( thunder crashing )
STARSCREAM: Oh, will my torment never end?
First, I had to vie for Megatron's favor
against that treacherous harpy, Airachnid.
Now I must contend with Shockwave
and his incorrigible beast!
Oh, look on the bright side, Starscream,
at least one of them is currently on ice,
locked up tight in the vault of our warship.
How I would love to stuff Shockwave
and his mangy abomination
right into that stasis pod beside her!
The only reason his "Project Predacon"
is currently in full swing
is because I supervised the acquisition
of his dozens of Predacon bones.
( Cylas groaning )
Will you please keep your lab rat quiet
while I'm airing my grievances?
Starscream, help me.
( chuckles )
My, my, my,
whatever have you been inflicting upon poor Cylas?
Anything that merits the need for a living petri dish.
( tense theme playing )
( groaning )
Despite your justifiable lack of regard for his human side,
it doesn't trouble you to watch
what remains of your former partner
endure your scientific endeavors?
Not really.
Besides, Cylas once had poor Breakdown
pinned to his lab table.
I think my former partner would be pleased to be a part.
( groans )
What just happened?
You recall that Synthetic Energon
I recovered from the Autobots?
Well, I've been reproducing the formula
to test its viability as an alternative energy source.
However, the compound remains erratic,
and there have been side effects.
Such as?
( yelling )
Starscream, I hope you replaced your T-Cog,
because I'm going to tear it out all over again
and feed it to Knock Out!
Sheer unbridled aggression.
Such power and fury!
Megatron has long desired a beast machine super soldier
and we now possess the means of delivering one to him.
( action theme playing )
Tell me of the Predacon protoforms.
What is the status of their incubation?
Mm-hm. Uh-huh...
Master, if I do say so myself,
I have made the most intriguing discovery.
It appears that-- Not now.
Please continue, Shockwave.
No, no one important.
( grumbles )
Did you speak with our liege
about our little enterprise?
He was otherwise engaged.
( yelling )
I am going to make you suffer in ways you will not believe!
Just how much of this Synth-En have you given him?
Two additional doses. Three at the most.
But Cylas' increasingly volatile nature
isn't the only wrinkle.
( grunting )
It appears that the more green stuff I administer,
the faster this monstrosity formerly known as Breakdown
burns through his own natural Energon reserves.
This will not do!
Megatron already possesses one unruly beast
with that Predacon of his!
What good is another freak of nature
that cannot be controlled?
Wait.
I'm a fool.
Dark Energon?
You are more than a fool, Starscream.
I think your neural cluster has blown a massive fuse!
Oh, on the contrary, dear doctor.
Adding Dark Energon to the formula
should provide Lord Megatron
with full control over his super-soldier.
Okay, true that Lord Megatron seems to possess
a symbiotic link to anyone or thing
infused with the dark matter,
allowing him to manipulate them as if they were puppets,
but have you forgotten what the so-called Blood of Unicron
did to our warship?
That was the result of a massive infusion.
I am suggesting a drop or two,
merely enough to allow our Master
to command his warrior at will.
Even so, it's too drastic a measure
to undertake without Shockwave's approval.
I do, after all, report to him.
Not on this project.
Super soldiers fall under military operations,
meaning, dear Knock Out, that you now report to me.
Are we clear?
( thunder crashing )
( groaning )
Wait for it.
Ugh. Humans in any form cannot be relied upon.
( growls )
It's alive!
( grunting )
Scrap.
( groaning )
( suspenseful theme playing )
Oh, for the love of-- Now what?
I tried to tell you before.
It's a side effect of the Synth-En.
He's burned through his own natural reserves.
Then perhaps we should withhold any infusions for a while.
Might calm Cylas down a bit, make him a tad more manageable.
Need...
Energon.
( roars ) ( both gasp )
( thunder crashing )
( Cylas hissing )
( growling )
( suspenseful theme playing )
( screams )
Ah! Do you think he's actually trying to...
Suck out our Energon with that thing?
( growling )
Sure seems that way.
( growls )
( screaming )
See if you can hold him off!
What?
Wait for me!
( grunts )
( growling )
( grunts )
We need to sound the alarm!
Out of the question.
Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible.
But we are.
Well, you are, mostly.
Anyway, his Lordship doesn't need to know that.
Not if we handle this the right way.
Meaning?
Use your head, Knock Out.
This ship is crawling with highly trained Vehicon Troopers
armed for combat.
The moment Cylas attempts to feed,
they will neutralize him for us.
Problem solved.
( ominous theme playing )
( hissing )
( grunting, yelling )
Once we recover Cylas' body,
we must dispose of it as quickly and efficiently as possible.
No trace of him can be allowed to remain.
His...
( shudders )
infected body.
( suspenseful theme playing )
( yells )
Gone.
Completely drained of Energon.
Tell me something, Starscream,
when you said "problem solved,"
is this even close to what you had in mind?
I do not appreciate your tone, Knock Out.
This brewing catastrophe is hardly my fault.
Well, it certainly isn't mine!
Oh, no? You're the mastermind who chose to experiment
with Synthetic Energon.
And you're the monkey wrench who thought it was a good idea
to dabble in voodoo!
( Trooper growling )
Energon.
( both scream )
I thought you said he had no spark?
Dark Energon, it re-animates the dead!
( suspenseful theme playing )
Aim for the head!
What? How do you know?
I have seen human horror films!
At drive-in theatres!
( crashing )
( electricity crackling )
Forget the head.
Go for the spark!
We severed its link to the Dark Energon.
Human horror films, waste of time.
( ominous theme playing )
Energon...
If the mutation can be passed along with a single bite,
the entire crew is at risk.
You're saying
Cylas could beget more Terrorcons?
It could happen.
And the ensuing feeding frenzy
could turn this entire warship into a scrap heap.
So now can we sound the alarm?
You there! Have you noticed any unusual activity?
( growling )
In this sector?
( all growling )
( suspenseful theme playing )
( both scream )
( Troopers growling )
( both yell )
In here!
Knock Out, this situation might be a bit more dire
than either of us ever imagined.
Hmm. I find it rather ironic that,
after battling Autobots all these years,
getting smacked down, shot at, blown up,
this is how our lights go out?
Drained of our precious fluids.
If this is indeed the end,
if we are to become Terrorcon chow,
it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with you.
You're no Breakdown.
Though I must confess,
I have always admired your lustrous finish.
( clears throat )
Well, then...
We should be going.
( ominous theme playing )
Unh! Aah!
Would either of you like to tell me what exactly is going on?
Yes. Absolutely nothing, my liege.
All is quiet. Too quiet.
One could even say dull.
Funny, because the Dark Energon within my spark
has been pulsing.
Allow me to handle this.
It's Knock Out's fault!
Precisely, my-- What?!
He infused Cylas with a cocktail
comprised of dark and synthetic Energon,
creating a monstrous mutation which is now on the verge
of turning your entire crew into mindless,
Energon-sucking Terrorcons!
I do not know from what madness your yarns spring, Starscream,
but if I learn that you have been dabbling
with my Dark Energon stores again,
attempting to infuse yourself with its formidable power--
Uh, my liege...
Let me just say,
you have been awarded more chances for redemption
than anyone in Decepticon history!
( growls )
Energon!
You there, what are you doing?
I order you, stand down!
( growls )
We did try to tell you.
Mm-hm.
Then why can I not command the monster to follow my bidding?
KNOCK OUT: While the trace of Dark Energon
should have granted you control over these ghouls,
I believe the synthetic component
may be corrupting your link to them.
Initiate high-alert.
Instruct all troops to keep their distance
from the mutations and terminate on sight.
Your fate, however, remains to be seen.
Why are you still here?
Find this creation of yours and eradicate it immediately.
( ominous theme playing )
I realize Lord Megatron's only doing this to punish us,
but how are we the best choice to hunt down Cylas?
I mean, why not deploy his beloved
beast machine super soldier, hm?
After all, it is supposed to be the ultimate hunter.
Out of the question.
Can you imagine if the Predacon became infected?
Nothing could stop it!
( dramatic theme playing )
( electricity crackling )
( suspenseful theme playing )
( beeps )
Energon.
( gasps )
Breakdown?
Did I not exterminate you once already?
( growling )
( grunts )
( tense theme playing )
( grunting )
Energon.
( groaning )
( yelling )
Second time's the charm. Heh.
But to be certain...
I shall remove your very spark!
Cylas?
Whatever have they done to you?
But more importantly, thank you for freeing me.
No. Thank you.
( groans )
Whatever.
Insecticons, heed me, heed me.
Your queen has returned!
( beeping )
Our ordeal is finally over.
Or not.
Oh, scrap. MEGATRON: Starscream,
have you made contact with the plague bringer?
Actually, my liege, I have good news
and bad news.
( growls )
( suspenseful theme playing )
Loyal servants, the time is now.
Lay waste to all Decepticons.
Leave no trace of them in your wake.
Soundwave.
I vow that on this day
the world will hear the sound of your screams.
( yells )
( beeping )
( Insecticon yelling )
( echoing ): No!
Yes, the containment protocol you recommended
to prevent any further outbreak is now underway.
Oh, and Shockwave,
having just lost more than half our military might,
I cannot stress enough
the importance of Project Predacon.
See if you can speed things along, will you?
Knock Out, need I remind you that, as the ship's medic,
you report directly to Shockwave, not Starscream?
Understood, Master.
Just to be sure,
you will hand over all of your projects to him immediately.
Including this Synthetic Energon.
As you wish, my liege.
And as for you...
Lord Megatron, if you will just allow me to explain things--
No, allow me to explain things,
in a manner which I know you will understand.
( whimpers )
INSECTICON: Your majesty, we await your command!
Approach me.
Serve your queen.
( hisses )
( Insecticon shrieks )
( action theme playing )