Trust (Armada episode)

Which side is Scavenger really on?

North American air date:

Characters (in order of appearance): Carlos, Rad, Alexis, Scavenger, Hot Shot, Smokescreen, Red Alert, Starscream, Megatron, Demolishor, Cyclonus, Sideways, Air Defense Mini-Con Team, Drillbit, Rollbar (Armada).

Summary
At the Autobot base, Carlos sits down to enjoy a drink of milk. The kids discuss Hot Shot's determination as he trains with Hot Shot as his new instructor and Alexis suggests the kids go see Hot Shot in action. Rad and Alexis rush off and Carlos struggles to catch up, and none of them care they left their breakfast behind.

The three look for Hot Shot, but only find a sleeping Scavenger, after they intially mistake his snores for the growls of an animal. Alexis jokes that Carlos also likes to take naps. As Scavenger continues to nap, Hot Shot practices his dramatic punching and kicking, Scavenger has no commentary to offer.

Seeing Scavenger's sloth, Carlos considers Scavenger's allegiance and advises Hot Shot to be apprehensive. Elsewhere, Carlos overhears similar misgivings regarding Scavenger from Smokescreen, who compares Scavenger to Sideways.

On the moon, Starscream puts forward the idea that Scavenger has switched sides. Because Scavenger deserted the Decepticons, Megatron declares him an enemy and puts the call out for his head. Starscream interjects, and Megatron stands up and slaps a panel off Starscream's head.

On Earth, the kids enquire about the subject of Scavenger with Optimus. Before Prime can explain, the Autobot's Mini-Con detection alarms go off.

In a snowy area, the Autobots and Decepticons square off and battle head-on. Most of the battles are evenly matched, but Scavengers completely out-maneuvers and over-powers a Mini-Con enhanced Scavenger. Moments later, when the battle nears a chasm, Scavenger is missing in action, leaving Hot Shot to reconsider his faith in his instructor.

The battle continues and Optimus and Megatron move closer to the deep chasm, while Scavenger doesn't respond to any calls for him. Back at the Autobot base, Alexis sees Scavenger on the video broadcast from Laserbeak.

Megatron is read to finish Optimus, when Optimus surprises the Decepticon by enjecting his own legs and grabbing Megatron to pull into the chasm in what appears to be a move that would drop both warriors into the chasm. But before Optimus plummets to his doom, Scavenger leaps off the other side of the canyon, and in mid-air, manages to fling Optimus to safety.

The kids are amazed at how much faith Optimus places in Scavenger, when Red Alert exlains that Optimus and Scavenger came to trust each other long ago one Cybertron. Why didn't Red Alert tell this to the kids earlier? For suspense. Red Alert also points that that Scavenger never really switches sides, he was only part of the Decepticons to gain strategic information.

Back at the battlefield, the Autobots taunt the outnumbered Decepticons. Bt as the Decepticons consider their situation, Sideways and Megatron emerge from the chasm dramatically, with Megatron flung directly at Scavenger. But Optimus is quick to protect Scavenger and blasts Megatron away. Megatron swears vengeance as the Decepticons retreat. With the battle over, Smokescreen and Hot Shot apologize to Scavenger, and Scavenger accepts their apology.

Quotations
Alexis "Come on, I know you want to see Hot Shot in action as much as I do."

Scavenger: "I don't like showing off, but I think you'll agree that that high-flying wacko needed to be grounded permanently"

Cyclonus: "Crumplezone - Powerlink!"

Red Alert: "When you're trying to gain someone's trust, sometimes actions speak a lot louder than words can."

Alexis: "For sure."

Cyclonus: Oh, my aching motherboard!

Megatron: "How dare you Optimus, you'll pay for your treachery."

Abberations / Errors / Contrarieties

 * While Crumplezone is Cyclonus's regular Mini-Con, in this case he Power-linked with Drillbit, but still calls out Crumplezone's name. Cyclonus is the only Amada toy with a "gear-gimmick" that lets him take full advantage of Drillbit's drill mechanism, but not in the fashion Cyclonus wore Drillbit in this episode.


 * Unlike previous episodes, the Autobot's fridge is no longer full of tools.


 * During the flashbacks, Optimus is seen using a gun in similar design to Optimus Prime (G1).


 * Shortly before teleporting away, Megatron mentions Optimus' treachery, when context suggests that he meant Scavenger.