Weaponizer (Transformers: Robots in Disguise)

Weaponizers are a subspecies of genetically modified Cybertronian Mini-Cons from the planet Cybertron.

Anatomy
Weaponizers share a similar biology to other Cybertronian Mini-Cons, except they transform into weapons akin to Targetmasters and Battle Masters.

Most Weaponziers are humanoid, though they are a few exceptions. For example, Aerobolt is avian, Tricerashot is a Triceratops, Sawtooth is a bipedal fish monster, and Lord Doomitron is an armored humanoid vaguely similar to Cyclones Bludgeon and Clout.

Powers and abilities
Weaponizers share many of the same abilities as other Cybertronian Mini-Cons, such as Powerlinxing.

Due to their genetic modifications, Weaponizers can provide larger Cybertronians with a power boost in weapon mode. They can also remotely control the bodies of their partners, even while they are unconscious.

Weaknesses
Tricerashot is somehow unable to possess Grimlock's body. While this weakness does not occur with other Weaponizers, Tricerashot himself claims it is likely because they are both Dinobots.

Culture and society
Weaponizers share a similar culture to other Mini-Cons. Despite having partnered with Decepticons, the Weaponizers' ideology better aligns with that of Autobots.

Background
The Weaponizers were originally Mini-Cons that had been abducted their youth by Decepticons as part an experiment by Decepticon leader Megatron. The experiment was to genetically modify seven Mini-Cons so they could collectively to Powerlinx with a Cybertronian to grant them immense power beyond that of a Prime. Though the project was incomplete and seemingly decommissioned when Megatron dissolved the Decepticons, it would eventually be restarted by his former second-in-command Starscream.

Starscream had accidentally stumbled across the lab the Weaponizers were being held while fleeing from Predacons Skylynx and Darksteel in the depths of Darkmount. Naturally, he was very interested in the project, but before he could complete it, the Weaponizers escaped. Crossing paths with a team of Decepticon scavengers led by Clawtrap, the Weaponizers begged to them somewhere far from Cybertron before the angry Seeker could catch up with them.

However, the Weaponizers were not happy when they learned the scavengers' destination was Earth, the second most frequented planet by Cybertronians. Save from Starscream for the time being, the Weaponizers found themselves pressed into "partnership" with the scavengers on their treasure-hunting. Clawtrap would use the threat of handing them over to their pursuer as a stick, though he was unaware said pursuer was none other than Starscream.

Present Day
Buzzstrike accompanied Paralon when the scavenger tortured another Decepticon for the location of Autobot Outpost Omega One, one of the Autobots' former bases. From there, they headed to the wreckage of the base in search of Cybertronian artifacts to steal. The pair encountered Bumblebee and Sideswipe, prompting Buzzstrike to use his body-stealing abilities to take command of Bumblebee and fight off Drift. With the Autobots temporarily defeated, Paralon decided to detonate a bomb that he had set up in case of such an eventuality.

Although Buzzstrike balked at the idea of killing the incapacitated Autobots, he reluctantly accompanied Paralon to the base's central command center to ride out the blast. Buzzstrike and Paralon encountered Sideswipe again just as the latter picked up a plasma rifle from the wreckage. After Sideswipe stunned the scorpion-bot, Buzzstrike watched the Autobot drive away. The two encountered Sideswipe again as they headed into the lowermost levels of the base. When Sideswipe knocked Paralon unconscious, Buzzstrike took control of his partner's body.

After Sideswipe rejected Buzzstrike's offer to let them walk away in exchange for the plasma rifle, Buzzstrike quickly defeated the Autobot and bailed. Once Paralon came to, the Weaponizer lied to his partner about the circumstances of their retreat, saying they had to bail because they were surrounded by Autobots. Though he bought the story, Paralon warned the Weaponizer not to tell the other scavengers about the circumstances behind their defeat.

Sawtooth accompanied Scatterspike to Mount St. Hilary, the site of the Autobots' first base on Earth, where the pair set about drilling to find Autobot technology. When they were stumbled on by Strongarm and Caretaker Mini-Con Fixit, Sawtooth was able to temporarily take control of the larger Autobot during the ensuing fight before going after Fixit when he went to stop the drill.

When Sawtooth attempted to plead with Fixit to let them have what they wanted, the drilling started causing the mountain to become unstable, forcing the two to work together. Both Mini-Cons were temporarily trapped as the cavern destabilized, though Sawtooth managed to rescue Scatterspike and escape after the danger had passed. Returning to the scavengers' sub-orbital craft, Scatterspike blamed her failure to gather any treasure on Sawtooth. Meanwhile, Sawtooth himself reported to Aerobolt about what he had seen. Though Sawtooth claimed they should trust the Autobots, Aerobolt thought otherwise.

Despite being worried about the Cybertronians who were trying to capture them, Tricerashot accompanied Thermidor on a mission to find an artifact, which the Lobstercon secretly intended to use to retake command of the scavengers' sub-orbital craft, which was originally his before it was commandeered by Clawtrap. Finding a power gauntlet inside a cave, they encountered the Dinobot Grimlock and his human ally Brother Gunter, who Tricerashot attempted to reason with to Thermidor's annoyance.

When the rest of the Autobot team arrived, Thermidor clashed with the Autobots while Tricerashot attempted to control Grimlock, only to be surprised when the Dinobot resisted. Tricerashot fled with Thermidor while being pursuing by the Autobots and managed to lose everyone except Bumblebee before stopping by a ski lift. Discovering that their GroundBridge was temporarily out, Thermidor schemed a diversion by threatening to bring down the ski lift full of humans.

Alarmed that his partner would dare endanger innocent humans, Tricerashot was about to stop the scavenger when Grimlock arrived. Unbeknownst to Tricerashot, he was being observed by Shadelock, a Decepticon bounty hunter allied with Starscream. By the time Thermidor was defeated, Clawtrap had restabilized the scavengers' GroundBridge, allowing him to pull both the unconscious Lobstercon and Tricerashot through a portal.

The Weaponziers accompanied the Scavengers to an automated human cargo ship to find another relic. As the scavengers prepared to head to the seabed with Tricerashot and Sawtooth, Aerobolt pointedly refused to power up Clawtrap, prompting Bashbreaker to take his place. Aerobolt, Buzztrike, Windstrike, and Lancelon stayed on deck with Paralon and pondered their next move while the others dived into the water. After the scavangers returned with the Dark Star Saber in tow, the Weaponizers managed to steal their sub-orbital craft and escape.

Detecting a nearby high energy pulse generator, the Weaponizers headed to the Autobot's scrapyard base to retrieve it. In the ensuing fight against the Bee Team, the Weaponizers managed to get the upper hand with their body-stealing abilities. When they learned from Fixit that the item they wanted had already been destroyed, the Weaponizers left aboard their ship while Bumblebee's team gave chase. However, this resulted in Fixit and Buzzsaw Mini-Cons Slipstream and Jetstorm being captured Shadelock and his entourage, consisting of an Autobot named RoughEdge and an Insecticon named Razorhorn.

Sometime after their craft eventually ran out of fuel, the Weaponizers ran into the Autobots again. However, Aerobolt proposed an alliance with the Autobots upon recognizing Optimus Prime. After explaining their origins, Aerobolt attempted to link with Optimus only for the Powerlinx to be unsuccessful due to incomplete trust between both partners. During an ensuing fight with the scavengers, Tricerashot secretly bailed while the others Weaponizers fought alongside the Autobots until they were snatched up by Starscream.

Starscream attempted to merge with the Mini-Cons, only for it to momentarily fail because Tricerashot was missing. Sensing the fear of his companions as they were captured, Tricerashot had a change of heart and helped the Autobots defeat the scavengers by Powerlinxing with Grimlock. Using the psychic link with the other Weaponizers, Tricerashot lead the Autobots to Starscream's ship, where they battled SStarscream's bounty hunters until Starscream himself incapacitated everyone with the Dark Star Saber and captured Tricerashot.

Now in possession of both the Dark Star Saber and all seven Weaponizers, Starscream entered a superpowered state until Fixit was able to activate a signal, which separated Aerobolt. While the other Autobots defeated Starscream's bounty hunters, Aerobolt successfully Powerlinxed with Optimus, providing the Autobot leader with a powerup that allowed him to go up against the supercharged Starscream. Optimus and the Bee Team eventually dragged Starscream back into range of Fixit's signal, allowing them to separate the other Weaponizers.

Rendered unconscious by the loss of power, a defeated Starscream was loaded onto Prime Force One' alongside his bounty hunters and the scavengers for transport back to Cybertron for justice. Having officially become Autobots, the Weaponizers left Earth on their sub-orbital craft, which had now been modified by Fixit for space travel.