Guardian Link- Episode 9, Deception.

"YOUR orb?" Garret exclaimed, "what the hell do you mean by that?" Tarantella cackled. "None of your business. Now give it to me, and we'll let you live. For now." Grahk clanged his swords, and Kronor bashed his shield against the ground. The team stood there, Bronze hugged the orb tight. "Well, looks like it's not gonna be that way. It's a shame, really. This could have been so much easier." Tarantella sighed. "Let's get em." Tarantella leaped at the team, Grahk and Kronor rushing to back him up. Kahl ran in front, blocking Tarantella's way to Bronze. As he thrust his arm out to take the orb, it suddenly flashed brilliantly. The room was bathed in light for a split second, flinging Tarantella into the wall. He grumbled, falling flat on his front. "Woah, whatever the orb did, it's definitely doing some nasty stuff to Tarantella. Grahk and Kronor, too!" Caeli said excitedly. Grahk and Kronor were knelt over, rubbing their heads. "Okay, get ready to attack. Do we all have our bearings?" Cira ordered, looking over each of his friends. Everyone was ready, except for Kahl. Kahl was on the ground, shaking on his side. "Kahl, what's wrong?" Cira walked over to Kahl, kneeling at his side, Kahl's back to him. The rest of the team walked over, confused. Bronze worriedly rushed over to Kahl. "Kahl? Are you okay?" Bronze asked, poking Kahl's shoulder. Kahl's armor broke apart in a small area on he shoulder the Bronze poked. Underneath it was a sickly pitch black. Bronze stumbled backward, and the entire team became sick to their stomachs. Kahl rose up slightly, turning to the team, propped up on his elbow. The visor on his helmet had gone up, and beneath it, his exo face showed what seemed like regret and fear. In a matter of seconds, the pitch black from his shoulder spread over his entire body like an out of control vine. His head faced straight up, his back arched. As the transformation finished, Kahl's form exploded in dark smoke. His body was colored just like Tarantella. "Kahl... was this the real you?" Jolt asked, her voice shuddering. "No. Tarantella must have taken him over or something. Kahl wouldn't hide something like this from us!" Bronze cried desperately. Kahl! Tell them! Tell them it's not your fault!" Kahl looked over at Bronze. "I'm sorry Bronze, but this is the real me." This time, Kahl's voice showed emotion. He sounded choked up, almost sad. Tarantella butted in. "Well, I guess that was a bit early, but welcome back, Kahl. Ready to destroy these suckers?" Kahl nodded, turning back toward the team. He marched his way over to Bronze. "I have to be the one to kill you, Bronze. I won't let someone else kill you with no mercy." Kahl said, in a wavering voice. He reached for Bronze, who was frozen in shock. Before he could lay a hand on the warlock, Jolt crashed into Kahl with a shoulder charge. Kahl stumbled over, pulling out a pitch black machine gun as he got back up. Jolt blasted the gun with her shotgun, raising her shotgun to bludgeon Kahl with it. Tarantella drop kicked Jolt, sending her crashing into a wall. The wall bent, breaking down and letting in sunlight. The fell through the hole in the wall, tumbling down a hill that had been just outside the wall. Garret, Cira, and Caeli all leapt into action. Caeli fired her scout rifle at Kahl. He stumbled back, but before he could take more shots, Kronor leapt in front of him, using his shield. Garret fired his hawkmoon at Grahk, who was closing in. Grahk took the shots and sliced at Garret, knocking him to the side. Cira and Caeli struggled against Kronor's shield. Bronze suddenly snapped out of his shock, looking at all his friends in trouble. He panicked, squeezing the orb tight. Suddenly, the orb emitted another powerful flash of light, stunning the shadows again. With all of his strength, he yelled to his friends. "Run! Get out of here!" Garret scrambled to his feet, and Cira and Caeli nodded. All four of them ran through the hole in the wall, sliding down the hill. Jolt was walking up the hill as they tumbled down. She quickly ran back down after seeing them fall. "Everyone's alright? We have to get out of here. Transmat into your ships!" Jolt materialized out, followed by the rest of the team. As Bronze flew over the abandoned fallen outpost, he looked down. "Kahl..." he whispered. Suddenly, his ship's hud flickered. Garret's name flashed in the corner, on a private channel. "Bronze," Garret said, in a calmer voice than usual. "I know Kahl was your friend, but you need to understand. He was never on our side. Whatever he did while he was with us, it was all fake. He-" "No." Bronze interrupted. "You saw the look on his face, the pain in his voice." His voice grew to a shout. "He enjoyed the time he spent with us, all the fun we had back at base and on patrol!" Bronze yelled. Garret sighed. "I guess that's an exo thing, then." His name blinked off Bronze's HUD. If exos could cry, then Bronze sure would be crying.