Chapter 221: Neutral Immunity
The German representative spoke first, his tone filled with concern.
"If we grant this clinic immunity, it would be tantamount to creating a legal sanctuary for wanted enhanced individuals."
"This would directly undermine the spirit of the Sokovia Accords."
The American representative followed, addressing the central issue.
"Our greater concern is that Dr. Lynn could use this status to circumvent the Accords entirely."
"An individual possessing extraordinary abilities while remaining outside all oversight would itself represent a significant potential threat."
The Wakandan observer, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His concern was clearly different.
"Our greater concern is whether King T'Chaka's death report is complete."
"Dr. Lynn was present at the Vienna bombing, yet he failed to save our king."
Lynn sat in the remote conference booth, dressed in a spotless white coat. A polite smile remained on his face, seemingly unaffected by the atmosphere.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice carrying clearly through the conference system.
"I'm not here to request political privilege."
"I'm here to remind you of a simple medical fact—none of your existing hospitals are properly equipped to treat the kinds of injuries enhanced individuals suffer in combat."
The German representative immediately countered.
"If an internationally wanted fugitive entered your clinic seeking treatment, would law enforcement be prohibited from entering and arresting them?"
The American representative frowned.
"Such immunity could easily be abused."
"Of course."
Lynn nodded without hesitation.
"That is why I'm proposing limited medical immunity."
"First, no armed arrest or combat operation may take place inside the clinic or one of its designated field medical stations."
"Second, once treatment is complete and the patient leaves the protected medical zone, that protection ends."
"Third, the clinic will retain complete medical records. Subject to applicable privacy law and patient confidentiality, non-sensitive medical findings may be provided to properly authorized investigative bodies."
The British representative raised another question.
"How can you guarantee that you won't favor one faction over another?"
Lynn's smile deepened slightly.
"Simple."
"My fees are equally expensive for everyone."
An awkward silence fell over the conference room.
Tony Stark, listening remotely from his office, muttered under his breath,
"This guy can turn anything into an invoice."
Bruce Wayne was also connected remotely, but he said nothing.
His attention remained fixed on the legal appendix Lynn had submitted.
The more Bruce read, the more serious his expression became.
The clauses were far more comprehensive than he had expected.
They addressed armed pursuit into medical facilities, patient confidentiality, responsibility for collateral damage, cross-border emergency treatment, the distinction between temporary medical protection and permanent asylum, and even liability for injuries sustained during conflicts between registered and unregistered enhanced individuals.
This had not been written on impulse.
Lynn had clearly been preparing for something like this since Sokovia—perhaps even earlier.
He had recognized the coming fracture between the superhero factions and treated it as an inevitable future demand for neutral medical care.
Lynn spoke again.
"During the Battle of Sokovia, my field clinic treated thirty-seven seriously injured individuals from multiple organizations."
"Thirty-six survived."
"My successful treatment rate was 97.3 percent."
"At Vienna, I participated directly in the emergency resuscitation of King T'Chaka and treated several other casualties."
"At the Berlin detention facility, I stabilized Colonel James Rhodes—War Machine—after severe spinal trauma placed him at significant risk of permanent paralysis."
He paused.
"Without a neutral, specialized medical channel, casualties in the next major enhanced conflict will rise dramatically."
"I would conservatively estimate several times the current rate."
The Wakandan observer spoke again.
"But despite all that, you still failed to save our king."
Lynn turned his gaze toward him.
The smile disappeared.
What remained was the calm expression of a physician discussing a death he had already documented.
"Yes."
"I failed to save him."
"By the time I began treatment, metal fragments had torn through the left ventricle and damaged the aortic root. He had already suffered massive blood loss and severe blast trauma."
"But he did not die alone on the floor of a collapsing conference hall."
"I attempted thoracic decompression, temporary circulatory support, cardiac stimulation, intracranial-pressure relief, and emergency resuscitation."
"I submitted the complete treatment record, medication record, injury assessment, and official death report to Wakanda."
He paused.
"You already know that."
The Wakandan observer fell silent.
Then another video window appeared.
Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross joined the conference.
His expression was severe.
"Dr. Lynn, your clinic could easily become a natural refuge for individuals refusing to comply with the Sokovia Accords."
"The United States cannot support an unregulated enhanced stronghold."
"You're free to reject the proposal, Secretary Ross."
Lynn's tone remained calm.
"But when Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, the Winter Soldier, or any other enhanced individual is critically injured…"
He leaned back slightly.
"…can your field medics treat alien-energy contamination, unstable gamma exposure, exotic radiation, advanced cybernetic-interface trauma, or magical injuries?"
"We can establish an official enhanced-personnel medical unit," Ross said.
"How long?"
Ross stopped.
Lynn continued.
"How many doctors would you need to train?"
"How many specialists?"
"How much technology?"
"How many years of research?"
He adjusted his glasses.
"By the time your first fully qualified team is operational, some of the people you intended to regulate may already be dead."
Silence followed.
The meeting moved to a vote.
Behind the formal proceedings, several parties exerted their influence.
Bruce used Wayne Enterprises' extensive legal and institutional connections in Europe to persuade several medical and humanitarian representatives that neutral treatment zones were necessary.
Tony, despite openly complaining about Lynn's fees, recognized the practical necessity of specialized battlefield medicine and abstained rather than opposing the proposal.
Fury, through what remained of his intelligence network, quietly supplied several undecided delegates with old S.H.I.E.L.D. casualty studies demonstrating just how poorly conventional medicine performed when confronted with enhanced physiology, extraterrestrial biology, advanced cybernetics, and exotic-energy injuries.
The vote passed.
Barely.
The formal title was:
Supplementary Provisions on the Neutral Medical Status of the Miracle Clinic
The principal provisions were straightforward.
The Miracle Clinic and any officially designated field stations operated by it would be recognized as Neutral Enhanced Medical Zones under international protection.
No government, organization, or individual could conduct an armed arrest, raid, or hostile operation within an active medical zone.
Dr. Lynn and authorized medical personnel would receive protected transit rights when entering officially recognized enhanced-conflict zones for humanitarian treatment.
For diagnostic and treatment purposes, the clinic could perform medically necessary examinations and biological sampling on patients under its care, subject to the clinic's established medical procedures and applicable confidentiality requirements.
All treatment expenses remained the responsibility of the patient, their organization, or an approved guarantor.
When Tony reached the fifth provision in his office, he slammed his coffee cup onto the table.
"I knew it! I knew it! This guy went through all that trouble, but the key point is right here!"
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