Parasite Awaiting

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Fox, but I own Galaxy Wulf.

Thanks for those reviews of yours! I really appreciate them! Well, I know there's one review that's, uh… I don't want to talk about it! I appreciate your support!

Chapter 4 - Infestation

"So you're telling me that your infested left arm just created perpetual energy, huh?" Bark remarked as he looked at Wulf's bandaged limb. "Although I must admit that its power is great, I think it's a bad sign. The parasite just anticipated your desire, and it'll slowly devour you until you allow yourself to be infected by it."

"So this might cause enmity among us, eh?" Eagle commented in a humorous manner. "I guess you should learn to clear your mind. We don't want to fight you!" Wulf gave a smile, but he then became serious after thinking about something.

"I still have my nervousness… The injured soldiers, including Panther…"

Lupina then marched in front of them. "You know, the best way to know if your hunch is right or not is to check him out." She suggested. Garou walked beside her and patted her shoulder.

"That's what I like about you, Lu! Always thinking the sweetest things…"

She shouldered him to his stomach, making Bark and Eagle laugh. Everybody agreed to her hint. They walked towards the room where Panther's located. As they were about to press a button, two people caught up with them. An old hare and a young beautiful vixen approached them.

"Excuse me! Is this Panther Caroso's room?" she asked them. "Oh, and are you friends of him?"

Garou cleared his throat before saying anything. "Well you see, miss, and should I say Miss Beautiful, we're just acquaintances, but we're to check on him. After all, we need to make sure that he's in an okay condition." He spoke those statements out before the she-wolf knocked his head to the wall.

"Ah, you must be Galaxy Wulf! Fox mentioned you in his com-link. We thank you for your support," Peppy Hare nodded at them, showing gratification. He then faced Wulf and smiled, "You must be Wulf McWolf. My, my, you do have a good appearance for a leader. I'm pretty sure you're skilled too! I believe you're in par to Fox's talents."

"Well, I'm complemented, thank you! I'm not really that great, though…"

"Believe me Wulf, you can do better," Bark spoke in a low tone, making everybody look at him. "Ahem… Anyway, we should be going now."

The door opened. As they slid to the walls, they were surprised to see Fox and Wolf pointing their fists to each other's cheeks. Falco's in the middle, stopping the two from hurting each other. Slippy's monitoring the weakened Panther on bed. Leon's glancing to the view at the window.

Peppy immediately cut the two from killing each other. He shouted in front of them, "What do you think are you doing? Can't you see that somebody's sick? He needs some rest, so lay off the steam!"

"It's Wolf's fault," Fox argued as Falco tried to hold him back. "He wants Panther to be discharged in the hospital! I can't allow him to do that! I told him Star Fox would be in charge of the financial problem, since it's my fault anyway, but…"

The lupine suddenly snarled, "He's my teammate! I had enough of you trying to act heroic to my team! Sargasso Space Station has equipment to fix his injuries."

Garou suddenly leaped and landed between them. He threw a punch on both of them at the same time, but he stopped his fists as soon as they almost touched their muzzles. "Stop acting like kids. Sheesh, you're making me look like an old man! It's not my type to give advice like O' Wise Eagle, but I think it's a good idea to cool down, ya know! Somebody's resting, so I think you guys otta simmer outside."

Fox and Wolf stared at each other with fiery emotions. They took off and went to different directions. After that, Krystal approached Panther, and Eagle and Peppy looked at the ice wolf.

"O' Wise Eagle, eh?" the avian chuckled as he patted the lupine's back. "I think you ought to stop taking meditation lessons from me! I might be in my thirties, but I'm definitely not fitting to the O' title."

Wulf whispered at Peppy, "I know why those two are hot-headed. Fox wanted to help them, but Wolf has pride. I think he should understand that…"

"I know… Also," the hare added, "I think Wolf's getting insecure. He and McCloud are rivals, and, well, since the day Star Fox and Star Wolf became close, Fox started to help Wolf's team, making their leader, Wolf, a bit unsure of his leadership."

"I see…"

"Panther," Krystal softly spoke out as she touched the black cat's palm. "I'm sorry if I worried you…"

Ah… Krystal…

He replied in a weak manner. His vision was also blurry, but her scent was familiar for him. Her voice was also noticeable.

I… never… wished… for you to see… me like… this…

"Don't say that! Promise me, okay? Promise me that you'll be fine…"

Okay… I will…

His eyes shut down. It's time for him to sleep. Krystal just sighed out, looking at the poor feline.

Lupina approached Leon, which was actually a bad idea. "The view is fantastic up here, right?" she cheerfully proclaimed as she stood beside the chameleon. No response was met. "Umm… Nice day!" she once more declared, but silence replied. Anger was steaming in her head. It's a bad idea to mess with her. "CAN'T YOU AT LEAST SAY YES!"

The lizard was startled from her yell. "All right already! The day is okay!" he angrily snorted back sarcastically. His thoughts then stirred inside of him. Tough girl… She reminds me of Katt…

After browsing the magazines, Slippy was attracted by Wulf's bandaged arm. He approached the blue lupine and asked, "Um, Wulf, is your arm heavily injured? I think the medical equipment here could…"

"This is nothing really! It's just style...!" he excused himself before sighing in relief.

It was nighttime…

Panther woke up. He looked around, and it seemed everybody was asleep. He looked at the floor, and he saw Wulf, Falco, and Garou, fighting for the available space of a medium-sized bed sheet. Wolf was on a couch and Fox's on another one. Krystal and Lupina were snoozing on a sofa. Leon was sleeping just beside a coffee table. Peppy was sleeping on a separate sheet on the floor. Finally, Bark was sleeping on another couch.

"Thank you, everyone," he moaned as he carefully went to the bathroom. His slow and agile movement assured that his companions wouldn't be bothered.

He opened the sink. He washed his face, and glanced at the mirror. He wiped away with his towel. He then took off his hospital robes, leaving only his shorts. He yawned without worry, for everything seemed okay.

His stomach didn't feel well. His head was aching like there's no tomorrow. His chest started to ache and expand. He returned to the sink, this time, he vomited to it. He couldn't hold his pain anymore. His right arm started to feel numb. Violet fluid exited from his mouth, and slowly, the parasite's infecting him.

Wolf was awoken by the noise. He looked at the bathroom, which was lit. He accidentally stepped on Falco's tail feathers, making him yell because of the pain, thus waking everybody up.

"Can't you scream later," groggy Fox muttered as he threw a pillow at the bird. "I'm trying to get some perfect rest…"

"Forget sleeping… Something's wrong!" the lupine argued otherwise.

Wulf was suddenly shocked by the slight anguish of his left arm. He glanced at Bark, who was wide-awake.

Bark, my arm… It's telling me something…

This is interesting… Don't let your guard down…

Panther, now having glossy fur and a large metal-plated right arm with a metal collar on his neck and wires wrapped around his waist down to his upper thighs, roared out loudly. He ruined the walls of the room, giving everybody an alarm to wake up.

"Panther, what… what happened to you?" Wolf asked as he approached him.

No!

Wulf pulled him back. The infested Caroso swung his weapon-arm to the wolves, but the wolf with bandaged left arm blocked it using that limb of his.

This is what I feared of happening…

"Uh-oh…"

Slippy whined as he opened the door of the room. He saw dog soldiers crawling out from their rooms, slowly being infested by the parasite. It could only mean trouble.

There's no point in fighting… It's time to bow down to the conquerors of the Lylat System!

Panther shouted out. It wasn't obviously he who spoke it out. It was the enemy. Trapped in a room and surrounded by infected people, what would the heroes do?