The Low Road

Rhinox is infected with a strange energon discharge virus, and if a cure isn't found, he'll destroy the Maximal base as he literally sneezes himself to death.

Summary
The Maximals use their tools to garden, trimming the wild bean vines that have grown around the Maximal base and, as Dinobot explains, could be exploited by the Predacons. Rattrap and Dinobot get into a fight. Inside, Rhinox detects Predacons coming to attack, but can't activate the Sentinel shields because of the two arguing Maximals outside. Rhinox comes down the elevator with his guns ablaze and commands the two to get inside, but they are too busy arguing to obey. Trying to cover his teammates' withdrawal, Rhinox is hit by a strange weapon from Tarantulas. Dinobot blasts Tarantulas several times, and with the crucial shot fired, the Predacons retreat.

Inside, the Axalon ' s computer reports on the strange effect the device had on Rhinox, giving him a disease that causes the larger Maximal to "spontaneously discharge energy." Rhinox demonstrates this by hiccuping energy beams around the base, causing much collateral damage. It's decided a counter-virus must be found.

Rattrap and Dinobot attempt to trail the injured Tarantulas. The two get into an argument about who is to blame for Rhinox becoming sick, which quickly degenerates into name-calling. Eventually forgetting why they started the argument, the two follow Tarantulas's scent. Running after a glimpse of the Predacon, they fall though a hole and onto a long slide—with a heavy boulder close behind them. But after they land at the bottom of the slide, the boulder actually hits Tarantulas. Rattrap and Dinobot continue bickering as they search through the underground caverns for Tarantulas's lab.

Aboard the Axalon, Optimus reveals to Cheetor that he paired Dinobot and Rattrap together so they could either learn to work together or kill each other. Rhinox is meanwhile kept on a life support system which drains energy from the rest of the (now heavily damaged) Maximal base.

Back at the Predacon base, Megatron sends his own forces to reclaim Tarantulas so more of the virus can be developed to use on the rest of the Maximals. They head to his laboratory to see if they can locate the missing arachnid there. On Tarantulas's security sensors, Blackarachnia notices the two wandering Maximals making their way through the caverns towards the hideout.

Primal rallies his available soldiers for action against the Predacons to seize the antidote to Rhinox's ailment forcibly. Rhinox attempts to come along with the others, but Primal orders his friend to stay behind and consume some food to help stabilize his systems. Naturally, the first option on Rhinox's menu happens to be the wild beans conveniently surrounding the Axalon.

Back in Tarantulas's lair, Blackarachnia discovers where Tarantulas stored the counter-virus. When Scorponok detects the two Maximals getting closer, the Predacon goons open fire, wildly hoping to hit something, but instead just ruin any chance they have of ambushing their targets. Dinobot tries to use Tarantulas as a hostage, but this tactic doesn't work on Megatron, who has no reservations about abusing his own soldiers. However, the distraction has bought Rattrap (who was supposed to be covering Dinobot) the time to sneak through some tubes to arrive behind the Predacons, leaving him close enough to disarm them quickly.

A nasal energon-expulsion from Rhinox provides a hole for the other Maximals to enter the chamber once they finish posing heroically. Megatron mentions that he alone has the counter-virus that could save Rhinox.

But then Rhinox fires off an incredible energon fart (visible from space) that blows the Predacons far away, giving the Maximals the chance to grab the counter-virus and live happily ever after. Rattrap and Dinobot still bicker like kids, though.

Stats
Original Air Date: February 10, 1997

Written by: Bob Forward

Featured Characters
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes
Dinobot: Excuse me. Are you implying that the current situation is somehow....my responsibility?! Rattrap: Well, you did start it....gearhead! Dinobot: I BEG to differ....cheese lips! Rattrap: Pre-evolved birdbrain! Dinobot: Eater of garbage!!
 * Rattrap and Dinobot trade insults, part 1

"Sheesh, and they call me the immature one."
 * Cheetor's response to above argument

Cheetor: Hey, Optimus, uh you sure it was a good idea sending those two out together? Optimus Primal: To be honest, no. But their squabbling has caused problems before. They'll either learn to work together or destroy each other. (Rhinox sneezes yet again, causing debris to rain down on Optimus) Optimus Primal: Right now I don't really care which. (More debris falls on Optimus)

Dinobot: Wait! I detect a scent! Vile corruption... a whiff of festering putification! Rattrap: So I ate a limburger sandwich for lunch! Heh, I'm a rat, gimme a break! Dinobot: I have been... uncomfortably aware of your stench for the past hour, vermin. This is something else... something over... THERE! (Tarantulas suddenly springs out and legs it) Rattrap: Heheh, yeah! He's mine! Dinobot: Leave battle to the warriors, Mouse!!!
 * Rattrap and Dinobot trade insults, part 2

Dinobot: Unlike you, I do not spend my time scurrying through sewers! Rattrap: Yeah? Well, a sewer smells better than your breath, bronto-brain! Dinobot: Nnngrrh! You will get used to it WHEN I BITE YOUR USELESS HEAD OFF! (Tarantulas suddenly wakes up) Tarantulas: DIIIIE, MAXIMALS! Dinobot and Rattrap: SHUT UP! (They both punch Tarantulas, knocking him out)
 * Rattrap and Dinobot trade insults, part 3. Tarantulas also learns the hard way of what happens when you happen to be in the middle.

Rattrap: So, uh, you got a better plan? Dinobot: No, but I still dislike the idea of expiring underground. It lacks a...a warrior's nobility. Rattrap: Oh, hey-hey, no sweat, heh heh. 'Cause I ain't lettin' nobody waste you down here! That's a pleasure I'm reserving for myself! Dinobot: Oooh, I appreciate your concern, but let me assure you, being shot in the back by a malodorous mouse would not exactly earn me a seat in Silicon Valhalla! Rattrap: Awwww, poor baby.
 * Rattrap and Dinobot trade insults, part 4

"A bargaining chip should remain in play until the game is over, yesss." "Why do you always talk to yourself?" "Ah, I simply have a penchant for...intelligent conversation."
 * Megatron ripostes rather well to Blackarachnia.

(Dinobot enters, holding Tarantulas) "Do not fire, Megatron! I have a HOSTAGE!" "Why, so you do..." (Megatron shoots Tarantulas)
 * Hostage negotiations with Dinobot, Megatron-style

"This is certainly the most humiliating defeat of my entire career. Yess..."
 * Megatron after Rhinox defeats the Predacons single...erm, handedly

Animation and/or technical glitches

 * When Rhinox has his first hick-up fit, he covers his mouth to block the energon blast out of his mouth; it instead shoots out of his ears (which Rhinox doesn't have in robot form). However this can be simply dismissed as a comical element of the scene.


 * As Optimus is explaining that Dinobot and Rattrap will either learn to work together or destroy each other, Rhinox fires off another energon discharge and debris of their control room style chairs is seen falling from the ceiling. What are chairs doing up there?


 * When Rattrap and Dinobot fall through the trapdoor leading to the underground tunnels, Rattrap's gun is left spinning in mid-air. The next shot is upwards from underground, as they fall, and the gun is not visible. Indeed, when Rattrap lands on Dinobot, the gun doesn't fall on top of them. Later, as they approach Tarantulas' lab, Rattrap has his gun back.

Continuity errors

 * Errors

Real-world references

 * Dinobot refers to a Silicon Valhalla as some kind of afterlife, which is in turn a reference to ancient Norse mythology and Silicon Valley. It could also be a reference to Silicon Heaven.
 * During one of their squabbles, Rattrap refers to Dinobot as a 'pre-evolved birdbrain'. This is a reference to the recent scientific theory that birds evolved from Dromaeosaurid dinosaurs ("raptors") like Dinobot.

Transformers references

 * The wild bean vine growth outside of the Axalon could have been caused by the severe rain the area received during the storm in the previous episode.
 * When the rhino-fart shakes the globe, the epicenter is clearly in Africa, providing more evidence for the show being set there. In fact, it appears to be in the middle of the Sahara, which would have been less arid in the prehistoric time of the Beast Wars than it is today.

Miscellaneous trivia

 * When the Maximals burst into Tarantulas's lab, Airazor is kneeling at Optimus's feet, with one hand affectionately placed on his leg. Instead of, y'know, pointing a gun at the bad guys. The shot is a parody of the stereotypical heroic entrance/posturing scene, such as found on the theatrical poster for the original Star Wars film. Once Rattrap undermines the moment, as evidenced by the musical score, Airazor can be seen standing normally with the other Maximals. All part of the fun, folks.
 * The virus which infected Rhinox and which Megatron intended to use to infect the rest of the Maximals was never mentioned again. Can you blame him for washing his hands of the entire affair?
 * Rhinox dons a beer-hat style contraption from which to sip his treatment.
 * Rhinox sneezes and sniffs.
 * Rattrap actually does eat garbage.
 * In this episode Blackarachnia mentions that Tarantulas encrypted all the information on his computers, foreshadowing that he has something to hide.
 * Farts are funny. Hence, this episode is very funny if you like farts. And who doesn't?
 * Episode writer Bob Forward summed up the reaction to the episode thusly: "[...] After 15 Years And A Couple Of Hundred Scripts, [I] Will Be Remembered Forever For A Rhinocerous [sic] Fart."
 * Some of the slapstick, particularly temporarily defying gravity, Rattrap's gun being momentarily left in the air when they do fall, and the bickering pair knocking Tarantulas out, is reminiscent of classic Warner Brothers cartoons, such as Road Runner.