Francis led Niki and Malika through a portal...

     and into a room that reminded Niki of the inside of a large cube. No furniture. Nothing on the walls. The ceiling glowed, providing just enough illumination to see.

     Francis stood at the center of the room to face Niki and Malika. He seemed to take no notice of the fact that they were all nude.

     "I need to tell you about your final hour," he said to Niki.

     Malika heard her wife's sharp intake of breath. She clutched Niki's hand, telling her, whatever comes next, we're in it together.

     "The final major battle centered around a single portal that led to the universe that was The Fours," Francis went on.  "An army of Galateas combined to create enough loving, life energy to cripple that monster, but that energy had to be focused into and channeled through me so that I could deliver the beam blast into and through that portal. In the time for us to put that together, though, the armies of The Fours attacked relentlessly, taking out every one of the portal's defenders...."

     "except for one."

     "That single defender was you, Niki. You single-handedly took out dozens of attackers, then blew yourself up rather than let the portal be taken. Among the races that survived and understood what happened, you've become a bit of an icon, a legend, as it were. All right, I'll just come right out and say it. In some cultures, you are worshipped."

​     "As you may have surmised by now, I've been able, through Infini, to bring guests to this party from everywhere in time and space. When others in the multiverse understood that I'd be bringing you to this party, they insisted on being allowed to show tribute."

     "Okay, that bends my brain in about eighty different ways," Niki replied. "You're telling me that, out of all the species that fought in this war you keep talking about, I'm the only one they want to thank?"

     "I can't explain it. I only know that it is true."

     "And this is something they have to do right now?"

     "I'll take you back to the party if all this makes you feel uncomfortable."

     "And how, exactly, do they plan to demonstrate this 'tribute'?"

     "They will do so in Earth fashion, by applause."

     "They're going to clap?"

     "Those who can."

     "And how many people are we talking about here?"

​     "Well, not just people, necessarily. Beings."

     'Give me a figure."

​     "It's impossible to calculate. Trillions?"

     "Tril...And they're watching me right now?"

     "Yes."

     "Is it just me, or did the temperature in this room just drop thirty degrees?' Malika asked.

CONTINUE

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