Omega Protocol

Against his better judgment, Cyclops found himself knocking on the door to Emma's room after the children had been safely put back to bed.

"Come in."

He entered, and Emma feigned shock at seeing him. "Scott! I had imagined you would spend the better part of my brief stay ignoring and avoiding me."

Cyclops closed the door behind him and answered, "Don't think that wasn't very tempting, Emma. Unfortunately I don't have that luxury right now."

"Delightful to see you haven't forgotten how to flatter a lady, Scott."

Cyclops sighed and sat down next to the bed. "I just don't trust you, Emma. Even when you were on the team, you were always manipulative. Now… I have no idea whose side you're really on."

"Of course," Emma mock-agreed. "That's the source of your discomfort."

"What are you—?"

But Emma had already moved close to him, and she gently led him towards the bed with her hands.

"No," Scott refused, but there was no conviction in his voice.

"You want this," Emma insisted. "You want me."

"No," Scott repeated.

"Then why, Scott, is your heart racing? Your breathing rapid? Your senses tingling." Emma grinned wickedly. "What are you doing here, Scott?"

Scott shook his head, as though to clear it. "I… I needed to make sure…"

"Yes, of course. You were being Mr. Responsible. That's what you want everyone to see. But I know you, Scott. I know what you're really like."

Too late, Scott realized what was happening and remembered to employ the rudimentary psychic defenses Jean had taught him. Emma recognized his struggle and actually laughed aloud.

"I'm an empath, Scott. I can make men collapse into tears by looking at them."

"You were never…" Scott labored to answer, "this strong…"

"I'm trying to make you feel good, Scott. You should be grateful…" she reached for him. "Just enjoy it."

At that moment there was a knock at the door, and Emma sighed, looking disappointed as she called, "Yes?"

Havok ignored his immobilized brother and looked at Emma expectantly.

"I've already psychically encouraged the children to go to bed early. You should only have to take out Pryde and Rasputin. Remember to sedate Kitty Cat. Prisoners who can walk through walls are so troublesome. Once that's taken care of, take the subject to Cerebro."

Scott couldn't even move, Emma had so completely overpowered him. She looked at him and sighed. "Just when we were about to have fun. Another time, perhaps."

xxx

"Whoa!" the White House guard held up both hands and stood in front of the gate. "General, can I see your clearance for those firearms?"

Nick Fury crossed his arms. "These men are S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Major. We're invoking Omega Protocol."

The color drained from the young officer's face. "But that's only for use if…"

"Yes. If you'll come with me, Major. We'll need an official witness.

The man glanced nervously at the armed men flanking the General, and Fury smiled. "You know better than that, Major. Those gentlemen don't exist."

xxx

The Secret Service were immediately notified of the Omega Protocol, so the only agents Fury and his men encountered on the way to the Oval Office were those prepared to escort them and determine the legitimacy of the Omega Protocol.

In other words, the legitimacy of their coup.

The President rose from his desk upon their noisy entry into his office. "General Fury? What's the meaning of this?"

"Call off the Sentinels, Mystique."

She tried to maintain the illusion, but her agitation made her true appearance visible for a fraction of a second. That was enough to make the Secret Service draw their weapons, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents raised theirs as well.

Mystique reverted to her true form and raised her hands, apparently complying. "Well, it was worth a try. How'd you know?"

"I guessed," Fury answered, and no one was sure whether or not the enigmatic General was joking.

In a flash, Mystique was across the desk and had kicked one of the Secret Service agents to the ground. She was blindingly fast, so as the others opened fire their bullets sailed harmlessly around her. Mystique took the opportunity to change her appearance to match General Fury's, and dove at him, hoping to confuse the agents.

What she didn't count on was someone of Fury's rank being competent in hand-to-hand fighting. Fury ducked her first punch and threw an elbow into her face, staggering her back. That dazed her enough to give the Secret Service and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents time to raise their weapons at her again.

Mystique would not go quietly, however, and she yelled angrily as she threw a roundhouse kick at Fury, but he blocked the kick with a hard chop, sending her headfirst into the President's desk. The impact was enough to knock her unconscious, at which point she reverted once again to her true form. Not taking any chances, the agents quickly shackled her.

"The President suffered a sudden, fatal stroke," Fury announced calmly, as though reading something in a history book. "The state funeral will be closed-casket, in accordance with his wishes expressed in a newly discovered will.

"Someone call the Chief Justice and tell him to swear in the Vice President," he added flatly, as though resolving a trifling detail.