Transformers Prime Episode 21 Summary

Canadian fans got a little treat today, a new episode of Transformers Prime! The latest episode aired earlier today on Teletoon. Here's a brief summary, naturally spoilers await:

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

S

*

A

H

E

A

D


This was another Bulkhead and Miko centric episode. We open with Bulkhead and Miko watching a monster truck rally, to Ratchet's dissatisfaction. He equates the rally to vehicular blood sport.There' a Beast Machines name drop by the TV announcer.

Ratchet suggests Bulkhead go assist Optimus Prime in the recovery of an ancient Cybertronian Data Cylinder. He explains these cylinders contain the sum knowledge of Cybertron and where scattered across the universe to keep them out of Decepticon hands. At that moment Optimus Prime calls into base requesting back up because of a Decepticon ambush. Ratchet land-bridges Bulkhead to the battle where Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Arcee are engaging Knock Out, Breakdown (still missing an eye from his encounter with Silas), and Decepticon drones. As you can probably already guess Miko follows.



Miko takes cover behind the Data Cylinder and calls into Ratchet requesting a land-bridge to transport the cylinder, but since he doesn't know her exact coordinates the bridge opens a considerable distance away and the cylinder is far too large for her to move on her own. Miko kicks the cylinder in an effort to get it moving, which inadvertently activates it. The cylinder ends up firing a beam of energy that strikes Bulkhead square in the forehead. Knock Out grabs the cylinder and the Decepticons hit the road. Bulkhead seems fine, and the Autobots return to base empty handed.



Back on their ship the Decepticons discover the cylinder is empty. They come to the conclusion that all the information that had been stored in the cylinder was transferred to Bulkhead when it discharged. Back at the Autobot base Ratchet wants to give Bulkhead a full check-up, but he insists he's fine and refuses. He then begins exhibiting some out of character behavior, and starts painting Cybertronian equations on the wall of the base (think Sam in ROTF). Ratchet recognizes the equation as a formula for synthetic energon. This formula is extremely valuable since erengon is in short supply on Earth. A means to produce it artificially would yield an unlimited source of energy, and possibly a way to revitalize Cybertron.

Optimus Prime realizes the reason the cylinder dumped it's information was because it's automatic security system registered Miko as a threat since she's a biological form of life rather than Cybertronian. The information contained within would have been lost into space had Bulkhead not got in it's line of fire.



Bulkhead continues to transcribe the synthetic energon formula, but Ratchet makes a startling discovery. The "living information" that was beamed into Bulkhead's mind is starting to consume his neuralnet. They realize that by the time he's produced the entire synthetic energon formula his mind will be completely lost. Ratchet admits he has no idea how to get the information out, but Optimus Prime suggests if they had the cylinder they might be able to coax it back in. Of course the cylinder is in Decepticon possession.



The Autobots rig up a transmitter to emit an energy signature that mimics the information that was stored in the cylinder outside their base knowing the Decepticons will detect it and come running. This time Megatron leads the mission himself not trusting Knock Out and Breakdown as they have already failed once. Megatron immediately recognizes the Autobot ruse. Optimus Prime offers Megatron a peaceful resolution, if they hand over the empty cylinder it will be returned with the data restored.



Back at Autobot base Bulkhead continues to loose his personality to the information that's overtaking his mind. We get a Perceptor name drop while he's churning out more of the formula. Miko decides to lure Bulkhead back to the site of a monster truck rally they had previously watched hoping it will jog his memory. Unfortunately Knock Out and Breakdown detect the energy signature now that Bulkhead is outside the safety of the Autobot base. They inform Megatron, but state they won't be able to retrieve the information without the cylinder. Megatron offers an alternative, simply take Bulkhead's head.



Megatron refuses Optimus Prime's offer and engages the Autobots in battle giving Knock Out and Breakdown time to arrive at the monster truck arena. Bulkhead who's in no condition to fight flees to an area where the monster trucks are being stored and hides among them in alt mode. Knockout discovers him by tracking his energy signature. Knockout is very perturbed when Bulkhead writes part of the synthetic energon formula across his chest ruining his paint job. They quickly incapacitate Bulkhead and are getting ready to remove his head when Miko attempts to defend him with a piece of pipe. She swings at them, but misses striking Bulkhead up side his noggin. Once again this triggers the security measure and causes the information to be ejected out of Bulkhead and lost into space.

Back at the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons Megatron decides he's had enough and ends the battle by crushing the data cylinder and retreating. Ratchet informs the Autobots that Bulkhead and Miko are missing from the base. Back at the arena Knock Out and Breakdown are not happy to have lost the information for a second time. They are just about to take out Miko when the Autobots arrive and scare them away.



Bulkhead is taken back to the Autobot base where Rachet confirms all the data has been purged from his mind. They fear however, that when it purged itself it may have taken his personality with in. Ratchet states that there is no way to know the extend of the damage and that any familiar sound, image, or scent could reactivate him. Miko plays a riff from Bulkhead's favorite song on her electric guitar and he awakes from his coma and returns to normal.

In the end Bulkhead is restored no worse for wear, but the formula for the synthetic energon is left incomplete and the data that had been stored in the cylinder is lost forever.