Chapter 2 - The Federal Intrusion
Officer Evelyn Briggs stopped dead in her tracks, her hand hovering just inches above her service weapon. The heavy leather of her belt creaked in the sudden, suffocating silence of the luxury lounge. Her dark navy blue cap was pulled low, casting a sharp shadow across her eyes, but her gaze locked immediately onto the small figure in the maroon velvet blazer. To her left and right, her two subordinate officers flanked her, their boots planted firmly on the Persian rug, ready for a violent breach. Yet, the sight before them paralyzed their tactical instincts.
"Step away from the table, Julian," Officer Briggs ordered, her voice cutting through the hum of the lounge's ventilation system. Her eyes darted from the sweating flight attendant to the absurdly dressed toddler. "Federal jurisdiction applies the moment we crossed the three-mile international boundary. Put your hands where I can see them."
Julian threw his hands up defensively, stepping backward until his back hit the polished mahogany bar. "Thank God you're here, Officer. He’s hijacked the ship’s mainframe. Every navigational buoy, every engine control, every emergency hatch—he locked it all from a tablet before tossing it into the furnace. He's not a normal child!"
Leo gave a low, rumbling chuckle that vibrated through the leather armchair. He didn't remove his sunglasses. Instead, he lifted the silver spoon, scooped a dollop of vanilla ice cream, and brought it to his mouth with agonizing precision.
"Normal is a statistical illusion, Officer Briggs," Leo said, his deep, gravelly voice echoing off the mahogany walls. "And federal jurisdiction applies only when there is a government left to enforce it. Have you checked your encrypted satellite comms in the last ten minutes?"
Evelyn frowned, her hand twitching on her belt. She exchanged a quick, uneasy glance with the officer to her left. "What are you talking about?" she demanded, taking a cautious step closer to the armchair. "Identify yourself, kid. Who is your handler?"
"My handler is currently tied to a radiator in a basement in Zurich," Leo replied calmly. He set the spoon down with a soft metallic clink against the crystal bowl. He raised his left wrist, letting the platinum wristwatch catch the amber light. "And as of forty-two seconds ago, the global banking clearinghouse has just liquidated the pension funds of every maritime law enforcement agency in the Northern Hemisphere. Including yours, Officer."
Evelyn froze. She reached into her navy blue jacket pocket, pulling out a small encrypted smartphone. The screen flickered, flashed a harsh red warning triangle, and then went completely dark. The battery icon flatlined.
Julian watched in sheer horror as Officer Briggs’s face drained of color. The rigid posture of the three federal officers suddenly collapsed into profound disorientation.
"You... you wiped the accounts?" Evelyn breathed, her voice barely a whisper.
Leo leaned back in the oversized leather armchair, crossing one tiny, polished loafer over the other. "I didn't wipe them," the toddler corrected smoothly. "I consolidated them. And now, we need to talk about your cooperation."
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Before Evelyn could draw her weapon, the overhead lights in the luxury lounge flickered, turned blood red, and a heavy metallic blast door slammed shut over the elevator exit, trapping them all inside.
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