Title: City Of Light
Chapter: 6
Author: Squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Feedback: Lovingly read and recorded
Archive: Sure, just let me know where.
Spoilers : nope, nada, nohow...atleast I don't think so.
Disclaimer: All IA's....never mine, just having fun.

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Mark decided he must be going mad. It had been a week now, and he seemed to be making little or no progress on plotting their course out of this planet's system, or even finding the location of the anomaly. In fact he was almost starting to believe that he never would pull it off. Everyone was depending on him to produce the rabbit out of the hat. Afterall, Mark had been the one to push for this, he had been the one that brought them to the city. Mark rubbed his hand over his face, trying to wipe the tiredness from his eyes. He wished he wasn't so tired all the time, he barely started on the computer correlations and he felt his eyes wanting to close. The days seemed to be passing in a blur, he hardly registered going back to the camp and what happened after he got back had run into a blur of half remembered automatic actions. He would remember getting up, getting dressed, grabbing something to eat, then it was off to the computer terminal and working all day, only to return exhausted and drained as it he'd taken part in a decathlon sometime earlier. It was all so confusing. He had his notes telling him he was working and compiling the information, but his body said he was doing something else, other than exercising his brain. It was so odd. Mark shook his head, trying to focus his eyes on the star charts he was mapping that day, the numbers and dots swimming before his eyes. He felt himself sway slightly, his perception starting to go out of focus as the room got progressively darker, then he keeled over, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

A robot waiting patiently in the shadows, hummed as it raced over to the unconscious man, stopping and scooping the body into its front shovel, then scooting off, rushing through the door that slid open at it's approach.

Neeson waited for the robot to back off before lifting Mark to the waiting receptacle. He inspected the man, noting his pale face and lax features. Neeson was impressed with this creatures stamina. Non of his previous experimental subjects had lasted more than a day under the effect of the apply named Savant Controller. Mark had been a true test of the machine, proving that the mind was capable of withstanding great forces, but ultimately the machine always won. After a week of constant pressure Mark had crumbled. Now Neeson just had to run a few tests and he would return Mark to his crew-mates, broken but not entirely used up. The information that the Savant Machine had wrung from Mark's brain had proved very interesting, Neeson knew so much more about their technology, if he was their size he would have delighted in testing his new found knowledge and astounding them all. As it was, he needed to bide his time. With Mark out of the picture, at least until he recovered sufficiently, Neeson would have to turn his attentions to another member of the group. Neeson chuckled to himself, they were so unwary of the peril that surrounded them. They were treating their situation like a holiday, when it couldn't have been further from the truth. His surveillance equipment had given him a daily record of their social behaviour and interaction, as well as their day to day living routines. It would all provide an invaluable resource when the originals were no longer available. The Captain would be Neesons next choice, he was not as highly advanced as Mark, but that was not a problem, Neeson wanted to find out about Steve's skills as a pilot, and as a leader. It had become clear that the others deferred to him, not just because he was the Captain of the ship, but because he had an indefinable quality of leadership that the others recognised. It warranted further investigation. Neeson wanted to learn everything he could, it would make his ultimate goal that much easier to obtain. For now he needed to get Mark back to his friends before much more time elapsed, otherwise they might get suspicious. After running a diagnostic machine over the unconscious man, Neeson placed him in a sample dish, then deposited him into another machine that mapped the brain patterns, creating a record of the subjects thought processes. Mark stirred as the lights played over him, causing spasm in his major muscle groups. Neeson watched as the displays above the machine ran continuous columns of numbers next to the coloured renditions of Marks brain. The electrical impulses sparked flashes of colour. Neeson just watched and absorbed the information through his jack point, already plugged in and assimilating the flow of data on the screen. After the lights switched off he opened the door, lifting Mark out of the cabinet and picking him up off the sample dish, placing him in the palm of his hand.

Then Neeson left the room, and the winking machinery, taking a direct route to the conservatory containing the compound of the Earth people and their ship. He had already checked and they were all there, sitting round the table, eating what they called their evening meal. Neeson had kept them well supplied with perishable food stuff. He didn't need them for himself, but they didn't need to know that. Not yet anyway.

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They were sitting round the table, making desultory conversation, the food only being picked at, making Betty wonder if her cooking skills had failed her. Steve noticed Valerie give the empty seat next to her a glance, as if willing Mark to appear next to her. The mood around the table was subdued and expectant, as if waiting for something to catapult them all back into their usual mode of run and hide. The unnatural quietness of their present situation was starting to grate on everyone. Not that they missed entirely the constant war on their nerves perpetuated by the Giant threat, but they had lost the ability to relax. Even Fitzhugh, arguably the most "relaxed" of the castaways, was finding the enforced inactivity a strain. Their usually close knit group was starting to fall apart. If they weren't careful they would be at each other's throats before the end of another week. Steve rubbed his chin ruefully, only he and Dan had managed to weather the recent changes without it affecting their friendship. Betty had been keeping herself busy with the meals, finding oblivion in the routine of the every day. Valerie tended to spend a lot of time sitting by the lake, "mooning" as Fitzhugh described it. Steve thought it was more likely Valerie was biding her time until Mark snapped out of his self-imposed isolation. Then, Steve reckoned, the sparks would fly. Barry had adapted to their change in circumstances with his usual aplomb, the boy putting them all to shame. Barry seemed to adapt so much better to their extraordinary experiences. Steve had watched the boy as he played with Chipper, also spending time with Fitzhugh, teaching Dan the game of Chess, and helping Betty whenever she asked. Marna had also adapted readily to their change in fortunes, preening herself to her former high level of grooming. She certainly was easy on the eye, even if Steve held her in suspicion of colluding with the Giants to capture them all. Marna had tried to use her newly refurbished charms on Mark, more than once. In his current state of mind, Mark had ignored or simply not seen Marna's overtures, much to Steve amusement, and Marna's fury. Only after Mark had disappeared from sight would Steve see Marna's face drop and her true feeling peek out of her beautiful mask. There were still stormy waters to sail with that situation. Steve made himself a promise to be as far away as possible when it finally erupted. He was putting his money on Valerie.

Steve was snapped from his reverie by Valerie letting go a gasp and getting up so suddenly that she overturned her chair, which landed with a clang when it hit the dirt. Steve twisted in his chair, seeing the giant form of Neeson bending down, with something in his hand. Valerie came round the table as Neeson deposited the body of Mark onto a patch of grass, next to the ship. Everyone started talking at once, Valerie reaching Mark before Marna had risen from her chair.

" What happened ?" Valerie asked, putting her hand to Mark's forehead, feeling how clammy his pale face was.

" Mark collapsed, we were just comparing his notes with a projected course on the computer when he keeled over." Neeson informed them.

" Oh no...Mark, wake up, come on...please " Valerie pleaded, taking one of Mark's limp, cold hands and chafing it.

" Did he say anything before he passed out, was he feeling sick or dizzy ?" Steve asked, standing behind Valerie, looking up at Neeson as he loomed over them.

" No, I'm sorry, there was no warning. One minute he was talking about the projection figures, then he closed his eye's and collapsed. I hope its not serious." Neeson allowed a measure of concern to colour his voice, and Valerie's quick glance confirmed it had been the right tactic to use.

" I'm sure it's just exhaustion, he's been working so hard. Steve, Dan can you help get him to our hut, he needs to be somewhere comfortable." Valerie stood back as the two men came forward, taking Marks shoulders and feet, carrying him to the hut, as Valerie ran on ahead and opened the door. Everyone else followed behind, forgetting Neeson who quietly turned and left.

Steve and Dan lay Mark on the bed, leaving Valerie to divest him of his shoes and jacket. Betty hurried in with the first aid kit, not entirely sure what to do for the best.

" Is there anything I can do, Val ?" Betty asked. Valerie shook her head, her worry evident.

" I'll keep an eye on him, check he doesn't develop a fever or something, thank you Betty, but I just think he needs to rest."

" Okay everyone, lets leave the man to sleep " Steve shooed everyone out of the hut, closing the door behind him, giving Valerie one last look and being rewarded by her grateful smile.

Valerie fussed around the comatose man, taking off his constricting cashmere poloneck and replacing it with a loose fitting t-shirt, during all this Mark didn't stir at all. His coma like state causing Valerie more concern. Finally she curled up on top of the covers, after bathing Marks face, and tucking him under the covers. Valerie felt too restless to sleep yet, content to listen to Mark's breathing. She had felt his pulse earlier, while checking him for any signs of puncture wounds or bruising, and found it reassuringly strong and steady. Despite everyone's acceptance of Neeson and his generosity, Valerie wasn't above suspecting an ulterior motive for enticing Mark away from the group. But finding nothing incriminating she had to accept that Mark had simply burnt out and needed nothing more than sleep to recover. She must have fallen asleep after all, as it was dark outside when she next opened her eyes, having left the lights off when the other's left. Valerie stretched, yawning in the half light coming from the one window in the hut wall. Turning she regarded the man next to her. Mark had turned over onto his side at sometime during the last few hours. It gave Valerie a measure of comfort to know he had done something so normal. She left him sleeping and got up, feeling her rumpled clothes twist around her. After finding a clean set of clothes she opened the door of the hut, peering out to see if anyone was around. Seeing Steve still sitting at the table she walked over in bare feet and pulled out the chair next to him, making him jump slightly.

" Sorry " she apologised.

" That's okay, I was thinking too hard anyway." said Steve. He gave her a searching look, taking in her sleepy features and unbrushed hair.

" You okay ? How's Mark doing ?" he asked.

" Fine to both questions. He seems to be sleeping naturally, deeply to be sure but I'm hoping he'll wake normally in the morning." Valerie rubbed the back of her neck to relax the tendons.

" Want some coffee ? Just brewed a fresh pot." Steve waved his half full cup under her nose, smiling at the look of bliss that came over Val's face at the aroma.

" Ooh you know how to sweet talk a girl."

Steve walked over to the table set up outside the ship, pouring a cup from the steaming coffee pot. He carried it back and set it down in front of Valerie, who inhaled the fragrant steam with satisfaction. Steve let her sip from the cup for a few minutes, enjoying the company.

" So Val, anything else keeping you awake ?"

" Why do you ask, Steve ?"

" Oh you have the look of someone with a bone to chew over."

" Well pot meet kettle, you've been walking around with an air of preoccupation for the last day or so, what's eating you Steve ?"

" I'm just not entirely sold on this set up with Neeson. I mean, what happened to the people. So far the place appears to be entirely run by robots. They do all the work, all the maintenance, everything."

" Some might say its the society of the future, Earth was becoming similar, I know my penthouse had more robots than people in it most days." Valerie replied, ruefully.

" Your right, we were using robots to do alot of the labour for us, but we still had people to run them. Here the only person is Neeson, kinda redundant, keeping a whole city running for one person."

" If he is a person." said Valerie, taking another sip of her coffee.

Steve shot her a surprised look.

" That's pretty out there, what makes you say that ?" Steve asked.

" I don't know, its just a feeling, nothing in particular, I don't know maybe I'm being crazy, but he doesn't smell right." Valerie looked embarrassed as Steve gave a bark of laughter, quickly stifled.

" Sorry, but really Val...doesn't smell right ?" Steve snorted.

" Laugh if you want to....I've had to live with four, no five if you count Barry, men in close quarters for the last nearly three years, you get to know each person's scent, intimately, its unavoidable. On earth, I used to be an expert at picking women's perfumes and men's colognes, it was kinda a personal hobby " Valerie stopped when Steve gave another muffled snort. She arched her eyebrow and continued when he got himself under control again. "You may laugh, but it was an exact science in my social world."

" I'd trust your nose any day Val....but seriously, can you pinpoint anything else "

" Nope....just my judgement, something is wrong, I just can't figure it out, and now this business with Mark has me worried. It's like he's addicted, he doesn't see or hear anything..." Valerie tailed off, looking gloomily into the remains of her coffee cup.

" I've known Mark as long as you have, he's just trying to achieve the impossible in record time. This is his first real chance to use his skills to their fullest. I do think he's gone a bit overboard, but he wouldn't be Mark if he didn't put his all into it." Steve tried to reassure her. Valerie gave him a small smile in reply.

" I'd better be getting back, should really get some sleep. Tomorrow could be interesting." Valerie got up from the table, covering her mouth with her hand as she let go a wide yawn.

" I'll come by in the morning and see how Mark is...sleep well" Steve watched as Valerie walked slowly back across the dark compound, entering her hut and closing the door. He picked up the cups and placed them on the table, taking one more look around the camp before going to his own hut and turning in for the remainder of the night.

Neeson pulled back from the surveillance monitor, the light reflecting redly in his eyes. He would have to move his schedule up and get the good Captain into his programme in the next day or so. Once Captain Burton was drained of his knowledge, the others would be easily subdued and assimilated into the data banks. By the end of the week Neeson would have everything he needed. The Little People would no longer be required.

He would be sorry when the day came he had to dispose of them.

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Mark was still sleeping when Valerie woke for the second time. She saw from her watch it was very late. She was surprised Steve hadn't been to call. Maybe he was being diplomatic. Valerie got herself dressed and quietly exited the hut. Outside she saw Betty and Dan sitting at the table, talking. She looked around, seeing no-one else around. Betty looked up and saw her, waving her over. Dan gave her a smile as she took a chair and sat down.

" Good morning, or should I say good afternoon " said Dan.

" It is a bit late, where is everyone ?" Valerie asked.

" Fitzhugh is down at the lake with Barry. Marna is still in her hut, doing goodness knows what " Betty rolled her eyes. " Steve went off with Neeson this morning." She finished. Valerie got a cup and filled it from the water jug on the table.

" What was Steve going to be doing with Neeson, did he say ?" Valerie asked, taking a long draught of the water.

" Neeson seemed to think Steve could possibly make some sense of Mark's notes, wanted him to clarify something." Dan said. Valerie gave him a puzzled look.

" What could Steve tell him, you know Mark, his writing is a scrawl, Steve wouldn't be able to decipher it ?"

" Well Neeson seemed to think he could....is there something your not telling us Valerie, did Steve say something last night ?" Dan queried. Betty was also looking puzzled.

" We did speak last night, I just felt things were out of kilter, I can't really explain it..." Valerie tailed off, feeling embarrassed.

" Valerie, how's Mark this morning, is he conscious yet ?" asked Betty.

" Not yet, he seems to still be sleeping, I'll try and wake him in a little while." Valerie answered.

" I'll try and raise Steve on the radio, just to check if everything's all right" said Dan, rising and heading for the Windsifter. Inside Dan entered the cockpit and picked up the radio mike.

" Dan to Steve, come in Steve."

Dan waited another couple of seconds.

" Windsifter calling Steve...come in Steve."

There was nothing but dead air. Dan sat and pulled at his bottom lip, Steve wouldn't have switched his radio off, not if he had concerns, which Valerie seemed to intimate he did. Dan tried one last time.

" Steve, this is Dan, please answer me.." The radio stayed stubbornly silent. Dan put the mike back on its hook and got up, rejoining Betty and Valerie outside. Betty noticed his worried frown.

" Dan ?"

" Steve's not answering his radio...I tried three times, Steve wouldn't have switched it off, which leaves us with either he can't answer, or he won't answer " said Dan.

" Steve's never ignored a radio call before, and I don't think he would now, so it means he can't answer " Betty answered for them all.

" I'm afraid you might be right, Betty...Valerie, go see if you can rouse Mark, we need him on board right now...he may be able to shed some light on what he did with Neeson, and why Steve wouldn't be able to answer me."

Valerie nodded and rose quickly, jogging back to her hut and entering. She was greeted with the sight of Mark sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes and looking completely rumpled. Valerie would have liked to have the time to enjoy the view but matters were pressing.

" Mark, how are you feeling ?" she said, coming over and sitting on the bedside next to him. Mark gave her a pained look.

" Do you have to shout ?"

" Sorry, is your head hurting, you've been asleep for hours. Do you remember what happened yesterday ?"

" No....fill me in"

" Neeson brought you to the camp, you were pale and you looked exhausted, we couldn't rouse you, it was like you were in a coma. Steve and Dan had to carry you here and you've been asleep ever since."

Mark looked surprised, pushing the covers back he swung his legs round and sat on the edge of the bed, running his fingers through his bed hair as he tried to remember.

" I...I don't remember much, I was mapping a star chart and thinking how tired I felt, its been like that all week. The days have just flown by and I've felt like I'm getting nowhere fast. I remember the room getting dark, then nothing. Just waking up here."

" Mark, would Steve be able to decipher your notes ?" Valerie asked.

Mark turned and looked at her, still slightly dazed.

" Why would Steve want to do that, he'd never be able to decode the information. I use a form of engineering shorthand, I was going to transcribe the data after we left here....no, Steve would have more chance deciphering Greek, than my notes."

" That's what we thought, that means Neeson wants Steve for another reason. Dan tried to raise Steve on the radio, but no luck so far."

" Give me a minute, I'll freshen up and get some clean clothes. Tell Dan I'll meet him in the cockpit." Mark got up and crossed to the clothes in the corner of the room. Valerie went outside and conveyed Mark's message to Dan. Dan nodded and went to the ship, disappearing inside. Valerie and Betty exchanged looks.

" We'd better get the other's here, we may need to get a search and rescue party together " suggested Valerie.

" I agree, I think we need to be ready for a quick getaway, if things are more serious. You go round up Fitzhugh and Barry, I'll tackle Marna" said Betty, giving Valerie a grimace. The two women separated to their separate tasks. Shortly afterwards Mark joined Dan in the Windsifter and they compared notes.

" If I can get to a computer terminal I could bring up the information on floor plans for this building " Mark was saying. Dan looked thoughtful.

" That's always supposing Steve is still in the building. Did Neeson ever do anything that raised your suspicions Mark ?"

" I was too wrapped up in what I was finding, I can't say I noticed anything, but you could have marched an army through the room and I'd have ignored them " Mark answered, ruefully.

" Okay, well the floorplan could be our best bet, the only major problem I see is keeping all this from Neeson's notice. His robots seem to be everywhere."

" That is a problem. Maybe a distraction would keep them occupied enough to allow us access to the terminal " Mark suggested.

" Yeah, that would certainly draw the machines in the immediate area away, what do you suggest ?"

" One of the huts could catch fire...that should be big enough."

" Okay, I'll brief the girls. You pack a bag and I'll meet you outside." Dan had just finished when they heard a scream, followed by Valerie shouting Mark's name. The two men rushed outside to be greeted with the sight of the women, with Fitzhugh and Barry, surrounded by robots. The machines towered over the little people, waving their claws, making a horrible clacking noise. At the appearance of Mark and Dan at the hatchway the robot closest advanced and seemed to be waving them to join the others by the table. When Mark and Dan didn't move the robot made a short rush at the ship, passing close to where Marna cowered against the table, making her shriek. The two men quickly came down the steps, their hands raised to indicate their compliance. The robot back off, following their progress with an illuminated eye stalk.

" They just appeared, hideous monsters. They shepherded me and Barry away from the lake, we met Valerie coming to meet us. What can we do ?" asked Fitzhugh, flinching away from the robot closest to him as it snapped its claw.

" Nothing we can do, I would hazard a guess we're going to find out what this is all about very soon " muttered Dan. He had hardly finished speaking when one of the robots backed off, leaving a clear space. The robots behind them started to inch forward, obviously intending for the travellers to take the corridor open to them. They crowded together and walked through the gap, Fitzhugh bumping shoulders with Betty as a robot got too close for comfort. They were herded towards, what looked like, a wire trailer, the cage-like structure big enough to hold them all comfortably. It was totally enclosed with only the back opened and used as a ramp for them to walk up. Fitzhugh went in first, followed by Barry and Marna, the girls next then Mark and Dan in the rear. Once they were all aboard a robot picked up the ramp and pushed it closed, the catch snicking loudly as it shut. They looked out as the robots formed a guard around the trailer that was hooked up to a smaller, square robot that started to trundle the trailer away from the camp site. They all grasped the wire mesh to avoid falling as the trailer lurched across the floor.

" I guess this means we wore out our welcome " Dan quipped, raising a small wry smile from Betty . Mark was testing the strength of the wire cage, keeping an eye on the response from the accompanying robots. They studiously ignored their human cargo, keeping an exact distance from the trailer at all times.

" Try and keep a track of our route, if we can escape we need to know how to get back " Mark whispered, noting that one of the robots had a microphone like appendage pointed at the cage. Dan followed his gaze, seeing the robot, and only nodded his understanding.

The trip wasn't as long as they expected. Soon they could see Neeson standing at a bench in a laboratory. He turned as the robots arrived, smiling down, as affable as ever.

" How nice of you to join me " he said.

" We didn't exactly have a choice in the matter " Mark replied, angrily. Neeson only gave him an enigmatic look and reached down to pick up the cage, lifting it off the trailer and placing it on the table in front of him. They could see Steve laid out on a sample dish, apparently unharmed but unconscious.

" Steve " cried Betty, trying to see if he was breathing.

Neeson picked up the sample dish with its limp specimen and carried it over to the same cabinet he'd used on Mark. The Little People watched in horror as the door was shut and Neeson programmed the machine. They could see above it the monitors showing Steve's brain patterns, which fluctuated as his body was tested by an electrical field. When Neeson completed his tests, he brought Steve back to the table and lay him down next to the cage. Steve looked pale and sweaty, just as Mark had the previous day.

" Mark, that must have been done to you as well..." Valerie said, quietly. Mark only nodded slightly, having a feeling that they were all going to go through the same procedure if they didn't find a way to escape.

" What have you done to him ?" Dan said hoarsely, his voice full of concern for his friend.

" Just mapped his brain impulses, its fascinating to see how your tiny brains function. You really are quite highly developed. I will be sorry to see you go " Neeson replied. His audience felt a small crumb of hope that he would be letting them all go. But it was dashed with his next comment.

" Of course, I can't let you leave the city, you're a liability now, so I'll just have to dispose of you. You ship will provide me with some amusement for awhile, I look forward to dismantling it and learning its secrets."

Mark was thinking furiously, trying to find a way out of their predicament.

" Why must you destroy us, we can't harm you. What are you afraid of ?" He tried.

Neeson looked at Mark, as if seriously considering his question.

" But don't you see, you'd want the same as the others "

Mark looked puzzled.

" What others, there's only you here. There's no-one else" Mark stated.

Neeson pulled up a chair and sat down. He faced the people in the cage and started to talk.

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