"What?", the little girl asked Megatron.

"You're my daughter. You're Ayla.", Megatron said and set his cube down.

"That can't be true. I'm a human. At least, I think I am.", the small girl said, the Energon cube now gone.

"If you were human you'd be dead right now. Energon, especially Dark Energon, is dangerous for humans.", Megatron said.

"How do you know I'm your daughter then?", the girl asked.

"Only Ayla's eyes would brighten when Dark Energon is near.", Megatron said, "And, Silas told me what they were going to call her."

"Experiment X3-T5AH.", she said.

"Yes.", Megatron smiled, "Welcome home, my daughter."

"Thank you, father.", Ayla smiled.

"You are welcome to have another cube if you'd like. There is something I must take care of.", Megatron said.

Ayla nodded and watched as her father left. She looked at the empty cube in front of her. Another cube wouldn't satisfy her needs. She needed - yes! Ayla jumped off the table with ease and landed gracefully. She ran toward the door, her instincts rising to the surface.

The door opened and she followed the scent. The delicious smell of Energon in the air. She followed the scent to a group of vehicons in the back of the ship. Ayla grinned and crept closer. Suddenly, someone came running and shoved the vehicons into the wall. A second followed.

"Aw!", Ayla huffed.

"Tasty.", Knockout smirked, his dark purple colored companion said nothing, "I miss having Shadow around. You were way more talkative."

"They were mine!", Ayla complained.

"Sorry. You have to be faster next time.", Knockout said and left the scene.

The silent mech had attacked another drone while Knockout was busy talking. He stopped as he was about to bite into the thrashing vehicon. He motioned for Ayla to come over and have the vehicon for herself. She smiled and attacked the drone.

Several drones later, Ayla had stopped hunting. For once in her life, she felt full. Ayla started wandering the ship to find her father. She soon found him just outside the bridge. He was talking to someone. This new bot was red and blue. He was a foot shorter than Megatron.

"Ayla, this is Optimus. Optimus, you remember my daughter.", Megatron said as Optimus smiled at Ayla.

"Hi.", Ayla smiled.

"Hello, Ayla. It's good to have you back.", Optimus said.

"It's good to be back.", Ayla said and walked closer to the two.

"Optimus and I are brothers. If I leave on a mission, he's the one that will take care of you. You'll meet your grandfather later.", Megatron said.

"Okay, daddy.", Ayla said, "Daddy, where's mommy?"

Megatron frowned and closed his optics.

"I can't wait for you to return.", Megatron said to his mate over the comlink, "Then we can bond."

"I can't wait to come home. I have to do this though. If I don't, our daughter will remain a techno-organic.", Shadow said as she left Earth's solar system.

"I know. I just wish you didn't leave so soon.", Megatron said.

"If I had waited any longer, I probably wouldn't have left at all.", Shadow said and laughed, "Besides, this will be good for you both."

"I hope you're right.", Megatron said and Shadow cut the link.

~~

Megatron stood at the monitors. it's been two years since his daughter was taken from him. Every day he wished he had done more. He wished he had called out his full strength. He wished.....he had saved her.

"M-M......ega.....n.", a voice said through the comlink, their voice getting cut off, "I-I..........it.........sh.........o.........ay."

"Shadow? Shadow! You're cutting in and out.", Megatron said as he tried to pinpoint her location, Soundwave was helping.

"S.......eam........on.........he.......ase.", Shadow said.

"Shadow?", Megatron asked when the comlink died, "We have to find her."

Soundwave pinpointed her location and brought up a video feed. Megatron watched helplessly as the ship his mate was in blew up.

"NO!", Megatron yelled.

"She......died.", Megatron said and comforted Ayla as she cried.