He padded silently to the doorway, his new paws surprisingly agile on the smooth floor. He could hear the faint whisper of air through the vents, the subtle shift of sheets as his family slept. He lay down, nose resting on his new paws, his sandy blonde fur, a warm comfort against the cool floor. He was a dog. An actual dog. And for the first time in what felt like forever, the world didn't feel like a threat to be controlled, but a family to be cherished. His blue eyes, still holding a hint of the man’s deep thought, now reflected a quiet warmth, an attentive vigilance.

(an Au where they were transformed thanks to an experimental formula and equipment into a dog. A crew member accidentally got infected by it while getting something from storage.)