History of the Transformers

This article is about the Sleep Story. For the real-world history of the Transformers franchise, see Transformers timeline.

Sleep Stories »
One shall stand, one shall fall... asleep.
"History of the Transformers"
Publisher	Calm
First published	January 31, 2022
Writer	Ryder Windham

Let the dulcet tones of Optimus Prime whisk you off to sleep as he tells you the story of his people...

Synopsis

As you curl up into bed, the sound of a vehicle approaching can be heard through your window. The vehicle changes into a giant robot, who thanks you for your hospitality in allowing him and his allies to rest outside your home, calling you a good friend. He introduces himself as Optimus Prime, a member of a race of living robotic beings called Autobots that can transform into vehicles, sometimes referred to as Transformers. As they have traveled long in their vehicle modes without taking many breaks to avoid detection by humans, they are all very tired, which is why Optimus is so appreciative of you for allowing them to stay the night. To repay your kindness, Optimus offers to sate your curiosity by telling you their story, doing so quietly as to not wake the other Autobots.

The Transformers, he explains, come from the metal world of Cybertron, the history of which began many billions of years ago. According to many historians, the god Primus used the life-giving AllSpark relic to create Cybertron, later drawing energy from his own spark to create the many bots that would inhabit it. The bots went on to discover energon, a substance that could power both their bodies and other machines, later locating it on other planets as well. The bots built an advanced society, different yet in many ways similar to that of humans as Optimus describes, and lived in peace for millions of years.

However, that peace was broken when a power-hungry bot named Megatron decided he wanted the AllSpark and Cybertron for himself, founding an army known as the Decepticons. The noble Autobots opposed them, but after millions of years of fighting, Cybertron was nearly depleted of energon. To save the planet, Optimus sent the AllSpark through a space bridge, hoping Megatron would never again find it. The AllSpark eventually landed here on Earth, many thousands of years before today. Though the Decepticons managed to track the AllSpark, Optimus and the Autobots followed them here, and now protect their new home and humans like yourself from the Decepticon threat.

Optimus muses that there are many other creatures on Earth that can change to fit their environment, and decides to explain their own transformations. Each bot has a conversion cog inside them that allows them to change from a robot mode to an alternate mode, usually a vehicle. This allows them to adapt to new environments, though it is difficult for a bot to change to an alternate mode that significantly differs from their size. Optimus notes that his truck alternate mode usually makes for a helpful disguise, but humans find it unusual when parked in cities or suburbs, meaning he must be careful where he chooses to rest.

Optimus goes on to introduce the other members of his team to you. There is Ratchet, the team's medic; Windblade, a cityspeaker from the planet Caminus; Jazz, a speedy intelligence officer; Ironhide, their toughest soldier; Wheeljack, a scientist and engineer; and Bumblebee, the eager young scout. When the Autobots need to take a rest to recharge (Optimus once again thanking you for allowing them to do so safely), they each take turns watching over the others as they sleep. Jazz is currently on watch duty, which involves not only monitoring the surrounding roads, but also the sky. Optimus explains that Autobots travel in starships that are easily mistaken for meteors when they enter the atmosphere, allowing them to pass undetected by humans. As a result, Jazz is keeping an eye out for meteors, as they may actually be new allies who have come to join them.

This reminds Optimus of a previous mission when he and the other Autobots were passing through the Teton Mountains in Idaho. While driving down Highway 33, Optimus spotted what looked like a large rectangle in the distance. As they moved closer, they discovered it to be a large metal structure with a small building projecting a beam of light against it. Several cars were parked beneath the structure, so Optimus had his team pull over to see if the vehicles were damaged. As they parked, they noticed a dilapidated old truck with the words "drive-in theater" written on it. Curious about what they now realized was an outdoor movie theater, they decided to stay for a bit and watch. The film, already in progress, featured a green car and a black car on a chase through the streets of San Francisco. Looking away from the movie, Optimus observed the viewing audience sitting in their cars, such as a nearby family of children curled up under a blanket on the verge of falling asleep. Remembering they were still on a mission, the Autobots left the film early, though Optimus noticed one of the children pointing up at some passing meteors. He wondered to himself if anyone had seen him and his allies back when they first arrived on the planet, mistaking their starships for shooting stars and wishing on them for luck.

Even now, Optimus fondly remembers that drive-in theater and how relaxing it was, admitting he would like to go back someday. But for now, he is grateful that he and his allies are here, as it has allowed them to meet a good friend like you, and he... (yawn) ...he bids you... good... night...

...zzz...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots
Optimus Prime (1)

Notes

Transformers references

• Optimus claims to have thrown the AllSpark through a space bridge to Earth, as in the Cyberverse and War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoons.
• Ironhide is said to transform into a pickup truck like his "Movie" and "Aligned" incarnations, or his Combiner Wars toy.
• Ratchet is specified to transform into a fire department rescue vehicle, similar to his "Universe" incarnation.

Real world references

• The drive-in theater mentioned in Optimus's story is likely the Spud Drive-In Theater, which sits in roughly the same area described and similarly features its entrance sign painted on an old truck's side (though Optimus notably failed to mention the giant potato sitting on the truck bed).
• The movie being played at the theater seems to be the 1968 film Bullitt.

Trivia

• The entire story is narrated by Peter Cullen in-character as Optimus Prime.
• The story is accompanied by light background music taken from Transformers: Prime.
• The transformation cog is referred to as a "conversion cog", presumably due to Hasbro avoiding using "transform" as a verb to protect their trademark.

External links

• 30-second preview
• Full transcript