E.G.G Q&A: Episode 27

This Q&A Session contains full spoilers for E.G.G Episode 27: Who Do You Trust? If you have not read it, please click here to do so now!

During a seemingly normal day in the Inner Shell, Eileen came out of nowhere and challenged Josh for control of E.G.G. After a no hold bars cage match, Nick Fury broke up the fight with some disturbing news: The Skrulls have arrived. Fury showed Josh, Eileen, and Acacia the body of one of the aliens impersonating the ninja anti-hero Elektra. After tasking them with a way to track the Skrulls, the three returned to base only for Josh, filled with paranoia, to freak out on his friends and flee E.G.G Base. But perhaps his fear was warranted, for Acacia Blanco was indeed a Skrull named Ailemara. She checked in with Kl'rt on the Skrull Warship, and he delivered a message: The invasion was soon, and the Earth would be theirs, as it was written.

“Joshua Daniel Westbrook!” Eileen shouted. Josh and every other agent in the Inner Shell turned to see her standing there, staring directly at him.

“Eileen Deborah Wuthrich.” Josh replied. “And what is it that has you shouting my full name across the Inner Shell?”

“I don’t think you’re fit to lead E.G.G anymore.” She called. There were instant murmurs of excitement and confusion amongst the agents. Josh looked around.

“And what makes you think that?” He said, attempting to maintain his cool.

“Ever since you’ve started E.G.G, you’ve made one stupid decision after another.”

“Excuse me! I have not!” Acacia walked into the room with Celeste and sat down next to Harry, who was adamantly watching.

“What’s going on here?” She asked him.

“Wuthrich just called Westbrook out!” Harry answered. “Now, shh, I wanna hear this!”

“Name one stupid decision I made!” Josh shouted at Eileen.

“Easy!” She replied. “Where were the background checks on the Hatchlings that infiltrated E.G.G and killed me? Oh, and what about the super criminal you invited up to Mother Egg? She was the same one that blew it out of the sky when you took everybody down to Latveria to save one agent! And let’s not forget that time you let Julian join E.G.G, yeah, that was smart.”

“Okay, I’m done taking this from you!” He said.

“Why? Can’t handle the truth? I mean, come on, you couldn’t even pass the S.H.I.E.L.D field agent exam for crying out loud!” The chatter amongst the agents increased. Josh looked at Eileen angrily.

“Stand down Eileen! Remember your…”

“My place?” She finished. “Yeah, I’m kinda sick of my place. Second in command never suited me. I want yours now. I want to be director.”

* * *

Well, looks like all that leadership talk 'Acacia' was feeding Eileen last issue really resonated with her. Eileen laid out the truth and Josh wasn't very happy about it. But a power struggle between E.G.G's top two? How awesome was that fight! And now that we know Acacia is actually Ms. Ailemara Skrull-face, perhaps that's exactly what she wanted. A schism within E.G.G's hierarchy to tear it apart, so it'll be all the easier when her Skrull friends come to take over the planet.

“Elektra was the Hand’s best operative, they’d revive her again in a heartbeat.” Fury said. “Except this time, there were… complications.” The elevator stopped, and the four exited. They walked over to a metal table where a blanket covered the body. “When we picked her up, she looked like this.” Fury pulled back the sheet to reveal a green female with pointed ears and several slits in her chin in Elektra’s clothing.

“Gyah!” Josh shouted, jumping back.

“What the shell…” Eileen said.

“Oh no…” Acacia whispered, backing up.

“What is that thing?” Josh asked.

“It’s a Skrull.” Fury replied. “A group of shape shifting aliens that are determined to take over the Earth by any means necessary. They can be anyone, at any time. And they’re here, on our planet, right now.”

“That’s… unsettling.” Eileen said.

“Excuse me.” Acacia said, backing out, about to throw up.

“Where are you going?” Josh asked.

“Dead things creep me out, okay.” She said, quickly leaving the room.

“Oookay…” Josh said. “What’s the point to this Fury?”

“My point is we have no way to detect them.” He replied. “So until we find one, you need to stay vigilant. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times. And anything that seems like it doesn’t fit, call it into question.”

“You got it.” Josh said.

“Director Fury,” Quartermain said, walking into the room. Fury covered the Skrull.

“Yes Quartermain?” He said.

“I need the clearance codes to access the Helicarrier mainframe so I can start those upgrades.”

“Right, come on.” He turned to Josh and Eileen. “Remember, stay vigilant.” Fury and Quartermain left. Josh and Eileen looked at each other.

“Let’s get back to base.” She said.

“Yeah.” Josh said. Eileen left, and Josh took one more look under the sheet. “Man, that’s disgusting.” He said. He followed Eileen out.

* * *

Anyone that's read the Secret Invasion may recognize this scene, except with Tony Stark, Hank Pym, and Reed Richards present. If not, then, I'm glad E.G.G is your initial exposure! But yeah, Elektra has been taken and replaced by the shape shifting alien race. I guess we know why 'Acacia' freaked out just then. And also, what's Clay Quartermain doing there? Didn't Acacia/Ailemara shoot him last issue? Unless he's been replaced as well!

“Skrull.” Eileen stopped.

“I’m sorry, what!” She replied.

“Don’t take me for a fool, alien!” Josh said. “The real Eileen would never call me out like you did this morning!”

“Josh, you’re being ridiculous.”

“That’s exactly what the alien would say!”

“I only did that because I really thought deep into how things are run here! I wanted to make a point, I was planning on approaching you about a joint leadership…”

“Yeah, you, me, and all your alien buddies!”

“No! Ugh, listen, Acacia was just talking about how the ranks were unbalanced and…”

“Is this true Acacia?” Josh asked.

“I may have mentioned a thing or two…” She replied. Josh turned his gun towards her.

“Why the sudden interest in the hierarchy of power? Alien!”

“Josh, this is stupid! I just felt a little underappreciated. I got over it. I didn’t expect Eileen to go crazy on you like that!”

“Josh,” Eileen said. “Just put the gun down.” She took a step towards him and he backed up.

“Whoa, just stay back!” He said. “L-let me think!”

“Josh, it’s okay.” Acacia said. Josh’s hands shook.

“I… you both are acting weird, okay! I don’t know if I can trust any of you!”

* * *

The Director of E.G.G just walked out on E.G.G! Not cool! But, I mean, can you blame him? After Eileen's little show earlier that day, he's a bit on edge. Little does he know that he suspects the wrong person...

Acacia walked down to her room. She closed and locked the door. Then, she transformed. Her skin turned green. Her ears became pointed and several slits appeared on her chin. Acacia was not Acacia at all. Acacia was a Skrull. She reached under her bed and pulled out a communicator.

“Infiltrator Agent 27225 to Warship.” She said. “I repeat, Ailemara to Warship, come in.”

“This is Kl’rt.” An answer came on the other end. “What is the emergency?”

“Siri is dead.” Ailemara replied. There was a pause.

“This is… unfortunate news. Who was she replacing?”

“The human known as Elektra.”

“So, the humans know of us?”

“Nicholas Fury showed the director of E.G.G and his companion. It seems as if he is only telling a select few.”

“Is your cover still intact?”

“Yes sir, the director is shaken by the news and is on alert, but has no specific evidence. Vax maintains his cover as well, Nicholas Fury was giving him the access codes to the Helicarrier mainframe.”

“Good. As Siri’s loss is tragic, we will mourn her when the time is right. But now the humans are aware of our presence…”

“What do I do?”

“Do not panic Ailemara, as long as you maintain your cover you are safe. I understand your hesitation, but loss is necessary for the greater good. I spoke to Queen Veranke, and she has informed me that the invasion is soon. In a matter of days, the Earth will be ours. As it is written.”

* * *

That Infiltrator number sound familiar? How about those mysterious audio logs I've been strategically planting in each E.G.G issue? Yeah, in case you haven't figured it out, that was Ailemara spying on Acacia. And her conversation with Kl'rt (Marvel fans be like "Whoa!") doesn't mean anything good for Earth. This Queen Veranke seems determined to take the Earth, but it appears than they believe it belongs to them! Wonder why that is?

"

Where am I? What are you? Why am I here? And can anyone explain why the last thing I remember seeing is… myself?”

“Can we please kill this one!” The second Skrull begged. “I do not think it would be of any consequence. Besides, we have plenty of other test subjects.” Then the other Skrull smiled.

“That’s it, test subjects…”

“I don’t like those words in the same sentence.” Acacia said.

“What do you say we try to see if a human can survive the Super Skrull procedure?” the first one said. The second one smiled.

“What are the odds of her survival?”

“About 5%.”

“Then I say yes!”

“Do I get a say in this?” Acacia asked. They both blasted her with their guns.

“Gah!” Acacia shouted, falling to the ground. She began to fade out.

“Soon we will have your precious Earth!” The Skrull gloated. “And it will be but a bitter memory to you. If you survive our procedure. At last, our new world is here. As it is written.” Acacia blacked out.

* * *

Uh-oh! Acacia's on the Skrull's warship! And it looks like she's in trouble! Boy, I hope she survives this Super Skrull procedure!

Remember after you read Episode 28, post comments and any questions you have so that I can answer them in the Q&A next Thursday, March 5!

The Skrulls are here. And everyone is a suspect. In this episode of E.G.G, foes become allies, allies become foes, and everything you thought you knew will be thrown out the window. This is one can't miss, high flying, action packed issue of E.G.G! Tune in tomorrow, February 26, to read E.G.G Episode 28: Secret Invasion!