Yawning, I stretch as I wake up. I look around and smile when I see Miko watching Bulkhead pace.

"Dude, I've never seen you so stoked!" Miko exclaims.

"Oh, you are going to love Wheeljack. We were like brothers", Bulkhead says as he pauses in front of Miko.

I get up off the couch and quickly go to the bathroom to change into some clothes suitable for the day. They were my usual red, blue, and black clothes. I walk back out to the main room, only to find no one but the humans, Optimus and Ratchet there. However, the ground bridge opened and the other 3 bots came back along with a new bot.

"Jackie, come here. Meet my other best buddy, Miko", Bulkhead says as he walks over to Miko.

"Hiya", Miko says. I grin before walking up and slinging an arm over Miko.

"You keeping Bulkhead out of trouble?" Wheeljack asks Miko.

"I try, but trouble finds us anyway", Miko says.

"You literally go and find trouble Miko. You cause trouble sometimes", I say with a roll of my eyes.

"Who's this?" Wheeljack asks.

"Name's Alexis. We talked yesterday when we first contacted you", I say, looking him square in the eye- optic.

"Ah, I remember you", Wheeljack says kinda creepily. My defenses immediately went up and I backed away. I did not trust this guy one bit. He... he reminded me too much of a con.

"Prove it. What did I say yesterday?"

Wheeljack pauses but Optimus cuts in. I sigh before walking over to my datapad and started reading about transformation again, ignoring everything that happened. I did overhear Wheeljack asking about the ground bridge that Ratchet had put into shut down. It made me trust him even less. I put aside my datapad and watched from afar all that was happening.

Bulkhead tried to get Wheeljack to tell the story of Darkmount Pass but Wheeljack passed, instead getting Miko to give him a tour of the base. It was only after those two left that Bulkhead began to voice his doubts about Wheeljack.

"Something's not right about Wheeljack", he mutters.

"Bulkhead, really? He's travelled galaxies. You haven't seen him for centuries. He could just be rocket lagged or... Well, bots do change, you know?" Arcee tries to convince Bulkhead otherwise but he refused to listen.

"Not Jackie", Bulkhead murmurs.

"I'm going to have to side with Bulkhead. Just from hearing him yesterday, I could tell that he had a very light tone to his voice. The one here... He's creepy and not at all how I envisioned Wheeljack to be. And did you hear how he wanted to know about the ground bridge? It almost seemed like he wanted to use it for his own purposes", I say. Arcee also started to look doubtful but we all hid those looks when Wheeljack and Miko came back in.

"Hey", Wheeljack says. "What are you guys... talking about?"

"I was just telling the guys all about you and me at the battle of Darkmount Pass", Bulkhead lies.

"That's a heck of a story", Wheeljack says.

"Yep. Tell it", Bulkhead says.

Miko tries to cut in but Bulkhead snapped at her to stay out of it. I think that kinda surprised Miko because Bulkhead had never snapped at her before.

Wheeljack tried to get out of it but Bulkhead forced him to.

"Fine. You want to live in the past Bulkhead?" Wheeljack snarled. I immediately knew this was not the real Wheeljack because if Bulkhead and Wheeljack were as close as Bulkhead says they were, Wheeljack would not have said that. "The wreckers were trapped between a Decepticon patrol and a smelting pit. The cons were vicious, bearing down on us with everything they had. Me and bulkhead engaged the enemy, left them for scrap, then I made us a way out using their backsides as stepping-stones to cross the molten metal. Isn't that how it happened?"

"Yeah", Bulkhead says. "Except for one little thing." Wheeljack's eyes widen.

"I wasn't there", Bulkhead growls, gaining Ratchet's attention. "I'd already left the wreckers to join up with Optimus but you wouldn't know that if all you accessed was Wheeljack's public service record!"

Miko tried to speak but then the fake-Wheeljack grabbed her. I growled and went to go get Miko back but Arcee grabbed me and held me away from the Con.

"Stay back, or I'll squeeze her into pulp", the con says. I growl again and try to escape from Arcee's grip but I couldn't.

"Decepticon coward! Let the girl go, and face me!" Bulkhead shouts.

I watched as the con sped up the process of defragging the ground bridge before he opened it. He backed up towards it and grinned but was surprised when he was kicked in the back by another bot. It was exactly the same as a con but I suspected that he was actually Wheeljack. I watch in amazement as they battle with katanas and the real Wheeljack defeats the con.

He steps back and lets Bulkhead lob him through the ground bridge. Wheeljack tells Ratchet to close the groundbridge which Ratchet does. Bulkhead and Wheeljack greet each other and Bulkhead introduces Miko to the real Wheeljack. Miko was slightly scared of him though and didn't really trust him.

"Hey, Miko. It's okay. He's the real Wheeljack", I say with a smile as I come up to Miko. Wheeljack looks at me, and looks at me thoughtfully.

"Who are you?"

"Name's Alexis", I say to Wheeljack.

"Thought your voice sounded familiar. You're one of the indigenous species of this planet right? One of the few that actually know and like us?"

"Yep! Now I know I can trust you", I say with a smile. "Which means that I can let you in on my secret."

"Secret?" Wheeljack asks.

"Yep. Tell me... do you know a Crimson Starflare?"

"Yeah. Prime's lost daughter right?"

"Ding ding ding", I say with a grin. "Guess what my other name is."

"You're kidding..." Wheeljack stares at me in disbelief.

"Nope. I've been hidden as a human for 18 years. I haven't figured out how to transform back into my real form but as I do, I'm kicking your aft", I say seriously.

"Why?" Wheeljack asks.

"Prime told me what happened back on Cybertron when I was just a sparkling", I say.

Wheeljack's eyes widen. "He told you about that...?"

"Yep. But I don't remember it. Which is why I'm not actually going to kick your aft."

Wheeljack's eyes soften. "I'm terribly sorry about that. I was just a youngling then. And a troublemaker."

"Let me in on another secret of mine", I say as I motion for him to let me whisper in his ea- audio receptor. He leans in and I grin before whispering something to him, causing him to grin at me. As long as Wheeljack's around, my mischievous side was going to be out.

"Oh, hey, Wheeljack? Have you got a holoform?" I ask with a grin.

"Holoform?"

"I'll take that as a no", I sighed. "A holoform allows the bots to blend in on this planet and appear a human, though they can only go so far from their vehicle mode. It's actually pretty cool."

Wheeljack hums before sighing. "Then I have no need for one."

I feel slightly sad. "You're not staying?"

"No. Once my ship is repaired, I want to take off, find out what's out there", Wheeljack stares off up into the ceiling.

"Alright. Just... Promise me you'll come back?"

Bulkhead cuts into our conversation, drawing Wheeljack away. I watch Wheeljack for a bit before turning around, only to see Miko behind me.

"Someone has a crush", Miko sings.

I roll my eyes. "No, I don't. I only just met the guy."

Miko lets it slide at the moment but I knew she would bring it up again later. I watch as Ratchet works on repairing Wheeljack's help, Wheeljack going to join him after a few minutes of talking with Bulkhead.

*the next day*

"Now that you're part of Team Prime, we've got to get you a vehicle mode. I have some ideas", Bulkhead says, nudging Wheeljack.

"Uh, about that, Bulk..." Wheeljack says uncomfortably. "Now that my ship's repaired, I'm itching to know what else I might find out there..."

"Wait!" Miko exclaims. "You're leaving? Why?"

Bulkhead answers for Wheeljack with a small laugh. "Because some bots never change."

"Wheeljack, know that you'll always have a safe haven here", Optimus says with a smile. Wheeljack looks as if he's about to say something, but Bulkhead cuts in.

"Jackie never stays, but he always comes back", Bulkhead says. I look up at that, towards Wheeljack who was looking towards Ratchet, who was starting up the ground bridge.

We all walk through to a sandy area and Wheeljack gently pushes his ship through with the help of Bulkhead and Optimus.

"There's room for two, Bulk, even with a backside like yours", Wheeljack says, trying to get Bulkhead to come with him. "Who knows who we might find out there... some of the old crew?"

Bulkhead looks back at us, specifically Miko, who was looking a little sad. "Heh. It sounds like fun, Jackie. But my ties are here now. With them. With her."

Miko's head lifts up at the last two words, and a grin spreads out across her face. Wheeljack looks at Miko.

"If anything happens to my favorite wrecker, I'm coming after you", Wheeljack says. Miko smiles.

"I'll take good care of him. Now... say cheese", Miko says as she pulls out her phone and takes a picture of the two wreckers.

After that, Wheeljack goes towards his ship and we all go to the ground bridge. I was the last one to go through, but before I could, I heard my name called out from behind.

"Alexis", Wheeljack says. I turn to look at him. "I promise." A grin breaks out across my face and I run through the sand to give his pede a hug.

He was surprised but he picks me up once I let go of his pede.

"I hope you'll have figured out how to transform when I return. I'd love to go on some missions with you", Wheeljack says.

I smile. "When you come back... can you teach me how to fight with dual katanas like you do?"

Wheeljack smiles in return. "I'd love to."

I grin and hug his face this time. He was surprised again but this time rests a servo across my back as a hug in return. When I look back to go through the ground bridge, it was gone.

"Scrap", I muttered at the same time as Wheeljack.

Wheeljack looks down at me. "Want a ride back to base, or do you want me to call them for a ground bridge?"

"Eh, I'll hitch a ride with you", I say with a grin. Wheeljack returns the grin and brings me inside his ship. I looked around in amazement.

"Ah, man, now I wish I was in my real form so I could come with you", I say with a small pout.

Wheeljack chuckles. "Maybe the concept of you transforming into your real form is the same as us transforming into our vehicle modes."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when we transform, we normally think of what our vehicle mode looks like and us transforming into it. So maybe, all you have to do is think of your real form and transforming into it."

I thought about it, and it lined up with everything I had been reading about. I hummed thoughtfully.

"Can you set me down so I can try?" I ask quietly. Wheeljack sets me down on the floor of his ship and I was going to try until I realized... I don't know what my real form looks like.

"Wheeljack... How am I supposed to transform if I don't know what my real form looks like", I ask softly.

Wheeljack had moved up to the pilot's seat but paused what he was doing when I asked that question.

He sighs before shining something from his optics to in front of me. I was surprised to see a small red and black cybertronian.

"That was what you looked like as a sparkling", Wheeljack murmurs softly.

"How do you remember what I looked like as a sparkling?"

Wheeljack pauses and I almost thought that he hadn't heard me but he eventually responds. "Personal reasons."

I hum softly before shrugging. "So, I'll look like this when I transform, just older?"

"You should", Wheeljack murmurs.

"Alright", I say as I focus on the image in front of me before closing my eyes and imagining myself transforming into an older version of the sparkling in the picture. I hear the sound of gears shifting and when I opened my eyes I was a lot taller. I looked over at Wheeljack, who was staring at me.

"It worked, didn't it?"

Wheeljack nodded. I grin and run over to him. "Thank you so much!!!"

Wheeljack nods and I hum slightly, wondering if I can get back into my human form. I focus on transforming into my human form, and after the sound of gears shifting, I was back to the height I was used to.

I look up at Wheeljack. "What are you doing back in that form?"

"I don't want to scare the others back at base. Although, now that I think about it. Proximity sensor would go off if you dropped me off at the base... It might be easier to call for a ground bridge..."

However, before Wheeljack can call for a ground bridge, my phone started to ring. I pull it out of my pocket and see that it was Miko calling me...

I answer the call and hold my phone away from my ear.

"WHERE ARE YOU, ALEXIS???!!! WE'VE SEARCHED THE ENTIRE BASE FOR YOU!"

"Relax. I'm with Wheeljack. The ground bridge closed before I could get through."

I knew Miko was smirking and I roll my eyes.

"DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME, YOUNG LADY", Miko says.

"I'm older than you by several thousand years, Miko", I say with a smirk.

I heard Miko take a breath to respond before she starts grumbling. "I forget you're actually a Cybertronian..."

"Heheh. Hey, can you tell Ratchet to send a bridge? I got something to show y'all."

"Hey, Docbot, open a bridge to where we dropped off Wheeljack and his ship. We accidentally left Alexis there", Miko's voice was fainter but I could still hear her.

"Hey, Crimson..." Wheeljack started.

"Yeah?" I look up at him with a smile. He hesitates.

"If... If I stay for a few more days... will you come with me to see the stars...?"

I blink before transforming into my real form. "I would love to, Wheeljack. But... I have responsibilities as a human. I have school... that I'm graduating from in a few days! If you wait for three more days... then maybe I can come with you! But... it all depends on what Optimus says... He is my sire after all..."

"I'll stay until after you graduate. Once you've graduated, I'll wait for one more day, and then I'm leaving", Wheeljack says. I smile happily and hug Wheeljack. He was surprised but hugs me back.

"Hey, lovebirds", Miko calls from outside the ship. "Ground bridge is open! Come on, Alexis!"

I grin and transform into my human form. I run out the warship and towards Miko. Wheeljack follows me out. We all start walking toward the ground bridge but Miko pauses when she realizes that Wheeljack was following us.

"Wheeljack? I thought you were leaving?" Miko says.

"Someone convinced me to stay a few more days", Wheeljack says as he looks down at me. Miko looks at me and grins.

"Dude! Bulkhead is gonna be so happy!"

I chuckle before walking into the ground bridge. 'He isn't the only one...'