Nightscream still believes Noble to be his friend. Blackarachnia brings back Silverbolt, and together they head off to rescue Optimus and Cheetor, who have been captured by Megatron. But Silverbolt has changed.
Megatron infects Silverbolt with a variety of Hate Plague virus, which he then passes to the other Maximals. Optimus realises they can only stop fighting and hating each other if they all work together - then wonders if Megatron is right.
The perilous arrival of the powerful transformer Botanica may give the Maximals a fighting chance in their attempt to re-balance Cybertron, turning it into the technorganic world the Matrix desires.
When Megatron resurrects the two greatest generals in Cybertron's history, Botanica - reluctantly - proves herself to be as good a warrior as a scientist. Optimus vows to rescue the captured sparks.
The Maximals split into teams to search for the sparks. Underground in the original Iacon, Megatron reveals he's been misdirecting them, and steals the last of the oracle code from Optimus, but also reveals the location of the sparks.
Megatron has been absorbing the sparks, intending to 'ascend' and become the most powerful, perfect being in the universe. Noble's sacrifice causes Nightscream to lash out, disrupting the process.
Megtron's spark survived, and is forced into the frame of a diagnostic drone by Rattrap. Gathering Strika and Obsidian, the tyrant plans to regroup and continue towards his goal.
It takes a final, catastrophic battle and the ultimate sacrifice, but Optimus's Oracle-inspired vision of a balanced technorganic world may now be realised.
