After the emotional turmoil that saw the return of Dinobot and another heroic sacrifice to come, everyone remained silent to let Omega Scion count down to three to prepare for another viewing.

Blackarachnia laid down in a rotating machine that inspects her interface for any possible Predacon programming, while under heavy scanning from such a device.

"Oh. Is my inside as gorgeous as my outside?" she teased.

Arcee tsked. Arachnid likely did the same thing when she seduced her first partner, Sunstreak.

"Ha! Don't flatter yourself, eight-legs. I seen better circuits than yours on a maintenance bots." Rattrap quipped.

Blackarachnia gripped a vise on his throat and threatened "One more remark like that, and it'll be rat on a stick for lunch."

"Now those are what I call lines!" Cheetor remarked.

"Cheetor, really? She's with Maxie-Bolt!" Smokescreen stated.

Disgusted, Blackarachnia retorted "Uh. Someone get him a kitty treat before he drools all over your computer."

"Knock it of, all of you!" Rhinox shouted "I'm almost finished." When the interface reveals the core of her programming right inside her chest he pointed out "There, That's the shell programming."

"So that's what keeping Spider-Brain from finding her true Maximal self, huh?" Rattrap pointed out.

"Very complex." Blackarachnia surmised after jumping out of the device.

Perceptor looked deeply into the analysis discovered by Rhinox and stated "Shell programming... interesting. I've not bothered with shell programming, that is Ratchet's department."

"We don't have such programming in our bodies, but we have thought and logic circuitry that allow us to contemplate and consider the choices we make." Ratchet argued.

"Definitely me." She gloated, making Rattrap uncomfortable.

"We're finished here. You can go, Thanks." Rhinox dismissed, yet Blackarachnia remained curious about the distrust still apparent within them.

"What's the matter? Don't you trust me?" She teased.

"Huh. About as far as an anvil can jump-" Blackarachnia throttled a hand in Rattrap's throat. "'Course I mean that in the best possible way." he gasped.

"Blackarachnia, he was only-" Cheetor was cut off when she aimed her crossbow at his face "kidding!"

"Ugh! Just be sensitive and destroy her already!" Arcee demanded.

"Yeah, put an end to that misrable bug once and for all!" Silverbolt joined in.

He got whacked by Jazz "Shut it, Blackarachnia's needed for my seeing with your grandkid and her together."

"Back off!" Blackarachnia hissed. "I'm tired of tests and secrets, and hanging around this depressing dump. And I'm sick of your stupid crush!" she threateningly waved her crossbow at Cheetor's face.

"Blackarachnia, stand down!" Primal demanded.

She complied, withdrawing her weapon and releasing Rattrap from her grasp.

"I thought I'd proved myself to you Maximals by now. Guess I was wrong." she walked away.

"No, you didn't. Not yet. Not until you've proven clearly that you're a Maximal like you were meant to be." Arcee snapped.

Primal ordered "Rattrap, call Silverbolt in from patrol. Cheetor, you replace him."

"Be glad to." Cheetor complied and walked with Rattrap.

"Ha! Predacons. Who needs 'em?" Rattrap barked.

"Not me." Cheetor replied.

"Not cool, cyber-bro. Not cool." Jazz replied.

Alone, Primal then consults with Rhinox "Can you remove the shell and reactivate her maximal programming?"

"It's tricky... And dangerous. It could dump her entire core and leave her a blank.

"And if we do nothing?"

"She'll be a Predacon forever."

"Something tells me that Blackarachnia won't let that happen to her." Knockout pointed out.

"Onslaught, are they suggesting-"

"Yes, Vortex, they are. And I don't think she will approve of it."

"That may be too big a chance to take right now. Let's find her." once they left, Blackarachnia was actually spying on them from above, after eavesdropping on the both of them.

"See, I told ya!" Knockout barked.

"We get it, you're still Ratchet's apprentice." Wheeljack waved off.

"I'm nobody's apprentice!" he yelled angrily.

"So that's how it is." she sneered. "Nobody's unzipping this girl's core." and departs by taking the secret exit she dug right under Maximal lines. As she departs on her own, Dinobot appears from cover, spouting...

"Ahh, the game begins... as I knew it would." and stalks off to shadow her in Beast Form.

"Who else here points out that Dinobot is there to assassinate her under Megatron's orders?" Ultra Magnus said.

Ironhide, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Smokescreen, and Air Raid raised their hands, along with the Dinobots minus their leader.

"I bet that Dinobot could be there of his on volition." Every other Autobot raised their hands as well.

In a forested region, Blackarachnia transforms, beginning her tranquil contemplation as she caught a butterfly.

"Let's talk about futures...yours, and mine. Mine's gotten complicated. Silverbolt is every bad girl's dream. But his Maximal pals would rather slag me than let me be what I am. So I guess this gig's over... like your future..." until she spotted a certain metallic tail "Dinobot!"

"Then what are you going to do? Megatron won't accept you now and Primal's unsure if he can trust you." Arcee spat out.

"Just what I need to let off some real steam." she releases the butterfly and begins tailing the stalking Dinobot, who had lost the trail for Blackarachnia and sped off. She followed by trapezing through the branches with the skill of a well-trained acrobat. The trailblazing goes forth here and there, yet Dinobot's excessive breathing was enough to keep Blackarachnia in her toes as she began to overtake Dinobot and leaped across a clearing, yet Dinobot was not around where she is at the moment. At least when he appeared, he eventually turned tail upon spotting Blackarachnia.

"Now the game is cat and mouse." Knockout spouted, wearing a ushanka with a Soviet Union pin.

"Where did you get that?" Bulkhead asked, referring to the furred hat Knockout was wearing.

"Warpath can do it, why can't I?"

"Fair point."

"I'm beginning to like you, skull face. Let's play." Blackrachnia sneered, then followed Dinobot.

Dinobot moved to go to ground, hoping he was likely safe, yet he spotted Blackararchnia up top who then leaped for cover.

Grimlock facepalmed "The REAL Dinobot would never be a coward!"

"SHE stalks ME, Interesting!" Dinobot sneered. Before he would proceed, a cyberweb ensnarled him by the tail and hoisted him up, right into Blackarachnia herself as he hanged upside down before her.

"Thought you'd last a little longer." she taunted. "How boring." and readied her machine guns, preparing to fire at him, yet he dodged the gunfire, raising himself high enough until he was at claw level with the webbing that he cuts open, freeing himself as he transforms to Robot Mode.

"So much for boring." Blackarachnia spouted, feeling that she underestimated Dinobot.

"You aren't wrong there, I'll give you that." Arcee pointed out.

"This is about Tailgate, isn't it?" Elita asked.

"Who ELSE couldn't it be when SHE reminds me of Airachnid?" Arcee spat out.

"You waste my time with your Maximal tricks. Go back to your web, coward!" Dinobot threatened.

Offended, Blackarachnia spat out "Calling me a coward is one thing. But NOBODY calls me a Maximal!" and charges towards Dinobot.

Warpath couldn't cheer, neither would his fellow warriors, even if it was a clone of the bot they respected so much.

Back in Maximal Base...

[Round one, fight!]

Rattrap was playing a game until Silverbolt came in and stopped it midway.

"I cannot find Blackarachnia anywhere!" the Fuzor inquired.

"Hey! What the... Have you slipped your circuits there, Bolt? Aw, man, I almost quit the level!" Rattrap whined.

"Computer, scan perimeter for unit Blackarachnia." Silverbolt ordered.

[Unit located. Moving on vector 7-3-9.]

"She's headed toward... Predacon ground." Silverbolt gasped. "But... why?"

"Obvious, ain't it? I'll tell Optimus."

 "NO!" Silverbolt held a hand towards Rattrap to stop him.

"Hey! Hands off the metal, Sir Drools-a-lot. I am not in the mood." Rattrap hissed, demanding Silverbolt release him.

Barricade and Breakdown snickered "Sir Drools-A-Lot." the latter broke down in full-blown laughter.

"I'm... I am sorry." Silverbolt took his hand off Rattrap and offered "Give me a chance to bring her back."

Rattrap snapped to Silverbolt and groused "Wise up bird-dog! A Pred is a Pred."

"Didn't you feel the same when the first Dinobot was still alive?" Arcee pointed out.

It erupted silence amongst Grimlock, Dreadwing and Predaking who were still stewing in anger of the last episode.

Knockout chuckled "The irony..."

"Oh, perhaps..." Silverbolt did agree but he rebutted "But she is my responsibility. She would not betray us."

"And I hate cheese." Rattrap sarcastically replied apathetically.

"You trusted the old Dinobot." Silverbolt pointed out.

"He's got ya there, grand-nephew." Arcee stated.

"And regretted it... More than once." But as Rattrap contemplated on the failed attempt to bring him back "Yet I still liked ol' Chopper-face 'cause he was a tough ol nut. One I called a friend." He sighed and relented "All right, you got a megacycle."

"I know you did. I'm sorry you've lost him again Rattrap." Prime sympathetically said.

"We'll be back sooner!" Just as Silverbolt departed "Oh, and, Rattrap...Thank you." then he was out of Maximal Base.

"Oh boy. I must have a glitch. But it wasn't easy that I had to go through everyday without you at my side, Chopper-face. Nooo." Rattrap moaned.

"Such of those that had lost friends and comrades at the War." Ultra Magnus replied understandingly.

Meanwhile, Dinobot had broken off, now being tracked by Blackarachnia, where he inquired his systems...

"Computer, How long before Blackarachnia crosses into the jamming zone?"

[10.7 nano-kliks.]

He pulled out a cocoon with a pistol grip. When it unfurled as his command, it revealed to be a weapon of some kind. Dinobot then sneered "Now we play... for real!"

"Looks like Dinobot's turning the tables against Blackarachnia with... whatever that thing is." Blast Off pointed out."

As Blackrachnia began to acknowledge the dark setting, she landed and prepared her crossbow.

"Mood... setting... All I need now is my dance partner." she monologued. Witnessing upon multiple sights of Dinobot, one of which was within her range "Gotcha!" and fired at Dinobot, yet the target was actually a hologram. 

"It's a trap! Get out of there!" Air Raid yelled.

She didn't realize that it was too late when the real Dinobot leaped behind her and swept her down with his tail. Dinobot gloated "You took the bait well, as I anticipated."

Just as he was about to carve her open, she tripped him with a leg sweep and jumped back, firing her machine guns right past his laser blast.

"I'm surprised you guys didn't cheer for Blackarachnia." Sideswipe said, pointing out the silence within the rowdy duo of Grimlock and Warpath.

"Why would we? That's a clone of a hero we're seeing there!" Grimlock pointed out.

Blackrachnia landed with her feet, retrieving her crossbow, then fired, yet Dinobot dodged her bolt. To her shock, he also sidestepped away from the falling tree's trajectory.

"Uh oh." she gulped and turned tail. Dinobot gave chase to his prey, who was doing what she can to keep him away with her machine gun appendages, yet it didn't slow him down a bit even as the gunfire pelted his Transmetal hide with no penetration apparent. He fired two more plasma blasts, but not at her, but rather at the trees before her. She didn't notice it until it was too late when the trees collapse upon her.

"The irony. Again." Knockout chuckled.

Dinobot approached the damaged and struggling Blackarachnia, gloating to her "The Maximals have made you soft. Megatron will change that, after he extracts the access codes for the Ark... from your head." and prepares his long laser. "Now, hold still - - this WILL hurt." yet Blackarachnia set her hand free and fired her weapon, right into Dinobot, seemingly knocking him out cold.

Damaged, she pulled herself off the log pinning her legs and tried to hail her beloved knight "Blackarachnia to Silverbolt. I'm badly damaged, I need a lift." yet no response came from him "Silverbolt, do you copy?"

Silverbolt slammed a fist and yelled "Unacceptable!"

All while Dinobot subconsciously emanates energies from his Spark that eventually resucitated him. Realizing the jamming, Blackarachnia groaned "Great. I let that sneaky lizard lead me right into Megatron's jamming zone."

"Not as smart as you were without forethought, haven't you?" Thunderblast taunted. "DESTROY THAT TRAITOR, DINOBOT!"

"Your first mistake, but not your last!" Dinobot blasted another ball of Plasma at her, prompting Blackarachnia to turn tail as quickly as she can. He began to track her climbing up the cliffside and boasted "Your time is done, spider."

Meanwhile, as Silverbolt flied around the forest zone where Blackarachnia was last seen, he realized "Oh, my tracking array is useless in the jamming zone. Must return to basis."

Upon landing to the ground, he began to sniff out "I have her scent!" having remembered the smell of her favorite perfume: cyber-berry, and another, which he then realized "And another one, a foul one... Dinobot!"

Realizing that his beloved is in danger, Silverbolt charges ahead to where the scent takes him.

"Ooooh yes, save your future Conjunx Endura. She must be in danger..." Cliffjumper joked rolling his eyes.

Now that was a joke his friends and his former enemies could laugh at.

"I bet ya now that's going out with a bang!"

And now they stopped laughing and exclaimed "Primus curse it, Cliffjumper!"

Yet Ratchet laughed at it consistently.

Meanwhile, Rattrap took leisure time for himself playing a shooter, shouting "Prepare to die... 

"Rattrap!" Primal interrupted, forcing Rattrap to stop again to turn to his leader "Where's Silverbolt and Blackarachnia?" as the former asked.

"I ah... thought they were... in the lab... with you!" Rattrap lied.

Rhinox checked for the computer "There's no sign of them on the scanners, Internal or external."

Primal then attempted to hail "Optimus to Silverbolt, come in immediately, that's an order!" Without a response, he muttered "They must be in Megatron's jamming zone." then he ordered "Locate them and let me know as soon as you do." as he departed by flight mode.

"Silverbolt walks right into the trap. One where Blackarachnia barely made out with her Spark. This will end badly for both of them." Prime stated.

"Especially with Dinobot lurking her for the codes of the Ark she currently has." Ultra Magnus pointed out.

Blackarachnia took to hide from Dinobot to load her weapon "Don't know how Fang survived my venom, but a triple dose should drop him."

"Transmetals are made of sterner stuff, perhaps even her cyber-venom." Ratchet stated.

Once she jumped out of cover, she instead bumped into Silverbolt.

"Thank Primus I found you!" Curious about his beloved's intent to leave, unbeknownst to him, Dinobot had caught up to her. "Nothing to say for yourself, eh?" Silverbolt inquired.

"Yes. DUCK!" as Blackarachnia dived to the ground for cover.

"Huh?"as Dinobot then blasted a plasma bolt at him.

"FIGHT BACK NOW!" Silverbolt yelled.

Silverbolt stood up and tried to fight back, yet Dinobot disarmed him and knocked him to the ground where he began to deal excruating pain to the Fuzor to leverage Blackarachnia by lasering his forehead.

"Submit now, or bid goodbye to the object of your twisted affection!" he demanded.

Thunderblast laughed in such wicked glee that would make Vortex look sane in comparison. "YES! PROVE YOUR WORTH TO YOUR GOD AND CLEAVE THE TREACHEROUS SPIDER IN HALF!"

Blackarachnia then instead fired, interrupting Dinobot's torture of her beloved and demanded to Dinobot "THIS...is between Predacons!"

"Oh look, another attempt to usurp Megatron from leadership. Because what the Preds need right now is a seductress." Arcee spat out in disgust.

"You surprised me." Dinobot said "Perhaps there is some Predacon left in you after all."

"I'm through with the Maximals... but I can't go back to Megatron either. Not without someone to back me up. Someone like...you." she began to make an offer.

"Interesting. Tell me more." Dinobot replied, looking quite interested.

"You're state of the art metal, And I've got the key to the Arc." Blackarachnia negociated. "Together we could rule... without Megatron."

The Renegatrons laughed.

"As if you can rule over anything!" Brawl taunted.

"You're no better than Starscream when you're leader!" Onslaught taunted.

"Yeah, right!" Blast Off taunted.

"Sure you are!" Swindle spoke next.

"Rule... without my descendant?! That's bad comedy." Megatron laughed.

Awakened, yet damaged and blurred, Silverbolt inquired "What... happened...?" yet he was silenced by Dinobot's foot at his mouth.

"Usurp Megatron's command and take the Ark for ourselves, It is ambitious." Dinobot surmised.

"I'm that kind of a girl." Blackarachnia then offered "So what do you say... partners?"

"Something tells me Dinobot would have no interest in the long run." Megatron stated.

But it was clear that Dinobot had feigned interest and spoke out "I say... you...are a fool!" and blasted a beam that incapacitated Blackarachnia.

"And now it has come to pass." Megatron grinned.

"Beloved!" Silverbolt shouted in horror.

"You'll be up to move in a moment. Just enough to feel the final blow." Just as Dinobot prepared to cleave her apart, Silverbolt stood up threateningly "Unhand her, reptilian filth!" prompting Dinobot to leap at him, yet to his surprise it was a hologram; the real Silverbolt had used his own device against him and fired missiles at him, knocking him of the edge of the cliff, but as Dinobot tried to climb up...

"Game over, Fangs." Blackarachnia then fired her crossbow at him, sending him off the cliff screaming with cybervenom laced to his head.

Not even the rowdiest warriors cheered for the victory. Not even Grimlock.

"Took you long enough." Blackarachnia moved to regroup with Silverbolt, but he held a hand towards her "Stop!"

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

"Despite your attempt to destroy me, I..." Silverbolt pointed his weapon at Blackarachnia "I heard your foul plan to betray us."

"Ohhhh, why are the cute ones always tube heads?!" Blackarachnia