Star.
"What are you doing out here, all on your own?" Mirage waited for the answer that hesitated on Hound's lip-components.
"Looking for the Christmas star," Hound replied. "The one that appears on all of the human cards at this time of year." He held up a card for Mirage to see: it was one of rolling hills, becoming fields and eventually mountains. In the foreground, there were ancient Earth shepherds with lambs at their feet. Their faces were turned towards a bright point in the sky: the Christmas star. "Perceptor thinks it is an astrological phenomenon and that this star can only be seen when this planet has a certain alignme-"
"I think it's just a metaphor, Hound," the spy replied warmly. He sat beside his friend and stared up at the heavens, the light and some of the heat from the base radiating on their backs.
"Yeah."
For a long time, no words passed between them. Hound spoke first.
"You still miss Cybertron?"
"Of course. I know you like it here – I'd go so far as to say that you love it – but do you ever miss Cybertron too?" Hound drew his thoughts out for a deep, long moment.
"Yes. Yes, I miss Cybertron sometimes, but I also love this world. Heh – shame we can't have 'the best of both worlds' as the humans say!" Mirage chuckled too at that: there were definitely aspects to this planet he liked too… mainly the lack of ruin. "Do you ever think that maybe one of these stars is actually Cybertron?"
"Yes," Mirage replied, feeling the lie catch in his voice and knowing that his friend had felt it too. All of those glittering sparks in the sky, like dust caught permanently passing through moonlight… Cybertron could be a single one of them, or perhaps not.
"Which one do you think it is?" Hound asked, carrying on the lie. Mirage stared upward, leaning back on his arm-junctions to get a better look. He was drawn to a patch over to their left, and finally he pointed out a single speck of time-caught dust.
"That one. Not too bright, but not too faint either. Mid distance."
"Ah." There was something comforting in their falsehoods to each other, something that gave them hope – that even though they were not currently able to see Cybertron, it did not necessarily mean that they would never see it again. It was then that it became clear to both of them how much lies and metaphors and symbols can truly mean... just like this strange human festival that they were celebrating. The Christmas star was a symbol of hope, and now the two of them had their very own 'Christmas Star'.
End.