Megatron takes control the supercomputer TORQ III and has him direct a fleet of oil tankers to deliver a fresh source of energy for the Decepticons. The Autobots respond to a distress call sent from Quantum Laboratories and take on an army of war machines created by TORQ. Meanwhile, Spike, Hound, and Skyfire try to find a way to rescue the ships taken by the Decepticons.
Tropes:
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: Dr. Gates is worried that TORQ III is too powerful to continue operating and might put the world in danger if he ever fell in the wrong hands. He's right to be worried as Megatron quickly reprograms TORQ to have his morals and personality, which leads to TORQ taking over the facility and holding the scientists hostage.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: The Dinobots make very short work out of tanks and armoured vehicles sent by TORQ, as they take no damage from the fight and reduce the vehicles to literal slag.
- Finger in a Barrel: Ironhide uses his finger to plug up a hose from one of TORQ's machines, which causes it to overload and self-destruct.
- Master Computer: TORQ III is a supercomputer in charge of creating and running all the machines at Quantum Laboratories. Once he's reprogrammed by Megatron, TORQ takes over the facility and sends entire armies of armoured vehicles to stop the Autobots from getting inside.
- No-Sell:
- The Dinobots are completely unfazed by the blasts coming from the enemy as they aid the Autobots, which includes tank ammunition.
- Ironhide casually strolls through the blasts fired by one of TORQ's machines and blows it up by sticking his finger in its hose while it's still firing.
- Selective Magnetism: Spike finds an electromagnet inside his cell at the Decepticons' oil platform and uses it on Rumble and Ravage on the other side of the wall. Not only does this not seem to affect the metal wall in anyway, but Hound and Skyfire are able to run past the two without any ill effects.
- Shoot Out the Lock: Optimus demonstrates his "delicate lock-picking" technique by using his rifle to blast open the locked doors of the complex housing TORQ III.
- Trojan Horse: The start of the episode shows Megatron, Soundwave, and Laserbeak sneaking inside Quantum Laboratories by hiding in their alt-modes (with Megatron stored inside a guitar case) and tricking a guard into carrying them inside the facility's lost-and-found.
- You Know I'm Black, Right?: The end of the episode has Dr. Gates admit that he needs to reprogram TORQ III since machines are unreliable without humans. The Autobots take offence by this, since they are machines:Dr. Gates: You see, like all machines, TORQ is basically unreliable unless properly monitored.
[the Autobots grumble among themselves]
Dr. Gates: Uh, but of course there are some machine-types one can always count on. I'm speaking naturally of the—
Optimus: Autobots?
Dr. Gates: You took the word right out of my mouth... It was in there with my foot.
