I was never under any illusion about what would happen the moment I stopped being useful to you. [ Shrugging, he gives Saren a bitter little smile. ] My flaw was thinking I was still in the green. Just didn't factor in a giant, murderous AI taking over your mind.

[ It was a lie. And it was the truth.

Saren IS his family. He'd trusted the man deeper than surface calculations of usefulness.

But Nihlus never once held onto the notion that the sentimentality was returned. ]

This isn't revenge and I'm not seeking it, [ he continues, eyes flashing with a sudden frost. ] But I intend to keep the people here safe and you running around, still hellbent on destroying all organic life... is not conducive to that.

[ In his peripheries, he sees Saren's hand hovering over that pistol and Nihlus takes in a quiet, shallow breath. As a Spectre, his most valuable weapon had always been his ability to read people. Figure out how they ticked, how to get close, how to use their flaws and hopes against themselves- or to turn them away from destruction.

Time to see if he was still right. If he still knew his old mentor as much as he thought he did. ]

I want you to convince me that you're not still under.

[ He takes a step closer. Then another. No sudden moves, but he doesn't stop, not until he's perfectly within the other Spectre's reach, defiance written in his striped face. ]

If I have to chain you down and manually peel every bit of Indoctrination out of you with my bare hands, I will do it. But I'd really, really rather I didn't have to.