Code of Hero



Dinobot makes the ultimate sacrifice to save those who are still to come.

Detailed synopsis
At the Axalon, Dinobot is holding his sword in an ominous manner. Eventually, he throws it aside, but remains shamed by his turning the Golden Disk to Megatron. At the bridge, Rhinox announces that he's being doing some calculations. The Transwarp Wave from the Planet Buster's destruction is travelling through space, and will reach Cybertron in the "present". Instead of being excited, however, Optimus fears whether or not Megatron has made similar calculations.

Dinobot runs into Rattrap, who rips him a new one over his turning the Disk over to Megatron. Still shamed, Dinobot resolves to recover the Disk...and if necessary, kill Megatron. Heading to Tarantulas' lair, he captures the mad scientist, demanding to know where the disk is. Tarantulas reveals that Megatron is keeping the Disk on his person at all times. Dinobot uses a Tarantulas as a means of transportation to locate Megatron, who is with Rampage. Megatron, who has made the Transwarp wave calculations, is doing a test with the Disk. In the future, a nearby mountain is intact in the future, as shown when playing the Disk in front of it. Megatron has Rampage destroy the mountain, and the future changes to suit the event. Dinobot realizes what a fool he's been, but soon has little time to reflect: Megatron intends to change the outcome of the Great War in the Decepticons favor...by destroying the protohumans and depriving the Autobots of an important ally race. Dinobot contacts Optimus, who orders him to maintain position, but Dinobot engages.

Dinobot is able to take out the Predacons, but he loses his weapons in the processes. Also, his energy supply is being drained in the processes, rendering his optic lasers unusable. Soon, it's just Megatron and Dinobot, who reveals a human captive. On his last bit of Energon, Dinobot pluges a rock into a stick, knocks the disk out Megatron's hand, and destroys it with his optic lasers, expending his last bit of energy. Megatron flees as the Maximals arrive, but it is too late for Dinobot. As he lays dying, he solidifies his friendship with Rattrap, and asks Optimus to tell the whole truth about Dinobot, the good and the bad, and allow him to be judged accordingly. With that, his spark leaves his exostructure, and dies. The Maximals hold a funeral for Dinobot, dissolving his remains.

At the valley, a protohuman finds Dinobots stick. The protohuman learns that it is not only a valuable tool, but also can be used to defend themselves from predators. Dinobot's actions not only saved the protohumans, but also helped them take a step toward evloving into humanity.

Stats
Original airdate: March 9, 1998 (Special Cartoon Network Preview); April 25, 1998 (Regular Syndication)

Written by: Ian Weir

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

Quotes
"Destroy this valley, and everything in it! The human race shall never have existed!"
 * -- Megatron, announcing the impending genocide of the proto-humans.

"The question that once haunted my being has been answered. The future is not fixed, and my choices are my own. And yet, how ironic - for I now find that I have no choice at all! I am a warrior... let the battle be joined."
 * -- Dinobot, realizing his destiny.

"One lonely turncoat, battling on against impossible odds. (Wiping fake tear) I'm almost touched... fortunately such moments pass quickly. Quickstrike, scrap him!"
 * -- Megatron, observing Dinobot's fight to save the valley single-handedly.

"What's a warrior without weapons, eh?" "A warrior still!"
 * -- Quickstrike goading Dinobot into a fight.

"Hmm, my ears are burning! Yesss! Why, Dinobot, what a delightful surprise! Let's see, where are we now? I have the Golden Disk. I have the power to change the future. And the only obstacle in my path to unimaginable glory... is yourself. Exhausted. Damaged beyond recovery. Defeated." "Not just yet!" "Uh-uh-uh!" (Megatron reveals a proto-human bound in energon bindings) "One more step and it's raining bits of early anthropoid, yesss. Oh dear, how positively Maximal of you. You were weakened before you started, Dinobot. Weakened by compassion."
 * -- Megatron confronting the severely damaged Dinobot.

"Oh, hohoho. Really, Dinobot? A stick, against a Transmetal? I think not." "Final Warning: Power failing. Jeopardy extreme. Repeat: Extreme." "Please. Face it, Dinobot. You're old technology. Obsolete. What could you, possibly do?" "Improvise."
 * -- Megatron arrogantly mocking Dinobot while the Maximal's computer warns him of his injuries.

"Well fought my friend. You saved the valley. You saved the lives of those who live here... and of those who are still to come."
 * -- Optimus Primal

"Like I said, you're just a blasted slag-spouting saurian, but... its nice to know where you stand." "Upwind of you, for preference, vermin."
 * -- Rattrap and Dinobot sharing one last banter.

"Tell my tale to those who ask, the good with the bad. Tell it truthfully, and let me be judged accordingly. The rest...is...silence....
 * -- Dinobot's last words.

"He lived a warrior... and died a hero. Let his spark join the Matrix. The greatest of Cybertron."
 * -- Optimus Primal's eulogy to Dinobot.

Technical/Animation Glitches

 * As Quickstrike approaches Dinobot, his left shin is backwards.
 * At Dinobot's funeral, Rattrap is in his pre-Transmetal body.
 * When Megatron is flying over the proto-human valley, his legs are missing and his body has very little detail.

Real-World References

 * Dinobot's final words, "The rest is silence", are taken directly from Shakespeare's "Hamlet".