Retrospective of the previous chapter, before arriving at the clandestine bar in Swerve.

"Okay, let's start at the beginning"

In a room almost empty and cold, it showed some well-known mechs in front of another one that was elegant and calm in a chair in the middle of the room. Rodimus, Ultra Magnus and Drift were facing the unknown, but striking, mech who had achieved a feat shortly after being in the Lost Light. The interrogation was necessary, this showed to be a talented mech, but a talented mech unknown until now. If it were a decepticon spy, then sometimes the common thing would be not to stand out, but if it stands out it will be to gain the Autobot trust with a feat. The ashes of war could still arise, they had to be careful, and if it were not a leaked enemy, then they could know more about it than Autopedia indicates.

"Designation" Ultra Magnus would handle the interrogation.

"Balthazar"

The calm mech's smile was harmless and confident. Ultra Magnus caught a sideways glance at Rodimus, the other captain was impatient.

"Are you an Autobot?"

Balthazar looked at the badge on his shoulder. "As far as I know, yes." The response was playful, but his tone was not.

"Where did you operate?"

"In the first rows of Iacon under the command of Optimus Prime"

Drift's stance did not move, but his expression had a fleeting shift from restlessness to uneasiness when Rodimus snorted with mockery.

Ultra Magnus nodded at the interrogated person and looked at the data tablet in his hands. "According to the Autopedia, you were the one in charge of protecting a neutral colony called 'Heaven.'"

Balthazar nodded. "That's right, if you do not believe me, I have the Autobot Com of some friends that would confirm what I say"

Ultra Magnus denied, that would be wasting time, it would be easy to call another Cybertronian and pose as an Autobot.

Balthazar then shifted his relaxed posture to a stiffer one, leaning forward while his calm smile seemed to diminish.

"I think we should go to the point" He observed the twitch in the eye of the huge blue mech "... Sir"

Rodimus showed a big forced smile and faced Ultra Magnus before the bigger one could do something.

"Balazar is absolutely right, I think we should go to the point once!" His tone was mocking with traces of hostility. Balthazar let go the bad pronouncement of his name.

"Rodi—

"No, no, Drift, I think I'll take over from now on," he interrupted contemptuously. Ultra Magnus growled at his attitude "So I'll say it without going around. Are you a Decepticon?"

Balthazar seemed calm at the question "No"

Rodimus snorted "Of course you would not be" Then he pointed to the Autopedia "Then you would mind explaining Why does not the most important thing appear in your biography?"

Balthazar cocked his head. "What?"

"Who owns a superpower! Who does not place an Outlier in their Autopedia? It's the first thing the Outlier put in their biographies, Tailbreaker, Mirage and Whistle it will be proof of that!" Rodimus yelled "I know you're hiding something!"

Drift wanted to intervene, but he knew that Rodimus would not hit the other Mech by more annoying and frustrated than he feels. The second prime was upset and very angry by the last event, he had devised a plan to kill the Sparkeater and had feted himself for his wit, they just had to find him, as they did very late and were spectators of an ability of our line unknown. When Ultra Magnus arrived with the news, he immediately wanted to know who ruined his glorious plan, so they reached the point where they interrogated him and Rodimus could not control himself.

"It is true..."

"Do not keep lying, I'm hiding some— wait, what did you say?"

Balthazar put a hand on his chest "The reason why I omitted my superpower in Autopedia was because of ... shame"

Both Drift and Rodimus were confused before their words, if they know how to react. Ultra Magnus picked up his datapad, Drift was sure he was looking for some documents for Balthazar to start filling up.

"Shame?" Asked Drift, it was enough silence.

"Yes, you will remember the time when the Senate would tear off your face, hands and everything that you did to yourself." Well, that time was not good for the Outlier, it was not good for anyone, I suppose that time left a memory in my mind. , where every day he feared to die if someone told a person of the government "Balthazar commented with a very good tone of feigned softness and almost sadness.

Drift could not help speaking "But Senator Shockw's Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology—"

"No, there was no place for me there, and that Academy did not last long, did it?" Balthazar wanted to taste the poison on his lips, but his tone was sad.

Rodimus began to organize his ideas, well, maybe he has exaggerated things, it was not the first time someone fucked one of his plans, also it was notice that this mech only wanted to help the crew of a monster. He sighed internally, he should first think before acting, he hated when Ultra Magnus was right.

Of course, I would not apologize

"Emm ... I think we understand" Rodimus stumbled on his nervous words "Well, I appreciate that you shared this experience of your past with us, however ..." He almost felt the look on Ultra Magnus, warning him not to spoil something. "I think you should not hide your superpower with us any longer, we're not in the Senate era anymore so you can be free to use it on this ship"

Ultra Magnus coughed

"... Prudently" Rodimus growled "It is also forbidden to deceive the captains, do not forget that" his menacing tone was softer. "We will still keep an eye on you"

Balthazar nodded and then got up. The captains opened the way and the thin mech went without any problem.

Balthazar's smile increased, well, letting go of a silly lie, he could get the others off, and he could see and feel Rodimus's remorse of his inner dealings with him. Balthazar's wings flapped in joy. Of course he should be careful from now on, he had to keep a line between highlighting and not raising suspicions, the Cybertronians were not stupid, except Riptide, so they could discover it at some point. Well, already launched a story and excuse for which to use one of its powers freely. Now he should only rejoice in the delight of his heroic act! Where to start? The clandestine bar in Swerve was a good place to receive compliments and looks of amazement!