The Autobots arrived at the school, and Miko waved enthusiastically. "Bulkhead! You’re late again!"

"Sorry, Miko! Had a bit of an emergency back at base," Bulkhead replied as Miko climbed into his cab.

"Could’ve sent Xstar to pick you guys up,” Arcee joked. “She’d enjoy the drama."

"Xstar?" Miko asked. "Who’s that?"

Bumblebee nervously replied, "She’s... someone new."

As the kids got into the vehicles, Jack raised an eyebrow. "What kind of an autobot is she?"

"She’s not like the other Autobots," Arcee said quickly, but her tone was cautious.

Arriving at the base, the atmosphere shifted as they spotted Xstar, her white frame and red accents contrasting against the typical Autobot colors.

But the Decepticon symbol on her shoulder caused everyone to freeze.

"Is that… her?" Raf whispered.

"Yeah, that’s Xstar," Bumblebee replied, looking nervous.
Arcee stepped in front of the kids. "I know it’s a shock, but she’s not what you think."

Xstar’s voice was steady.
"I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m not who I was before. Don't worry."

The kids exchanged unsure glances. Jack asked, "How do we know we can trust you?"

Xstar’s optics softened as she sighed.
"Because I don’t have anywhere else to go."

There was hesitation, but something in her voice made the kids pause.
Maybe she wasn’t what they expected.

Wheeljack stepped forward, grinning. "Ya know kids, me Ratchet and I rescued her."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You and Ratchet? That's.."
  "Unexpected, right? I was shocked as well!" Bulkhead finished, stepping in with a chuckle.

"Well, it’s a long story," Wheeljack said with a wink.

"That sounds as if y'all two are an old married couple.” Miko said with a wide grin across her face.

The Autobots stared at her, confused.

A few awkward seconds passed before Miko broke the silence, laughing nervously. "What, you don't know what a married couple means?"

Jack quickly shot her a bemused glance. "Miko, they are from Cybertron, remember?"

Miko paused, blinking. "Oh... right." She scratched the back of her head.

"Well, married couple means Spark Bonding!" Raf explained.

The Autobots struggled to suppress their laughter, with Ratchet rolling his eyes in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Wheeljack crossed his arms, a smirk on his faceplate. "Who knows.." He remarked.
Ratchet swiftly threw a wrench at him.

Ratchet groaned. "We are not Spark Bonded, Miko. Not at all. Why should we be. Ew. No. I hate Wheeljack."

Ratchet attempted to clarify that there was nothing between him and Wheeljack, but the chemistry between the two was clear as day.

"Just because we’ve worked together a long time doesn’t mean anything!" Ratchet protested.

Wheeljack joined, casually stating, "Yeah, we just kissed a few times! It's totally normal stuff pals do!"

Ratchet's face turned red at Wheeljack's confession, but he quickly retorted, "That doesn't prove anything!"

Wheeljack chuckled, "Come on, it's not like we're hiding anything."

Meanwhile, the other Autobots tried to keep a straight face, failing miserably as they struggled to suppress their laughter at the situation unfolding before them.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it. You’re practically family," Bulkhead teased.

Ratchet rolled his optics, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "You all are impossible."

Xstar, standing slightly apart from the group, glanced at the kids, feeling oddly out of place.

The word "family" hung in the air, and though it wasn’t something she’d ever had, the warmth of their interaction made her think that maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to find a new one.

Just then, Smokescreen rolled in with a bag of fast food. "Hey, guys! Grabbed some cheeseburgers, needed a snack."

Ratchet shook his head in exasperation. "Smokescreen, you can’t just-"

"Why not? I’m just here for the food," Smokescreen interrupted, grinning even wider. "But hey, I’ll catch up on whatever you guys are talking about later." He plopped down on a nearby crate, happily munching on his mini burger.

Miko burst out laughing. "Gimme too!!" She yelled, running up to him.

“I think I’m going to like it here," Xstar muttered under her breath, smiling slightly.

Amid everything, Xstar felt a small sense of belonging. 

As the laughter died down, Arcee tilted her head, scanning the area.
"So, where’s Ultra Magnus and Optimus?" she asked, looking around.

“They went to find some energon,” Ratchet replied with a shrug. “We’ve been running low, and we need to restock.”

__________

The atmosphere in the Autobot base was alive with chitchat and laughter. Bumblebee, Raf, and Smokescreen were engrossed in a video game competition. Jack and Arcee were out on a joyride, while Miko was enjoying a monster truck rally with Bulkhead.

Xstar, bored out of her mind, was laying on the medbay. And what about Wheeljack and Ratchet?
Well, it was best to leave their activities a mystery.... You really don't wanna know, heh...

The sound of footsteps approaching were heard. They all turned to see Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime emerging from the shadows, their large forms looming in the doorway.

Optimus spoke first, his voice calm and authoritative. "Xstar, we’ve been monitoring your progress. And we believe it’s time to discuss your future with the Autobots."

Xstar tensed at the mention of her future. The words 'future with the Autobots' carried weight. Could she really be part of their team, even if her origins were in Decepticon lore?

Ultra Magnus, stepping forward with a firm expression, added, "You’ve proven yourself capable, but trust is earned, not given."

Xstar stiffened, her optics narrowing. "I understand," she said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "I’ve always had to earn trust. From everyone."

Ratchet along with Wheeljack came, looking at Optimus and Ultra Magnus, their face having mix of frustration and resignation.

“She’s been through enough. Don’t make her feel like she has to prove herself again. She’s not a Decepticon. She’s one of us.” Wheeljack said, as Ratchet nodded.

Xstar’s gaze shifted from her parental guardians to Optimus, and then to Ultra Magnus.

She was used to being inspected, but this time it felt different.
This time, there was a chance for something more.

Optimus regarded her with a steady, thoughtful expression. "We don’t expect immediate loyalty, Xstar. But we do ask for your honesty. If you truly wish to join us, you must be prepared to make difficult choices."

Xstar looked away, her words sinking in. "I’ve made enough difficult choices for a lifetime."

Ultra Magnus's voice was stern but not unkind. "The hardest one is yet to come. And you need to decide if you’re willing to face it."

Xstar looked back at the Autobots, her internal struggle apparent in the way her optics flickered. Could she be trusted? Could she trust herself?

The silence stretched on for a long moment before she finally spoke, her voice quiet and hesitant. "I’m... willing to try."

Optimus Prime gave a slight nod, signaling his approval. "That’s all we ask."

With that, the tension in the air seemed to ease, if only slightly.
Xstar wasn’t fully accepted yet, but for the first time since she had arrived, she felt as though she wasn’t entirely alone.

Miko and Raf, watching the exchange, slowly began to step forward, tentative but supportive.

They had seen a glimpse of the pain Xstar carried, but they also saw the possibility of something more, something that could, with time, be rebuilt.