Exploring the Ruins. (Jora)

Jora

Ashton was walking around in the ruins. His clear side reflecting light into his organs and his slowly expelling lungs. He had grown used to the clear paneling in his side. It was the perfect conversation starter. When people would come up and ask him why he had a clear side, he would always reply with Cause I can. He was looking around and felt at peace. "Well this is great. Finally some time alone. I wonder who else explores here." He said to himself and yawned.

- Ashton -

---

Jora's small frail form skipped across the soft sands of the seashore; her form was so light and dainty it had barely left a print among the sand and only a few meters ahead would the ones behind her get swept away by the wind. Most dogs would be upon the beach in this weather to relax and enjoy it; especially those of he southlands. Thanks to the smog of the factory and the harsh weather, it was rare for there not to be a gloomy haze over the land. But Jora wasn't here to soak up some rays in the sun.

She was looking for a particular dog and was told they could be found here. When her feet was leaving the soft sand to find him, she wondered if she was being led astray. But then his unmissable form came into view and her mind quickly went back to the task at hand.

"Ashton of Ash River Project," Jora's voice echoed like empty wind within the chamber walls. She approached not with the stature or attitude of a superior or inferior dog within the pack and more like a robot that had been sent to collect a bounty. "I am a Epsilon Scientist of Ash River Project. I would like to conduct a simple research-founded experiment on you." Her cybernetic eye didn't shy away from focusing in on his enhancements. It began blasting away all of the surface level data as it usually did, but she knew that with this one, she could see more, and she wasn't going to be shy about her intentions. "The paneling in your side is suitable for observing the physical conditions of a system of organs in various states of activity, and that is what I would like to do."



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Ashton turned to look at the new dog. "Okay, I guess...." He said to the scientist. "So what would have me do?" He asked not even caring about her cybernetic eye. Most dogs would loo straight at that but he was more curious about his new company's build. She was small and dainty yet she had this air of something else around her. He yawned some and shook out the pelt he could. It looked me like he was trying to get a fly away from him. He yawned a little and snapped his jaws close. He wasn't very interested in exploring anymore. He was thinking of ways that he could learn more about himself so he could be a better spy for Ash River.

Jora

- Ashton -

---

Jora had taken note of the many nervous habits that the larger dog had. Even with her hyper attentive cybernetic eye it was obvious by the yawns and the jerky movements. The observation window in his side did not help either; she could observe a subtle shift in his respiratory system. It wasn't major enough to alter the results of her research, so she didn't bother bringing it up.

"For now, I would like to walk back to Ash River Project at the pace you are most comfortable in to see your systems in stasis." Jora responded. And with that, they began to walk. It was a rather odd sight, and even more uncomfortable for Jora. Even if he was walking, his larger body and longer legs meant that she had to slightly alter her normal walking speed to stay leveled with him. But it was worth it to keep up and see the body in motion. Her cybernetic eye absorbed the image in its wholeness as if it was recording.

"Once we get to Ash River Project, I will have you accelerate and rest your body to various degrees and various times to see how your systems respond to heightened levels of exertion. You will conduct this half of the experiment on a modified conveyor belt formally owned by the factory that neighbors the pack." Jora added as they left the beach.


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Ashton nodded and walked at his normal pace back towards the pack. He wasn't even really thinking about where he was going and barely missed the part that he was going to be subjected to test. He nodded his head and exhaled out his maw and yawned. He still walked at his normal pace. A leisure stroll that let him walk slowly yet somewhat fast. His faster pace was a trot and he was just enjoying the world as it was. "I like you eye, very unique." He said to the small dog that was speed walking next to him. His hear was beating at a normal rate and his lungs pulsed with breathe that he was drawing in. His side flexed with in time with his lungs and his heart barely peaked out from under his lung.

Jora

- Ashton -

---

Jora was content with ending her conversation with Ashton on the note that she had answered her question. She didn't mind that it was a rather long walk to be completely silent on. After all, she was a dog who spent days at a time without ever uttering a word. So when the silence was not only broken, but broken by the other to utter a compliment, it was understandable that her response wasn't so timely. 

Her metallic gaze finally shifted to Ashton's face, though its empty smooth surface showed no indication of a direction. "It is quite useful."


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Ashton nodded to her and smiled softly. He was excited to see what all he could do and couldn't wait to heal. Healing had him become twitchy and somewhat senseless because all he thought about was moving faster than a walk. This was starting to drive him crazy to because he always ran everywhere now days so he could stay moving. But walking always jostled him up and made him want to move faster. His tail twitched and his ear twitched and his nose also twitched. When he would lift up a paw that would twitch also. "So um, what happened that made you get a cybernetic eye? I mean you don't have to tell if you don't want to!" He said all to quickly rushing the words out and then exhaling and saying them the slower.

- Ashton -

---

There was an energy that was radiating from Ashton, and his subtle increase in speed was notable to the smaller less vigorous Jora, but she made no comment on it. They were almost to the packlands and ready to start the second stage of the research experiment. 

Ashton was such a nervous dog, Jora had thought that he wouldn't be able to push forward with whatever he wanted to say if he did have something to say. He surprised her a little when he finally questioned her eye. It wasn't something that was brought up often. In fact, it had never been brought up; most dogs just ogled it a little and went on their way. Maybe it was because it represented a serious injury that had to have been sustained by her in order to have an augmented eye.

"I have a heightened threshold for pain." Jora explained for once, rather than just answering his question and leaving more. In a weird way, she was proud of her numbness. It was the glimmer of hope in the many flaws that she have. "My sister gouged out my eye to gauge my reaction. It was underwhelming."


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"Well, I bet it was a little underwhelming. You are the first dog that I have heard of that their own sibling attacked them." Ashton said and swiveled is torn in two ear around. It seemed that it was cut right down the middle, but it wasn't he had it since he was born. He was always an odd ball and him with his clear side just proved it to be true. He looked in front of him and he was shocked that he got to the place real fast. He stood still and looked at the little dog standing next to him. "Well after you, you know where we are going." He said and wagged his tail.

- Ashton -

---

Jora concluded that Ashton was talkative like Lukas, however in a different way. He was more straight to the point, perhaps because he was awkward with conversing as well; just prone to trying more.

Though there was a bit of her that was curious how would he react if she was the first dog he had met that attacked and ultimately killed her own sibling. Unfortunately, such information was not relevant to the situation. She just continued onward, passing him and guiding him to a tarp layering over the roof of a fairly intact tent. It was a fairly small office space, even for her. Perhaps she would be able to claim something better as she rose in rank. For now, all it had was the conveyor belt. And that was perfectly fine for her.

"Before you step onto this conveyor belt, I must know your current condition." Jora explained rather mechanically. "How long have you had the modifications at your side and at what stage is your adaption and healing?"


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"Well it happened a couple of months ago. I am quite used to my side now and it is completely healed." He said and looked at the conveyor belt. His tail picked up a natural wag and he smiled somewhat sweetly and he looked at the small dog. His side was expanding and snapping back into place and he yawned. He wagged his tail harder and he smiled at the smaller dog. "So all I am doing is running on the conveyor belt at the speed you set right?" He questioned the small dog with a simple smile gracing his features.

Jora