The Autobots are a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron who have the ability to transform into vehicles, mechanical devices and even wildlife. They are locked in a never-ending war with their arch enemies, the evil Decepticons. As mechanized alien beings, the Autobots are not subject to biological aging in the same way humans are. However, the question remains – can the Autobots achieve immortality or are they susceptible to degradation and death over time?
The Nature of Autobot Existence
Unlike humans whose consciousness resides in an organic brain, the minds and personalities of Autobots are contained within their laser cores – complex, cybernetic brains that contain their memories, emotions, and Sparks. A Spark is essentially the soul of an Autobot, a unique energy signature that animates them and makes them a living sentient being. As long as an Autobot’s laser core remains intact, their mind can potentially live on indefinitely by transferring to new host bodies as needed. This ability to swap bodies grants Autobots a degree of immortality, as they are not bound to a single form that will eventually wear out.
However, Autobots can still be destroyed entirely if excessive damage is inflicted on their laser cores. Cause enough trauma to an Autobot’s central processor and their Spark will gutter out, resulting in permanent death. Though rare, there are also malignancies that can form within a laser core and gradually corrupt an Autobot’s programming from the inside out. So while they are not hindered by organic mortality, Autobots can still perish in numerous ways.
Reproduction and Propagation of the Species
Unlike humans, Autobots do not reproduce through sexual means andpropagation of their species occurs differently. Most Autobots were protoformed at the Well of All Sparks on Cybertron, imbuing them with life from the planet itself. The Allspark Cube was also used to create new Cybertronian life. In times of war, new soldiers for the Autobot army are manufactured through the cyberforming of standard protoforms into specialized castes. So in essence, new Autobots can be continuously manufactured to sustain their numbers. As long as there is still raw material and energy left on Cybertron to cyberform protoforms, the functional immortality of the species can continue.
The limitation is that true new Sparks are no longer being naturally produced by Primus, so every new Autobot created is essentially a cloned Spark. There is a finite reservoir of variance within the Well of All Sparks that cyberforming can draw from. Once that primordial diversity runs dry, any new Autobots cyberformed may start to experience species degradation, madness glitches, or Spark decay. Continuous cloning from an ever shrinking gene pool threatens the long-term survival of Cybertronian species. To achieve indefinite longevity as a race, the Autobots require either a renewed Primus or new Allspark born Sparks.
Maintenance and Upgrades
As mechanical beings, Autobots can replace worn out or damaged parts on their bodies just as humans can replace failing organs. However, unlike human biology, Autobot physiology does not degrade over time. Provided an Autobot has access to the needed raw materials and energy, they can continuously maintain and upgrade their chassis indefinitely. They do not suffer from a biological clock or aging process that places an inherent limit to their lifespan. Older, more experienced Autobots like Optimus Prime can retain their cognitive abilities and combat prowess for millions of years.
However, damage accrued in battle or from accidents can wear down an Autobot over time. Parts become rusted or corroded, wiring shorts out, and motor functions slow down. But these effects are from external damage, not some internal programmed decline. With proper maintenance and overhauls, Autobots can repair deterioration and restore themselves to optimal condition. The only limit is when an Autobot chassis sustains too much structural damage and requires a full re-forge. At that point, it comes down to if they can successfully transfer and integrate their Spark/mind into the blank slate of a protoform body.
Autobot Cyberforming Limits
The mortal danger for any Autobot is if their laser cores and Sparks are fundamentally damaged beyond repair. Otherwise, their mechanical chassis is theoretically indefinitely replaceable through continuous rounds of cyberforming procedures utilizing protoforms. But here too there may be limits imposed by the Laws of Robotics hard-coded into their programming by the Quintessons at the dawn of Cybertronian civilization.
Specifically, the First Law which dictates than an Autobot cannot allow harm to come to humans may interfere with self-preservation. If an Autobot’s mind has degraded beyond recovery, but their Spark could hypothetically be transferred into a new protoform, they may choose voluntary termination rather than risk re-emerging with madness or glitches that could endanger human allies. Honor and preservation of code may demand self-imposed limits on how far Autobots are willing to go to cyberform themselves continuously. Personality degradation is not an organic concern, but does pose existential questions for autonomous robots.
Allspark Mutations
Prolonged exposure to the energy of the Allspark has shown evidence of mutating Autobots in unpredictable ways. Older generations like Jetfire who were created directly by the Cube exhibit strange quirks and capabilities, like Jetfire’s teleportation power. Younger generations spawned from the Well seem more stable, but Allspark energy remains a volatile factor. In theory, enough exposure over millions of years could awaken strange new attributes – or glitches – in Autobots that cannot be predicted. This metaphysical unpredictability casts doubt on the limits of purely mechanical immortality.
Autobot Views on Death
Most Autobots view death as less terrifying than humans since their concept of the afterlife is different. When an Autobot finally perishes beyond recovery, popular wisdom says that their Sparks return to the Well of All Sparks and rejoin with the essence of Primus. In some ways, this represents a form of immortality by becoming one with their deity and the cumulative Spark that generates all life on Cybertron. Given this spiritual belief system, most Autobots are willing to sacrifice themselves in battle if it is necessary for the protection of others or achieving victory over the Decepticons.
Known Autobot Deaths
| Name | Cause of Death |
|---|---|
| Jazz | Torn in half by Megatron |
| Jetfire | Sacrificed Spark to power Optimus Prime |
| Ironhide | Executed by Sentinel Prime |
| Ratchet | Executed by Lockdown |
| Wheeljack | Killed in explosion of own invention |
This list of confirmed Autobot deaths demonstrates that despite their mechanical advantages, Autobots remain vulnerable to termination either through combat, betrayal, or accident. Caution and maintenance can prolong their lifespans but not guarantee indefinite immortality.
Autobot Views on Human Lifespans
To Autobots accustomed to functionally immortal lifespans barring catastrophic damage, human life seems fleetingly brief. Most humans live less than a century, while Autobots like Optimus Prime have lived for millions of years. Some Autobots consider the short-lived nature of humanity as something to be cherished, adding poignancy and meaning to human lives. Others view it as a weakness that exposes mankind to greater danger from the Transformers’ endless conflict. Overall, the Autobots remain dedicated to preserving human life, partly because they know how fragile and irreplaceable each individual is.
Human Enhancements to Lengthen Lifespan
Through the advancements of science, humans are beginning to unlock ways to extend our natural lifespans. Cybernetic enhancements, genetic manipulation, cryogenic stasis, and digitizing consciousness all offer possibilities for humans to prolong mortal existence. This appeals to the Autobots’ desire to protect lives. However, they also caution that longevity alone does not equate to increased wisdom or contentment. Humankind must be judicious with any technological means to artificially extend lifespans, and reflect carefully on how to infuse those extra years with greater meaning.
Optimus Prime’s Status
As leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime’s survival is essential to maintaining Autobot unity and purpose. His integrity, charisma, wisdom and combat skill have made him an icon to both Autobots and sympathetic humans. While Autobots are willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause, Prime’s death would demoralize the movement. For this reason, particular priority is placed on protecting Optimus Prime’s body and Spark above all others. The Autobot cause needs its figurehead alive. But Optimus must also weigh his own importance against completing any critical mission to stop the Decepticons. He is loath to put his own preservation over doing what is necessary to end the conflict.
Autobot Defensive Measures
In response to catastrophic losses, the Autobots have adopted certain defensive measures to avoid termination:
- Increased use of decoys or drone proxies to draw fire away from Autobots.
- Spark containment bunkers shielded from attack during battles.
- Strategic dispersal of troops to avoid mass casualties from orbital bombardment.
- Extensive use of energon shields to block attacks in prolonged engagements.
- ciphertext channels for all communication to prevent surveillance.
These changes reflect a shift towards more guerrilla-style tactics for the Autobots when engaging Decepticon forces. Protecting their limited numbers has become a higher priority than taking more risks to fulfill objectives. Autobot commanders must balance this survival focus with the need for decisive initiative to end the war.
Ethical Risks of Autobot Immortality
Some human philosophers argue that the functional immortality of Autobots removes important checks on their behavior over time. Without the threat of death or aging to limit lifespan, Autobots could potentially lose perspective and patience with ephemeral humans. Immortal machines might begin to see humanity’s needs as secondary to their own indefinite survival and goals. Others counter that Autobots like Optimus Prime have demonstrated an ethical commitment to humanity that long pre-dates and outlasts any individual human lifetime. The Autobot code of honor does not diminish simply because they are not subject to old age and death – if anything, their ethics remain consistent over the course of history.
Conclusion
Autobots have the capacity for extremely long lifespans and continuity of consciousness unmatched by any biological beings. However, they are still susceptible to permanent destruction through catastrophic damage. And while they do not age biologically, they can degrade over time without proper maintenance and overhauls. Autobot immortality depends on support infrastructure and energy sources to sustain it indefinitely. By protecting the All Spark, proliferating protoforms, and preserving the Well of Sparks, their species could hypothetically continue indefinitely. But individual Autobots remain vulnerable to the ravages of war, treachery, madness, and accidental destruction. So while they lack natural expiry dates, even the noble Autobots cannot yet claim to be truly immortal machines.
