Ultra Magnus accuses Drift of being an undercover con because he saved civilians, and Magnus sees that as breaking the rules. After yelling at Magnus, Ratchet funds Drift having memory playback of when he was a con. Ratchet waits for the episode to end before talking to Drift.
How? How is saving civilians caught in a Decepticon attack breaking the rules?
"You put your team in danger by helping three civilians!" Ultra Magnus lectures.
"So the right thing was to let them die!?"
"Talking back to me! You're not an Autobot! You're a con with the Autobot insignia!"
I've heard enough; I stand up and leave the room.
"Drift, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
I should leave now before he forces me to leave.
Meanwhile
Ratchet is busy helping patients, waiting for Drift to walk in as he promised before leaving for the mission. Though Ratchet is thinking the medbay isn't a great meeting point as time goes by, and he worries Drift will be on a stretcher. Ratchet doesn't know who else was on the mission with Drift and that he just treated the last bot who was injured on the mission.
The last three hours flew by, and Drift still hasn't come by; now, Ratchet is panicking, forgetting he'd be informed since he and Drift are together. His panic turns into anger as he hears Swerve and Whirl talking in the hallway.
"...yeah, Magnus accused Drift of being an undercover con for saving civilians," Swerve tells Whirl.
"Doing the Autobot way, but because it's not his rules; it's wrong. Typical Magnus."
The two walk down the hall while Ratchet runs to Magnus' office.
He barges open the door, "WHAT THE FRAG IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" Ratchet rages before realizing Rodimus is also in the room. Now barging in on Magnus is bad enough, but the captain — even if bots question Rodimus being captain — is worse.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" Magnus rages, "BARGING INTO MY OFFICE!"
"YOU THINK DRIFT IS AN UNDERCOVER CON?! WOULD A DECEPTION SAVE PEOPLE?! YOU THINK A CON COULD FAKE CARING ABOUT OTHERS?!"
Ratchet waits for either mech to say something; both uncertain what to say. He storms out of the room, hoping Drift went back to their room.
Ratchet knew he'd hear crying if Drift went to their room, but he wasn't prepared for what he saw; Drift's swords on the floor. True, there could be worse; evidence if Drift slashing his blades on the wall, but Ratchet worries Drift resorted to self-harm.
Ratchet sits in the berth by Drift, trying to get a better look for injuries.
"Don't touch me!" Drift snaps, but this was more like Deadlock talking.
Oh scrap, I've seen this a couple of times. Ratchet frets. He deals with memory playback when he was a con. Thankfully, not often like the terror twins have nightmares, but I hate watching this.
All Ratchet can do is lie next to Drift and put a servo around his chassis.
"You're not a con anymore," he says, uncertain if this works, but Ratchet does this every time Drift is like this, "you saved civilians today; you know a con wouldn't do that."
All Ratchet can do is wait for Drift's optics to online and to calm down.
A few minutes pass, but to Ratchet, it felt like a few hours. Drift's optics online, and he hugs Ratchet.
"Magnus is right," Drift sobs.
"No, he's not!" Ratchet argues and makes Drift look at him, "he should judge you as being a con for saving lives. He's too focused on bots following rules to think a con wouldn't save lives. Next time, tell me, and I'll deal with the aft."
Drift smiles, and the two mechs hug. Drift catches Ratchet's smile before it disappears, and Ratchet suggests they do something fun. They go to swerve's bar.