The illuminate overseer falls with a pathetic whimper and gurgle, once more proving that the squid menace can't hold a candle to managed democracy. The helldiver kicks the defeated alien's body with a harsh laugh. "Take that, you undemocratic squids!"

In one defiant, vicious last move, the overseer presses a button on its armor and overcharges its lightspear. Before the helldiver can react a bolt of blue energy shoots from the weapon and strikes them square in the chest. Energy crackles, causing their body to convulse. They can't turn around but the smell of their cape- the pride and joy of a true patriot- catching fire. On instinct the helldiver searches their utility belt for a stim, but they'd used the last one in the fight against the overseer.

"I NEED STIM"

The helldiver calls for help, but the squadron had valiantly spread out to take out illuminate's key infrastructure. Alone and without healing, the helldiver thought it'd be curtain call for them. Why, they must be seeing things already, as the crackling blue energy makes the black of their armor look more pale and the yellow highlights more faint. If only that was it, but the illuminate's twisted minds weren't satisfied with a clean kill. The poor helldiver is forced to watch their body bulk out and grow as it warps into the revolting anatomy of a Squid. What hurts the most is seeing their military-compliant armor being corrupted into the primitive, undemocratic shell the Squid was wearing. Turning around, their cape was reduced to cinders. Truly their depravity knew no bounds.

Suddenly the weapon reactivates lunges at them while they're distracted, exhibiting the same honourless cowardy of its makers. But making use of their quick and sharp reflexes the helldiver catches the weapon mid-air. As they do, a more intense wave of energy ripples through their body. The changes accelerate. Hands become long with two claw-like fingers. Feet burst from their boots, touching the ground with fleshy hooves. Their helmet visor cracks as new eyes glow with the haunting blue light of the voteless.

"SWEET LIBERTY!"

The helldiver's voice warbles, becoming permanently incapable of democratic speech as words slip into squ'ith dialect with ease. The creature that used to be a helldiver is horrified to discover they've been turned into the enemy. But... They don't feel like the enemy. They're unfamiliar with their new body but retain control of their limbs, unlike the voteless. Memories of orders and instructions from the squ'ith they've killed flash before their mind, but they don't feel compelled to obey.

Would the Ministry of Defense allow them to continue their service should they turn themselves in, or would they hand them to the Ministry of Science to become supersamples? That's if their former squad didn't shoot them on sight at the extraction point... Was their best bet at survival to betray Super Earth and play for the enemy?

The overseer made an moist, warbling sound. "Oh no, I'm feeling undemocratic doubts."
----

Got Helldivers 2 last week. It's really fun with friends who know what they're doing, but also very punishing and down-right bullshit at times. Especially when it comes to the illuminate.

But you know what they say. If you can't beat them... Join them. ;)