Chapter six. Medical problems.

As Walker, along with the Captain could hear Deimos' voice in their heads, something went wrong in the ship. The last words of Deimos remained echoing in Walker's head.
It has started.
"What has started?"
"What do you want from us?"
...
...
...
I want to see all of you... dead...

Suddenly, Deimos' voice was replaced by a red light and an alert alarm.
"Emergency in medical deck. Quarantine class A is declared. Only armored personal can enter."
"What is quarantine class A?"
"Infectious disease."

Walker turned toward the ceiling with an angry look on his face. "Is that all what you got?"
"Walker, keep calm. These are your orders: Go to the armory and get a weapon. After that, go to the medical deck and find out what is happening down there."
"What about you?"
"I'll go to the bridge. Report immediately once you know something, you got that?"
"Yes, sir."
"Right, then let's get moving."

As Walker went running toward the armory, he could remember about the last words of Deimos. "It has started."

He sensed something much worse was about to happen. If this dude was someone able to deal with Celestia and her sister, not to mention the fact that, according to the legend, he caused them many troubles, then a simple battle cruiser class B would not be a match to him.
You do know that there is no escape from here. You know it and still... you will try to defy me?

Walker stopped for a second, for Deimos' voice was again on his head.
"I don't know if the whole ship can stand against you, but i do know that we won't fall without giving you a fight."
AHAHA! I like you, mortal pony. Do you really think about daring me to fight will change anything?
"No. But I will warn you. If you defy us, then we'll battle you until the last of us dies."
... that what I'm hoping to see.

In the same way Deimos' voice came to Walker's mind, it disappeared. Walker continued his way to the armory, seeing on the way many ponies running from side to side. Once in the armory, he requested his favorite weapon: The Thunder.
"Again with the same weapon, Walker?"

Walker turned around to see Eagle standing in the door with a Hawke and a Laser Sniper. She seemed ready to be in action soon.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going with you. I heard the alarm."
"So?"
"I know something bad is going on. If you're going, i'm going, too."

Walker looked for something to reject Eagle Eye to go with him. However, she wasn't somepony who give up so easily. Therefore, he made only a sign to her to follow him.

Few minutes later, Walker and Eagle were near of the elevator shaft.

The elevator shaft was a huge moving platform that connected all the sections on the ship, including the ship's bridge.

When they arrived to the medical deck, they saw a lot of doctors working on injured patients. However, there was a lot of them, maybe even more of what was supposed to be in there.

When they were deeper in the crowd, Walker spotted a pair of marines in the back, guarding a door.
"Hey, dudes. Private Space Walker. I was sent here to check out what is going on."
"Space Walker, uh?"
"Look, dude. You don't wanna go down there, believe me."
"Why is that?"
"A team was sent down there.a couple hours ago. Nopony has respond."
"That's the why i'm here."
"Don't know, dude. I can't let you go down there alone. That doesn't mean i'm going with you."
"Then, who's coming with us?"
"We're assigning you with the Delta Squad. They are already down there."
"Thank you for your BIG help, bro."
"You're welcome."

Walker went through the door to see a narrow stairway leading to the second floor.
"On which deck is the emergency?"
"Deck D. Military urges."
"Thanks."
"Military urges?"
"Yeah. That's the place where the injured marines are... sent..."

A chill went through Walker's back. He suddenly remembered about Swift Blade, for him and his brother were on this deck when all this started.

If he was right, then those two would be death.
"Walker? Are you okay?"
"...No."

They continued going downstairs, until they found the door with the huge D on it, telling them that they were on the correct deck. When they opened the door, they found many ponies pointing them.
"Private Space Walker. I was sent down here to help."
"Oh. Good Lord. We thought you was one of those things."
"Things? What things?"
"You may see them very soon. For the meantime, help us with these dudes, okay?"

Walker turned to see a few ponies sitting on the floor. Some of them with serious injuries.
"What do we do?"
"Help them to get calmed."

A voice came from behind of Walker. It was a known one.
"I'll help you out."

Walker turned to see over a grey pony with a bandage in his chest. The mark of two crossed blades was seen on his sides.
"Sharp Blade?"
"Yes, sir."
"I thought you were dead."
"Yeah, well... casualties in this deck are... many. It's not a surprise for me for you to believe that I was dead."
"Casualties? How many deaths?"
"We don't have a confirmed number. However, it's increasing at every-"

The sudden noise of coughs came from a pony in the group. When the others listened to it, they rushed at his side and took him out of the crowd. The pony started to scream them to let him go, being ignored by his partners.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"Don't worry, sir. It's protocol."

When the marines put the pony in a security room, a non-reflecting glass appeared to them, showing them the frightened pony inside..
"So... what do I have to see?"
"We don't know if he is going to become one of them."
"Them?"
"Yes. Follow me."

Walker and Eagle followed Sharp to a room full of containment cells. Each one of them had a pony closed in.
"What are you doing with all of these ponies? They don't look so bad."
"Just wait to see the last cell."

The last cell was very well guarded by two marines. They turned toward Walker to see if he was going to be jailed or not.
"He's clean. He just showed up. However, he wants to see the infected one."

The two guards looked at each other before agreeing in showing the anti-reflecting glass. Done this, Walker saw a strange looking pony standing next to the wall. He had a his sight lost in the wall next to them.

Walker could note something terrifying on this dude. He had the same look and the same behavior that the one they found in the Sparkle.
...
...

Suddenly, Walker remembered about it. In the Sparkle, they have knocked out a dude with the same look. But, what happened to him? Eagle saw the concerning expression on his face.
"Walker... what's wrong?"
"... I have to talk to HQ."

Walker got out of the medical quarantine and head toward a security room. Once there, he opened a channel toward the ship's bridge.
"Space Walker here. Does anypony hears me?"
"Captain here. What's wrong?"
"Captain. I have my doubts."
"About what?"
"Do you remember the strange looking pony that we fought in the Sparkle?"
"Yeah. What's up with that?"
"What happened to him?"

The captain remained silent while seeing Walker to the eyes.
"Why are you asking that?"
"I think there might be some relationship between that dude from the Sparkle and what is going on in here."
"... I think he's on the researching lab. He had something... interesting."
"A mysterious mark on his chest. Yeah, I have already thought about it."
"... I think I know where this is leading to."
"And that is?"
"... Keep watching in there and give us a full report when you finish. Understood, private?"
"... Yes... sir."

The channel was closed. Walker turned around and got out of the security room. Eagle saw him from a distance and went closer to him.
"Walker? Is everything okay?"
"... No. Where's Sharp?"
"Over there."

Eagle pointed toward Sharp in a far side of the room. Walker went quickly toward him with an angry look on his face.
"You. We have to talk. NOW."
"Yes, sir."

Author's Note

Right. Took me a while. Don't be mad, i'm still working on it.