The quest for the Omega Lock takes the Autobots and the Decepticons to Cybertron for a battle.
Tropes found in this episode include:
- Both Sides Have a Point: Bulkhead suggests letting Megatron restore Cybertron since Team Prime is after the same thing. However, Optimus states that Megs could use this as political means to sway all Cybertronian to the Decepticons under his rule. To that end, they have to be the ones to do it in the name of peace.
- Chekhov's Armoury: The Iacon relics collected by the Autobots over the course of the series (including the supposedly forgotten Polarity Gauntlet and Immobilizer) - the team equip themselves and prepare for battle. Even the Spark Extractor is finally put to use, if only to clear out Megatron's frist fleet.
- Cliffhanger: Team Prime ventures to Cybertron to intercept Megatron and get back the Omega Keys before securing the Omega Lock. Unfortunately, Megatron has an ace up his sleeve thanks to Starscream and Soundwave - threatening the kids he had captured to get them back.
- Dirty Coward: Knock Out bolts when Starscream asks him to intervene in Dreadwing attempting to kill him.
- Jerkass Ball: Ratchet simply tells the human kids to just go home despite being many miles away from both their respective houses and the Autobot base disregarding their plea that he come pick them up.
- I Have Your Human Companions: After losing the Omega Keys to Team Prime, Megatron orders Starscream for reinforcements, but he and Soundwave come up with a more effective alternative. He instead has the Decepticons capture Jack, Miko and Raf, bringing them to Cybertron. Megatron soon demands Optimus surrender the Omega Keys or they will die from exposure to the world's toxic environment.
- I Owe You My Life: Starscream professes his eternal gratitude to Megatron for saving him from Dreadwing. Then Megatron warns Starscream not to make him regret his decision on who he spared.
- Killed Off for Real: Dreadwing gets offed in this episode for defying Megatron's orders to step down from nearly killing Starscream.
- Last-Second Chance: Dreadwing is disillusioned with the Decepticon cause after discovering just how little honor really matters to Megatron. He then aids the Autobots by giving them the Forge of Solus Prime. Optimus once again asks Dreadwing to join the Autobots. Dreadwing refuses, since betraying the Decepticons doesn't mean he is ready to join the Autobots.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Optimus' teammates express concern that they have just now learned that the Omega Lock resides on Cybertron. According to Optimus, Alpha Trion told him to withhold this information. Smokescreen justifies this since Megatron already used the cortical psychic patch on him just to find out about the Keys.
- Magic from Technology: Lampshaded by Ratchet, who is amazed that the Forge of Solus Prime can be used to turn the Autobots' ground-bridge into a space-bridge.
- Mythology Gag: "Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost".
- The device to restore Cybertron powered by the 4 keys is the Omega Lock, needed to save planet Cybertron.
- Put Down Your Gun and Step Away: The Autobots come within seconds of activating the Omega Lock when Megatron tells them to disarm and hand over the Omega keys or the humans get it.
- Reforged Blade: The Star Saber, courtesy of the Forge of Solus Prime, returned to the Autobots by Dreadwing. Alas, Optimus may wield it but states the sword won't be as powerful as before.
- Refusal of the Call: Optimus tries yet again to convince Dreadwing to join the Autobot cause, but Dreadwing declines politely, on the grounds that he is still a Decepticon.Dreadwing: Betraying my kind is not the same as joining yours.
- Revenge Before Reason: Even after Megatron orders him to put his personal feelings aside with Starscream's return, Dreadwing still chooses to take revenge on Starscream for desecrating Skyquake's corpse with Dark Energon. When ordered to stand down by Megatron, he outright refuses to, resulting in his own death for insubordination.
- Simple Solution Won't Work: Bulkhead's suggestion of letting Megatron restore Cybertron and saving the Autobots the trouble is shot down by Optimus pointing out Megatron will be seen as the hero and gain enough political support to label every Autobot as criminals.
- Status Quo Is God: Not only is Starscream fully reintegrated into the Decepticons, his replacement, Dreadwing, is quickly killed off despite being a better soldier in every way.
- This Cannot Be!: Megatron is shocked that the Autobots have found their way on Cybertron, which would be impossible if they have access to another Space Bridge.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Despite Optimus outright stating the Autobots need to make use of every available resource, Wheeljack isn't called up and no one even suggests doing so. Wheeljack shows up of his own accord in the next episode, and it's made pretty apparent he wasn't called due to the events of "Hurt."
- Wheeljack was probably out in space looking for any surviving Autobots.
- Written by the Winners: Optimus points out that if Megatron is the one to restore Cybertron, the political power and support he'd gain would give him the power to rewrite the history books and rebrand all Autobots as war criminals.
