"Peoples of the Multiverse," Francis Forwarder said. "I present to you..."

     "Niki Creole."

     It began as a smattering, the applause, Niki and Malika barely heard it, but it intensified to become loud, then so loud that Niki gave up any notion of being able to say anything to Malika about it, Mailika wouldn't be able to hear her, and then so loud that Niki thought the applause might be too loud, might damage her eardrums, but, also, she knew it wouldn't because she not only heard the applause, she felt it, she felt the admiration, the respect, the gratitude, the love at the heart of the applause, and that love and gratitude filled Niki until it became the only thing she could sense, and then even that grew.

     Niki found she no longer had the strength to stand.

     She leaned against Malika for support, and she got it.

​CONTINUE