Beast Machines: Transformers

- Season 1

(1999)

After escaping from new foes, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Cheetor and Blackarachnia are given strange new bodies by a mysterious supercomputer.

The Maximuls begin to understand and master their new bodies, only to find that Cybertron is now under the control of a old enemy.

The maximuls attempt to recover the cybetron backup files only to find them wiped clean. Blackaracnia begins having flashbacks of her missing comrades and heads out with rattrap to find some answers. Megatron gives them trouble though when he brings three sparks back online to give his drones an edge.

Rattrap uses a transformation enhancer, with disastrous results. Optimus tries to persuade Tankor to join them, successfully until Megatron regains control.

While patrolling, Optimus discovers a bat hiding in the shadows. At first he flees when Optimus tries to speak to him. At one point in the storyline, Jetstorm ambushes the Maximals and the new maximal must cooperate to save his life and at the same time, the life of his new friends.

On a recon mission Rattrap finally learns how to transform, but accidentally wrecks the mission. Humiliated and angry with his friends' reactions, he attempts to make a deal with Megatron.

Running from Vehicons, the Maximals find themselves in a giant spark extractor facility, surrounded by dead Cybertronians. When Thrust saves Blackarachnia, she realises that the sparks of their dead comrades are being recycled into drones.

Cheetor takes over while Optimus communes with the Allspark. Tankor unwittingly reveals their recent history as Rattrap taps into his mind. Jetstorm attacks Blackarachnia.

Nightscream fights to retrieve Black Arachnia's stolen Spark. Meanwhile, Optimus is able to contact Rhinox's Spark, but Rhinox deals him a major surprise.

A startling discovery reveals a disturbing secret about Cybertron's past. And reviving Rhinox may have been a very bad idea.

The Key to Vector Sigma transforms organic life into technomatter - and Tankor now possesses it. But if he's dead, how can he fulfil his own agenda?

Liquid from Cybertron's organic core nourishes the Maximal's orchard: Blackarachnia persuades Rattrap to let her use some to try to resurrect SIlverbolt's spark from within Thrust. But her belief proves false.

Megatron plans to use the Vector Sigma Keys to transform everything organic, including the planet's core, into technomatter: Optimus will counter by unleashing Plasma Energy, which destroys everything technological. Will anything survive?