Changing Tides by Simone Anderson Page B

mundane topics such as family and future plans, intermingled with ideas of where to go from here.
    “Brett?” Orion asked as silence once again reigned. He would much rather talk to Brett in the privacy of his quarters, but he couldn’t take him anywhere until he knew where the man’s loyalty stood.
    Brett looked up at him. “Yes?”
    “I need to know your thoughts,” Orion said, laying a hand on Brett’s arm.
    “I-I thought I was helping. They’re treating me like I’m a traitor or a criminal or something. I—” Brett looked down, disbelief washing over him.
    “I know. Sweetheart,” Orion said, softening his voice and grabbing Brett’s hands, “I have to ask you a question.”
    “Okay. About what?” Brett asked, drawing out the syllables. He looked around the room before focusing back on Orion. “You need to know if I can be trusted, don’t you?”
    “Yes. I—We need to know if you are with us or if you’ll continue to support the government.”
    “I… That video, was that real? The story wasn’t made up?”
    “No, it wasn’t made up,” Orion said softly.
    “I-I didn’t know. How…can I have time to think about it?” Brett asked.
    “You need to think about it?” Moore asked, indignant.
    “I…I…”
    “You’re in shock, and you’re exhausted,” Orion answered. “We can give you until morning.”
    “Will you kill me?”
    “You saved our friends and intervened on my behalf several times, so no, you will not die by our hands. But you will not be allowed to go free,” Orion said, anger surging through him. He understood Brett’s hesitation. He understood where the other man was coming from, but it still hurt that Brett wanted to think about it, that he needed time.
    “Will you—”
    “I will see you in the morning. Not before.” Orion stood and pulled Brett to him, hugging him close. “Sleep. Take time to make the decision you can live with.”
    “I—”
    “No, you get until morning,” Orion said, interrupting him again. “Blindfold him and take him back to his cell.”
    “Will you do it?” Brett asked, looking down at him. Fear and worry swirled in his blue eyes.
    Orion nodded. “Turn and kneel. Leave this on until morning.”
    Brett did as Orion asked. Holding his breath, Orion blindfolded the other man and kissed him on the top of the head. He stepped back and squeezed his eyes shut. Opening them, he nodded, and Thompson and another man helped Brett to his feet. Carter stood beside Orion.
    “You care about him.”
    It was a statement, one Orion didn’t bother to deny. Her words were quiet, so only those closest to them heard.
    “I’ll see that he gets food and a place to sleep,” she said.
    Orion nodded his gratitude, watching as Brett was led away from him then he returned to his quarters. It would be a long, sleepless night for both of them.
    * * * *
    Brett tossed and turned on the bed. There was a mattress on some sort of a raised platform. It qualified as a bed even if he couldn’t see it. He’d been taken to a cell and his hands had been cuffed in front of him, sending shockwaves of pain through the muscles. A tray had been placed on the bed next to him, and the door closed. He’d gratefully eaten the food that had been bland but filling, before trying to sleep.
    He’d slept.
    Badly.
    Body aching, he lay on his back and opened his eyes. The world was still black. He’d hoped the blindfold would have worked its way off during the night. It hadn’t. Carefully, he sat up, straining to hear anything. The air had a musty smell as though the place were underground or closed off and had been for some time. He heard the muffled sounds of life from beyond the walls confining him. There was no way to tell how long he’d been sleeping.
    “Hello?”
    The whispered word echoed back to him.
    He was alone. Again. Still.
    Orion was nearby, he knew that. Possibly others he knew. But Orion wasn’t who he’d thought he was. He was part of the Citizens for a Free