Hidden Abnormality

10. Cerulean Blues

Chapter Ten

  Today was the day. The day I finally had a newly crafted puzzle for 12z. I could finally see if it could stump her. It was an awkward-looking piece, for sure. I had tested it many, many times and it worked beautifully. I would almost call it my masterpiece.

  It was circular in shape but it was no way near a perfect sphere. There were six pieces that rounded out and each had many grooves. They all interlocked in some way and could slide away from each other in a specific way. It had been complicated to figure out a way for something to have so many dips that would still hold together. In a way, I had used those dips to bind the pieces together more soundly.

  If it stumped her, I would most definitely call it my masterpiece.

  Doctor Opus was very unhappy to see me. He frowned at my excitement. "What are you so chipper about? I bet you've got another failure in your hands."

  I clicked my tongue at him. "Now, now, doctor. No need for your sweet nothings today. I think I've made progress."

  His frown deepened. "Lovely," he said, his voice drenched in sarcasm.

  I placed the puzzle in the metal box. The green light lit up, per usual. 12z ran over and retrieved the object. Instantly, her face contorted in an unusual manner.

  She looked up at the wall. "What... is this?" she asked slowly.

  Doctor Opus' eyebrows furrowed. He, himself, looked confused. "Is something wrong with the puzzle, Mr. Mestiere?"

  I shook my head proudly. "Of course not. I looked over those videos and found a flaw."

  12z was touching every piece as if it was made of something unearthly. She glanced once more at the wall before trying to slide the pieces apart.

  "What, pray tell, was the flaw?"

  "She had paused once before on a small groove in one of the puzzles. It was on the puzzle simply to help it slide apart in a less complicated way. I filled this puzzle with needless grooves to see if it would affect the way she solves things. As it seems, she does not understand why there are so many grooves."

  "As it seems," the doctor echoed. "And if she disregards the unnecessary dents? If she solves the puzzle in an astounding time?"

  What was it with people calling them dents? I said grooves. Do I need to spell it for them? Get them a dictionary and show them the differences? No matter how small the difference may be?

  I cleared my throat. "Her time has already started, Doctor Opus. She is taking a longer time than usual. Her 'astounding time' streak has been broken. If she disregards the unnecessary grooves, then she should have no problem solving the puzzle."

  He didn't say another word. He returned to watching 12z. She had gotten a piece loose.

  I couldn't help but smile. I had finally done it. I had finally created a puzzle that took her longer than five seconds to complete. This was a cause for celebration later.

  After a moment longer, 12z set the metal pieces down on the ground. She looked up at the wall. The emotion written across her face was one I knew well.