Megatron creates a pack of cyborg raptors to hunt down the protohuman tribe, forcing Cheetor and Blackarachnia to help protect them.
Tropes featured:
- Attack Its Weak Point: The cyber-raptors are pretty durable except for their control units on their backs. Damaging them cause the raptors to undergo violent, hopping spasms before exploding.
- Batman Gambit: After Cheetor and Blackarachnia begin their escort mission, Megatron sends Waspinator, Tarantulas and more cyber-raptors after them to force more Maximals to go out into the field and leave the base undermanned.
- Big Damn Heroes: Depth Charge shows up just in time to stop the Predacons from taking over the Ark.
- Butt-Monkey: Waspinator gets back to the scene of the battle just when the raptor starts malfunctioning. He gets stomped repeatedly, as a result.
- Comically Missing the Point: When the Predacons arrive at the Maximal base:Megatron: The base is undermanned and unprotected, ours for the asking.Quickstrike: Aww, now, we ain't gonna ask, are we? How's about we just blast our way in there, an' slag everybody 'n' TAKE IT?!Megatron: Mmm... okay!
- Continuity Nod: The protohuman chief is still wielding Dinobot's makeshift hammer from the end of "Code of Hero".
- Drama-Preserving Handicap: The encounter with a cyber-raptor leaves Cheetor's jets damaged, so they can't simply fly the kids back to the safety of the Maximal Base. The Predacons' jamming technology also prevents them from simply calling for help.
- Easily Forgiven: At some point off-screen, Tarantulas rejoined Megatron's team (likely more of a practical decision as Blackarachnia's defection means that Megatron needs Tarantulas's scientific expertise).
- Evil Cannot Stand Cuteness: While Cheetor thinks Una imitating Blackarachnia is adorable, the latter has the following to say about it.Blackarachnia: Let's get this straight, okay? I'm a black widow spider, I don't make friends, I can't stand kids, and I truly despise "cute".
- Foreshadowing: The cyber-raptors hint towards Megatron's more successful attempt to clone Dinobot in the next episode. Also, Blackarachnia giving him the brush off leaves Cheetor feeling the need to prove he's more than just a kid.
- Got Volunteered: Blackarachnia is displeased that she was the first one Optimus considered for this mission.
- Hero-Worshipper: Una clearly idolizes Blackarachnia.
- Hidden Heart of Gold: Blackarachnia insists she wasn't Taking the Bullet for the kids; she says she just slipped.
- Hopeless Suitor: Cheetor develops a crush on Blackarachnia and tries his hardest to earn her affections. Ignoring the fact she's already in a relationship with Silverbolt, Blackarachnia finds his attempts more annoying than charming.
- How Many Fingers?: A sight gag has Silverbolt waving his fingers in front of a recovering Optimus.
- Large Ham: Rattrap's quip about Cheetor and Blackarachnia are taking "a break" prompts a melodramatic response from Silverbolt. Lampshaded by Rattrap asking Rhinox if this kind of dialogue from Silverbolt was always the case or simply a result of falling in love.
- Manchild: While observing Cheetor play with Chak, Blackarachnia muses that guys are consistently juvenile no matter how old they get.
- Near-Villain Victory: Megatron almost succeeds on both fronts, but the protohuman chief ends up exposing the cyber-raptors' weak spot and Depth Charge suddenly shows up at the base to turn the tide.
- Never Recycle Your Schemes: The ending averts this. Megatron notes his clones failed, but that the underlying technology works just fine.Megatron: But it proves unstable without a spark. Oh, however, as it happens, I have half of one to spare.
- Non Sequitur, *Thud*: Tarantulas's cybervenom really messes with Optimus's circuits:There he is, my little guyyy! There he is, my little guy! Isn't he cute?
- The Pawns Go First: After breaching the base entrance, Megatron permits Quickstrike to lead the way.Inferno: Royalty, why was I not chosen?
Megatron: Because, Inferno, when expecting booby traps...
[Quickstrike gets clobbered by a trap]
Megatron: Always send the boob in first. - Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When an older member of their group gets picked off, the early human chief calls for the others to start running while he faces their attacker. Then he sees it's a cyber-raptor and proceeds to beat his feet, as well.
- Shot in the Ass: Optimus, courtesy of Tarantulas.
- Spanner in the Works: The cyber-raptors are about to prevail, but then the chief returns and exposes the weak point with a lucky hit.
- Surrounded by Idiots: As more units head out into the field, Rattrap grouses about being left holding the bag.Rattrap: Ah, typical. Who gets stuck with all the work? The rat gets stuck with all the work, while everyone else goes on a slaggin' picnic!
- Taking the Bullet: Blackarachnia shields the kids from an attack by Tarantulas.
- This Is Gonna Suck: When Rhinox notes it's quite likely Megatron made more than one cyber-raptor, Optimus says they've got trouble.
- What You Are in the Dark: After Cheetor gets blasted off a cliff, Blackarachnia notes she could either flee to save herself (her preference) or risk herself to save the kids (something she considers more becoming of a Maximal). Seeing Una reach out to her, Blackarachnia opts to save the kids (much to her own disgust).
