Transformers: Robots in Disguise
“The Human Element” – Episode 34
Written by Tom Wyner
Transcription by Brandon Williams

–

[Recap]

Narrator: Previously on Transformers…

X-Brawn: It’s Megatron!

Galvatron: My name is Galvatron. I took energy from the sparks of my Predacons, which, combined with the energy of the pyramid, led to my rebirth as a Decepticon. Now nothing can stop me.

[End Recap]

Galvatron: I returned for what I thought would be our greatest victory but the Autobots defeated us again. If Maximus had obeyed you as you said he would, the Autobots would have been destroyed. What went wrong?

Scourge: The programming of the robot’s brain, Cerebros, is extremely complex. So far we haven’t determined exactly what happened.

Galvatron: I see. Then you should continue your investigation and correct the problem. Gaining control of Fortress Maximus is vital to my plan. Do not fail me.

Scourge: Sir, I am your most loyal servant. Failure is not an option.

Galvatron: Hmmm. Hmmmm?

Sky-Byte: Huh?! I couldn’t put it better myself, sir!

[Transition]

Sky-Byte: If I could figure out how to control Fortress Maximus, Galvatron would give me the respect I deserve. There must be a way to find the answers he’s looking for. Now let me see… Of course! I’ll simply conduct a little investigation of my own.

Mega-Octane: In order to control Fortress Maximus, we must first control Cerebros, which means finding a way to alter or delete his command block program.

Scourge: There’s an alternative. Deception. We must discover the one whose commands he will obey and then deceive Maximus by mimicking that bio-signature.

Mega-Octane: Could it be Optimus Prime?

Scourge: No, not Optimus. Not any Autobot. He obeyed a human. That boy, the one they call Koji.

Koji (flashback): Stop, Maximus! What you’re doing is wrong. You have the spark of an Autobot!

Mega-Octane: He may have stopped because of a malfunction, perhaps a circuit overload. How can you be certain he was obeying the human?

Sky-Byte: Hmmm?

Scourge: When Cerebros responded to my command, my energy resinated with his. But when I commanded Fortress Maximus, I felt another energy within him which blocked my own. The other presence I felt in Fortress Maximus was human, and Koji was the only human there.

Mega-Octane: But how did he do it? Could he have some sort of special power? He seems like a normal human.

Scourge: Yes, braver than most, but normal nonetheless. And yet he controlled the most powerful robot on Earth.

Mega-Octane: Then we’ve got to figure out why Maximus obeyed him.

Scourge: Yes…

Sky-Byte: Very interesting.

Scourge: A normal human. Of course! I never considered the simplest explanation of all. Cerebros, what is the current location of Fortress Maximus?

Cerebros: Planet Earth, sector 18. Exact co-ordinate unknown.

Mega-Octane: Movor, check sector 18 immediately!

[Transition]

Mega-Octane: Movor, status report.

Movor: Roger, Mega-Octane. I’m approaching that location now. I’ve spotted something. I’m not sure what it is but it doesn’t look like a natural formation.

Mega-Octane: Sounds promising. Check it out.

Movor: Roger. I’m going in for a closer look. Increasing magnification. It’s Fortress Maximus, all right. No doubt about it, we’ve found him.

[Transition]

Optimus: How’s it coming, T-AI?

T-AI: Well, I’ve got a lot more work to do, but I’ve got part of the answer.

Koji: Answer? To what?

Sideburn: T-AI’s trying to why Fortress Maximus stopped when you told him to.

T-AI: Scourge thought he could control Maximus by pretending to be Optimus. He made an invalid assumption, that Maximus would follow your orders.

Optimus: Hmmm… Go on, T-AI.

T-AI: He was able to fool Cerebros, but once Cerebros joined with Fortress Maximus, his recognition program was much more powerful. So he compared frequencies. When Scourge’s didn’t match the one he’s programmed to obey, he refused him access.

Optimus: But he obeyed Koji. Does that mean that Koji is part of Maximus’ programming? That seems highly unlikely.

Sideburn: True, but maybe he responded to Koji because Koji has some sort of special power or something.

Koji: Aw, that’s silly. I’m not special, I’m just… me.

Sideburn: Exactly. Each of us is special in one way or another and I think you’ve got something that’s a little extra special.

Koji: That’s nice of you to say, Sideburn, but I don’t feel more special than anyone else.

Dr. Onishi: Sideburn, I’m certain that there’s a scientific explanation.

Sideburn: Then why was Koji the only one that Maximus would listen to?

Prowl: If Koji hadn’t stopped him, the whole city could’ve been destroyed. Maybe Sideburn’s right.

Koji: Really?! Cool!

Dr. Onishi: Nonsense. There’s no evidence to support such an outlandish theory.

Optimus: What’s going on, T-AI?

T-AI: There’s some kind of Decepticon activity going on in sector 18!

Optimus: I should’ve known. That’s where we found Maximus. We have to get there, ASAP!

Autobot Bros: Roger!

Dr. Onishi: Optimus, listen. Koji and I would like to go with you.

Optimus: I’m sorry, doctor, but the answer’s no. It’s much too dangerous.

Koji: I’m not scared of Scourge and his gang, and you made need my help.

Dr. Onishi: If Koji is the only one that Fortress Maximus will obey, then you’ve got to take him along. The Earth’s safety is at stake.

Koji: Please, Optimus.

T-AI: It will be dangerous, but this is their world, Optimus. I think they should have they should have the right to defend it, don’t you?

Optimus: As a matter of fact, I do. When Cybertron was in danger, nothing could’ve stopped me from fighting to protect it. Very well, doctor. You’re coming with us. But I want you both in close proximity to one of the Autobot Brothers at all times.

Koji: Right.

Dr. Onishi: Understood.

Optimus: Let’s roll out!

Autobot Bros: Roger!

[Commercial]

Dr. Onishi: Koji, try to remember how you controlled Maximus.

Koji: All I remember is trying really hard to get him to understand me and then it was like a door opened, and we were connected. [Flashback] Maximus, what you’re doing is wrong! You were sent here to protect, not destroy. You’re one of us, one of the good guys! You have the spark of an Autobot! [End of flashback] I had the strangest feeling; that he was inside my head and could tell what I was thinking.

Dr. Onishi: Aha. Interesting.

Koji: But that doesn’t explain how I did it. Maybe Sideburn’s right and I have some kind of special power.

Dr. Onishi: Koji, being able to eat three cheeseburgers in one meal is your special power.

Koji: Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Dr. Onishi: You do have unique abilities, everyone does. But no human has the kind of power that Sideburn was talking about. There’s got to be a rational explanation for what happened, we just haven’t found it yet.

Koji: Yeah, I guess.

[Transition]

Scourge: Movor, we’ve found him. Join us in sector 18. By now, the Autobots know we’re here. When they arrive our large friend here will give them a warm welcome. Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Sky-Byte: I overheard everything Scourge said, but I still don’t get how he expects to control that thing.

Optimus: Optimus Prime, transform!

X-Brawn: X-Brawn, transform!

Sideburn: Sideburn, transform!

Prowl: Prowl, transform!

X-Brawn: What’s Scourge up to this time?

Sideburn: Well, whatever it is, we’ll stop him.

Prowl: C’mon guys, it’s showtime!

Koji: Look! Maximus, he hasn’t been activated yet.

Dr. Onishi: What good would it do Scourge to activate him? Maximus won’t obey him.

Sideburn: If that’s true, then why is he here? I don’t think Scourge and his buddies came all the way out here to enjoy the view.

Optimus: Scourge.

Scourge: Optimus…

Optimus: We both know that Maximus won’t obey you. So what are you doing here?

Scourge: You’ll find out soon enough, Optimus. Now if you’ll excuse me… Mega-Octane, take him out.

Optimus: Wait!

Mega-Octane: Don’t go, the party’s just started. Ro-Tor, Movor!

Ro-Tor: I’m gonna like this party.

Armorhide: But I’ll betcha Optimus won’t.

Mega-Octane: Decepticons, combiner mode!

Ruination: Ruination awakens! Demolition Blaster!

Sideburn: I’m coming!

X-Brawn and Prowl: Hold on!

Sideburn: Let go!

X-Brawn: Aren’t you forgetting something? One of us has to stay with Koji and his father.

Prowl: And we agreed that it would be you, remember?

Sideburn: That’s not fair.

Prowl: Let’s go.

X-Brawn: Right.

Sideburn: Wait!

Koji: Sorry about that, Sideburn.

Sideburn: Don’t worry about it, I’m fine. It’s an honour being your bodyguard. You and your dad are two of Earth’s most valuable assets.

X-Brawn: Looks like you could use a hand.

Optimus: Thanks. Keep Ruination busy, I’ll go after Scourge.

X-Brawn and Prowl: Roger!

Ruination: Double Demolition!

Optimus: Oh no!

Sideburn: Ruination stopped them cold. Come on, Optimus! Let’s go get these guys!

Optimus: Stop wasting time, Scourge. What are you doing here? What do you want?

Scourge: Why, Fortress Maximus, of course. You see, Optimus, when I was scanning that tanker truck, I received input from three sources simutaneously. Megatron’s programming, your Autobot spark, and last but not least, the bio-energy of the truck’s human passenger.

Optimus: What?

Scourge: Thanks to your friend Koji, I realized that Maximus obeys humans and amplified the human part of my bio-frequency a hundred fold. Fortress Maximus! Activate all systems. Send forth Cerebros and the emissary.

Cerebros: Cerebros, transform.

Fortress Maximus: RAAAAAARRGGHHHH!

Scourge: Fortress Maximus, you will obey me and me alone. Now kneel, Fortress Maximus, and open your command module. Rise, Fortress Maximus! I’ve done it! Fortress Maximus is mine!

Ruination: Congratulations, Scourge. We Decepticons now control the most powerful robot on Earth. The Autobots are doomed.

Scourge: Yes, I will vanquish my enemies, and then I will pay my respects to Galvatron. But first, the Autobots. Forward, Fortress Maximus. Smash the Autobots! Destroy them all! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! One step for Maximus, one giant leap for the Decepticons!

[Commercial]

Prowl: I can’t believe it. Scourge figured out how to make Maximus obey his orders!

X-Brawn: As long as he’s in there, there’s no way to get to him. What are we gonna do, Optimus?

Optimus: There must be a way. There’s got to be!

Sky-Byte: Scourge has succeeded, which means that Galvatron will just keep on ignoring me. I’m a bad shark…

Sideburn: They need me out there. What should I do? They don’t have a chance of stopping Maximus without me, but I told them I’d stay here with you.

Koji: Listen, Sideburn. I stopped him before, I can do it again.

Sideburn: Huh?

Koji: But I’ll have to be closer so he’ll be able to hear me when I order him to stop.

Sideburn: Gotcha. You just leave it to me. Transform! C’mon, hop in.

Koji: Right.

Dr. Onishi: No, Koji, wait. It’s too dangerous.

Koji: If I don’t, it’ll be the end of the Autobots.

Dr. Onishi: The Autobots can take care of themselves. They don’t want you to get hurt.

Sideburn: He’s right, but Koji’s right too. What am I gonna do?!

Magnus: Quiet down, will ya?

Sideburn: Ultra Magnus! Man, am I glad to see you! You got here just in time.

Magnus: I was taking a nap, but your whining was so loud it woke me up. What’s your problem, Sideburn?

Sideburn: Figures. You’re sleeping while the rest of us are trying to stop Fortress Maximus.

Magnus: So Scourge has managed to get control of him again, huh? You stay here with these two. Optimus and I can handle this. Looks like you could use a little help, Optimus. I think it’s time for Omega Prime to make an appearance, don’t you?

Optimus: As a matter of fact, I do.

Both: Combine into Omega Prime!

Omega Prime: Last warning, Ruination! Get out of my way!

Ruination: Double Demolition!

Omega Prime: Gatling laser!

Ruination: He’s all yours, Scourge.

Scourge: Excellent. I can destroy Optimus and Ultra Magnus at the same time.

Ruination: Ha, ha, ha. I’m going to enjoy this.

Scourge: Ha, ha, ha. So am I. Forward, Fortress Maximus! Destroy Omega Prime!

Omega Prime: Armour-piercing salvo! I need more firepower! A direct hit with the most powerful weapons in my arsenal and there’s not a mark on him.

Koji: Scourge is winning, Sideburn. We’ve gotta go now.

Sideburn: Get in.

Dr. Onishi: No, Koji. Don’t go!

Koji: I’m sorry, Dad, but I’ve got to, no matter how dangerous it is. The Autobots need my help to stop that monster.

Dr. Onishi: When you stopped him before, Scourge wasn’t controlling him from the command module. He won’t listen to you now.

Koji: I’ve gotta try.

Dr. Onishi: No, Koji, wait!

Sideburn: Sideburn, super-charge!

Koji: Maximus, the Autobots are your friends. Don’t hurt them. The real enemy is inside you.

Scourge: The boy is trying to control him, but my amplified human bio-frequency is a hundred times more powerful than his.

Koji: I don’t think he can hear me from here, Sideburn. Get closer. You’ve gotta listen to me, Maximus!

Scourge: Not this time.

Koji: Huh?

Scourge: Forward, Maximus! Destroy the Autobot and his passenger!

Koji: Oh no. He’s not responding. I’m having no affect.

Scourge: Nothing can stop me.

Koji: Dad was right all along. It’s hopeless. I don’t have any special power. If somebody doesn’t stop Scourge, he’ll destroy the Autobots.

Dr. Onishi: I’ve got it. This is Onishi, calling T-AI.

T-AI: Yes, doctor?

Dr. Onishi: I believe I know how to stop Scourge and regain control of Fortress Maximus, so listen carefully. I know this will sound like a strange request, but it’s the only way.

T-AI: I’ll help in any way I can.

Koji: I’ll try again. If we can get within a couple of feet of him, maybe he’ll listen. Closer, Sideburn, closer! That’s it. He’s gotta listen!

Scourge: I’ll crush them like Insecticons! Hahaha…

Koji and Sideburn: Wwwhhhhoooaaaaa!

Omega and Onishi: Koji!

Sideburn: Transform!

Koji: Ahhh! Sideburn!

Sideburn: Oh no! Koji!

Koji: Aaahhh! … Huh? Gee, Sky-Byte! Thanks for saving me again.

Sky-Byte: Ahhh?! It was an accident! A fluke, a fin, a flounder! Noooo! If Galvatron finds out I’ve saved you again, he’ll — I don’t even want to think about it!

Koji: Nice to see you, Sky-Byte! Thanks again!

Scourge: What does it matter if the boy survives? He can’t possibly match the power of my bio-energy. Forward, Fortress Maximus!

Koji: I thought I could help. I thought I could get him to listen to me, but I guess I just wasn’t strong enough.

Dr. Onishi: It isn’t over yet, son.

Koji: What?

Dr. Onishi: Scourge amplified his human bio-energy a hundred times that of a normal human to gain control of Maximus, so we need to generate an even stronger bio-energy signal of human origin in order to override his control.

Koji: Yeah, but how?

Dr. Onishi: A little help from our friends.

Koji: Hey!

Scourge: What are they doing here?!

Midnight: Everyone, you know what you’re here for, but it won’t work unless Maximus hears you, so yell as loud as you can.

Dr. Onishi: All right, let’s do this.

Midnight: We’re with you all the way, doctor. All right, on your mark, get set and go!

All Children: Stop trying to hurt the Autobots! Stop trying to hurt the Autobots!

Various Kids: You and the Autobots are on the same side! You’re here to protect the Earth from harm! Scourge is a Decepticon, he’s your enemy! Don’t listen to him!

All Children: Stop trying to hurt the Autobots! Stop trying to hurt the Autobots! Stop trying to hurt the Autobots!

Omega Prime: It worked!

T-AI: When Dr. Onishi contacted me and asked me to send a thousand children into the desert, I thought he’d lost his marbles. But as it turned out, he was right all along.

Omega Prime: Time to finish this. Listen to me, Scourge. Neither you or the Decepticons, nor Galvatron will ever overcome the power of the human race.

Scourge: Forward, Maximus!

Omega Prime: He’s not going anywhere. Omega Blaster!

Ruination: Let’s get out of here!

Galvatron: You and your puny human friends may have won this battle, Omega Prime, but one day… I will grind you into dust, I promise you.

[Commercial]

Koji: I’m sorry I disobeyed you, Dad. I really thought I could help, but you were right. I don’t have any special powers.

Sideburn: I was the one who put that idea into your head, Koji. I’m sorry.

Koji: That’s okay.

Dr. Onishi: Listen, son. You made me very proud today. You were willing to risk everything for your friends. Your loyalty and your courage, and the goodness in your heart are very special powers, indeed. Never forget that.

Koji: We can’t let Galvatron win. But as long as he’s got Cerebros, he might find a way of controlling Maximus and then the whole Earth would be in danger. What are we going to do?

Optimus: Sooner or later we’re going to find a way to get Cerebros back, Koji. We’ll rid this planet of Galvatron and his gang of evil-doers, I promise you. Your world is under our protection now, and as long as we work as a team, humans and Autobots together, the enemies of Earth will never win. Never.

[End]