“Well, James, this new viral strain of the HMC (Human to Meta Canine) Virus is proving to quite fascinating.” Professor Henderson says to his colleague.
He curiously looks through his microscope and then looks away to carefully jot down some notes on a notepad. Sitting next to him on the floor is a large black and white Border Collie. The dog perks its ears up, pants and looks at the professor, seemingly recognizing his name. Besides the dog lies a shredded lab coat and some clothing, items that clearly say something about the dog’s origins.
<How so?> James tells him with a bark and a woof while clearly looking at his friend for a much needed scritch behind the ears.
Professor Henderson looks down at his now canine companion and smiles before crouching down to give him that much needed scritch.
“Well aside from the obvious.” He tells James, seemingly understanding the bark and woof of his partner with ease while giving him the much needed scritch behind his ears. “ The new strain doesn’t entirely seem to rely on its host’s natural and heightened sexual tendencies to spread itself around. This new one apparently uses the fleas...” He stops for a minute and scritches the back of his head with one furry paw-like hand. “...commonly found on dogs to spread itself. Oh dog, but do I need a flea dip right about now.” He whines a bit before going back to scritching his partner.
The Border Collie cocks his head bemusedly at his the professor’s little lecture, not really understanding all of it and clearly enjoying the ear scritching more than it. He slowly wags his tail across the tiled floor and pants contentedly. The background noise of the vet clinic is filled with dog barks from both larger and smaller dogs. Professor Henderson is about to try and tell his partner more about his little discoveries regarding the virus when he is interrupted by some noise at the front door. Both he and James stand up and look to the door, both looking clearly eager as canines can be to greet whoever is going to be paying them a visit. They pant and wag their tails as a group of men wearing Hazmat suits walk into their room. Each man in the group is carrying a single metal suitcase with them. James wants to go and greet them.
“Stay, James, stay.” Professor Henderson tells him.
<Ok, Alpha.> James barks before sitting down on his haunches.
The professor sighs at his partner clear loss of human intelligence before watching the men stop before them.
“Professor Henderson, I presume?” Says one of the men in the middle, his voice slightly distorted by his Hazmat suit.
The professor perks his ears up and forward and smiles a toothy smile before panting and wagging his tail happily.
“Ah, Professor Schumacher, so good of you to make it.” He smiles again and then shows himself off to his colleague. “As you clearly tell just be looking at me, there is a new strain of the HMC virus running loose.”
“I guess so.” answers Schumacher who looks him up and down at the large anthropomorphic Alaskan Malamute who use to be his best friend and work colleague. “When were you infected by this new strain?”
Henderson tilts his left ear slightly and looks at his wristwatch.
“Hmm....about two hours ago along with my assistant James here.”
He gestures with one paw-like hand at the Border Collie sitting next to him.
“Who got infected by the old strain at roughly the same time as I did.”
Schumacher looks him over again and frowns a bit.
“Hmmm...okay. Well about you give us your report on what you have found out about this new strain, Rick.”
“Be glad to.” The professor tells him before smiling and wagging his tail again.
Meanwhile not far from there...