13/12/2001

Title: Surrender
Chapter: 6
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG,Adventure
Archive: sure, just let me know where
Spoilers: Hardly
Feedback: craved
Disclaimer: don't own 'em....wish I did...all hail IA.
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Kel was bored. Bored, bored so bored, which given the exciting day yesterday, and the even more exciting visitors, was rather strange. But being 10 years old was strange....even the most exciting thing in the world, and having Little People living in your house was just about THE most exciting thing...still left Kel feeling bored. Maybe it was because she couldn't tell anyone, her father had been quite emphatic about that, she couldn't tell ANYONE about the Little People, and where was the fun of a secret, if you can't tell it to anyone, not even your best friends. Not even to your favourite relatives. It kinda took the fun out of it completely. So she was bored. They hadn't gone out at all that day, the Little People did nothing but eat and sleep. The spiders in the corner's of her bedroom were more exciting than them. Kel couldn't understand what all the fuss had been about, she had heard the news often, about the Alien Invaders and how they were to be captured, for whatever reason, but Kel couldn't see how such tiny creatures could possibly pose a threat to anyone. Certainly her mum and dad didn't think they were a threat. She wondered if Daddy had told Uncle Grae about his find. She didn't think so, because her parents had made a point of not answering the phone when it rang, in case Uncle Grae decided to come over, that would cause a ruckus for sure.

So here she was, in the middle of the afternoon, looking for something to amuse herself with. Kel was not normally a mischievous child, but boredom and a 10 year old 'do devils make use of'. Thinking about the spider's lurking in her room gave her an idea. Not a nice idea, but one way of livening up her quiet afternoon. Her mum and dad were in the garden, weeding or something, so Kel decided to have a bit of harmless fun with the Little People. She had been introduced to them at breakfast, the Lady was okay, a bit funny looking with all those bruises, but pretty enough. Too skinny to be a good dress-up doll. The man, he was no fun at all, too serious for Kel, and he wouldn't stop touching the Lady, she didn't seem to mind, but Kel thought it was soppy. What if she played a joke on them, no one would get hurt. Kel ran off to her bedroom after finding a suitable jar. The spider's did their best to avoid her but she managed to catch a couple of really big, long legged hairy ones. Just the job for a good joke. Unlike most little girls, Kel wasn't at all squeamish with spiders and mice. She enjoyed watching them spin their webs, and the mice were soft and cute. Kel screwed the lid down tight on the jar and walked quietly back to the living room. The two Little People were staying in the spare room, on the floor, which would make it easy to release the spiders without them even seeing Kel. No chance of her getting the blame, she would slip round to the side window and watch the fun from there.

Mark and Valerie had been having a lazy day. Valerie had woken up feeling a lot more herself, despite the general ache all over from the buffeting in the ship. Her bruises were coming out nicely, looked like a spectacular sunset, according to Mark. She would reserve judgement until she could see them for herself. Kara and Shuri had been kindness itself in the morning, giving them whatever they needed to carry out their ablutions. Then providing bits and pieces for their breakfast and lunch. Now it was late afternoon, and they were snoozing in the sunshine pouring through the window, thinking about Steve and Dan and the new hope given to them by the discovery of the Windsifter. A brief call about lunchtime had confirmed that the batteries were nearly at full capacity and that Steve would be attempting his first flight as soon as the sun went down. Mark was chafing to be out there with them, and Valerie felt for him. But any attempt by her to suggest they get back to the Windsifter met with opposition every time. Mark wouldn't jeopardise her recovery for his need to be a part of the what was happening. Steve and Dan knew all there was to know about the ship and its operations, there was really nothing Mark could add to their knowledge, it just irked him to be idle when such momentous things were happening without him. Valerie had revelled in the sensation of waking up in Mark's embrace. She felt cherished and safe, feelings she hadn't felt for a very long time, if ever. "Funny how far this girl had to go to get what she wanted" she thought.

They were both laying on the makeshift bed when the door creaked open a little way, neither of them thought twice about it, maybe a breeze caught it, not really anything to stir themselves about. Mark just settled Valerie more comfortably against his shoulder and didn't even bother to open his eyes. The sun was warm and wonderful on his face, Valerie was tucked up against him, he was fed and comfortable.

A small scrabbling noise caused a flicker of unease to chase down his nerves. He opened his eyes and moved his head to the right to check on Valerie, she was softly breathing, not deeply asleep, just dozing. He raised his head as another rustling sound drew his attention. Valerie opened her eyes.

" What's the matter Mark ?"

" I don't know, I thought I heard something."

Valerie rolled herself away so Mark could sit up and take a good look about. He saw something scuttle under the table, and then another shape dodged behind the fishing basket. He didn't catch what they were but his danger radar kicked in immediately.

" Valerie....get up, now." he hissed.

" What is it....can you see something ?"

" Just get up, and be ready to move if I tell you."

" Mark, your starting to scare me, what have you seen."

" I....." Mark started to explain when a large dark shape began to advance over the carpet towards them. To Kel the spider's may have seemed small and harmless, to Mark and Valerie they were the size of large dogs, very black, and very scary. Valerie shrank back against Mark. 

" Oh god....where can we go, we have to get away from that thing !" she panted.

" There's more than one in this room, I think there's another one over there." he pointed to the basket, just as another black shape loomed over the edge. Valerie screamed, Mark pulled her behind him as he frantically searched the area for any weapon they could use to defend themselves. His sweep spotted a dress making pin stuck in the carpet, not far from them. He pointed it out to Valerie and together they started to edge their way towards it. The two spiders fixed their multifaceted gaze on the two tiny people, as if sizing them up for their next meal. Mark reached the pin but had to get down close to the carpet to free it from the fibres. Valerie swung her head from side to side to keep both spiders in her view. The one on the basket was preparing to come down to floor level which would bring it too close for comfort. Mark finally freed the pin and held the rounded end, keeping the sharp point away form his body, like a rapier. He took Valerie's hand and pulled her behind him, moving back away from the menace. The spider on the floor decided to move in for the kill and Valerie, seeing it's rapid approach, screamed a warning to Mark. He swung round, releasing Valerie and braced himself to meet the spider head on.

Kel watched with avid eye's from outside the spare room window, at the drama unfolding on the floor. This was way better than tv.

Mark kept his body between the spider and Valerie, soon the other spider would be joining the party, then Valerie would be exposed. He started to back away from the advancing menace, keeping an eye on the one descending the basket. He now had one on his left, slowly walking across the carpet, and one on his right, about to reach the floor nearest the t-shirt. Valerie was backing up behind him, turning her head to try and find another pin, or something to help defend their precarious position.

" Mark, I see another pin...behind us, about 6 feet away."

" Keep backing towards it, we don't have alot of time, those spiders are faster than we are, and any sudden moves will bring them down on us."

The spider on the left, made a small rush at them, Mark swung toward it, lunging with the pin, barely scratching the spiders head, but causing the arachnid to check its forward rush. Mark quickly stepped back and returned to backing away. Valerie had reached the second pin and was down on her knees, yanking and pulling at the stubborn pin, trying to pull it out of the carpet fibres.

" Come out...dammit, its stuck Mark."

" Keep trying, we need that pin, the other spider is getting ideas about lunch." Mark quipped. He swung the pin like a cutlass, in front of the many eye's of the first spider, which now appeared to be considering it's chances of overcoming this less than compliant prey.

Valerie, with a final tug, freed the dress pin and triumphantly held it up, it was sharp and shiny, she felt her confidence rise. Mark gave her a quick grin at her cry of relief, then turned back quickly as the second spider reached the carpet and began it's advance. The first spider now started to sidle round them, trying to separate the prey, but Valerie had seen it's ploy, quickly pointing her pin in it's direction, back to back now with Mark.

The two Little People had reached a stand off with the spiders, neither arachnid wanting to be the first to attack the spiky morsels. Mark lunged at the closest, pricking one of the eye's but getting his pin caught in the hairs of it's front legs. The spider thrashed as the pin slid out of the eye, catching Mark with a foreleg. The stiff hairs scraped his arm, drawing blood. The other spider, sensing a weakness, made to rush them, Valerie holding the pin in both hands, skewed one of it's front legs to the carpet. The spider started to pinwheel around, causing Valerie and Mark to back away hurriedly, coming up against the leg of a chair. Mark had kept a hold on his pin, but the wound on his arm was bleeding freely. He turned and pushed Valerie into a run, and together they raced under the chair, heading in an arc, towards the door. The spider with the wounded eye had decided to give up the chase and investigate it's disabled companion, who was still pinned to the carpet. Both spider's were too occupied with their own survival to pay much attention to Mark and Valerie who had reached the relative safety of the doorway. Mark leaned against the door, clutching his arm. His shirt was ripped where the coarse hairs had torn his sleeve away. Valerie stood next to him, panting with the exertion of running for her life. 

" Oh...*pant*....that was horrible" she gasped.

" We're safe enough here....Urgh, this shirt is history." Mark's attempt at humour was weak at best. Valerie tried to catch her breath, but felt the room spin as shock set in. 

" Mark.....I.....urhhhh." was all she managed before she crumpled to the floor. Mark caught her just before she collapsed, but his gashed arm couldn't do much more than support her, he didn't have the strength to carry her. He looked round, trying to see what the spiders were doing. Both had disappeared from view, whether they were both alive, Mark didn't really care, as long as they didn't come near him and Val.

Kel had seen most of the desperate fight, she suddenly realised that she had seriously jeopardised the Little People's lives, injuring them in the process. If her parents ever found out she would be in big trouble.

She decided to go inside and see if there was anything she could do to help. The spiders had disappeared, so her fun for the day was over. Kel checked the garden, her parents were still pottering around, but they would be coming back inside soon. Better for her if she was seen to be helping the tiny people, less chance of suspicion falling on her when the little man told her parents about the spiders.

Mark had managed to get Valerie away from the door, so when Kel pushed the door open, they were safely away from the doors' swing. He was starting to feel light headed himself from loss of blood, the spider's hair's must have been coated with a venom that stopped it's victims blood from coagulating, he thought, causing them eventually to bleed to death. If he didn't get pressure on the wound quickly he would bleed out, as the venom intended he would. Valerie was safe, but out cold. Mark sat down and tore his other sleeve off to make a pressure bandage. The pain caused by the bandage made him grimace and grit his teeth. He kept repeating a mantra to stop himself from passing out. " I will survive, I won't pass out, I will survive, I won't pass out...". It must have worked because when Kel entered the spare room Mark was still conscious.

" Are you in here, Little People ?" called Kel.

" We're down here....by the door " .

Kel knelt down and faked surprise at their condition.

" Oh dear...what happened to you ? she asked.

" We were attacked by two spiders, I think they thought we were food."

" Is there anything I can do ? why is the Lady sleeping ?"

" She's not sleeping Kel, she's unconscious...can you call your parents for help....hurry please."

" I'll go right away." Kel turned and went out of the room, smiling to herself when her back was turned to Mark.

Mark could feel his head swimming, he sat down hard next to Valerie, his shirt was soaked with blood now and he didn't think he would be conscious much longer. Valerie gave out a soft moan and her eyes fluttered open. She put a hand to her head, then sat up in a hurry when she remembered what had happened.

" Mark, the spiders...have they gone ?"

" Yes they have....Val, I...don't.....think..." he faded out.

" Mark, what's the matter, your arm....MARK ?" but Mark had already blacked out, leaving Valerie with his inert body slumped against the wall.