E.G.G Episode 55: E.G.G v.s A.I.M Part 3- Blurred Lines

AND THERE CAME A DAY, A DARK DAY. A DAY WHERE THE LIVES OF THREE FRIENDS WERE SINGLEHANDEDLY DESTROYED. BUT THAT DAY HASN’T HAPPENED YET. NOW, HISTORY HAS BEEN REWRITTEN, AND E.G.G WILL WAKE TO SEE A BRAND NEW DAY.

Josh and Acacia continued to make their way through A.I.M, disguising themselves as agents so they wouldn't draw attention. Unfortunately, the mighty M.O.D.O.K (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) saw through their ruse and put the entire base on alert. Luckily, Josh was able to find a genetic scrambler and free up Acacia's powers, though she's still somewhat weak. Eileen, meanwhile, escaped Maya's captivity, and now roams the base as Lightstream, desperately looking for a way out. Back home, however, Agent Rice and James interrogated Justin Hammer for some answers, and by the advice of Squirrel Girl, set out to mount a full scale invasion on A.I.M...

Click here to read E.G.G Episode 54: E.G.G v.s A.I.M Part 2- Only for Killing

Click here to the E.G.G v.s A.I.M Part 2 Q&A

E.G.G V.S A.I.M

PART 3

-Blurred Lines-

Rice was piloting his S.H.I.E.L.D flying car, with Squirrel Girl and James in the back seat.

“Can I uh, ask you something?” James asked Squirrel Girl.

“Sure.” She replied.

“How’d you know that I, you know, came out of that portal?”

“Well duh! You were in my park silly!” She said. “I see everything that goes on there!”

“Right,” James said.

“So… are you an alien?”

“What? No!”

“From a different dimension?”

“A different time.” James replied.

“Wow… when?”

“2099.”

“Whaaaaaaaaat! That’s so wicked!”

“Yeah, yeah, shh, okay? I don’t want the world to know.”

“Why not? It’s totally cool.”

“You may think it’s cool, but S.H.I.E.L.D will probably see me as a threat. Nick Fury already said he’s got his eyes on me…”

“Eye.” Squirrel Girl corrected. James stared.

“Yeah. Eye. I’m nervous enough heading up here as it is, but I’m willing to do anything to save Eileen.”

“You really like her, don’t you?” James looked at the floor.

“I, I don’t know…”

“Come on! I’ve been watching you guys for months! You’re sharing a room, you always flirt with each other, you raided her underwear drawer…” James was alerted.

“I was looking for something! I thought it fell in! I swear!” He lied, as his face flushed red.

“Sure, whatever you say.” She said, smiling.

“We’re here.” Rice said, as the car flew above the clouds and into the Helicarrier loading bay. He, James, and Squirrel Girl walked through the massive base.

“Wow, this place is awesome!” Squirrel Girl exclaimed, stopping every three seconds to examine one thing or another.

“Impressive, for the early 21^st century…” James murmured to himself. They walked onto the bridge where Nick Fury was overseeing all daily activities. He turned to Rice.

“Agent Rice.” He said. “Have you found E.G.G yet?”

“No sir,” he answered. “I’m working on it, but I think I’ve got a lead.”

“Shoot.”

“A.I.M.” Fury inhaled.

“A.I.M huh?”

“They were inquiring about information on it from Hammer, Director Westbrook was looking into it before they were abducted, there has to be a connection.”

“Well are you planning to invade A.I.M by yourself Agent Rice?”

“I was actually hoping for some backup.” He said. Fury nodded.

“I’ll see what I can do.” He looked at James. “You, on the other hand, have been busy. Hill.” Commander Maria Hill approached and handed Fury a file. “Thank you.” He said, opening it. “Let’s see here, a visit to Worthington Labs, right after it was ransacked by an unidentified assailant. Some plane tickets to Idaho, where a robbery was thwarted days earlier by a man who matched the description of the guy that robbed Worthington. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were following this guy, and since we have nothing on either of you, you must be related somehow. Care to fill me in, or do I have to figure the rest out on my own?”

“Listen, I’m up here to find Eileen.” James said. “You want a Q and A, do it on your own time.” Fury smirked.

“I’m on my own then.” He handed the file back to Hill. “We’ll find out where you came from Mr. Collins. One way or the other.” James glared angrily as Fury turned and resumed his duties.

“Let’s go.” Rice said.

“Couldn’t agree more.” James said, following him off the bridge.

Josh and Acacia rushed down the Halls of A.I.M, being fired at by A.I.M agents, hot on their tail.

“‘Go left,’ you said.” Josh panted. “‘There aren’t any guards,’ you said!”

“Will you shut up and run!” Acacia shouted, as they slid the corner.

“Here!” Josh said, grabbing her arm and dragging her into a lab. The doors shut and the agents rushed past. “Phew, that was close.”

“Josh…”

“What’s up?”

“I think you should see this…” Josh walked up next to Acacia.

“What are you… oh man…” There, in the back of the room, was a cryogenic stasis tube, and inside it, was Anti-Venom.

“Powell?” Josh said. “How’d he get here?”

“I have no idea,” Acacia replied. “The last time we saw him was in the hospital after Eileen almost killed him.”

“A.I.M probably got their filthy hands on him between then and now.”

“Should we… free him?”

“Yeah, we should.” Acacia sighed.

“Why you keep saving this guy, I don’t know.” She and Josh began to detach the tubes cooling the chamber. Josh pulled a lever and shut it down. Acacia pulled it open and Anti-Venom fell out.

“Ohhh…” He groaned. “What… What happened?” He looked up. “You?! What are you doing here?”

“Saving your ungrateful-”

“Acacia.” Josh interrupted. She sighed and folded her arms. “What’s the last thing you remember Tanner?” Anti-Venom thought for a bit.

“I remember… men, in yellow suits! Shot at me with… some kind of electric blasts, and sonic waves… The Symbiote was hurting… Blacked out after that… Woke up and saw you.”

“Sounds like A.I.M ambushed him.” Acacia said.

“Probably wanted him for some stupid experiment.” Josh said.

“Grah, I’ll slaughter them all!” He growled.

“Hey!” Josh said. “You don’t do that anymore, remember?”

“Grr… Fine…” Anti-Venom reluctantly agreed.

“Here’s what you can do.” Josh said. “Find us a way out of here. So once we find Eileen, we got an escape route.”

“Why should I?” He asked.

“Uh, because this makes two you owe us!” Acacia said. “If we didn’t let you out, A.I.M probably would have turned you into M.O.D.O.K 2.0!” Josh and Anti-Venom shuddered at the thought.

“Fine.” He said. “But only because I don’t like owing people anything.” He jumped onto the wall, broke open an air duct, and crawled inside.

“You think he’ll come through?” Acacia asked.

“Yeah, Tanner’s never liked owing people things.” Josh said. He turned around. “Ooh, hello experimental terrorist gadgets.” He walked over to a table with a bunch of spare parts scattered across it. “I think I’ve got everything I need to make a Thwip Blaster!”

“What’s this?” Acacia asked, picking up a helmet.

“No way!” Josh exclaimed. “That helmet belongs to Basil Sandhurst, the Controller.”

“The mind control guy?”

“Yeah, I once heard he had the Avengers rob a bank for him!”

“Wow, pretty powerful stuff.” She said, putting it on. “Maybe I can just tell all the A.I.M agents to back the shell off!”

“Yeah, if you can get it to work.” Josh said, tinkering with the items. “Aaaaand… got it!” He held a half constructed device, cranked a lever, pulled a trigger, and white goo spurted all over Acacia.

“Ah! Are you serious right now!” She screamed.

“I don’t have much to work with here!” Josh shouted, slamming it down and starting over.

Lightstream flew through the compound rapidly, blasting anyone that got in her way.

“I gotta find my blood.” She said. “Can’t let them use it for more Extremis.” She rounded the corner and saw Maya, who stopped short.

“Eileen…” She said. Lightstream’s hand lit up.

“Give me one reason.” She growled.

“Please Eileen, listen to me!” Maya begged. “I only want to make the world a better place!”

“The world’s fine without more Extremis pumped goons!”

“Please, Aldrich and I were on the verge on a breakthrough. I just need your help…” Suddenly a group of five agents with black stripes on their uniforms rushed around the corner.

“There she is!” The commander shouted. “Blast her!” Lightstream dove for cover as they began to shoot.

“Don’t hurt her!” Maya shouted.

“Oh, we’ll be nice and gentle. Just get the 3.0 out of here. M.O.D.O.K’s orders.”

“I don’t answer to M.O.D.O.K.” Maya growled.

“Then what about the Scientist Supreme?” Maya paused. “Yeah, thought so, now get moving!” Maya rushed off.

“Maya!” Lightstream shouted. She flew up and began to go after her, when the commander ditched his gun, jumped into the air, and kicked Eileen into the wall. “What the…” she said, astonished. The commander took off his helmet and ripped off his shirt. His body began to glow red.

“Extremis 2.0.” He said. “May not be as good as 3.0, but it gets the job done!” He grabbed Lightstream’s arm and it began to burn.

“Ah!” She screamed, pulling away. The other agents took off their helmets and began to glow red. “Oh no…” They all charged at her. Lightstream flew into the air and blasted two of them, but the other three tackled her to the ground. One grabbed her face and burned her mask off.

“Get off!” Eileen screamed, punching him across the room. Two lined up next to each other and began to breathe fire. “Seriously?” Eileen said, taking cover. The commander then punched his fist through the wall and grabbed her hair.

“Ow!” She shouted as her dragged her through the wall and threw her to the ground. They all surrounded her and began beating her. Eileen curled into a fetal position, helpless as the assault continued. Suddenly one of them stopped and held his head. The commander looked.

“What is it Jim?” he asked.

“I… I think I’m getting too hot…” He began to glow brighter.

“Oh not you too.” The commander said. “Get out of here, now! Get in the other room!” Jim ran into an empty lab.

“Why don’t you guys keep him company!” Eileen said, blasting all four of them into the room.

“No!” The commander shouted, running for the door. But Eileen held out her hand and techno-pathically closed it. The commander turned as Jim began to crack and glow brighter.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!” He screamed, and in seconds, he exploded. The impact blew the doors open.

“Whoa!” Eileen shouted as she was blown back and slammed against the wall. She stood up, and walked into the lab to see it completely obliterated, and four shadows from the other agents on the wall. “Oh my gosh.” She gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth. “Maya, you complete maniac. I have to stop her!” She flew up and took off.

Josh and Acacia snuck through the halls.

“I think we’re clear…” Josh said.

“Hey!” They both turned to see an agent rushing towards them. Acacia held out her hands.

“These are not the E.G.G Agents you’re looking for!” She said.

“Don’t move a muscle!” He ordered. Acacia clicked her tongue and took off the helmet.

“Piece of crap.” She said, throwing it at him and knocking him unconscious.

“Maybe it only works for him.” Josh said, opening a door. “Ew, is this blood!” Acacia turned to a table with a rack of vials upon vials of blood.

“Gross.” Acacia said. Josh walked over to the computer and powered it up.

“Oh no. Acacia!”

“What?”

“I figured out what 3.0 is.” He said, turning the screen to her. “Extremis.”

“Wait, that means there’s a 2.0 we don’t know about.” She said. Josh shrugged. Acacia picked up a vial.

“Oh shell! Josh!” She screamed. Josh turned to see the label on the vial: Wuthrich, Eileen.

“No…” Josh said. He slammed the table. “They drained Eileen’s blood for a stupid experiment!”

“This is a lot…”

“They’d better pray she’s still alive.” Josh said. “First, I gotta destroy all this.” Josh pulled an incinerator down from the ceiling. “Makes me sick.” He was about to press the button when he heard a gun cock.

“Step away. Now.” He and Acacia turned to see Maya aiming a gun at them.

“Put the gun down.” Acacia said.

“Get away from the vials.” Maya said.

“Hard way it is then!” Acacia’s hands lit up and she was about to charge when Maya shot her.

“Acacia!” Josh shouted as she fell to the ground. Maya aimed at Josh. Josh put his hands up. “Maya, you don’t want to do this.” Josh said.

“Back off of the incinerator!” She yelled. Josh stepped back.

“Just calm down…” He said. She shook her head.

“Aldrich and I had a dream, and I will not let you destroy my life’s work!”

“This is a sin Maya,” Josh said. “Human experimentation, Extremis itself…”

“You don’t understand. You’ll never understand.” Her hands began to shake. “No one accept Aldrich will ever understand.”

“I understand.” Josh said. “Which is why I’m doing this, for your own good.” He kicked a rolling chair and it slid into Maya, knocking her to the ground. Josh rushed over to the button.

“Josh no!” She cried. Josh looked at her, tears streaming down her face. “Please.” Josh closed his eyes and slammed the button. A stream of flame engulfed the Extremis 3.0. “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Maya screamed, running towards it. Josh grabbed her and pulled her to the ground.

“Stop Maya!” He said. She struggled against him, reaching out for her work.

“No! No! NO! NO! NOOOOO!!!” She violently pulled against Josh.

“It’s gone Maya! Shh. It’s gone. It’s gone.” She stopped struggling and Josh let her go. She fell to the floor, sobbing.

“Why…” She cried. “Why…” Josh knelt next to her.

“Maya,” he touched her cheek. “Maya listen, it’s not worth it. You can start over, leave A.I.M, join E.G.G. We can come up with a new way to save the world. Together.” Maya shook her head.

“You ruined everything.” She said.

“Maya, I…” Suddenly the door opened and Savin walked in.

“Well ain’t this just a whoop de doo.” He said, as he began to glow red. Josh stood up and backed up. Savin looked at Maya. “This guy given you trouble doc?”

“Take him in.” Maya said quietly.

“With pleasure.” Savin said. Josh backed up. He looked and saw a blaster on a counter. He grabbed it and aimed.

“Back off before I figure out what this thing does!” He shouted. Savin continued to walk towards him. “Okay, you asked for it!” Josh pulled the trigger and a giant blue beam blasted out and took Savin’s arm clean off.

“Aaaahhhh!” He screamed, dropping to his knees.

“Oh man!” Josh said. “I… I didn’t mean to…” But just then, Savin’s arm slowly began to regenerate. He looked angrily at Josh. Josh gulped. “Never mind.” Savin charged, but Josh rolled out of the way. Savin punched a hole into the wall. Josh looked to see an armory in the other room.

“Bingo!” He said. Savin went at Josh again, but Josh rolled out of the way and blasted an opening into the wall. He jumped through and pulled a crossbow off a shelf. “Not the Crosseye, but…” He began shooting arrows, which Savin just pulled out as they hit him. Josh looked at the crossbow. “Why did I even grab this?” He asked, throwing it down and pulling a blue gun off a shelf.

“Please do something useful!” He shouted as he fired it. A beam of ice hit Savin and froze him in his path. “Freeze ray, nice!” He said. Suddenly the ice turned red and melted off of him.

“Arah!” Savin screamed.

“Oh you’ve got to be shelling kidding me!” Josh said. He backed into the wall, and Savin choked him. “So… I’m guessing it’s too late to send you a Facebook friend request?” Savin lifted Josh off of the ground.

“Well, this wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it’d be.” He said. His arm began to light up. Josh closed his eyes.

“Don’t kill him Savin.” He turned to see Maya standing across the room.

“Let me handle this, alright?” He said. “I do the tough stuff, you make the juice.”

“I mean it.” She said, taking out a small dart gun. “I will destabilize you so fast.”

“Ooh,” Savin said. He shook his head. “Tsk, tsk. Turning on us doc? Bad move.”

“Come here!” Josh shouted, grabbing his neck. Savin swung around, Josh holding on to him. He slammed Josh against the ground.

“Line him up, I got the shot!” Maya shouted. Savin turned to her.

“You little bi-” He was cut short as Josh grabbed him from behind.

“Do it, now!” Savin heated up and Josh jumped back. Maya shot a dart but he dodged it, then grabbed her arm.

“Ahhh!” She shrieked, dropping her gun.

“You’re a liability now.” He said. “And I make liabilities go bye, bye.” Josh suddenly rushed him from behind and they both tumbled. Savin kicked Josh into the wall, then picked up the crossbow. “Really gettin’ sick of you!” He said. He fired an arrow.

“No!” Maya screamed, shoving him out of the way. The next instant, the arrow pierced her chest.

“Maya!” Josh screamed. He pulled the arrow out and lifted her onto his lap.

“You were right…” She said. “I was only creating… monsters…”

“Maya…”

“I’m sorry. For everything…” Josh blinked back tears.

“I forgive you.” Maya smiled. Then she slowly died in Josh’s arms. Josh closed her eyes and kissed her on the forehead.

“Ain’t that sweet.” Savin said. “But I think you’re forgetting about someone.” Josh laid Maya down.

“I didn’t forget about you.” Josh said, standing up. “I just saved you for last.” Savin began to walk towards Josh.

“Colantotte, magnetize!” Josh ordered. The light on his bracelet turned blue and the nearest weapon on the shelf flew to him. He caught it and fired it at Savin. A red laser pierced his shoulder.

“Agh!” He screamed. He held his shoulder and began to charge towards Josh. Josh fired the laser again and cut off Savin’s leg. “AAHHH!” He screamed, falling, as his leg began to regenerate. “Gonna… kill you…”

“Don’t count on it.” Josh said. He threw down the laser and picked up Maya’s dart gun. “Goodbye.” He shot a dart into Savin.

“Ah!” He said, pulling it out. Suddenly he began to glow brighter and brighter. Josh frowned.

“That doesn’t look good.” He said.

“AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!” Savin screamed as he began to crack. Josh rushed up, hugged Maya, and ducked down, just as Savin exploded. Josh opened his eyes to see the room around him obliterated. Then he looked to see himself and Maya safely protected inside of a force field. He looked up to see Acacia standing over them.

“Okay, I mean it this time.” Josh said, standing up with Maya. “I am so freaking hot for you right now.”

“Yeah, you can take me to dinner when this is over.” She said.

“Sure, we’ll go for Shawarma.”

“That’d be nice. Anyways, we need to get out of here.”

“But Eileen…”

“Lightstream told me she got her to safety, now let’s go.”

“Right, okay.” He brushed the rack of burned Extremis 3.0 off of the table and laid Maya on it.

“She gone?” Acacia asked. Josh solemnly nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ll come back for her.” He said. “Now come on, and let’s pray that Tanner comes through.”

To Be Concluded…

Alright, make sure you tune in next week Thursday, November 5, and catch the Q&A for this episode! Then come back the next day, November 6, for final chapter of this awesome 4-Part event: E.G.G v.s A.I.M! The war on A.I.M ends here, and with the most shocking ending in E.G.G hisotry!