Déjà Vu: Some things change, others never will.

A faint vibration woke me up. I gently nudged Luther aside and sat up in bed.

Even after all these years, I still wake up at the slightest sound.

I glanced at the terminal on the charging pad, debating whether I should abuse my authority and pretend I hadn't seen it. But the caller ID made me drop the idea--it was Karl.

"Hey, Chief Medical Officer," I greeted the elderly German Shepherd. "What's up..."

"Don't you 'hey' me, you little brat!" Karl barked, making me flinch and flatten my ears against my head. "Why did you get your blood tested, and why haven't I seen the report?"

"What? A blood test?" I tried to play dumb, extending my consciousness to toss the analyzer into the storage locker, burying it under a pile of junk. "Master, where did you hear such nonsense...?" I'm going to throw that guy into the airlock and shoot him into space.

"Don't 'Master' me, you dumb wolf pretending to be a white German Shepherd!" I flinched again, pressing my ears even flatter. I'd almost forgotten that had happened. "Your mutt's been whining about how much his hand hurts, and it's obvious it's your clumsy one-legged cat* technique that did it."

"Please don't call Luther that..." I sighed, pressing my right hand to my forehead. "It sounds weird."

"Whatever, the whole fleet and the entire Empire will know sooner or later." The terminal caught Karl's sneer with precision. "Or are you thinking the 'cuckold fetish' rumors haven't aged well enough?"

"Karl..." I groaned, not wanting to revisit that issue.

"Who you want to screw..." The Chief Medical Officer paused for a moment, and I didn't want to know why. "...or who screws you," I clicked my tongue, "is your business, not mine. But your health is my responsibility!"

"All the numbers are within the normal range; there's nothing to worry about," I said in a soothing tone, trying to wrap up this increasingly awkward conversation.

"You think I'm stupid enough to be fooled that easily?" Karl shouted. I quickly Dominated the terminal, hurling it across the room.

Grabbing my ears helplessly, I walked over to the terminal, wondering how to respond.

But nothing came to mind, so I just stared silently at the black rectangular panel hovering in mid-air.

"Killing takes a toll on people. Even you, with the protection of your Snow persona, aren't immune," Karl's weary voice was laden with exhaustion, filling me with guilt. "Let alone the fact that you have to kill yourself over and over."

"I know that Phantom isn't me, Karl," I tried to convince the old German Shepherd, maybe even myself.

"Do you really, pup?" Karl replied, sounding like a doctor who'd heard the same denial a thousand times before. "Can you look me in the eye and say that again, Richter?"

No, I couldn't. Because deep down, I knew that Phantom was me.

But I couldn't admit that, so all that was left between us was silence.

"What about the mutt? Can he handle the truth?" Karl sighed.

"He was a bit shocked, but I think his mind is strong enough to deal with it," I said, though maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed...

"I'll arrange a counseling session for the both of you," Karl stated matter-of-factly.

"Uh..." I wasn't sure if he was being serious. "...Alright?"

"Leon finished extracting the exotic matter, and we've got a decent amount. Schneider and Elias are thrilled, but I still think it's best to allocate the next quarter's supply to the Siberian House before they start messing with it." Karl abruptly switched to business, catching me off guard.

"Oh, let's do that then. But I doubt Hunter would mind if we occasionally miss a quota." Since I took command of the Empire's Heart, we haven't had any issues with missing quotas, so why bring this up outside of the usual meetings?

"You need to keep an eye on Hoffman. His drinking problem is a risk to discipline and morale, and I've already received enough concerns about it." I could tell Karl was hinting at something.

"But if I step in, wouldn't it seem like I'm holding a grudge or something?" I admitted my frustration, though I was more inclined to pretend these problems didn't exist.

"You're his commanding officer; it's your responsibility! Where did Arthur's teachings go?" Karl's words were heartfelt, making me flinch again. "Arthur and I will handle it, but this is the last time we're cleaning up your mess."

"Uh..." I scratched my ears, making them stand up. "Thanks."

"Wolfgang's test results came back, and as I expected," the terminal chimed as I opened the file Karl had sent. "I still recommend waiting until he's an adult for the joint replacement surgery."

"What did Arthur and Maya say?" I quickly skimmed the contents, and since it was as expected, I finished reading it fast.

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"They're a bit reluctant, but they trust my judgment," Karl replied.

"So, is there a problem?" I was puzzled, unsure if Karl was hinting at some bad news he didn't want to address directly.

"I need to know your opinion, don't I? Aren't you committed to taking on the 'father's' responsibility?" Karl's tone turned into one of lecturing a young pup again, and my ears reflexively drooped.

"A 'father's' responsibility..." I murmured, sensing Karl raising an eyebrow even if I couldn't see it. But this complex issue wasn't something I had the energy to worry about now. "In any case, this is a professional medical judgment. I don't see why you need my input."

"That's what a 'father's responsibility' means," he sighed, clearly frustrated. "I don't want to sound too judgmental because I know you don't understand what that means." I twitched my ears, indeed not quite grasping what Karl was trying to convey. "So, you agree to wait until Wolfgang is an adult?"

"Yes," I replied curtly, wondering if I'd missed something.

Karl snorted, and then fell silent. After he had said so many unrelated things, it didn't take a psychic to guess that he was warming up for a particular topic. But embarrassingly, no matter how many years passed, my social skills hadn't improved at all, so I just continued to stare at the floating terminal, waiting for the elderly German Shepherd to be ready.

"Though I've mentioned this before, I just feel the need to remind you..." Karl began hesitantly. "We still don't know what happened to you in the Senate, or why you ended up in Greenland..." He paused briefly, but quickly continued. "I only know that you saved the family, prevented the Empire from fracturing, ended the Inner Planet War, and saved us. There are countless people still around to give me headaches because of your sacrifices. For that, I can never thank you enough."

I thought I'd be used to that sting of emotion by now, considering my age. But clearly, just like anything else, if you don't face it properly, it never goes away.

"But you must remember, even if you can snap your fingers and trigger a nuclear fusion reaction, you're still just human**. If someone stabs you with a knife, you'll bleed just like anyone else." Karl took a deep breath and continued. "And we're a team, meant to look out for each other. We're your... pack," the Chief Medical Officer hesitated over the term. "And you're family to us too, Richter von Deutschland."

I clenched my teeth, forcing myself not to let the barrier down. This isn't a luxury I can afford. I'm your protector, not the other way around. I've already lost control once, and until the final reckoning comes, I must avoid doing anything that would upset the balance. I have to maintain absolute objectivity, unaffected by anything. Especially since I already have too many weaknesses--what if my enemies plan to exploit them? The risk is too high.

In the deep, impassable snow, the strongest wolf leads the way.

It's a responsibility and a destiny.

"Hold on tight," Phantom's final words, blood sputtering from his mouth, flashed through my mind. "Before it's too late."

Could that be possible for me?

Even if it were possible, would I... want it?

I turned to glance at the sleeping Luther. Maybe it was because he sensed my gaze, but his ears twitched twice before he rolled over.

That made me smile naturally. I knew it meant something--something about possibilities.

Something had shifted.

I wasn't sure if it was because I'd grown weaker or stronger that I was feeling this way.

But I didn't mind finding out the answer.

"Thank you, Karl," I responded with all the sincerity I could muster. "I'm truly grateful."

"When I open my eyes tomorrow, I'd better see your blood test report on my desk," Karl said, leaving no room for negotiation. "And the mutt's too," he added. "Looks like I'll have to look after him now as well."

"Yes, Master." Karl's teasing tone made my ears burn, but I managed to respond without too much awkwardness.

The Chief Medical Officer grunted and then ended the call.

Before I forgot, I sent the test report to Karl. I really didn't want to face the wrath of the old German Shepherd again.

I was confident in my ability to move silently, but when I returned to bed, Luther still woke up.

"What's wrong?" he asked sleepily, giving my nose a couple of gentle licks.

"Paperwork," I replied, thinking we both needed rest and could discuss it later.

I nudged Luther, signaling for him to make room so I could lie down, but instead, he rolled over, grabbed my tail, and pulled it toward him.

"Hey, what's that for?" I whispered in complaint. Luther's tug was a bit forceful, and then he hugged me from behind, biting my ear. "That hurts!" I couldn't help but let out a whimper in protest.

"This is your punishment for lying," he said, licking the fur he had messed up.

The warm, wet sensation kept brushing against that spot behind my right ear, making it impossible for me to respond with anything other than a moan. Damn it, this wicked mutt!

"Hey, I hadn't noticed this before," Luther remarked, with the tone of someone discovering a new universe as he toyed with the tip of my tail. "I thought you were all white."

"Oh," I shivered from the ticklish sensation on my tail, and Luther seemed amused, continuing to play with it. "I inherited some of my mother's coloring."

"I think it's cute," he said, resting his chin on top of my head, flattening my ears. "It's like your personal signature."

"Mm." I responded softly, closing my eyes, enjoying the gentle ticklish sensation as I stroked Luther's firm arm, which had sparse dark stripes.

"History," he suddenly said, and I didn't react immediately, making a questioning sound. "I've decided on my major."

"Oh." I nuzzled against him, greedily soaking up the perfect warmth. "Any particular reason?"

"I like stories." He started licking that sensitive spot behind my right ear again, making it hard for me to focus, though at least he let go of my tail. "And I want to write a great one."

"Mind sharing?" The unending ticklish sensation made me shudder again, my right leg twitching a few times.

"The biography of the sexiest admiral ever." He said slyly, flipping me over onto my back and then lying on top of me so that our noses gently touched. "In case you didn't notice, I'm talking about you."

"That seems like it might have some issues with objectivity and conflict of interest." I laughed at Luther's mock-serious expression. "Besides, I haven't decided yet how I want to be remembered." The tickling sensation on my nose made my whiskers twitch a bit.

"The beginning should grab attention, followed by endless climaxes." He was getting even more serious about it. Although it was amusing, I honestly couldn't imagine what my biography would look like if this wicked mutt wrote it. "Plain narration is too boring."

"But a good story needs buildup." I took a deep breath, identifying Luther's scent while stroking the side of his face. "Without buildup, the climax lacks tension and meaning. And... endless climaxes, isn't that impossible?" I said playfully.

"Maybe, start with a shocking opening? Lots of explosions and cool special effects." He tilted his head slightly, probably imagining the scene. "Such a complex character still needs depth in the background, so as the story progresses, more of his thoughts and past are slowly revealed, making the character more nuanced."

I had to admit, that sounded quite reasonable. Although I wasn't sure if Luther knew the difference between a biography and a novel.

"Regretted mistakes, proud achievements, moments of joy, sleepless nights... all the important moments." Luther murmured almost to himself. "And everyone who left a mark on his life, all the encounters that helped him grow into the person he is now, whether friend or foe." He kissed me, making the world seem to stop, leaving only our breaths.

I closed my eyes, immersing myself in this moment. This moment that, every time, made me feel like a helpless little pup again. Silently, we shared our darkest secrets, exploring each other's deepest voids, until we merged, becoming one.

A pulse from the consciousness circle signaled the dissolution of boundaries and the merging of realms.

"And lovers," Luther's form began to appear, outlining his sharp features and the curve of his mouth. "Never forget the lovers."

Luther slowly licked my nose again, then wore a smug expression. That look, as if waiting for me to praise him, was so silly that I couldn't resist its powerful charm. Taking advantage of Luther's smug moment, I leaned in and sniffed his cheek--I wasn't even sure why I wanted to do that, probably some instinctive reaction.

"And I think that describing flaws will make him more relatable, more like a real, living person, not just a name..." He blinked those big brown eyes and continued, and I could see my own reflection in them. "For example, he might occasionally abuse his power... uh, how should I put it..." He gave me a sly grin and slowly began to move downward. "...forcing his orderly to use tongue to clean the 'deck'..."

Luther's warm, moist breath brushed through the short fur on my chest and belly. I clenched my teeth, forcing myself not to tremble too much. But the unrelenting ticklish sensation eventually broke down all defenses, sweeping away any remaining sense of reason.

"As for the endless climaxes part..." When that sticky, warm sensation touched the fur below my waist, I couldn't hold back a whimper.

In the boundless void, I saw the dazzling galaxy shine, and I understood things I once thought impossible.