Key


 * Sari Sumdac's key is her very own MacGuffin in the Transformers Animated continuity family.



Originally just a security keycard, the key used by Sari Sumdac holds a great power. Given a portion of the power of the All Spark, the key can be used to heal damaged Transformers, give life to machines, and control the machines. Such an object holds great power, and with great power comes great responsibility.

Sari isn't so good on that last part.

Oh, who are we kidding? She has no sense of responsibility when it comes to the key.

Fortunately, the key itself has a better idea of when it should be used. Sometimes it can even overpower its owner to accomplish its own goals, even if they are contrary to Sari's wishes. Horror of horrors, it looks like the message is getting through to her.

"Sari, how many times do I have to tell you: That key is not a toy!"

- Ratchet, fighting a losing battle

Transformers Animated
When Sari Sumdac was taken to the Ark after meeting the Autobots, her inability to stay quiet forced Bumblebee to drop her down a shaft. She was deposited into the cargo hold where the All Spark was located. Scanning Sari's mind, it channeled some of its power into the key. Optimus Prime discovered Sari, but was forced to rush to the med bay, where Prowl was dying. Sari's key began to glow, and she used it to heal his damaged circuits, saving his life. Several days later, Sari used the key to restore Optimus Prime's spark after he was killed in the battle with Starscream.

While trying to get into her father's lab, Sari discovered that she could use the key to control other machines. She activated the lock on the door, entering the lab, though Sumdac quickly moved her out of the room. The leftover energy, however, transfered itself to the head of Megatron, restoring his higher functions. Sari then used her key to short-circuit her Tutor Bot and get out of class early. (Don't pretend you wouldn't have.)

When Bumblebee and Ratchet were creating an electromagnetic pulse to counter the Dinobots, Sari used her key to give Bumblebee's stingers a boost. The All Spark energy was channeled into the Dinobots, granting them sparks.

When Blackarachnia arrived on Earth, she tried to use the key to purge her techno-organic body and restore her original form. However, the key began to drain the life from everything organic in Detroit, and it nearly killed Blackarachnia as well. Prime was forced to remove the key to save everyone. Blackarachnia was noticeably displeased with this.

Megatron had been observing Sari for some time, including her liberal use of the key. He built Soundwave as Isaac Sumdac's birthday gift for Sari. In fact, Megatron had designed Soundwave to evolve with each exposure to the key, with the intention of using it as his new body. However, Megatron did not foresee that the key would also grant Soundwave sentience.

Sari used the key to cheat at a game of street hockey with the Autobots. Later, the key seemed to act as an early-warning system, projecting a beam of light whenever trouble for the Autobots appeared. When Blitzwing and Lugnut appeared on Earth, it projected a beam of light targeting them. Later on, it projected a similar beam of light at a series of missiles launched at the Autobots. Once the Autobots eluded those and Ratchet safely got Sari to the Ark, the key prevented her from sabotaging the ship so her friends couldn't leave and aided in repairing the Ark ' s weapon systems. It also not-so-subtly gave Sari a little jolt to remind her of the power she wields through it, working with the All Spark to project holograms of Megatron. This scared her into a reconciliation with Ratchet and indirectly led her to realize how she'd been abusing the key. This time, it looks like the lesson may stick.

Standing Record for successive episodes without Gratuitous Key Abuse (GKA): 2 (Survival of the Fittest, Headmaster)