[ He shakes his head weakly, then vehemently. ] No. No, Carlisle, you don't understand, you have - no idea the extremes I went to for him, I -

[ He's growing agitated again, hands in motion, his expression a confused, shifting mess of emotions, never settling on one. Revulsion, hatred, terror, despair - ]

We had one chance to kill him, and I stole it! We put him in exile in deep space, and I followed him! I opened the door that let him come back! I betrayed my friends, I struck bargains with the Devil, I - I murdered people myself, Carlisle! Just to get there!

[ a single, dark chuckle. ] And you know, the best part is? I could have reversed course at any time! I had the magic bullet! But no - every chance I got, I doubled down. I chose to gamble with the fates of billions, let the stakes climb higher and higher, until - until -