Sky-Byte

Sky-Byte is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. He is usually a Predacon who turns in a mechanical shark.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
All Sky-Byte really wants is for Megatron to see him as the loyal and dependable warrior that he really is, and he goes to great lengths to prove his resourcefulness to him. Unfortunately for Sky-Byte, things seldom turn out as he has planned them - if it isn't the Autobots who thwart his plans, it is the three fools he has under him - Slapper, Darkscream and Gas Skunk. Sky-Byte frequently manages to shunt the blame for his own failings onto them, although they have been known to do the same to him. That said, Megatron is largely above their blame games, and often takes his anger out on all of them. The Predacon trio don't like or respect Sky-Byte and frequently disobey his orders: for his part Sky-Byte doesn't like them either, often using his threatening visage to cow them into submission and taking credit for their ideas. However, all four Predacons like the Decepticons even less, ensuring Gas Skunk, Darkscream and Slapper are actually willing to follow Sky-Byte's orders to discredit them.
His fierce outer appearance aside, there is also a softer side to Sky-Byte, he's an intellectual with great love of poetry. After an early defeat by humans he took to studying their literature in order to better understand them. While much of their classical literature was beyond him ("It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times? Best or worst, make up your mind! To Be or not to Be? This guy can't make up his mind either!") Sky-Byte found poetry much easier, rapidly becoming somewhat of a poet himself (although his poems usually involve him ruminating over the destruction of his enemies).
Animated series
Sky-Byte was a major character in Transformers: Robots in Disguise. He first appeared in the second episode of the series, Explosive Situation, where he quickly established himself as the Predacon second-in-command, being the most intelligent after Megatron, and would lead them in various schemes, including stealing the power of the Black Pyramid, kidnapping Side Burn to lure in Optimus Prime and stealing an old train after mis-interpreting Dr Onishi's dream. Sky-Bytes' repeated failures would mean his position came under threat when Megatron was able to corrupt six Autobot protoforms, creating the Decepticons: and the Commandos. Scourge quickly became Megatron's new favourite, leading to a rivalry between the two. They came to blows several times, and on one occasion Sky-Byte even convinced the other three Predacons to dress up as Autobots to thwart Scourge's plan and make Scourge look bad in Megatron's eyes. Like most of Sky-Byte's plans however, little actually came of it.
Sky-Bytes love of poetry would lead to a surprising softening of his attitude towards humans when he attacked a skyscraper and held its inhabitants hostage in an attempt to force the Autobots to hand over the O-Parts(the parts needed to reanimate Fortress Maximus) and, not incidentally, make him look good in his leader's eyes. But when his battle with the Autobots made the building fall over Sky-Byte, spurred on by the fact they had actually been cheering him, saved the humans' lives, an act that convinced the Autobots that there was some hope for Sky-Byte after all.
Subsequently Megatron was upgraded into by the power of the pyramid containing the Orbs of Sigma. Around this time Sky-Byte began to have a rethink about his loyalties, especially when Galvatron's first act was to replenish his energy by draining the hapless Slapper, Gas Skunk and Darkscream, who had been nothing but loyal minions. Subsequently he was a lot less willing in his battles against the Autobots. When Galvatron was finally defeated by Omega Prime, when the other Decepticons and Predacons were transported back to Cybertron for imprisonment, Sky-Byte was allowed to remain on Earth. Ironically, Slapper, Gas Skunk and Darkscream regarded this as an even greater punishment.
In spite of the disgraces he has to endure in the cartoon, Sky-Byte is one of the most feared and respected Predacon warriors. He's a merciless warrior in battle, his powerful jaws can tear through an armored tank, and the anchor arm on his left side can crush even the thickest, strongest wall like a microchip in the jaws of a shark. He transforms into a biomechanical shark that is capable of flight (hence his name). In "Explosive Situation" he also displayed some sort of personal cloaking device, although it was never seen again. He is a formidable underwater combatant, once nearly killing Optimus Prime in an underwater battle, only losing when he found himself temporarily stranded on land.
Dreamwave Productions
Sky-Byte made one appearance in the Dreamwave comics Summer Special issue before the company went under, where he was allowed a rare victory. He was sent to steal a nuclear reactor alongside his rival . Predictably his hapless troops would get in the way of the efficiency obsessed Decepticons: however, when they were attacked by Optimus Prime and Sky-Byte took advantage of the situation and had his Predacons take the generator, leaving the Decepticons to be pummelled by the two Autobots.
There was a contest in the issue as to whether RiD or Beast Wars would be the next Dreamwave comic series. Beast Wars won.
TFcon comics
Sky-Byte appeared in the 2006 TransformersCon voice actor play. Voices in the play were performed by a variety of volunteers and the actual voice actors attending the convention. In this play various Transformers from different timelines and realities were swept up in a repeat wave and transported along with Unicron to Earth. The Transformers included the original Tracks, Ariel, Cosmos and Megatron, Beast Wars Tarantulas, Robots in Disguise Sky-Byte and Beast Machines Tankor. Ever loyal to Megatron, any Megatron, Sky-Byte pledged himself to the original incarnation of his leader, and even dedicated a Haiku to him. Eventually the Transformers were able to learn that the death of Unicron in 2005 was what created the repeat wave. They defeated Unicron by tricking him into Transforming and using up his power, then using the Key to Vector Sigma program (which Tankor had brought with him) to tap into the power of Vector Sigma itself, and through it the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. With Unicron severely drained the various Transformers faded back to their original timelines.
Fun Publications
In "Transcendent" Breakaway, Landquake and Skyfall arrive on a parallel Transtech Cybertron, in the city of Axiom Nexus. They are greeted by that world's Cheetor and Silverbolt, and are worried that Cliffjumper has gone missing. The arrivals are told that they are among many to arrive on this world and are brought to "processing." Among those waiting in processing are Autoceptor, Bad Boy, Charger with Fire Beast, Cosmos, Cy-Kill, Path Finder, Universe Repugnus, Sky-Byte, Small Foot and Treds. After processing the three Autobots are greeted by the ancient Autobot Alpha Trion and taught in the ways of outworlders in Axiom Nexus. Breakaway is then abducted by Transtech Shockwave.
Toys
* Car Robots Gelshark (2000)
:A chrome silver/dark blue repaint of transmetal II Cybershark from the Beast Wars toyline, released by Takara.
* Robots in Disguise Sky-Byte (2001)
:The Hasbro version of the figure is virtually identical to the Takara version.
Transformers: Generation 2
Sky-Byte is a Predacon by design, but, like his Quintesson creators, works with the Decepticons from time to time when it's profitable to do so. He leads the new-generation Sharkticons into battle, ruthlessly shredding all cars and robots on his way. He sees himself as a sophisticated warrior poet, the self-proclaimed "greatest shark around", composing haiku about the robots in disguise he's about to deactivate. Exposure to forestonite has given Sky-Byte a devastating new ability; he can unleash a "Tsunami Blaster" freeze attack from his chest, paralyzing his foes. Combined with an already impressive arsenal, air speed, and his Sharkticon hordes, he's a menace to everything in the air, land and sea. Were he more competent and less given to overblown theatrics that leave him vulnerable, he'd be one of the Autobots' greatest threats.
Fun Publications
Sky-Byte appeared in the story Generation 2: Redux by Fun Publications, where he worked with Clench's Decepticons on Earth.
Toys
* Timelines Deluxe Sky-Byte (2010)
:A BotCon 2010 exclusive and part of the Generation 2 Redux boxed set, this figure is a Deluxe Energon with a new head mold and painted to look like the Robots in Disguise character.
Transformers: Timelines
The Sky-Byte in the Animated story is a homage to the previous Sky-Bytes, although he is depicted as a Decepticon. His tech spec appeared on a lithograph sold at Botcon 2011.
His body design is based on that of Animated Lugnut.

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