Title: Surrender
Chapter: 7 - finale
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Archive: Sure, just let me know where
Spoilers: nope, nada, zip
Feedback: Wanted...cherished
Disclaimer: not mine, wishes were horses and all that, all hail I.A

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Steve had been having what he could only describe as a landmark day.

Since he'd been marooned on the Plant of the Giants he'd had only one overwhelming desire, to fly himself, and all those trapped with him, away from here, find the space warp dimension lock and go back to Earth. So far they hadn't been anything more than wishes made in the dark of night, lying on his bunk, listening to the alien sounds of this frightening world. Steve wanted to go home very badly, it looked like he was now going to be a big step closer to getting a chance to do just that.

The Windsifter had performed better than any of their expectations. The solar batteries had recharged in record time, the initial firing of the engines had gone off without a hitch, the testing of the pre-flight sequence had all shown green lights. Steve couldn't find any more excuses for not going ahead with the test launch. Dan was as hesitant as he was, the possibility that they might crash and burn was uppermost in their minds, but as the pre-flight test's all came back in the positive their optimism rose and they reached the final stage feeling almost as giddy as school boys on their first date. They only had to manoeuvre the ship from under the bush, using the newly discovered landing gear and purpose designed rocket sub-systems and they would be only minutes from their first powered flight.

Dan was settled in the co-pilot seat, belted in and ready to go. Steve had finished all the pre-flight checks of the sub-routines, all were green to go, he turned and settled himself in the pilots chair, gripping the flight controller and, after giving Dan one last look, punched the buttons to fire up the manoeuvring jets. There was a muted roar as the engines came to life, the ship vibrating lightly with the small amount of power Steve needed to move the ship from under its bushy canopy. Steve held the throttle open enough to slowly clear the sheltering shrub then turned the Windsifter until it faced the stretch of ground he and Dan had cleared while the batteries were recharging. They had a clear runway, the engines were warming up nicely, it was time to punch it.

Dan gave the all clear. Steve pushed the throttle wide open, listening with satisfaction to the roar of the jets, the Windsifter starting to pick up speed as she rolled steadily down the cleared runway. The ship started to vibrate as she ate up the ground, her speed rising, Steve trimmed the flaps and Dan checked the engine performance, still all green on the board, time for Steve to lift the nose and push the throttle to its fullest. He pulled back on the controls and the Windsifter rose smoothly into the evening sky. Dan whooped and Steve grinned from ear to ear. They had done it. The craft swept cleanly over the cabin, clearing the driveway and gliding out over the lake. The ride was exhilarating, Steve kept his flying speed down, not wanting to push the craft until he had got the feel of it. The Windsifter responded well to Steve's controls, he was glad they had spent the time to familiarise themselves fully with the improvements, the new controls were the same but different, only small adjustments were needed to trim the lifters and turn the ship. For their first flight they just circled the lake then came back to the cabin to attempt their first landing with the improved braking systems. Dan deployed the flaps and they throttled back, lining up with the landing area, gliding in with the rockets at full reverse, settling with a bump, rolling for a little way before coming to a complete stop. Steve shut down the sub-systems and switched the engines to standby. When everything had been completed they turned to one another and let out loud whoops of relief. They had done it. Steve undid his belt and slapped Dan on the shoulder, grinning widely in response to Dan's toothy smile.

" We did it Dan, we flew this crate.....hot damn, we did it."

" Steve that was the sweetest landing ever, you sure have a soft touch, I can't wait to show this baby off to the others." said Dan, still smiling.

" Well Dan, I reckon we can fly this anywhere we want to...lets radio Fitzhugh and give them the good news, then I'll try and get Mark on the radio, he'll be waiting to hear from us about the first flight."

" I'm surprised Mark hasn't been burning up the airwaves this afternoon, I hope nothing's happened to them."

" I'm sure he's just got his hands full caring for Valerie, and dealing with the Giants ."

" Yeah, your probably right....bet he wishes he was here " grinned Dan.

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The object of their conjecture was, at that moment, being bandaged and doctored by two very worried Giants, and one tiny, distraught, Valerie.

Mark had been unconscious when Shuri and Kara came running, in response to Kel's excited calls, they had heard Kel's rather garbled version of events, then a more coherent, but no less perplexing version from Valerie. Kel had kept in the background when Valerie told them about the spiders, she didn't want anyone to make any connection between her and the incident. Kara had cleaned up the wound on Mark's arm, dressing it with antiseptic cream and a pressure bandage. The bleeding had stopped, much to Valerie's relief, soon after Kara took over. They had moved the Little People back to the dining table, to make it easier for Kara to treat them. Mark had come round not long after being shifted to the table top, surprised to find everyone looking down at him in concern. Valerie's tear streaked face had told it's own story, and she quickly brought him up to date. The spider's had vanished, leaving only Mark's injury to show that Valerie hadn't been suffering after effects of her blow to the head and dreamt the whole hideous event. Mark quickly got over his wooziness, helped by Kara's ministrations and another helping of her delicious soup and bread. They stayed on the table as the family had their dinner, Kel was particularly subdued, now that she realised how stupid her stunt with the spider's had been. She hadn't meant to cause the Little People so much harm, and she understood now why her father had not wanted her to "play" with such fragile creatures.

It was nearly full dark now, and Mark was fidgeting to get on the radio to Steve, knowing that, by now, they would have completed their first test flight. Mark had kept his radio switched off because he didn't want Shuri to know there were more Little People around. Mark couldn't explain why but he just felt better keeping those facts from their new friends. Valerie had also been very quiet during their meal, Mark had thought maybe it was because she was in pain, or felt unwell, but several enquiries about her health elicited only the briefest comments, so that, for the most part, the meal was conducted in silence. Mark chafed at not being alone with her to find out what was the matter.

Kel had gone to her room, and after much rummaging in her doll's clothes box, produced a new shirt for Mark to change into, as his was ruined . It was a bit large on him but he welcomed the clean shirt, and thanked her for it. Kel went to bed shortly afterwards and the Giants finally left them alone, going to tidy up in the kitchen. Mark turned to Valerie, sitting on a napkin, and decided to broach her silence.

" Valerie, you've been very quiet tonight....what's wrong ?"

" It's nothing....I'm just a bit upset about this afternoon..nothing to worry about." Valerie looked away, not meeting Marks eyes.

" Can't you tell me what's the matter, does your head hurt...maybe Kara has something that would help " Mark asked gently.

" How can you worry about my head.....you might have been killed today, we both could have been killed by those horrid spider's...doesn't that bother you ?" Valerie was almost shouting at the end , her eye's swimming with tears, her pale bruised face looking woebegone.

" Of course it worries me....come here...come on.." Mark waved her over. Valerie hesitated then got up and came to stand in front of him, he folded her in his arms and rested his cheek on her hair. Valerie promptly burst into tears of relief, hugging him too her as tight as she could. She had been so scared, seeing Marks blood and feeling helpless, fighting her worst fear - spiders - and giant spiders at that. It was just all too much. Mark held her while she cried herself out, finally he tilted her wet face up, held her watery gaze for a heartbeat, then kissed her.

" It's okay....we're safe again....we survived " he murmured.

" For now, but for how long.....I want to go home Mark, now."

" Let me call Steve, they will have tested the Windsifter by now, so depending on how the flight went, maybe they can come and get us tonight...okay ?"

" Okay...." Valerie sniffed. " Just don't go out of my sight...please?" she asked.

" No further than the fruitbowl....that close enough ?" Mark teased.

Valerie gave him a reluctant smile, his levity never failed to get a response from her, no matter how inappropriate the circumstances. She was still mad at herself for being so scared that afternoon. She felt she had let Mark down, and now felt guilty that she hadn't been the one to be more positive. Mark always lifted her out of her depression, she just wished she could return the favour somehow. Mark got angry, he got mad as hell at Steve sometimes, but Valerie rarely saw him downhearted or depressed. She wish she had his knack for seeing the positive in everything.

Mark moved over to the fruitbowl and kept it between the view of the kitchen door, and his radio. He extended the aerial and thumbed the call button.

" Mark to Windsifter, come in Steve." he spoke quietly into the radio.

" Steve here, Mark...we were getting worried...is everything alright with you ?"

" I had to switch off my radio for a short time....I'll fill you in later....how was the test flight ?"

" Your assuming we made the flight " Steve teased. " Mark, it went better then we ever imagined...everything went according to plan, all the systems checked out and we're currently on standby, all we need is the word, to come and get you and Valerie."

" Steve that's wonderful news, I don't know the exact address but if I leave my radio on, you should be able to get a fix. "

" We have you on the scope already, this ships' location finder is far more powerful than the Spindrift's. We have you pinpointed and plotted, we should be over your area in under an hour. What's happening in the Giant's household ? is there a safe place we can land and collect you both ?

" The back garden is flat, but the noise of the Windsifter's engines would be difficult to ignore. Valerie and I will get out there and make our way to the back hedge. Shuri and Kara are in the kitchen, they have been going to bed about an hour after dinner, so we have to wait for about an hour and a half before we can affect out escape."

" Alright Mark, in 10 seconds it will be 8.30, we'll set out watches and meet you near the back hedge at around midnight....okay...on my mark....set !"

Mark clicked the timer on his watch, matching Steve's setting's. He could hear Shuri returning so he said his goodbye's with assurances they would see them soon. He walked over to Valerie as the door swung open and Shuri entered.

" That's that then, do you guys need anything else this evening ?" he asked.

" Thanks but we're fine for now, if you can put us on the floor, we'll make our bed up and turn in, the excitement of the afternoon has wiped us out." Mark put an arm around Valerie as he spoke to Shuri, and she obligingly wilted against his side, giving the impression of overwhelming fatigue. Shuri accepted their play-acting at face value. He lifted first Mark then Valerie to the floor, leaving them to make their way to the dining table leg where Kara had stacked their gear from the spare room. It had been a mutual decision that the spare room was no longer a safe haven because the spiders could still be lurking in there. Mark, with Valerie's help, spread out the t-shirt like the previous night, as if they were really preparing to go to sleep. Shuri watched for a moment before turning back as Kara entered the room, carrying two mugs of a hot drink. Shuri took one and gestured to Kara to precede him out the door to their own room. He turned out the light as he went, wishing Mark and Valerie a good night before he shut the door.

Mark and Valerie did lay down briefly but after the door snicked shut they busied themselves checking the backpack and stowing their meagre possessions. Mark's arm was still weak so Valerie shouldered the rope and water canteen. Mark carried the backpack on his good shoulder and together they headed for the door's leading to the back garden. They had discussed leaving a note for their allies, but their need to get going negated their guilt about abandoning their new friends. The moon was shining fitfully through the tree's at the edge of the garden, having only risen a short while ago, they could see the many deep shadow's crossing over the expanse of garden they had to cross. Before sliding under the door, Mark turned to Valerie .

" Are you sure your up to this ?" he asked.

" As ready as I'll ever be...let's do it " she replied.

Together they pushed the pack and ropes under the door, then eased themselves through the narrow space. Once on the other side, they took stock of the best route through the vast expanse of lawn. They were in luck, Shuri was quite the gardener and liked to keep his lawn closely cropped, using a fine grass that grew thickly together, making for a smooth finish.

After leaving the patio, and negotiating a step, they found the grass an easy surface to travel on, with no shrubs or bushes to impede their progress they made good time, well on track to meet Steve and Dan at the appointed time.

They had just reached the hedge at the edge of the garden, when a shadow passed over the garden, Mark, thinking it was an owl pulled Valerie down low, making as small a target as possible. But they could hear a muted growl, rising in volume as the shadow maker came closer, passing over head to the other side of the dark hedge with a dull roar.

" I don't believe it, that was the Windsifter....but so quiet...that technology that Steve mentioned must be something else."

" Hang onto that thought Mark, you'll get a closer look soon enough " said Valerie.

They pushed their way through the densely packed foliage, breaking through and seeing the ship parked neatly, waiting for them. Steve had killed all the exterior lights, but with their passengers approach, Steve activated the hatchway light, illuminating a path to the door.

The hatch opened silently and Valerie could see the outline of Steve in the doorway. He was waving to them so they picked up their pace, arriving shortly to have a mutual hug of welcome all round. After all the back slapping and hugs had been completed they all boarded the space ship. Mark dumped the pack in the cabin, immediately firing a host of question's to Steve and Dan about the performance and handling of the craft. Steve laughed and held his hand's up to fend his question's off. It was decided to hold all question's until they were safely back at the Spindrift, then everyone could hear the story of their successes and adventures. Steve and Dan fired up the engines and lifted off, effortlessly into the moonlight sky. Mark and Valerie had strapped into their seats in the cabin, praying that this ride would be smoother than the last.

Steve had already plotted the course back to the Spindrift and it seemed to take no time at all before they were on approach. The problem of landing the Windsifter was solved when they reached the glade where their camp was. Fitzhugh and Betty, with Barry had been busy creating a landing strip during the time the other's had been away, so now a cleared runway waited for them, with tiny lights to indicate it's location. Steve lined up and braked, bringing the craft down with little disturbance of either the onlooker's or passenger's. After powering down the engine's and opening the exterior hatch, it was time to greet their anxious friends, indulge in some group hugs with all due care taken for those recently injured , and indulge in a long overdue release of pent up emotions, excitement and hope warring with astonishment and disbelief.

The Tale of their escapes, injuries, battles and triumph's kept the light burning in the Spindrift's cabin long into the night. It was with some sense of accomplishment that the survivor's of Flight 703 finally bedded down for the remainder of the night. They were now instilled with new purpose and hope, they had a real chance of going home, tomorrow was going to prove the start of a whole new chapter of their lives in the Land of the Giants.

The End.

Look out for Suspicion.