E.G.G Episode 22: It's Not Easy Being Green

AND THERE CAME A DAY, A DAY UNLIKE ANY OTHER. WHEN THREE FRIENDS ROSE FROM THEIR DOOM TO FIGHT ON, VOWING NEVER AGAIN TO GIVE IN TO THE FORCES OF EVIL. ON THAT DAY, E.G.G WAS REBORN.

"Alright, here's another page. This is taking forever, but I've got to see this through! I can't take the risk of missing vital information! If there's one day in history I need to go back and change, it's that day. Ugh, this better not be a dead end..."

Alchamax Digital Translator Version 12.0

Welcome: O’ Hara, Miguel.

Now translating document into digital copy.

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Celeste Aoki: Diary Entry 2

January 9, 2013

Dear Mom,

I know I promised to be a good girl. I know I did. And I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry for what I did. But you know how much I love cookies, especially chocolate chip! So when Auntie Acacia made a fresh batch and said I couldn’t eat any until after dinner, I was ruined! Ruined I tell you! Auntie Acacia put them under lock and key, she even made Jocasta promise not to let me get any! But then Mr. Westbrook came in yelling about some guy in a ball that owed him ten dollars, and they all left. So, I kind of snuck into the new Feeding Pen (we moved bases since the old one kinda, well, blew up) and I tried to get one, but Jocasta locked me out, and said I wasn’t allowed. So I broke into her control nexus, and reprogrammed her so that she would give me as many cookies as I wanted! I only took one though mom, I promise! After Jocasta reprogrammed herself, she said she was going to tell Auntie Acacia what I did. I was going to wipe her memory circuit, but I didn’t! See, I’m not totally bad! I’m sorry mom, I really am. But Auntie Acacia wasn’t angry, she just said I should use my talents to help people, like you used your smarts to teach other kids. I’ll make you proud mom, I promise.

Much love,

Celeste

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End of translation.

Goodbye.

Click here to read E.G.G Episode 21: E.G.G Reborn

Click here for Episode 21 Q&A

-It's Not Easy Being Green-

Eileen walked down the Halls of E.G.G Base. Suddenly she stopped. She listened closely and heard crying. She turned the corner to see Acacia sitting on a bench, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Acacia?” She asked. Acacia sat up quickly.

“Eileen,” She said, holding back her tears. “What are you doing here?”

“I was headed to Humpty Dumpty Hall, is everything okay?”

“Well,” Acacia said, “I’m having some issues with my boyfriend.”

“You have a… never mind. What kind of issues are you having?”

“He’s in trouble and I can’t protect him. I want to bring him to E.G.G Base, but Josh would never allow it.”

“Acacia Blanco, you are an idiot.”

“What?”

“Josh and I are your best friends, if you don’t think that we’d move Heaven and Earth to help you, then you are sadly mistaken.” She sat down next to her. “Come on, let’s get your boyfriend to safety.”

“No!” Josh shouted.

“Told you.” Acacia said to Eileen. Eileen sighed.

“Josh, come on, her boyfriend is in trouble!” She pleaded.

“Number one, Mother Egg is ashes now because someone we let in remembered where it was and came back to destroy it.”

“Someone you let in.” Eileen corrected. Josh rolled his eyes.

“Whatever. Number two, Acacia doesn’t even have a boyfriend!”

“I do too!” Acacia defended.

“I’d know if you did.” Josh said. Eileen wiped a tear off of Acacia’s cheek.

“Look at this Josh!” She shouted. “Our friend is crying real tears! She has a boyfriend!”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Josh said. He took Eileen’s arm and licked the tear off of her finger.

“Ew! Gross!” She shouted, rubbing her hand against her pants. Josh smacked his lips.

“Pain…” He said. He smacked again. “Sorrow…” He moved his tongue around in his mouth. “And just a hint of despair. My gosh, those are real tears!”

“Told you.” Acacia said.

“Wow, you actually have a boyfriend.”

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“… Yes.”

“Josh!” Eileen said.

“Kidding.” He replied. “Who is it? He’s not an agent is he? Because that’s against the rules and I’d have to turn you in.”

“No, he’s not.” Acacia said. “And I’m not telling you who he is until you assure me I can bring him to E.G.G Base.” Josh thought for a bit. Then he sighed.

“You’re sure he’s not a super villain?”

“Positive.” Acacia said. Josh sighed again.

“Fine, I guess he can come.” Acacia squealed in excitement.

“Thank you so much!” She said, taking out her phone. “I’ll go bring him down.”

“Wait, what?”

“He’s waiting in the library.”

“Hey! You told him to come already!”

“That’s because we knew you were going to say yes.” Eileen said. Josh grumbled to himself as Acacia rushed to the elevator and got in. Josh looked at Eileen.

“How long have you known about this?” He asked.

“I figured out today.” She replied.

“So you don’t know who he is either?”

“Nope.”

“… 10 bucks says he’s fictional.”

“Josh!”

“Kidding.” Suddenly the elevator dinged. It opened and Acacia stepped out smiling.

“Josh, Eileen,” she said. “I’d like to introduce you to my boyfriend: Harry Osborn!”

“Hey,” He said, coming out of the elevator. Josh’s jaw dropped.

“Hi Harry,” Eileen said, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you. You’re a billionaire, right?”

“Millionaire,” he said modestly. “But yeah, I am. Head of Oscorp Industries.”

“Harry… Osborn…” Josh said. “Harry Osborn, son of Norman Osborn, better known to most of the world as the Green Goblin! Are you serious Acacia!” He drew his gun and Harry backed up.

“Josh, what the shell are you doing!” Acacia shouted.

“You just walked the Green Goblin’s son into my E.G.G Base!”

“Josh, put the gun down.” Eileen said.

“I’m not a bad guy,” Harry said. “And neither is my dad, he’s just sick.”

“Yeah, sick, okay.” Josh said. “That explain why he flies out on a bat glider and attacks Spider-Man every time he gets out of prison!”

“That bug is the reason he went crazy!” Harry defended. “If it weren’t for him, I’d still have a dad!”

“Spider-Man is a hero, he protects people from that maniac.”

“That ‘maniac’ is my father you jerk!”

“Okay!” Eileen said, lowering Josh’s gun. “How about we all cool down here.” Josh put his gun away and pulled away from Eileen.

“I want him off my E.G.G Base,” He said, storming off to his room. Eileen sighed. Acacia looked at Harry.

“Don’t worry about him.” She said. “You can stay here for as long as you need to.”

“What kind of trouble are you in?” Eileen asked. Harry shrugged.

“I’m not sure who, but someone put a hit out for me. It must be a big reward too, because there were three attempts on my life in the past week.”

“The most recent one was made by the Taskmaster.” Acacia said.

“Taskmaster?” Eileen asked. “Isn’t he that super villain that copies moves?”

“Yeah,” Harry confirmed. “He has some kind of photographic reflex thing. He sees someone do it, he can do it just as good. Fight him once, he’s as good as you. That’s why my highly trained body guards didn’t stand much of a chance.”

“Well this just got serious.” Eileen said. “I’m gonna go talk to Josh. You two just stay down here.”

“Okay.” Acacia said. “Come on Harry, I wanna give you the grand tour.”

“Lead the way honey bun.” He said, taking her hand. They walked off into E.G.G Base. Eileen smiled.

“Young love.” She said. She walked down the tunnel to Josh’s room. He was angrily pulling his clothes out of his dresser and mumbling to himself.

“Stupid Harry… Green Goblin… My E.G.G Base…” He grumbled. Eileen sat on his bed.

“Why are you pulling clothes out of your dresser?” She asked.

“To express my anger!” Josh shouted. Eileen smiled.

“Listen Josh, Harry is really a good guy, you can’t judge him based the bad decisions his father made. Just give him a chance, get to know him a little before you make a judgment call.” Josh sighed.

“Fine, I will. But I’m not happy about it.” Eileen clapped her hands together.

“Perfect!” She said. “Look who’s not letting petty grudges get the best of them!”

Josh walked into the Inner Shell, where Acacia and Harry were rubbing noses. Josh scrunched his face.

“Disgusting,” he said. “Look at her fraternizing with the enemy!” Eileen nudged him forward. He cleared his throat and they both looked at him. “Hey, uh, listen Osborn, Eileen says I should get to know you before I make any horrible accusations so… yeah.”

“Thanks,” Harry said. “I really appreciate that.”

“No problem.” Josh said. They stood for a few seconds. “So… What’s your favorite color?”

“Green.”

“Wow! You see, this is exactly what I’m talking about!”

“I can’t help my favorite color!”

“Yeah, well ya wanna know mine? Blue and red, Spider-Man’s colors!”

“Um, excuse me,” Acacia said. “Can we refrain from using the S word, it makes Harry uncomfortable.” Josh’s eye twitched.

“The S word!” He growled. “I will not refrain from using MY favorite hero’s name in MY headquarters! I’ll say it all day! Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man!” Harry clenched his fist and got in Josh’s face.

“Say his name, one more time.” He growled. Josh inhaled.

“Spider-Man.” With that, Harry punched Josh square across the jaw. Eileen gasped.

“Harr-bear!” Acacia shouted in astonishment. Josh sat up and rubbed his lip.

“Why I oughta…”

“Bring it Director!” Harry said, rolling up his sleeves.

“Excuse me.” Jocasta called.

“What is it Jocasta?” Josh asked, assuming a fighting stance.

“There is an incoming message from name designation: Jake the Loser Librarian.”

“Is that really what you call him?” Eileen asked.

“Only behind his back.” Josh said. “Put him through Jocasta.” There was a ringing noise, then Jake’s voice appeared over the intercom.

“Westbrook?” He whispered. “I don’t know if you’re getting this, but there’s this whack job here, he’s holding everyone in the library hostage! This is right up your freak show ally!” Josh pressed the button.

“Stay calm Jake,” He said. “Do you know who it is?”

“No,” Jake replied. “He has a sword and a shield, and a white hood and cape, a stupid looking skull mask, oh, wait, there’s a T on his chest.”

“Loading villain profile based on description.” Jocasta said. The man Jake described appeared on the screen. Josh’s eyes widened.

“The Taskmaster.” Josh said. He turned to Harry. “Friend of yours?”

“Don’t you even start!” Acacia interrupted. “We need to get topside, now.”

“Fine,” Josh said. “Hit the elevator! Don’t move Osborn.”

“Wasn’t gonna.” He angrily replied. Josh, Acacia, and Eileen got into the elevator and headed up.

In the library, everyone was hiding under tables and behind bookshelves. The Taskmaster walked down an aisle, dragging his sword against the wall.

“Osborn.” He called. “Come out, come out. I don’t think you’d be too happy if some of these good people got hurt on your behalf…”

“That’s not gonna happen.” Taskmaster turned to see the three friends standing in front of the elevator. He laughed.

“And what are you supposed to be?” He asked. “Rent-a-heroes?”

“Rent-a-hero this!” Josh said. He rushed at Taskmaster. He punched, punched, then kicked. Taskmaster dodged each one. Then he punched Josh, punched him again, then kicked him. Josh slid back. “No way…” Acacia and Eileen charged. Acacia did a spin kick but Taskmaster ducked under, then he caught Eileen’s karate chop and spin kicked her. Acacia began to punch, but he karate chopped her.

“He’s using our own moves against us!” Eileen shouted.

“Here’s one I’m sure he doesn’t know!” Josh said, getting up.

“Josh, no!” She called, but too late.

“Have a taste of the Joshua Westbrook Combat Special!” He did a front handspring, flipped into the air, then came down on the Taskmaster with his heel. Taskmaster blocked Josh’s attack with his shield, then he did a front handspring, flipped into the air, then came down on Josh with his heel. Josh fell against the wall.

“Who… taught you that?” He asked, horrified.

“You did.” Taskmaster said. He reached out for Josh, but Acacia tackled him from behind. She began attack him, but Taskmaster blocked each hit. “I can anticipate your every move!” He said, kicking Acacia. “I’ve got the aim of Hawkeye!” He took out a bow and arrow and shot Eileen through the shoulder as she was charging at him. She screamed and fell to the ground. “I move just like Cap!” He threw his shield, and it hit Acacia in the stomach. He shot a grapple into the ceiling. “And I’ve got Spidey’s swing!” He said, swinging into Josh and kicking him through a bookshelf.

“Hey!” Taskmaster turned to see Harry. “It’s me you want!”

“Harr-bear, no!” Acacia shouted.

“Osborn.” Taskmaster said, drawing his sword. “I chased you here all the way from New York. Good news is, dead or alive, either way I turn you in I get paid.”

“Who put the hit out on me?” Harry asked.

“Well, that won’t really matter anymore once you’re dead, now will it?” Taskmaster answered. He charged at Harry.

“No!” Acacia shouted. Taskmaster swung his sword, but as he did, Harry kicked the bookshelf. It wobbled and began to fall. Taskmaster stopped.

“You brat!” He shouted as the bookshelf crushed both of them.

“HARRY!” Acacia shouted. She rushed over and began digging through books. Josh and Eileen rushed to her aid. Acacia desperately dug, and uncovered the Taskmaster, who groaned weakly.

“Wha…” He began, but Acacia punched him unconscious.

“Acacia!” Eileen called. Acacia rushed over as Eileen pulled Harry out of the pile of books. She knelt down and grabbed him.

“Harry?” She cried. She shook him. “Harry…” She began to cry.

“Acacia…” Josh began. Suddenly Harry gasped and jumped up.

“Harry!” She exclaimed, hugging him tightly. “You’re alright!”

“You know it honey bun…” He said. They both kissed each other passionately. Josh cleared his throat.

“Hey Osborn, I know I was kinda rough on you back there…” he said.

“It’s cool.” Harry said, holding out his hand. “Friends.” Josh shook his hand.

“Yeah,” he said. “Friends.”

“Come on you two.” Eileen said. “Let’s get you back to E.G.G Base.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Acacia said. “How’d you survive that? It should have crushed you!”

“I guess I’m stronger than I let on.” He said.

“Acacia!” Josh shouted. She turned.

“Yeah?” Josh looked at her, her arms wrapped tightly around Harry’s neck, smiling big and wide. He shook his head.

“Nothing, I’ll see you in E.G.G Base.” He said.

“Okay,” she replied, getting into the elevator with Eileen and Harry. Jake approached Josh.

“We need to talk damages.” He said.

“Of course Jake.” Josh said. He began to follow Jake, all the while holding behind his back a small empty vial, labeled Globulin Green.

Tune in on Thursday, January 15 for the Q&A for this episode, and then prepare for Episode 23: Lightstream, on Friday, January 16! Hope you guys are loving season 2 of E.G.G! See you next week!