Chapter Twelve

Crystal's fears evaporated as soon as the shuttles set a landing course for Iacon's main landing pad, and she spotted Optimus Prime outside, waiting for them. And yet, despite the wave of relief that flooded her, a tight knot of fear remained deep in her belly. 'Stop being so silly,' she told herself. 'He came, didn't he? He cares about me after all!' Still, a part of herself, the part that had been abandoned too many times, remained unconvinced.

As the Stealth III approached the landing pad, it released her, and its pilot coaxed her through the landing sequence. With trembling hands, Crystal guided down the shuttle to its docking space. "Thank Primus!" she cried as soon as the ship touched down. "I *never* want to go through that again!"

"You won't, I promise," said a warm, caring voice. Crystal spun about in her seat to see Optimus standing at the open shuttle door, the pilot and small crew of the Stealth III behind him.

"Optimus!" she cried happily, launching herself out of her seat and into his arms, causing him to stagger a bit under the unexpected assault. "I was so scared!" she cried, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his chest. "The only thing that kept me sane was the thought of you."

Optimus patted her back a bit awkwardly, taken aback by this sudden display of affection. "Well, you're safe now, and you have nothing to worry about. I'm here for you."

"A-Alita sent me off on that dreadful farce! There's no telling what she'll do next to get rid of me!" Crystal trembled in dread. Normally she could give as well as she got, but this latest experience had taken a lot out of her. She wasn't up to any more plots of revenge any time soon.

"Don't worry," Optimus murmured comfortingly in her audial. "Alita has been stripped of rank and will be court-martialed soon due to her abuse of power. You have nothing to fear from her, since she has been restricted to quarters."

"Oh, Optimus, you're the best!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. "I never should have doubted you! I feel so lucky to have you as a partner."

"Hrm, well, thank you," Optimus said, fidgeting uncomfortably. The shuttle crew wisely took its cue and beat a hasty retreat. "I've given you the next two days off to recover. Perhaps you'd like to go to your quarters to rest now."

"Please come with me!" Crystal begged, still shook up. "I'm afraid to go alone."

"Okay, but I can't stay," Optimus told her, taking her arm and escorting her to her quarters. Crystal basked in the warmth of his arm in hers. 'Maybe we can just be a normal couple,' she thought to herself. 'Maybe all of this will work out for the best.'

They stopped outside her quarters. Optimus reluctantly dropped her arm and stepped back. "Listen, I have a lot to get done. I'd like to see you tomorrow, but for now I'd just be tiring you out. You'd better get some recharge and recover from your ordeal."

"Alright," Crystal replied, feeling hurt. He was right; she did need rest, but she wanted him by her side. She understood that he had responsibilities and didn't want to interfere with them, but she had just been through a frightening experience, and she wanted to be held and comforted. She shook off a heavy feeling of dread that settled over her. "Go get your work done. It'll leave us more time together later."

"Yes," Optimus murmured, sounding very far away. "I'll do that. Goodbye, Crystal." He turned and strode down the hall without a backward glance.

Crystal shivered, feeling, as the terran saying went, as if someone had just walked over her grave. Had she done something wrong? Why was he acting so cold and distant all of a sudden? Could it be that he was losing interest in her? No, it couldn't be! He loved her! He had to! She slipped into her quarters and curled into a tight ball on her recharge berth, hands over her audials, trying to shut out the negative thoughts. Optimus was all that she had in the world that made her happy. If she lost him, she didn't know what she'd do.