Changing Tides

by Simone Anderson

  “Leaving a family without answers and under suspicion by the government,” Brett supplied.

  “Yes,” Orion answered. He took a deep breath then let it out slowly. He wanted Brett safe, but he also wanted to make sure his man was absolutely sure where he stood. “You can still walk away, but now, you understand part of the reason why I can’t. Reynolds will never let me live, especially if he ever finds out I’m not who he thought I was. If you leave while you can—”

  “If you think I can walk away now—leave you to face this alone—you’re crazy.”

  “But you still don’t know what happened to the person you mentioned before, Doctor Taren Prescott. What you find out may change your mind and make it unacceptable for you to stay here,” Orion pushed. It was a lie. He was certain that Brett already knew what had happened. He’d heard about the video disc Paul had given Brett along with the laptop, but he hadn’t been able to find out what was on it. Admittedly, he hadn’t tried very hard. He wanted Brett to tell him that information himself. Brett still hadn’t told him who the man was or why it was important that he know. It hurt that Brett didn’t seem to trust him that much. Refusing to dwell on the reasons or his feelings about it, Orion reached up and ran a hand over Brett’s short hair.

  “Actually, I do know what happened to him.”

  “Is…is that why you stayed?” Orion asked. He bit his lip, not wanting to acknowledge how much Brett’s answer meant to him.

  “No.” Brett looked down at him. “I’m staying for you and for everything I’ve learned, not just about his death, but the truth of the government’s actions. I will exact revenge for him.”

  Orion nodded. He still didn’t know who the other man had been, but he’d been important in Brett’s life. That was evident by the cold fury in the taller man’s eyes. “What if you get caught?”

  “I won’t.”

  “You don’t know that,” Orion argued.

  “Orion, I won’t let myself get caught.”

  Orion’s stomach dropped. “You’ll shoot yourself?”

  “If I have to, yes. I’ll be tortured and killed if I’m caught. We both know this. At least, if I kill myself, I won’t give away any secrets.”

  “You can resist.”

  “Sweetheart, thank you for believing in me, but I’m not that strong. Not against that.”

  Orion nodded and snuggled closer into Brett’s lap, the bigger man’s arms tightened around him. Orion relished the strength and safety flowing from his lover, but he knew this war could cost him again. It could take his man away. “You were right, you know.”

  “About what?” Brett asked, kissing him on the head and rubbing circles into his back.

  “Sex is a great way to relax. Well, sex with you is.”

  “Well, it’s yours anytime you need it. Or even just want it,” Brett answered. “We should get moving. It’s time to rally our forces. That’s not something I can do or even help with. Not truly. People need to see you, confident and strong. To reinforce this ideal, this need we fight for. To lead us, them, everyone to true freedom.”

  Orion nodded and untangled himself from Brett. They finished dressing quickly. Orion holstered his weapons, and they left the small apartment that had become their home. He squeezed Brett’s hand, praying they would make it through this together.

  * * * *

  The tunnels were buzzing with energy. Even those who didn’t know exactly what was going on felt it and reacted to it. Fed on it.

  Orion walked through the corridors, accompanied by Brett, Thompson and Jackson. They headed toward the departure zone, confident the communications blackout would give them some protection, as well as the element of surprise. They would need it. The government forces were well-trained and well-equipped. His people were trained, but there weren’t as many weapons as he would have liked. He hoped this was one of those instances when desire triumphed over arms and duty.

  They planned to hit the base first, securing weapons and the archives while destroying as much of the military response capabilities as possible. Part of their force would support the protesters. It was the right move but would stretch their limited numbers even thinner.

  Movement in one of the rooms jutting out from the corridor caught Orion’s attention. A flicker of recognition demanded he look closer. Stopping, he turned, aware of everyone’s reaction around him. His jaw dropped as he stared in disbelief. It was one of the guards who’d beaten him up later the same day Brett had run into him. Brett had broken it up and shielded him until the general had arrived. He’d acted as though they had run into each other that morning, going so far as to say he was cute and ask him out in front of the general. He rubbed his left wrist and began to turn away when strong hands grabbed him and pulled him backward down the hall and away from the group. Thompson and Jackson followed, shielding him from view.

  “What is it?” Brett whispered, pulling him into a hug and pushing him up against the wall.

  Anyone looking would hopefully think they were kissing again.

  “One of the people in that room,” Orion whispered, tilting his head so Brett had better access. “I know him. He beat—”

  “He’s one of the men who beat you up? One of the security personnel from base?” Brett asked carefully, kissing his neck.

  Orion nodded.

  “Damn!”

  “What is it, Sir?” Thompson asked, looking from Orion to Brett and back to Orion again.

  “One of the men in that room works for the government.”

  “Are you sure?” Thompson asked, panic spiking his voice.

  “Yes. He’s supposed to be in the brig for another five months,” Brett replied. He let Orion go but retained his hand. “Jackson, go get security. Thompson, you and I will have to take him into custody now.”

  Thompson nodded.

  “And Jackson, get Paul and Carter. Paul’s electronics and communications expertise may be needed,” Brett ordered. Jackson looked to Orion, who nodded, before Jackson raced down the corridor, disappearing from view. “Thompson, do you have a second weapon I can borrow until help gets here?”

  Thompson withdrew his side arm from his waist holster and handed it to Brett without hesitation.

  “Which one is it?” Brett asked.

  Orion took a deep breath, saying a quick prayer of thanks that he and Brett had worked out a simple communication system. With his hands, he drew the corridor and the room in the space between them then indicated the man closest to the door. He touched Thompson’s hair for color and gave an approximate height and width in between himself and Brett.

  “Okay, let’s go. Stay back a bit though,” Brett said, squeezing his hand.

  Orion hated being pushed to the back, hated the pretense of not speaking, of not being able to help. But it had kept him safe and off the government’s radar. Aside from a handful of people, he wasn’t sure who he could trust.

  “Stop what you’re doing,” Brett ordered as he and Thompson stepped into the doorway, guns drawn.

  Taking a deep breath then letting it out slowly, Orion drew closer. He peered into the room through the gap between the two men. Fear and recognition flickered across the face of the man he’d seen before. There were seven people in the windowless, tan-colored room along with a couple of dozen boxes and a variety of electrical components. Aside from the guard, he hadn’t seen anyone else before. It wasn’t unusual though. He didn’t think anyone knew everyone fighting for CFA. It would be Carter if anyone, but he wasn’t sure she did, either.

  “Strip,” Thompson ordered.

  “Who…who, Sir?” a woman asked.

  “You and you,” Brett replied, pointing to the man Orion had described and another man standing at the far end of the room.

  Orion swallowed, praying no one innocent would be harmed.

  “The rest of you, face the wall, palms touching where we can see them, legs apart,” Thompson ordered, using his semi-automatic rifle to point to where he wanted everyone.

  A sh
iver ran down Orion’s spine as he watched his lover and his guard work, deadly calm, their actions so in tune, it was hard to believe they hadn’t been training together for years. There was no choice, he knew that. Seven against three wasn’t favorable odds. There were too many lives at stake for their mission to fail now. Not when they were this close.

  “Take everything off and drop it in a pile an arm’s length in front of you then step back.”

  “W-what’s going on, Sir?” the man at the far end of the room asked.

  “Your integrity has been called into question,” Brett replied. “This ensures you have no weapons and no listening, recording or broadcasting devices hidden on your body or clothes.”

  “Do—”

  “Strip on your own, or it’ll be removed for you and you’ll be assumed to be guilty of betraying us,” Thompson said flatly.

  Orion watched hatred, fear and anger flared in the two men’s eyes as they slowly removed every piece of clothing. Thompson kept his weapon trained on the men as Brett carefully moved the clothing farther away. He’d just started to go through the first pile when footsteps down the hall drew Orion’s attention. Turning back, he saw Brett stand and focus his gun on the on the two men.

  Relief swept over Orion as more men, Jackson, Paul and Carter arrived. At least now, Brett and Thompson weren’t outnumbered.

  “What’s going on?” Carter asked. “Jackson said something about spies or traitors.”

  Orion nodded and stepped aside. Carter, Paul, Jackson and several others pushed into the room, while the remainder waited in the hall. The clothes were inspected while linings and seams were checked. The contents of pockets were pulled out and set on boxes. Questions were asked rapid fire.

  Biting his cheek, Orion stepped forward, choosing a place along the wall between the two men where he could see and hear. He looked from one man to the other. Several minutes passed before either one realized he was there. Orion held the gaze of the guard. Panic set in the man’s blue eyes, but he stayed outwardly still.

  Smiling, Orion shifted his attention to the other man Brett had pulled aside. The man’s dark eyes registered shock and disbelief but no panic. There was nothing in his carriage that led Orion to believe he was a government spy. He knew that didn’t matter. He’d spent almost his entire life gathering information and passing it to rebel leaders. Learning everything he could to be ready for this war, while deceiving their enemies. He knew that until very recently, everyone believed he was what he said he was. A mute who couldn’t read or write and was too stupid to do anything except what he was told.

  Gloves snapped on someone’s hands, and Orion jumped.

  “C-can’t you d-do this somewhere else? It’s embarrassing.” the former guard stammered.

  “Your embarrassment is not our concern. The safety of this group, of these people, so that we can fight to get our freedom back is the priority,” Orion said quietly, tired of the pretense. It was time to stop pretending, to stop placing his own safety above his mission. His survival didn’t matter, not if it ensured their success. The noise around him stopped, and silence engulfed the room.

  “We knew it!” the former guard shouted, breaking the quiet.

  Two men stepped forward, grabbed him and forced him to his knees.

  “Interrogate them both. Keep them separated for now. Deal with the spies.” Orion turned to Carter. “He was a guard on base.”

  “Secure them,” Carter said.

  Brett returned to Orion’s side, Thompson and Jackson fell in beside them.

  “We’ll take it from here,” Paul said, looking up from the pile of clothes.

  Orion nodded, turned and left. He needed to get to the base. Only a handful of people knew the layout of the base, and specifically, he wanted to get to the general’s office. There was information there that they needed. That he needed.

  Tunnels carved out of long abandoned buildings and sewers moved them from their headquarters and base of operations to the underground garage where they would begin the most harrowing part of their journey. It was a twenty-minute drive to the base. The last part was a straight shot to the gates with no place to hide.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Hellman. The number of protesters outside the government building has grown to over five thousand people,” a woman said, joining them. Orion recognized her as the same woman they’d met when they’d finally entered the underground headquarters. He still didn’t know her name.

  “Good. The more people against the government, the better chance we have of succeeding,” Orion said firmly.

  “They’re starting to get agitated. I mean, it’s been growing for days.”

  “The government should be mobilizing its units soon then,” Brett said quietly. “As long as we all do our jobs the best we can, we can win.”

  The woman nodded and walked away. Only after she’d gone several feet did he realize she hadn’t reacted. He saw the realization dawn for Brett before the man started after the woman.

  “Brett,” Orion said, shaking his head. “No.”

  “What? Why?”

  “They’ll find out sooner or later,” Orion answered. It was only a matter of time before someone said something. In another hour, it wouldn’t matter if the whole country knew whether or not he could talk. Even if his role in the Citizens for a Free Aelland was never discovered, he had no intention of staying in the background, safe and out of the way while his friends fought the government. A death warrant was already out for him. Nothing he did would change that unless the dictator, General Landry, and her supporters were overthrown.

  “Later is better.”

  “It doesn’t matter. We strike within the hour. It no longer matters who knows I can talk or that I can read and write.”

  “You’re safety—”

  “Is not a priority or an issue,” Orion said firmly. He’d come to terms years ago with his role in life. He had no say in. “The only thing that matters is that we succeed. If I die, so be it.” Orion turned and started walking toward a maze of vehicles.

  “You can’t be serious!”

  “Brett!” Orion spun on his heel. “I’m willing to die for a chance at true freedom. The freedom spoken about in hushed stories, tales only whispered about. The freedom my family died for! I’ll give up my life so this country can be free. If you can’t, do not stand in the way of those of us who can.”

  Orion turned back around and left. He cared about Brett and was certain Brett cared about him too, but in the face of the coming war, it wasn’t enough. He couldn’t go against everything he’d known, everything he’d gone through for one person. He didn’t have it in him to turn his back on the people who were the only remaining connection he had to his family. Tears formed, and Orion blinked rapidly, refusing to let them fall.

  Thompson caught up with him before he’d gone more than a dozen feet.

  “What about DeMarco?” Thompson asked.

  Orion stopped and turned to the bodyguard. “If he wants to fight, give him weapons and put him in a vehicle. If he doesn’t, he’s a liability and needs to be separated and secured.”

  “You don’t—”

  Orion shook his head. “No, he’s earned his life. We don’t renege on our word,” Orion replied. He wanted to see Brett one more time, wanted one more hug. “He’s a good man, but he doesn’t understand this war and our mission in the same way we do.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Thompson nodded. “Paul said the new messages are ready to be released. Including the one DeMarco asked for.”

  “Thank you.” Orion looked back through the rows of vehicles and sighed. Paul had told him what Brett had asked of him. That information was to be passed to specific people before the video was released.

  Paul hadn’t told him what was on the disc, only that it was horrifying. Orion wanted to know more. To know why this man and these messages were important, but he’d wanted Brett to tell him. To trust him. He hadn’t.

  Orion clenched and unclenched his fists. He’d hoped that s
omeday Brett would trust him. Orion only hoped it happened before his heart became too attached to Brett. “Let Brett know what Paul said.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Orion waited until Thompson had turned to leave before continuing onto his vehicle. He probably should have waited for Brett’s answer, for Brett to actually tell him he wasn’t going to fight with them after all. Orion bit hit his lip and climbed into the truck.

  No, he decided, Brett was a man of honor. He would fight with them. He just didn’t know the full extent to which Orion’s life was tied to this. Nobody truly did. Most of the people who’d known were dead. It was better that way, lonely, but better.

  His parents and several of their most trusted friends had started the CFA when they were young, after reading about what Aelland had been like before and learning of other rebel groups and their fates. Orion was his parents’ firstborn, the one they’d pinned the future of the country on. They’d willingly given him over to the mission when they’d realized that success would be a long time coming. They’d allowed a doctor friend to concoct a drink that would paralyze his vocal chords, stopping parts of puberty and rushing others. He’d been taught all his life of his need to infiltrate and gather information for them. It had been a game at first then it had become real.

  Eight months before his mother’s death, he’d been on his way home from soccer practice after school and had seen his mother’s boss kiss then shoot a woman he hadn’t recognized, but who looked similar to his mother’s sister. Two days later, he heard his mother’s boss had committed suicide. Years later, he discovered the woman he’d seen killed had turned double agent against the rebel group she’d been working with and the man who’d shot her was killed after it was learned that he had joined the group he’d originally intended to destroy. He could never figure out if anything he said had made either of the outcomes a reality, or if it was simply being in the right place at the right time, but it did serve to teach him that he wasn’t playing a game.