Tony fights savagely, but he's not making any real progress. The illusions are just too numerous, and more keep popping up to replace any that Tony destroys. He's practically out of his mind with helpless frustration. He needs to get to Gene, he has to help him, he has to do something before Malicant finishes him off.

Malicant taking on Tony's own face as he holds Gene up by the throat is chilling, but Tony doesn't let it affect him. He'd almost been expecting it.

Then Malicant's image becomes that of his father, and Tony falters. "No..." He whispers, his blood running cold as the shade taunts him, inviting him to join it. "No," he repeats more loudly, his voice taking on a slightly hysterical edge. "Stop it. Stop it! Let him go!" He throws himself back into the fight with renewed ferocity.

When the ninjas and Makluans suddenly disappear, Tony has a moment of pure, heart-stopping terror - he's sure that Gene is dead, that the battle is over because Malicant has killed him - and then he looks up.

"Gene!" His voice breaks into a sob of relief, and he staggers over to him, dismissing the armor.

He falls to his knees beside Gene and immediately runs his hand across Gene's blood-soaked torso. The horrific wound is gone, though his clothes are still bloody and torn. Too overwhelmed to speak, Tony lets out another choked sob and flings his arms around Gene.