Megatron orders Tarantulas to build him a new energon refueling station, but the spider has his sights on building a secret lair for himself.
Tropes:
- The Bad Guy Wins: Tarantulas successfully sets up his new lair in a remote location where neither side will think to look for it.
- Blackarachnia forces Tarantulas to break the psychic link between them, and the arrival of the Maximals saves her from his retaliation.
- Waspinator and Inferno set up the jamming station. This becomes important later.
- Badass Boast: When Quickstrike agrees to teaming up against Megatron.Quickstrike: There is nothin' that crawls, walks, flies, or swim that I'm afraid of! Count me in, but if you're lyin', spider-bot, yours'll be the first keister I dropkick!
- Berserk Button: Quickstrike doesn't take kindly to Tarantulas accusing him of being scared of Megatron.
- Blood Knight: Quickstrike's only complain about Megatron's leadership is that he hasn't gotten even more opportunities to fight.
- Brief Accent Imitation: Tarantulas briefly imitates Quickstrike's Texan-accent before they head off:Well then, pardner, let's head 'em up and move 'em out.
- The Chessmaster: Megatron is planning for the future by setting up a jamming station to disrupt the Maximal communications.
- Tarantulas sees the orders Megatron gave him as a chance to set up a new lair and uses a signal to lure the Maximals in, and when they show up he uses a bomb to bury the entrance to the cave to make it look completely destroyed. With everyone convinced the cave was destroyed, he has his new lair and all the energon Megatron wanted for his own use.
- Cynic–Idealist Duo: Rattrap and Silverbolt being paired for an episode made this inevitable.Rattrap: Sounds like just another wild Pred chase to me.
Silverbolt: Perhaps so, but our leader has charged us to learn the truth, my friend, and Silverbolt for one shall prove worthy of his trust. [flies off amid his Leitmotif]
Rattrap: Man, I just hate it when he does that. - Eviler than Thou: Tarantulas still proves this with Blackarachnia, with her struggling to get free from the psychic link he set up. When she actually does get free, he is about to murder her before the Maximals show up.
- Favors for the Sexy: Blackarachnia is only too happy to cajole Quickstrike into carrying more construction materials and easing her load in the process.
- Foreshadowing: Through the mental link, Tarantulas discovers that Blackarachnia has something she considers of great value encrypted in her mind. Though having to drop the matter for now, he will follow up later.
- Quickstrike agrees to side with Tarantulas against Megatron. Although it seems to be forgotten after this episode it will come up again towards the very end of the show.
- Funny Background Event: Right before Megatron cuts off his transmission with Waspinator, the jamming tower Inferno has built is seen toppling over and about to fall on Waspinator.
- Honour Before Reason: Ruthless, destructive, and scheming as Blackarachnia is, Silverbolt still can't bring himself to strike her.
- Hopeless Suitor: Quickstrike becomes one to Blackarachnia.
- Only Sane by Comparison: Quickstrike's a dimwitted Blood Knight, but he's the only one of the arachnid trio focused on the actual mission.
- Rage Breaking Point: After being forced to break the mental link, Tarantulas is pissed and ready to rip Blackarachnia apart piece by piece.
- Taking You with Me: Blackarachnia stabs an energon cube and offers Tarantulas an ultimatum: either sever his psychic connection with her or she'll blow them both up.
- This Means War!: Tarantulas in response to Blackarachnia's defiance.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Waspinator actually successfully completes his mission with Inferno.
- Villain Episode: While the Maximals are present, the Predacons are the focus of the episode.
- Would Hit a Girl: Tarantulas is fully prepared to murder Blackarachnia with his bare hands. He's only stopped by Quickstrike.
- Wouldn't Hit a Girl: Silverbolt refuses to hit Blackarachnia, as he believes it's dishonorable to strike a woman. Rattrap isn't amused by this chivalrous behaviour.
- You're Insane!: When Tarantulas first proposes forming their own team against both Maximals and Megatron.Blackarachnia: Side with you against Megatron? [laughs] You're out of your mind, webs!
Tarantulas: And inside yours, remember? So, you really have no choice now, do you?
