Chapter 26 - The Counter-Indictment
The Grand Tribunal Hall of the United States Armed Forces Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., was packed to capacity under armed guard. Because Julian Vance had invoked an international defense treaty, the jurisdiction fell under a rare, high-stakes military-civilian hybrid tribunal presided over by three senior federal judges.
The gallery was a sea of journalists, legal titans, and intelligence observers.
Julian Vance sat at the plaintiff's table, looking supremely confident in an bespoke navy suit, flanked by a dozen high-powered defense attorneys. Next to him sat Álvaro Miller, whose pale, sweaty complexion stood in stark contrast to Julian’s icy arrogance.
The heavy double doors at the back of the chamber swung open.
A wave of camera shutters erupted through the press pen.
Lucía walked in first, her head held high, wearing an elegant emerald blazer, flanked by Arthur. Right behind them, dressed in sharp, identical charcoal suits, walked Marcos and Mateo Serrano.
They carried no massive legal crates, no entourages of junior associates. Mateo held only a slim tablet, and Marcos carried a battered, faded blue folder tucked neatly under his arm.
"All rise!" the bailiff boomed.
Presiding Judge Eleanor Hayes, a formidable woman with silver hair and thirty years on the federal bench, banged her gavel. "This emergency hearing in the matter of *Vance Dynamics v. Serrano-Miller* is now in session. Mr. Vance, your counsel has moved for the immediate biological custody transfer of the minors. The court will hear your opening proffer."
Julian stood up smoothly, buttoning his jacket. "Thank you, Your Honor. The law is unequivocal. The 2012 Treaty bars any unregistered human enhancement trial. We have provided sworn testimony from the boys' biological father, Mr. Álvaro Miller, alongside authenticated classified military archives proving that the intellectual outputs of these two boys were synthetically manufactured prior to birth. They represent a grave danger to national security and sovereign intellectual property."
Judge Hayes turned her piercing gaze toward the defense table. "Ms. Serrano, does your counsel wish to respond?"
Lucía stood up. She looked directly at Judge Hayes, then cast a cold, dismissive glance at Álvaro, who shrank in his chair.
"Your Honor," Lucía spoke with a resonance that commanded total silence in the cavernous hall. "My sons do not need counsel. They will represent themselves."
The courtroom erupted into whispers. Julian smirked, shaking his head in disbelief.
Judge Hayes raised an eyebrow. "Master Mateo Serrano, you are thirteen years old. Do you understand the severity of this tribunal?"
Mateo stood up, adjusting his tie with practiced composure. "Completely, Your Honor. Which is why we move for the immediate dismissal of all Vance Dynamics motions, the referral of Julian Vance to the Department of Justice for federal forgery and treason, and the immediate remand of Álvaro Miller into custody for aggravated perjury."
Mateo opened his tablet and tapped the screen once.
May you like
Across the massive projection screens hanging above the judges' bench, Julian’s "authenticated" 2009 laboratory report appeared in microscopic, forensic detail.
"Let us examine the evidence," Mateo declared smoothly.
