Special Sub-Topic: Episode 3: The Web Click Here To Play: Episode 3: The Web

Rhinox made a new device, but still needed to field test it. The young and eager Cheetor was up for the task. What was this new device?

A Longrange Comlink. Rhinox had been working for a month to get a new long-range comlink. The original ones the Maximals had were good up to only a hundred meters. Cheetor's task was to run away from the base to test its range, and was ordered to return to base immediately if he detected Predacons.

Who did Cheetor find while he was out running?

Scorponok. Cheetor heard a blast when Scorponok was clearing some rock. He then moved in and held Scorponok at gunpoint while waiting for Optimus. Scorponok was clicking is pincers in nervousness, and was fretting about, which made Cheetor "twitchy", although he never did fire. Also, a small item to note, Scorponok's missiles have the Maximal insignia on them for this episode and a few following it. This is eventually changed to the Predacon symbol later on, though.

Which Predacon snuck up on Cheetor while he was interrogating his prisoner?

Tarantulas. When Cheetor tried to radio in to Optimus, he found that his communications were being jammed. Tarantulas suddenly rappelled down beside Cheetor, making him jump. Tarantulas then quickly hid again while Cheetor fired frantically in his direction. Scorponok then made use of this distraction and blasted Cheetor in the chest plate. Cheetor would be reprimanded by Optimus, later, for making this mistake.

What were the Predacons doing when Cheetor ran into them?

Salvaging a mega cannon. Scorponok had found a still-functioning mega cannon, presumably one that fell off their ship during the fight between the Axalon and the Darkside (sometimes called the Darksyde). After he had disabled Cheetor, Tarantulas, although he could not be seen, encouraged Scorponok to quickly bring the cannon back to base. Scorponok ordered Tarantulas to bring back the cannon, as he, Scorponok, was second-in-command, but by this point, Tarantulas was already gone. Scorponok barely got the cannon out of sight before Optimus showed up to help Cheetor.

After Cheetor was knocked unconscious, where did he dream he was?

Cybertron. Cheetor dreamt that he is on Cybertron, where Megatron, Waspinator, and Terrorsaur were all firing at him, high up on a ledge. Their accuracy was poor, and Cheetor casually took his weapon and fired three shots to neutralize the Predacons, all the while chuckling. Then, the dream turned into a nightmare as he saw Tarantulas' eyes appearing in a dark hole, and then Scorponok, as he again fired the missile. Just as the missile hit him, Cheetor woke up screaming to find Rattrap, Rhinox and Optimus standing over him onboard the Axalon. Also, in the dream, was a quick shot of Rattrap jumping up and slashing out at Cheetor. Rattrap would later do this at the end of the episode when he cut Cheetor free of Tarantulas' stasis web.

On the Axalon, who was Optimus arguing tactics with?

Dinobot. Dinobot was in favor of quickly attacking the Predacon base in a full frontal assault, before they had time to use their new mega cannon. Optimus was convinced that the Predacons would instead deploy their new cannon as a defensive weapon, and was not sure that a blatant assault was such a good idea. While they were arguing, Cheetor sneaked out to prove to Optimus and his fellow Maximals that he was capable of handling a situation himself. Rattrap also snuck off to bring Cheetor back before Optimus found out, lest he also get in trouble for antagonizing Cheetor into running away in the first place. Rhinox also knew about Rattrap and Cheetor, and stayed on the Axalon and convinced Optimus that Rattrap and Cheetor were merely having a small chat after he, Optimus, had been so hard on Cheetor for making the mistake he did.

Rattrap called Tarantulas "Eight-Eyes" in this episode. What was wrong with that statement?

Tarantulas has nine eyes. Tarantulas and Blackarachnia (who is introduced later in the series) both have spider alternate modes, but they also both have nine eyes. Five larger eyes make a V shape, while four smaller ones form a square that sits in the middle of the V. Tarantulas does revert to an eight-eyed spider when he gets his Transmetal body in the second season of "Beast Wars".

What did Tarantulas use to track Rattrap?

Thermal scanning. Rattrap infiltrated Tarantulas' lair while Tarantulas was busy draining Cheetor's energy on a stasis web. After they exchanged a few shots, Tarantulas turned up the rate at which Cheetor's energy was drained while he looked for a hiding Rattrap. Rattrap had to act fast, and deduced that Tarantulas was using a thermal scan when the spider found his hiding place so easily. Rattrap set up a hot box and then hid again. When Tarantulas came around to attack the box, he was awfully surprised to see no Rattrap, who was instead standing behind him.

Whose missile caused a cave in that trapped Tarantulas?

Tarantulas'. This actually happened twice, but it was Tarantulas both times. The first time, Tarantulas had just got the jump on Rattrap's decoy, with Rattrap standing right behind him. Tarantulas whirled around and tried to shoot, but Rattrap was quicker. Tarantulas was blown onto his back and his weapon discharged upwards, causing a cave in that covered him. This gave Rattrap the time he needed to free Cheetor. As Rattrap was carrying Cheetor away, Tarantulas tried to shoot again, which Rattrap, again, dodged. This shot went through Tarantulas' stasis web and set the whole cavern ablaze. The was also a second cave in, which again covered Tarantulas.

How did Rattrap get the right energy signature to operate Tarantulas' equipment?

He shot it. Rattrap had the incorrect energy signature needed to use Tarantulas' equipment. After trying multiple times to stop the drain of Cheetor's energy, he resorted to "his own energy signature" and shot it. This seemed to power down the web and Rattrap was then able to cut Cheetor down.