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Adrian didn't know how much time had passed. Ever since he was dragged out of Dorange's office after their battle, he had been locked up in solitary confinement in the same room on the Gnol ship that he had been in before. Kept in almost utter darkness and near death, he was given one cup of water a day and a small ration of food. For some reason, the Gnols were keeping him alive. They even mended his leg.
He knew that the Gnol ship was on Earth now. He gathered that information from the rumblings of the ship as it landed. Where it landed, he could only guess. Adrian felt in the darkness for the cup of water. He could tell that he only had about a sip left. Hoping that he had spread his water out throughout the day, he took the final sip. As he let the water wet the dryness of his throat, he wondered about his old copilot, Donald Garrett, or Dorange Gar, as he was now known. He wondered if Dorange was dead. There was no way anyone could have survived the wound that Adrian had inflicted upon him.
Adrian also wondered how he had become so powerful during his battle with Dorange. He had tried to use his newfound telekinetic powers when he was brought back to solitary confinement. However, they didn't work. He was surprised how he had so much power during the fight with Dorange, and yet before, he could barely use the techniques Celeste had taught him. And now here he sat, again unable to access the powers.
Suddenly, the door to the room slid open. As always, the brightness of the hall lights caused temporary blindness. That was soon alleviated, however, as two Gnols blindfolded and gagged him. They also tied his hands behind his back. The two Gnols grabbed him under his arms. They dragged him down the corridor of the ship to the hangar bay. The two Gnols then dragged him into a transport shuttle and buckled him into one of the passenger seats. Then the two Gnols exited the transport. As far as Adrian could tell, he was the only prisoner on the ship and the only one besides the pilot and copilot.
The shuttle took off. After what seemed like an hour or two of flight, the shuttle landed. He heard the shuttle doors open and heard the voices of about four Gnols. "There he is. Take him to the holding cell."
Adrian again felt two Gnols grab him under his arms. They dragged him along the ground. Once outside the shuttle, Adrian could tell the day was hot. He also knew that he was being dragged along a lawn. Where he was, he had no idea.
The two Gnols dragged Adrian into a building. They then entered an elevator. Adrian felt the elevator move down to the basement of the building. After a few seconds, the elevator reached its destination. The doors opened, and the two Gnols dragged Adrian forward. After about fifty feet, they stopped. Adrian heard the buzz of the lock to a jail cell and heard the cell open. The two Gnols tossed Adrian into the cell.
With his eyes blindfolded and his hands tied behind his back, Adrian had no way to prevent his forehead from slamming into the concrete floor below. The blow nearly caused him to black out.
He heard voices within the cell. He heard a young man's voice. "Who is it, Dad?"
There was a long pause as Adrian managed to make it to a sitting position with his back against the wall. He also felt blood drip from his forehead. Then, he heard a familiar voice.
"It can't be."
Adrian heard another voice of a young woman. "Dad, is that Uncle-"
Adrian felt someone kneel down beside him.
Again, he heard the familiar voice. "Yes, Ashley ? he ? he is your Uncle Adrian."
The man kneeling next to Adrian pulled the blindfold off Adrian's eyes. After a few seconds, his eyes adjusted to the light. He looked at the man's face and then at the young woman and boy standing behind. He focused his attention back to the man kneeling in front of him. "Kev ? Kevin ? is that you?"
Kevin smiled and grabbed Adrian into a tight hug. "It's me, Adrian. It's me, your big brother. Welcome home."
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 86