An Unclue?

To add to the challenge of the disappearing molecules were the photon detectors. Their constant and unpredictable inputs to the network created a din completely washed out my scan response. If it were not for that fact that the stimulus level cuts abruptly at semi-regular intervals, I would have no opportunity to probe in detail. Given all of the constraints, a sweep search was out.

A general scan of the space just outside of the membrane revealed a normal mix of easy identifiables; Elevens, Nineteens, a Twenty here and there. I kept scanning progressively farther outward, using the rare Twenty as the anchor point. It was easier to re-locate the Twenty at the beginning of an interlude.

Repeatedly, I probed the space in the Twenty's zone. It was not until I was scanning away from the Twenty, opposite the meshwork, that I started to pick up Seventeens. I kept checking, and Seventeens were meandering toward the freedom of the meshwork zone, held slightly in check by the pull of the Nineteens. Missing Seventeens. Disappeared molecules. Interesting.