A/N: Here is the 35th Chapter of "Strangers Like Me". Yay. Uh...pretty much just a time skip, so...Delta is no longer on probation for his stuff, he is no longer dying from being skewered by Airachnid's freaky spider leg, and...yeah. Time skip about...two weeks or so? yeah. That sounds good. Time skip two weeks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers in any shape or form. I only own the story and any and all OCs in said story. If there's someone you're not familiar with, it's probably an OC.

:Blah: = Comm. Link

{Blah} = Symbiote Bond

PLEASE COMMENT! I NEED CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM TO MAKE MY STORIES (PRESENT, FUTURE, OR OTHERWISE) BETTER!


Delta wakes up, his visor dim. Sitting up, he stretches, wincing as his shoulder pulls funny. He must've slept weird. Ignoring it, he gets up, walking over to the door. The metal slab slides open, and Delta jumps at the sight of Soundwave in front of him. Seeing the silent Decepticon first thing in the morning was not a fun way to wake up.

"Oh, hey, Soundwave. Where's Dreadwing?"

"Dreadwing. I want you to investigate the strange energy surge our systems detected."

Delta blinks.

"He's on a mission?"

Soundwave nods, before turning and walking away. Delta shakes his helm with a chuckle, before walking down the hall, looking around. Except for a few places—mostly the other officer quarters and the Insecticon hive room—he had basically free reign of the ship. Even all these months later, it was still fun to wander around and see in-depth how everything worked. The Vehicons were surprisingly friendly and patient with all the questions he asked them, even letting him help with whatever it was they were doing.

Turning the corner, he suddenly feels a sharp pain as his leg seizes, causing him to stumble. Griping the wall, he winces as the pain travels up to his torso, leaving his leg numb.

"Delta? Is everything alright?"

He almost doesn't hear the voice over the sound of Talon shouting over the bond.

{Master! Master, are you alright? What is happening?}

Delta looks up, his visor dim in pain.

"My leg, I…I can't feel it."

Two sets of servos grip his arms, helping to support him. The troopers take him in the direction of the MedBay, a third running ahead to the Bridge to get Knockout. Making it to the MedBay, the three step through the door as it slides open. Breakdown looks up, smiling at the sight of their visitor, only for the smile to fall at the sight of two Vehicons supporting the turquoise Youngling.

Breakdown rushes over, grabbing his arm.

"Delta, you okay? What happened?"

Delta hesitates.

"I…I don't know. My leg just…went numb."

He gasps, bending over slightly as another burst of pain rushes through his torso.

{Master!}

"C'mon, kid. Let's get you on the berth."

The blue Mech helps him onto the Berth, before Comm.-ing Knockout. Soon, the red Mech appears, immediately going over to the two of them. Grabbing a syringe, he fills it with a silvery liquid, pressing it into Delta's arm. Delta sighs as relief flows through him, the pain diminishing. He looks up, meeting Knockout's gaze.

"T-Thanks."

Knockout nods, before grabbing a scanner.

"Now, mind telling me what exactly happened? Start from when you woke up."

Nodding, Delta starts from the beginning.


"…and then they brought me here." Delta finishes, wincing as Knockout gives him another, smaller dose of painkillers.

Knockout hums, his optics dimming slightly in thought. He had his suspicions on what was happening, but needed more information.

"Anything else?"

Delta pauses for a few seconds, thinking.

"Well…my shoulder hurt a bit this morning, but I figured it was from sleeping on it funny. Sometimes my shoulder or knee would ache back when I worked with the human soldiers, but with all the sand, I didn't really think much of it."

Breakdown and Knockout look at each other.

:Lord Megatron, please come to the MedBay as soon as possible.:

Confusion fills Delta, but Megatron soon appears before he can ask. The silver Mech takes in the young Mech sitting on the berth, before turning to Knockout.

"What is the issue, Knockout?"

"Delta woke up with a stiff shoulder. His leg also went numb a few minutes ago and caused him pain. Apparently this has been going on for a while. Tell, me. What does that sound like to you?"

Seconds pass, before Megatron's optics widen ever so slightly in understanding.

"Hey!"

The three Mechs turn their attention to Delta, the youngling still perched on the berth.

"You guys mind telling me what's going on?"

Knockout crosses his arms.

"Well, basically you're in need of an upgrade. Your armor is getting too small and putting pressure on your systems. That's why your shoulder hurt this morning and why your leg went numb. Once you get the upgrade, your systems will need a few days to adjust, but there will no longer be pressure on them. You'll be somewhat bigger too, so you'll need to get a new vehicle mode afterwards. And Talon will look a little different as well."

Delta is quiet, soaking in the information. An upgrade? A new vehicle form?

"H-How…how soon will you have to do it?" he asks, his voice shaking slightly.

{Calm, Master. It will be alright.}

"As soon as possible. I can give you some time to think about it if you'd like."

Delta shakes his helm.

"No. If…If you say it should be soon, then do it. I trust you guys."

The three Mechs' optics widen. Even though they knew from his actions that he trusted them, that was the first time that Delta had outright said those words. It hit them right in their sparks. He trusted them…

Knockout clears his throat.

"Well, then. I…I suppose we could start the upgrade you need. I'll put you under and when you wake up, you'll be fully upgraded."

Megatron leaves without a word, glancing back at the youngling with a thoughtful look. Breakdown and Knockout get everything ready. As Delta lies back on the berth, Breakdown flashes him an encouraging smile.

Knockout presses a liquid-filled syringe into Delta's arm, and his visor darkens as falls into stasis. But he wasn't worried.

He trusted them.