The agreement comes as a welcome surprise, even if it accompanied the feeling that he's about to be lead into a potential trap. Nihlus takes it up anyways, carefully putting some distance between them and the stray civilian.

What Rinzler says draws him to a slow stop at the bottom of the stairwell however. He casts the Program a sideways stare, mandibles clamped against his jaw and expression carefully neutral.

It still comes back to him. He fights it, but it comes back. The stray scent of ozone against the back of his tongue, the crinkle of voxels, Rinzler-

Nihlus takes in a slow shaken breath, letting his claws dig in hard enough to cut into his palm, lets the pain ground him, knuckles white.

"Not even then," he manages, barely managing to push the words out beyond a strained whisper. Swallowing the hard knot in his throat, Nihlus turns a crooked smile on the program.

"You're not useful. You're a pain in the ass and even the Monolith knew that. I only hang around you because I think you're cool."