Really, he'd been making a Star Wars reference. The Rebels are just the Rebels here, but let Sam think what he likes. It's interesting to him that Sam seems to have had a mess of not-good happening in his life way before he fell through the rift. If the people he's met so far have been any indication, it seems like some sort of theme.

"Keeping tabs, I suspect. Easier to do that when you know where everyone is. Provide the roof, keep everyone in check. It's a good game. Keeping tabs on that thing, too. The...rift. The dimensional portal."