Raf Esquivel

Raf Esquivel is a human from the Prime portion of the Aligned continuity family.

Esquivel!

He's the quiet, forgotten child of a large family, and he goes into "the zone" whenever he sees technology. You'd think he'd be constantly getting wedgies from nearby punks and biker kids, but no! Rafael "Raf" Esquivel is, in fact, best mates with Miko Nakadai and Jack Darby! Even more incredible, he's best mates with Bumblebee, a robot car from outer space, and since other Autobots like Ratchet are unfamiliar with human technology, he's called on at Autobot Central Command to use his know-how to save the world!

When you were twelve years old, you wished you were Raf.

(Okay, he's twelve and a quarter. A very big quarter! He's very specific about that.)

Fiction

Prime cartoon

Voice actor: Andy Pessoa (English), Diana Torres (Spain-Spanish), Do-hyeong Nam (Korean), Davide Garbolino (Italian)

Born into a large family, Raf has often felt like the smallest member and been ignored by older family members even if he were shouting for attention. Out of His Head He has been able to understand digital code since he was three. Raf's Notes

Who needs parental supervision?

Raf was playing with his radio-controlled car in a dry drainage canal when he got a call from his mother, and he promised he'd come home after another five minutes. Playtime was interrupted shortly when Jark Darby executed a motorcycle leap into the canal. Raf was impressed by that, but more so when the motorcycle turned out to be an alien robot in disguise. Arcee fought against two Decepticons and was soon joined by Bumblebee, who accidentally crushed Raf's toy underfoot. Raf wasn't too upset by the loss, and when Bumblebee was subsequently pinned down by the Decepticons, Raf courageously yelled at them to leave Bumblebee alone. He and Jack then fled up a storm drain as the Decepticons came after them, but his distraction helped the Autobots eventually win the battle.

After school the next day, Jack approached Raf and suggested they keep the whole thing to themselves. It wasn't that easy, as Bumblebee picked that moment to drive up to take Raf back to base. Raf was able to understand Bumblebee's buzzing, and he pointed out the nearby Arcee, who had come for Jack. At base, he, Jack and their friend Miko marveled at Ratchet and Bulkhead before Optimus Prime briefed them on the ongoing Autobot/Decepticon war. Darkness Rising, Part 1 When an alarm went off, Raf translated Bumblebee's statement that it was a proximity alert. He, Jack and Miko hid to avoid being seen by Agent Fowler, who was paying a visit to complain to Prime about recent Autobot activities.

A signal sent most of the Autobots rushing off on a mission, leaving the three kids with Ratchet. Raf made himself useful by helping the medical bot get the silo's aging computer system to work. Once the mission was over, Raf realised it was getting late and he was going to be grounded for a month if he didn't get home, so Optimus assigned Bumblebee to take him back and watch over him. Darkness Rising, Part 2

Bumblebee and Raf were delayed getting back to the base because they stopped off to play a video game (which Raf lost). When they finally got there, Optimus promptly left on a mission with Ratchet, and Arcee and Bumblebee further abandoned the kids, leaving them with Bulkhead. Raf attempted to join in Miko's attempt to form a band by offering to play samples on his laptop. Another visit by Fowler resulted in the federal agent being captured by the Decepticons, and Raf used his hacking skills to locate Fowler. After Bulkhead departed to try and deal with it, Jack and Raf realized that Miko had sneaked after the Autobot. They used the GroundBridge to join the pair, arriving near the Decepticon ship, where they were spotted by sentries. Darkness Rising, Part 3

"Come on, Raf, you knew Stargate had to end some day."

Bulkhead rescued the pair while they were under fire and dropped them off behind some cover before heading into the ship. Unfortunately, the pair were spotted by the Decepticons a short time later and found themselves being carried to the brig. Arcee and Bumblebee rescued them both, and the combined group found Bulkhead and Miko. The kids soon discovered that the middle of a battle—especially between giant robots—is not the healthiest place to be. The Autobots cleared out a room for them to hide in, but Jack and Miko began arguing as soon as the 'bots left. Raf became upset, and the other two had to console him, but his fears were soon forgotten when Jack pointed out an important-looking computer display. Raf's flash drive proved useless when he couldn't find a USB port, and they were interrupted by a Decepticon anyway. While Raf was fetching his backpack, the Decepticon spotted him and opened fire. He was only saved by Jack tackling him behind a Decepticon corpse. The kids legged it, and Bulkhead handily picked that moment to turn up and deal with the Decepticon. Back at the Autobot base, Jack decided to opt out of the exciting new life they'd found, and he suggested Raf do likewise, but Raf was content to stay put. Darkness Rising, Part 4

Allow me to be the Peter Parker to your Doctor Octopus.

After the Autobots went to try and prevent Megatron from using his space bridge, they discovered that the Decepticon ship no longer had the ability to target the space bridge on Cybertron. Raf suggested that the Decepticons must be using a radio dish array in Texas for targeting. He attempted to hack into the installation's computer, but found that the computers there were too secure. At Jack's suggestion, he, Jack and Miko bridged to the array and accessed it via a computer in a spare room. Raf found he was able to download the space bridge plans, and when the Decepticons diverted the dishes, he could redirect them again. Unfortunately, Soundwave was in the next room, and he sent a tentacle to attack them. Though Raf was determined to keep working, he was knocked aside. Soundwave set the dishes to target Cybertron and disabled the computer. The three kids ran into the room in time to see Soundwave leaving and discover his handiwork. Back at base, Raf supplied Ratchet with the space bridge plans so he could instruct the other Autobots on how to sabotage the bridge. Raf was later present to welcome the Autobots back from their space battle. Darkness Rising, Part 5

To cover for his visits to the Autobot base, Raf told his mom that he'd joined the Computer Club. Raf's Notes Raf decided on building a model volcano as a science project for school, though initial tests resulted in an explosion that rocked the Autobot base. He and Bumblebee continued work on it until Bumblebee had to leave on a mission, and Ratchet decided to "assist". Ratchet ended up building a large metal volcano, which blew a hole in the roof when Raf presented it at school. Masters & Students He had to stay behind to help repair the damage, which took more than a little explaining. Raf's Notes

It's not dangerous enough to go alone. Take this.

The kids arrived at base one Saturday just as Optimus and Arcee were heading off to the Arctic on a mission. Raf was keen to go as well, having never seen snow, but Optimus told him it would be too dangerous. Disappointed, Raf went to play "being in the Arctic" in a base corridor, where he stumbled on a Scraplet. Raf was enchanted by the little creature and took it back to the control room, where it attacked Bumblebee and Raf had to smash it to death with a crowbar. The Autobots realised the base was infected, and Raf teamed up with Bumblebee as they hunted for more Scraplets. They found some, only for Bumblebee to be attacked. Returning to the control room, they were set upon by more Scraplets, and Raf helped Jack and Miko fight them off of the 'bots. With time running out, the three kids repaired an energon fuel line so Ratchet could get the GroundBridge working again and send the Scraplets to the Arctic. Afterwards, the kids helped repair the damaged Autobots. Scrapheap

With the arrival of Wheeljack, the Autobots decided to party. Miko brought out her electric guitar and encouraged Raf to try some moves. He responded by reluctantly breaking into The Robot, which Bumblebee proceeded to copy. When Wheeljack was found out as a Decepticon impostor, Raf and Jack watching in alarm as he took Miko hostage. Following the return of the real Wheeljack and the impostor's ejection, the Autobots had another party, during which Raf busted out his disco moves. He, Miko and Jack later saw Wheeljack off when the Autobot returned to space. Con Job

When the Autobots helped Fowler move a hi-tech device, the kids observed their progress from base with Ratchet. The Dynamic Nuclear Generation System was in danger of being captured by MECH, and Raf was able to pinpoint the exact position of the train it was on so Ratchet could GroundBridge Jack and Miko on board. He followed that up by hacking into the rail system and changing some points to send the train down a different track, however the MECH guys responded by overloading his laptop. Convoy Ratchet later helped him fix it. Raf's Notes #5

When the Autobots discovered that an Energon Harvester was possibly on Earth, Raf used his Internet search skills to trace it to a museum. Miko roped Jack and Raf into helping to steal it. The three of them GroundBridged into the museum on a scissor lift and set about dislodging the device from the statue holding it. However, during their getaway, Miko was grabbed by a security guard and Raf and Jack ran into Soundwave. Back at base, Raf continued their attempts to contact Fowler so they could retrieve Miko. Deus ex Machina

It would seem that the Autobots aren't the only ones who go into 'robot mode' under pressure.

Miko and Raf heard all about Jack's race with Vince at school, and congratulated him when he reached the Autobot base. He swore them both to secrecy. After Vince challenged Jack to another race but Arcee refused to take part, Jack tried to convince Raf to let him take Bumblebee instead. Raf was uncertain it was a good idea, but Miko managed to convince him. He and Miko were later playing a computer game when Arcee wondered where Jack was, and they failed to cover for their friend. When Optimus asked where everyone else was, they completely failed to keep that secret too. Speed Metal

Raf finally got to see snow!

After Optimus was struck down with a Cybonic plague and Arcee and Bumblebee infiltrated the Decepticon ship, the three kids watched Ratchet monitor the pair's progress. Raf was particularly concerned when Arcee patched Bumblebee into the comatose Megatron's mind in an attempt to find a cure for the plague. Sick Mind Raf was a spectator for the subsequent basketball game between Bulkhead and Bumblebee, but was surprised at some of Bumblebee's behavior during the game. When Bumblebee failed to pick Raf up for school, Raf rang Jack. Back at base, it turned out that Bumblebee was having visions of Megatron, and Ratchet had to induce a power-down mode. Raf stayed to keep his friend company, chatting about how he was saving up for a new laptop and showing off a picture of his family to Ratchet. Raf followed Bumblebee to the control room after the Autobot spontaneously reactivated and disappeared into the GroundBridge. It transpired that Bumblebee had been possessed by Megatron, though Megatron's control was not great enough that Bumblebee couldn't prevent him from injuring Raf. Raf insisted on accompanying Ratchet, and they followed Bumblebee through the GroundBridge to the Decepticon ship, where they found Bumblebee in the process of transferring Megatron's mind back to his comatose body. Though the pair tried their best, and Raf even managed to get Bumblebee to break free from Megatron's control, ultimately, Megatron returned to his body, and the trio were forced to retreat. Back at base, Bumblebee thanked Raf for helping him. Out of His Head

When Miko seemed totally disinterested in a mission the Autobots were going on, Jack and Raf suspected she was up to something, and sure enough, she made a break for the GroundBridge. Jack and Raf were forced to follow her through and ended up on the battlefield. Once the Autobots spotted the trio, Ratchet ordered them to return through the bridge, however interference from a Decepticon GroundBridge caused a disruption. When they came to, the children found that the Autobots couldn't see or hear them, and Raf theorized that the three kids were sent to an alternate dimension he dubbed the shadowzone (Miko's response was basically NERD!). Unable to be seen or heard by the Autobots, they were pursued by Skyquake who had been resurrected as a zombie by Starscream. Raf tripped while fleeing and almost lost his glasses, without which he was blind as a bat, but Miko retrieved them for him. The kids were eventually able to take advantage of the fact that Miko had dropped her phone at the base, and sent a text message to it. They also attempted to use Starscream's severed arm to fend off Skyquake, but only succeeded in dislodging the zombie's arm, which began chasing them. They escaped back to the real world through a portal created by Ratchet. Shadowzone

Raf was at the Autobot base when Jack and Arcee brought Jack's mom in to introduce her to everyone. Crisscross He and Miko had a wild ride to the base in Bulkhead, but after they realized that Jack's mom was there, Raf assured her that he and Miko had been wearing their seat belts. He hung out at base while Bulkhead and Arcee went on a mission to retrieve a polarity gauntlet, and later admired Bulkhead's new battle scars. Metal Attraction

Ratchet tested out some new synthetic energon while Raf watched. It was such a success that Raf was ready to try it on Bumblebee, but Ratchet warned that it needed further testing before they could try it on an Autobot. A short time after the other Autobots went out on a mission, Raf found Ratchet unconscious on the floor, having tried the synthetic energon on himself, and managed to wake the Autobot. When Arcee got into trouble, Ratchet left Raf in charge of the GroundBridge and went out to help. The Autobots soon returned to base, and Ratchet fondly picked up Raf for a moment. Stronger, Faster

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In their spare time, the kids would track down pictures of the Autobots on conspiracy web sites, so Raf could hack in and replace them with pictures of lolcats. Raf rode in Bumblebee to play with his remote-controlled car, but first Bumblebee was called to a battle, and then they were attacked by Megatron. A burst of energon from Megatron's cannon struck Bumblebee, infecting Raf with Dark Energon and leaving him in a dire state. The Autobots took him back to base, where Ratchet and June Darby fought to save his life. After Ratchet discovered the nature of the energon infecting Raf, he gave the boy an infusion of real energon, and Raf finally began to recover. One Shall Fall

Toys

Prime

Where's my mouth?

• "Entertainment Pack" (5 figure gift set, 2011)

A PVC figurine of Raf comes with figurines of Jack Darby and Miko Nakadai, plus small scale transformable toys of Optimus Prime and Megatron.

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Notes

• Raf told his mother that he joined the Computer Club to explain where he goes after school all the time. <ref name="notes1">Raf's Notes #1</ref>
• Even Raf doesn't know why he understands Bumblebee. He just makes perfect sense.<ref name="notes1" />

References

<references/>

External links

• Raf's character page @ Hubworld.com
• Raf's Notes @ Hubworld.com