Mark of Odin: The Awakening

Epilogue

49º South, 101.30º East
Anuchin crater, dark side of the Moon
48 hours later

The Valhalla was resting on the flat surface of a lunar crater. Captain Brunilda was sitting in the command chair while the crew prepared for lift-off.

The spaceship's systems were ready. "Orders?" asked Fruor, the navigator.

"Time to blast off. Once we are at leaping distance, activate the Bifrost," Brunilda ordered.

"And our destination?"

"Home. We are returning home..." Brunilda replied as the spaceship began to rise upwards.

"Initiating Bifrost system. Leap point set and... Wait a minute!" Fruor exclaimed.

"What is it?" Brunilda asked.

"This is impossible. The spaceship will not let us make a direct leap."

"What do you mean, it will not let us? Eskandal, was the Bifrost system damaged during the battle?"

Eskandal rapidly began to run through all the systems, checking them one by one.

"It cannot be..." she said out loud.

"What?" Brunilda asked, irritated by the delay.

"The spaceship is blocking the direct leap route. It has shut down the long distance navigation system. I am trying to bypass its blocks but... They are beyond my understanding."

"How is this possible? Does this mean we are trapped?"

"No, it appears that the Valhalla wants us to take a far longer route. It is as if it wants us to go back for her..." Eskandal murmured.

"The spaceship wants us to? Do whatever you must... Make that system operative as soon as possible. We cannot afford a delay of this kind. The situation in the Council could become very difficult."

"I am afraid that there is only one person who can interact with the spaceship at this level..." Eskandal began.

"The boy? I see. Freya, the time has come to wake him," Brunilda ordered, looking at the Valkyrie.

Freya gave her a disapproving look in return. She wanted to protest but simply nodded and left the bridge. She knew it was inevitable. Despite everything the young man had been through and his current weakened state, he wouldn't be permitted to rest any longer. He had been unconscious, in a state of shock, ever since they had rescued him at the very end of the battle. Every now and again he cried out, calling for his loved ones. Eva and Raquel were the names he repeated the most, always with bitterness in his voice and tears in his eyes. She didn't like to imagine what was running through his mind but he was clearly suffering greatly. She dreaded to think how he would react when she forced him awake, but they had no other choice. A long journey home lay ahead of them. And she had a feeling that the Great Father had set them many more tests to overcome.

***This story continues at www.markofodin.com purchasing the Online Pass to get Access to three Bonus Chapters and dozens of extended content that tells you what happens before the next saga's book, Mark of Odin: Road to Valhalla.