Title: Crossing the Divide
Chapter: 4
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Rating
Archive: please let me know where
Feedback: treated with relish and wonder
Disclaimer: Not mine, just having a bit of fun, all IA's and those talented actors...

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"I didn't see any evidence of the other men, they must have left the complex completely. If they are going to return, I'm betting it'll be tomorrow morning, no point otherwise,"

Richard, the fourth member of Bishops crew had returned shortly after Bishops interview with Valerie. He had left Pete to watch the girl while he got a report from his former co-pilot. Richard Bryant eyed his Captain with a cynical eye. He was well aware of the Captains interest in the girl and had been the first to admire his taste when he'd treated Valerie for her head wound. He suspected the Captain was in for a fight if he thought the girl was a push over. She had surprised him by not uttering a sound as he probed the lump, washing it and then dressing it, despite it obviously causing her considerable pain. Only the white line around her mouth betraying her distress. He had given her some pain relief and told her to rest, leaving Pete to keep her company. Bryant didn't fear for the girls safety with Peter, he was the best choice out of all of them. Bryant had returned to a garbled version from Cody of their nights adventures, after a meal and display of the goods Bryant had collected, they now sat around and planned the next days course of action. Bishop was probably right, if the Others were going to mount a search for the missing woman, then tomorrow was the likeliest time. Night had come in hours ago and it was nearly time to sack out, only Bishop's continued pacing keeping Bryant from seeking his bed roll. Cody was slumped against a wall, his mouth open, snoring quietly as Bishop continued to hold the floor.

" You'll need to relieve Pete around midnight, don't want to leave him in there with her, I don't entirely trust him,"

" Fine, but it would be simpler just to lock the girl in, then we can all get a good nights sleep. If her friends come looking for her, they won't be in a happy frame of mind, the fresher we are the better."

" What I want to know is where they came from and how they got here," Bishop mused, rubbing his chin, smoothing his beard.

" Well why not ask the girl, surely she knows. Why all the cloak and dagger, just ask her," Bryant shifted on the hard box, stifling a yawn behind his hand. Richard Bryant was a tall man, in his late thirties, with thickly lashed blue eyes and a mop of black hair. His regular features and bland expression hid a keen intelligence, his greatest skill being able to manage Captain Bishop in his many mood. Unlike Pete and Cody, Bryant had shipped with Bishop on a regular basis, more than a dozen missions, so his understanding of the man was more than adequate to deflect the Captains many schemes.

" I don't want her to suspect we intend to hijack whatever means they used to get here, I want to leave this stinking place, now !" Bishop glared at Bryant, starting to pace again in the confined space.

" Then you'd better post Cody and Pete as lookouts in the morning, we don't want her friends to surprise us, in the mean time, pump her for information, use some of your charm on her.....or have you forgotten after all this time,"

Bishop shot him a dirty look and stalked over to where he sat.

" Don't forget who's Captain here, we may have been stuck in this nightmare for nearly three years, but I'm still the leader, unless you want to try your luck ?"

Bryant gave him glare for glare, but eventually backed down, Bishop giving a short bark of a laugh as his co-pilot shook his head.

" Still don't fancy your chances, eh ? well I've kept us alive this long, reckon I can still manage the job for a little longer," Bryant watched as Bishop kicked Cody as he walked past, the younger man jumping awake and yelping as Bishop's boot caught him in the ribs.

" Wh-at, what did I do ?" Cody spluttered, shuffling backwards as he clutched his chest.

" Get yourself off to bed, we have a busy day tomorrow, go tell Pete to lock the girl in and sack out, I want you all back here at oh five hundred hours. Are the trip lines set ?" Bishop asked, fixing the younger man with a glare.

" Yeah, we checked them on our way in," said Cody, getting to his feet and eyeing Bishop warily.

" Good, then get going and don't forget about Pete,"

Cody nodded and headed for the doorway, disappearing from view, only the clatter of his boots on the duct floor to indicate his passing.

" That order applies to you to, Rich,"

" Sure, oh five hundred then, Goodnight Captain,"

" Goodnight Rich, pleasant dreams," called Bishop. Bryant could hear the sneer in his voice, a brief shiver running down his spine as he passed the man.

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Valerie was sitting up, having an animated conversation with Peter when Cody entered and signalled for him to leave her. Peter was back almost instantly, an apologetic look on his face.

" I'm sorry Miss Scott, I've had orders to lock you in, is there anything I can get you before I turn in ?"

Valerie tried to order her immediate thoughts, but nothing would make sense yet.

" Just some water for washing, if you could, and I'll need the bucket for the night," she asked, embarrassed for the man as he flushed bright red.

" Sure, sure I'll get that organised," He quickly shut the door and took off to get the supplies. Valerie got up unsteadily and made her way to the door, frustrated to find Pete had locked it already. They were using a simple latch system, but it was very effective in keeping her where they wanted her.

Pete returned, carrying an extra blanket as well as the water.

" It gets cold and dark in here, I'll leave you a torch," he held it out to her, not meeting her eyes.

" I'll be fine, thank you Peter, will I see you in the morning ?"

" No, Bishop's sending us out early, but Rich will check on you,"

" Goodnight then, thanks for your company," Valerie smiled at the flustered man as he hurriedly backed out of the room and shut the door.

Valerie's smile quickly faded, the chill of the metal room biting through the blanket. She checked the door again, just in case, but it was bolted firmly. Looking around the dimly lit room she noticed the grating, about ten feet off the floor. Light shone weakly through the mesh, but there was nothing to indicate what was on the other side. She tried to pull the bed over to give her a boost but her head swam with the effort and she abandoned the idea, sitting down heavily after a few seconds. She tested the torch and found it's light a comfort in the dim room, but switched it off to conserve it's power. With nothing to distract her, Valerie decided to make the most of the bed and blankets and get as much rest as possible. She hadn't managed to learn much from Peter's inconsequential chatter, but she hadn't given him much to report to Bishop either. She could only hope that Mark and Steve were able to find her quickly, although how they could find her in the warren of ducts was something she preferred not to think about. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Remember, only in an emergency," said Steve, stepping down from the Windsifter to the concrete roof, joining the other's waiting for him to give the signal for the off.

" Sure, but you remember to let us know what's happening," Betty retorted, her face creased with concern in the dim dawn light.

" I will, now shut the door and keep warm," Steve kissed her lightly on the lips, trying to imprint their texture on his memory.

Marna and Betty watched as the men walked across the roof, their dark figures disappearing into the gloom, the stars still bright in the sky above the Windsifter. They stood there until the chill of the breeze cut into their thin clothes, forcing them to shut the hatch and retreat into the passenger cabin to warm up.

" I hope they find Valerie okay, I wonder who has her ?" Marna pondered, sipping her cup of coffee.

" Who knows, possibly another band of stranded travellers, maybe...oh what does it matter who, they obviously mean us harm, if they didn't why not contact Mark and Dan, why kidnap Valerie ?" Betty paced back and forth, her blanket whirling around her until Marna had to protest that the breeze she was whipping up was worse than outside. Betty stopped abruptly, the sense of the ridiculous getting the better of her.

" Sorry, I was getting carried away, try and get back to sleep, it'll be some time before the sun climbs over the edge of the roof. I'll take the first shift in the cockpit. I'll wake you for breakfast,"

" Fine, see you later then," said Marna, returning to her bedroll and wrapping the blankets firmly round herself.

Betty switched off the lights and closed the cabin door, making her way to the cockpit where she settled herself into Steve's chair and prepared for a long wait.

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" Steve, over here," Mark's voice echoed in the air duct, reaching Steve where he sat waiting, with Fitzhugh and Barry, while Mark and Dan explored that particular section of the corridor. They had been travelling the duct system for nearly an hour, reaching the initial entrance and negotiating the first two levels relatively easily. Then they had reached a larger stretch of duct work. Here the square metal work was as wide as a freeway, and as tall as a building. Steve presumed it was the main ventilation system, with smaller channels running off it. They had decided to take a break and let Mark and Dan check for down-shafts to the next level. A slow breeze wafted around the small group, carrying smells of fresh bread to where they sat. On hearing Mark, Steve climbed to his feet and started to jog over to where Mark was crouched. As he got closer Steve could make out the gaping square maw of a down shaft.

" I would say we've found them," said Mark, pointing to a knotted rope attached to the side of the shaft.

" How deep is the hole ?" Steve asked, peering down into the shadowy pit.

" Hard to tell, but if it's been used by them, it could lead us to their settlement, and ultimately to Valerie,"

" Let's get Dan and the other's over here,"

Steve got to his feet and whistled to get Fitzhugh and Barry's attention, he waved them over, seeing Dan already jogging back down the metal shaft, his feet making the metal floor shimmy in the uncertain light of his torch.

" Looks like we've found some bread crumbs," Steve told Dan when he arrived. Dan looked into the dark opening, his torchlight bouncing off the reflective walls.

" More like the whole loaf, if you ask me," muttered Fitzhugh, eyeing the rope with trepidation.

" Let's move, we still have a way to go before we get close to ground floor," Mark urged, swinging his legs over and grasping the rope. The others followed, one at a time, and soon reached the bottom, finding an identical shaft stretching in each direction.

" Guess we look for the next crumb, Fitzhugh, you take Barry and search that end, we'll take the other end, give a shout if you find anything,"

They continued this pattern for the next hour and a half, finding the access ropes attached to the sides of the shafts, negotiating four more levels before finding more evidence of Valerie's captors.

They were walking the length of an air duct, finding a grating opening onto a room every fifty feet or so. Looking in, they saw offices and storage cupboards, some lit, others dark. The breeze that had been light higher up was now more forceful, blowing their hair about and tugging at their clothes. The smooth metal surface gave little traction and Steve had tied a length of rope to Barry to help the boy keep his feet. They had heard a steady humming sound, getting closer the more levels they traversed. Now it was rising to a high pitched scream, the breeze becoming hurricane force.

" We must be close to one of the fan circulating the air, we need to get out of this duct as soon as possible," Mark shouted over the sound of the fan, clutching at one of the gratings, using it to keep himself upright.

" I agree, let's try back the other way, I don't see anyone going any further ahead, Fitzhugh grab this rope," Steve handed to rope to Fitzhugh to tie around his middle as the wind seemed to pick up, practically knocking them to the floor. Steve took the lead, followed by Barry and Fitzhugh, then Dan and Mark. Keeping close to the wall and using the mesh "windows" to help, they made their way along the duct until they reached a bend. Once they were round the corner the wind shut off like a door closing and they were able to speak without shouting.

" You stay here, I'll check further along, see if there are any more bread crumbs," Dan dropped his pack and started down the corridor, shining his torch over the walls. Steve, Mark and the others untied themselves from the rope and waited, catching their breaths.

" Steve, I've found something, come check it out,"

Mark and Steve made their way to where Dan's torch flashed, they found him standing next to a crude door cut into the side of the duct wall.

" I think we've found a way in."

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" CAPTAIN, Captain they're nearly here..."

" Calm down, you fool, you're shouting will alert them, where's Pete and Rich ?"

Cody took a deep breath, trying to calm down and give Bishop the answers he wanted.

" Pete's in the cell with the girl, Rich is watching her friends,"

" Where are they now ?" Bishop asked, putting a hand on Cody's shoulder and gripping tightly.

" They must have come down from the roof, they've found the hatch we cut into the main duct," Cody gasped, still recovering from his mad dash back to their campsite.

" Did you see how many there were ?"

" Five in all, four men and a boy,"

" Any weapons ?"

" No guns, but I saw what looked like a hatchet, I didn't stay long enough to frisk them,"

" Go back and keep Rich company, Pete and I will join you in duct twelve, don't let them see you....understand ?"

" Sure, keep out of sight," Cody confirmed, nodding his head vigorously.

" Okay, then go !" Bishop watched as Cody shot away down the passageway, disappearing around the nearest corner.

Captain Bishop thought over what Cody had said, if they had come from the roof, that implied they had flight capability, a ship in fact. It was time to see what their captive had to say about this little titbit of information.

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Valerie had slept well, despite the cold and woke when Pete opened her door and brought in a mug containing a hot beverage. It smelt like soup and Pete confirmed it was when she asked. Pete declined to tell her what they had used for meat and Valerie was quite happy to stay in ignorance. It was hot and tasty, that was all that mattered.

Pete had left her shortly afterwards, to carry out Captain Bishops orders, but returned after only a couple of hours to bring her fresh water and some bread.

" I thought you had a 'mission' ?" Valerie asked, chewing the fresh bread gratefully.

" Bishop changed his mind, Rich and Cody are out on point,"

" So you're here to keep an eye on me ?"

" Naaagh, I....well Bishop wants me to find out some more about your group,"

" I'm sorry Peter, but I'm not going to be of any use to you, I wasn't an important member and they didn't tell me much," said Valerie, lying through her teeth.

" That's okay, they don't tell me much around here either,"

" How did you end up here, of all places," Valerie asked, finishing her bread and taking a sip of water.

" We escaped, and found this town and shopping centre, it seemed to offer a safe refuge as well as a ready supply of everything we needed,"

" Sounds like good sense, you trust Captain Bishop alot, don't you,"

" He's kept us together, for better or not, he's kept us alive."

" Had you known him long before you crashed here ?"

" I'd flown with him a couple of times, same with the others, but it was our first big mission, altogether on the same test flight,"

" What was the name of the ship, maybe I've heard of it ?"

" I doubt it, it was very hush hush...I suppose there's no harm in you knowing, it was the Windsifter, a real beauty too,"

" I...." Valerie started only to be interrupted by the arrival of Bishop.

" Just can't leave you alone too long, can I Pete, a real chatter box," Bishop laughed, the sound harsh and grating to Valerie's stretched nerves.

" Sorry Captain, I was just making conversation, didn't say much," Pete mumbled, getting up off the bed to stand before Bishop.

" Go join Rich and Cody, they're in duct twelve, keeping an eye on her friends, make sure they don't reach here,"

"What are you going to do ?" Pete asked, catching the look of hope that leaped into Valerie's eyes at the mention of her rescuers.

" That's none of your concern, this little lady is going to tell me a few facts then we're going to find her ship," Bishop turned from his contemplation of his captive to face his subordinate," why are you still here, you have your orders,"

" You can't hurt her, she doesn't know anything," said Pete, concern for Valerie clearly evident in his voice.

" That's not your concern, have you gone soft on her ?" Bishop watched as Pete flushed, shaking his head in denial. " It's not any of your business, go join the others and keep out of sight,"

" Sorry Captain, I just don't want her to come to any harm," Pete muttered, shuffling his feet in front of his Captain.

Bishop looked as though he was going to accept Pete's apology without exception, but it was a ruse. As Peter stepped back to move past Bishop the man lashed out with a wicked right hook and smashed his fist into Pete's cheek, laying him out on the floor without a sound.

Valerie let go a small shriek at the suddenness of the attack, shrinking back into the corner of her bed and eyeing Bishop with horror.

" Now you won't be playing the gallant hero, will you," Bishop sneered, shaking his knuckle to stop it smarting. He rounded on Valerie and grabbed her arms to bring her up closer.

" Now, little lady, we're going to talk about how you came to be here, what ship you're using, and how you're going to show me where it is ?"

" Let go, your hurting me, Pete told you, I don't know, LET ME GO," Valerie struggled to release the iron grip on her arms as Bishop shook her to get her attention.

" Not good enough, you're friends are on their way here, and I don't want to be around when they arrive, so you and I are going to take a little trip to the roof and find your ship. Hopefully they'll be too busy with my men to worry about where we are."

Valerie fought to free herself as Bishop dragged her off the bed and over to the door. She threw a despairing glance at the man still sprawled on the floor, but he was out cold from the vicious punch. Bishop's grip on her arms was painful and relentless, pulling the struggling woman inexorably along, despite her protests. Valerie put her head back and screamed, long and loud, the sound echoing off the metal walls and making Bishop swing round to clap a hand over her mouth, twisting an arm up behind her back as an extra measure. Valerie managed to get another scream out before the sound was cut off by his hand.

" Gonna cause some trouble, okay we'll do this the hard way," Bishop pulled Valerie round, getting ready to deliver a punch to knock her out, but she saw it coming and aimed a kick at his knee, pushing him off balance. He didn't let go of her arm, but uncovered her mouth as he fought to regain his equilibrium, Valerie took the opportunity to let go another piercing scream, before starting to rain blows on Bishops head and shoulders.

" Feisty ain't you, but not good enough,"

Bishop let Valerie over-swing one of her blows and shot out a fist to rabbit punch her on the jaw, the force enough to knock her over. Valerie collapsed backwards onto the floor, temporarily stunned. Her hands were pressed to the metal floor and she could feel a rapid vibration through the floor. She twisted her head to look down the duct and saw a figure race around the corner, skidding into the opposite wall before letting go a shout when he saw the figures up ahead.

" MARK !" Valerie screamed, as Bishop put an arm round her waist and hauled her to her feet. Twisting an arm up her back and pulling her in front of him, using her as a shield. Bishop held Valerie powerless as Mark approached.

" Don't come any closer, I don't want to break her arm," said Bishop, his breath hot on Valerie's neck. His cruel hold making her arch her back in an effort to relieve the pressure, her teeth gritted against the pain in her arm. His other arm was around Valerie's neck, pressing against her collar bone and holding her firmly in place.

" Let her go....NOW," said Mark, hoarsely. He could see Valerie's eyes filling with tears as Bishop's grip tightened, " You're hurting her, let her go."

" No quite yet, this little lady is my ticket off this planet, just let me know where the ship is hidden and I'll let her go when I'm on board,"

" I don't know what you're talking about, what ship ?" Mark tried to bluff.

Bishop squeezed Valerie's wrist, making her gasp, tears rolling down her cheeks as the pain became unbearable. Mark gritted his teeth in impotent rage, all the time trying to get close enough to make a move.

" We'll talk about it, just let her go, this isn't the way," Mark pleaded, edging a bit closer while keeping eye contact with Valerie, trying to convey with his eyes his love and support and begging her understanding of his purpose in keeping Bishop talking.

" Maybe it's not, but I won't let her go until I'm aboard the ship, so start using your head and tell me WHERE IT IS !"

Steve and Dan appeared around the corner in time to hear Bishops demands and came to stand behind Mark, flanking him, providing physical and moral back up.

" It's not going to happen, let Valerie go and we'll discuss what we can and can't do for you and your men," said Steve, taking a step forward, drawing Bishops attention from Mark.

" Very reasonable, I sure, but not the right answer gentlemen," Bishop started to back away, pulling Valerie with him. Mark went to go forward but Steve put a restraining arm on him.

" You'll never find the ship and Valerie doesn't know where it is, so you have to talk to me if you want to get off this planet,"

Bishop stopped retreating and appeared to consider Steve's words, slackening his hold on Valerie's abused arm. She felt his lapse in concentration and decided to act. Bringing her knee up she brought her foot down on his instep with as much force as she could muster. The shout of pain was satisfaction for her torment. Bishop dropped his arm around her throat and let go of her twisted arm, allowing Valerie to drop like a stone to the floor, leaving Bishop exposed to Dan's flanking attack. Mark wasn't far behind and the three men went down in a flurry of fists. Steve pulled Valerie away from the fray and supported her as Dan emerged triumphant with Bishop suitably subdued and sporting a black eye. Mark was all for laying another round of blows on the man but Steve pulled him away and pushed him in the direction of Valerie. Mark didn't need any more encouragement and quickly reached for her, embracing her in an enveloping hug which she readily returned. Steve left them to go over and give Dan a hand securing Bishop.

Valerie was holding onto Mark as if she never wanted to let go, her tears of relief brimming over and cutting tracks through the dirt on her pale face. Mark pulled away to take her face in his hands, still needing reassurance that she was all in one piece. Her nod of assurance enough, for the moment, for his peace of mind. He lowered his face and covered her lips in a burning kiss that wiped out all remembrance of her recent trauma. Valerie wound her injured and uninjured arms around his neck and gave him back kiss for kiss, only coming up for air when Fitzhugh and Barry arrived, towing the bound and gagged figures of Cody and Bryant behind them.

" Are you sure your alright ?" Mark asked, brushing her tousled hair away from her face. Valerie looked up through her tear spiked lashes and nodded. Mark used his thumb to brush an errant tear off her cheek and kissed her once more. Then they turned, Mark's arm around her shoulders, to survey the sorry collection of would be kidnappers and hijackers, now seated on the metal floor. Pete had been found in the room that Valerie had recently occupied, but he hadn't been tied up. His state of confusion was sufficient that Steve didn't think he'd be going anywhere fast.

" What are you going to do with us ?" asked Bishop.

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