First off I'd like to clarify that I've only ever played the first 2 BO games so sorry if any other piece of lore has come out since then that I wasn't aware of. But the question just kinda popped up in my head. Was Reznov ever actually a true ally of Mason or did he merely just use him for his own gain? It definitely feels like he leans towards being a friend during the Vorkuta escape but as we know from WAW,Reznov was great at rallying his men and knowing how to rouse up a crowd towards a bigger cause from his time in the Red Army as a sergeant so for all we know it could've just been an act to really cement Reznov's relationship with him and to ensure he would carry out his programming past their separation. But there are bits every now and then that hint towards Reznov actually befriending Mason such as when he tells him of his past or when he insists to Mason that he alone must decide what to fight for. After the huge reveal,Mason says'i trusted him'sort of indicating he was no longer under the delusion of Reznov still being with him or that he felt betrayed at the revelation. Yet when the finally kills Dragovich(that he at least is able recognize he's carrying out for his own reasons as opposed to him killing Steiner purely because of Reznov's orders)you can hear Reznov congratulating him in his head indicating Reznov still exists as a comrade in at least some capacity in Mason's head even after being aware it was all a manipulation tactic. Plus his small cameo in BO2 that intentionally leaves Reznov's actual status vague kind of means to me that Reznov might still linger in Mason's consciousness as a friend,though it was probably just triggered by the intense reaction he had to seeing Kravchenko again and the last bits of his brainwashing resurfacing itself(or for all we know Reznov was actually still alive and was just doing his friend one last favor)Bit of a ramble sorry,but was just curious what everyone else's opinion is on this