E.G.G Episode 48: The X Factor

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.

While on the way back to E.G.G Base, Josh hit a mysterious teenage girl with his car. While nursing her back to health, the gang quickly discovered that she was no ordinary girl. With a healing factor and sharp Adamantium claws, the girl was revealed to be the Wolverine clone known as Experiment X-23! Weapon X came to retrieve their experiment, but Sarah Kinney, the only woman that could calm her down, was killed, sending X-23 into a berserker rage! After a hard fought battle, Josh was finally able to calm her down, reminding her what Sarah had always wanted her to be: Larua Kinney, and not Experiment X-23.

Click here to read E.G.G Episode 47: Experiment X-23

Click here for Episode 47 Q&A

-The X Factor-

Emma Frost sat on a bench in Grand Central Station. She looked at her watch and sighed. Just then a woman with short black hair approached and sat next to her.

“You’re late Raven.” Emma said. The woman squinted angrily at her.

“Don’t call me that.” She replied. “That’s my slave name.”

“Whatever,” Emma said, handing her a file. She opened it and looked in.

“This the target?” She asked.

“Yes, it is.”

“And I’m still getting the agreed upon amount?”

“Of course.” She handed the file back to Emma.

“Where?”

“That ‘employees only’ closet just at the bottom of the staircase.” Emma replied, handing her a copy of Josh’s ID badge. “Don’t get caught, especially by Director Westbrook. He knows how to fight my mental control, and I won’t be able to bail you out.”

“I won’t get caught. I’m going in.” She stood up and began to make her way to the door.

“Be discreet about it, there are people everywhere.” She looked back at Emma.

“Discreet is my business.”

“Very well, good luck Raven.” She cut Emma an evil look. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mystique.” She smiled and walked down the stairs.

Mystique walked up to the door and scanned her ID card. It opened, and she stepped inside of the elevator. As it was descending, she shape shifted into Josh. The elevator opened into the Inner Shell.

“Director Westbrook.” An agent greeted. Mystique smiled.

“Good to see you agent.” She replied, having Josh’s voice as well as his look. She looked around.

-Frost, I’m in.- she said in her head, mentally communicating with Emma Frost.

-Excellent.- Emma’s voice replied inside of Mystique’s head. -I’m searching the base now, but it’ll take a while to jump from agent to agent until I find her. You should ask someone where she is.-

“Have you seen Eileen?” Mystique asked the agent that greeted her.

“Commander Wuthrich? Uh, she was in the Humpty Dumpty Hall last I checked.”

“Thank you.” She said.

-Where is that?-

-Down the tunnel to your right.- Emma replied. Mystique began to walk down the tunnel when Josh rounded the corner. Mystique quickly looked back and shape shifted into the first agent she saw, which was Allyson.

“Director,” She said, quickly passing him.

“Allyson wait!” Josh called, stopping her.

-Oh @#$%!- Mystique mentally swore.

-Be calm Mystique, I’m reading her mind now.- Emma replied.

“Listen, I’m sorry about the other day,” Josh said.

-She’s his ex.-

-What happened the other day?-

-He kissed another woman.-

“You should be you pig.” Mystique replied.

“I just… I don’t know, I like Maya, and, you know… we’re broken up…”

-Who’s Maya?-

-She doesn’t know her.-

-Why’s she upset?-

-Interesting, she still has feelings for the director.-

“We may be over, but we spent…”

-Three months-

“Three months together, I thought that’d mean something to you, but you clearly don’t care how I feel.”

“No, please, tell me!” Josh begged. “I want to know how you feel!”

-She still loves him.-

“I still love you!” Mystique shouted. Josh jumped.

“What?”

-No, she hadn’t told him that yet!-

-Way to go Frost!-

-Just end it, this has taken long enough as it is!-

“Did, did you just say that…”

“Just leave me alone!” Mystique cried, running off.

“Allyson, no!” Josh followed her, but as soon as she was out of sight she shape shifted into the agent that had greeted her, and Josh rushed right past her. Mystique smiled, then turned to see the Humpty Dumpty Hall.

“Excellent.” She said, turning back into Josh. She walked in to see Acacia examining his half-constructed new suit of armor.

-Who?-

-Acacia.-

“Acacia.” She called, causing her to jump.

“Oh, Josh.” She replied, smiling. “You scared me!”

“What are you doing in here?” he asked.

“Looking at your new armor.” She said. “You can get the pieces of it to come to you, right? Like what you did with X-23 yesterday?”

-Frost…-

-I can’t get inside of Josh’s head, he’d know my presence. Improvise!-

“Yeah, it’s just a prototype though, so…”

“How’d you do it!” Acacia asked eagerly. Mystique cleared her throat.

“Another day, Acacia, I’m really busy.”

“With what?”

“Actually, I need Eileen, have you seen her?”

“She was just here, but I think she went to James’s room.”

“Thank you.” She left the Humpty Dumpty Hall.

-Down the tunnel, top of the stairs, third door from the end.- Mystique followed Emma’s instructions and got to James’s room to see him packing up his stuff.

“James?” She asked. He looked.

“Oh, hello Josh.” He said.

“Why are you packing your things?”

“I’m moving into Eileen’s room.” He said. “She helps me sleep better at night, and you won’t have to be bothered with my nightmares anymore.”

“Very well, how you two get busy is none of my concern.”

“What… No! Nothing like that! We have separate beds and everything! I just…”

“I don’t care James, where is Eileen!” Mystique demanded.

“I… I think she went to the Feeding Pen.” James replied. He squinted. “You okay?”

“Fine.” She replied, walking off.

-This is a goose chase Frost!-

-Just find her, Feeding Pen is right across the way.- Mystique walked in to see Celeste bouncing at the table and Jocasta serving her cookies.

“This is the maximum amount for the day,” Jocasta said. “No more after this, understood?”

“Okay,” Celeste replied.

“And do not erase my memory circuits again!”

“I won’t! I promise!”

“Excuse me.” Mystique interjected. “Has anyone seen Eileen?” Jocasta looked at her strangely.

“Josh,” She said. “Your vitals… your biological components… they are all wrong!”

“Perhaps you require an update,” Mystique hesitantly replied. “You’re clearly not operating correctly.”

“Your manner of speech is odd as well…” Jocasta observed. “Initiating scan…”

-That robot is going to out you! Get out of there!-

“Warning! You are an imposter!” Jocasta’s arms folded into guns. “Identify yourself!”

-Frost!- Mystique mentally panicked. Suddenly Celeste stood up, opened a compartment in the back of Jocasta’s neck, and shut her down. -Was that you?-

-Yes- Emma replied. -You are being very careless. Luckily this girl knows how to erase this robot’s memory. Just find Eileen, now!-

-I’ve been trying to do that all day!-

-Wait a minute, she told this girl she was going to get something from the Humpty Dumpty Hall.-

-I’m going in circles now!- Mystique stormed angrily through E.G.G Base, back to the Humpty Dumpty Hall, where she saw Josh and Acacia talking. –Not again!- She mentally exclaimed, shape shifting into Eileen just as Josh and Acacia looked her way.

“What’s up Eileen?” Josh said.

“Not much,” she replied. “Hey, where did I say I was headed?”

“You didn’t.” Acacia said.

“But since you’re here, I can explain my new armor to you!”

“I’d rather not…”

“No, it’s really cool!” Acacia said. “Sit, listen. I’m gonna grab a taco, just tell her everything you told me!” Acacia rushed out of the room.

“Okay, so,” Josh said, as Mystique reluctantly sat down. “This is my, wait for it… Web Blaster Armor!” She stared at him. “Get it? Cause the web shooters, and the…”

“Get on with it.” Mystique impatiently replied.

“Right, sorry. Anyways, you’re probably wondering how I got the arm to fly to me yesterday, aren’t you?”

“Not especially…”

“Well it’s this bracelet!” Josh said, rolling back his sleeve revealing a metal bracelet. “It’s called Colantotte. Tony showed it to me when I talked to him during the Skrull invasion, he told me how he integrated it into his Mark VII armor. It’s a little magnet that holds a permanent polarized charge. The only problem is, I can’t shrink my new armor into a little backpack like my previous armor, but, I think if I focus the servo power on the joint mechanics instead of…”

-Shut him up!- Emma complained.

-Gladly- Mystique stood up, grabbed Josh’s shoulders, and kissed him on the lips. Josh stood, awestricken.

“Wha… But… Eileen… You…” He couldn’t get a word out.

“Speechless.” Mystique proudly stated.

“I… I… But I…”

“Oh, you poor confused thing,” She said, moving her hand across his chest.

-Mystique, what are you doing?-

-Having some fun. The look on his face is priceless.-

-You have a job to do!-

-Quiet Emma-

“Did you enjoy that?” She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I… you can’t…” Josh cleared his throat. “Eileen, this is highly inappropriate! I mean… We are on a strictly professional basis!”

“What’s wrong with a little pleasure?”

“No! And… and Maya! Yeah, she’d be upset… and James! Yeah, what about James? I thought you liked him!”

“Maybe I’ve changed my mind.” Mystique moved in again when she heard a Repulsor Blaster charge.

“Get your filthy lips off him.” Mystique turned to see Eileen standing in the doorway, aiming directly at her.

“What the shell!?” Josh shouted, as Mystique threw him to the side.

“Finally.” She said, moving towards Eileen.

“What’s going on!” Josh shouted. “Why are there two Eileen’s!”

“This one’s an imposter!” Eileen said, blasting her with the Repulsor Blaster.

“Ah!” Mystique shouted, sliding back into the wall. Because of the impact, she reverted back into her natural blue-skinned, red-headed form.

“Mystique!” Josh exclaimed. Then he smiled. “Sweet! Now I can cross her off my kiss list! I don’t know why girls keep kissing me in your form…”

“Wait, this has happened before?” Eileen asked. Josh paused.

“Um…” Suddenly Mystique tackled Eileen to the ground, causing her to drop her Repulsor Blaster. “Uh-oh!” Josh said, picking it up. “Freeze shape shifter!” He called. Thinking fast, Mystique turned into Eileen and rolled around the ground with her. Josh tried to focus on Mystique, but lost sight of her as Eileen kicked her off and they stood to their feet. Josh looked between the two of them, but couldn’t tell the difference.

“Blast her!” They both exclaimed.

“Oh man…” Josh said, aiming it at both of them. “I… I don’t know…”

“That’s Mystique! Shoot her!” One Eileen shouted.

“That’s exactly what Mystique would say!” The other one replied. “Shoot her!”

“Josh it’s me!”

“Don’t listen to her, I’m me!” Josh was sweating.

“I… uh…” He said.

“Josh, I’m your best friend, look into my eyes! You can tell!”

“Josh, trust your heart!”

“Uh…” Josh moved the blaster back and forth.

“Josh, you have to believe in me!”

“No Josh, don’t believe in her, don’t even believe in me! Believe in the little girl who asked to play ball with you on the 6^th grade playground. That’s who you believe in.”

“What! You can’t…” The other Eileen was cut short as Josh blasted her across the room and into the table, knocking her unconscious. Eileen smiled.

“I knew that’d get you.” She said.

“Yeah,” Josh said. “Maybe Mystique should do her research before she infiltrates this E.G.G Base!” He looked over at the other Eileen, still lying unconscious on the ground. “Hey, shouldn’t she have reverted back to Mystique by now…” He looked next to him to see ‘Eileen’ smile.

“Fool.” She said. Josh’s eyes widened.

“No way!” he exclaimed, getting ready to blast her but in vain as she kicked him into the wall and knocked him out cold.

-Thanks for that out Frost.- She said, picking Eileen up.

-No problem, it was a rather cute memory.-

-It made me sick.- She shape shifted into James and left the Humpty Dumpty Hall as Acacia was coming back in.

“Whoa, what happened to Eileen?” She asked.

“She’s just wiped out.” Mystique lied. “I’m just taking her back to her, or, our room.” Acacia smiled.

“Well okay then!” She skipped in to see the place a wreck and Josh against the wall. “Oh no!” She exclaimed, rushing up to Josh. “Are you okay? Hey, can you hear me?” Josh slowly opened his eyes.

“Shape… shifter…” He said, falling back down. Acacia was alerted.

“Oh no!” She rushed out of the room and into the Inner Shell.

“Where’s James!” She called.

“He just got in the elevator with Commander Wuthrich…” An agent replied.

“No! No! No!” Acacia shouted, rushing in. She took it up to Grand Central Station and looked frantically around. But she didn’t see Emma or Mystique, because Emma was projecting an image in her head. The same image she was seeing now, just without them in it.

They walked out and Emma got inside of a car. Mystique, under the guise of Raven, laid Eileen in the back seat. Emma handed Mystique a briefcase.

“As advertised.” She said. Mystique took the case and smiled.

“A pleasure doing business.” She said. “Send my regards to the Hellfire Club.”

“I will. Goodbye Mystique.” Emma was about to drive away when she stopped. “Oh wait…”

“What?”

“Hm? Oh, nothing concerning you, I just forgot to wake up the S.H.I.E.L.D agent on the roof across the street.”

“There was a… never mind. Goodbye Emma.” Mystique walked off as Emma held her hand to her head, then drove away with Eileen.

On the roof across the street, Agent Rice slowly opened his eyes.

“What happened?” he asked. He looked to see Squirrel Girl curled up on top of him. “Gah!” He said, rolling her off.

“Ah!” She shouted, waking up. “What happened? Did I fall asleep?”

“We both did…” Rice said. “Had to be telepathically induced! I’d have picked up on a drug or toxin.” He took out a pair of binoculars and tapped the x-ray button so he could see through the walls and into E.G.G Base. “No!” He exclaimed.

“What’s wrong?” Squirrel Girl asked. Rice sighed.

“Eileen’s been kidnapped.” He activated his communicator as Squirrel Girl picked up the binoculars. “This is Agent Rice to Director Fury, target lost, I repeat, target lost.”

“How did that happen agent?” Fury replied.

“A surprise attack, I’m pretty sure it was telepathic.”

“And I’m pretty sure it was Emma Frost.” Fury replied. “Just hold position agent, we’ll find her.”

“Yes sir.” Rice hung up and slammed the roof. “Dang it!”

“They’re talking about a Mystique in there.” Squirrel Girl said, listening in on one of the many bugs planted inside of the base. “Who’s she?”

“A shape shifting mutant.” Rice replied. “And if mutants are involved, then they probably know she’s one and need her for something. Gah, we’ll never find her!”

“Well…” Squirrel Girl said. “I’m a mutant.” Rice looked at her.

“What? Really?”

“Yeah… I’m a mutant. And, well, I think I have some friends that can help.”

To Be Continued…

Alright, make sure you tune in next week Thursday, September 17, and catch the Q&A for this episode! Then come back the next day, September 18, for E.G.G Episode 49: The Inner Circle! The countdown to E.G.G's 50th Episode Spectacular nears an end!