175 Reid

"I want to save her."

Reid's words plunged V into brief silence. He rubbed the wineglass in his hand before finally speaking. "Honestly, Reid, I don't want to judge your thinking. If we can really get her out, I wouldn't insist on taking out Songbird. She's the client, after all, and I don't make a habit of killing clients."

Even so, V still had doubts.

Those doubts stemmed from learning what a threat Songbird was—anyone would be wary when facing a humanoid nuclear bomb, especially when there was now a chance to eliminate that threat ahead of time.

It wasn't that V cared about whether "Songbird's life was still a life." He didn't want to lay a hand on a client, but another issue was troubling him now—one a mercenary should not have had to consider.

What would happen if New America regained control of Songbird? Then again, even without Songbird, wouldn't New America just create a second one? A third?

"I just think we need to think some things through, Reid," V said gravely.

"I know." Reid saw through V's thoughts and shook his head. "I'm shocked too. If possible, when we get back, I'll try to talk President Myles out of it. If something like this gets exposed, it'll be enough to condemn New America to eternal disgrace, let alone continuing the research. But judging by the president's attitude back then..." He gave a bitter smile. "I can only hope Little Song was really the only one they made."

"One is already absurd enough for something this risky."

V shook his head as well, choosing to set the matter aside for now. Negotiating with Hansen was still nowhere close to happening. There were more important things to worry about.

He asked Reid, who had already begun examining the