going to take this world away from me,
       losers!
       Swingback notices that the button itself has gone, and
       Waspinator wonders if Backyard has managed to integrate it into
       himself… or otherwise make it appear wherever he wants. He
       reminds his team that they must retrieve the fragment, quickly,
       and they head down into the tunnel made by Backyard. They manage
       to pop almost straight out of the other side, upside down, as
       flaming birds ‘fall’ to the ground, exploding as they do. The
       Maximals climb out of the hole, looking around, to find Backyard
       running along the sky ‘above’ (or below). Waspinator flies off
       after him, while Mirage breaks the illusion for herself and
       ‘falls’ into the sky, with a love-heart encompassing the two as
       they move. Prophecy suggests to the others that they just need
       to let themselves fall, and they do so as she leads the way.
       Snapjaw: And we follow them how?
       Prophecy: Just let yourself fall. We’re clinging to the idea
       that this is down, right? But it’s not! So just let g-
       *she ‘falls upwards’*
       As Backyard runs, he witnesses the Maximals ‘falling’ towards
       him, and brings out the full Big Red Button pillar from a small
       pouch on his waist; he hits it, and the entire sky cracks. As it
       shatters, the void of space replaces it, and the Maximals’ fall
       turns into directionless drift. Waspinator attempts to use the
       fantasy’s logic against Backyard, using the fragment extractor
       from a distance, but Backyard utilises an Anti-Extractor Tie to
       prevent it from having an effect. He then hits the Big Red
       Button again, and after a blinding flash of light, the Maximals
       find themselves back on-board the Dawn Katana… and chibified.
       Paladin notes that he feels half-way to violation, while the
       ship’s A.I. asks what is happening. Cross-Shot suggests that the
       button grants Backyard access to power beyond what he can
       consciously obtain, and that he has drawn the ship in too. If he
       continues, the universe itself could be absorbed.
       Backyard wakes up in a dusty plain, surrounded by the
       unconscious Maximals, and is confused, as the location does not
       seem outlandish enough. As he witnesses conflict, he quickly
       realises that he is outside of the fantasy. Becoming frantic, he
       tries to draw out the Big Red Button, only to naturally find it
       absent. He picks up a rock and, reluctantly, lets it drop on his
       head, knocking him unconscious and back into the fantasy. He
       finds himself in a large aquarium… so large that he is in a
       small chamber, surrounded by glass and water beyond. After a
       moment, he comes to the conclusion that he is in the sea.
       Backyard: Wow, this is one hell of a big aquarium.
       *he looks around*
       Backyard: Wait a minute…
       *he looks around again*
       Backyard: Something tells me this isn’t an aquarium… too big and
       sea-like.
       He draws out the Big Red Button, and goes to press it, only to
       notice a plug at the base of the chamber. He pulls it out, and
       the water outside starts to recede... slowly, of course, and he
       taps his foot in impatience. The (chibi) Dawn Katana floats over
       the sea as it lowers, and Cross-Shot confirms that Backyard is
       under the water. Half an hour later, the water is still
       lowering; as the top of Backyard’s glass chamber becomes
       visible, the Maximals drop down from the ship, landing on top.
       Backyard laughs at their chibified nature, and slams the sides
       of the chamber, causing it to contort and warp erratically.
       Backyard declares that everyone shall be paired off, and the
       bots become trapped in blacked-out boxes, floating on the sea.
       Waspinator and Mirage are in one box – Waspinator awkwardly
       suggests that the other Maximals may be aware of their
       ‘dynamic’, which Mirage agrees with. Prophecy hugs and squeezes
       Wildfire, much to his alarm. As Paladin and Swingback lament
       their situation, he kisses her, only for her to inform him that
       she is a lesbian. The mech is shocked, and Swingback admits that
       she just finds it fun to flirt with people; Paladin awkwardly
       apologises, as Swingback chuckles.
       Paladin: Well… this could be better.
       Swingback: Could be worse, though.
       *they stare at each other, and Paladin kisses Swingback for a
       moment, before pulling back*
       Swingback: Wow.
       Paladin: Yeah.
       Swingback: You realise I’m into fembots, right?
       Paladin: … huh?
       Swingback: I’m a lesbian.
       Paladin: But… the… huh?
       Swingback: I guess I was kinda flirting, huh? I get told that a
       lot. It’s just how I like to chat with people. It’s fun.
       Paladin: I-I see. Well then… erm… sorry…
       *Swingback chuckles*
       Cross-Shot and Snapjaw discuss that, if there are only nine of
       them, there must be one Maximal alone. Scale finds Backyard in
       his box with him; as the water fully vanishes and the boxes land
       on the sea-floor, one box rattles about as Backyard yelps.
       Scale forces Backyard to press the Big Red Button again, at
       which point the boxes vanish, the environment shifts to an open
       white expanse, and the bots all find themselves in stop-motion.
       Wildfire notices that the Dawn Katana has shrunk, and the ship’s
       A.I. notes that it is only available in the Cyberverse range.
       Wildfire: Erm… why did the ship shrink?
       Dawn Katana: Well I’m only available in the Cyberverse range.
       Wildfire: What?
       Dawn Katana: If I knew what I was talking about, I’d put it in
       words we could all understand.
       Waspinator approaches Backyard, who is being held by Scale, and
       asks why he is so insistent on keeping his fragment. Backyard
       sighs, and allows the fantasy to end… the bots all awaken in the
       dusty plains, and Backyard watches the conflict nearby.
       Cross-Shot is the first to realise that he is trying to escape
       the conflict, and Waspinator informs him that there is no true
       way to avoid the chaos of war. Backyard explains that he is
       tired of watching the conflict, and took the way out that the
       fragment granted him. Warmly, Waspinator assures him that the
       conflict will end, one day, and until then, he has to hold on.
       He removes Backyard’s fragment. Off in the distance, a new ship
       lands down – the Archaicons. Dinobot leads them out, and has
       them spread out across the battlefield, to halt the conflict and
       save the non-combatants… by any means. Waspinator wishes
       Backyard luck, and starts to lead the team back to the Dawn
       Katana, but Cross-Shot stops him, asking why they cannot help
       the citizens. Waspinator points out that they need to gather the
       fragments, but Cross-Shot reminds him that it is their duty as
       Maximals to help those in need.
       Waspinator: We need to find the fragments. Quickly. All of
       reality is depending on this.
       Cross-Shot: I know, but we’re Maximals. We’re supposed to help
       people in situations like this, not just abandon them.
       Paladin agrees with her, but Waspinator remarks that they must
       continue on, and that the conflict will resolve itself. Mirage
       backs him up, and kisses him in front of the others, surprised
       when none of them bat an eyelid. Paladin glances at Swingback
       all the while, as she wraps an arm around him, asking if they
       are cool. He claims that they are, although she seems
       unconvinced (yet continues on chirpily). As the Maximals board
       the ship, Prophecy looks over at the Archaicons in the distance,
       boarding last.
       Cast:
       Backyard – Seth McFarlane
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Toxiclaw – Jennifer Hale
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 399--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: February 1, 2014, 12:56 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 32 – The Silent Secret
       Airdate: Saturday 1st February 2014
       Synopsis: Wildfire and Swingback enter the recreation room, only
       to find Prophecy sat in there; Wildfire is immediately
       apprehensive, until Prophecy calmly explains that she is in one
       of her moments of clarity. She apologises for her usual actions
       towards him, though does add that he is cute. As he and
       Swingback sit down, Prophecy tells them she is sorry for what
       she believes is coming.
       The Dawn Katana approaches a planet, which the ship’s A.I.
       identifies as Robus, one of the few planets in the known
       universe entirely covered in one huge library. Waspinator notes
       the total lack of traffic around the planet, and as the ship
       lands, it explains that the main method into the library is
       teleportation – Snapjaw points out the irony in the ship saying
       this while landing down.
       Waspinator: For a library planet, there’s very little traffic…
       Dawn Katana: The main method of access to the planet is
       teleportation. There are terminals across the library.
       Snapjaw: Yeah, which is the reason why you just landed down
       rather than letting us teleport in.
       The rest of the Maximals gather in the bridge; as Prophecy,
       Wildfire and Swingback arrive, Prophecy returns to her usual
       state, and dive-tackles Wildfire. Waspinator relays the ship’s
       information on the planet, and Cross-Shot leads the way outside…
       into a library devoid of people. The shelves reach tens of
       metres high, and continue on for miles, all the books still in
       place… but not a single being in sight. Swingback deems it
       creepy, but Mirage points out that it is none of their concern
       if something has happened. Cross-Shot disagrees, heading to the
       nearest teleport terminal and finding it deactivated. Scale
       wonders if the planet may be under quarantine, but Waspinator
       reminds him that the ship’s A.I. would have informed them if it
       were. Mirage insists they head to the fragment, suggesting that
       this emptiness could even be an effect it is having on the
       planet, and Cross-Shot reluctantly leads the way.
       Mirage: We should find the fragment. That’s what matters.
       Besides, it could be why the library is so empty.
       Cross-Shot: … this way…
       *she leads them off*
       The Archaicons return from another battlefield, with many of the
       bots injured. Dinobot congratulates them on another successful
       venture, and states that their faction’s presence is becoming
       greater with each passing day. He informs the inner circle that
       he would like to see them all shortly, as they head off across
       the base. Lacerator is the only one to stick by his side; she
       informs him that she has more suggestions for locations to
       intervene at. Dinobot suggests she elaborate after using a CR
       chamber, but she states that it can wait, and that their
       progress is more important.
       The Maximals continue their trek through the library;
       Waspinator checks over the fragments gathered so far, and
       informs Mirage that he suspects they may have nearly all of them
       now, including those embedded in themselves. Mirage suggests
       having the ship analyse the fragments when they return. She asks
       Waspinator what they shall do once they have all the fragments
       gathered, and he states that they shall return to the rebellion
       and give the Matrix back to the rightful Prime. The
       former-pharaoh is unsure if she wishes to be involved in such
       dangerous conflict; Waspinator points out that she has little
       choice.
       Mirage: Hm. That’s the war against a great big empire, right?
       That doesn’t sound like something I want to be a part of.
       Waspinator: I’ll be honest with you… you don’t have much of a
       choice.
       Prophecy excitedly heads down another pathway, with Snapjaw and
       Wildfire heading after her. This leaves Scale, Paladin and
       Swingback at the back of the group. Swingback makes flirtatious
       conversation, which Scale does not reciprocate and Paladin
       evidently finds awkward. Cross-Shot tells the group that they
       are close, as a chamber with a domed roof becomes visible in the
       distance. Prophecy, meanwhile, locates a certain book, which she
       starts to read. As Snapjaw and Wildfire approach her, she
       immediately insists that she keep the book, clutching it tightly
       and avoiding the two.
       Prophecy: No! I need it! I need the book! I’m gonna keep it!
       Snapjaw, annoyed, asks what the book is, and she shows him the
       cover – it reads ‘The Life-Cycle of Stars’. The former-Predacon
       points out that she can easily find the same information on the
       ship, but she insists on the book… and then drops it and runs
       back in the direction of the others, with Snapjaw and Wildfire
       following. The others reach the domed chamber, and enter,
       finding books lining the walls and one at the centre, on a
       pillar. Cross-Shot notes that the fragment is within the book.
       Waspinator approaches it, but as he does, the book flies open,
       and something materialises from it… the Maximal watch on as a
       pitch-black, distorted image of Waspinator appears and greets
       the original. Waspinator states its name grimly – the Shadow.
       On Maradon, the Archaicon inner circle is holding another
       meeting. Lacerator is showing their next destination on a
       holographic map, although the others seem to be at various
       levels of interest. Once she finishes, Dinobot notes one more
       point of interest – the absence of Hatchet. While he left of his
       own accord, Dinobot is still concerned for him, and he asks the
       others if they have any idea where he might be. Scorpinax pauses
       for thought, considering the Vok, before answering no. As
       Snapjaw, Prophecy and Wildfire join the others, the Shadow
       explains that it is Waspinator’s darkest thoughts personified,
       which he previously fought when they were actualised via a
       darkness seed. He is Waspinator’s biggest secret.
       The Shadow: You all look so surprised… don’t worry. I’m him. I’m
       Waspinator. Well, I’m one part of him… his darkness. Rage,
       bitterness, self-loathing, all blotted together and personified.
       Not the first time, either. You fought me before, didn’t you,
       Waspinator? You accidentally got a darkness seed in you during
       the Total Conflict and I managed to sprout out of you. You still
       remember the blood on her lips, don’t you? Her last words, and
       that last breath.
       *he turns back to the others*
       The Shadow: Oh, where are my manners… I’m Waspinator’s biggest
       secret. I’m what he hides from everyone, made real. It’s a
       pleasure to meet you all.
       Waspinator attempts to approach the book, but the Shadow strikes
       him back, and they start fighting. The other Maximals watch on,
       daunted by the idea of having their biggest secret revealed,
       until Mirage steps forward, informing the others that she does
       not care if they learn her biggest secret. Another version of
       her appears, dying on the floor, and Mirage comments that she is
       sick of immortality. She takes the fragment extractor,
       approaches the book, and adds that she is happy enough living
       for now, before removing the fragment.
       Mirage: But right now – like this – I’m fine with living.
       The Shadow vanishes, and Waspinator recovers himself. Mirage
       looks at the blank pages of the book, and finds text returning –
       people’s secrets, written down. She observes that the fragment
       must have started actualising people’s secrets. Paladin suggests
       that this is why the planet is abandoned. Waspinator gives the
       team a disappointed look, and leads them off to the ship. Later,
       on board, Waspinator informs Paladin that, assumedly, one of the
       Maximals did not step forward as their secret is their desire to
       join the Archaicons, but that he has no idea who he can trust.
       He even now suspects Paladin; the younger bot defends himself,
       telling Waspinator that his biggest secret is that he feels
       guilty over what happened to his people, and he did not want to
       see them again. He promises Waspinator that they will work this
       out.
       Cast:
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Toxiclaw – Jennifer Hale
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       The Shadow – Scott McNeil
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 406--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: February 8, 2014, 1:15 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 33 – Monsters
       Airdate: Saturday 8th February 2014
       Synopsis: Waspinator is alone in the bridge of the Dawn Katana;
       the ship finishes digitally reconstructing the Matrix from all
       of the current fragments, and confirms that there is only one
       more to retrieve. After a moment of consideration, Waspinator
       asks if the ship can discern, from video data or any other
       records, who the potential traitor is. The A.I. admits that
       there is no conclusive evidence, and Waspinator points out that
       this conversation is to be kept confidential.
       Maradon; Sickleclaw is sat outside of the Archaicon base when
       Huntdown approaches her. He asks her what is wrong, and after a
       little prying, she admits that she feels rejected by Dinobot.
       Recently, he has been spending more and more time strategising
       with Lacerator, when they were never intended to be a
       militaristic faction in the first place. Huntdown warmly
       suggests she continue training with her sword for now, and that
       when Dinobot is ready, he will always return to her.
       Huntdown: Why don’t you just keep training for now? Focus,
       improve, and keep it out of your mind. When he’s ready, he’ll
       come back to you. You’re the first bot who ever joined him; you
       mean a lot to him.
       At that moment, Lacerator contacts them from within the base,
       ordering them to prepare for a mission. The Dawn Katana lands
       down on a strange forested world, Hedraga; the ship explains to
       the gathered Maximals that the planet has no sentient life,
       being instead populated by a vast array of creatures. All of the
       planet’s land is covered by forest, although the trees vary
       across the hemispheres. Waspinator leads the Maximals out, and
       Cross-Shot starts to locate the fragment… only to find that it
       is moving exceedingly quickly. Scale notes that something seems
       off; he lies down and presses the side of his head to the
       ground, noting that there are faint vibrations. The fragment is
       assumedly in a creature – either very fast and disruptive, or
       very large.
       Scale: The fragment… is in something… a creature, most likely.
       And it’s either very fast – and making a lot of noise while it
       moves – or… it’s very, very big.
       Swingback notices a shape in the distance, through the trees;
       Waspinator orders everyone back onto the ship, and they board
       quickly, heading back up into the air and just managing to avoid
       the attack of a gargantuan creature. The monster watches the
       ship rise further into the air – onboard, Waspinator and Snapjaw
       continue piloting the ship higher, as the monster takes a giant
       leap up to try and catch it in its jaws. Its teeth scrape one of
       the ship’s back fins, slightly altering its course, but it
       manages to keep on; Cross-Shot confirms that the fragment is in
       the creature, and Mirage suggests they lead it across the
       planet, tiring it out or at least giving them a chance to figure
       out how to retrieve the fragment. Waspinator and Snapjaw pilot
       the ship on, bobbing in and out of range of the monster as it
       follows.
       The Archaicon ship lands down on a planet presently wracked
       with storms; Airazor insists that Dinobot explain the situation,
       but the leader notes that they will be informed shortly. He
       leads the team – Sickleclaw, Airazor, Lacerator and a team of
       lower bots – out into the storm, each of them carrying a
       detector. The leader orders them to fan, out, keep in-contact
       with one another, and report anything. The Dawn Katana is still
       flying across the planet, with the monster tirelessly chasing
       them; Wildfire suggests they leave and wait until it falls
       asleep, but Paladin notes that it seems that the fragment seems
       to be providing it tireless energy.
       Wildfire: Why don’t we just go into the space around the planet
       for a bit and let it fall asleep?
       Paladin: It’s been chasing us for hours now without getting
       tired. I’m starting to wonder if it was always this big and the
       fragment is giving it unlimited energy…
       The ship’s A.I. manages to bring up information on the monster’s
       species, confirming it to usually be a very small creature. The
       fragment seems to not only have increased its size, but also its
       energy capacity. Wildfire notices a break in the trees, and the
       ship manages to confirm that it is the opening to a massive
       cavern – Waspinator and Snapjaw pilot the ship over the cavern
       opening, and the titanic creature topples in. Keeping the ship
       aloft overhead, the Maximals start to work out their next plan
       of action. The Archaicons continue their search on the stormy
       planet, with Airazor grumbling to himself until his detector
       goes off. He shrugs off contacting the others, following the
       detector’s beeping until he finds a hulking black-and-crimson
       form. Spooked, Airazor immediately contacts the others, and
       Dinobot remarks that the entity is actually Hatchet.
       Airazor: Uhm, so yeah, the detector found this… thing… big,
       black-and-red, kinda spooky…?
       Dinobot: You may not recognise him, but that would be our former
       team-member, Hatchet.
       Airazor is unsure who Hatchet even is, as the bot himself turns
       around, monstrously upgraded, and snarls at him. Airazor backs
       away, but Hatchet lunges at him… and Lacerator tackles him,
       beating him back. Airazor thanks her, but she states that she
       did not save him for any other reason than her being at fault
       for his death otherwise. Hatchet goes to attack again, and
       Lacerator lunges at him.
       Waspinator, Cross-Shot, Prophecy, Scale and Swingback head down
       into the cavern, ready to remove the fragment from the monster,
       with the Dawn Katana floating above the cavern, ready to fire if
       necessary. As they clamber down, Prophecy whispers to Waspinator
       that she is always on his side – the reason she did not step
       into range of the fragment on Robus is because she knows so much
       that she had no idea what dangerous secret would be generated.
       Prophecy: Listen, Waspinator… I’m always on your side, okay? I’m
       never anywhere but right next to you.
       Waspinator: Prophecy…
       Prophecy: Back on Robus, the reason I didn’t step into range of
       that book is… I mean, look at me. Are you looking at- of course
       you are. I’ve got so much in my head, so much stuff in the
       future, that I have no idea what that thing could’ve made
       appear.
       Waspinator says that he understands, before a rumbling emerges
       from below. Scale throws out sensors across the cavern walls,
       which generate an energy field immediately below the four of
       them. The monster rises up, only to slam into the energy field –
       it actually manages to warp it somewhat, but cannot penetrate.
       Scale quickly turns the field off, allowing Waspinator and
       Cross-Shot to slip past, before activating it again as the
       monster attempts to break through once more. The two Maximals
       traverse the distracted creature, Cross-Shot trying to locate
       the fragment. Waspinator asks her, gently, if he can trust her,
       and, confused, she asks him why he would not be able to. The
       leader shrugs it off.
       Waspinator: … I… I can trust you, right?
       Cross-Shot: Huh? Why wouldn’t you be able to trust me?
       Waspinator: … don’t worry. Of course, you’re right.
       Lacerator and Hatchet continue fighting, as Airazor watches on.
       Dinobot arrives, and orders Lacerator to stand down. She does
       so, and Hatchet claims that Dinobot does not care about him. The
       Archaicon leader draws his swords and prepares to attack, but
       Hatchet starts to twitch, and retreats. As Sickleclaw and some
       of the other Archaicons approach, Dinobot orders them back to
       the ship. He contacts the base, informing the other inner circle
       members that they shall be returning. Cross-Shot manages to
       locate the fragment, and Waspinator extracts it – the two
       quickly cling to the walls as the monster rapidly decreases in
       size, and Prophecy manages to capture it in an energy bubble,
       saving it from falling to its death. Waspinator looks hopefully
       at the final fragment, and orders the team back to the ship.
       Cast:
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Hatchet - Frank Welker
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       Toxiclaw – Jennifer Hale
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 407--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: February 15, 2014, 11:17 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 34 – Twinkle, Twinkle
       Airdate: Saturday 15th February 2014
       Synopsis: Mirage is in her room, viewing the celestial holo-map
       and singing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ to herself, when she
       notices one star in particular. Confused, she rewinds the map,
       showing the location 12 hours before, with no star, and no
       nebula from which a star could be born. She mutters that
       something is wrong.
       In the bridge, Waspinator is contacting Panthalassa; he reports
       to Sonar that they have gathered all of the fragments, with
       someone still within bots who have joined them, and they shall
       be returning shortly. Sonar congratulates him, and states that
       everyone is looking forward to their return. As Waspinator
       closes the comm.-link, Mirage enters, telling him that she has
       discovered something very unusual. She explains that a star has
       appeared from nowhere, and insists they investigate, but
       Waspinator remarks that she is simply trying to avoid
       involvement in the conflict against Necrocide. Nevertheless, he
       eventually gives in to Mirage’s insistence (though she claims it
       was his own curiosity that made him cave).
       Waspinator: … fine.
       Mirage: Pardon?
       Waspinator: We’ll investigate. But only because you’re so
       insistent.
       Mirage: Mhm, of course. It’s nothing to do with your own
       curiosity.
       Dinobot and the Archaicon inner circle are travelling in the
       Archaicon ship; Huntdown claims (seemingly not for the first
       time) that leaving the rest of the faction alone without
       authority is unwise, but Lacerator reiterates that they are
       under strict orders and shall manage fine. Dinobot adds that he
       wants all of them on this mission to deal with Hatchet; Airazor
       is unsure why they are interested in dealing with the rogue bot,
       and the leader remarks that there is evidently something unusual
       about him. Scorpinax smirks slightly to himself. The Dawn Katana
       draws in on the location of the new star, and the gathered
       Maximals notice a large, strange ship up ahead, drifting by the
       star. Waspinator and Scale both find the design familiar,
       although the ship’s A.I. struggles to identify it; as they
       approach the ship, they receive an anonymous clearance to land.
       The ship passes into a docking bay, and as the Maximals exit,
       they are approached by Quintessons, who welcome them to
       Iudicium, one of their largest ships.
       Quintesson 1: Welcome, visitors, to Iudicium.
       Quintesson 2: This is one of the largest ships in the Quintesson
       fleet.
       The older bots are immediately tense, though the younger are
       unsure why this is worrisome. Waspinator explains that the
       Quintessons are a judicial society, who deem everyone innocent
       and then feed them to Sharkticons. One of the Quintessons
       explains, however, that they now have a more efficient method of
       dealing with the innocent – compressing them into stars from
       which they can fuel their ships.
       The Maximals are outraged, especially Cross-Shot and Paladin,
       but the Quintessons note that it is simply the most efficient
       way of gaining power for their ships and handling their
       defendants at the same time. They explain that they currently
       have several incarcerated innocents in the upper levels of the
       ship. Wildfire notices the air nearby bubbling, which the
       Quintessons claim to be unusual, and which suddenly spawns
       Hatchet. The warped Archaicon immediately declares that he shall
       destroy the Maximals, who are taken aback, and start to defend
       themselves while the Quintessons retreat. The Archaicons, still
       tracking Hatchet, find Iudicium, and start to fly their ship
       towards it – the Quintessons contact them anonymously, claiming
       that they are presently unwilling to allow visitors as they are
       under attack, but Scorpinax takes the controls, hacking back
       through and granting them clearance.
       Quintesson 3: We cannot allow access to Iudicium at present, due
       to an attack within the ship.
       Scorpinax: Allow me to rectify that.
       *he approaches the controls, and within a few moments, he has
       granted the Archaicon ship access*
       Scorpinax: We’ll be boarding now. Thank you kindly.
       They land down at the top of the ship, and immediately find a
       large number of prison cells. Lacerator suggests they comb
       through and gather new Archaicons; Dinobot allows this, ordering
       Huntdown and Toxiclaw to work with her while the others follow
       him to Hatchet. He then has Scorpinax hack into the ship’s
       systems, and broadcasts a message announcing the Archaicons’
       presence. The Maximals and Hatchet see this, and the augmented
       monster is enraged, attacking the team even more ferociously.
       Hatchet: Archaicons! Diiiinoboooot… They ruined me!
       Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!
       Dinobot starts to lead Sickleclaw, Scorpinax, Airazor and
       Sawblade down through the ship, while Huntdown, Lacerator and
       Toxiclaw begin to visit each cell. The Quintessons try to decide
       on a course of action, gradually concluding that Hatchet will
       kill the Maximals and Archaicons and that they can utilise him
       as another method of dealing with innocents, when they are in
       excess of them.
       Hatchet displays enhanced powers in his fight against the
       Maximals, but a lack of control over his transformation,
       continually shifting into his warped Fukuiraptor form. Swingback
       tries to reason with him, asking why he wants to attack them,
       but he simply swipes at her. Scale notices the scratched-off
       Archaicon insignia, and notes that Hatchet is obviously not
       working with the faction. Prophecy attempts to form an energy
       bubble around the monster, but he manages to pierce through it,
       much to her surprise. As the fight continues, Waspinator notices
       that both Cross-Shot and Snapjaw have vanished; concerned, he
       tells Mirage to lead the others, while he heads off to locate
       the Archaicons. He gains Paladin’s attention and taps his
       temple, indicating that he wishes to talk telepathically, and
       heads off to higher levels. Dinobot continues to lead his team
       down, only to find a troop of Quintessons in the way. He draws
       his sword and tantō, and warns the aliens that he has a
       former ally to deal with. The Quintessons question who he means,
       as does Sawblade; temper starting to flare, Dinobot leads the
       Archaicons through the aliens, who do nothing to stop him.
       Dinobot: Do not get in my way. I have a former ally to deal
       with.
       Quintesson 04: Please… do you mean the monstrosity, or one of
       the Maximals it is attacking?
       *Dinobot flinches as Sawblade leans in*
       Sawblade: That’s a good question, isn’t it? I mean, who knew
       Hatchet was after the Maximals? Right? Who knew…?
       *the leader snarls under his breath*
       Dinobot: Out of our way.
       *he leads the Archaicons through the parting Quintessons*
       As Hatchet continues his attacks, he manages to strike the Dawn
       Katana quite heavily – inside, the A.I. freaks out, and all
       power from the bridge’s computers drains away. A small sphere
       shoots out of the ship, bouncing around the docking bay until it
       collides into Swingback’s forehead. The A.I.’s voice comes from
       it as it starts to hover: he explains that he activated
       emergency protocol 01, as the ship is heavily damaged.
       Dawn Katana: Ah, erm, sorry…
       Swingback: What’re you doing? Why are you…?
       Dawn Katana: This is a black box.
       Swingback: … but it’s a sphere.
       Dawn Katana: Yeah, but it’s a black box. I had to eject myself…
       emergency protocol 01.
       Swingback: What’s that?
       Dawn Katana: Self-preservation if the ship is too heavily
       damaged…
       As Waspinator continues up the ship, Dinobot and co. continue
       down, Lacerator and the others work through various prisoners
       and the Quintessons conspire, Hatchet once again misses one of
       the Maximals and strikes the Dawn Katana. It explodes
       ferociously, knocking all combatants back. As they look at the
       flaming ruins, a faint humanoid shape is visible. A hand reaches
       up, and the flames and smoke part, revealing Arcrise, small and
       primarily yellow, stood in the broken remains of her egg. She
       greets the Maximals, before looking determinedly at Hatchet.
       Arcrise: Hey. I’m Arcrise. Now… where do I start?
       Cast:
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Sonar – Laura Bailey
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       Toxiclaw – Jennifer Hale
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Quintesson 1 – Ron Perlman
       Quintesson 2 – Scott McNeil
       Hatchet – Frank Welker
       Quintesson 3 – Brian Drummond
       Quintesson 4 – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Arcrise – Kira Vincent-Davis
       [hr]
       A.
       #Post#: 409--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Transformers: Fragments
       By: Ashes Date: February 22, 2014, 11:54 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Episode 35 – Against Us
       Airdate: Saturday 22nd February 2014
       Synopsis: As the Maximals stare at the newly-reborn Arcrise,
       Hatchet charges towards her… and with a single motion, she
       telekinetically slams him into a wall. The monster claims that
       it simply makes her more fun to crush, but the fembot transforms
       into her phoenix form and states that she has too much living to
       do, before swooping down on him.
       In the upper levels of Iudicium, Huntdown, Lacerator and
       Toxiclaw have released a few prisoners who are willing to join
       the Archaicons. Huntdown reaches a fembot who is watching from
       her cell – she pleads with him, saying she will do anything to
       save herself from death. Smiling, Huntdown opens her cell, and
       she hugs him gratefully, introducing herself as Kickback; the
       Archaicon hands her an AMS (alternate mode selector), with which
       she can immediately pick a new beast mode for herself. The same
       happens nearby, as Toxiclaw releases a mech called Raid; the two
       stand in silence as he skims through modes, finding and
       reformatting into a Sinopa rapax. He decides to rename himself
       Rapax, and witnesses Kickback transforming into her new
       Merychippus insignis mode nearby.
       Rapax: ‘Sinopa rapax’. That sounds good, actually. Call me
       Rapax.
       Kickback: *having transformed* Hmm… I like the feel of this. Not
       too imposing, not too cumbersome…
       Rapax: The perfect alt-mode for running away.
       Lacerator approaches, informing Huntdown and Toxiclaw that they
       must work more efficiently. Waspinator rushes through the ship,
       and eventually finds Snapjaw, by himself. Sighing heavily, the
       Maximal leader approaches him, and states that he knows that he
       wishes to join the Archaicons. Upon hearing this, Snapjaw
       immediately takes offence – he states that he has no such
       intentions, and feels betrayed by Waspinator’s lack of trust in
       him after all this time.
       Snapjaw: You… what?
       Waspinator: I-
       Snapjaw: You think that… that I’d want to join THEM? What, just
       because I was a Predacon, you think I’d betray you at the first
       opportunity?
       Waspinator: That’s not what-
       Snapjaw: I can’t believe this. No, it doesn’t matter why,
       Waspinator – you don’t trust me. I thought I’d finally been
       accepted, and this is how you think of me? I would never join
       them… and I think I was wrong to have joined you, too.
       As the leader attempts to apologise, Snapjaw takes the fragment
       extractor and removes his fragment, saying that he is done with
       the Maximals, walking away and leaving Waspinator with the
       extractor. As the other Maximals try to involve themselves in
       the fight against Hatchet, Paladin finally telepathically
       ‘hears’ Waspinator – the older bot states Snapjaw is not the
       traitor, and has now left the team. As he runs further along the
       ship, he insists that the traitor must be amongst the others, as
       he cannot believe that Cross-Shot would ever join the enemy…
       until he reaches a large space with multiple levels, and
       witnesses Cross-Shot amongst the Archaicons.
       Shattered, Waspinator asks Cross-Shot what she is doing; the
       young archer notices him, and apologises sincerely, but states
       that she wants to join the Archaicons. She elaborates that they
       are right – the Maximals are not doing any less damage than the
       Predacons, and even their own mission has ruined worlds and paid
       no mind. Waspinator reiterates that gathering the fragments of
       the Matrix was their first priority – for the greater good – but
       Cross-Shot responds that she cannot work under utilitarian
       morals. The Archaicons aim to save worlds from the conflict.
       Waspinator: Cross-Shot… we HAVE to do this. I’ve said it so many
       times… we need to restore the Matrix. Everything hinges on this
       – it’s so important – we can’t just stop every time someone
       needs help. It’s for the greater good.
       Cross-Shot: But that’s just it. I didn’t join the Elite Guard
       ‘for the greater good’. I haven’t trained every day to ignore
       people in need. I can’t… I can’t just go around with my eyes
       closed to injustice because there’s something else we need to
       do. The Archaicons are going to each world and protecting the
       downtrodden, and the people who’ve lost so much to our stupid
       conflicts. They’re right, Waspinator.
       She apologises again, and Dinobot orders Airazor to escort their
       new ally to their ship. As Airazor and Cross-Shot depart,
       Waspinator attempts to chase after her, only for Dinobot to
       raise his sword, blocking him. He states that she has made her
       choice, but Waspinator draws the Matrix sword – now with a
       longer blade than on Kerritol – and Dinobot holds his sword and
       tantō in kind. The two start to fight, as Sickleclaw,
       Scorpinax and Sawblade watch on, the latter suggesting they
       remain out of the fight. Paladin ‘listens in’ all the while,
       only for Wildfire to save him from a stray blast. He loses
       concentration on the telepathic link, and Wildfire suggests they
       retreat. The Maximals, including the Dawn Katana A.I., back away
       as Arcrise compresses a powerful blast from Hatchet, and fires
       it back, straight through his head, killing him and causing his
       upgrades to explode. Arcrise then collapses, and as the other
       Maximals approach her, she explains that her new body is not
       accustomed to too much power usage yet.
       Arcrise: Ugh… I don’t think my body can handle that much just
       yet…
       Prophecy greets Arcrise, and suggests they follow Waspinator,
       which Mirage agrees with. As Waspinator and Dinobot continue
       fighting, Scorpinax observes that Hatchet has been terminated,
       just as a large number of Quintessons swarm the area.
       Airazor brings Cross-Shot up to the other Archaicons – she
       formally introduces herself, while Airazor meets Kickback and
       Rapax, mocking their names all the while.
       Airazor: *sitting back in a chair* Hey, hey, look! 'Kick back
       and relax!' Get it?
       Lacerator orders the other inner circle members back down, while
       she takes the new recruits, Cross-Shot included, aboard the
       ship. Waspinator and Dinobot continue their duel, avoiding
       Quintesson attacks and heading into the ship’s data-core chamber
       nearby. The Maximals, and Huntdown and Toxiclaw, arrive at the
       same time, and Sawblade suggests that they attack the Maximals
       while they have the chance.
       Sawblade: Far be it for me to give an order… but I think now
       would be a wonderful chance to crush the Maximals.
       A fight erupts with the Quintessons firing on both parties. As
       Waspinator and Dinobot continue their duel, standing over the
       large, spherical data-core of Iudicium, the Maximal leader
       snarls that Dinobot has twisted Cross-Shot’s judgement. The
       saurian bot responds that she observed both factions and made
       her decision – before the Quintessons enter, and attack the two,
       forcing them to turn on their new aggressors. They manage to
       defeat or slay the Quintessons, although one prepares to fire on
       Waspinator while the bot is distracted. As it fires, Dinobot
       leaps in the way, taking the blast to his left eye while
       throwing his tantō into its head. He reels from the blast
       as Waspinator notices, before stabbing his sword into the
       data-core, and an alarm and a countdown start to sound. Dinobot
       tells Waspinator to evacuate, and though the Maximal refuses,
       Arcrise appears, much to his surprise, and teleports him to the
       escape pod bay. Mirage quickly explains to him that the Dawn
       Katana was destroyed, with the A.I. greeting him, before they
       board an escape pod (Waspinator glances at an empty space
       nearby, assuming that Snapjaw used that pod). They leave
       Iudicium, while Sickleclaw approaches Dinobot, still stood on
       the data-core, and insisting that they leave. The countdown hits
       zero… and nothing happens. Dinobot explains that the ship will
       not explode while people are onboard, and states that they shall
       make use of the information in the data-core.
       Dinobot: Ships like this are designed to halt the explosion so
       long as there are living beings onboard. We’ve removed our
       opponents… now, let us make use of the data that this ship
       holds…
       All the while, the Maximals drift through space in the escape
       pod, as Wildfire asks a sullen Waspinator where Cross-Shot and
       Snapjaw are.
       Cast:
       Paladin – Paul Rudd
       Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
       Scale – Ron Perlman
       Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
       Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
       Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
       Prophecy – Jocelyne Loewen
       Arcrise – Kira Vincent-Davis
       Hatchet – Frank Welker
       Lacerator – Erin Cahill
       Huntdown – Corey Burton
       Kickback – Wendee Lee
       Toxiclaw – Jennifer Hale
       Rapax – Billy West
       Waspinator – Scott McNeil
       Snapjaw – David Leisure
       Dinobot – Scott McNeil
       Cross-Shot – Karen Gillan
       Scorpinax – Brian Drummond
       Airazor – Tom Kenny
       Sawblade – Nolan North
       Sickleclaw – Tiffany Grant
       Quintesson 3 – Brian Drummond
       Quintesson 2 – Scott McNeil
       Quintesson 1 – Ron Perlman
       Quintesson 4 – Johnny Yong Bosch
       [hr]
       A.
       *****************************************************
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