E.G.G Episode 50: Destroy

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.

Eileen awoke from being kidnapped by Emma Frost to find herself in the clutches of the Inner Circle. Their leader, Sebastian Shaw, explained to Eileen that their goal was to imbue her with the power of legendary Phoenix Force, informing her that not only was she a mutant, but, due to the Extremis within her, maybe the most powerful one in the world. Josh, James, and Acacia went to track down Frost while Squirrel Girl led Kyle to another form of help: The X-Men. Everyone came together in the Hellfire Club, and the battle of the century broke out. E.G.G and the X-Men had the Inner Circle on the ropes, but suddenly, the roof was ripped off, and they all were presented with a new set of problems: Sentinels.

Click here to read E.G.G Episode 49: The Inner Circle

Click here for Episode 49 Q&A

-Destroy-

“Everybody hit the deck!” Cyclops called as the Sentinel that lifted the roof off of the hideout of the Inner Circle opened fire. It blasted lasers out of its hands, attempting to hit everyone, because with the exception of Josh, Acacia and James, they all were mutants. About 25 more had landed behind him and were moving in on E.G.G, the Inner Circle, and the X-Men.

“Mutants detected.” The Sentinel called. “Destroy.”

“Come on guys!” Josh called, running with James, Acacia and Eileen close by. “We gotta get out of here! Now!”

“But the X-Men!” Eileen said.

“They are more than capable of taking care of themselves!” Josh called. Suddenly a Sentinel hovered down and landed directly in front of them.

“Mutant detected.” It said, rockets emerging from its shoulders. “Destroy.”

“What?” Acacia said. “Who’s he talking about?”

“He’s talking about me!” Eileen said. The three of them looked at her.

“What?” They all asked simultaneously. The Sentinel then launched the rockets.

“Crap!” Josh exclaimed. Just then, Angel swooped in and grabbed Eileen. Jean mentally pulled Acacia out of the way and Shadowcat grabbed Josh and James, phasing them into the ground.

“X-Men, take down the Sentinels!” Cyclops ordered.

“It will be done!” Storm called, flying to the sky and creating lighting clouds.

“I think it’s time we took our leave…” Shaw said. He turned to go but was intercepted by Wolverine.

“I don’t know where you think you’re goin’ bub.” He said, popping his claws with a snikt.

“Shaw,” Beast said. “The Sentinels will hunt you down if you run. They’ll hunt us all down. The most logical course of action is to destroy them, and for that, we need your help!”

“We wouldn’t dream of helping such incompetent…” Selene began but Shaw stopped her.

“You are right, Dr. McCoy.”

“Sebastian…” Emma said. “You can’t be serious.”

“Inner Circle, help the X-Men destroy the Sentinels!” He ordered.

“I hate my life.” Pierce said, charging into battle. Iceman slid by on an ice path, freezing their feet to the ground, but the ice was easily broken when they lifted their foot.

“I’m not makin’ a dent!” Iceman said, continuing to freeze. Eileen looked up.

“Warren, throw me into Storm’s lightning cloud!” She said.

“What? No!” Angel protested. “I’m not gonna…”

“Do it!” Eileen shouted. Angel held his breath, then uneasily threw Eileen into the cloud. Shadowcat came out of the ground with Josh and James.

“AAAAHHH!” They both screamed, patting themselves down.

“You’re okay.” She replied.

“Please, please don’t do that again!” Josh shouted.

“Look out!” James called as a Sentinel brought its fist down. Josh jumped up, grabbed its hand, and began to run up its arm, shooting web balls at its eyes.

“Optical receivers impaired.” It shouted, grabbing at the webs. Nightcrawler teleported onto the shoulder of one with Emma Frost. She turned to diamond and began to punch a hole into its head.

“Mutants detected. Destroy.” Another Sentinel said, aiming at them.

“Uh-Oh…” Nightcrawler said, grabbing Frost and teleporting as the Sentinel blasted the other one.

“Alert: Misfire. Improving targeting systems.” It said. Cyclops blasted the arm off of one while Beast and Pierce attacked the servos on another’s legs. James took to the sky and began shooting his laser gun.

“Warning,” a Sentinel said. “Mutants have acquired homosapien allies. Adding to target list. Objective: Destroy.”

“Take this!” Jean said, holding out her hands and crunching one’s head. Another shot a blast at her. “Agh!” She screamed, hitting the wall and falling unconscious.

“There’s too many of them!” Acacia shouted, shooting an immense stream of fire at one. Suddenly thunder clapped and a massive bolt of lightning rained from the sky.

“AAAAAAHHHH!” Eileen screamed, her eyes blue from all the energy she was channeling through her body. Shaw rushed up and stood in the lightning.

“POWER!” He shouted, punching a Sentinel’s foot clean off.

“Major threat identified, engage.” A Sentinel said, blasting at Eileen. Cyclops shot his beam and it intercepted the Sentinel’s blast. Josh jumped off of one and blasted another in the chest. It fell back as Iceman surfed by and dropped Shadowcat off. She fell, phased through the Sentinel, and came out the other end as it exploded.

“Let’s see if we can make these things heavier!” Leland shouted, holding out his hands forcing two Sentinels to the ground.

“GRAH!” Wolverine screamed, violently slicing into another’s chest, as Storm created a tornado which was ripping through the battlefield.

“We need a more efficient way of doing this!” Cyclops called, blasting another one.

“Then let’s combine our powers.” Josh said. “Eileen and Storm got the idea.”

“If you would my boy?” Shaw asked. Cyclops blasted Shaw with his eye beam. Shaw lit up red. “Excellent!” He shouted, slamming both fists into the ground and quaking the earth. Josh webbed Acacia, spun in a circle, and hurled her.

“Here goes nothing!” She screamed. “Flame on!” Her entire body was engulfed in flames as she rocketed clean through a Sentinel. Angel grabbed Shadowcat and flew up with her, flying just low enough for Kitty to phase through the heads of the Sentinels and short circuit them. Leland forced a Sentinel to its knees, and Beast threw Wolverine, who cut straight through its neck with his claws. Emma back up and noticed Mastermind and Selene hiding behind some rubble.

“What are you two doing?” She shouted.

“My powers are useless!” Selene said.

“And that foolish boy stabbed me!” Mastermind complained.

“Okay, Jason, get up and create an illusion. Now! And Selene, I have the perfect job for you.”

“What?” She asked. Emma grabbed her and threw out into the battle.

“Draw their attention!” She called.

“Frost!” Selene shouted.

“Mutant detected. Destroy.” A Sentinel said, opening fire. Mastermind stood up.

“I can fool their eyes but not their sensors.” He said.

“Anything will help.” Emma said. He held out his hands and the Sentinels found themselves in Candy Land.

“Alert!” A Sentinel called. “Visual lost. Adapting… switching to mutant detection mode.”

Eileen was bringing the lightning, but soon, she was overwhelmed, exhausted, and she began to fade out.

“I can’t… keep… this up…” She said, as she fell unconscious and plummeted out of the sky.

“Nein!” Nightcrawler said, as he teleported, caught Eileen, and put her down safely.

“Scott!” Emma called, turning to diamond. Cyclops shot his beam and it reflected off of her, scattering lasers everywhere.

“Whoa!” James shouted, barely dodging one. “Watch it! You almost…” A Sentinel suddenly caught him.

“Destroy.” It said, squeezing him.

“Ah!” James screamed. Iceman then surfed by and froze its arm. Just as he did, Angel dropped Pierce, who cannonballed into the ice and broke off the Sentinel’s arm, freeing James. Acacia blasted one with a force field and it stumbled back into Storm’s tornado, falling to pieces. Beast jumped onto one’s neck, opened a panel, rearranged some wires, then jumped off. The Sentinel froze, shook, then exploded. Josh spun a web and pulled, hoping for the Sentinel to trip. Instead it dragged the web with it, and Josh as well.

“No!” Josh shouted, being dragged by the walking Sentinel.

“Hey, blue guy!” James shouted, getting Nightcrawler’s attention. “See what you can do with these.” He tossed Nightcrawler some charges.

“This will do just fine!” He said. He teleported onto one, planted a charge, then teleported to another, and another. He reappeared in front of James. “Good to go!” James pressed the detonator and the heads of the Sentinel’s blew off.

“Help me!” Selene screamed, running from the last one.

“Destroy!” It shouted. Josh flipped over and spun a web line, both ends to the ground, then pulled it back like a slingshot.

“Wolverine!” He shouted. Wolverine jumped in and Josh launched him.

“AAAAAHHHHHH!” Wolverine screamed as his claws came out with a menacing snikt.

“Systems at risk of being compromised!” The Sentinel exclaimed as Wolverine shot through its head like a bullet. The robot fell and crashed to the ground. Josh looked around at all of the downed Sentinels.

“Wow, we did good!” He said, raising his hand to Cyclops for a high five, who promptly ignored him.

“What were you maniacs up to?” He asked Shaw. “I want the truth.”

“The Phoenix’s new host awaits.” He said, pointing to Eileen. “The rebirth is among us!”

“You’re not letting that monster near anyone else!” Jean said, who had finally regained consciousness. “No one can control the Phoenix, Shaw! No one!”

“Eileen is an omega class mutant!” Emma replied. “With Extremis in her body, of course she can control it. I think you’re just jealous, due to your… shortcomings.”

“We will stop you at any cost.” Jean said, as Cyclops and the rest of the X-Men fell in.

“A pity, we were just beginning to get along.” Mastermind said.

“We should leave…” James said.

“I second that.” Acacia added.

“Third, let’s go!” Josh shouted.

“Grab her!” Shaw demanded.

“Stop them!” Cyclops ordered.

“Guys!” Everyone turned to see Iceman and Shadowcat round the corner.

“One of those Sentinels is still semi-functional!” Kitty said.

“And it’s sayin’ some pretty scary stuff!” Iceman added. Shaw looked at Cyclops.

“Let’s check it out.” Cyclops said.

“Yeah, we really should be going…” Josh said. Eileen nudged him. He sighed and followed as they all walked over to investigate. The Sentinel was on the ground, sparking, its eyes flashing on and off.

“Analysis… crzt… bzzt… of targets… zzt… complete… crrrrzt… Adapting… grrt… czt… uploading… grrzt… Wave 2 in transit… Objective… crzt… bzt… arczt… Destroy…” The Sentinel’s eyes faded and it went out.

“Did he just say wave two?” Josh asked. “Because it sounded like he said wave two to me.”

“Intriguing…” Beast inquired. “This entire battle was just an analysis. They were studying us, learning our powers, adapting. Now that they’ve gathered the proper information, they’re going to attack again, stronger, better, more efficiently. All things considered, they may very well win this round.”

“We are doomed!” Strom exclaimed.

“Listen guys, they know our weak points now.” Cyclops said. “So we gotta confuse them, mix it up…”

“I don’t think that’ll do us any good.” James said. “These things adapt and shift tactic, even in the middle of battle.”

“I think we should run.” Leland said.

“I second that.” Pierce added.

“Third!” Selene said.

“Let’s go!” Mastermind shouted as they all turned to run.

“Shaw,” Jean said. “Don’t cut and run now.”

“I’m sorry Ms. Grey,” He said. “But sometimes the coward survives.”

“What about your coveted prize?” Angel said, nodding towards Eileen.

“You heard what we’re in for. We’re cutting our losses and if you were smart you would too. The Phoenix’s rising can wait until another day.” Jean suddenly looked up.

“The Phoenix!” She said. “That’s it! The Sentinels haven’t accounted for it, and it’s the most powerful entity in the known universe!”

“Wait a minute!” Acacia said. “We’re not shoveling that thing into Eileen!”

“Not her,” Jean said. “Me.”

“Jean!” Beast exclaimed.

“Nuh-uh, no way Jeanie!” Wolverine said.

“After what happened last time?” Cyclops said, grabbing her shoulders. “Jean, I nearly lost you. I won’t go through that again, you can’t go through that again.”

“Let’s not make this about me.” She said. “I don’t wish that misery unto anyone else. It’s my sole responsibility.”

“You can’t control it.” Emma declared. “You’ll turn into Dark Phoenix again.”

“Let me determine that.” Jean said. “I’ve been working with the Professor. I’m stronger than you think.”

“Jean,” Eileen said. “Maybe if we split it…”

“The Phoenix is most powerful in one host body.” She said. “My body.”

“There has to be another way.” Cyclops said.

“Uh, guys…” James said, hovering in the air. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but wave two is just around the corner.”

“Our plan is long past foiled!” Selene shouted. “Just get the Stepford sisters, I’m not ready to die yet!” Shaw looked at Jean, then sighed.

“Very well.” He nodded at Emma. Emma held her hand to her head. A small compartment on the ground opened and the Cuckoos came out in a row. They stood in front of Jean and held out their hands. Jean opened her arms.

“I’m ready.” She said. “Come back to me.” Suddenly all of the Cuckoos lit up, and from them emerged the fire bird of legends, the Phoenix Force. It screeched with a mighty bellow and flew into Jean. She absorbed the power, and as the Cuckoos clothes returned to normal, Jean’s transformed into the green and yellow suit. She was no longer Jean Grey. She was now the Phoenix.

“Whoa…” Eileen said. Phoenix stepped forward, then looked back at everyone.

“Fear not, my friends.” She said, levitating into the air. “I will protect you all!” Her entire body lit up and she rocketed towards the second wave of Sentinels.

“Go get ‘em Jean.” Cyclops said. The Sentinels picked up Phoenix on their scanners.

“Warning.” The head Sentinel declared. “Unexpected anomaly detected. Searching for solution… Solution acquired. New target: Anomaly. Objective: Destroy.” All of the Sentinels stopped midflight, aimed their weapons, and opened fire on Phoenix. She swerved in the air and avoided all the lasers, missiles, and bullets headed her way.

“Creations of man!” She shouted. “Advocates of war! Be gone!” Her hand lit up and with that, she hurled a giant fire scythe. It launched at top speed and cut through all of the Sentinels in one fell swoop. They all exploded, one after the other, lighting up the night sky in a rain of fire. Phoenix flew down and landed in front of everyone.

“It is done.” She said, as everyone cheered.

“Well it looks like you’ve got it under control.” Emma said. Phoenix looked at her.

“You address me as if I am Jean Grey.” She replied. “I am Phoenix.”

“Of course you are, my dear.” Shaw said. “Now, if you’d be so kind as to come with me…” Wolverine snarled and popped his claws.

“You get away from her creep.” He growled.

“Phoenix, you’ve done your duty,” Cyclops said. “Let Jean go.”

“Why should you have to live prisoner to Jean?” Selene asked.

“They’re manipulating you!” Angel shouted.

“Yeah!” Iceman concurred. “Don’t listen to them!”

“You would give up your power?” Mastermind said, “After all you know you can do!”

“Stop pressuring her!” Eileen shouted. Phoenix held her head.

“Please… Leave me alone! All of you!”

“Just come back to the mansion with us,” Storm said. “The Professor will see to it you are treated with care and hospitality.”

“Lies!” Shaw shouted. “They only wish to purge Jean Grey of the Phoenix, push you deep into the recesses of her mind!”

“Stop…” Phoenix cried, falling to her knees.

“I’d listen to her…” Josh said, backing up.

“This is absurd!” Beast shouted. “You people cannot use the Phoenix Force to advance your own agenda. It is a force of nature and must be treated as such!”

“And how is that done?” Emma asked. “By having Xavier trap her in a mental labyrinth?”

“Shut up Frost!” Cyclops said, grabbing his visor. “I swear, if you creeps don’t walk away now!”

“We will.” Leland said, “But not without the Phoenix.”

“She ain’t goin’ with you bub!” Wolverine shouted.

“She will if she knows what’s best for her!” Pierce called.

“My friends,” Nightcrawler said. “This does not have to escalate to violence…”

“Please, just stop it, everyone!” Phoenix shouted, beginning to glow. “Just stop!”

“Guys!” James called, but they were all too heated in the argument.

“It rightfully belongs to us!” Selene declared.

“It is a she and her name is Jean!” Shadowcat replied.

“She is beyond Jean!” Shaw shouted. “She is power incarnate! She is Phoenix!”

“I’ve heard enough!” Cyclops shouted. “Jean, let’s go.”

“Phoenix, come with me!” Shaw ordered.

“Jean!”

“Phoenix!”

“Jean!”

“Phoenix!”

“AAAAAHHHHHH!!!” She screamed, as a burst of flame flared from her body.

“Whoa!” Acacia shouted as everyone jumped back.

“Scott…” She weakly groaned.

“Jean?” He asked, kneeling next to her. “Is that you?”

“You have to leave, now!” She shouted.

“What is it? What’s wrong? Talk to me Jean!”

“I… I…” She opened her eyes, which were now glowing red. “I can’t control it!” Two fiery wings spurted from her back, and her costume went from green to red. “Dark Phoenix rises!” She shouted, flying up into the sky.

“NO!” Cyclops screamed. “Jeeeeeaaaaaaaaaannnnnnn!”

“Now can we go!” Josh shouted.

“Yeah, now we can go.” Eileen replied, as the agents of E.G.G turned and ran away, screaming.

“Not this again!” Emma complained.

“It’s a lost cause.” Shaw said. “Let’s go while we still have the…”

“Wait!” Mastermind said, “She can still be ours! If I just create the proper illusion, I can fool her into…”

“Don’t be a fool Wyngarde!” Leland called. “The battle is lost!”

“Not for me!” Mastermind held his hands out to Dark Phoenix. “Succumb to my illusions! You are my slave!” Dark Phoenix slowly and angrily turned to Mastermind.

“Get out of my head.” She growled.

“Run!” Shaw shouted, as the Inner Circle began to flee.

“You will be mine!” Mastermind screamed.

“Are you crazy bub!” Wolverine called. “Get out of there!” Dark Phoenix held out her hand and launched a giant fireball at Mastermind.

“NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!” Mastermind screamed as the full power of Dark Phoenix collided with him, and reduced him to dust.

“Jason!” Emma called back, but Shaw grabbed her arm and pulled her into a car, as they drove off. Dark Phoenix looked to the X-Men, who readied their fighting stances.

“I don’t want to hurt you Jean!” Cyclops shouted. “Don’t make me!”

“There is no Jean Grey!” She said. “Only Dark Phoenix!” She began to gather a giant fireball in front of her. “And your deaths, X- Men, are long overdue!”

“Don’t do it!” Eileen shouted, rushing back.

“Eileen! Don’t be a hero!” Josh called, as he, Acacia, and James all turned to go after her. Eileen ran up in front of Dark Phoenix.

“Listen to me!” She shouted. “I know you what you crave! Knowledge! Somewhere along the way you lost sight of that and began a quest for power, but deep down, don’t you just want to learn more about life? Being? Existence!”

“I… I do.” Dark Phoenix said.

“Holy crap…” Josh whispered. “If this works, I swear, I’m done.”

“Well, the best way to learn is through experience,” Eileen continued. “And what better way to get experience than to sit in the back seat, let Jean drive, and go along for the ride?”

“I will be her prisoner!” Dark Phoenix objected.

“No,” Eileen said. “You two will coexist, as one body, one mind. Jean can give you the knowledge you want, but not if you don’t give her the chance.” Dark Phoenix floated there, thinking. Then, finally, she slowly levitated to the ground, and the costume turned green again. She held her head, then opened her eyes.

“Is everyone alright?” She asked. “Did, did we beat the Sentinels?”

“Jean!” Cyclops said, as he and the rest of the X-Men went to embrace her.

“I quit.” Josh said, ripping the E.G.G logo off of his jacket. “I’m done. I’m just done! How the heck did that work!” Eileen laughed.

“It’s a mutant thing.” She said, smiling. Josh glared angrily. “And because the Phoenix realized that even inside of Jean, she is still free to rise.” James hugged Eileen tightly.

“I thought I’d lost you.” He said. She hugged him back.

“I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

“Aw, ain’t that sweet.” Wolverine said. Josh looked at him.

“When did you become an X-Man?” He asked.

“Right after I got done with your mom last night.” Wolverine replied.

“Ha, ha, okay wise guy. Hey, there’s this girl you should know about, Laura Kinney. X-23 in some cases.”

“Why’s she matter to me?” He asked.

“Okay, let me put it like this. 16 year old girl that was put through the Weapon X procedure when she was 12.” Wolverine paused.

“I’ll look into it.” He said. Acacia, on the other hand, approached Angel from behind and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hm?” He asked, turning.

“Helloooo Mr. Warren Worthington III.” She said, smiling.

“Oh, um, hi…” He said.

“Name’s Acacia.”

“Oh, nice to meet you. I’m Warren, but I guess you already know that…”

“I like your wings.” She said, stroking the feathers on one of his wings.

“Oh, thank you. Glad someone’s fond of them.”

“Yep. Sooooo, how about you come here and give a girl a kiss.”

“What! Oh, uh, well, I don’t know if it’s really appropriate for the time…”

“I really don’t care what you say.” Acacia said, wrapping her arms around Warren’s neck and pulling him into a kiss. Josh put his hands on his hips.

“Well, I guess we’re done here.” He said. “Now, if it’s not asking too much, can we please go home!”

“Come on guys,” Eileen said, taking James’s hand. “Let’s go before Josh has a stroke.”

“Thank you!” Josh exclaimed.

“Don’t forget her!” Nightcrawler said, pointing to Acacia, who was still locking lips with Warren.

“Acacia, come on.” Josh said. She held up her finger and continued to kiss him. “Acacia, it’s over, let’s go!” She fanned him down and kept kissing Warren. “I’m serious! I think the poor guy’s had enough!” After another ten seconds she finally let him go.

“Okay, now I’m done.” She said, slipping her number into the costume of a very dazed Warren. “Call me.” She said, joining her friends.

“Hey guys,” Josh said. “What do you call an evil Lightstream?”

“I don’t necessarily care.” James replied.

“Darkstream!” Josh exclaimed. They all kept walking. “Get it? Cause the light, and she’s evil, and… Oh come on! That was gold!” And the four heroes returned home.

A man stood atop a hill. He was shrouded in shadow, but dressed in robes, his hands hidden beneath them. A woman soon approached him.

“Everything is going according to plan.” She said.

“Good.” The man replied.

“There were some… complications.” The man frowned.

“I do not like the sound of that.”

“But they weren’t in slightest bit bad. In fact, I’d say we have an entirely new matter at hand. One I feel will be even more beneficial than what we had previously intended.” The man smiled.

“This is pleasing news.”

“I’m glad you’re happy. Now, all that’s left is to spring the trap.” The man freed his hands from the robe and clasped them together, revealing ten rings, one on each finger, each with a different Chinese symbol carved into it.

“Well then what are we waiting for?”

To Be Continued…

Alright, make sure you tune in next week Thursday, October 1, and catch the Q&A for this episode! Then come back the next day, October 2, for E.G.G Episode 51: Technovore! E.G.G's trials have just begun!