Optimus walked into the lobby with Jack beside him. He still cradled Azura in his arm. She had finished feeding from Optimus, and Optimus felt that it was time to tell the children the full story about how Azura came into existence. Azura was very nervous about it as she did not know how the kids were going to react to her being created from evil intentions. She knew that Jack probably would be okay about it, she wasn't sure about Miko and Raf. They were caught off guard by the admission she is Optimus's daughter, while Jack had noticed that it was possible.

Miko was watching from the platform with a curious expression. She had no frown on her face to show that she could be annoyed, and that was perfectly fine. Raf was sitting on Bee's shoulder as Optimus entered the room. Bee's coverings have been fully repaired at this time, so has Bulkhead's, while Ratchet still needed to repair his own. But at the moment, Bulkhead and Arcee were repairing a few fallen things in the lobby while Ratchet assisted, so they were busy.

"I have to say, I almost expected to see you still looked human when Optimus brought you out," Miko commented gently as she looked at Azura. Azura turned her head away from Miko and the girl saw that the sparkling was acting shy. "And I can see what you mean by the fact she's still an infant, but it is still strange. At least she is okay."

"Just don't be mad at her, Miko," Jack said gently as he walked up the stairs. "None of that is Azura's fault. She obviously never knew about her identity until three years ago. Imagine how you would feel if you thought you were one thing your whole life, only for it to crumble down."

"It would be traumatizing," Raf said gently as he remained seated on Bee's shoulder. "I am not sure anyone can really handle that kind of truth." He looked at Azura as the girl remained facing Optimus's chassis and the boy smiled. "I have to say, she's kind of cute."

Optimus smiled gently at the boy. "She is. I agree she is very cute." Azura glanced up at Optimus with a slight frown as he looked at her. "I know you may not agree, but that is how I feel about you. And when the base is properly repaired, we can start designing the new coverings for you."

Miko widened her eyes in surprise and stared at Optimus. "So without your armor, you look like what Azura looks like?"

Optimus nodded. "We are not born with these coverings, Miko. Our protoform skeleton covers out vital systems, but it is far weaker than the armor you see us wearing. But as sparklings grow very fast within the first years of their birth, we put the first coverings onto the sparklings when they reach a certain age. Azura is past that age, but she had the thin membrane covering her body and giving her a human appearance. And the coverings would have tore off the membrane and cause extreme discomfort for her."

"Ooh, I see…" Miko looked at Azura curiously and chuckled softly. "In a way, this is what you're telling me, is that she is going to be naked until she gets new coverings."

Azura grimaced and curled her body slightly as she overheard the girl talking. Jack shook his head in disbelief. "I guess it is one way to look at it Miko, but I really think it isn't that bad. But…" He looked at Optimus curiously. "She didn't have an actual covering around her chest and stomach, did she?"

"No. Unfortunately…because Azura did not develop properly within a gestational chamber, she is missing some things." The kids were shocked to hear this and Optimus took a deep intake. "Now that you know that Azura is my daughter, her…her creation was unfortunately something that the decepticons were experimenting with. Something that took the lives of numerous bots and new sparks alike."

"Are new sparks like what we would embryos?" Rafael asked curiously, looking at Bumblebee. "It's basically the very start of development of any offspring."

Bumblebee and Optimus process the question for a moment before Bee nodded. "That is basically what new sparks are to us. A new spark…well, our sparks are our hearts. It is what gives us life. And when a new spark is created, there is no shell around it, just a spark."

Miko and Jack did not know what Bee had said, so Optimus reiterated that answer to them. At this point, Ratchet walked over as he saw that Optimus was speaking about Azura's creation. "While new sparks can be created through interfacing, which is the most common means of forming a new spark, the second way new sparks are created is through a habloid spark." The kids were confused, but they listen intently to Optimus as he explained. "Habloid sparks are formed within the sire's system, and the new spark must be past into a carrier's gestational chamber. However, in Azura's case, the cons had developed some kind of machine that could form habloid sparks within our systems. I was hit by the wave, and Azura's spark formed against mine."

"Wait…so the machine forced your body to create a habloid spark?" Jack asked curiously with a frown.

"No. The sparks had already been formed." The kids look at Ratchet in surprise when he spoke. "I remember the very day it happened. It wasn't just Optimus who was hit by that blast, but there were so many others. And unfortunately, Azura could have survived within Optimus, but he has no gestational chamber." Miko and Raf were both very confused. "I see Optimus has explained this to Jack, but I'll repeat it for you two. Unlike your world, Cybertronians do not follow the same rules when it comes to sparklings. Femmes are more likely to have a gestational chamber, but it is not uncommon for mechs to have them too. Optimus does not have one, so Azura would have perished if I did not remove the new spark and placed her inside an external gestational pod."

"Would Azura have grown within the pod?" Jack asked curiously as he rests his arms on the railing.

"Yes. Unfortunately, Azura is the only one of the new sparks to survive. The reason why the cons developed this weapon was to make the new sparks a parasite. These sparks, I believe, were meant to kill autobots from within. No autobot would want to kill an innocent life. Optimus was lucky, but he was mostly unconscious during that time until after I removed the sparkling." Ratchet looked at Azura to see she was still facing Optimus, and he smiled. He found it very adorable that she was trying to hide her face from the others. He understood why, though he proceeded to continue speaking to the kids about Azura's story. "However, Azura's CNA not only consists with the CNA of a Prime, but she also possesses fragments of the Matrix of Leadership."

"Matrix?" Jack tilts his head and looked at Optimus curiously. "What is that?"

"It is a legendary key that Primus himself bestowed upon the original Primes so long ago. I carry the Matrix within me…" He placed his hand on his chassis as he spoke about the key. "And the power within it is something the decepticons would want. And Azura has a small amount of its power within her, making her valuable for the decepticons."

Miko was rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "I am curious about something though. You said that the habloid sparks had been made before they were blasted out from this device and ended up inside the different autobots. And you also said that a sire has to created the spark, does this mean Azura has one out there somewhere? Wouldn't that mean that, well, Azura is part decepticon?"

Optimus glanced at Ratchet as the two knew that this question would be asked. Azura herself tensed as she listened, hoping that no one came out with the answer she already knew. "I am afraid it is true that her sire was most likely a decepticon. However, am of the belief that her sire is no longer alive. She does not need a sire who only created her from the desire to kill others." Optimus looked down at Azura who looked up at him, happy he did not say a name. "And if you think that we have suspicion of who her sire was, you would be correct. But as I said, she does not need a sire who would deliberately create her to be a weapon."

"Though I guess the decepticons must have known that Optimus was hit by the blast if they were trying to get to Azura," Jack said thoughtfully. "What happened after you removed the new spark from Optimus?"

"It took a few days before we realized that the new spark could not be protected. Or even raised on our world, it was in the last days of the war before we came to Earth. Optimus wanted to take the new spark within his body to ensure she would grow properly, but alas, it would not be the case." Ratchet softened his expression and placed his hand on Optimus's shoulder. "Optimus made the one of the, if not, the hardest decision he has ever had to make. Sending her away from Cybertron was Azura's only chance to survive."

"And yet you had no idea if she would have survived the journey, or even on the new planet she found herself on," Raf said gently as he listened. "Woah, that is so sad." He had tears in his eyes as he definitely sympathized with the bots and Azura. "I don't know how you did it."

Optimus did not respond straight away. He could not help but curl his hand around Azura's body and she knew why. She appreciated the feelings he was having in this moment as she knew what they were. "It was not easy at all, Rafael. I had hoped that I could keep her. I wanted to, I did not care about how she was created. She was innocent…but the cons were after her. They were relentless. So…using the pod she was in, Ratchet made modifications to the pod to develop the sparkling to a certain point before she would be put into stasis."

"It was necessary to ensure that she would survive. There was enough energon to supply Azura with what she needed to survive. But as she was within a gestational chamber, not everything she was meant to develop with could be developed." Ratchet saw Azura give him a curious expression and he looked away from her as he continued. "Normally, when a sparkling grows within a mech or a femme, parts are delivered to the sparkling through the umbilical lines. These parts are taken from the carrier and delivered to the sparkling in that manner."

"That kind of sounds painful," Miko commented with a frown.

"It is, it isn't the most pleasant experience. But it is a necessary part. Azura has her basic parts, and a few additional parts that allow her to eat human food and us the toilet, though due to not being able to develop property, she is missing vital parts. Including a covering over her system, which is why I had to make one for her while she was unconscious last night." Azura glanced down at herself as she had not really noticed she had a new covering. But it made sense. She touched the covering curiously, and guessed this would grow with her as she got older. "I do plan on having Azura go through a procedure that will get her all of her parts, but not right now."

Azura was very curious about the procedure, and she hoped it could be done soon. She guessed Ratchet was waiting for the right time, but she hoped he wouldn't wait too long. Jack looked at Optimus curiously, seeing the sad expression on his face as he remembered the time he had to let Azura go. And he saw there was some guilt. "So what happened when you sent Azura away?"

Optimus looked at the boy and intakes heavily. "Azura was jettisoned from our planet using a space jump engine to send her far from our planet. The decepticons, I think, realized that we had sent her away as they stopped trying to get to where we were. In a way, I had hoped for a possibility to find her sooner, but the war intensified in other areas, and I was consumed with fighting Megatron until we came to Earth."

"How long ago was that, exactly?" Miko asked curiously. "If Azura is seventeen now, how long was she in stasis for?"

"It was over thirty Earth years ago that Azura was jettisoned from our planet. I am not sure when the pod itself arrived on this planet, but Azura did not come here without a piece of our planet. The crystal you see around her neck…" Ratchet gestured to Azura's crystal and she quickly covered it with her hands, holding it tightly. "Is a Cybertronian crystal. Usually, those crystals are created in a special part of our planet as gifts. The crystal she has was formed with the Matrix. I am not entirely sure what purpose it serves to Azura, but it was how we were able to identify her three years ago."

Jack never knew that Azura had the crystal. But as he saw how Azura was clutching the crystal, he had no doubt it meant a great deal to her. "So…why did Azura look like a human baby? She told me she was found on the side of a road…is that part true?"

"Yes, that part is true," Optimus confirmed gently. "We are not entirely sure why Azura's body looked human, but I believe that this could be due to the Matrix in the crystal. It scanned the planet it landed on and learned about the dominant species on this planet. After all, she had to fit in. She was able to eat human food to keep her alive this whole time. Although, it has weakened her protoform."

"Can she still eat human food?" Raf asked curiously. "I find it interesting that she was able to be adapted to our world."

"She can still eat human food, but it is not necessary. Energon is the fuel and lifeblood of our race, and Azura needs it in order to grow properly and get stronger. Unfortunately, the scraplet incident has slowed the progress of her strengthening her protoform, but not terribly. If Azura still wishes to eat human food, we will allow it. I know she would enjoy it." Azura smiled at Optimus as she still liked human food. She thought about maybe asking Jack about getting some ingredients to make stuff with her, but she wasn't sure if he would want to. "Now I am sure you are wondering how we found Azura. It was by chance."

She nodded and Azura finally spoke up. "You know I used to be in an orphanage in Wyoming, right, Jack?" She asked softly and the boy nodded. "I was unfortunately badly mistreated. I managed to find little jobs to earn enough money to buy a ticket out of that place. And I had no idea that Cliffjumper happened to be patrolling the town when he saw me."

Ratchet looked at Azura curiously. "Remind me how he saw you again?"

She grimaced a little as that was still a very sore memory. "I…um…I was run over by kids on their bikes when I left school." She felt Optimus's hands immediately tense slightly upon hearing what happened to her the day Cliffjumper found her. "Um…and the crystal few off and almost went down the drain. That is how he saw me, I think."

"I still cannot believe how cruel those humans were," Optimus commented bluntly and kissed her forehead gently. "But that is not all that happened." He looked at the kids again to continue the story. "Azura was able to get on a bus during the night to leave the town. However, the decepticons must have intercepted Cliffjumper's message when he told us he had seen the crystal as Soundwave was following Azura with Laserbeak. When the bus was out of the town, either Soundwave or Starscream slammed into the bus and overturned, causing it to slide down a hill."

Jack stared in shock and he thought back for a moment. "Wow, I remember something on the news about a bus back than. It must have been quite the damage to the bus if that happened…but there were no human survivors were there?" The bots shook their heads. "Oh…that's no good."

"We were able to save Azura from them. I think the decepticons had already suspected that Azura was my sparkling, but we were able to get her out of there. But at the time, I was not sure if she was my sparkling. Not until we matched my CNA with hers." Optimus had a very guilty expression as now came to the part that was also hard for him to talk about. "But…I made the mistake of not wanting to tell her straight away…I don't know why, I guess I was worried about the outcome. I was not thinking about her. Even though Cliffjumper and Ratchet both seemed to know I should have told her sooner."

"We still respected your decision, Optimus." Optimus turned his head slightly to see Arcee and Bulkhead approaching. It seemed they had finished whatever they were repairing and came over to the conversation. Arcee placed her hand on his shoulder gently. "Right or wrong, I think it wouldn't have mattered." She looked at the kids as they were looking at Optimus and Azura sympathetically. "When Azura found out, she actually had overheard our conversation at night. She had woken up and was looking forward Optimus, but she learned about her identity. And she…well…ran away."

"How did she do that?" Miko asked curiously. "There isn't anyway out that I can think of that I can see. Unless there are hidden tunnels through out the base." She looked at Azura who was simply laying in Optimus's arms with not much of a reaction. "Well, how did you get out?"

Azura glanced at Miko and shrugged before Optimus responded. "We have yet to work that out ourselves. Azura did has not admitted to that at this time, but I have suspicions." The sparkling grimaced slightly as she knew that Optimus suspected she had used her abilities to get out, but he made no mention of it. "But Azura managed to escape. And she lived in Jasper in that unit alone for three years. That is how you met her, Jack." He didn't react other than shrug slightly as he listened. "I know that Cliff and Fowler knew where she was, but they seemed to believe she needed time. I just wish it was not for that long. It was only when the decepticons found and took Azura from the unit that day you met Arcee, that she returned home."

"Ah, so that is the full story," Raf said thoughtfully and wiped his cheeks as he had let a few tears fall as he felt for both Optimus and Azura. "Man, that is some story. I am sorry you both went through so much." Optimus smiled at the boy as he appreciated the boy's sympathy. "I have to say that is a story I would only know from a movie or something, but…I really don't know what to say that I feel sorry for you."

"Thank you, Rafael. I appreciate your understanding. I am just glad that Azura and I now can mend our relationship. Yesterday was another big wake up for me, and no doubt for Azura." She smiled at Optimus and nodded in agreement. "I am just glad that she is mostly unharmed, and we can move forward from here."

"And we also can now spend time with Azura properly," Miko said enthusiastically. She smiled at Azura as she looked at her. "Do you have a bunch of stuffed toys? I have a heap on my own bed. They bring me a sense of comfort that I like, and they looked so cute when I make my bed."

Azura smiled at her and nodded. "I do…I really like them as well…I guess I wasn't sure how you guys would feel about that. I have had to get used to being dependent on daddy and the others again…I was used to being independent, so it has been an adjustment."

"I bet. But you do seem to be enjoying it too. I would if someone came along and started doing things for me, and taking care of me. It would be too easy to just let someone else look after me." Miko giggled softly and Azura gestured for Optimus to put her down. He moved Azura to the platform and she slid off his palm, standing on her feet in front of them. "Oh, and I just realized you're a bit taller than Jack. I am curious how big new born sparklings are."

"If Azura developed and grew properly, she would be roughly that size upon birth," Ratchet responded to the girl who was surprised by how big Azura is meant to be. "I would consider the earlier years of Azura's life to be premature, in a sense, but she was able to grow and survive. Now she can start growing faster without the membrane around her body."

Azura still missed the membrane, but she would live with it just fine. "I am just curious about your hair, though." Miko stared at the golden strands with wide eyes. "I had always thought that your hair was strange for being so golden, but now I know why. But I don't know if this is Cybertronian…is it?"

"I believe that the hair is from the Matrix," Optimus explained as Miko kept staring at Azura's hair. Azura guessed Miko was a bit jealous since she didn't need to wash or brush it. "I am glad she kept it. It makes her look unique. And I do enjoy brushing it as well."

Azura giggled softly and looked at Optimus. "Yeah, but at least it isn't necessary to brush my hair. Still…" She ran her fingers threw her hair and shook her head, causing a wave through her hair. "I am very happy with it." She walked over to Jack and hugged him suddenly, surprising the boy. "And I fully appreciate your understanding."

"You are welcome. This is what friends are for." He rubbed her back until Saphira lets him go. "So that means we should do something. I do feel bad that you won't be going to school, and you were starting an art project, but maybe we can finish it here."

"What good would that do? I won't get any grade." Azura looked over to where she had all the art stuff. She sighed deeply as she softened her expression. "I might be good, but I have no reason to."

"Why not as a hobby? I know you already have your fish tanks…"

Miko gasped loudly suddenly as she interrupts Jack. "That's right! The fish tanks!" Azura raised an eyebrow at the girl as she suddenly got excited. "You have got to show us the tanks! And your room! I really, really want to see what a sparkling nursery will look like."

"Y-You do?" Azura asked cautiously with a worried expression.

Miko chuckled softly and placed a hand on Azura's shoulder. "Don't tell me you think I am going to say something bad. I think it is awesome that you get to have a nursery! Is it pink? Is it cute?"

"Well, I do like it, and I wouldn't mind adding something else to the room…" Azura looked at Optimus as he was curious about what she wanted. "But…" She looked at Jack curiously. "I want fairy lights in my room. I never sleep in the dark, and the fairy lights are pretty, so…"

"I know a place where I can by a very long length of fairy lights that could be used in your room. I hope it can be added, because I agree that your room is very pretty. I guess you also were holding back since you have been unsure about your identity." She nodded and Jack smiled at her. "That is settled. I am more than happy to do that for you. And now I know a bit more about you, I look forward to giving you some gifts. There are a couple that I think you are going to like, but hopefully you have the room for it."

She stared at him for a moment before smiling. "I can't wear clothes anymore, Jack. I have to wait for my coverings. Though Optimus intends on making coverings that look like human clothes, so there is that. Actually…" Azura hummed for a moment. "It might be worth donating my clothes to a thrift shop. Might as well since I can't wear them anymore."

"I would have thought you would want to keep the clothes, even if you can't wear them," Optimus said softly as he was surprised, she wanted to get rid of her clothes.

Azura shrugged. "Eh, I don't really see the point, Optimus. They're nice, but I can donate them." She looked at Miko with a smile. "You could probably take some if there are any you like."

"Nah, you wear bright colors. I prefer black and purple, so I might not find anything I like. And I also hate dresses." Azura chuckled softly as she agreed that Miko's style is very different. "At least you can get up to mischief while we have to go to school. I guess this means you might get training or something from Optimus and Ratchet."

"I think I am a bit too young for combat training, and I am still waiting on Ratchet and daddy to start teaching me Cybertronian. But today I just want to relax. My body still hurts from the scraplets." Raf and Miko were immediately sympathetic to her when she said she still was sore. "That is why I was thinking of packing away my clothes to take to a thrift store to donate them as a start. Maybe I will do some painting, but I don't know."

"I am happy to do whatever. We will just have to keep out of the way of the bots while they keep repairing the base." Jack looked over to the lounge chair and smirked at Azura. "How about videogames? Or a movie? Might as well start out the day slow."

Azura smiled and nodded at the suggestion. She preferred to watch a movie over playing a videogame, so that was what they decided to do. And she asked about watching Lilo and Stitch, and Jack couldn't help but smile as he knew that the movie was about family. The four of them sat down to watch it while the bots continue repairing the base. Optimus himself was pleased that the children did not judge him or Azura about what had happened in the past. All three listened and sympathized with them. He knew that they did not blame Azura for what happened in the past. But he did know that they were curious about her sire, and he did not blame them. Azura has not asked about her sire yet, so he figured she did not wish to know. And Optimus himself did not wish to confirm it at this time either. But for now, the day consisted of Azura and the humans watching a movie, checking out her room, packing up her clothes for donation and they decided to paint at the end up the day which was a lot of fun. It was a good day today, and Azura was looking forward to the week. She knew she would miss school, but she and Optimus could have time together and she could practice her abilities better. And she knew that would be the next conversation to have with the kids soon.