They didn't attack Elias anymore.
They copied him.
The announcement came from a coalition of institutions, corporations, and global health councils.
PROJECT AEGISThe Future of Scalable Excellence
A press conference. White coats. Polished language.
A system.An algorithm.A "solution."
"It's a proxy," Celeste said flatly, watching the broadcast. "Not a doctor. Not a standard. A product."
Shaun analyzed the documentation.
"Predictive modeling. Outcome weighting. Risk tolerance optimization."
Elias listened.
"They've turned judgment into averages," he said.
"Yes," Shaun replied. "That introduces acceptable loss."
Hospitals adopted Aegis fast.
It was cheaper than Elias.
Cleaner.
Legally insulated.
Doctors followed recommendations without question.
Not because they trusted it—
But because it transferred blame.
The first case went wrong quietly.
An elderly patient.
Multiple comorbidities.
Aegis recommended conservative management.
Statistically sound.
Clinically fatal.
The patient died overnight.
No malpractice.
No violation.
Just compliance.
Elias reviewed the file.
"They optimized for survival curves," he said. "Not lives."
Celeste clenched her jaw. "And no one is accountable."
"Yes."
More cases followed.
Not catastrophic.
Incremental.
Death by acceptable margins.
No outrage.
No headlines.
Just erosion.
At a conference, an executive spoke confidently.
"Aegis ensures consistent outcomes regardless of individual skill."
Elias stood from the audience.
"Consistent mediocrity is not excellence," he said calmly.
Gasps.
The executive smiled tightly. "Dr. Murphy, are you suggesting human judgment is superior to data?"
"Yes," Elias replied. "When the data cannot see the person."
The room fell silent.
The narrative shifted instantly.
Murphy vs. ProgressThe Human Ego Resists the Machine
Celeste swore under her breath. "They're framing you as obsolete."
"I am not competing," Elias said. "I am correcting."
Then came the challenge.
Aegis proponents proposed a public trial.
Parallel cases.
Same conditions.
Different approaches.
"Let the outcomes speak," they said.
Celeste looked at Elias sharply. "They're baiting you."
"Yes."
"And if you win, they'll say it's unfair."
"Yes."
"And if you lose—"
"I won't," Elias said simply.
The date was set.
Hospitals volunteered.
Patients consented.
The world watched.
Not realizing the real danger wasn't losing.
It was teaching people that average was enough.
Elias prepared.
Not to defeat a system.
But to expose its flaw.
Because the machine didn't fail by accident.
It failed by design.
End of Chapter 23