The next time Alan awoke, pain greeted him a little more forcefully than the previous time. His head throbbed; his neck was terribly stiff and sore. He felt like his entire body had been run over by the Mole. He tried to move, but his hands were bound behind his back, one of his shoulders was twisted so much it screamed in protest.

He opened his eyes as soon as he remembered what had happened.

He had been running down the stairs from Corper, then the last thing he knew he had been falling the rest of the way down. What had happened? Had he simply tripped? No. Something had hit his head. Hard

Man that had hurt, thought Alan, wincing at the memory

He tried to gain some clue as to where he was. He was surprised to see he was in a plush room, lying on a neat soft bed. The blinds had been pulled halfway up, allowing sunlight to shine through. The rays sent drumbeats through Alan's head, but he was thankful to see them nonetheless. The door of the bedroom he was in was closed. Alan suddenly remembered.

He had seen a sign in the carpark.

"Thousand Oaks Hotel. Lobby this way"

He looked over to the small bedside cabinet to see a small display of contact cards bearing the hotel name and a few brochures. There was also a phone.

His heart leaping with joy, Alan tried to sit up. But he had hardly moved when pain shot through him like an electric charge, making him gasp and lie down again. His head spun as the door opened and someone strode in, closing the door behind them. Alan blinked to regain focus as Corper sat on the bed beside him.

Alan waited for Corper to say something, but the man stayed silent, waiting for Alan to recover. Alan became impatient, "What do you want?" he asked, pain racked his voice

Corper was silent.

Alan was having none of this. He tried to get up again and although the pain made him cry out and his eyes fill with tears, he managed to sit. "Who are you?" he sobbed

This time Corper replied, "I am Peter Corper, Professor of Sciences at Wharton Academy"

"No you're not" said Alan, "You're not the man I knew"

Corper gave a small smile, "No I'm not. I am more than that Alan. I am your family, am I not?"

Alan looked up at him, "What are you talking about?"

"Alan" Corper emphasised the name, "You revealed more to me about your life than anybody ever has. I was your friend, I was your father. You put such faith and trust in me. You made yourself perfect for my plans"

"What?" Alan still didn't understand. His body was tense and pain was etched on his face.

"When I came to Wharton Academy, I truly was a Professor, but I was unhappy about my life. A teacher's purpose is to teach the next generation. The generation, into whose hands every part of the world's economical, social, political and technological elements are to be placed in. Yet for decades, teachers have not been given the respect they deserve. They were pushed aside behind doctors, bankers, surgeons, and engineers.

"It has always been a dream of mine to teach. Yet a few years ago when I entered the world of education, I was shocked to discover how little my work was valued by society. Wharton Academy was my chance. A place where the sons of doctors, bankers, surgeons and engineers learned. When I met you, I did my research. Alan Tracy, son of the billionaire ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy

"You will remain here until I am given the respect I deserve. The respect of two billion dollars in fact"

Alan looked at him, "You haven't told me everything. Teacher's rights? You've got to be fighting for more than that to go this far"

Corper smiled, "Very good Alan. You're right. You see, one of the reasons I could talk to you about your troubles is because I too have experienced them. My father was a banker, and a wealthy one at that. As the eldest, I was to inherit that wealth. My father had high hopes for me, but somehow I could never reach them. He and I saw different ways. He valued everything that made the wheels of the economy spin, I valued teaching"

Corper's expression changed, "He hated me for it. Told me I was a lost cause for him. And then, he betrayed me in the worst form. He gave his entire firm and fortune to my younger brother. So you see Alan, we are not so different. Both our families have betrayed us"

Alan shook his head, "We're not the same. Your pathetic" he spat, "This has got nothing to do with teacher's rights. You're fighting for nothing more than your own greed"

Corper's face fell and he backhanded Alan, sending him tumbling off the bed

"I did you a favour Alan!" he growled, "You didn't want your family, so I brought you away from them! You should be thanking me!"

Alan held in the sobs that threatened to come as he lay on the floor. Corper was right. He hadn't wanted to be with his family. It was all his own fault. Now both he and his family would suffer.

Corper seemed to soften slightly as he walked over, "Alan, everything will change for you. When the money is paid to me, who knows, maybe I'll take you with me. Somewhere I can replace you father" he said mockingly

"Go to hell" coughed Alan

Corper roughly picked him up laid him on the bed. Alan was surprised when Corper untied his hands.

"You're hurt," said Corper

"Yeah when someone pushes you down a flight of stairs, you tend to get a little banged up" spat Alan

Corper gently pulled out his right arm and he cried out as pain shot through his sore shoulder.

Alan didn't stop the tears from falling now. He wanted nothing more than to see his family. To be held by his father. To hear Scott and John's voices soothing him. To see Virgil and Gordon smiling fondly at him.

Why didn't I talk to them?

Now he was at the mercy of a crazed man who would never let him see his family again.