The word doesn't seem to mean anything to him. He draws himself up and backs off as far as he can-- not in retreat, just to get a better look at her.

"You'll have to excuse me," he says, "I'm not familiar. What's an omnic?" She can't mean an independent, sapient AI. Can she?

At least her supposition about the train fits into his schemas. He nods. "I mean, it would have to be, wouldn't it? How else would it operate?"