There is a reference in this chapter. Those of you who have seen my older fan fictions will know it. Anyways, enjoy!!

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----- A few hours before the concert, Autobot's HQ -----

Kari was running around the autobots hq, freaking out about what she should dress up as.

"AAAAHH!! MY COSTUME'S TOO SMALL NOW!!! NOOO!!!" Kari whined while holding up a costume that resembled Optimus. She sniffled and sighed. "Chase, what should I do?!" Kari grumbled and Chase took out a black cat outfit, wagging his tail. Kari blinked and smiled. "Sure. I wanted to be Optimus this year but I can never go wrong with a cat. I'll do something... Now out! I gotta change!" Chase rolled his eyes then left while Kari began to glow brightly. When she was ready she stepped out. She now had black cat ears and two sort of fluffy black cat tails. Her hands and feet were paws with the same symbols and her right arm was bandaged as usual, paw included instead of hand. Kari now wore a black t shirt with a silver spiked bell collar and loose fitting black jeans with a steel colored chain on her right hip, and her right ear was pierced with a circular silver earring, but it only looked that way. She walked out and looked at the autobots, who had not seen her yet then cleared her throat and let out a meow. "Mmmmmmrrrooowww!" She called and her ears twitched as her tails swayed slightly. She had used her abilities to make her costume. Optimus walked into the room as he stopped and looked at Kari.

"Kari, what are you doing?" Optimus asked curiously as he looked at Kari since she looked like a humanoid cat.

"I have to wear a costume to the concert tonight. I thought I'd have a little fun with it." Kari shrugged and twitched her ears. "Since I have cat DNA in me too I thought it'd be fitting... W-wait..." Kari blinked and gulped as her tails twitched in shock. "I... Just realized why I like fish so much... And why I don't like to be woken up from naps..." Her ears flattened but she shook it off and put her hands in her pockets. "How do I look? Cool right? Made it myself!" Kari smirked slyly, making her costume shine in a way. Optimus chuckled as he nodded his head.

"Yes, it suits you very well Kari. It looks good." Optimus said with a small smile. Kari smiled childishly.

"Yay! Ok come on, I gotta get there early to help set up! Nate said you gotta come back cuz he doesn't want secrets to slip out. He promised you he'd watch me and call you if anything was up." Kari jumped up and down as she grabbed her stuff. "You said you'd come back. Please keep that promise." Optimus nodded his head as he headed for the exit and turned into a truck then opened a door so Kari could put her stuff in and get in herself. Kari smiled widely, swaying her tails happily and putting her things in and then buckling her seat belt. Optimus set off for the location of where the concert was going to be held.

After a twenty minute drive Optimus pulled up to the stage near the local park as he saw Nate getting stuff out of a truck as Optimus came to a stop and parked himself.

"Kari we're here, and make sure to not cause any trouble for Nate alright." Optimus said as he opened the door to Kari to get out. Kari smiled and nodded then waved goodbye to Optimus after she got her stuff and while he drove away.

---- Decepticon's ship around the same time ----

Kaiser was rushing around getting something together. Everyone was really busy; Knockout had a lot of things to repair for Megatron and they needed to be perfect, Starscream was doing whatever he was doing that Megatron needed done, and well Megatron is doing whatever he normally does in that room of his. Snowflake sat on Kaiser's bed in robot form swaying her tail back and forth as she watched Kaiser put the final touches to something.

"Finally finished! Now I'll just put this on and then I'll be set to head out." Kaiser said happily as she looked at the costume she made herself planning on getting off this ship and go near the local park in Jasper since she heard that a really good band was going to be playing for the Halloween concert this year and she wanted to go. Kaiser put on a skirt that went a bit past mid-thigh that had gray fur along at the bottom then above the gray was sky blue fur as well as a long fluffy cat tail that dragged a bit that was gray and sky blue ringed fur. Next was the sleeveless top that was corest style that was gray and the middle of the front had a single line of gray fur then on each side of the piece of fur was a single line of sky blue fur going down. Snowflake helped lace up the sky blue ribbon in the back tightly, but not too tight. On her legs and arms were warmers that went to her knees and elbows that were the same colors and finally on top she placed a pair of gray cat ears and created blue streaks going throughout her hair and her eyes a vibrant blue with cat eye slits.

"It looks great! Just like the Cheshire Cat!" Kaiser said looking at herself in the mirror she found and gave a smile like the chesire cat does. "purrfect." Kaiser said as she patted Snowflake's head and went to go sneak off the ship.

----- Moments before the concert -----

Nate, who was dressed up as a mummy, helped the group while doing their last practice before it was time to get started. Kari was a little nervous and she felt weak in her knees. Nate saw this and pulled her to the side to give her advice while everyone finished up.

"Hey, it'll be fine. You'll be great." He said, just out of earshot of the others. "Think about how much fun you'll be having and you won't be that nervous. Kay?" He asked and Kari sighed then nodded.

"Alright." Kari smiled. Soon people began to arrive while the curtains were closed. Kari peeked out from behind the big curtains and looked around. "S-sooo many people showed up guys..." She called. "And the autobots haven't showed up..." Kari thought with a small frown, her nerves shaken, closing the curtains and calming down. Optimus and the rest of the autobots were on there way to go see Kari, Nate and his group perform at the Halloween concert. Kaiser was walking around as so many people were there and dressed up in costumes as well.

"Kari it'll be fine." Julian smiled and ruffled Kari's hair. Kari giggled and nodded at Julian and the lights dimmed, everyone went silent. Rebecca and Daniel opened the curtains while Nate came onto stage.

"Hello everybody!" He called out and the crowd cheered. "Man do we have a treat for you tonight! So, lets get our introductions out of the way. You all know me from last year, right?" The crowd cheered. "Well, just incase there are new people who have not come up before, I'm Nate, I play on the guitar." Rebecca, who was dressed up as a zombie, came up. "That's the lovely Rebecca and her new husband--" Daniel, who was also dressed up as a zombie, smiled and walked up. "Daniel!"

"I CALLED IT!!" Some random person called out from the crowd and Nate chuckled while the married couple blushed.

"Daniel also plays guitar while Rebecca plays keyboard and sings. Then there's Jessica, our other singer--" Jessica, who was an angel, totted out with a wave. "And Sarah, another guitarist and singer." Sarah walked out, dressed up as Gogo Tomago from Big Hero 6, waving happily at the audience. "Then there's my man, Julian the drummer!" Julian, who was Wasabi from Big Hero 6, jogged out, giving some people in the front a high five before going to the drums. People began cheering as if they knew the show was about to start. "Now hold on hold on, we have a new member. She's young and shy. I've been teaching her all I know." The crowd went silent and began to murmur among themselves. Kari gulped and shuffled her feet from back stage. "Now, please give a warm welcome to Kari!!!" Kari timidly peaked out and came onto stage and everyone stared. Kaiser's eye's widened, but smiled and whistled and clapped happily.

"WHAT EVEN?! SHE HAS WHITE HAIR AND RED EYES!!! IS THAT HER NATURAL COLOR?!" Some random guy called.

"Looks like it dude. I bet they just brought her on out of pity and she can't even play." Another random person called and Kari twitched and grabbed her guitar then snatched the mic from Nate. Optimus and the others finally got there in time to see the concert while the two men called her out. Bumblebee heard the two human guys say mean stuff about Kari and if he could he'd teach them a lesson, but refrained from doing so since he was a robot after all. Optimus heard, but kept calm since he knew Kari wasn't going to let what they said affect her and just show them they were wrong.

"YO!" She called and everyone was quiet while she pointed at the two men in the crowd. "You can make fun of my natural hair and eyes, but don't judge my skills cuz of my appearance!" Kari then gave Nate the mic and he backed away with his hands in the air. Kari began playing the beginning guitar solo of "Burn it to the ground" by Nickelback. After that Kari stopped with a smirk and chuckled triumphantly at the two men with narrowed eyes while everyone was silent. Moments later the crowd. Went. WILD! Kari blushed and giggled and looked to Nate then to the crowd, noticing the Autobots in the very back of the crowd in vehicle mode. She smiled widely and waved at them then Nate walked up.

"Well, someone was called out. Anyway, She is the newest and youngest member. She plays the guitar and sings like Sarah. Now..." The crowd waited happily. "LET THE SHOW BEGIN!!!" The lights went off and smog came out from the stage and the crowd went wild, Kari's guitar was the first thing heard then the drums, Keyboard, two other guitars and two voices and the lights came on slowly to reveal Jessica singing. Optimus and the others listened happily as the show began. Kaiser smiled as she was impressed with how much better Kari had gotten compared to when she played back at the orphanage as she cheered along with everyone else. Soon it was Kari's song to sing. She blinked and the crowd cheered as she sighed then began to sing "This is halloween" with a small smirk, her eyes hidden by the shadows of her bangs. When the line "--teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red." Kari tilted her head slightly and made her teeth appear as fangs while the lighting made it look like her eyes were glowing then she kept her hair out of her face for the rest of the song.

When the last song was over and the group bowed, two booming sounds, similar to planes filled the area. Kari shivered and looked to Nate and the group, who were a little startled. Kari then glanced to her things which is where Chase was, in toy mode taking a nap since he was off the clock because the autobots were there. She then looked to the Autobots then to the sky. Megatron and Starscream were coming in while a red car sped up, Knockout most likely. Kaiser looked up with wide eyes as she saw Megatron and Starscream and Knockout coming.

"Ohhh shit, I'm in soo much trouble... Ohhh scrap." Kaiser thought as she tried to pushed through the crowd to get away from everyone. Megatron landed on the ground turning into a robot. Optimus and the others saw Megatron and Starscream land on the ground and transform, Knockout doing the same when he drove up. Nate and the group gulped, except for Kari. Rebecca went to grab Kari and pull her away but Kari resisted.

"Kari lets go or we'll get squished!" Daniel called over the screaming crowd as they all scattered in a panic to get away.  Rebecca kept tugged on Kari. Kaiser was going the opposite way of the crowd as they bumped or pushed her aside as she was trying to not be seen by the most likely enraged three. Optimus and the others transformed to protect the humans.

"Why are you all here?!" Optimus said pointing his gun at Megatron as the rest of the group had their guns pointed at Starscream and Knockout.

"Guys let me go." Kari growled and Nate remembered what Kari was able to do and went to Rebecca and put a hand on her shoulder then nodded. Rebecca gave a surprised look then hesitantly let Kari go. The youngest group member smiled, turned to the group and winked at them while putting her right index finger over her mouth in a "shhh" manner as she began to glow and go into robot form. "Thanks Nate." Kari smiled then made her wheels pop out of her feet then she roller bladed through the crowd and skid to a stop next to Optimus. "Sup cheese grater!" Kari called out to Megatron with a giggle and smirk, making her right arm into a blade. Rebecca, Julian, Daniel, Sarah and Jessica about fainted while Nate sighed. Megatron growled as the autobots were in their way.

"We're not here for any of you, we're here for retrieval." Megatron said plainly with a snarl clearly mad about something.  Kari blinked and tilted her head, slightly confused then made her mask slid off and she sniffed the air.

"Retrieval of what?!" Arcee said keeping her gun pointed at the decepticons, waiting for one of them to answer. Kaiser laid low as she fixed her skirt a bit.

"Kaiser is here..." Kari stated in a low tone yet loud enough so the bots could still hear her, answering Arcee. Arcee and the others looked at Kari having heard her answer before them while Megatron looked around the area looking for a certain black haired girl. Kaiser was sneaking around not wanting to get caught now as she was being stealthy.

"Find her!" Megatron shouted at the two with him as he was losing patience. Kaiser flinched upon hearing Megatron shouting, yup she was going to be in A LOT of trouble.

"I'll find her!" Kari called and Knockout and Starscream looked at Kari in shock. "It's kinda her fault this is happening... I guess I don't blame her under the circumstances she's in... But if it makes you leave sooner and less people are harmed then fine." Kari grumbled, not happy about helping the decepticons. She closed her eyes and hummed, eventually finding Kaiser and skating to her and grabbing the older girl with narrowed, upset eyes. "... Kaiser..." She stated, greeting the older girl with a nod, keeping a firm grip. Kaiser jumped and looked to Kari who grabbed her.

"H-hey, you did really good... Please don't turn me in, I was heading back now so they'd leave to go back to the ship." Kaiser said giving Kari a pleading look.

"Thanks..." Kari sighed and looked Kaiser dead center in the eyes. "You are putting people in danger, Kaiser..." Kari narrowed her eyes. "And I can't have that... I protect Jasper and the people in it alongside the autobots. I can't let the decepticons stomp around, squishing people under their feet. They'd never care about killing people, not even a little bit." Kari growled as her rage began to bubble up. Kaiser sighed as her head hung low.

"Yeah I know, I didn't think they'd actually have some free time to notice I was still gone... At least you get to go out, even if I asked they'd never let me come down to just walk around and be free. I'm always on the ship and I thought this would be a nice little breather away from everything... Now let me go and I'll show myself so we can get out of your face, I know how much you hate seeing me." Kaiser said the last part sad as she ripped away heading in the way of Megatron and the other two.

Kari frowned at the last thing Kaiser said. "K-kaiser... You really think that?" She asked, going back to human form. "Why would you... Think I'd ever hate seeing you?" Kari sounded sad as she flattened her black cat ears and dropped her cat tails. Kaiser kept her back to Kari feeling sad stopping for a moment.

"Because you have a better life than what I could ever offer you when we were in the orphanage, and clearly you're a lot more happy without me." Kaiser said continue to walk again.

"... Kaiser.... I don't hate you... I'm just disappointed in the path you're walking... That's all. I was never upset back at the orphanage about our life, never. I miss you, ask any of the autobots and they'll tell you..." Kari frowned. "You can still come, you can still change..."

"I walk this path because I had no other choice because I was losing faith of ever getting out of there with them threatening to kill you in front of me.... I can't leave because I can't find my way back to the light of things because all I see is darkness in everything and it won't ever leave me alone... But that doesn't mean I miss you very much." Kaiser's voice cracked a bit as she walked a bit faster.

"... Very well, Kaiser..." Kari said in reply and let Kaiser leave her then walked back to the autobots with her head low and her ears flattened with her tails dragging on the ground sadly. Megatron saw Kaiser walking over to him and boy was he angry. Kari looked over her shoulder at Kaiser slightly and sighed as Nate and the group raced up.

"KARI!!!" Rebecca called and held her. "Oh my goodness! Are you ok?! How did you do that?! WHO ARE THEY?!" Rebecca called out and Kari sighed.

"I'll explain later Becca." Kari sighed sadly then went to Optimus and blinked. "I don't think we'll ever get Kaiser over here..." Kari stated, a little sad. Once Kaiser walked up to Megatron her head was hanging down as he started to shout.

"Kaiser you stupid girl, what gives you the authority to just go where you please!? I've made it clear that you NEVER leave the ship unless it's a mission!" Megatron shouted as he hit her sending her back and rolling on the ground. Optimus looked over to the shouting as Megatron was yelling at Kaiser and then hit her. Kaiser laid there in pain as tears started to well up. Kari winced and frowned at the sound of Megatron hitting Kaiser, feeling bad for the older girl.

"I-I'm sorry..." Kaiser said lightly as she slowly sat herself up wincing from the pain. Bumblebee glared at Megatron, sure Kaiser wasn't good but she was still a young child. Megatron paid no mind to Kaiser as his back was to her.

"One of you grab the brat and lets go." Megatron said changing and taking him without another word. Starscream frowned and let Knockout get her since he was upset with her. Knockout huffed and took Kaiser then transformed into his vehicle mode and began to drive off. Kaiser sat quickly in Knockout as tears streamed down her face. Optimus watched as the decepticons left with Kaiser and no longer seen.

"What did she have to say for herself?" Arcee asked Kari looking to her.

"I don't wanna talk about it... I have to explain what just happened to Rebecca, Daniel, Julian, Sarah and Jessica... I'll meet you all at HQ..." Kari said then walked off to the group, Nate joining her with a small smile and a thumbs up to Optimus, saying he'd watch her without using words. Kari began explaining everything as best as she could to the group while the autobots hesitantly left.

---- Decepticon's ship ----

Megatron got back first and went straight to his room before he saw Kaiser again and hit her once more or something. Kaiser was silent the whole ride back as she was wiping her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry Kn-knockout.... I didn't me-mean to cause any trouble, I just wanted to go out and I knew Megatron would never let me un-unless it was for a mission... They hate me now don't they?" Kaiser said sadly.

"Well I don't know about Lord Megatron but I only came because I was worried. You really scared me Kaiser. I think you nearly gave Starscream a heart attack too." Knockout grumbled, still a little upset. Kaiser looked at him with a frown as she rubbed her whole right arm that now was bruised.

"I'm sorry... I won't do it again, I promise." Kaiser said softly trying to stop herself from crying. "I'll have to find Starscream and apologize to him too, that is if he even wants to see my face now..." Kaiser thought sadly to herself. As soon as her and Knockout got back she got out of him and ran to find Starscream, she didn't mean to worry anyone, she just wanted to be out for a while and then come back. "I hope Starscream isn't that mad at me like Megatron is." Kaiser thought while searching for Starscream.

Starscream worked on somethings, trying to keep calm. He was happy when he knew Kaiser was ok but upset because she made him worry a little. Kaiser was running around having a hard time finding Starscream, until she saw him in the distance and ran as she pulled the skirt down a bit from rising up a bit.

"Starscream!" Kaiser shouted getting his attention as she cleaned her face from tears as her eyes were once again sapphire blue and no more blue in her hair. Starscream blinked then turned around to see Kaiser.

"What is it?" He asked, trying to stay calm. Kaiser looked down to the metal floor as she stood before him.

"L-look, I'm really sorry... You all were really busy and I know it was useless to ask if I can go out cuz I already know the answer is always going to be no so I only left because I figured I'd be back before any of you noticed I had left..." Kaiser said rubbing her hurt arm not looking up figuring he isn't going to forgive her as easily as Knockout did. Starscream sighed in defeat.

"That still doesn't give you the right to just go off like that. Next time you want to go out then tell me." Starscream huffed and crossed his arms at her. Kaiser looked up a bit to look at Starscream.

"O-okay, I'm sorry for scaring you. Knockout told me how worried you were." Kaiser said.

"I wasn't JUST worried! I was terrified! What if you got hurt or taken or something!!" Starscream growled, sounding overprotective as always. Kaiser's eyes widened in shock at exactly how worried he was about her and it made her feel worse.

"Starscream you know I can handle myself, but thank you for caring so much. I promise to come to you if I ever want to go out. Kaiser said with a lightly smile.

"Thank you." Starscream sighed then went back to work, letting Kaiser watch if she wanted, which Kaiser decided to do so.

----- Autobots HQ -----

Kari walked into HQ with Nate and sighed as she waved at the autobots and walked to her room, closing the door behind her. Optimus nodded his head as he watched Kari walk in with Nate and went to her room. Bumblebee, Ratchet, Arcee, and Bulkhead watched as they all waved back then they watched Kari and Nate walk to her room. While Bumblebee was watching the two walk by he felt like something inside bubble giving the bot a bad feeling. Kari sighed sadly.

"You ok?" Nate asked and Kari nodded.

"I'm good. I'm good. I was just not prepared to tell everyone so soon. You know?" Nate nodded at Kari's words then the two said good bye and Nate looked to Optimus and the other autobots and nodded his head as he left. Optimus and the others watched as Nate left the headquarters then look to one another. Optimus then started to head over to Kari's room to check up on her. Once in front of her room he knocked on the door.

"Kari, may I come in?" Optimus asked for permission to come in.

"... Sure..." Kari replied and the door began to open even though Kari was sitting on her bed. She was not facing the door and kept her back to Optimus as he entered the room and shut the door when he was in. He pulled up a chair next to Kari and sat down.

"What's wrong Kari? You look troubled." Optimus said as he was ready to listen to Kari. Kari looked to Optimus and smiled lightly.

"Nothing... I... Just wasn't ready to tell everyone what happened. I had a plan and everything but it was all brought down... It messed with my head and all. I'm fine." Kari giggled nervously then sighed, still slightly troubled but not willing to talk about it just yet. Optimus sighed as he gently patted Kari's back, comforting her.

"I understand, but don't let it get you too down alright." Optimus said with a gentle smile. Kari nodded then yawned.

"Kay... I'm gonna get ready for bed." She then stood up and began to grab her pajamas. "I won't let it get me down, I'll do my best." Kari said with a small giggle. Optimus smiled and got up to leave the room so Kari could change and get some sleep. As he was leaving the room he turned to look at her once more.

"Goodnight Kari, have a good nights rest." Optimus called to Kari then left her room. Soon Kari was dressed and ready for bed. She cuddled Chase and fell asleep soundly.