A/N i know i should have put this earlier but here we go anyway, i don't own anything transformers related except Ellen and a couple of deluxe editions of some Autobots but that's it ;)

Episode 1 Darkness Rising

So after school was over Jack asked which way I was headed home, "Actually I have a set of wheels."

"You mean that two wheeler is yours?" he asked impressed and slightly awed as he pointed at the said two wheeler, I nodded as we headed for it, he unlocked the chain on his bike that was tied up to a pole, "With this job I've got at the moment I'm hoping to buy myself one, another year should do it." He sighed looking down at his bike obviously frustrated. "you should see my penny jar." he added.

"Hey come on, knowing that you'll earn it through all that hard work will make it even sweeter right?" he raised an eyebrow at me, "Yeah your right that was pretty corny, but you get what I'm saying."

"Yeah." he then checked his cellphone, "speaking of hard work I'd better gets going, see ya tomorrow, I'll meet you by the tree, just in case you get lost again" he teased as he gave me a short wave before heading down the road on his bike, he sounded so unfulfilled like he was so unsatisfied with his life but had accepted that.

i kept my eyes on Jack until he was truly out of sight, then i headed for my own way mode of transport as i cocked my leg over it, i backed it onto the road as i aligned myself with it, then i looked upon Jasper. The set up is nice and the roads seem to just go on and on, at least i can...drive up and down Jasper...i need Jack to show me around here sometime. right, now, home i think, oh wait. i then reached for my helmet, "i do not want another six hour lecture about wearing a helmet again." i said as i pulled away from the curb. i looked in the direction that Jack had gone again as i looked down the direction i was about to take, "at least Jack has something to do, my routine of the day is get up, go to school, come home and repeat. Video games can only entertain you for so long especially when most of the time you're playing on your own, if something doesn't happen soon I'm going to get cabin fever!"

So as I drove down that long dusty road and drew closer to base, in the distance a motorcycle was driving my way at a fast speed over the speed limit anyway, as it drove past it kicked up a major dust storm. "Whoa!" I had to stop, the dust was blocking my vision, I looked back it was Arcee. She was no more than a speck by now but it was defiantly her. I continued to look back for a long while "what's up with her?" granted that's normal behavior if she aimed the dust deliberately at me but i digress.

As I drove up, the doors opened on the mountain face, I continued forward as I stopped near the entrance and leaned my bike up the side of wall, more practical I find if it's there when I need it or on the other hand I'm not very tidy. My instincts were telling me to 'head for the couch' but it was in truth just a bad habit, when i entered the main room I noticed that Ratchet and Dad had come in from up top, "why were they up there?" I thought. Dad acknowledged me as he gave me a slight bow of his head as well as a very weak smile, Ratchet however kept to himself.

I proceeded to the couch as the room was dangerously quiet Dad and Ratchet had solemn looks on their faces a look I know very well, after a long pause of silence I finally spoke up "I'm afraid to ask but I must, has something happened?" i said as the tension felt suddenly thicker.

Dad looked at me for a long while before finally speaking "Ellen, I'm afraid, Cliffjumper..." he paused, "has become one with the Allspark".

"I..." i started before stopping, i sunk into the couch as i had to comprehend what he had just said, Cliffjumper? Dead? but he was so awesome in battle, it seemed he could even take on Megatron himself, but Cliffjumper has been known to be a bit of a show off and overconfident, but even so... "What, I, what-what happened?" i asked finally frowning at the floor.

"Decepticons, he fought bravery, but he was vastly outnumbered, when we arrived to support him...we were already too late" he was ridden with guilt.

I didn't want to ask any more questions it didn't seem appropriate, "don't blame yourself, what else could you have done?"

"We could've been faster!" Ratchet snapped back slamming his fist onto one of his instruments "I needed that" he solemnly whispered under his breath.

I didn't know Cliffjumper well, but he was definitely the light of the party, so full of energy. He and Arcee were partners their personalities complimented each other, before he came to Earth me and Arcee never really got along in fact we would argue regularly, then when cliff comes into the picture she eases up a bit and now we stand on neutral ground, I wouldn't say friendly ground since we still like to wind each other up now and then but we do tolerate each other...kind of.

"Where is Bulkhead and Bumblebee?" i asked standing up.

"Probably went out on patrol same as Arcee, to deal with the grief in their own way" Ratchet said as he was looking at the screens.

"Well I'm going to sort out my school work, they showed no mercy I can tell you that" I laughed slightly trying to cut the tension everyone has a different way of dealing with grief this is mine. i mean, there hadn't been an Autobot death in years and then when you suddenly get comfortable with the idea that it wouldn't happen again, reality suddenly hits you something fierce.

"I'm sorry Ellen, how was school?" Dad said with a lot of guilt in his voice obviously forgetting it was my first day at a new school but he had every right to given the circumstances, I just wish he knew that.

"oh, S-School was okay, the work was okay, the teacher was okay, the cafeteria food was terrible but that's just the natural order of things and I made some friends, well okay a friend but a few good friends is all I need." Yeah I don't really agree with that 'how you know the measure of man by counting his friends saying'.

"I am glad, are you feeling better about the whole situation now?" he said raising an eyebrow at me though it was forced only for my sake i bet.

"Yes" I said in a moaning way I hate it when he's right "...I'm going to go to my room now I still have to arrange some of my things"

"Very well" he said in his normal robotic tone.

What I said was half true, I'm also going to my room because I feel so tired, I put away one thing from my suitcase then flopped onto my bed, Cliffjumper dead. just a mere six hours ago and he said he was going to play some video games with me, it gets me thinking, it could've been any of them, i said bye to most of them today and it could've been the last...I'll never find myself fully content as long as there War continues...

It was about 8:15am until I woke up from obviously falling asleep, "Great." I groaned mumbling as I saw the time, I looked at my cloths that I still had on from yesterday "no time to change I'll just have two showers when I get back, to make up for it." I grabbed a chocolate bar from my bedside cupboard and held it in my mouth as I grabbed my black jacket, slipped in my shoes and ran for my bike.

Before Ratchet could even complain i was gone.

"i can make this" I sighed tiredly rubbing my face, i started to drive out but still keeping the speed limit I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I ran over something because I was breaking the speed limit. at this point making a good impression on the teachers was the least of my worries, nor can i even concentrate, if it wasn't for Jack i wouldn't go to school at all, but its not like i can do anything, i can't comfort Arcee at this point we'll just argue, and staying at home doesn't help either, going to school is probably the best option.

8:29am was the time I got into my seat, i make a light scoff sound as i looked at the clock that showed that time, if it wasn't for my mood i would've been pretty pleased with that outcome.

I looked beside me to see Jack, i was expecting the Jack from yesterday but he was acting funny, nervous and wasn't paying much attention, when the teacher asked him a question about math he shouted "I don't know the talking motorcycle!" talking motorcycle? i just grew even more weary, i know Arcee is in a vulnerable state right now but to reveal herself in public?...no, even with her grief she wouldn't do that.

I tried to confront Jack to maybe get some answers, but he would run out the room at break and lunch and couldn't find him during each, so I waited until school had ended to ask him what was wrong. But when the bell rang he literally speed walked out of there so I ran to try and catch up to him which failed as I got caught up in school rush hour. So I made my way out through a lot of bashing, pushing and I fell over twice but got out of there alive.

And Jack was gone just upon exciting; I looked round the corner to see if he was at the end of the street, no luck "he sure is a fast walker" I figured I'd get it out of him sooner or later. but I'll be up all night wondering. i took a breather as i went to my bike and proceeded to go home as usual. just when i thought i might get used to living here.

So upon arriving home I 'parked' my bike up as usual and started feet shuffling into the main room, eyes closed and humming a tune, i think I'll go to bed again, I'm not feeling that lively. before i could do so i suddenly froze...in front of me was Jack well his back, another younger boy and a girl. "Err?" I really didn't know what to say, it was like i had never seen another human being before.

Then the girl suddenly spun around as if sensing my presence and pointed a much exaggerated finger at me "hey! I thought we were the only members of this club?" she complained/

"Um pardon me but I'm not a member of this 'club' I happen to live here". I'm not one to judge someone but I'm too weary to have any patience...no i won't judge after all she's just had first contact. "What's going on?" i asked in Dads direction.

"to get to the point, a pair of decepticons were trying to offline me during which this kid got caught in the crossfire, the decepticons for some reason thought he was with me and tried to kill him too, during which a chase insured resulting in another kid. and then finally when we went to pick them up to bring them here another kid appeared!" Arcee explained with every negative word to describe the sound of her voice then, yeah there was no way i could of comforted her.

"and now they're part of the witness protection program?" I have to admit it would be nice to actually have a few more humans round here I feel like a captive animal.

A/N is it going alright so far? :)