Mattie's survival.
He had to get her off this island, and with Tarik hunting her, they were running out of time.
Dave was powerful. More powerful than most people on the island realized. Building a friendship with Dave could be a gamechanger. It wouldn't guarantee safety because nothing could guarantee it in this place, but it might tip the scales in their favor when it mattered most.
"That's very kind of you," Dimitri said. "Mattie and I appreciate your help."
Number One's expression didn't change, but something shifted in the atmosphere. A subtle relaxation of tension rippled across all eight bodies. "We could head out to the pile after we get our shots, and since we are already dirty, we would assist you in scavenging."
"That would be great." Dimitri reached for the first syringe that always went to Number One.
He was done with all eight in minutes.
"Shall we go now?" Number One rolled down the sleeve of his uniform.
"Before all the best pieces are claimed."
Dimitri glanced at Petrov. "Do you want to come with us?"
The guy snorted. "You couldn't pay me enough to sort through rubbish to look for pieces of broken furniture. I'll finish here and then head to the bar. If you want, you can join me there."
They left the lab together—Dimitri, Mattie, and all eight of Dave's bodies. It was a strange procession, and Dimitri caughtmore than a few startled looks from passersby. People gave them a wide berth, crossing to the other side of the road and averting their eyes as the enhanced soldiers strode past.
Fear. That was what Dimitri saw in their faces.
Mattie, on the other hand, was walking so close to Number One that they were nearly rubbing shoulders.
It grated on him a little that she felt safer with the enhanced eight than she felt with him, but he couldn't blame her for that. They were so much more powerful than he was, in actual physical strength, in their compulsion ability, and in their authority, which came directly from Losham, who was the de facto Lord of the Island in Navuh's absence.
If their friendship became close enough, perhaps Dave could help Mattie and Dimitri escape the island. Perhaps Petrov, too.
Yeah. That was a fantasy. Unrealistic and born out of desperation.
The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink that would have been beautiful if Dimitri could forget, even for a moment, that he was looking at them from a prison island that was filled with dangerous predators.
"Where is the debris pile?" he asked Number One.
"Behind the mansion. We will take the service road."
They crested a small rise, and the mansion came into view. Even from this distance, Dimitri could see the cracks in the façade and the missing roof tiles. Scaffolding had been erected around one corner where workers were making repairs. The building lookedwounded, its usual imposing grandeur diminished by the visible scars of the explosion.
And beyond the mansion, in what had once been an immaculate garden, was the pile of debris.
It was larger than Dimitri had expected, a mountain of unidentifiable rubble with some broken pieces of furniture in between what was mostly detritus. Workers were moving around its base like ants, bringing out more rubble and dumping it along the edges.
"Come on," Mattie said, tugging at his sleeve. "Let's see what treasures we can find."
They made their way to the salvage area, Dave's eight bodies fanning out around them like an honor guard. The workers who had been browsing through the furniture quickly cleared the area, leaving Dimitri and Mattie alone with their unlikely companions.
The selection was impressive, even accounting for the heavy damage most of the pieces had sustained. There were chairs and tables, dressers and wardrobes, lamps and mirrors, and decorative items of all kinds. The Mediterranean influence was evident in the warm woods, wrought iron accents, and sumptuous fabrics.
"This is beautiful," Mattie breathed, running her hand over a carved wooden headboard that had somehow survived the collapse intact. "Look at the detailing."
For the next hour, they wandered through the pile, with the eight soldiers helping them salvage quality pieces and arranging them in a row so Mattie could decide what she wanted to take. Most things were too big for their modest room, and Mattie sighedand shook her head every time she had to give up on something because it couldn't fit.
It was bizarre.
They liked her. This collective consciousness, this created weapon of mass destruction, enjoyed the company of his girlfriend.
