---Back aboard Rhodes Island---

  -''I didn't expect to see you two in my ward just after arriving from your vacation.'' Spoke Gavial.

  -''Tacet. You seem a bit pale besides that eye-sore of a wound you have. Perhaps your... night-life is a bit too rough?'' Gavial asked, looking at Provence as well.

  -''We won't comment on that.'' I said placatingly.

  -''Alright. I won't prod further. Besides the change in bandages I'll give you a prescription for some supplements. Just to keep you in shape.'' Gavial said before she continued further on her train of thought.

  -I know that satisfying a lupo's cravings once their switch is flipped can be quite draining. Don't want you passing out from exhaustion if you have an operation the morning after.'' Gavial told us with a wink to Provence. To which she just smiled thankfully, and knowingly.

  The truth is there was actually quite a lot of bonding and mating going on. Even on our short trip home.

  It was not too far from then that Provence approached me one fateful day. Showing me one of those tests, positive. Inside I was so overjoyed that my worries were overshadowed. I had embraced her, and given her comfort.

  A mate by one's side went far to allaying one's fears when she had a pillar of support and surety by her side.

  It was a strange new feeling. Knowing that our love would bear fruit. Knowing I would have to love and care not for one, but for two soon enough. I embraced that thought wholeheartedly. And I made sure Provence knew of it.

  I hoped that specific future would be all that would occupy my attention. Still, by chance, the past had seen fit to stumble onto me. Through a simple picture from the intranet showing on my personal computer monitor.

  It was late one night in my living room. Half veiled in darkness that I perused through the news. Coming across a news article that gave me great pause.

  ''Premiere Achievement in Siracusa as the first new nomadic city to be constructed since the birth of the nation will come to life in the near future!

  Engineers report a 90% overall construction readiness. While the surface buildings and utilities are reported to be in the completed stage at the publication of this news. Already petitions for new resident transfers have been approved. And a good deal of renown and influential of Siracusan citizens are preparing to move, if not to be present at this historic moment. As many have long bought large plots of living space already. Constructing tasteful manors, chateaus, mansions and impressive estates befitting their status and wealth...

  ...this list includes honorary members that have been granted residency by the Siracusan state. Such as High Lord Pelenas Cadrigal, retired Grand Captain of the Laterano Guard. And the influential businessman Barokav Sillenzio. Who, originally from Kazdel, has contributed with his business to the wellbeing of the overall Siracusan economy in the past five decades that granted him citizenship...''

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  ''Barokav Sillenzio... what a fanciful name you have come up with, old comrade. But the paleness of a Sarkaz vampire ill fits you.''

  I sighed, and then opened my eyes once more. There was no mistaking it. It was him. My old friend, Phesius.

  ''What had happened to you to be alive, yet so changed in this day and age?'' I wondered.

  His eyes were a sickly yellow, and his slick grin was one I couldn't recognise. To add unrest besides my silent amazement there was more to my discovery...

  ''We have received a unique permission to enter this enigmatic businessman's personal art gallery. Which should soon be moved to his new estate in New Volsinii. Our sight was greeted with the splendour of great works of art, as well as the intrigue of many ancient artefacts. These were but a few of what we were permitted to take picture feeds for our news channel, as well as...''

  I perused through the gallery, seeing a great many things I recognised and didn't. The renown painting by Francesco del Venezia, the Renaissance di Terra. The remains of the marble sculpted head of the navigator leader that first landed on Terra, Marco Savaini. A portable enriched fission device. More commonly known as a tactical nuclear bomb, hopefully disabled.

  But most eye catching and impactful of all, a round, dark sphere with a minutia of white speckles like stars coming and going. It was nearly unimaginable that such a thing could still be, yet I knew what I was seeing. A Quantum Entanglement Containment Sphere.

  This... if this was real, it would change everything. It could... no, it definitely would affect me. At least sooner or later. Me... and my new family.

  By itself it was useless. But if he had the means, or could reinvent the means to use the quantum container. Then he could contact the rest of the human civilization outside of Terra's solar system. Or, what remained of humanity if it still existed out there.

  The problem was that this would be such a reckless move, and could produce such an unpredictable outcome that it was not worth trying. After all it was the greater human civilization that quarantined our fledgling world and cut our access to the stars. Unwilling or unable to finish us off considering there were greater external threats to our dominion over the galaxy, and even to our existence as a species.

  And of course because back then there was still a substantial part of the population on Terra that still held true to their human spirit. And to the normality of their virtuous values that fought in the End Wars. Drawing their attention again to this world could attract any kind of outcomes. To sterilization, extermination or enslavement.

  Enlightened as the greater humanity was at my time I simply could not trust the chance of the worst happening. Considering the existential threats that humanity faced, and the thousands of years that passed, the human empire could have very well regressed in the meantime.

  A warm ''Hello, we are still alive here, could you give us some help?'' kind of message for them could mean a boon in slave or genetic experimentation stock with ample resources to harvest. Even my status as a true human could mean very little to them.

  Simply put, I had to retrieve the quantum entangler. Or destroy it utterly.

  -Whatcha looking at so deep in the night, my mysterious mate?

  I suppressed an internal grunt of surprise from leaving my mouth, willing myself not to shudder. But she had gotten me by surprise. I really needed to remind myself that Provence could be as stealthy as Projekt Red if she wanted. Sneaky and dangerous lupa that I had.

  -Trouble.

  -Trouble looked or unlooked-for?

  -It is never looked for. But it has a habit of finding me it seems.

  -Then shut off the computer and forget about it.

  -It won't change what I have to do now.

  -You're going somewhere, aren't you?

  -... Yes.

  -''Siracusa?'' She asked, beckoning to the news on my monitor.

  -Volsinii.

  -I'm coming with you.

  -I'd prefer you sit this one out.

  -Why? Because I'm pregnant?

  -It would be better for my comfort knowing you are safe.

  -It wouldn't have been to either of our comfort if I didn't follow you to Ursus back then! You would have been dead, and I would have been alone!

  -''Woof!'' Mister grape deemed it worthy to reinforce Provence's point as he came besides her. As if he wasn't enough anymore. As if... I was an inseparable part now.

  I had to hand it to her. She cornered me with that argument, and I had no reply to rebuff it.

  -Besides. You've never been there. You need someone who knows the place, and it's people. And I have been in Volsinii a few fair times myself.

  -You are going to come even if I leave alone, aren't you?

  -''You've nailed that right!'' She said happily and with a wink, as if it was decided then and there.

  -Heh, alright.

  -''So, what's the plan?'' She beckoned.