Giant Spider

"Reid, I've received the latest intel. Hansen may be planning an operation at the stadium. Take your people and find a way to infiltrate it immediately. Find him and execute him. Stop his plan at all costs."

The battle at the street corner was raging fiercely. Reid had just shot dead a Wraith soldier who had shown himself from behind cover—judging from the face he glimpsed as the man fell, the enemy had been especially young. At that moment, he received a direct order from Rosalind Myles.

As a professional agent, he raised no objections. After replying with the classic acknowledgment that had been popular within the corporation fifty years ago—"Copy"—he swiftly moved into action.

But just as he was about to move, Rosalind Myles's next words came through the communicator:

"I know you don't want Song Zhaomei to die, Reid. In consideration of your loyalty, I'm willing to forgive this impulsiveness of yours and give you a chance. But if you truly want her to live, then you absolutely cannot let her fall into the hands of any force or person other than New America.

"Otherwise, once Song Zhaomei's situation is exposed, you and I both know what kind of consequences it will trigger. You don't want to see New America collapse because of her either, do you?"

With those words, Rosalind Myles ended the transmission. Reid remained silent after hearing her final statement.

There was no doubt that her words weighed upon Reid's heart like a heavy mountain. To a loyal man like him, they carried enormous weight.

She had placed Song Zhaomei's life on one side of the scales and New America's safety on the other, forcing him to choose—but could he truly watch all of New America fall into crisis for the sake of one person?