The meeting was classified.
No phones. No recordings. No leaks.
At least, that was the intention.
Around the table sat representatives from health agencies, defense departments, intelligence divisions, and international coalitions. Men and women who were used to deciding the fate of millions without ever touching blood.
One screen displayed a single name.
DR. ELIAS MURPHY
"He ended a pandemic in twelve hours," one official said. "Without authorization."
Another leaned forward. "Authorization is irrelevant. Control is not."
A third voice cut in. "We cannot allow a single individual to possess unilateral power over global health."
Silence followed.
Then the quiet, dangerous conclusion:
"Force compliance."
The move came disguised as protection.
At 6:40 a.m., federal agents arrived at San Jose St. Bonaventure.
They were polite.
Too polite.
They presented papers citing temporary federal custody under emergency medical authority.
Dr. Lim read the document, hands shaking. "This is kidnapping."
"It's procedure," the agent replied calmly.
Glassman stepped forward. "You don't have jurisdiction here."
The agent smiled thinly. "We do now."
They turned—
And froze.
Elias stood at the end of the corridor.
Hands in pockets.
Golden eyes calm.
"You're mistaken," he said evenly. "You don't."
Shaun whispered, "This is escalation."
"Yes," Elias replied.
The lead agent squared his shoulders. "Dr. Murphy, you are being detained for—"
"No," Elias interrupted. His voice never rose. "You are being dismissed."
The agents exchanged glances.
Then every monitor in the hallway flickered.
Security doors unlocked.
Elevators stalled.
Communication devices went dead.
Celeste's voice came through Lim's office phone.
"Don't sign anything," she said calmly. "I've already filed."
The agent's radio crackled uselessly.
"What did you do?" he demanded.
Elias stepped closer.
"I corrected a system imbalance," he said.
Across the city, across the country, across borders—
Legal filings detonated.
Emergency powers overturned.
Jurisdiction stripped.
Courts flooded.
Celeste Laurent-Wu stood in a federal courtroom three states away, calm as ever.
"This detention violates twelve statutes, three treaties, and the foundational principle of consent," she said coolly. "Release him."
The judge didn't hesitate.
"Motion granted."
Back in the hospital, the agents received the order.
They left without another word.
Dr. Lim exhaled like she'd been holding her breath for years.
Glassman muttered, "They really thought they could take him."
Shaun watched Elias carefully. "They miscalculated."
"Yes," Elias agreed.
That night, Elias stood alone on the hospital roof.
The city lights stretched endlessly.
Celeste joined him a moment later.
"They crossed it," she said quietly.
"Yes."
"They won't try again the same way."
"No."
She looked at him. "You didn't even threaten them."
"I didn't need to."
Celeste smiled faintly. "You're changing the rules."
Elias met her gaze.
"They forced the change."
A pause.
Then she spoke more softly.
"If the world keeps pushing… what happens?"
Elias looked out over the city.
"Then it learns where the line is."
Somewhere far away, contingency plans were shredded.
Others rewritten.
Not to capture.
Not to control.
But to avoid provoking a man who had proven—beyond doubt—that systems broke before he did.
And in one hospital, one doctor returned to work the next morning as if nothing had happened.
Patients still needed him.
And Elias Murphy had never failed one.
End of Chapter 10