The combined power of the repulsors knocks Gene back several feet, and he crouches into a familiar three-point stance. Additionally, the sudden shock interrupts the psychic assault on Tony, and the ring stops glowing as the possessed Gene finds his feet again.

It laughs with Gene's voice all the same, and it even sounds more sinister than usual filtered through the voice modulator. "Why do you still care?" he asks, the ugly laughter still behind his every word. "I never loved you. You've always been a pawn to me. Something to use, and control, and discard when I'm finished."

Gene is appalled that his mouth is saying such awful lies, but he'd been able to steal back a little more of himself when Tony had knocked him back. There's not a whole lot he can do to stop himself from activating the acid cloud of the orange ring and trying to dissolve Tony's armor, though. If Tony's got the dampener - which Gene hopes he does - now would be the time to try and use it.