Free Awake by Viola Grace Page B

beyond life, but here she was, and the medical staff was trying to get her started again.
    “Odin, get over here and hold her shoulders and pour the energy of the Orb into her.” Xeric’s voice was testy, but Odin answered the request.
    He moved around to Kaliana’s head and placed his hands on her pale, thin shoulders. Holes permeated her body, and Xeric was slowly healing them one by one.
    “I have healed her lungs. Start her now.”
    Odin gathered the energy of the Orb. He was shocked by the wave of power that answered his call and poured out the hands that he had taken on for the occasion.
    Nishan animorphs were not bound to anything other than their most dispersed form. The mist that he became was his greatest protection and greatest vulnerability. In his life, he was burned to death in a riot, and the flames kept him from escaping.
    The waves of power went far beyond what he had anticipated for the occasion, and the body under his hands began to take on the characteristics of the images sent to him by the Orb.
    Her hair began to grow, a rich red that spread in waves until it pooled on the ground beneath the table. Her breasts curved to fulfill the promise of her wide ribcage and the bones that were visible under her skin faded as her shape became one that he knew most bipedal beings would favour.
    Full breasts, a narrow waist and wide hips combined with a long waterfall of hair made her an ideal in all respects. Red hair was a little too noticeable for a standard Nameless.
    She inhaled sharply, coughing up liquid from her lungs. The medical staff quickly turned her on her side and then left them alone.
    Xeric sealed the last of her ports, bowed and returned to the mate he had no doubt left in the shower.
    Ravikka inclined her head. “She will need a meal and an explanation, but the Council of Seven is waiting for her. We have been waiting a very, very long time.”
    Ravikka disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Odin to deal with the naked and confused woman.
    “Welcome Home, Kaliana.” He kept his voice low and quiet.
    She blinked up at him with eyes that were a pure blue, the same blue as the skies of his home. He felt wistful for a moment because he knew that soon those eyes would be black and full of stars. For now, he enjoyed the view.
    * * * *
    Kali tried to speak, but it took her three attempts before more than a cough or a squeak would come out. “Who are you?”
    “Odin. I am one of the Nameless who reside here at Home and do the bidding of the Orb of Time. Would you care for some clothing?”
    The man was a standard warrior form for at least nine different races that she could think of. He didn’t have the feline features of a Wyoran or an Azon, the colouration of a Drai or the braids of a Kozue. Nothing about him was quite right. Most of the races that sprang to mind had fairly animalistic natures, but he didn’t match any of them precisely.
    “What are you?” Sitting up felt peculiar to Kali, as did having the medical bed under her. After being in a weightless state for years having anything touching her skin felt odd. “Where am I?”
    “You are Home. It is hard to explain. May I show you?” He held out his arms in a request for permission to lift her.
    She looked around, gauged the feeling in her feet and legs and nodded. “Please.” She held out her arms like a child, and he lifted her easily.
    He walked out of the room that resembled a medical bay crossed with a hotel room, and he carried her onto the balcony.
    “This is now your home.”
    She looked up and gasped. She was inside the swirling of stars. Nebulas twisted in the darkness, star systems spun happily and asteroids made their tireless journeys. Kali knew every star chart in the Alliance systems, and they were outside of any known space.
    “Where…”
    “We are between, between time and space, now and then, past and future. We will get you some clothing, and from there, a meal. Then, I will explain whatever you need to