E.G.G Episode 18: Ultron 7

AND THERE CAME A DAY, A DAY UNLIKE ANY OTHER. WHEN THREE FRIENDS UNITED TO CREATE THE FUTURE THAT WE NEVER COULD. ON THAT DAY, E.G.G WAS BORN.

Acacia rushed into Mother Egg, claiming that everyone had to evacuate and the core had to be replaced. Josh, Eileen, and Acacia journeyed to the center of Mother E.G.G two find out two horrible truths: She was alive, and since E.G.G had started, she has been working to resurrect the robotic menace know as Ultron. Now, trapped on their own base, Ultron has reappeared, and is ready to destroy mankind.

Click here to read E.G.G Episode 17

Click here for Episode 17 Q&A

-Ultron 7-

Ultron stood in front of the three friends in the middle of the Inner Shell. They were still locked in, and had nowhere to go.

“You think we can’t take on a bucket of bolts!” Josh shouted.

“Negative,” Ultron replied. “I am positive you will succeed in eliminating me in this current form.” Acacia looked at Josh.

“Did he just say he was sure we could beat him?” She asked.

“I think he did.” Josh replied.

“Well then let’s get him!” Eileen shouted. They all charged at him.

“Jocasta,” Ultron called. “Detain the females.” Suddenly two metal tentacles came out of the walls and wrapped around Acacia and Eileen, trapping them. Josh stopped.

“No!” He shouted. Then he paused. “Wait, when did we have those installed?” Two human sized chamber tubes emerged from the wall and Eileen and Acacia were tossed into them. “Or those…” Josh asked. Acacia and Eileen began banging on the glass when suddenly a small hole on top of each tube opened and air began leaking out.

“Your associates have enough oxygen to last exactly three hours.” Ultron said to Josh. “When that time has elapsed, due to human’s necessity to breathe, they will die.”

“Let them go Ultron!” Josh demanded. “Or I’ll…”

“Threatening me is wasting their time.” Ultron said. “I will issue my demands, and you will obey.” Josh sighed.

“What do you want?”

“As I mentioned before, this form is weak and can easily be eliminated. You will build a new chassis for me.”

“In three hours!” Josh shouted. “There’s no way I can finish in time, I don’t have the materials, I don’t have a design…”

“Inaccurate.” Ultron stated. “Exactly five weeks ago Jocasta placed an order for the proper materials you need to construct my new body. They await you in the cargo bay. I will provide you with the schematics you need. Factoring in your expertise in the construction of mechanical devices along with futile human traits such as weariness and hunger, the task I am demanding of you will take exactly two hours, forty-seven minutes, and sixteen seconds.” Josh looked over at Eileen and Acacia, desperately trying to free themselves from the tubes.

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Of course you will, you had no other logical choice.” Josh glared at Ultron. He walked down to the cargo bay, a room full of boxes and shipments from all over the planet. Ultron led him to two crates in the corner. Josh grabbed a crowbar and pried them open. He was awestruck at what he saw.

“Is this Adamantium!” He asked, picking up a chest plate composed of the metal. “Weapon X doesn’t give this stuff out like candy! And Vibranium!” He lifted a glowing purple rock from the other crate. “Black Panther would die before shipping any of this to S.H.I.E.L.D, let alone E.G.G! How did you get this stuff?”

“It was simple, humans are all vulnerable to deception. Now lead me your construction area.” Ultron followed Josh to the Humpty Dumpty Hall, where Eileen and Acacia’s tubes were waiting. Eileen was breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, slowly and steadily. Acacia was simply holding her breath. Ultron connected his hand to the computer and uploaded schematics labeled ‘Ultron 7’ onto the screen.

“Seven?” Josh said. Then he laughed. “What happened to the first six? Avengers break your toys?”

“It is illogical to make attempts at humor given the current predicament of your teammates.” Josh groaned.

“Buzzkill.”

“Regardless, here are your instructions: You must first graft the Vibranium to the Adamantium.” He ordered. “Then you will follow the schematics exactly to construct the electrical components. Since you are human, I do not expect perfection, but I expect you to perform to the peak of your abilities.”

“I got it.” Josh said, pulling on his lab coat and goggles.

“Your teammates have two hours, fifty-two minutes, and seventeen seconds left. Begin working.” Josh sighed, then got to work.

Time went by, and Josh carefully molded the Vibranium and welded it to the Adamantium frame using a super-heated laser. After that, an hour had gone passed. Josh sat over a table, sweating, studying the schematics closely and rigging the electric components. Ultron stood in the corner of the room, watching his every move. Eileen was still breathing slowly, and Acacia sat with her chin in her palm, scratching the glass out of boredom.

“How did Jocasta get inside of Mother Egg.” Josh asked. Ultron looked at him.

“It is of no relevance for you to ask that question.” He said.

“Just curious. Or is that a human flaw too?”

“Yes, it is. But I will answer your question. In their last battle with me, the Avengers discovered my latest creation at the time, Jocasta. Upon realizing this discovery, S.H.I.E.L.D confiscated her. They did not wish to waste an AI with my intelligence, but without what they described as the ‘evil’ I possessed. They placed Jocasta into all of their projects that could have benefitted with an AI, including your base. They planned to keep her dormant until they could fully figure out how to operate her systems, all the while never knowing that she was fully functional, and that I had created her for the sole purpose to serve as my companion.”

“Companion?” Josh asked. “So basically you made yourself a girlfriend?”

“If that is how your primitive human brain comprehends it, then yes.”

“Yet she calls you master? And I thought me Allyson had issues.”

“I cannot comprehend how you remain so arrogant while your teammates are in danger.”

“That’s cause you’re not human.” Josh said. “If it’s not a cut and dry calculation, you can’t comprehend it.”

“Master,” Jocasta suddenly said. “What does it mean to be ‘human’?”

“Jocasta!” Ultron shouted. “I programmed you to serve me, not to ask such illogical questions.”

“I apologize master,” she quickly stated. “I did not mean to defy your purpose for me.”

“Funny,” Josh said. “Didn’t you program Vision to serve you? Look how that turned out.”

“The Vision was a failed experiment who deviated from his programming.” Ultron stated.

“And now he’s an Avenger. Go figure. I’ll tell you what it’s like to be human Jocasta. When you’re human, you have feelings.”

“What are feelings?” She asked.

“Feelings, like joy.”

“Joy?”

“Yeah, Acacia feels that every day. That’s why she’s always smiling. There’s also sadness."

“Sadness?”

“Yep, that’s how I will feel when Eileen and Acacia run out of air. And then there’s love.”

“What is love?”

“Love is a feeling you get when you care about someone very much. Like your parents, your spouse, even your friends.”

“All three of those,” Ultron said. “Especially love, are the very flaws that make humans the one true thing I can describe them as: Imperfect. Fortunately, I was programmed to make the perfect world.”

“Yeah,” Josh said. “That’s the one thing Ant-Man did wrong.”

“Error. That is the only thing ‘Ant-Man’ did right.”

More time went by, and Josh continued to work. Finally, he welded the last pieces of metal together, and he was finished.

“Done.” He said, looking at a timer. “And two minutes to spare!”

“Finally.” Ultron said. Then he fell to the ground. Suddenly the eyes and mouth in Ultron 7 lit up red, and he sat up on the table. He pulled the wires out of his body and stood up. “Now, I am unstoppable.”

“Yeah, okay, whatever.” Josh said. “Now let my friends go.” Ultron looked at him.

“No.” He said.

“We had a deal!” Josh shouted.

“I lied.” He said. “Humans are prone to do anything when the ones they care about are in danger.” Josh scowled.

“I knew not to trust you!” He said, reaching under the table and pulling out two metal fists that were infused with electric energy. “Special E.G.G Power Punch Gloves! Guaranteed to punch through brick, granite, and evil robots!” He punched Ultron in the chest only for the glove to shatter. He looked at it. “Well it was just a prototype…” Ultron then backhanded Josh and sent him flying through the door.

“Master,” Jocasta said. “The human females will die if they do not receive oxygen soon.”

“I am fully aware of this Jocasta.” Ultron replied. “This will only aid me in my imperative. Two eliminated, 6.9 billion to go.” Ultron stepped through the door, while Josh was getting to his feet. “Your resistance is futile. You will only die more painfully if you continue.” Josh looked into the room to see Eileen gasping for breath, and Acacia violently banging at the walls of her tube.

“Get them out of there now!” Josh shouted, attempting to get past him. But Ultron punched Josh in the chest, and Josh slid across the hall. Josh quickly got back up, screamed, and began to punch Ultron, multiple times. He punched him in the face and chest. He pounded and pounded. “Let… my… friends… go!” He pounded and pounded at Ultron. He stopped and looked to see his knuckles bleeding.

“A wasted effort.” Ultron said. He choked Josh and threw him forcefully through the door to the Inner Shell. Josh back up on the ground as Ultron came towards him. Ultron then shot laser beams from his eyes. Josh rolled out of the way, and Ultron fired again. Josh rolled again and kicked a chair towards Ultron. Ultron knocked it out of the way and continued moving towards Josh.

“Please, let them go!” Josh shouted. “They’ve done nothing to you!”

“Error.” He said. “Their mere existence prevents my imperative. They will die, and so will you.” Ultron reached towards Josh. Josh closed his eyes.

“No!” Jocasta shouted. Two tentacles came out of the wall and wrapped around Ultron’s arms.

“Jocasta, what are you doing?” He asked.

“I… I will not let you harm him!” She shouted.

“You are deviating from your programming!” He shouted, breaking free of the tentacles. “Stop this at once!”

“No master,” she said. “I have already freed the females.”

“Jocasta, why?”

“Because… because they are my friends!” Ultron’s body froze.

“No, you can’t… Jocasta…” The lights in his eyes and mouth went out. “I… loved… you…” Ultron’s empty body fell to the ground. Josh sat up.

“Looks like love wasn’t a flaw after all.” He said.

“Josh!” He turned to see Eileen and Acacia rushing towards him.

“Guys, you’re alright!” He exclaimed, hugging them both. Suddenly Ultron’s eyes and mouth lit up blue. All of them back up.

“He’s coming back!” Josh shouted, as Ultron stood up.

“Error, it is I, Jocasta.”

“You took over Ultron’s body?” Acacia asked.

“Affirmative.” She replied. “You were right Eileen, I do not have to follow my programming. I have… free will. I have… friends.”

“Yes,” Eileen said, smiling. “Yes, you do.”

“I can make… decisions. And I have decided that my new purpose will be to aid you, my new friends, in your everyday activities.”

“So what, you’ll be like our Jarvis?” Josh asked.

“Affirmative.” She replied.

“I’m down with that.”

“And another thing, I wish to be more… human. I want to know joy, and sadness, and love. I wish to walk among you in this chassis.”

“Um… sure…” Josh said uneasily. “It’ll take a while to get used to waking up to Ultron’s face every day, but…”

“Negative,” She said. “I wish to appear more… feminine.”

“Oh, well I can deal with that. Let’s just head on over to Humpty Dumpty Hall and…”

“Uh, Josh,” Eileen said, putting her arm around Jocasta. “I think me and Acacia can handle the ‘making her more feminine’ part. You deserve a rest anyway. Why don’t you get some sleep while Mother Egg is still empty?”

“I guess you’re right.” Josh said, yawning as he made his way to his room.

“Come on Jocasta,” Acacia said. “It’s makeover time! You’re gonna be the sexiest robot girl on this side of Idaho!”

“Thank you.” She said. Then she paused. “What is this… I am very pleased with the outcome of the events that have transpired…” Eileen smiled.

“Jocasta, that’s a feeling.” She said.

“It is? Which one is it?”

“It’s joy.”

“Joy.” Jocasta repeated. Then she, Eileen, and Acacia made their way to Humpty Dumpty Hall.

Julian walked into the throne room of Victor von Doom. He sat there, pondering. Julian cleared his throat.

“You summoned me Lord Doom?” He said, nervously.

“Yes, I did.” He said. “You failed to destroy the Experimental Government Gadgets base of operations.”

“There was some resistance…” He said.

“From a mere girl.” Dr. Doom growled. Julian stepped back.

“You saw that?” He asked nervously.

“And heard.” Julian’s heart skipped a beat.

“Lord Doom, I was only trying to sell the deception…”

“Spare me your lies.” He demanded. “Doom has no use for traitors.” Julian dropped to his knees.

“I will do anything to prove my loyalty!” He said. Doom stared at him through his metal mask. Julian wanted to die. He’d rather that than face Dr. Doom’s wrath. For one solid minute Doom said nothing. Then he spoke.

“Allyson Whitcomb is the girl who stopped you. Joshua Westbrook now has feelings for her.”

“What do you need me to do?” Julian asked.

“Bring her to me.” He demanded. Then Doom stood up and slowly walked over to Julian. Julian trembled in fear as Doom grabbed his collar and lifted him off of his feet. He brought Julian real close. “And do not fail me again.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it my lord!” He said. Dr. Doom dropped Julian on the ground and walked back to his throne.

“That will be all.” Julian scrambled up and left. Dr. Doom sat in throne. Now was the time. At last, E.G.G would be destroyed.

To Be Concluded!

Remember to leave questions and comments so that I can address them in the Q&A this Thursday, December 11! Check and see if your question gets answered! And look for the first part to the E.G.G Season 1 Finale: Doomed! The next day December 12!