Excruciating hours passed. I felt so lonely ... so empty. Without Optimus by my side, I felt so vulnerable. At any moment I feared that a Decepticon would come to kidnap me. And no one would be there to protect me. I would be crushed in no time before I could even call for help. My mother was pretty worried for me when I came back like a nervous tailcoat. I could hardly stand on my feet. It was almost a miracle I was able to come back home at all. Mainly because everything that happened around me was muffled. Everything I saw I saw through a veil, and noises sounded to me as if I had too much wax in my ears to clog my ear canal.

I sat on my bed with the cell phone pressed to my chest and waited for a message from Optimus. I waited for hours, but nothing happened. I went to bed disappointed. But I couldn't sleep. Meanwhile, I feared that something might have happened to Optimus and the others on the way back.

But then suddenly my cell phone rang in the middle of the night. I grabbed it immediately and hastily touched the screen. Then I put the cell phone to my ear and whispered: "Optimus?"

"Lily. I'm sorry that I can only contact you now, but we had to decide what will become of the matrix first. All radio waves are blocked here at our base, so I can only reach you now. Oh ... Have you slept yet? ", Optimus asked, embarrassed.

"Not really. I was worried, "I said softly.

"But at least I can reach you. At least that's something. "

"Yes, you're right. Isn't that a problem? I mean, because of the time difference? "

"No, Don t worry. You know we Autobots don't need a daily break like you humans. "

"Maybe, but when was the last time you rested? That should have been almost a week ago, right? Don't overdo it. After all, you are still needed. "

"Yes, I understand. Then I bow to your command. I just wanted to tell you that you can not only reach me by phone this way. You can also write me these short messages. What's your name again ... "

"SMS."

"Yes exactly. In case you need help and can't talk. But I hope that this won't happen again in the future. "

"That's easier said than done. After all, I still have this huge energon crystal in the basement. "

"Anyway ... take care of yourself. Pay close attention to your surroundings. If you notice anything ... "

"I'll let you know ... yawn ..."

"Oh, I can hear you need your sleep. Then I wish you a good night. "

"Thanks. And don't forget to rest too. "

"At your command!" Said Optimus like a soldier when he ended the conversation.

Smiling, I turned the cell phone off and put it on my bedside table. Then I turned on my side and fell asleep. In my dreams I looked back over the past events and one thing immediately became clear to me. It wasn't over yet. Far from it ...