Sam and Optimus

**The relationship between Autobot leader Optimus Prime and human Sam Witwicky.**

Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots and the fourth Cybertronian Sam has ever met (after Bumblebee, Barricade, and Frenzy). Sam and Mikaela were immediately in awe of the Autobots, and interested in their story. The teenagers chose to help the Autobots' war by locating the AllSpark so they would restore their homeworld. When the Autobots were sneaking onto the Witwicky family's property, Sam grew immediately agitated with Optimus and the other Autobots wrecking his parents' backyard. In turn, the Autobot leader kept pressing Sam to look for the glasses, but it only further agitated the teen. At first, Optimus simply viewed Sam as a human child that needed protection. Despite barely knowing him, the Autobots didn't take too kindly to Sector Seven kidnapping both Sam and Mikaela, as Optimus referred to them as "the children." However, these views changed after Sam saved Optimus from Megatron. Instead of sacrificing the Autobot leader as Optimus wanted, S

am instead killed Megatron in self-defense to save his friend. Optimus thanked Sam for saving his life, declaring that he and the Autobots were forever indebted to the boy for his actions.

By the sequel, Optimus and Sam have gained a mutual respect for one another. On occasion, the Autobot leader somewhat acts like a fatherly figure for Sam, such as furiously attacking those who harmed him or any other human, whether it's the likes of Megatron or Starscream. In the second film, *Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen*, Optimus turned to Sam first in hopes the boy would become a liaison between the Autobots and the humans. However, the young man refused, choosing to stay out of the war. The wise Autobot leader tried to give Sam words of wisdom, and yet, the boy still refused because he did not think he could make a difference in war compared to the other Autobots. After Sam, Mikaela and Leo were abducted by Megatron, an infuriated Optimus Prime and Bumblebee stormed in, rescuing the teenagers. Unfortunately, during a battle in the woods, Optimus was mortally wounded by Megatron, leaving Sam devastated Optimus died protecting him. The unfortunate loss caused Sam extreme grief, up to the point where he would take out his anger on Leo. After the former Decepticon seeker, Jetfire told Sam, Mikaela, Leo, and Simmons about the Matrix of Leadership, an ancient could bring Optimus back to life, the humans realized they could undo what Megatron did. A remorseful Sam wishes he did not turn Optimus away earlier and undergoing a quest to find the Matrix of leadership that would bring his friend back to life. After the defeat of the Fallen, Optimus thanked Sam for saving his life, and the Teen thanked him for believing in him.

By *Dark of the Moon*, Sam has become one of Optimus' most trusted friends. Megatron, Sentinel, and Dylan used this as an advantage, threatening to kill his girlfriend Carly if Sam did not spy on the Autobots and learn their next plan of attack. Unfortunately, it pushed Sam to try and get something out of Optimus to save his girlfriend. It also caused the human male extreme pain due to Optimus already being betrayed by Sentinel Prime.