Gene's flabbergasted. He can't believe Tony would be so selfish! "You don't know that! I'm dangerous, I'm not worth it," he says urgently, "I'm not worth it, damn you! You need to take me out, now!"

For one moment of desperation, of madness, he thinks that if he could get to the rings he could make Tony do it. The thought immediately makes him sick to his stomach, and he sways on his feet. No. No. Tony would never forgive him for that. For using the ring again on him, and for making him kill Gene.

"Skul will do it, if I ask him," Gene says quietly. Though he'd really prefer if it was Tony carrying out his sentence. It would be almost poetic; it would give his death meaning, if not his life. "I can't live with myself if I'm worried I might be turned at a moment's notice and hurt those I care about. I told you, killing me would be a kindness, if it would prevent that."