Changing Tides (19 page)

“Can we get into these buildings?”

The harsh whisper came from behind him, startling Orion slightly as Liz asked about the buildings at their back. Pulling back to the safety of the shadows where they huddled, he shrugged, turned and looked at the structures. “Why?”

“Send people upstairs. We might be able to take them out that way,” the woman suggested.

“Long distance.”

“Yeah, but not too long. They won’t expect their enemy from within.”

Orion nodded. “We’ll need a whole lot of luck.” He looked over the buildings again. “Go! Take Smith with you. Send Jackson and Harrison up this one.”

The woman nodded then tagged the people he’d selected. They made their way toward the entrances of their assigned buildings.

Orion adjusted his radio and turned back toward the gate. He and his remaining team spread out and continued their assault on the armory. An eternity passed under a hail of bullets then the sounds of shots being fired came from above.

Orion belly-crawled as close to the barricade as he could, slid one of his two remaining grenades out of his pocket, pulled the pin and tossed it. Several seconds later, it exploded sending debris everywhere. An engine rumbled through the air sending vibrations cascading over the ground.

“Bravo one and four armory. Alpha two and four munitions,” the voices crackled through Orion’s radio.

“Bravo one and four ram the fencing. Charlie-seven providing cover fire,” Orion ordered into the mic.

“Charlie-seven. Roger.”

Orion moved back to the building and began firing at the gate, changing clips when the first one emptied. Bullets hit the sides of the buildings. Windows shattered. Two large trucks rammed the chain-link fencing, sending it crashing to the ground. Orion ordered his team to move. The trio rushed forward, not waiting for the snipers to make their way out of the buildings. They climbed over the collapsed metal fence and remains of furniture, picking their way around mangled vehicles and using whatever they could as cover, while battling their into the compound. They pushed inside, clearing it of enemy combatants. Once secure, Orion called the rest of his team out of the buildings and into the armory.

Two hours later, the armory was empty of everything useable and its contents loaded into the vehicles. Orion waited at the edge of the compound for Bones to exit the building. Once the other man was accounted for and weapons and ammo resupplied, Orion’s team plus three members from Bravo one and six people from Bravo four ran back along the building. Orion signaled for them to halt, turned and watched as the armory exploded. The fireball was fed by contents they’d left behind.

“We head toward housing,” Orion said before moving their hiding spot.

“I thought we weren’t going after civilians. That makes us no better than Landry and her goons,” Jackson protested.

“No, we aren’t,” Orion answered. “We need the base commander. He wasn’t at HQ, so we’ll check his residence. He gets charged with crimes against humanity.”

Chapter Thirteen

Brett opened the door and jumped from the truck then rolled, stopping on a patch of nearby grass. Coming up to a crouch, he adjusted his weapons and radio. He pushed the button to check in with Liz and was met with static. Swearing, he pulled the radio out and tossed it to the ground, making sure to completely destroy the pieces.

Liz drove off, leaving him on the side of the road. They’d picked up three injured people on their way back to the gate. Liz had tried to stop him, but when he’d opened the truck door while they were moving, she’d relented and slowed down enough so he wouldn’t kill himself when he jumped. She’d ordered him to keep Orion safe then barreled through the remains of the gate and into the night.

Carefully, Brett made his way across the base, doing his best to avoid people. He didn’t want to kill anyone if he didn’t have to, and he didn’t want Orion to find out he was still on base. As adamant as Orion had been to get him out of there, Brett doubted his lover would be happy to find him still there. Slipping through the shadows, Brett made his way to Brigadier General Reynolds’ house on the far side of the base. Married housing was separated into officer and enlisted neighborhoods. The base commander’s house was a large two-story, brick building with shutters, surrounded by flowers with a backyard that butted up against the tree line.

Brett had questions for the base commander. Reynolds’ answers would determine if Brett let him live through the night or not.

He needed to get through the main area of the base before he could reach the residential area. Brett ducked behind a car and waited for a group of people to pass. He was close enough to hear their conversation and knew they were members of the Security Forces. Brett took a breath. As long as they ignored him, he would let them pass. The first person looked toward him and kept moving. The second one stopped and turned. The group dropped to a crouch, scattered and ran. Brett swore, leveled his weapon and shot.

Glass exploded, the tiny shards raining down around him. Bullets punched through the metal hull of the car. Brett shifted positions and fired again. He needed to make his shots count. He only had two clips and still needed to get to housing. More blasts rang out, and the glass in the window near him shattered, pieces sinking into his flesh. Brett gritted his teeth and pulled out the glass he could reach. Blood trickled down his face, neck and arms. Brett rose and fired again. He’d only seen a handful of soldiers walking, but it sounded like far more than that were firing at him.

Brett looked around and judged the distance to the tree behind and to the right of him. Several more shots rang out. Brett turned and ran, zigzagging as he went. Dirt flew and bark splintered around him. Brett ran again, this time heading to the end of a nearby building. He heard his pursuers chasing him. Brett rounded the corner and made his way to the next parking lot, hiding between a pair of parked cars.

A loud explosion sounded. The sky lit up. Fifty feet from where he sat, three men stopped and turned. Brett followed their line of sight but saw little over the rise of the building.

“The armory!” came a shout from several feet away the group. “They took out the armory!”

“Good job, sweetheart,” Brett whispered, praying his man was still safe.

Using the explosion as a distraction, Brett slipped out of his hiding spot and ran. Time crept by as he made his way across the base. The houses were silent, no lights shining anywhere. Cars formed barricades across the streets in the neighborhood. Brett heard whispering and movements coming from behind them. Ducking between two identical homes, he crept along the backyards, jumping fences and hiding behind trees, bushes and sheds.

The sun was nearly up as he snuck up to the base commander’s house. He was still working on a plan when another group of people stepped out of the tree line. An engine revved and was followed by gunfire. The early morning sky gave Brett enough light to know the newcomers were from Citizens for a Free Aelland. Brett looked around and weighed his options. The questions he wanted answered weren’t for anyone else’s ears. If he went in with the group, he wouldn’t have any privacy. If he went in first, even if he was killed, it might provide enough distraction so they could get the man.

“What are you doing here?”

Brett turned. “Jackson.”

“I’ll ask you again. What are you doing here? You were supposed to take Thompson back along with the other stuff.”

Brett nodded and shifted his weight to a more comfortable position. “We picked up several injured and two with medical training on the way to the gate. I thought it was more important to stay and help. If it matters, Liz did try to stop me.”

“It matters more that you listen to Hellman. Do not make things harder for him. Not you. He needs you,” Jackson ground out. “Why couldn’t you stay safe for him?”

“I—” Brett started and stopped. Why would Orion want him gone? He loved the man too much to not be there when he needed him.

“We’re going in. Search and secure. Harm no civilians,” Jackson said, his voice firm and flat. Jackson turned to Brett before adding, “Think next time.”

Brett shifted his weight and flipped the safety off his weapon. Quietly, they moved to the sliding glass doors. He stood with Jackson on one side, another person stood on the other. Two ran forward with a log as a makeshift battering ram. Glass shattered. Jackson reached around and tore down the curtains as they poured through the open door, guns drawn. Five men in Security Forces uniforms stood in the living room.

When the first weapons were raised toward them, Brett leveled his gun and fired, knowing by the sound he wasn’t the only one. The front door opened, and uniformed men began to enter. Brett switched his focus and shot the newcomers. The sounds of a gun battle erupted outside.

Early morning light flooded the house. Brett inhaled sharply. He recognized all three of the surviving men they were fighting. General Reynolds the base commander, Colonel DeMarco his father and Colonel Stephanson, the head of base intelligence. Anger surged through him. Questions assaulted him non-stop. He needed answers.

Brett swallowed, trying to tamp down on his rising pain and anguish. Images from the video comingled with Taren’s last words to him and Orion’s soft pleading to leave. He wondered if his lover had known Brett’s father was on base. If that was the main reason Orion had pushed for Brett to leave.

“You son of a bitch!” Brett shouted. “You killed him!”

“Brett? Is that you?” Colonel Henry DeMarco asked, leveling his handgun but not firing.

“Who is this?” Jackson asked. “Put it down! On your knees!”

“Colonel Henry DeMarco, head of base defense at Fort Landry and my father,” Brett answered.

“Traitor!” Colonel DeMarco spat.

“Me? Look at your own actions father. You killed him,” Brett shouted. “I’m at least fighting for true freedom. On your knees!” Brett shouted, firing a single shot to his father’s knee.

Colonel DeMarco screamed and sank to his knees. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Taren. You ordered him to be tortured and killed then carried out part of it yourself.”

“Lieutenant DeMarco, what are you talking about?” Brigadier General Reynolds asked.

“That’s a lie!” Colonel DeMarco shouted. The early morning light revealed the fear in the older man’s eyes. “I had nothing to do with Taren’s death.”

“Tie them up!” Jackson ordered.

Brett ignored the general’s question, moving closer to his father. “Am I? You had it recorded. A recording that was then edited and shown to me. And for what? To keep me under control?” Brett asked. “You would have had better luck if you hadn’t killed the man I loved.”

“Lies—”

“Save it. I’ve seen the original recording. Not only that, I’ve informed Taren’s family what you’ve done.”

“You—”

“Yes, me. I’m the one responsible for the entire country knowing what you and your goons did.”

“I didn’t believe it when your name appeared on the termination list,” Colonel DeMarco said, shaking his head.

“I doubt that. I’m sure you put it there,” Brett growled.

“I didn’t, but I should have. You’re more trouble than you’re worth,” Colonel DeMarco laughed. “He died like a man, begging for his life and promising to leave you alone if I’d let him go. You…you’re a coward and a traitor.”

“Landry’s a tyrant and corrupt. I can’t be a traitor to an illegitimate government,” Brett answered.

“I’ll make sure you’re treated worse than that poor excuse for a fiancé. You should’ve just married the girl I told you to,” Colonel DeMarco sneered.

“You’ll make sure of nothing,” Brett replied. Leveling his weapon, he fired a single round into his father’s head.

“Now, see here!” Brigadier General Reynolds shouted. “I’ll have both you and Hellman executed.”

“General, I killed my father for torturing and murdering my fiancé. Do you really think I’m going to let you anywhere near the man I love? The man I plan on spending the rest of my life with,” Brett said, stepping forward, training his weapon on the older man.

“How dare you! You can be shot on sight!” Brigadier General Reynolds shouted.

“Shut up. Your days of ordering people around are done. You will stand trial for the crimes you’ve committed against civilians and Security Force personnel,” Orion said, coming around the corner. “Prepare to move out. Alpha company and Charlie-three are attacking from the front. You have no choice but to surrender Reynolds. We will take this base.”

Brett swallowed and looked over at the man who’d captured his heart. He hadn’t realized just how much he loved Orion until he’d said it to Reynolds. There was nothing more Brett wanted to do than to wrap his arms around his lover and explain everything. Guilt swamped him. He should’ve told Orion about Taren beforehand, talked it out so there were no unwelcomed surprises. Brett let out the breath he’d been holding and prayed he hadn’t totally messed everything up.

Shock and surprise radiated from Reynolds. Brett’s heart clenched. Orion’s fate was sealed.

“You’re a dead man, boy,” Reynolds growled. “If I had known—”

“Save it,” Orion replied stopping in front of the base commander. “You got what you wanted, and you didn’t care how or what happened to me outside of what I could do for you.”

“I protected you, you ungrateful bastard!”

Brett jumped when Orion laughed. “You didn’t protect me anymore than the school commandant did.”

“Nobody raped you here!”

Orion stepped forward and leaned into the older man. “Only because you wanted to pimp me out yourself.”

A fresh wave of anger surged through Brett. He would kill Reynolds and whoever the commandant was. Strong hands gripped Brett, holding him in place. He struggled against his captors, glaring at Reynolds the entire time. Orion was
his
. Nobody would hurt his man and live. Nobody.

“Gag and blindfold Reynolds and Stephanson,” Orion ordered.

“Let me go!” Brett yelled, pulling at the arms and hands holding him.