One week after the surgery, Boston thawed beneath a rare winter sun—but inside the state ethics hall, tension iced every word.
Aiden adjusted his tie in the mirrored elevator as Maya Ortiz read through final notes beside him.
“They'll be looking for arrogance," she said. “So give them humility. But don't apologize for the science."
“I'm not."
“Good," she said. “Because this isn't just about you anymore. It's about whether the system learns—or punishes."
The elevator dinged.
Aiden stepped out into a sea of cameras and silence.
Inside, the hearing room smelled of leather and fear.
The panel called their first witness: Zahra Patel.
She approached the dais with a laptop in one hand and purpose in the other.
“The preliminary data confirms both polymer hearts are functioning within saf
