>Asta hummed a happy tune as she tapped away on her tablet, reading the latest research reports. "Spatial distortion using sound waves... interesting, Gunter," she said with a light laugh, though a small frown appeared on her face. Gunter, with his clumsiness, always left little bits of his experiments all over. Today, a small device with a soft green glow sat in the corner of his busy workbench.

>"Is that energy leak again?" Asta wondered aloud as she walked over. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned in to look at a small vial attached to the device. A thin puff of green mist escaped and brushed her cheek. A strange, tingling feeling moved through her hand and up her arm. Looking down, Asta’s eyes grew wide. Her graceful fingers were now looking short and soft—almost like paws covered in pink fur.

>For a moment, panic flickered in her mind, but then it was replaced by a warm, joyful feeling. The world seemed sharper, and every smell burst around her. "Wha-?" she tried to speak, but all that came out was a happy bark. A newly grown, fluffy tail thumped excitedly against the floor. The reports, the Space Station, even Herta, all faded into the background. All that mattered was the bright yellow ball rolling playfully near her feet.

>"Woof woof!" she yipped, leaping after the ball with a burst of playful energy. Research and responsibilities were forgotten. There was only the fun of chasing a ball in a world that now smelled wonderfully, wonderfully interesting.