Page 14 of Dark Chains: First Link
He let that sink in for a beat before continuing, "By removing these women and children from the island, you'll save two thousand lives and permanently cripple the Brotherhood's ability to create new immortal warriors, regular or enhanced. The army they have now is the army they'll always have, and even immortal warriors aren't invincible. Over time, attrition will reduce their numbers with no way to replenish them unless they can find more women who carry the gene elsewhere, but if they could find them, they would have already done that. What we are asking for is not charity. It's the most strategically devastating blow you could deal your enemy."
There was a long pause before K spoke again. "I need time to confer with my people and develop a plan. Can you call again at the same time in two days?"
Dimitri looked at Number One, who met his gaze and gave a single, definitive nod.
"We can try," Dimitri said. "But I have to be honest. Stealing Losham's phone is risky, and each time increases the chance of exposure. We can probably pull it off one more time but making it a regular thing is not sustainable."
"You're right," K said. "We'll work on getting a communication device to you. Are the enhanced soldiers free to move around the island?"
Number One leaned forward. "We are. We have access to most areas of the island. The exception is the harem, which is off-limits to everyone. We're also not supposed to enter the breeding enclosure, but we have visited regardless. If the women are to be rescued, they'll need to be prepared."
"Don't tell the women anything yet," K said. "Not until we have a plan, and not until you know who you can trust."
The clamp squeezing Dimitri's heart loosened its hold, and he took in a deep breath, expanding his chest. K was thinking of a plan. He was going to do something for those women.
"Yes, that's our assessment as well," Number One said.
"Who am I speaking with?"
"Number One."
There was a pause. "Number One?" K repeated. "What's the name your mother gave you?"
Dimitri watched Number One's face for any flicker of reaction, but there was none. The enhanced soldier's expression remained blank.
"For now, Number One will suffice," he said in his regular flat tone.
K chuckled. "Touché. We'll talk in two days. Same time. Make sure Losham's phone shows no trace of this call."
"Of course," Number One said.
"And, Doctor Volkov?" K continued in the same resolute tone.
"Yes?"
"I'm not dismissing what you said about the breeding program and the strategic implications. If it were feasible, I would do it in a heartbeat, but it's not. At least not under current conditions. I'll consult with my team, and we shall see what we can do."
"Thank you," Dimitri said. "I appreciate that you're not dismissing it completely."
"Good night." The line went dead.
Dimitri stared at the phone for a long moment, then picked it up and handed it to Number One, but the soldier didn't get up as Dimitri had expected. He remained sitting.
They still had some time left before the Eight needed to head back and return the phone.
"Well," Petrov said. "That went better than I expected but worse than we hoped."
"He didn't say no to the women," Mattie said in a shaky voice. "He said maybe and that he needed time to think of a plan."
"He also said it was impossible," Petrov pointed out. "Which is what I said."
"He said a full-scale evacuation was impossible," Mattie corrected. "Then Dimitri made the strategic argument, and he paused. He recalculated. I could hear it."
Petrov shrugged. "You heard what you wanted to hear."
She glared at Petrov. "K was intrigued. He was tempted. I heard it in his voice."
He looked at her for a moment, then turned to Dimitri. "She might be right."
