[ a healthy does of skepticism when addressing their captors is a good idea, Abel thinks, so he just nods along... ]

I don't believe they're trapped here, no, but I haven't heard anything explicit one way or the other for what it's worth. It seems that the Admin is here of his own volition.

[ but he hesitates, there, and his brow furrows a bit. ]

...Well, that's a little misleading. It's more like-- I think he stays here out of dedication to his cause. He's personally motivated to see it through, even though it sounds like the endeavor has been, ah... unpleasant for him, as well as us.

[ he's trying to word all this diplomatically, you see... it's a little rough but, you know, it's the thought that counts! ]