Cosmic Rust (Episode)

In an attempt to destroy the Autobots, the Decepticons travel into Deep Space, and end up bringing back a scourge that plagued the Cybertronian Empire during the Great War.

## Plot

*"If Cybertron be your home, far away, never roam... hear my message, listen in fear, danger comes, the end is near... just like us, you soon shall rust, all will. be turned to dust..."*

### The Great Tragedy

In 5,302,299 BC, a group of Cybertronians, led by Wissenschaft, land on the planet of Roda. Wissenschaft tells his unit to be cautious, as they don't know what could be on Roda. Upon opening the blast doors to Metroplex, Blow-Out tells Wissenschaft that he's detecting several rust particles in the air, nothing like they've seen on Cybertron. Wissenschaft tells Blow-Out to scout the planet. Blow-Out jumps out onto Roda's surface, and begins travelling through a rust storm. Upon reaching 5 kilometers in, Blow-Out is left horrified to find a mechanical statue, completely destroyed by growing Rust. He contacts Wissenschaft, who tells him to take a sample. Blow-Out asks if it is wise to do so, and Wissenschaft tells Blow-Out that they must study it for the safety of the Cybertronian Empire. Hesitant, Blow-Out approaches the Rust-covered statue.

Several Years later on 5,020,000 BC, Megatron orders Gigatron, Warwolf, Deceptica, & Rage to begin the campaigns. Rage tells Megatron that he'll contact his followers on Antilla and have them mobilize. Megatron tells Rage to have them to terminate Magistrate Xaaron. On Antilla, Hydradread tells Ramcone that they have been given orders to kill Xaaron. Ramcone tells Hydradread that they have to hurry, as Nova Prime is calling in a meeting to speak with Xaaron. Within a Basilica in the Capitol City of Erdatos, Xaaron enters a meeting with Nova Prime. Xaaron tells Nova Prime that the Cybertronians under his rule are willing to remain aligned with the Government of Cybertron. Nova Prime tells Xaaron that a gladiator will try to take the planet, as it is rich with Energon. Xaaron tells Nova that the Antillans will never break free from the Cybertronian Empire.

Nova Prime tells Xaaron that they really need Antilla's Energon to defeat Megatron's "Decepticon" Movement. Xaaron tells Nova that he will speak to his people about donating Energon to Cybertron's Defense Force. Nova asks Xaaron to refer to the Forces as "Autobots". Xaaron agrees to the name, and asks how many Autobots there are. Nova mentions that the 1st Legion is being assembled on Cybertron, while 11 other colonies have pledged to assemble legions. Xaaron decides for Antilla to be the 13th legion. Nova shakes Xaaron's hand, before leaving the meeting room. Meanwhile, Wissenschaft asks Blow-Out to send return the vile of Cosmic Rust back to General Specter's Lab. Blow-Out salutes Wissenschaft, before leaving his lab. Blow-Out enters Specter's Lab, and places the vile in a vault.

Meanwhile, Ramcone, Hydradread, and Spacewarp enter the Antillan Basilica. Ramcone suggests splitting up to find Xaaron. Spacewarp tells them that he will find Xaaron first, before leaving. Hydradread and Ramcone climb back into the vents. Spacewarp eventually finds Xaaron's quarters and enters, only to be approached by Tow-Line, who asks who he is. Tow-Line spots SpaceWarp's gun and prepares to arrest him. Spacewarp shoots and injures Tow-Line, before Xaaron calls for security. Meanwhile, General Specter is shot in the back and killed by Hydradread. Hydradread enters the lab and finds Blow-Out, who flees in fear. Ramcone shoots at Blow-Out and misses, before both find the vault. Hydradread suggests opening it, before Ramcone does so and finds the vile. Ramcone takes it and flees the lab.

Alarms sound throughout Antilla, and Xaaron is approahced by Spacewarp. Spacewarp prepares to kill Xaaron, only to be shot and killed by Tow-Line. Tow-Line asks Xaaron to follow him, and both flee. Meanwhile, Wissenschaft sees Ramcone and Hydradread and asks them to stop. Hydradread shoots Wissenschaft, and Wissenschaft remains standing, before attacking the Stormtroopers. Ramcone drops the vile as Hydradread is killed by Wissenschaft. The vile breaks, and the liquid rust begins to spread. Wissenschaft begins to flee, as the Cosmic Rust begins to spread. Wissenschaft is caught by the Rust and is dissolved into rust particles. The Cosmic Rust reaches Specter's lab, where it consumes his body. It approaches the Lightening Bug, and doesn't affect it. Blow-Out finds the rust slowly making it's way through the Basilica, and informs Tow-Line and Xaaron.

Horrified, Xaaron asks Blow-Out to have the city evacuated. Meanwhile, Aragon is informed by Xaaron to inform Cybertron, and Aragon contacts Optimus. Optimus informs Halogen. Anxious, Halogen orders Optimus to shut off the SpaceBridge network to Antilla. Optimus reminds Halogen that the SpaceBridge Network is Hub'd on both Cybertron and the Nebulan Space Station. Halogen begins to think, before he is contacted by Zetar. Zetar mentions that Cosmic Rust has breached the Nebulan Space Station, and had made it's way to Gigantion, Rotan, Andellor, Madelan, Yst, Gennix, Leida, and Zone. On Gigantion, several Cybertronians flee, as Eta Supreme is consumed by Cosmic Rust. Horrified, Halogen informs Nova Prime. Upon hearing the news, Nova Prime orders for the SpaceBridge Network to be shut down on Cybertron, and for the Nebulan SpaceBridge to be destroyed.

Optimus contacts Aragon, who doesn't answer. Optimus contacts Zetar and tells him to destroy the Space Station. Anxious, Zetar leaves to do so. Zetar approaches the Station's Reactor Core and shoots it, causing the entire Space Station to explode. On Velocitron, the SpaceBridges deactivate, shocking Blurr and Fasttrack. On Antilla, Xaaron is left within Specter's lab, within the Lightening Bug's Proximity, begins to record a warning message for all of those who travel to Antilla and the other Cybertronian Colony worlds infected by Cosmic Rust, while being tended to by the Antillans. An Antillan Emirate tells his people that with the virus infecting their crops, they too will soon die. On Cybertron, Nova Prime, Guardian Major, Elita One, Ultra Magnus, and Optimus gather for a requiem of the Cybertronians slaughtered by Cosmic Rust.

### In Search of a Virus

Optimus mentions that with the Colony Worlds disconnected from Cybertron, they won't win the war anytime soon. In Present Day on April 3, Megatron, Sunstorm, and the Coneheads walk through a rust storm on Antilla. Shockwave tells Megatron that they have 25 Minutes left till the rust begins to infect them. Dirge asks if he could go back to The Nemesis, and Sunstorm mentions that they'll go once Megatron finds what he's looking for. Megatron tells the Seekers that the Data Slug from Minnesota was recovered finally, and that it was a map to the Lightening Bug on Antilla. Sunstorm asks what's important about the Lightening Bug, and Megatron tells Sunstorm that it was built by Alchemist Prime as a weapon to fend off enemies of the Cybertronian Empire. Megatron and the Seekers reach the Antillan Basilica and enter.

Megatron opens a room, and discovers the body of Xaaron. Ramjet mentions that Xaaron is dead, and Megatron mentions that Xaaron was Antilla's leader, till the Great Tragedy happened. Thrust looks around and accidentally activates a button. A message from Xaaron appears before Megatron and the seekers, and Thrust apologizes. Xaaron recites warning to Megatron, mentioning how the outbreak of the Cosmic Rust led to the Cybertronian Empire to be separated via the SpaceBridge network. Xaaron mentions that while the Lightening Bug has properties of surviving the plague, activating it speeds it up. Xaaron warns that if visitors have come, to stay so the Plague isn't revived. Dirge flees, and Sunstorm tases him. Megatron demands to know where the Bug is, and Xaaron mentions that it was left in the Vault of Oigat the Great.

Xaaron mentions that Oigat was the First Leader to Rule the Antillans after they were annexed into the Cybertronian Empire. Megatron blasts Xaaron's message, before walking over to the Oigat Chamber. Megatron enters the chamber and finds the Lightening Bug. Megatron orders The Seekers to take it. Back on Earth in Seoul, South Korea, a doctor introduces Perceptor into an assembly of Scientists, telling him that he is the first Cybertronian to receive the Humans' Nobel Prize for creating Corrostop, a chemical that stops any corrosion on anything. Perceptor thanks the Korean Doctor as he is handed the Nobel Prize. he then shows off a live video where the Autobots Scattershot and Armorhide apply Corrostop to the corroding Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Elizabeth, Ron Witwicky, Steven, & Natalie watch in amazement as the Corrostop de-corrodes the Plaza.

### The Scourge of Cosmic Rust

Perceptor mentions that they only have enough Corrostop to cover the Plaza, but plan to make more, when they keep mining "Chemical X" from the Gases of Saturn. Ronald tells his son that he should collaborate with the Autobots more often, and Steven mentions that they could be a hand full at times. Back aboard The Nemesis in Mercury's orbit, Megatron begins to fall ill. Star Fall attends to Megatron, and Megatron asks her to find Shockwave or Knockout. Star Fall tells him that Shockwave is busy with the Constructicons, as Knockout is helping the Predacons in Australia. Megatron falls again, and Star Fall notices rust beginning to cover Megatron. Horrified, Star Fall backs away, before Demolisher walks in. Demolisher tells Star Fall that many of the crew have fallen ill, covered in rust. Star Fall tells Megatron that he shouldn't have gone to Antilla.

Megatron tells Star Fall that she can't tell him what to do, before ordering her to find Perceptor. Star Fall asks why Perceptor, and Megatron mentions that Soundwave have been keeping eyes on him, and he believes that Perceptor may know how to help them. Star Fall contacts Fallen Angel, and asks her to find Perceptor, under Megatron's direct order. On Earth, Scattershot, Armorhide, Guzzle, and Perceptor watch the statue in amazement, as Elizabeth speaks to Jack, Miko, and Raf about the ingredients of Corrostop. Far away, Buzzsaw watches. Buzzsaw sends a coded message to Fallen Angel, before flying back to Soundwave. Soundwave tells Fallen Angel to move in. Scattershot congratulates Perceptor, and tells him that they should use it to repair the Sea of Rust, causing Perceptor to chuckle.

Fallen Angel, Blackout, Lugnut, & Sunstorm arrive and begin attacking. Scattershot tells the humans to get to safety as he open fires on the Decepticons. Guzzle transforms into tank mode, only to be sent flying by Blackout. Armorhide punches Lugnut, only to break his fist. Sunstorm fires on Armorhide, knocking him out, before shooting Scattershot. Perceptor is surrounded by the Decepticons, and Fallen Angel tells him that Megatron has plans for him. Fallen Angel then orders Lugnut to grab him, before the Decepticons fly away. Scattershot struggles to get up, while Elizabeth runs to him. Steven asks Scattershot why they took Perceptor, and Scattershot analyzes himself. Scattershot detects a bit of rust where he was hit. Scattershot mentions that he noticed a bit of rust on Sunstorm, before he was shot.

Scattershot mentions that if the Decepticons captured Perceptor, it might be for his invention, Corrostop. Elizabeth falls over, and asks someone to contact Elita One. Elizabeth turns to Steven, and Steven asks what she wants. Elizabeth signals Steven to contact Elita, though Steven is confused. Frustrated, Elizabeth shouts it out. Startled, Steven backs away. Aboard The Nemesis, Perceptor is escorted to Megatron by Fallen Angel and Sunstorm. Perceptor and the Decepticons are horrified to discover Megatron and Star Fall covered in Rust. Star Fall tells Fallen Angel to interrogate Perceptor for any cure. Perceptor asks how this happened, and Star Fall tells him that he was searching for a relic on Antilla, and contracted a long lost plague. Perceptor identifies it as the Cosmic Rust Virus, before asking why he would dare go there.

Megatron tells Perceptor that it's none of his business, before asking him if he knows a cure. Perceptor tells him that he does, but won't share it unless Megatron can promise himself something. Megatron asks, and Perceptor asks for Megatron to surrender. Megatron tells him that he'll consider leaving Earth alone, if he gives him the cure. Perceptor stares at Megatron, and agrees to help him. Perceptor approaches Megatron, before asking who else is infected. Star Fall mentions that half the crew is at this point. Perceptor analyzes Megatron, and identifies it as Cosmic Rust. Perceptor warns him that it's wiped out a good chunk of the Cybertronian Empire. Star Fall asks Perceptor if he has the cure. Perceptor asks for access to the lab. Despite Fallen Angel's protest, Megatron allows it. He then orders Fallen Angel to lead Perceptor to the lab.

Fallen Angel leads Perceptor to the lab, where he finds majority of Shockwave's tools. Fallen Angel tells Perceptor to find a cure, or he'll be punished. Perceptor tells Fallen Angel that he won't fight them. Fallen Angel then leaves the lab. After Fallen Angel leaves, Perceptor begins to calculate. Blackout demands to know what he is doing, and Perceptor tells him that he's trying to remember how to begin forging Corrostop. Blackout stares, before moving on. Blackout walks up to Fallen Angel and asks what they would do with him once he finds the cure. Fallen Angel mentions that she doesn't know, before rust begins to cause her finger to fall off, worrying her. Back in Metroplex, within a isolation chamber, Scattershot, Guzzle, and Armorhide await diagnoses from Medix. Upon return, Elizabeth asks Medix if Scattershot will be fine.

### Triage

Medix tells Elizabeth that the Omnibots were infected by Cosmic Rust. Elizabeth asks what it is, and Medix mentions she does not know. Elizabeth grows nervous, and looks to Scattershot. She walks to Scattershot's chamber, and Scattershot asks what she wants. Elizabeth tells him that they don't know how they're going to cure him, before she sheds a tear. Scattershot wonders why she's starting to cry, and Elizabeth runs away, hurt. Natalie tells Scattershot that Elizabeth lost her mother a few years ago, and wouldn't want the same for him. Scattershot apologizes, and asks for Elizabeth to come back. Natalie says she will try and bring her back. Scattershot then looks up to Medix and asks what they have. Medix tells him that he's contracted Cosmic Rust.

Armorhide asks what Cosmic Rust is, and Scattershot mentions that it was a disease that scourged multiple planets during the early days of the War. Medix asks how he knew that, and Scattershot mentions that he uploaded copies of the Iacon Hall of Records files' before he fled Cybertron, and studied them when he had the time. Medix asks how it was remedied, and Scattershot mentions that there is no cure, as the Rust Particles will not stop till its prey is destroyed. Medix grows worried, before leaving. Guzzle asks Scattershot how long it will take the Rust to kill them, and Scattershot mentions that it can vary to between 5 seconds and 5 days. Meanwhile, Natalie enters Elizabeth's room, and finds her on the computer with a Therapist. Natalie then backs away, as Elizabeth tells the Therapist about how her friend might be on the verge of dying.

The therapist asks what her friend is sick of, and she mentions that her friend is dying from something similar to Peeling Skin Syndrome. The Therapist asks where he's from, and Elizabeth hesitates to mention Cybertron. The Therapist asks if it's one of the transformers, and Elizabeth confirms so. The Therapist tells Elizabeth to be optimistic of her friends' situation, and hope that he's cured. Elizabeth thinks, before thanking the Therapist. Meanwhile, back on The Nemesis, Perceptor rummages through Shockwave's lab, and finds some materials. Lugnut discovers him and demands to know what he is doing. Perceptor mentions that he is building a machine to create a batch of Corrostop, as Shockwave does not have any tools, he's going to construct his own. Lugnut tells Perceptor not to cross them.

Perceptor mentions that he'd never. Lugnut leaves him alone, and Perceptor begins to construct a beacon and transmitter. Back at The Ark, Elita One asks Mirage if they located Perceptor yet, and Mirage mentions that they have not, as the Decepticons have The Nemesis cloaked. Elita is bugged, but asks Mirage to keep searching. Back aboard The Nemesis, Perceptor finishes building the transmitter and contacts the Gimlin Facility. Siren picks up, and leaves to inform Scattershot. Siren enters the room and informs Scattershot that she made contact with Perceptor and The Nemesis. Scattershot asks her to ask Perceptor his location, as they need him quick, to produce more Corrostop. Siren leaves, and returns to her post. She informs Perceptor, and Perceptor begins to download the Formula for Corrostop.

### Intrusion

Meanwhile, Soundwave intercepts the transmission and informs Fallen Angel. Fallen Angel tells Soundwave to copy the Formula and cut off the transmission. Soundwave downloads the Formula, before hacking into the transmission and ending it. Soundwave then launches Overkill and orders him to destroy Perceptor's transmitter. In the lab, Perceptor is attacked by Overkill. Overkill proceeds to destroy the transmitter, before pinning Perceptor on the ground. Soundwave enters and mentions that they're going to lock him up in the brig for trespass. Perceptor gulps, before being grabbed by Lugnut and Blackout. Both Decepticons drag Perceptor to the brig, where they toss him into a cell. Perceptor sits and meditates, before noticing as Rust Particles begin to form on his fingers. Perceptor tries to calculate a way to escape, before the rust takes him.

Soundwave contacts Shockwave, who returns to the lab, and Soundwave hands him a copy of the Formula. Shockwave asks Soundwave to bring a gas sample from Jupiter. Soundwave travels to Jupiter via SpaceBridge and returns with a canister full of gases. Shockwave then synthesizes it into a Special Energon, and fuses it into Corrostop. Shockwave opens the vents to Megatron's chambers, where all infected Decepticons remain, and Shockwave vents the Corrostop gas into the chamber. the Corrostop Gas begins to affect the Decepticons, curing them of the Rust. Megatron regains his strength, and laughs maniacally, before exiting the room and approaching Soundwave. Soundwave mentions that Perceptor nearly decieved them, but is being punished. Megatron tells Soundwave to keep Perceptor online, as the Autobots will come for him one day.

Back in the Gimlin Facility, Siren recieves the transmission for the Formula, partially complete. Saddened, Siren slowly returns to Scattershot's quarters, and is followed by Elizabeth. Siren regretfully informs Scattershot that she got majority of the Formula, before the transmission was cut off. Scattershot asks how much of the Formula. Siren shows him, and Scattershot reads through. Scattershot then stares at Elizabeth and asks him to do everything that she says. Elizabeth remains silent, before asking why. Scattershot mentions that he helped Perceptor write the Formula, and he memorized every step in adding Chemical X into the Formula. Elizabeth runs to a nearby lab, as Scattershot begins to shout out the Formula. Some time later, Scattershot steps out of the Containment Cell, fully cured. He is approached by Medix, who said he is Rust-free.

He is then approached by Siren, who asks if they're going to rescue Perceptor. Scattershot mentions that they will have to pinpoint The Nemesis first, before they make an assault to rescue Perceptor. Siren asks where they begin, and Scattershot mentions that they should contact Prime first, to see what he says. Amorhide approaches Scattershot and mentions that the Rust Particles are spreading in Seoul, and Scattershot mentions that they should kill the Rust, before it expands throughout the globe first, as they will have to rescue Perceptor another day. Back in his cell, Perceptor's arm falls off from the rust. Perceptor lies down, and begins to slowly shut down...

PERCEPTOR MIGHT RETURN...

## Featured Characters

* Cybertronian Research Team
	+ Wissenschaft
	+ Blow-Out
* Decepticons
	+ Megatron
	+ Gigatron
	+ Warwolf
	+ Deceptica
	+ Stormtroopers
		- Rage
		- Ramcone
		- Hydradread
		- Spacewarp
	+ Fasttrack
	+ Seekers
		- Sunstorm
		- Ramjet
		- Dirge
		- Thrust
	+ Shockwave
	+ Star Fall
	+ Demolisher
	+ Soundwave
		- Buzzsaw
		- Overkill
	+ Fallen Angel
	+ Blackout
	+ Lugnut
* Autobots
	+ Metroplex
	+ Magistrate Xaaron
	+ Nova Prime
	+ General Specter
	+ Tow-Line
	+ Aragon
	+ Optimus
	+ Halogen
	+ Zetar
	+ Eta Supreme
	+ Blurr
	+ Guardian Major
	+ Elita One
	+ Ultra Magnus
	+ Perceptor
	+ Omnibots
		- Scattershot
		- Armorhide
		- Guzzle
	+ Rescuebots
		- Medix
		- Siren
	+ Mirage
* Elizabeth Oxton
* Natalie Knightley
* Witwicky Family
	+ Steven Witwicky
	+ Ronald Witwicky
* Jack Darby
* Miko Nakadai
* Rafael Esquival

## Episode Casualties

* General Specter, Wissenschaft, Spacewarp, Ramcone, Hydradread, Aragon, Magistrate Xaaron

## Notes

* Overlord, Straxus, Jhiaxus, & Fasttrack, were initially gonna cameo in this episode, but pushed them back for reasons.
* Ramcone & Xaaron debut.
* Windcharger, Hotshot, & Mainframe were initially going to debut in this episode, but their introductions were scrapped for a newer-better story arc.