Cyber venom

ThePredaconshave a penchant for takingalternate modesbased on venomous animals. Sometimes this extends to mimicry of their assumed form's most powerful weapon, in the form ofcyber venom(also spelledcyber-venom).

Like thevenomfrom theirbeast mode’s template, cyber venom causes all manner of detrimental effects on other Cybertronians stricken by it. Like true venoms, cyber venom must typically be injected into the inner mechanisms of its victim to be effective. Delivery is often in the form ofbarbeddarts,stingers,or fangs, though some instances of it being launched asenergy boltshave been recorded.

Official sources such as the official character profiles included with the season one DVDs describe cyber venom as being composed of viral programs that are uploaded into the unfortunate victim, corrupting and infecting with rapid speed.^{[WHICH official sources?]}

Known Transformers possessing cyber venom:

• Beast WarsTarantulas
• Beast WarsBlackarachnia
• Beast WarsQuickstrike
• Beast WarsSpittorPrimeval Dawn Part 2
• Beast MachinesNight ViperWreckers: Finale Part II
• Transformers AnimatedBlackarachnia

Fiction

Beast Wars

The first Predacon to exhibit cyber venom was Tarantulas, who was soon joined by Blackarachnia, and later, theFuzorQuickstrike. The former two would employ spiny or explosive darts to inject their victims with the technological toxin, while the last fired it from his left head in a manner reminiscent of aspitting cobra,but could also inject it with a bite. In all three cases, Transformers suffering the effects of cyber venom were typically incapacitated by the toxin, either having to be cleansed in aCR chamber,or wait for the venom to run its course. While the venom was in effect, the Transformer's body would be marbled with glowing patches of energy, and emit low-pitch feedback.

The effects of the venom were notoriously inconsistent, from being able to incapacitate powerful warriors likeDepth Charge,to causing only pain, such as when Quickstrike injected it directly intoSilverbolt's leg. Others, such asDinobot II,were able to shake the effects of the venom quickly, requiring higher doses before being rendered inoperative.

Several Predacons who have venomous beast modes never showed any use of cyber venom:

• Scorponok(scorpion) (though he did use a "toxic sting" inrobot modeon the Vok's biological building in "Other Voices Part 1", firing the red stinger on his tail into the wall after charging it with venom, which opened a hole the Maximals used to enter)
• Waspinator(wasp)
• Inferno(fire ant)

Animated

When the Autobot Elita-1 attempted to use her mimicking powers on a horde ofgiant, alien spiders,she contaminated herself with their venom, causing her body to become partially organic. Gaining a pair of deadly, bladed stingers, she could now inject her victims with a powerful toxin, while simultaneously using her mimicking powers to copy their unique modifications.

Blackarachnia's poison was consistently potent and dangerous. Not only was it capable of dropping powerful and durable foes likeBulkheadandGrimlockwith ease, but its effects, being based onorganic sources,could not be treated by theAllSpark Key.Along Came a SpiderNormally, Blackarachnia used only enough venom to disable her foes, but if she chose, she could bring the dosage up to lethal levels, requiring the administration of an antidote to prevent the victim from going offline permanently.Black Friday

Beast Wars: Uprising

AfterMegatronhad slainOptimus Prime,atimestormdeleted his Maximal foes from history. Before she vanished, Blackarachnia infected the originalMegatronwith her cyber-venom, the long lasting effects of the attack being enough for the timestorm to consume all the Beast Warriors and creatinga wildly different future.A Change to the Agenda

During the early stages of theVehicon Apocalypseit was noted byCatSCANthat cyber venom had the potential to slow down an infection ofVehiconnanites. LaterLeatherhidewould intentionally infect the lowly Wasp with the virus and blast him with a device that utilized cyber venom to completely stop the reformatting process, all while upgrading him and creating a beneficial connection to the hive mind.

At the climax of the Vehicon ApocalypseResistanceleaderLio Convoybecame infected with the virus, Blackarachnia attempted to mercy kill him, but her venom-infused weapon ended up delaying his further conversion and allowed him to be saved.Derailment

Many cycles afterwardRampagewould poison the drink of his creatorDelugewith cyber venom, before ultimately shooting him.The Inexorable March