Transformers Belongs To Hasbro

Chapter 5

A/N: I owe this chapter to Autobot Nightfury! She's been the best of help with my stories and she gave me the inspiration for this chapter. I love you dear and thank you!

Optimus did not know what to do. Yes, he had Megatron's child but what now? The mech had been infuriated at the idea of the Autobot leader having an upper hand on him. Would the tyrant give into his demands? It was so confusing and he feared the repercussions for his team. And what about the femme? If everything went bad, what would he do with her?

He had to clear his mind. Everyone was relying on him to keep them alive. He was on his way to his quarters when something caught his receptor. It was a soft musical tone. Optimus turned his helm to each side, trying to pinpoint the noise. The tune was so familiar that it caused his spark to begin pulsing quickly. He knew that sound and a few moments of following the source, it led his to the femme's cell. The fembot was making the noise.

His spark clenched as he realized how sad the tune had become. It hit him that the femme was terrified beyond her wits. Even the spies had said how much Megatron had sheltered her from the world around her. He took a deep vent before opening the door.

Stella waited patiently in her cell. She knew they would come for her but the thought did not keep her tank from twisting up. No one had been by since the medic, Ratchet, had come to fix her helm. Though she was sure her father would come for, fear still entered her spark. The one called Optimus had looked at her in a way she had never seen before. It was akin to cold hatred and a sad longing. All she wanted was to go home and feel her father's warm embrace and hear her brother's gentle teases.

A soft hum came from her throat as she tried to calm her nerves. It had been years but she still remembered the tune her mother had hummed to her, though she could not remember her face. Megatron had told her that she was beautiful and had loved little Starla dearly. The tune always entered her helm when she was afraid or upset. Her father had even memorized the tune to put her to sleep when she was still little.

Megatron had raised her and was her true sire in her spark, but Stella knew that he was not her biological sire. She had forgotten the events of her adoption but she always knew she was very different from the rest of the Decepticons. While the other sparklings in the base had grown at an alarming rate, she had stayed small and fragile. Even her armor was soft and easily dented if handled roughly. This had become apparent when Starscream had wanted to play a little rough and had dented the armor around her arms. Her brother had been quickly punished and she had been repaired immediately. Stella did hate her brother's rough punishment from their father. Megatron showed favoritism that made her uncomfortable.

The tune was the only thing she had left from her previous life and she hummed it now, missing her family and the mechs who had raised her. Her tune wavered as a sob caught in her throat and the tears finally sprang from her optics. Home was all she wanted.

But tears were put on pause as Optimus entered the room and Stella shrank on her berth. What did this horrible mech want? Was her father coming for her? Optimus looked neither rageful or happy. It was more akin to curiosity that he showed her.

"Did...did you speak...to father?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes, but we will speak more later. Our communications were...cut short. But I came to ask you a question, if you're willing to answer." he answered, slowly advancing to see her better. The femme shrank farther back.

"And what do I g-get in return?" she asked. Her father had always taught her to use any thing to her advantage when in a bad situation. Optimus surprised her back by giving a small chuckle.

"You really were raised by Megatron, weren't you? I assume you're hungry and would like to leave this room. We could walk around and chat. I assure you that my team would never harm you without cause. Do we have a deal?" Optimus asked, offering a servo. Stella had already made her decision when she heard his offer. She would take any opportunity to leave this room. But she refused his servo as she walked to the door.

Optimus gave a gentle sigh as he punched in the code.

"What is your question...?" she asked after they walked in silence for several moments.

"Actually, I have several but the first is what was the tune you were humming? It sounded familiar." Optimus said, avoiding the mess hall as they walked. He did not need his soldiers getting riled up.

"The tune? Oh...My mother died when I was very young but for some reason I know she hummed it to me when I was scared." Stella answered, her optics turned to the floor as she spoke.

"Your mother seems like a gentle femme, but how did your father meet her? I don't understand why your optics are blue." Optimus couldn't help but ask. Why was this youngling so interesting to him? He wanted answers.

"I..." but she was cut off by a loud noise that sounded like wrestling. Optimus shook his helm as he recognized the noise. Ironhide and Ratchet were fighting again. Stella looked nervous but Optimus beckoned her to follow.

They turned the corner to see the two duking it out on the floor of the main room. Ratchet had a busted nose and Ironhide's optic was slightly cracked. The struggling continued until Ironhide pinned the medic to the ground, holding down his servos.

"You always did look better under me!" Ironhide shouted triumphantly. Stella turned bright red at the mechs trying to show their dominance. Ratchet spat disdainfully as he used his knees to throw the bigger mech off.

"ENOUGH!" Optimus boomed, alerting everyone to his presence. Ironhide and Ratchet glanced at each other as they realized how much trouble they were in.

"Sorry, sir, but it wouldn't of happened if Ironhide would pull his own weight around the base and he takes more than his rations." Ratchet growled, his glare turning back to Ironhide.

"I'm a warrior, Ratchet! I fight and eat and not meant to do chores around base. You'll need me in a fight and I can't do it if I'm cleaning! Also I need more than the other bots!" Ironhide spat back, his fist raised. Stella moved slightly behind Optimus as they looked ready to continue their battle.

"Ratchet, I understand your concern but Ironhide is a warrior-class. He must spend his time training. Ironhide, you should take only your ration. We are low at the moment and we can not take more than our shares. Understood?" Optimus reasoned, his expression gentle but commanding. The two mechs looked at each other again but nodded, Optimus was right.

"What about her? Why should we feed a Decepticon brat?" Ironhide growled, his optics narrowing in on her. Stella moved farther behind Optimus.

"If you would send me home, you wouldn't have to worry about me..." Stella whispered, hoping they would take the offer.

"And have your father kill us off? I don't think so, kid. You need to look around you and see that your perfect little life is gone. Your sire is a monster." the warrior growled, advancing on her.

"He may be a monster to you but he's my sire and he raised me. I owe everything to him!" Stella suddenly blurted, moving from behind Optimus and walking to the hulking mech. Ironhide was caught a little off guard for a moment.

"You don't know him the way I know him! My parents were Autobots that were killed in the crossfire. He found me and fed me and raised me as his daughter. I don't even remember what they looked like...My father could have left me dead, or even shot me where I stood...b-but he took me home and gave me a family... He's done awful things but he still cared for me. Father is only a monster when he fights, but he's gentle when he's near me." Stella continued, the tears pouring from her optics. She wasn't sure why she acted this way but she couldn't stand the things they said about her father.

She didn't want to think about how many he killed or what he had done. She only knew the kind father that her kissed away her tears and had rocked her to sleep in her youth. How could he be a monster?

"You're...an Autobot?" Ironhide questioned, his optics wide. Decepticons and Autobot were two totally different classes. They were like two different breeds out of the same species. A bot could take on the title of one but would always be what they were born into.

"I am Megatron's daughter and a Decepticon. My...my past does not matter now... You will kill me like a Decepticon when this is all over with anyways..." she muttered softly, her arms wrapped pitifully around herself. The room was silent. Megatron had taken in an Autobot? It was unheard of!

"Ratchet, escort her to a room. We will deal with this later. For now, just give her some energon and the room will not be a cell." Optimus ordered. He had to figure this out! This was unlike Megatron. For all the years they fought, Megatron would have never taken pity on an Autobot.

What was so different about this tiny fembot?