It was a clumsy attempt at making Abel show compassion for part of the program, making another collared as they were. The scientists must realise that Abel wouldn't care if all of the programs were collared like animals, he would still slaughter them just the same.

"Please don't." His voice was low, half a soft plea only Abel ever heard and half still a command. "Real or not, I can't stand to see you lash out like that."