Power Surge

Terrorsaur discovers a cache of energon on a floating mountain that gives him enough power to overthrow Megatron.

Summary
A wild and free bird majestically soars through the air, experiencing the wonders of aviation as it feels the wind flow around its proud wings. The bird explores its domain with a grace and sincerity and deliciousness. The lattermost attribute is of interest to a hungry Terrorsaur, who quickly swallows the bird as a snack. Flying higher, Terrorsaur discovers a massive mountain elevated into the sky - defying gravity. Flying closer, he discovers the mountain houses an incredible cache of energon. To check the energon's stability, he Transforms into his robot mode - at the risk of having raw Energon radiation harm his circuits. When trying to take a tiny fragment for study, bolts of pure energy surge though him, greatly enhancing his abilities. Naturally, the first thing the empowered Predacon does is fly back to his base to overthrow Megatron. Luckily, Cheetor also finds the airborne crag, and watches Terrorsaur leaving at top speeds.

Outside of the Predacons' crashed ship, Megatron shows his troops some newly installed territorial defenses. Terrorsaur arrives, and flowing with power, immediately announces that he's taking over the Predacons. Megatron obviously disagrees, and the two fight, but the pumped-up Terrorsaur is easily able to blast Megatron over the edge of a cliff. Megatron lands in pieces, but still alive. With the remaining Preds under his control, Terrorsaur announces the Maximals are his next target. Cheetor, having followed Terrorsaur from the floating mountain, perceives the new developments as bad news. Before leading the final battle against the Maximals, Terrorsaur finds his new charge has a short life and he must return to the floating mountain to reinvigorate himself. Tarantulas follows in secret, eager to steal the source of Terrorsaur's new capabilities. Scorponok is left alone with Waspinator so the two begin to re-assemble and repair Megatron.

Cheetor rushes back to the Maximal base and scrambles onto the bridge, where he spits out an incoherent sequences of words vaguely relating to the current crisis. Giving explanations a second try, Cheetor explains the story thus far to his fellow Maximals. Rhinox concludes that the floating mountain isn't totally scientifically impossible. Primal and Rattrap prepare to destroy the entire island. Terrorsaur flaps back to the island, and on the ground, Tarantulas climbs a webline up to the the suspended formation. Primal and his cargo, Rattrap, arrive moments later. The two watch Terrorsaur re-charge his systems. To give Rattrap time to plant the explosives, Primal engages Terrorsaur in an airborne chase. Primal swiftly dodges most of what Terrorsaur fires, but eventually is hit by Terrorsaur's rarely seen optic blasts. He lands to delivers the finishing blast to Primal (now trapped in his Beast Mode). But before a final shot can be fired, Terrorsaur's Energon enhancements run out, and Terrorsaur is forced to go for another recharge, abandoning Optimus.

Rattrap meanwhile, has been tussling with Tarantulas, the two of them staying in their Beast Modes as they wrestle. With a toss of mud, Rattrap blinds Tarantulas and the spider blindly runs off the side of the mountain to the ground far, far below. Rattrap is passed by the flapping Terrorsaur, who discovers the timed charges Rattrap left.

The explosives detonate, and the energon crystals collapse and explode. Before the ground loses form, Primal arrives to carry Rattrap away from annihilation. With his ratty companion, Primal swan dives off the exploding alp and somehow the two survive thanks to Primal grabbing onto a tree.

Terrorsaur, no longer having the island's resources to rely on, returns home, to meet a very, very angry Megatron.

Quotes
"You do know... that was crazy." "Eh, sometimes crazy works."
 * -- Rattrap witnesses Optimus Primal coin his motto.

"At least I got rid of Megatron." "Well, well. Looks who's back." " Help. "
 * -- Megatron greets a depowered--and very scared--Terrorsaur.

Stats
Writers: Jesse Winfield Original Air Date: September 25, 1996

Major Characters (in order of appearance): Terrorsaur, Cheetor, Megatron, Tarantulas, Waspinator, Scorponok, Rhinox,Rattrap, Optimus Primal