Title:Crossing the Divide
Chapter: 3
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Archive: let me know where, please.
Feedback: craved and treasured
Disclaimer: all hail the creator, IA and the actors *we're not worthy*

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" Steve we have a situation," Steve listened as Dan voice delivered the unwelcome message. Dan explained what they thought had happened to Valerie, also Marks refusal to leave the shopping centre.

" Dan, we aren't left with alot of choices, either we abandon Valerie, which I don't see really as an option, given Mark's reluctance to leave, or we come and get you guys..and then try to find Val,"

" That's pretty much my take on things as well, Steve,"

" With that in mind, can you get Mark to the roof, to rendezvous with the Windsifter there tonight ?"

" You have a plan ?" Dan asked, hope in his voice.

" We need to see those maps you found, but I think we can organise a search party once the mall has closed for the night,"

" Steve, we don't know where to start," Dan stated,

" That's not the issue, we need to work together if we have any hope of finding these people that may have Valerie, and we need to go in strength, so get Mark moving and make your way to the roof. We'll give you 'till it gets dark, then I'll fly up and park on the best spot I can find," said Steve.

" Sounds like a plan, I'll get Mark up there if I have to carry him,"

" Okay, and Dan....take it easy, I don't need to be rescuing you and Mark as well...Steve out."

Dan switched off the radio and pulled down the aerial, tucking it back into his pack. Despite Mark only sitting a few feet away, Dan was sure he'd heard nothing of Dan's conversation with Steve. Mark seemed to be asleep but Dan knew otherwise, looking at Mark's profile in the gloom the muscle was still twitching in his jawline, an indication of how wound up and tense the man was. Dan cleared his throat to let Mark know he was there.

" Mark ?"

" Yeah...."

" We have to move out, we're meeting the ship on the roof tonight, so we need to climb up there before dark,"

Mark's head came up and he fixed Dan with a hard stare.

" I told you, I'm not leaving here without Valerie,"

" I know that, Steve needs to see the maps we have to plan a search party for Val, we're not planning on leaving without her anymore than you,"

" And Steve's happy with that ?"

" Why not, you'd do the same for him....wouldn't you ?"

" Yeah...." Mark rubbed his eyes, suddenly gritty with worry and fatigue, "lets get moving, the sooner we get to the roof, the sooner we find Valerie......" Mark tailed off.

" We'll find her Mark, we will," said Dan, pulling out the map to find a route to the roof.

" We have to Dan,"

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" You hit her too hard, she's never going to come to...."

" I didn't hit her that hard, come on Pete, you don't have to tell Bishop. Maybe she's playing possum,"

" Bishop is the least of your problems, Cody, if she dies, we lose whatever advantage we might have had trading with her people,"

" Damn...Bishop's gonna have my hide,"

Valerie heard the voices but couldn't understand the words or recognise the people, her eyes stayed stubbornly closed despite a fervent desire to open them. She tried to flex an arm or leg but found them as useless as her brains ability to open her eyes, only her ears appeared to be working fine. She decided to let the rest catch up and see what she could fathom from the men's conversations. She knew they weren't Mark and Dan but that was all she knew. Her head was one huge ball of pain that seemed to expand and fill her entire universe, the words coming as if from a long distance away.

" Come on, we've rested enough, lets get going and try to reach the camp before dark, I don't want to be around when the lights go out,"

" This broad doesn't get any lighter,"

" Quit complaining and lets get this show on the road,"

Valerie heard the two men moving about, then rough hands pulled her into a sitting position, then upright, finally pulling her over a hard shoulder so her head swung down and connected with a well muscled back. Valerie felt the change in direction but her head was ringing and the velvet blackness pulled her under, never once allowing her to open her eyes.

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Steve waited till well after sundown before powering up the Windsifter and lifting off. Barry sat in Dan's chair, helping Steve with anything he couldn't manage with his broken arm. They had spent the day recharging the batteries and checking all their rescue equipment, in preparation for the search and rescue to come. Steve and Barry piloted the craft over the expanse of carpark and approached the dark bulk of the shopping centre. They had circled round over the wooded area first to gain some altitude, in an attempt to make their engines noise as muffled as possible. Now they swooped down and cruised over the flat roof of the shopping mall, trying to pick a spot that wasn't cluttered with air conditioning blocks and vents, or water pipes, power transformers and radio aerials. Steve threaded his way around all the obstacles then circled round for another pass, determined to find somewhere for them to land. As he approached for the second time he saw a stairwell entrance, with a mostly bare area around it. It seemed the best place, so he brought the ship in and landed on the rough concrete surface, the ship bouncing over the raised edges of the concrete slabs. He tucked the ship behind a huge vent and powered down. Now all they had to do was contact Dan and Mark and wait to rendezvous with them.

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" We're not that far from the roof, we found another elevator shaft, it's been a hell of a climb but thankfully the mall is only three levels high, or else we'd still be climbing," Dan's voiced sounded thin and tired over the ships speaker.

" We landed near a stairwell opening, over to the south edge of the roof, when you reach the roof proper we'll light a flare to guide you,"

" Okay, Steve, we're still at least a half hour away from reaching that point, but I'll call you as soon as we get there....Dan out,"

Steve thumbed off the radio and sank back in his chair.

" Do you think we have a chance of finding Valerie, Steve ?" asked Barry, eyeing the introspective man next to him.

" What ?...oh sure we do, Barry, we just need to get Dan and Mark on board, then we can plan where to start looking," Steve replied, giving the boy a reassuring smile.

Betty entered the cockpit and handed Steve a mug of steaming coffee, indicating to Barry to give up his chair for her. Barry acquiesced and Betty took his place.

" Steve ?"

" Hmmmm.....yeah, what is it Betty ?" Steve tried to pull his thoughts back to the woman next to him.

" Steve, how long are we planning of staying here ?"

" As long as it takes to find Valerie and return,"

" I just ask, because this is a huge undertaking, given the size of the complex, Valerie and her abductors could be anywhere, how do you hope to pinpoint their location ?"

" Betty, I'm hoping that we won't have to search the whole shopping centre, if we can make our presence known, they'll come looking for us,"

" Oh....okay, but why are you only taking Fitz and Barry, why leave Marna and Me here, I want to help too," said Betty, her indignation at being left out, plain to hear.

" Because I don't know, yet, why they took Valerie and not Mark and Dan as well, I don't think we, as men, are the one's at risk here, you and Marna, on the other hand, could well be their next target."

" What exactly do you think they took Valerie for ?" Betty asked, not quite understanding Steve's thinking.

" Betty, given the ratio of men to women, our size, on this planet, what would you think ?"

" Oh....." Betty appeared subdued by Steve's assumption, "well that would make it all the more reason to take one of us, to act as a lure, to draw out these others, whoever they are, " Betty reasoned, her pretty face creased with worry for her missing friend.

" It's bad enough that Valerie was kidnapped, I won't risk you, or Marna for that matter, it's too risky, I couldn't guarantee your safety,"

" But that's not entirely your decision to make, no-one can ensure that sort of promise, to anyone, there are no guarantees on this planet,"

" Maybe, but I won't risk your life as well...that's final !"

" But Steve....." Betty stopped when the radio squawked into life again.

" Dan to Windsifter, come in Steve,"

" Steve here Dan,"

" We reached the roof quicker than we expected, can you light that flare ?" said Dan.

" Doing it as we speak, keep looking to the south, Steve out,"

Steve cut off any further conversation with Betty by putting down the coffee to reach down and rummaging under the console, bringing out the tin of flares then getting up to go outside. Betty bit back a retort and followed behind, promising herself to argue her point some more when the final plans were discussed.

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" You need to rest, both of you," said Betty, handing the men mugs of coffee, Dan and Mark sat slumped in the passenger chairs as the other's gathered round them. Dan took the cup gratefully, sipping the steaming brew, but Mark just nodded and sat holding the mug, cradling his cold hands around its warmth but not attempting to drink it.

" We need to start looking for Valerie, right now," said Mark, weariness making his voice rough. Betty exchanged a worried look with Steve. Steve leaned against the wall and considered the two men.

" You don't look like you could walk another step, let alone mount a search party for Valerie,"

Mark lurched to his feet, the mug clattering to the floor, coffee splattering Fitzhugh, making him jump back as well.

" I can't do nothing, not while Valerie's out there...going through God knows what...." Mark spat out, swaying slightly. Steve stepped forward just as Mark collapsed white faced, Steve catching him just before he hit the deck.

" We've been on the move since daybreak, I don't think Mark's had anything to eat," Dan explained, watching Steve and Barry lift the limp form back into the recently vacated seat. Betty lowered the back so that Mark was almost stretched out, then went to the medical chest and pulled out a capsule of smelling salts. Waving it under Marks nose brought him round quickly, his eye's snapping open and making him sit up doubled over, coughing, as the acrid fumes did their work.

" Geez, did you have to do that ?" Mark wheezed, wiping his watering eyes.

" When did you last eat Mark ?" Steve asked. Mark looked up, a mutinous expression on his face.

" What has that got to do with anything ?"

" You're no good to me if you pass out from lack of food and sleep, and you're no good to Valerie in the shape you're in, right now,"

" Why you..." Mark started, only to feel Betty's warm hand on his shoulder, holding him back.

" Steve's right, we need you....Valerie needs you to be fighting fit if we want to have any hope of finding her, please Mark."

Mark looked up into Betty's face, reading the truth in her words, his shoulder's slumping in defeat.

" Fine, we eat, we sleep, but first light I will start looking for Valerie, with or without anyone else," Mark fixed Steve with a glare, daring him to refute his words.

" Agreed, I'll look over the maps while you and Dan eat, then we'll talk about a plan of action," said Steve, Mark nodded and relaxed back into the chair, as if all his strings had been cut. Betty heaved a sigh of relief and the air of tension in the cabin lifted considerably.

An hour later, everyone crowded round where Steve had laid out the maps on the floor.

" This is where we spent last night, and this is the route we came up to the roof," said Dan, pointing to the map.

" How difficult was the climb ?" Steve asked, thinking of the older and younger members that would make up the party, as well as his broken arm.

" Too difficult, we only made it because Mark wouldn't let up," Dan explained, shooting Mark a rueful look, holding up his hands to show the incipient blisters.

" The alternative was the stairs, but that would've taken too long, it would be easier going down them, than up," said Mark.

" Then we should consider using the stairs, their less likely to be heavily used during the day," Steve paused, thinking,"... but we would be more open to discovery because of the lack of cover," he looked around the circle, seeing the same thought on other faces.

" What about climbing down the exterior, or maybe down an air conditioning duct ?" asked Fitzhugh, not liking any of the options so far.

" Too windy to try the exterior, it's the same as a cliff edge, we would get knocked around too much by the updraft, plus we may get spotted from a window," Steve replied, absently scratching above his cast.

" We have to use the duct work then, the horizontal shafts are a snap, but we would need every scrap of rope to traverse the verticals," said Dan, seeing their options narrowing down fast.

" What if we used the ducts but only to reach an office or storeroom, then climb in, get to floor level and use the elevator again," said Mark, warming to the idea. " We could find some way of hitching a ride, maybe a goods trolley, like before, or some other form of transport,"

" I think, because of our numbers, and because we want to be seen by those watching to be moving around the complex, that might be our best bet....anyone have any more ideas ?"

Everyone looked around at each other's faces, mentally chewing over Mark's idea. Steve took their silence as agreement and started to fold the map.

" Well, if no-one has anything else to add, I suggest we start packing the bags, we need every length of rope we have, plus provisions for atleast two days, lets move," Steve got up, followed by the other, everyone moving off to grab the supplies. Betty hung back, with Marna, wanting another chance to argue for their inclusion. Steve swung round and held up his hands, stopping Betty from speaking before she even started.

" No more, I won't change my mind, you and Marna are staying with the ship," Betty opened her mouth to protest but Steve pressed on, " I need you both to monitor the radio and safeguard the ship. If anyone approaches either Giant or otherwise, we need to know,"

" If it's a Giant, how will us staying here be of any use ?" asked Marna.

" If a Giant takes the ship, you'll be aboard to tell us where it gets taken. We can't afford to lose the ship, it's our only advantage in this world. Don't broadcast unless it's an emergency, we'll keep you up to date with progress, and if by some miracle Valerie finds you, you're the best people to take care of her." Steve gave Betty a speaking look, not saying what he thought about what or why Valerie would need their care, but Betty understood.

" Okay Steve, just don't forget about us, we'll be worried sick if you don't keep in contact,"

Steve nodded and turned back to where the male members of the group were a hive of activity, coiling and packing rope and other essentials.

" Let's get that gear ready, set your watches, we leave at first light."

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" You bloody idiot "

Cody reeled back, the blow to his jaw making him fall heavily and slide across the polished floor, stopping when his shoulders hit the metal wall.

Captain Henry Bishop nursed his smarting knuckle and glared at his junior officer sprawled at his feet.

" I told you just to watch them, see where they went, what they did, not kidnap and nearly kill one of the them,"

" We didn't think we hit her that hard," said Peter Ellis, taking a couple of steps away from his irate Captain.

" Look at her, you've had her nearly a whole day and she's not come round yet, that should have told you something," Bishop ranted, his handsome face turning an unattractive purple.

He swung his arm to point to where Valerie lay on a low bed. Her pale face partly obscured by her flaming hair, her limbs lax and boneless. Since being dropped onto the bed, Valerie had lain there, trying to gather her scattered wits, the pain behind her eyes making it difficult to focus on the words floating over her head. Her mouth was dry from lack of water and her body felt like it had been worked over with a well padded baseball bat. She hadn't attempted to open her eyes, guessing that the longer she played possum, the better her chances of learning something useful about her captors. She had no idea where she was, or who had taken her, but any clues she could grasp from their speech would surely be of benefit later on. Once they knew she was awake all information would cease.

" What about the others ? they'll be looking for her," whined Cody, from his position on the floor. He rubbed his swollen jaw, looking up at Bishop balefully.

" What about them, they won't find us unless we want them to," Bishop replied, his voice barely above a growl.

" Rich should be back soon, he may have some more info on the strangers," Peter suggested, trying to divert Bishops attention from Cody.

" Let's hope he does, this changes everything, we'll need to devise a plan to contact her friends and arrange a trade....that's if she survives...they won't be happy to get back a corpse,"

Valerie felt the vibrations through the bed as one of the men approached the cot, the smell of him telling her he was leaning over her prone body.

" I always liked redheads...." Bishop mused, a leer in his voice. Valerie quaked inwardly and prayed that Mark and the other's would be able to find her before she had to spend much more time with these men.

She felt the rush of air as the man turned swiftly and exited the room, the hollow crash of the door echoing around. She heard a long held sigh from one of the other men, plus the scuffle as one of them got off the floor.

" Brilliant, now what do we do?" said Peter, his hands on his hips.

" I fink he boke my yaw," said Cody, flexing his lower jaw.

" Your lucky he only popped you one, if he'd really been mad...." Peter tailed off, giving Cody a meaningful look.

" Yeah, 'ell it 'till 'marts," Cody grumbled, pulling out a box and squatting down.

" Rich'll find you something for the bruise, in the meantime, what do we do with sleeping beauty here ?" said Peter, coming to stand over the cot.

Valerie thought it prudent to let a small moan escape, to indicate her return to consciousness. The lack of water and food would eventually prevent her helping herself if an escape presented itself, so prudence won out over the need for information.

" Hey, I think she's finally coming round, Cody, fetch that cup of water," said Peter, pulling over a box to sit next to the bed.

Valerie moved her head and moaned again, the pain in her head quite real and persistent, the need for water becoming critical. Cody returned with the cup and Peter took it, holding it to Valerie's lips. She sipped gratefully and tried to open her eyelids, the initial blaze of light making her reach up an hand to shield her face. Peter moved to block the light and Valerie was able to squint and take her first look at the men who had kidnapped her. The man holding the drink was in his forties, brown hair, green eyes and not unpleasant to look at. The man hovering in the background was younger, in his thirties, pockmarked face with short, spiky blond hair. As her eyes became accustomed to the light she saw the walls, ceiling and floor were metal, as if they were in a duct of some sort.

" Hey, how ya feeling ?" asked the man sitting beside the bed.

" M-m-y-y h-ead hu-rts," Valerie whispered, still shielding her eyes.

" Yeah, sorry about that, we didn't want you to make any noise, Cody's real sorry he hit you," said Peter, an unconscious pleading in his voice. Valerie reached for the water and Peter again held it to her lips.

" W-ho are you ?" she asked, the two men exchanged glances, then nodded.

" I'm Peter, and this is Cody..what's your name ?"

" Val-erie, Valerie Scott,"

" Do you feel like sitting up ?" Peter asked, taking the water and handing it to Cody.

" Okay"

Peter took hold of one arm and slid his arm around her back, lifting her effortlessly into a sitting position and holding her there. Valerie felt the room tilt as her equilibrium shifted.

" Ooh God, that hurts," she moaned, holding a hand to her head.

" Try and swing your legs around, Cody bring over that bucket, just in case she hurls,"

Valerie turned slowly, with Peter's help and put her feet on the metal floor, the room's spinning starting to slow down and eventually stopping all together. Cody passed her the water again and she took another sip gratefully, feeling the cool liquid slid down her parched throat.

" Why did you kidnap me ?"

" It seemed like a good idea at the time, we'd been watching you, like Bishop told us to, but you coming down the cord sorta surprised us. We didn't want the other's with you to know we were there, so Cody knocked you out, he was just a bit too enthusiastic, that's all."

" That's an understatement, it would have been kinder to cut it off altogether," Valerie joked, putting her hand up to feel the hard, swollen knot at the back of her head.

" Cody, go tell Bishop, she's awake. He'll want to talk to her right away," Peter instructed, Cody immediately turning to go, glad to be doing something.

" Who's Bishop" Valerie asked,

" He's our Captain, there's four of us in all, Rich is away, on a supply mission, he'll be back soon."

" Captain ? you have a ship ?"

" Used to, we crashed her, landed in a bog and got caught almost right away, managed to escape and ended up here, not bad really, we have almost everything we want,"

" Almost everything ?"

" I think you've told the lady quite enough for now, Pete, take a break and let me talk to our guest," a voice cut in, Valerie looked up to find Captain Bishop standing in the doorway, surveying her. He was a distinguished looking man, in his early fifties, tall and white haired, a trimmed beard and moustache to compliment his patrician looks.

" Since when do guest get cold-cocked in the middle of the night and kidnapped," Valerie exclaimed, making to rise from the bed but finding her legs rubbery. Only the quick move from Captain Bishop stopped her pitching to the floor. He lowered her back to the cot and kept his hands on her arms until she was steady. His move brought her face to face with him, her blue eyes on a level with his grey.

" T-thank you," she stammered, consternation at his closeness unnerving her.

" No problem, I have to apologise for your rough treatment, it was never my intention to kidnap anyone, but my associates took matters into their own hands," he said, releasing Valerie and standing upright, hands clasped behind his back.

" What are you going to do with me ?"

" Why nothing, if we can find your companions we will return you of course," Bishops smooth rejoinder not fooling Valerie for one instance. Bishop was a man to be wary of, and Valerie intended to be just that.

" That's very kind of you, do you know where they are ?"

" The two men who were with you left sometime during the day, but I'm sure they will return to look for you, I'll send Pete and Cody to alert me when they arrive,"

Valerie's initial disappointment at Mark and Dan's apparent desertion quickly turned to relief that they had got away without injury. She had no doubt the Mark would be already searching for her, but he had to get back to the ship, make plans with Steve and get back to the shopping centre. That would all take time, so Valerie would have to make the best of things until then. Fending off the Captain would take all her wiles and wits, so getting rid of her pounding headache was a priority.

" Do you have any pain medication, this head is killing me,"

" We have another member of our group, Richard, he'll be back soon, he manages the medical supplies, I'm sure he'll find something to help you. Are you hungry ?"

" Yes, I am, is there any more water ?" Valerie almost felt like laughing out loud at the absurdity of this oh so normal, polite conversation, but if it stalled whatever plans the Captain had for her, and gave Mark and the others time to reach her, then polite and absurd she would be.

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