He staggered back a step, having to grab at the chair to keep from falling backward entirely with the rest of the damn thing in the way of him getting his balance. Red-faced, bristled and angry again, he had to fish around with sounds to get words.

"That's...That's not the case anymore. Keeping it close to keep it from floating around into the wrong hands...I knew what I had! If I'd known I was going to wind up some...some mindless slave, I would've taken it along anyway!" He huffed, starting to lose fire again. Anxiety was playing up over his anger, causing his palms to sweat and his head to start throbbing again.

"But that's not the case anymore. Because I'm not..." He lifted his free hand, staring at it as if expecting it to suddenly not be there.