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As the ceremony approached, Joel sat down with Lilly to discuss her role in Hydra's backup plan. Her confidence radiated as she assured Joel that she could create the perfect performance. As they continued through the planning process, small changes began to take place on an assembly line in the off-the-book S.H.I.E.L.D factory. A reverse feed was added to the monitoring system, along with a few other subtle alterations.

On the day of the handover, all of Hydra's high-level members gathered together for safety reasons and to partake in the festivities. The monitors before them displayed various views, some showing a ground-level perspective, while others seemed to focus solely on clouds. No one questioned this odd view, as they were all there to witness the progress made by Hydra. And besides, no one wanted to appear ignorant or out of touch with their own organization. It was a carefully orchestrated display of power and success, designed to impress and inspire fear in those who dared oppose them.

At the front of the grand venue stood a towering stage, its steps flanked by ornate pillars on either side. The stage itself was adorned with intricate carvings and delicate details, a testament to the craftsmanship of its creators. In front of the stage, rows of single-seat chairs were arranged in precise formation, each one facing toward the platform as if anticipating a grand performance.

Surrounding the central area, a vast half-circle of stadium seating created an impressive backdrop. Its tiers rose high into the air, providing ample space for spectators to witness the event unfold. Only one entrance was visible, heavily guarded by local police and secret service agents who kept a watchful eye on all who passed through.

Inside the meeting room, one member raised an intriguing observation. "Why are there so many security personnel present? It's just a simple handover ceremony from a high court judge, right?" The response came quickly from another member, "Most likely just for show."

Suddenly, a random person poked their head into the room. "Apologies for interrupting, but I've been instructed to inform everyone on this floor that they will be testing a new sonic weapon later today. Please don't panic if you feel any unusual sensations." Before anyone could react or question further, the door closed and the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway as the messenger hurriedly moved on to their next destination.

The grand hall quickly filled with eager spectators, the best seats near the front being snatched up by those in the know. Rumors flew among the crowd that these coveted spots were reserved for models, mere eye candy for the cameras. But as strange thoughts crossed their minds, they couldn't shake the feeling of being watched by one of the stunning redheads in these chairs.

Along the edges of the room, lone figures or small groups of men stood, their presence creating an air of mystery and intrigue. Normally, one would expect to be questioned by security in such a setting, but the service personnel merely nodded as they passed by. The tension in the air was palpable, heightening the anticipation for what was to come.

Steve's voice echoed through the private connection, filled with concern. "Joel, are you certain Ion is in control of this situation? There are countless civilians gathering here." Before Joel could respond, a gentle yet commanding voice flooded the connection. "Guardian, doubt not my abilities. As a goddess, I am more than capable of handling this." Lilly's melodic laughter tinkled in the background. "And as the top A.I. on this planet, I assure you that everything is under control."

As the time drew nearer, the designated location became increasingly crowded. People crammed together, eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of what was to come. Among them were mutants who had long hidden in society, parents fiercely protective of their mutant children, and those who were unable to reveal their true identities. This was their chance, a chance for justice and acceptance. With the possibility of a mutant leading the registration process, perhaps things would slowly improve for their kind. No longer would they be automatically labeled as threats or criminals; instead, they would have the same rights as any other human being and an organization to protect and support them.

 A sudden flurry of movement and voices erupted from the stage, as security tightened their grip in response to a new threat. The murmurs from those watching via monitor grew louder and more frantic as the reason for the commotion became clear, the President of the U.S.A. was making his way up to the stage. What had originally been planned as an attempt to discredit a mutant organization quickly turned into a potential assassination attempt on the leader of their country?

As they glanced covertly at each other, trying to assess who would gain the most and suffer the most from this turn of events, Peggy made her way gracefully onto the stage. Despite being in her position of power, she seemed to radiate youth and vitality. Beside her stood her bodyguard, who went largely unnoticed by the crowd. Little did they know that his inconspicuous presence was actually part of a carefully crafted plan to protect both Peggy and the audience.

Underneath the chaos, Lilly and her team were working tirelessly behind the scenes. As Lilly updated him on all aspects of the situation, Steve sensed something moving under the stage, tiny metal spiders carrying out their mission.

Peggy and the "President" moved towards the podium, with her bodyguard standing slightly behind her. After a lengthy speech, Peggy was handed a symbolic bill which she graciously accepted with a bright smile. As she began her own speech, the tension in the air was palpable.

Just as she opened her mouth, an explosion shattered the tranquility of the moment. It roared through the air with vicious intent, tearing apart anything in its path. However, before it could harm anyone on stage a large half-circle shield appeared, adorned with the classic white star and stripes, protecting everyone on the stage. At the same time, amidst chaos and confusion within the crowd, a stunning red-headed woman raised her hand in a calm yet powerful gesture. Miraculously, the blast and debris seemed to be repelled and unable to touch anyone in the audience.

As the dust began to settle and chaos turned into awe and admiration, it became clear that this was not just a simple assassination attempt, it was a carefully orchestrated plan to protect both Peggy and the 'President'. And as Raven and her security team stepped forward on the stage, she could only grin and think how "cute".

The people in the monitor room tutted disapprovingly as the explosion failed to meet their expectations. But at least they were about to witness the promised surprise, a thought that seemed to entice them more than the actual destruction itself. They eagerly debated amongst themselves what this surprise could be and how much chaos it would cause.

Meanwhile, Joel stood with a smug smirk on his face as he watched five tall robots descend from the sky. Their voices boomed through the air, declaring their mission, 'Scanning for X Gene, most humans present possess X Gene, exterminate.'. The audience gasped in shock and terror as a group of fourteen men and women stepped forward to face these mechanical attackers.

In the midst of all this, Joel couldn't help but wonder if Lilly had been watching too much Doctor Who lately. These new sentinels were supposed to detect mutants through their brain waves, but thanks to mini scramblers implanted, the previous fourteen mutants had not shown up as mutants at all. And those who had been upgraded and perfected now emitted a different type of energy that made it difficult for the sentinels to identify and respond to.

The battle between mutants and sentinels ensued, with Felicia leading the charge as the fastest among them. Toad, Sabretooth, and the massive, improved Beast were not far behind in their efforts to take down the sentinels. Melee mutants targeted weak points and tried to restrain the machines while ranged mutants attacked from afar.

Inside the monitor room, frustration reached its boiling point. "What is going on? Why are they not taking any damage?" one person exclaimed. "This surprise is turning out to be a disappointment," another grumbled. "And who even created these useless tin cans that can't even take over a world?" added a third.

But just when it seemed like victory was within reach for the mutants, something unexpected happened. The sentinels announced, "Ineffective, adaptation required" and suddenly stopped moving. They then contorted into a strange pose before leaping into the air. Their various parts detached and reconfigured to form a larger, multi-armed, and better-armored upgraded sentinel. Joel could barely catch a glimpse of this transformation as he instinctively covered his face.

One of the new arms pulled out a sword from seemingly nowhere, while the other produced a shield. The group of fourteen mutants looked at each other with uncertainty, but quickly shrugged it off and jumped into battle once again.