A/N (Insert Witty Comment Here) ... :)

Shadowzone

It was another lazy day as all us humans were chilling on the couch, Miko was drawing and me, Jack and Raf were talking about random stuff, you know the usual, movies, memories and if you were a dinosaur which one would you be, strangely enough i found this pretty enjoyable, i guess its because of the company in itself. "Okay, okay. What about a herbivore dinosaur?" Jack asked me.

Miko sighed. "You guys talk about the weirdest of things."

"Dinosaurs are awesome. Why wouldn't you talk about them...anyway back to this serious business about being dinosaurs, now i think I'd be a triceratops because they are just total bad assess. Like saying 'yeah we're herbivores what you gonna do about it?'" i said.

"I'd wanna be a brachiosaurus, just for the view." Raf jested.

"For me I'd say a stegosaurus." Jack then said.

"Why?" i asked.

"What? There cool." Jack defended his stegosaurus.

"Oh yeah sure if you're being followed by a two foot predator, they'd be screwed." I said teasingly.

"Don't bad mouth the stego." he jested.

"Uh, will you guys stop talking about dinosaurs!" Miko exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked.

"I'm so bo-red! It's been a while since we've been part of the action." She said slapping a fist against her palm.

"We're not supposed to be part of the action." I said.

"Oh come on Ellen, that doesn't sound like you." Miko argued.

i looked at my feet, "I'm just, trying to be realistic, we'd just get in the way you know that." I told her, but yeah if this was a fantasy land...

"Not if we've got a good distance between them." Miko argued.

"Since when do you keep your distant?" i retaliated.

"Since when do you?" she retaliated back barking that actually.

"Okay let's not ruin this day." I then said calming down, "the day hasn't even gone half way. Hey check me out a regular Dr. Seuss."

"Hmph." She said, and then started coloring rather fast, i sighed myself today is pretty hot that could be a contributing factor to the tension.

We then sat in silence for a bit. "...so what carnivore dinosaur would you be?" i continued off where we started.

We all started talking at once, when the computer started making noise and showing a flashing purple color. "I had hoped that my growing expertise on the subject would remain purely academic. But though faint, this is clearly a Dark Energon signature and its moving fast." Ratchet said.

"Megatron." Dad confirmed.

"Where did he find more of the bad stuff?" Arcee said entering the room.

"And what's he gonna do with it? Recruit a new army of the undead?" Bulkhead added.

That caught Miko's attention as she ceased drawing altogether. "Zombie cons?" she said. i watched her intently, like a cheetah about to take down a baby gazelle...oh no! That poor gazelle!

"We cannot rule out the possibility." Dad said with his finger under his chin. "Especially since Megatron seems to be heading to a familiar sight."

I still had my eyes fixed on Miko then nature had other plans. "Oh, gotta go nature calls." I put it bluntly standing up then i shoved my face in Jacks "Jack. Do not let her out of your sight!" i ordered.

"Y-Yes s-sir" he said as he gave me a salute.

i continued to express a serious mood before i turned around and headed downstairs then i just ran for the bathroom, "Eh, Eh." i stuttered.

I come back and i instantly jinx the scenario every time as i saw Jack, Miko and Raf half way in the Groundbridge. Jack had a hold of Miko's arm, but she quickly got out of his grasp. Then Jack and Raf followed after her including myself i lightly glanced in Arcees direction, On the other side was...another canyon...but wait this one looked familiar...yeah i can identify canyons now apparently. Miko went straight to a rocky outpost no doubt to get a better view followed by Jack and Raf, followed by me.

"That's not Megatron!" Bulkhead said. I ran to the top of the rock with the others and looked on to the scenario, it wasn't Megatron, it was Starscream.

"Rise Skyquake! Rise!" he yelled.

"Ellen?" Jack said.

I motioned him to Miko instead with a stern finger. "Let's see some fight of the living dead already!" she exclaimed getting on her hands and knees, i don't know why but i felt a flush of anger as i watched her eagerness.

"Miko what were you thinking!?" Jack said sternly.

"She wasn't." Raf said.

"Hey! I totally missed out last time. This could be my only chance to take some snaps." She said motioning to the scene that was in front of us. She then checked her back pocket. "My cell phone. I must have dropped it back at base."

I really needed to say something to her and this was a perfect time, a crisis. "Miko seriously, look i know this is exciting and all, but you come out here on your own...and then act like this is a big circus!" i said starting to raise my voice but not too loud.

"You were the ones that followed me." She said back hands on hips, our arguing was so intense we weren't bothered by the explosions and fighting and was happening before us.

"Because we care about you! W-What you think we're just gonna let you go on your own and then, y-you come back as a flaming corpse!" i said, as i felt my cheeks going red.

"And who are you to lecture me! You're always going off doing stupid things, you were here before weren't you? How about when you went on that little road trip with Fowler? And let's not forget your little car racing!" she retaliated.

i closed the gap between myself and her, "At least i know my limit, and when not to purposely and unnecessarily put myself in harm's way, not to mention know when not to get in the way! Yes i have made mistakes like when i came here the first time, but i learn from them and what I've learned is that missiles and null rays don't mix with human flesh! You can ask many things of me Miko, but do not ask me to look upon your cold, dead, body, do not!" i growled.

When the battle ceased for a split second I then waved my hand in the air, but my arm was quickly pulled down by Miko. "Get off my arm." I hissed as i harshly pulling my arm from her grasp, two Ground bridges then opened up, the Autobots had seen us anyway. "You four! Into our Groundbridge! Now!" Ratchet ordered us.

"Come on." Jack said dragging Miko by the arm.

"Argh" Miko moaned

We all then ran through the Groundbridge as instructed. But something didn't feel right, i felt sick. Then we were propelled backwards, and all i could see was a bright flash of vibrant green and then dust.

"You guys okay?" Jack asked us as i brushed my head.

"Y-Yeah i think so." Raf said.

"Miko?" i asked her seeing how she didn't respond.

"Fine! Can't you see I'm okay?" She spat back, bitter about our argument. i sighed i didn't mean it as a lecture, then we heard a lot of groaning from behind us as the dust cleared we saw Bulkhead and the others stand up.

"What just happened?" Bulkhead asked.

"U-h, i can't be certain. But if two Groundbridges sent to the same co-ordinates crossed streams, the feedback could've triggered a system overload." Ratchet theorized.

"Could? Hello, more like totally did" Miko said.

"The kids made it through...right?" Bulkhead said.

"What?" i said.

"Huh?" Raf said.

"What's he talking about?" Jack said

"Bulkhead! We're right here!" Miko said pointing to herself.

"Arcee, did the children make it safely back to base?" Dad asked through the comm link.

"Negative. You don't see them?" Arcee answered back.

"No sign." Ratchet said.

"What!? No sign!? Okay seriously Bulk..." Miko started but then Bulkhead took a few steps forward and went straight through Miko. "Whoa!...Ahh!" she exclaimed. Before stumbling backwards as Jack caught her.

"He went right through you, we're not alive." Jack said.

"i don't wanna be a ghost!" Raf his voice broke slightly, as he yanked on Jacks jeans.

"But we can still touch each other." i said patting Jacks shoulder.

The Autobots then began walking away from us, "Ratchet, could the children have been transported onto the Nemesis instead?" Dad asked as we ran after them.

"Not likely, if Starscream didn't arrive at our base, the most likely explanation is a dislocation; the children may simply have been bridged to an unintended destination." Ratchet theorized.

We then stopped running after them as we took what he said into account, "Could you imagine if we were transported to a volcano?" i stated.

"Another place but in the same place." Raf said to himself.

"W-What do you mean?" Jack asked.

"We're probably in a different dimension, some sort of alternate reality, a Shadowzone." Raf explained.

"Nerd alert." Miko announced.

"Of all the things i thought could go wrong in this kind situation, i never thought of this, you really do have to expand your border of thought." I said looking around, there was definitely a different lighting where we were, grey and shadowed as Raf had stated.

"Look. Skyquakes tomb is empty." Dad said motioning to the giant hole.

"How did we miss Skyquake rising and shining?" Bulkhead said.

"It would seem Starscream got what he came for." Ratchet said.

"Another matter for another time, right now our priority is locating Ellen, Jack, Miko and Rafael." Dad said. "Arcee. Bridge us back to base." He ordered.

Then i heard a series of roars like some sort of beast, "What...was that?" i said putting my guard up.

And immediately on cue a rusted hand came over the mountain side as a zombified Skyquake came slowly slouching towards the Autobots, Miko gasped. "Zombie!" she called out. as we all started running towards them.

"Guys look out!" Jack yelled.

"Bulkhead!" Miko yelled.

"It's right behind you." Followed Raf.

I didn't feel the need to call out, i felt as though they would've heard that zombie coming a mile away...and since they didn't hear it my suspicions were that he wasn't in there dimension, and these suspicions were confirmed as Skyquake attempted to slash Bulkhead with his hand, but went right through him.

"Awesome, it can't touch them either!" Miko said.

"Not awesome...for us" I said as Skyquake turned to face us instead.

"If that thing can't touch the bots." Jack started.

"Just like we can't." Miko followed on.

"Then we're trapped in the Shadowzone, with a Decepticon zombie!?" raf finished very nervously.

"If we aren't ghosts now...we will be soon." Miko said in a small voice.

"Run." i simply said, we all ran into the canyon, was bringing up the rear as i watched Skyquakes movements, we all had the same idea in our heads as we ran for the first rock we could find Raf then tripped as he fell flat on his face, i scooped him up and ran to behind a rock with the others.

"My glasses!" he said squinting i had an unsure expression as i looked from behind the rock. "Each step Skyquake makes is about six metres apart." i thought to myself, i tapped the rock impatiently, "hold on" i finally said about to go for the glasses.

"Your wasting time!" Miko exclaimed.

"Miko!" I panicked as she ran out to get the glasses.

"Mr. 90 year old needs his glasses, besides you think your something special? Anyone can do this, even me." She called back to me rather coldly as she ran for the glasses.

She picked them up as Skyquakes foot was about to come down on her. "Miko!" we all cried.

She then dived forward; "coo-yeah!" she exclaimed before running back to us through Skyquakes legs. "Here you go Gramps. Let's book!" she said.

Raf and Jack stared at her with mouths open, before realizing the zombie was still there, then started running themselves. "Maybe we can set a trap, try and crush it." Miko suggested.

"With what? Nothing around here is solid except us and the ground!" Raf said.

"We can't run forever!" miko said. "But maybe we can hide." Miko then thought.

"Take your pick there are many rocks." I said. "I hope the autobots figure out where we are."

"At least there's something we agree on." Miko said.

"Let's just outrun the thing for now, so we can take a break." I said though as we run, "Miko?"

"what now?" she said reserving her air.

"do you think i find you incapable or something?" i asked.

"Really? your talking about this now?"

i stared at her for a while before sighing, "your right."

it felt like we'd been running forever, and heavy panting could be heard, Raf tired out the fastest as Jack took hold of his arm to give him an extra boost, though Miko just looked on ahead of her, during a point in time Jack felt to look back. "I can't see it." He said.

"Then its break time." I said as we all halted to catch our breaths. i lent myself against the rocky wall as Jack and Miko stood with their hands on their knees panting and Raf had sat down.

"T-The best thing about zombies" Miko said panting. "There slow, moving." She said as she imitated a zombie.

Then a tune started playing. "Is that your...?" Raf started in Jacks direction.

"Phone!" we all said unison.

Jack dragged his phone out of his pocket as he flipped it open "Hello? Arcee?" he said frantically.

We all heard this weird sound of interference coming from Jack's phone. "Hello? Ar-Arcee?" he said again. He then sighed heavily. "Nothing."

"Gee imagine that, the fourth dimension has lousy cell phone reception!" Miko said sarcastically.

"Guys, guys, guys the phone rang. We're getting a signal" Jack said tapping his cellphones screen.

"Maybe the Autobots can't see or hear us is because...we're, moving at hyper speed or something." Raf guessed.

"Do you think that, they could read us perhaps?" i asked Raf.

"Texting!" he exclaimed.

Miko let out a small gasp "Text me! If my phones back at the base, maybe they'll see it!"

"Oh yeah, it's all coming together." I said, we all huddled up in a circle as we watched Jack type.

"U-uh, can you type and run?" Raf asked, i lifted my head as i looked where he was looking, and i was greeted with the sight of Skyquake and him roaring, so we then ran between his legs, as he attempted to grab us with his hand, again the zombie tried to pursue us, as we did the only thing we can do, run.

Jack continued to type, "there i've sent it." he said relieved.

"i just hope we can run like this for at least another half hour." i said.

"i can't even run cross country." Raf said panting.

"Déjà vu." Miko suddenly said.

"What?" Jack said.

"This doesn't look familiar to you?" Miko asked.

"Not really." he replied.

"Dude! We just ran one big circle!" she said as we looked behind us, and because we weren't looking where we were going we smacked into a giant obstacle.

"Really? Well i don't remember this being here the first time round." i said motioning to Starscreams arm.

"S-weet." Miko said awing at the metal arm.

"Whoa" Jack said.

"It must have got trapped in here during the explosion too." Raf said, another roar came from Skyquake, he was getting closer.

"Well if it's solid, we can use it." Jack said.

"Let's move it around so it's facing Skyquake." I said, we all lined up against it as we then pushed the arm from the side in that general direction with Starscreams hand facing Skyquake.

"Anyone know how to fire this thing? I don't see a trigger" Miko said searching the arm.

"Normally it's activated by thought alone...but i think if we flex the fingers that should work too." I said gently touching the fingers.

"We have one shot; we need to make it count." Jack said, as Skyquake made his way over very slowly, Jack decided he was close enough as he pulled on one of Starscreams fingers.

The missile went straight into Skyquake, causing a lot of dust to form as we waited for the aftermath, "How do you like us now?" Miko said throwing her fist to her side.

As the dust cleared, Skyquake was still active as he gave a long angry roar. Sparks came flying from his right arm as it dropped off...it lay there for a second...then it twitched slightly...then it cupped its hand...then it flipped over using its fingers as legs...like a spider. It then came crawling towards our way!

"Its movement creeps me out!" i exclaimed.

"Come on, come on!" Jack yelled, we all started running again, but this time we had to run faster as the hand was moving just as fast even more so.

"How can the zombie arm move faster than the actual zombie!" miko said.

"The laws of science can be a harsh mistress." I said occasionally looking back at that thing, the zombie arm was jumping over rocks and scaling the rocky wall without effort, it was like 'things' even more deranged metallic brother.

"i don't think we can keep this up for long." Jack said, this time for sure i knew we were trapped in a endless loop as we saw Starscreams arm again.

"Oh come on, this place is like one big merry-go-round!" miko said venting her frustration.

"It's like we're stuck in limbo." I said annoyed.

"Skyquake!" came the voice of Starscream. "you're master summons you!"

"How did freak get into our dimension!" Miko said hiding behind Starscreams arm.

"He didn't, he can't see us." Jack said, the sounds of tapping metal could be heard coming our way.

"Forget starscream! We gotta run!" Miko said pointing Jack at the zombie arm coming our way. "...some more." then a Groundbridge opened in front of us suddenly as we ran.

"A Groundbridge portal?" Raf said

"That has to be our way outta here." Jack said.

"The autobots saw our text." Miko said very relieved.

"With starscream on the other side, if we were to go through, we'd be screwed...but stay here and we're screwed...or we continue to run inevitably ending up being screwed..." I said.

"Okay follow my lead." Jack said as we got ourselves in a 'get, set go' position.

Miko started panicking as the arm came closer. "Steady Miko." i said.

"Now!" Jack exclaimed as we dived through the portal in unison. A surprised Starscream gave us the advantage to run.

"Humans? Where did you vermin come..." Starscream started before the zombie hand dived onto his face. "Oh!" followed by a "this...isn't...mine!" We kept running as we were greeted with another Groundbridge, and Dad stepped out of it.

"Ellen, Jack, Miko, Rafael!" he said.

"Quick! To the couch!" i said.

"Agreed." Jack said as we all brushed past the Autobots into the Groundbridge just as we saw the comforting few of the Silo base Miko stopped us from proceeding further.

"Wait, I-I need to apologize." she said slightly ashamed.

I looked to Jack, "The couch isn't going anywhere, lets at least give them an explanation." he said lightly.

"i like those times, i like to wave at them as they pass." I said as i slumped onto the floor I'm not exactly a delicate flower, he looked at me raising an eyebrow. "okay." I said as we waited for the Autobots to surround us.

Miko tapped her feet for a while, as she chose her words. "Look, if your gonna blame anybody, blame me." She said.

"I'm sorry could you repeat that...a couple, dozen times." Jack laughed awkwardly wanting to say a lot more to her.

"Hold on until i cup my hand over my ear." I said doing just that.

"Miko." Dad then said "what you endured has been less than enough. We are just glad you are all safe." He said smiling gently.

"You got it easy." I said to Miko, she retaliated with sticking her tongue out at me.

Then Bulkhead came down on his fists as he handed Miko's phone to her. "Guess it was a good thing you dropped this, too bad you didn't get any pictures though." He said.

"Nah, that's okay, i think after today i pretty much have zombie close up seared into my brain." She said forming a picture frame in front of her face with her fingers.

I then sighed and stretched my arms "Now. Back to this dinosaur business." I stated seriously to Jack.

"Uhh." Miko moaned literally about to flop on the floor.

"joking." I said putting my hands up as a peace offering, "I'm gonna go flop on the couch." i then tiredly held onto the stairway bar to pull myself up it. I sat on the couch and put my feet, Miko then sat closely next to me as she twiddled her fingers and i coughed into my hand a few times,

"Look about today." we both said in unison.

"Hey i wanna be the mature one and approach you first." I said jokingly.

"Do you really want to pass on having an apology from me?" Miko said.

"..." I then allowed her to speak first, i talk too much as it is.

"Okay first I'll say that I'm sorry for saying all those things before and being a jerk towards you...i know it's because you care...it's just all I've been hearing is lecture after lecture after lecture and i get so much of it i can't tell between a lecture and someone showing concern. But this is me, i never learn, why do you think I'm always in detention?" she said in the most serious tone I've heard her speak in since I've known her.

"Miko...i just don't want you to learn the hard way...and to me it seems you won't get that until..." I couldn't bare to think about it.

"...i try and do what i feel is right at the time...like Raf said i don't think." She said sadly.

"No one's asking you to change...just be a bit more aware of what's happening. But Miko i do understand where your coming from, it is exciting...and I've done some stupid things too, and you can't help yourself to want more." I said clenching my fist. "for what's it worth i like who you are, you have traits in you that i used to have i liked those things too, but...they faded with time i guess."

"We'll both be stupid together then." Miko said.

"Maybe our combined minds can tell us when we're being stupid." I said jokingly.

Miko was about to leave the couch, as she can't stay still for long, until i grabbed hold of her arm. "Miko...I-I'm sorry for yelling at you." I said.

"Hey we're cool." She said as at first she offered me a hand but then she abruptly lent in to give me a hug.

My arms were both to the side as i slowly closed them in to give her a hug back no pun intended but i looked like a zombie in doing so; i was just a bit taken back by her sudden display of emotion.

She then let go of me as she presented me with her fist, i then took my own fist and put in front of hers...she then bumped my fist and ran down the stairway, then Jack sat down next to me as he had been watching the brief encounter. "I'd be a Velociraptor." he said.

A/N I wanna involve Ellen with every character individually...see what the result is :P next up is Jack.