"Cancer," Adam Forwarder replied. "A cancer that attacked the multiverse that is Infini with the intention of consuming Infini until only The Fours remained."

     "The war raged through all of time and space," Francis said, "but, in the end..." Francis smiled. "We vanquished him, and, by we, I mean the people in this room with me right now, along with trillions of others."

     The door opened, and a valet brought Helen Harper in. She'd changed into something she hoped was suitable for a casual visit with the richest woman on Earth, but, for all that, she still looked like someone who'd just left work.

     Like Trevor gave a fuck about any of that. He ran to hold her in his arms.

     "Darling, you can't even fathom how good it is to see you right now."

     Niki flinched at the word "fathom". She had no idea why. She'd reacted to that word in that manner all her life.

     Helen returned her husband's embrace, and, for a shared heartbeat, it became just the two of them, a couple who'd fallen in love and who would remain in love forever. 

     Then, Helen released her husband to get a look around. 

     "What have you gotten yourself into?" she asked Trevor.

​     She saw a dining hall more opulent and upscale than any she'd ever stepped in.

     She saw Anne Wells, who smiled at her like they were long lost friends.

     She saw five people, a family, a mother, her three grown children, and their grandfather.

     She saw two black women. A couple. Athletes.

     "You had a dream last night?" one of them asked her.

     "Dream? You mean like the dream my husband had?"

     "That's what I thought. Hi. I'm Malika. I'm glad you're here. I was getting tired of being the only one out of the loop." 

     "Hi. I'm Helen, and I desperately need to be brought up to speed."

     "Soon as we get a moment alone," Trevor said.

​     Helen saw a man who looked like nothing less than an albino Greek God given human form draped in flowing white robes, a man so friggin' handsome he made even a happily married woman like her wet to look at him.

     Helen saw Adam Forwarder and Myanna Madieras looking even more charismatic than they did in their movies.

     "Okay, this really all is starting to make me feel lightheaded," she said.

​     "You haven't begun to feel faint, yet," her husband told her.

     "What could..."

     "Look up."

     Helen tilted back her head.

     "Art?" she asked.

     "You could say that. It's a living entity, and it's all that exists. It's Infini."

     "Help!"

     "I know."

     A man consisting of nothing but shimmering white light approached her. He smiled at her in a manner that exuded the strength in true peace, that relaxed her as quick as a morphine drip.

     "Welcome Helen Harper," he said. "I'd introduce you around the room, but I believe that will come in time. Would it be all right with you if I continued?"

     Helen nodded. What else was she supposed to do?

     "I've brought you all here for a celebration," Francis said. "One last party, as it were, one last chance to be with you all before I pass into myth."

     A valet rushed into the room. "Madam! Madam!"

     "What is it, Hercule?"

     The door blasted open, and in stormed someone who looked a lot like Trevor but definitely wasn't.

     "Damn," Trevor said.

     "Cole," Helen said.

​     Cole was a cop, and he stormed in decked out in his full cop uniform, shades for the eyes and everything else.

     "What in the hell is going on?" he roared. "What are you all doing in my head? I am an officer to the law! I will not be brainwashed!"

     "How did you find us, Cole?" Trevor asked.

     "I have my ways. Don't you worry about that."

     "I'm going to guess the GPS on your phone," Helen said.

     "I'll answer your every question," Francis told this new guest, "but, first, I really do need you to calm down. This is to be a joyful event."

     "Pal, I don't know what kind of show you think you're running here, but...wait a minute. You over there. Aren't you Adam Forwarder?"

     "When last seen," Adam replied, stealing a line from ​Guys and Dolls.

​     Cole got a look at Anne. Her returning look was a questioning one, a look that asked, are we going to have a problem with you? 

     Myanna ran a finger along Xerxes' muscled bicep.

     "Uh, honey?" Adam asked.

     "I'm sorry, sweetheart. It's just that he's so...so gorgeous. Can you blame me if I..."

     "Uh, yeah. Yeah, I guess I can. Keep your hands off him, please."

     I feel like doing the same damned thing, all three of the Dawson women thought at the same time.

CONTINUE

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