Synthesis - Transformers Wiki

The Autobots attempt to rescue one of their own by tracking the Decepticon warship, while secrets are revealed to Predaking.

Synopsis

Team Prime gathers outside their base for the launch of Raf's probe, Chip. It will instinctively follow its signal to the Decepticon warship with Optimus Prime following right behind, ready to relay the ship's coordinates to the other Autobots. Optimus tells Raf that Ratchet would be proud of what he's done, and a moment later, both Chip and the Autobot leader take off into the night sky.

In Knock Out's laboratory, Ratchet and Shockwave discuss the issue at hand: once a stable form of synthetic energon exists, it will be able to bond with CNA to create a stable form of cyber-matter. Knock Out muses that this good fortune wouldn't have come about had the Decepticons not let the Autobots destroy the Predacon clones. Ratchet picks up on the use of the word "let", but Knock Out and Shockwave quickly change the subject.

Team Prime continues to monitor Optimus as he follows Chip. Jack wonders what will happen when the Decepticons pick up Laserbeak's signal, and Raf says they're counting on Optimus making visual contact with the Nemesis before that happens.

On the ship, Knock Out is bristling at being reduced to an assistant in his own lab. He fetches a CNA sample from a locked cabinet for Shockwave, not noticing when a second sample jar tips over and blocks the cabinet's sliding door from closing again. Ratchet does notice, and asks Knock Out to fetch another lab instrument to distract him while he yanks the sample jar free.

Megatron is watching a computer simulation of Earth's cyberformation when Soundwave alerts him that Laserbeak's signal has been detected outside the ship. Starscream notes the impossibility of that, as Laserbeak is right there in front of them. Megatron recognizes it for an Autobot trick, the complexity of which suggesting that Starscream failed to destroy their base. Starscream hastily volunteers to troubleshoot the problem.

With the aid of the Decepticons' advanced technology, Ratchet is able to complete the Synth En formula. His elation disappears upon hearing Megatron's voice over the comm system, ordering Shockwave to assist in the final stages of the Omega Lock's assembly. Ratchet realizes he can never allow Megatron to possess the formula, and deletes it from the computer before setting off an explosion in the corner of the lab and blaming it on the formula's instability. Knock Out calls in some Vehicons to help extinguish the blaze, and when the lab's doors open, Ratchet transforms and drives out.

Optimus Prime continues following Chip until Starscream appears, firing a missile at him. Optimus dodges and fires back with his gatling gun. A squadron of Vehicons join the aerial assault, but Optimus blasts through them with ease. Starscream realizes Laserbeak's frequency isn't emanating from Optimus and continues the search for its source.

Knock Out alerts Megatron to the prisoner's escape, while Ratchet dodges Vehicon fire throughout the halls of the ship. He doesn't get far before Megatron finds him, stopping the ambulance in its tracks by stomping on it. Ratchet warns Megatron that if he kills him, he'll never get the Synth En formula. Megatron assures him that his experts are untangling Ratchet's false trail of information and will soon find the answer themselves.

Starscream finally locates Chip, destroying the probe with a single missile. Optimus opens fire on him, but is unable to prevent the Decepticon from escaping through a mid-air GroundBridge. Optimus is left alone in the sky, with no trail to follow.

Knock Out retrieves Ratchet's stolen sample of CNA and Shockwave confirms the stability of the Synth En formula. With the aid of hyper-acceleration technology, it will not take long to begin production. Megatron fulfills his promise by having Ratchet taken to Predaking's quarters. The self-proclaimed leader of the Predacons wastes no time attacking the helpless Autobot in the name of his slaughtered kin.

Shockwave begins the synthesis of the cyber-matter, and Megatron orders the Omega Lock to be moved into ready position.

Just as Predaking is about to finish off his prey, Ratchet warns the Predacon not to let his vengeance end with him, but to continue avenging right up to Megatron. Predaking asks what he means, and Ratchet explains Megatron's role in the destruction of the Predacon clones. He challenges Predaking to analyze the situation; the enormity of the supposed coincidence that the Autobots somehow stumbled upon Shockwave's lab while looking for Energon. Predaking, starting to become convinced, asks why Megatron would wish to harm his kind. Ratchet says that Megatron fears him, and any like him. Enraged, Predaking storms into the halls, demolishing Vehicons along the way. One Vehicon is able to alert Megatron to the rampage before being terminated.

Ratchet makes his way to a communications array and contacts Optimus and Team Prime. Their joy is cut short when Ratchet reveals that Megatron has a working Omega Lock and is about to cyberform Earth. He deactivates the ship's shielding, allowing the Autobots to get a fix on his location, but is forced to leave the array by the sound of approaching gunfire. Optimus orders the Autobots to lock onto Ratchet's coordinates and storm the Decepticon ship. Miko sadly says that they can't leave without saying goodbye, but Fowler promises her they'll be back. The Autobots gear up with the arsenal from Ultra Magnus's ship, and Raf opens a GroundBridge to the Nemesis. As they enter, Optimus Prime tells them that this may be their last battle. But for the sake of Ratchet, Earth, and Cybertron, they must take the Decepticon warship.

Megatron, followed by Starscream and Knock Out, heads for the ship's vault, wondering aloud how the so-called Predacon king will fare against the Dark Star Saber. They're interrupted by Predaking, who tosses a deactivated Vehicon in their direction. Knock Out continues to the vault while Predaking asks if Megatron truly planned the destruction of his Predacon army. Megatron says he did, and his only mistake was not including Predaking in the destruction. He lands a few hits with his blade before Predaking overpowers him, clubbing him with the deactivated body of a Vehicon and knocking him down the length of the hall. Starscream distracts Predaking momentarily with a missile in the back, allowing Megatron to hurl the Predacon into the room behind them. Megatron hits a button on a computer panel inside the room, opening a door to the outside directly behind Predaking. He grips the sides of the door frame to fight against the sudden air pressure, but a blast from Megatron's cannon sends him tumbling out of the ship and into the clouds. Starscream closes the hull door and Knock Out arrives with the Dark Star Saber just as a Vehicon reports over the comm that the Autobots are attacking the ship. Megatron grabs the Dark Star Saber and tells the Decepticons to prepare to make their last stand.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"So we know this cyber-matter to be produced by an atypical molecular-displacement reaction."
"Extensive empirical evidence indicates the fundamental instability within the Synth En formulation to be the cause."
"Double-blind analysis?"
"Naturally. The results only confirmed my original hypothesis. Once the erroneous variable has been corrected for, the stabilized synthetic material will bind properly with cybernucleic acid."
"And produce a stable form of cyber-matter... remarkable."
"Yes. Quite an act of providence."

—Ratchet and Shockwave

"Starscream, you did destroy the Autobot base, did you not?"
"With great fervor, my lord. Why do you ask?"
"Because Laserbeak's frequency has been detected on radar."
"But that's not possible. He's right here in Soundwave's torso."

—Megatron and Starscream with a sentence you can only get from Transformers

[Over comm] "Lord Megatron. There's been a situation... more like an accident, really—"
"Spit. It. OUT!"
[Short pause] "THE PRISONER HAS ESCAPED!"

—Knock Out and Megatron

"At last. Good riddance to a wretched species."
"Although I will say they manufacture some fine-looking automobiles."

—Starscream and Knock Out debate the merits of Earth

"Why would my liege wish to destroy us?"
"Having just been on the receiving end of your might, one theory springs to mind. Megatron fears you."

—Predaking and Ratchet

"Members of Team Prime, Autobot and human, it has been my honor to lead you. On this day, the fates of two worlds hang in the balance, and the battle to come may very well be our last. But for Earth, for Cybertron, for our comrade Ratchet, we must take the Decepticon warship."

—Optimus Prime

"Is it true that you ordered the annihilation of my army?"
"Indeed. And my only mistake was not seeing the extermination through."

—Predaking and Megatron

"Bravo, my liege, it isn't every day one would witness the extinction of a species all over again."
"One ultimate weapon, coming right up! Where's tall, dark and scaly?"

— Starscream right before Knock Out comes in

"If Optimus Prime wishes to wage a battle for the fate of both Earth and Cybertron, then I shall oblige him. This WILL be our last stand!"

—Megatron

Notes

Continuity notes

• Starscream believed he destroyed the Autobot base in "Persuasion". That same episode, Megatron promised Predaking the honor of destroying Ratchet.
• Megatron set the Predacon clones up to be destroyed by the Autobots in "Evolution".
• The Dark Star Saber was last seen in "Darkest Hour".
• Megatron mentions his time as a gladiator in the pits of Kaon, as described in "Crossfire" and the novel Transformers: Exodus.
• Megatron tells Predaking he should have obeyed his command and fought as a beast, as he requested in "Minus One".
• Before they leave for the Nemesis, the Autobots all grab the weapons they obtained from Ultra Magnus's ship in "Rebellion". Smokescreen gets a new weapon resembling a futuristic bow.
• Ratchet attempts, to no avail, to erase information crucial to the Decepticons, much like "Orion Pax" did.

Transformers references

• Knock Out's frustrated muttering is a reference to Long Haul's from the G1 cartoon episode "The Master Builders".

"Knock Out, bring this. Knock Out, get that! Grrrrrr!"

—Knock Out

"Ugh, get this. Bring that!"

—Long Haul

Errors

• Prior to being confronted by Predaking, Megatron, Starscream, and Knock Out were headed to the vault to get the Dark Star Saber. When Knock Out leaves to retrieve it, however, he turns right, which would take him back down the corridor they just entered from.
• Why do the car-type Vehicons run after ambulance-mode Ratchet as he darts through the corridors of the ship? He's able to elude them rather easily, which would be more difficult if they transformed and drove after him in their sports-car mode with their pop-out guns deployed.
• After Shockwave verifies that Ratchet has perfected the Synth-En formula, the canister he removes from the spectrographic analyzer and which he and Megatron victoriously brandish about contains a yellow liquid, indistinguishable from CNA fluid, when, if it's meant to be the Synth-En, it should presumably be green. This isn't necessarily an error—the perfected formula may be a different color from the imperfect green one—but when Shockwave initiates the generation of cybermatter soon after, it is shown being formed from a mix of green Synth-En and yellow CNA fluid, so either one of these scenes contains a coloring error, or the canister didn't actually contain Synth-En, despite the way it was being brandished about.

Trivia

• This episode was dedicated to storyboard artist Armen Mirzaian, who lost his life in a car accident on February 21, 2013.
• Megatron and Starscream seem awfully quick to write off Predaking as dead, considering they merely blew him out an airlock and his beast mode can fly.
• Megatron's suspicions of Predaking's might are proven true. Predaking proves far mightier than Megatron in combat, and the latter only wins because Starscream shoots Predaking in the back.
• One of the devices at the lab is similar to a centrifuge, such as which is common biochemistry lab equipment. Those sometimes end up damaged like Ratchet does this one, by switching them on while they're unevenly loaded and thus sending the rotor spinning off balance.

Foreign localization

Brazilian Portuguese

• Title: "Síntese" ("Synthesis")
• Original airdate: 7 December 2013

French

• Title: "L'Ultime Affrontement" ("The Ultimate Confrontation")
• Original airdate: ?

German

• Title: "Synthese" ("Synthesis")
• Original airdate: 15 October 2013

Hungarian

• Title: "Szintézis" ("Synthesis")
• Original airdate: 17 September 2013

Italian

• Title: "Sintesi" ("Synthesis")
• Original airdate: 6 September 2013

Home video releases

All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.

DVD

2013 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three (Shout! Factory)
2014 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season 3 Volume 3: Omega Lock (Madman Entertainment)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season 3 Volume 2: Race for Salvation (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Saison 3 Volume 2: L'ultime affrontement (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Staffel 3 Teil 2: Auf zur Rettung (Primal Screen) — English, German, Dutch and French audio.
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Intégrale Saison 3 (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — The Complete Season 3 (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Die komplette Staffel 3 (Primal Screen) — English, German, Dutch and French audio.
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — The Complete Season 3 (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.

Blu-ray

2013 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three (Shout! Factory)
2016 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three Collection (Madman Entertainment)