On the Subject of Tell Me Where

I guess the manufacturing department was low on funds.

If this module has stage indicators or if the button is not connected to the display by four wires, you are looking at the wrong module.

This module presents a red button with a display above it. While the display reads “--”, you may press the button without penalty. The screen will then display a sequence of ten characters (moving left), with a break between showings.

To solve the module, you must press the button again while a specific character in the sequence is being shown on a specific side of the display. Incorrectly pressing the button will result in a strike and will reset the module.

First, you must create a decryption key. Start by taking the string of characters shown below. Then, shift it to the right N times, where N is the last digit of the serial number. This is the decryption key that you must use to decrypt the sequence of characters.

[string]

!

"

#

%

?

'

<

>

8

*

To decrypt the sequence, associate each character in the decryption key with the numbers 0–9, in reading order, then substitute the symbols in the sequence with their associated numbers. You should now have a string of ten digits.

Next, construct the prime sequence. In reading order and moduloed by 10 if necessary, this consists of:

1. The number of batteries on the bomb.
2. The number of battery holders on the bomb.
3. The number of indicators on the bomb.
4. The number of lit indicators on the bomb.
5. The number of unlit indicators on the bomb.
6. The number of ports on the bomb.
7. The number of port plates on the bomb.
8. The first digit of the bomb’s serial number.
9. The last digit of the bomb’s serial number.
10. The number of modules on the bomb (including needies).

By comparing the prime sequence and decrypted sequence, there should be exactly one digit which is different between them, which differs from the prime sequence by 1 (where 9 + 1 = 0 and 0 - 1 = 9). If this digit is...

• ...less than its corresponding prime digit, press the button when the character in its position in the displayed sequence is on the left side of the display.
• ...more than its corresponding prime digit, press the button when the character in its position in the displayed sequence is on the right side of the display.