The teens returned home to rest with plans to research the next day. Milton continued on his lead, while Kim and Ella teamed up to sift through the information she had on the Cryptographers at her place (though she swore she hadn't touched the papers that had vanished from Eddie's bag). Jack and Jerry went to visit Rudy and ask him about the attack, while Eddie remained suspiciously AWOL.
"Still can't reach him on his cell, and his family said they thought he was hanging with us," Kim called Jack to update them. "I've already told Milton."
"It looks bad," Jack stated. Jerry was elsewhere, inspecting a cleaning cart.
"I know," Kim confirmed solemnly. "Don't tell Jerry. Milton's reasonable, but if Jerry finds out, he can blow this situation up in our faces."
Jerry tapped Jack on the shoulder, holding up a blue wet floor sign. He wore a huge grin.
"Definitely," Jack ended the call.
"Dude, I found this down the hall! Isn't it cool?" Jerry laughed. "I've never seen one this colour!"
"Hold on, where did you—?" Jack's question was interrupted by a loud scream, followed by a heavy thud.
Both froze.
"Come on!" Jack tossed the sign from Jerry's grip and they ran down the corridor. "Unless you want to get sued!"

Kim wasn't comfortable with Ella, but she had to admit the other girl was skilled.
They were camped out in Kim's basement for the time being, since her parents were out of town. Ella had appeared with a huge bag, toting dozens of files. Now she was using a borrowed school laptop to grab intelligence from a Cryptographer data stream.
"Won't they find us?" Kim worried. "I mean, IP address and GPS—"
"I bounced the signal all over the world," Ella was typing fiercely. "Besides, even if they do I have a few tricks up my sleeve. It's how I've stayed alive for so long. Don't try to sound smart."
Kim bit back retort as she inspected the list of personnel involved in the Cryptographers. She was impressed with Ella's thoroughness as she found the papers continued on, and on, and on—
"Lots of important people," Kim noted. "Police, politicians, businessmen, lawyers, doctors…"
"It's more than a conspiracy group, it's a network." Ella muttered. "My hypothesis is that they originally used the cyphers as a recruitment device. Once they had their fresh meat, they forced us to work for them and hunt each other down."
Kim frowned. "So are they an agency?"
"Of some sort," Ella admitted. "But their patterns resemble the mafia. I doubt they're governmental. Perhaps a private organization?"
The Crawford girl nodded. "So what do you want me to do?"
Ella smirked. "Take all this info and find a pattern."
She handed her a stack of papers. Kim's knees buckled.
"Whoa! This is heavier than Rudy!" She cried out.
"Good luck," Ella waved sarcastically.
Kim resigned herself to the dreary task as Ella continued typing on the computer.
"Shouldn't you help out?" Kim snapped a few minutes later. "After all, you asked to us."
Ella sighed. "I'm not accustomed to sociability. Once I know you can be trusted, then I'll aid you. I've learned the hard way friendliness will get you caught."
The other girl considered this. "Doesn't it get lonely?"
"If it's a choice between being alone and free or trapped with others, I'd still choose the solitary life," Ella remarked coolly. "I'm used to it."
Coughing, Kim tried to lighten the mood. "Darn, drama queen much?"
The Chinese teen threw a pencil and nailed the blonde in the head.
"When your life feels like a drama, you accept it," Ella retorted. "I gave you work, didn't I? Be useful!"

Milton was having a video call with Julie. "Something weird is going on," he confided. "I'm not sure what, but the others are hiding something from me."
His girlfriend shifted. "Is it about Eddie?"
"That's a distinct possibility," the boy admitted. "They're scared I'll overreact."
"You would," Julie responded.
"I would not!"
"Sacramento."
The boy bristled with embarrassment. "We do not talk about Sacramento!"
Julie winked. "We don't. But you admit you overreacted then, right?"
Milton couldn't stay mad at her. "Fine."
The girl giggled. "Anywa
"Glad you like it," Milton grinned. "Love you. Have fun."
Julie blew a kiss and hung up.
Milton returned to his conspiracy board. He'd unravelled the rhyme in a matter of minutes, and was now attempting to piece together all the information they'd gathered.
"What are you hiding?" he muttered to himself. "What's your game plan?"

Jerry and Jack snuck back into the hospital, dressed in scrubs.
"Told you I could get us these!" Jerry boasted.
"How do you where the hospital keeps them?" Jack wondered suspiciously.
"I know a guy," Jerry winked.
Jack rolled his eyes as they entered Rudy's hospital room.
Rudy was unconscious, snoring faintly. The machines read him as normal, despite his many bruises and bandages.
"He's asleep?" Jack whispered.
Jerry slugged Rudy in the shoulder, causing his eyes to widen, his body tense, and let loose a frightening screech. He held back swear words as his entire body tingled.
"Not anymore," Jerry said cheerfully before inspecting the room around them.
Jack glared at his friend as Rudy readjusted himself in the hospital bed.
"How are you?" Jack questioned, ignoring Jerry's whistling.
Rudy coughed. "Everything hurts…"
"Can you tell us anything about the ninjas?" Jack plowed on. Time was short, so pleasantries were ignored. "Like how many, their height, what gender? Anything could help."
The sensei pursed his lips, thinking hard. "No, it was too fast…wait!"
Jack held his breath.
"There were… there were six!" Rudy spat out frantically. "But one of them looked like that scary girl!"
Jack choked. "Ella?!"
He nodded frantically. "She took off her mask 'cause I couldn't hear her clearly. I'm sure it was her!"

Kim was reading through the papers when she sensed someone behind her. She assumed it was the other girl and din't turn around.
"Ella, I got it!"
At that moment she was walloped over the head. The girl collapsed, her phone falling out of her hand, and the stranger declined the call from Jack.
Boom!
The Chinese girl bodychecked the assailant into the wall, causing papers to spill in every direction.
"Kim, are you awake?" Ella shook the blonde wildly, but got no response. "Shiitake mushrooms!"
The artist raked a hand through her blue hair before taking a blow to the face. She somersaulted backwards before screaming.
"A-OW!"
The attacker was much stronger than both of them. He or she grabbed Kim, lifting her in a firearm's carry.
"Stop!" Ella latched onto the ambusher's ankles, prompting them to almost pitch the unconscious teen into the wall. The attacker kicked her in the head and took off.
"Ah…" The remaining teen hissed in agony.
Ella forced herself to her feet, despite her pounding head.
"Get back here! That blonde is borrowed!" Ella sluggishly chased them into the sunlight. "Her boyfriend is going to kill me," she rambled. "Of course they're not exactly dating but I can tell there's something—"
Starbursts of agony continued to cloud her movement, but she refused to give up as she chattered to herself.
She was so preoccupied she ran straight into the street.
"Stop!"
Someone dragged her back as a car brushed by her, obnoxiously honking. Ella saw the person and gasped.
"You?!"
Her saviour placed her gently on a bench. "I know this isn't the time, but you gotta listen. I need your help. Stat."