Tony's heart leaps when the water bubble Malicant had summoned collapses, and for a second he dares to think that Gene might have broken free.
And then Malicant sneers with Gene's voice, and activates the black ring.
This is what Tony had been most afraid of. Most of the rings' powers he can at least put up a fight against, but the black ring is out of his league, and way too dangerous to allow Malicant to use. Tony had hoped to stall long enough to give Gene time to beat Malicant back, but if he uses the black ring, Tony will have no choice.
The Makluan dampener is all-or-nothing. Once he fires it, Malicant will know he has it, he won't give Tony the chance to try it again. Once he fires it, there's no going back.
Like Gene said: If Tony puts Gene down, and he's still under Malicant's control, Tony has to make sure he doesn't get up.
The air around them is rippling with power, the very fabric of reality distorting as the black ring starts to tear it open to release whatever horrors lie in wait on the other side.
"Gene, please," Tony begs. "Please don't make me do this. Don't give up. I know you can still beat it." He fires the unibeam again, at full power, in a desperate attempt to keep Malicant from opening the Negative Zone, and to give Gene one last chance.
And at the same time, he raises his hand and prepares to fire the dampener.
always
And then Malicant sneers with Gene's voice, and activates the black ring.
This is what Tony had been most afraid of. Most of the rings' powers he can at least put up a fight against, but the black ring is out of his league, and way too dangerous to allow Malicant to use. Tony had hoped to stall long enough to give Gene time to beat Malicant back, but if he uses the black ring, Tony will have no choice.
The Makluan dampener is all-or-nothing. Once he fires it, Malicant will know he has it, he won't give Tony the chance to try it again. Once he fires it, there's no going back.
Like Gene said: If Tony puts Gene down, and he's still under Malicant's control, Tony has to make sure he doesn't get up.
The air around them is rippling with power, the very fabric of reality distorting as the black ring starts to tear it open to release whatever horrors lie in wait on the other side.
"Gene, please," Tony begs. "Please don't make me do this. Don't give up. I know you can still beat it." He fires the unibeam again, at full power, in a desperate attempt to keep Malicant from opening the Negative Zone, and to give Gene one last chance.
And at the same time, he raises his hand and prepares to fire the dampener.