Meanwhile, at the detention center

Aiko requested more scratch paper, and someone shoved more legal pads through the meal slot. She had been going through reams of paper in her search to figure out the patterns in the code that her mother had left behind. Aiko didn’t understand the math on a technical level, but the patterns came together in her mind like glue. It was almost as if it was in her DNA or neurons automatically connected with the necessary synapses in her brain. She imagined she was riding a vehicle and navigating the highways of synapses. When she came to a junction, a violent explosion occurred, which threw her into an adjacent path. Being pulled by an unseen force. At least, that’s what it felt like when she described it to Ginger on her last visit. When she explained it to the blond girl, she stared at her like she was speaking another language.

“I think you need to talk to the warden,” she said.

“Malcolm?” Aiko replied.

“Yes, he may understand the gibberish you’re spouting, but I don’t.”

Aiko waved a hand dismissively as Ginger left her cell. The multiple layers and additional pathways came into view more and more. As she progressed, even more routes could be seen within her mind’s eye.

“I hear you’re on the brink of a discovery,” Malcolm said.

She didn’t even hear him enter the cell.

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“More paper,” she said, hand outstretched.

Malcolm handed her another stack of tablets. She started writing on the blank pages. When she wasn’t absorbed in feeling the code, she example the scribbles which looked like gibberish when she wasn’t in the zone. When she came to the last page, her pen stopped on the last line of the tablet, and the cold reality of her cell came into view. She could see Malcolm sitting on her bunk, waiting with a stoic look on his face. Papers flew in almost every direction, giving the impression that a paper bomb had gone off in the cell.

“Does any of this make any sense to you?”

“Not the math, but the feeling is there,” Aiko replied.

“Feeling? Can you describe it?” Malcolm asked.

Aiko described a fantastical road of possibilities with many outcomes. She explained that a specific firing of vesicle fusion pulses primed the central hub. If one does not time these pulses in the correct order, then everything is lost.

“Fascinating,” he said.

“I’m going to upgrade your cell. I think it’s about time I get you a transmittable wall so my team can decipher your work,” Malcolm said.

“Before we do that, I need something from you,” Aiko said.

“I need to resume my physical training. My mind is stimulated, but my body withers.”

“You’ve only been in here a few days, and you’ve barely touched your food. I don’t think your body can handle the strain,” Malcolm said.

Aiko closed the distance between her and Malcolm, and she was crushing his windpipe before he could react.

“Make it happen. I want training mats and some monkey bars so I can train. A punching bag as well. Unless you want me to stop working on the puzzle. Unless, of course, you don’t want me to work on it any longer.”

Malcolm gave her an incredulous look of both fear and uncertainty.

“That won’t be necessary, dear. You shall have an hour of exercise daily—”

“Make it two or no deal.”

“Very well, just keep working, my dear.”

He handed her another notebook, and she continued scribbling.