Starscream's Ghost

Generation One >  Season 3

On the run from the Decepticons, Octane seeks asylum on Cybertron. While in a hidden tomb to fallen Decepticons, he encounters the ghost of Starscream, who posesses Cyclonus and attempts to take over the Decepticons yet again.

Detailed synopsis
When delivering scrap metal from planet Junkion, Octane's cargo ship is sabotaged when an alien bounty hunter slips a bomb disguised as a piece of scrap into the cargo.

After he is rescued by a passing passenger ship, Octane seeks the advice of Sandstorm, who at first doesn't believe him. When they are ambushed and the Decepticons concentrate on Octane while leaving Sandstorm alone, however, the Autobot is convinced and helps Octane hide out.

When the two of them get together in a diner on a space station to discuss the situation, the bounty hunter returns and is foiled in several attempts to do away with the wanted ex-Decepticon - partly due to incompetence, partly due to interference. Finally, the bounty hunter caves in and attempts to attack Octane by tackling the back of the transformer's head. Octane grabs the alien and demands to know who hired him. When the bounty hunter says he was hired by Galvatron, Octane decides to go deeper into hiding.

He is followed to Cybertron by Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps. When the attacking Decepticons pin him down, he seeks shelter in what appears to be a large pipe, but turns out to be the secret entrance to a Decepticon crypt. While there, he encounters the ghost of Starscream, who takes control of Cyclonus and "captures" the runaway Octane.

The two of them manage to convince Galvatron that "Cyclonus" has forced Octane to betray an Autobot secret, which lures him into an ambush led by Rodimus Prime.

The ambush fails, however, and when Galvatron returns to see "Cyclonus" and Octane discussing his apparent demise, Starscream can't resist gloating, revealing his presence to the Decepticon leader, who proceeds to blast a hole into the posessed Cyclonus' torso.

As Galvatron orders Cyclonus repaired to top working order, the obedient Scourge is revealed to be Starscream's new host body.

Stats
Original airdate: ?

Episode #: 74

Product Code:

Written by: Megeen McLaughlin

Featured characters
Octane, Sandstorm Starscream, Scourge, Cyclonus, Rodimus Prime, Galvatron

Notable quotes
"I'd probably be a jerk too, if I was made of junk."
 * -- Octane

"Take THAT, you overgrown tin can, and that, and THAT, and-- I didn't WANT this job, I HAD to take it! I've got a wife and kids!  I HAVE to deactivate you!  Little guy's got to make a living, don't you understand?!"
 * -- Alien Bounty Hunter

Galvatron: Ahhh, that's one thing I will say for Cyclonus. He administers a good interrogation.

Octane: "I'll never tell! (Hey, you got really close that time.)

"Cyclonus"/Starscream: *snicker*  You'd better before they discover your bad acting!

Animation and/or technical glitches

 * Animation Glitch:* When Octane and the posessed Cyclonus are sitting around Decepticon headquarters discussing Galvatron's fate, Starscream/Cyclonus' dialogue is animated as Octane speaking, and vice versa.

Miscellaneous trivia

 * This episode is the first appearance of Starscream's ghost. He also appears in the G1 episode "Ghost in the Shell". His ghost makes a third appearance in the Beast Wars episode "Possession" in which he takes over Waspinator.

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