Chapter 13 - The Day the World Learned Emma's Name
Northbridge became the center of an international scandal. Judges, doctors, officers, and executives were arrested. Nine children were located alive, while three remained missing and a secondary network continued to transmit.
Emma's recorded life became public evidence. Commentators called her survivor, witness, asset, and key. She rejected every label that treated her child as property.
A federal biosecurity director named Helena Cross filed for protective custody of Emma and demanded access to fetal monitoring. Helena's records listed Evelyn as her mother and Gabriel Vale as her father.
Margaret revealed Helena was an engineered adaptation created to replace Evelyn and serve as S-1's contingency. If S-1 died, Helena could inherit his access.
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Helena entered Margaret's hospital room under federal authority and threatened to shut off Margaret's oxygen unless Emma surrendered. Emma agreed long enough to save Margaret, then smashed a ceramic cup against Helena and escaped with Ortiz's help.
As Helena was arrested, every infant monitor in the hospital changed to the same message: HEIR LOCATED.
