Notes: The 'friendly' vegetarien giant in this is Called Culmus, I thought it was better to give him a name as I couldn't start putting giant#1, #2 all the time.
Chapter Five
Challanger and Malone half carry, half drag Jake through the jungle towards the treehouse, Roxton walks ahead keeping an eye out for any unwanted visitors that might decide to tangle with them.
So far they haven't been able to ask Jake any of the questions they need answering, Jake has remained unconscious throughout the journey. And as they near the treehouse they're hoping he'll soon wake up.
* * * * * *
Veronica looks across the horizon and finally begins climbs down from the tree she's in.
VERONICA: They made camp, whatever they're planning isn't happening tonight.
MARGUERITE: They might wait until tonight...
MICHEAL: Like we have a chance against them anyway, dark or light it doesn't matter...We're dead anyway.
MARGUERITE: Speak for yourself.
MICHEAL: You should never have let the Yamutei escape!
Veronica jumps down from the tree and looks at him.
VERONICA: Let them?
MARGUERITE: If you'd have told the truth in the first place you wouldn't even be in this mess!
Micheal turns to face her after this comment.
MICHEAL: Me! You're in as much a mess as I am.
She laughs and turns away folding her arms.
MARGUERITE: I don't think so! The Yamutei are after you, not Veronica and I...We saved them and they still owe us a favour for that.
MICHEAL: Oh and of course they're going to return it...
Veronica watches this banter between them amused.
MARGUERITE: We both have our priorities, ours is to get home, yours is to defeat the Yamutei.
VERONICA: Time out! God! You argue with him as much as you argue with Roxton.
Micheal stands in front of Marguerite suddenly interested.
MICHEAL: Whose Roxton?
MARGUERITE: None of your business. At least he'd know what to do in this situation.
MICHEAL: I do know what to do!
VERONIOCA: You, have an idea?
MICHEAL: I do.
Marguerite smirks at him.
MARGUERITE: Care to tell us? Or are you going to turn this into a one man army?
He thinks for a moment then smiles.
MICHEAL: (To Marguerite) I'll need your help.
Her smirk vanishes and she looks unsure.
MARGUERITE: What?
MICHEAL: I'll tell you when we get there.
MARGUERITE: Where are we going?
He walks over to Veronica and talks to her for a few minutes after a lot of nodding and agreeing he takes Marguerite by the hand and leads her deeper into the jungle towards the Yamutei.
* * * * * *
Summerlee and Karla stand in front of the treehouse gazing up at it.
KARLA: Very impressive!
SUMMERLEE: You'll love it here.
He walks towards the elevator.
KARLA: Aren't you going to shout up? Let them know you're here?
SUMMERLEE: I want it to be a surprise.
They get into the elevator.
Challanger finishes wrapping the bandages round Jake's leg, Malone walks into the living area and aims the rifle at the elevator as it ascends and finally stops. Malone slowly lowers the rifle when he sees who gets out.
MALONE: Summerlee! Oh God, is it really you?
SUMMERLEE: Of course.
Malone walks over to him, looking at him strangely as if Summerlee'll disapear as soon as he gets near him.
MALONE: You're not a ghost?
SUMMERLEE: Certainly not.
MALONE: (Shouts) Challanger!, get out here...You're not going to believe this!
Challanger replies from the next room.
CHALLANGER: What is it?
He too walks into the living area.
CHALLANGER: Wha...
He stops as he sees Summerlee.
CHALLANGER: Is...
SUMMERLEE: Yes it's really me old boy, and no I'm not a ghost.
CHALLANGER: It's a miracle.
He takes his ahnd and shakes it as if it's the first time they've ever met. They break into smiles.
CHALLANGER: Mighty glad to have you back old friend.
SUMMERLEE: Where's Roxton? And Marguerite and Veronica?
MALONE: Roxton's at the lake.
CHALLANGER: And Marguerite and Veronica we don't know.
SUMMERLEE: Their missing?
Karla finally steps off the elevator, Summerlee steps aside and welcomes her into the room.
SUMMERLEE: This is Ned Malone and...
KARLA: Professor George Challanger.
She first shakes Malone's hand and then Challangers.
SUMMERLEE: This is Karla...Layton.
MALONE: Layton?
SUMMERLEE: Veronica's cousin.
CHALLANGER: Are you related to the man with the photo?
KARLA: He's alive!
MALONE: We think he might pull through.
She takes the pistol out of it's holster and conceals it behind her back.
KARLA: Not if I have anything to do with it.
* * * * * *
Marguerite pulls back, away from Micheal as he tells her his plans for her.
MICHEAL: You won't be in any danger.
MARGUERITE: You said they were dangerous!
MICHEAL: They are, but you said they owe you a favour.
MARGUERITE: Did it occur to you that killing me now instead of later might be the only favour their offering!
MICHEAL: Lead them into the trees where I'm waiting, their dangerous but not perticularly clever...But watch out for Peter.
MARGUERITE: What about the giants?
MICHEAL: They won't be anywhere near the Yamutei, it's considered bad luck to dine and rest with a lower being...Be careful.
MARGUERITE: It's you who should be careful, you're the one who'll be disarming and fighting six Yamutei.
He laughs as she walks to the camp.
MICHEAL: Yeah, but it's not like I'm fighting them all at once...
She turns and grins at him.
MICHEAL: Marguerite, I'm not...Marguerite!
She walks out of his sight.
MICHEAL: I knew this was a bad idea.
* * * * * *
Karla heads towards the room where Jake is, Malone pulls her back.
MALONE: Wait! You can't go in there, he's asleep.
KARLA: I want to keep it that way, let me go!
She pulls away from him and runs into the room. Seconds later she backs out as Jake limps in front of her with the pistol aimed at her.
JAKE: Hey Professor, whatever you put on my wounds it's working...I'll feel as good as new in no time.
He nods at Malone and Challanger.
JAKE: You two saved my life, thank you. For that I won't kill you, for Summerlee and Karla that's a different matter.
KARLA: Don't believe him, he'll kill you anyway...It's a good job Lord Roxton isn't here...
JAKE: Isn't here?
KARLA: As Professor Challanger stated minutes ago, he's down by the lake...
JAKE: Then I'll wait until he comes back.
KARLA: You didn't let me finish...He's down by the lake where they buried him.
He smiles.
JAKE: One less job for me to do then...And Miss Krux?
CHALLANGER: Gone, missing.
JAKE: Good, then I'll only have you four on my conscience.
KARLA: You don't have a conscience.
She backs towards the balcony, he grabs hold of her by the arm.
JAKE: This should be easy.
He aims the pistol at her and the shot rings out through the jungle.
* * * * * *
Marguerite walks slowly through the bushes, not far in front of her she see's one of Peter's men standing guard. She walks over to him and taps him on the shoulder. She stands back as he spins around the swrod on her.
She pushes the blade away from her with a finger and stands in front of him.
MARGUERITE: Don't you remember me?
MAN #1: You helped save me and the others, but I saw the giant grab you...
MARGUERITE: I managed to escape, I hid and saw the light over here...I wanted to thank you personally.
He lowers the sword.
MARGUERITE: Thank me for what?
MARGUERITE: If you and you're friends hadn't ran, I wouldn't be here...Running was a good distraction.
MAN #1: Yes, it was a distraction.
MAN #2 hears their voices and walks over to them.
MAN #1: She's fine...Wanted to thank us personally for causing that distraction earlier.
MAN #2: We're busy.
MARGUERITE: I can see that, but doesn't it get awfully boring just standing here...
MAN #2: Yes, but...
MARGUERITE: And it looks like you need a reast, come on, Peter will never know.
MAN #2: Is you're friend here too?
MARGUERITE: Waiting right over there.
MAN #1: Why should Peter get all the fun?
MARGUERITE: He shouldn't.
She takes them both by the hand and leads them into the bushes, Man #2 looks around suspicious.
MARGUERITE: This way.
MAN #2: Where's your friend?
"Here"
Man #2 turns around as Micheal punches him in the face sending him headlong into a tree. Marguerite kicks the other one, as he stands up again Micheal throws him into the tree as well.
MARGUERITE: Ready for some more?
Micheal straightens his jacket and looks at her.
MICHEAL: Bring it on.
She rolls her eyes and walks once more over to the camp.
* * * * * *
Jake grabs hold of his arm in pain as blood seeps out of the bullet wound. Karla looks over the balcony and watches as Roxton walks closer to the treehouse with his rifle aimed at Jake.
ROXTON: (To Karla) who are you?
Jake backs away from the balcony and grabs hold of Karla round the neck then pulls her into the living area. He has the pistol aimed at her again.
JAKE: (To Challanger) you lied to us.
Karla mouths 'sorry' to Challanger he nods and smiles.
JAKE: (Shouts) Lord Roxton, put down the rifle!
ROXTON: Why should I?
Jake pushes Karla away and despite immediate protests grabs Summerlee in her place.
JAKE: If you don't I'll kill you're old friend...
ROXTON: Whose that?
He pushes Summerlee to tha balcony.
JAKE: Professor Arthur Summerlee!
Roxton lowers the rifle.
ROXTON: No.
SUMMERLEE: Shoot him!
ROXTON: No, I can't.
JAKE: Good choice Lord Roxton. Put the rifle on the floor and come on up.
He puts the rifle on the floor as Jake turns to the elevator awaiting Roxton's arrival, Roxton slips his knife up his sleeve and walks into the elevator.
Jake turns to face the others.
JAKE: Sit down, don't look so worried.
Challanger, Malone and Summerlee sit down at the table.
JAKE: (To Karla) sit.
KARLA: I'd rather stand.
JAKE: Sit down!
KARLA: I said no...What's the matter? Feel threatened cos I'm standing up to you?
JAKE: I'm not afraid of anything.
KARLA: I didn't say you was.
He suddenly smiles.
JAKE: I was there you know, when Simon killed him.
She gives him a cold, icy stare. The elevator starts to creak as it moves up..
JAKE: Wasn't as defiant as you, begged actually...Pleaded.
She clenches her fists and moves towards him as the elevator stops and Roxton steps out and quickly surveys the situation.
ROXTON: Am I interrupting something?
Jake aims the pistol at him.
JAKE: Sit, get comfy, you'll be here for a while...Where was I?
He turns to Karla again.
KARLA: Not a word.
JAKE: Now I remember...He was terrified, asking for mercy...
Malone jumps out of the chair and pulls Karla back as she lunges for Jake.
KARLA: Care to say that again without a gun to my head?
Jake walks over to the stairs and stands there, ignoring her last comment.
MALONE: Don't listen to him...He's not worth it...A coward.
KARLA: Pretty soon, he'll be a dead coward.
MALONE: Don't stoop to his level, that's what he wants.
ROXTON: Good to have you back with us Summerlee.
SUMMERLEE: Even under the present circumstances John, it's still good to be back.
* * * * * *
Marguerite walks through the bushes one last time, this time to find Peter. He's lay near the campfire with his eyes closed, she sneaks over to him. She see's him open one eye and watch her, she ptetends she didn't notice. She shakes him.
MARGUERITE: Hey, wake up!
He grabs hold of her wrist and pulls her in front of him as he sits up.
PETER: What are you doing here?
MARGUERITE: I came to warn you.
PETER: Of what?
MARGUERITE: Micheal's coming.
She stands up and he stands in front of her.
PETER: Where?
She leads him into the bushes.
PETER: You wouldn't lie to me, would you?
She smiles at him.
MARGUERITE: Of course not.
She takes him into the clearing where Micheal is waiting.
Micheal grabs hold of Peter from behind and throws him to the floor, Peter draws his sword and lunges at Micheal who grabs a log off the dusty ground and blocks the sword with it, he hits Peter in the stomach with the log and Peter doubles over in pain, he knees him in the face and Peter falls backwards onto the floor.
As Micheal leans over to see if he's unconscious, Peter takes a dagger out of it's scabard and plunges it into Micheal's stomach.
PETER: I always win.
He pushes Micheal onto the floor and Marguerite runs to his side, Peter stands up behind her.
PETER: You lied to me!
She draws her gun, as Peter brings the sword down the turns and shoots him in the chest, he drops the sword and staggers back on to the ground.
She rips the sleeve off Micheal's shirt and presses it against his wound.
MARGUERITE: Hey, you've still got a battle to win.
MICHEAL: You'll have to win it for me.
MARGUERITE: I can't.
MICHEAL: You will, promise me.
MARGUERITE: ...I promise.
She looks at the dagger and when he's not looking pulls it out. He goes white but smiles at her.
MICHEAL: Are war wounds supposed to hurt like this?
MARGUERITE: Sssh, next time...
MICHEAL: There won't be a next time...Whoever Roxton is, he should be very honoured to have you by his side.
He sighs slightly and closes his eyes and then his body goes limp. Marguerite stands and backs away.
MARGUERITE: I promise.
* * * * * *
Karla gets out of the chair and walks over to Jake he has the gun trained on her.
KARLA: I need to talk to you...Alone.
He considers this for a moment.
KARLA: What am I going to do? I'm unarmed, their tied up.
He nods his head and they walk downstairs into the lab, he stands with his back to the stairs.
JAKE: What is it?
KARLA: Well...
She keeps him talking whilst Roxton silently walks down the stairs. He sneaks up behind Jake and puts the knife to his throat, Karla takes the pistol off him and aims it at him.
ROXTON: You don't want to shoot him, you don't want his death on you're hands.
KARLA: But it'll make me feel so much better.
The others stand beside Roxton on the stairs.
SUMMERLEE: Don't do it!
KARLA: He stood there and watched as Simon killed my brother, he came her to kill all of you.
JAKE: Do it!
She aims the pistol at his head.
JAKE: Go on!
She looks at Malone then back at Jake then lowers the pistol.
KARLA: No...I won't stoop to you're level.
Roxton pushes Jake up the stairs.
ROXTON: Tie him up.
Summerlee looks at her and smiles.
SUMMERLEE: You're brother would've been proud.
* * * * * *
Veronica watches as Marguerite silently ties the last vine to the tree.
VERONICA: Are you okay?
MARGUERITE: I'm great, never better...Do you have the matches?
VERONICA: Yes.
Marguerite looks up at Culmus the giant.
MARGUERITE: Are the traps set?
CULMUS: Yes, all we need now are the targets.
The moon shines high in the night sky, the clouds part way as if to let it see the next few minutes events. At the same time the ground shakes like a giant earthquake and the smaller trees begin to sway.
CULMUS: Take your places.
Veronica stands behind a giant tree near the vine while Marguerite runs and stands by a circle of branches, with the matches in her hand.
The ground shakes more and more as the giants move closer towards them, they split into three groups of three, Veronica runs in front of the first group. They follow her as she runs on the ground, she slips easily underneath the hidden vines while the giants run right into them. The more they struggle the more tangles they become, seconds later the ground caves in and they fall into the hole, their screams from falling on the sharpened logs echo throughout the jungle.
The other group watch as Culmus backs away, they follow him slowly, cautiously looking around for anymore traps after seeing their comrades fate and not wanting it to be there's also. They become bolder and walk faster, they hear a loud snap in front of them and they crane their necks to see what caused the noise when five raptors with make shift vine collars around their necks jump out and attack them.
CULMUS: Say hello to my new pets, they don't like intruders.
As he watches his prize raptor he doesn't notice another one sneak off in Marguerite's direction. The last three giants as predicted step into the circle, Marguerite lights a match when the giant raptor jumps out of the bushes, she runs into the circle and drops the match on to the floor. The circle begins to set alight as the raptor follows her. She jumps out of the circle as as the last part of it sets sets alight trppinf the giants inside with the raptor.
Marguerite, Veronica and Culmus meet up at a nearby clearing.
VERONICA: We did it!
MARGUERITE: I never had any doubts.
Culmus starts to talk but they can't hear him as his voive becomes silent and surroundings become blurry, all the colours blending into one.
VERONICA: What's happening?
MARGUERITE: We're back!
They look around at the familiar surroundings, the treehouse right in front of them.
VERONICA: Do you get the feeling us going back in time happened for a reason?
Before Marguerite can answer a gunshot rings out in the treehouse, they look at each other and run to the elevator.
* * * * * *
Karla stands over Jake with the pistol in her hands and Summerlee on the floor, Challanger helps him up, Malone takes the pistol off her.
ROXTON: You ahd no choice.
MALONE: It was him or Summerlee.
The elevator stops and Marguerite and Veronica rush out. Marguerite is the first to see Summerlee, she walks over to him astonishment on her face, she uncharacteristically hugs him.
MARGUERITE: All of a sudden I feel so happy!
VERONICA: Summerlee! This is amazing. You are alive!
She runs over and hugs him as well.
MARGUERITE: I never had any doubts.
They finally take notice of the dead man on the floor and Karla steps forward.
SUMMERLEE: This is Marguerite Krux...
KARLA: Pleases to meet you, I'm Karla.
MARGUERITE: Hello (to Summerlee) friend of yours?
SUMMERLEE: You'll see...And this is Veronica...Veronica this is you're cousin.
VERONICA: I have a cousin!
KARLA: I had the same reaction...Though I had a little more time to prepare for this than you.
VERONICA: I have a cousin!
She walks over to Karla and surprises her by hugging her.
SUMMERLEE: She came here to look for you're parents.
VERONICA: This is amazing!
ROXTON: Maybe we should have something to eat and we can talk about this over dinner.
SUMMERLEE: Whose cooking?
They all look away pretending they didn't hear.
SUMMERLEE: I would be happy to oblige.
CHALLANGER: Nonsense! It's Roxton's turn.
Everyone walks away in opposite directions before he can protest.
Epilogue
Veronica and Karla sit in the living area drinking.
VERONICA: I wish I could've known Richard, he sounds great.
KARLA: He was an amazing brother. Kind, generous...Brave, braver than anyone I know.
VERONICA: It sound sot me like you were brave yourself standing up to Jake like you did.
KARLA: Now all I have to do, is find Simon...
Roxton joins Marguerite on the balcony.
ROXTON: I'm sorry about Micheal.
MARGUERITE: So was I, and then I came back here and found out we have anew friend, Veronica's cousin, Summerlee's back...And I have you.
ROXTON: You always had me, I've always been here...
MARGUERITE: But it took a guy who would be over 125 years old to make me realise that.
ROXTON: And now?
MARGUERITE: (Turns to Roxton) and now I realise that time is precious...
She kisses him softly.
MARGUERITE: And I don't want to waste it.
He gathers her in his arms and kisses her passionately as the early morning breeze whistles around them and the sun rises far away and they realise they really should get some sleep.
The End.
What did you think? Please R & R!!!!
