> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://apeleaks.gitbook.io/leaks/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://apeleaks.gitbook.io/leaks/mega-mutant-melee/battle-reports/march-18-major-puzzle/wires-crossed.md).

# Wires Crossed

<figure><img src="/files/UMebsb6ohkBYm4WVwhqQ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

| CLUE                                   |
| -------------------------------------- |
| A BITTER MEMBER OF THE BARBADOS FAMILY |
| A GREEN HUED WOOD                      |
| AN IMPORTANT GRAIN                     |
| ANCIENT TO EARLY CIVILIZATION          |
| CREATING A ROCK                        |
| EVERYTHING BASED                       |
| FLAVORED LIKE WHEAT                    |
| FROM CITRUS ORIGINALLY                 |
| FROM LIQUID OF WORM                    |
| INSPIRED BY A MASK                     |
| OF VARIOUS HOMES                       |
| OFT TIPPED AT HEADWEAR                 |
| SHAPE OF A MALLARD                     |
| STACKED MARKER                         |
| STYLISH LADIES                         |
| THE USUAL OR PREFERRED ANIMALS         |

As hinted by the "hit a few switches", each of these phrases can be paired with another where two of the words can be swapped to make it a valid crossword clue that can be answered. ex. *A GREEN HUED WOOD* and *FROM LIQUID OF WORM* can be paired and swap *LIQUID* and *WOOD* to make a proper crossword clue of *A GREEN HUED LIQUED FROM WOOD OF WORM*  The correct pairings and their swapped words have been documented below:

<table><thead><tr><th width="402">Left Half</th><th>Right Half</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>A GREEN HUED <strong>LIQUID</strong></td><td>FROM <strong>WOOD</strong> OF WORM</td></tr><tr><td><strong>WHEAT</strong> BASED</td><td>FLAVORED LIKE <strong>EVERYTHING</strong></td></tr><tr><td>STACKED <strong>ROCK</strong></td><td>CREATING A <strong>MARKER</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>SHAPE</strong> OF A MASK</td><td><strong>INSPIRED</strong> BY A MALLARD</td></tr><tr><td>AN <strong>ANCIENT</strong> GRAIN</td><td><strong>IMPORTANT</strong> TO EARLY CIVILIZATION</td></tr><tr><td>STYLISH <strong>HEADWEAR</strong></td><td>OFT TIPPED AT <strong>LADIES</strong></td></tr><tr><td>A BITTER MEMBER OF THE <strong>CITRUS</strong> FAMILY</td><td>FROM <strong>BARBADOS</strong> ORIGINALLY</td></tr><tr><td>THE USUAL OR PREFERRED <strong>HOMES</strong></td><td>OF VARIOUS <strong>ANIMALS</strong></td></tr></tbody></table>

Each of these corrected clue phrases can be answered by a single word where the length of the word matches the number of words in the clue. ex. *STACKED ROCK CREATING A MARKER* is five words, so the final answer is 5 letters.

<table><thead><tr><th width="556">Clue</th><th align="center">Answer</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>A GREEN HUED LIQUID FROM WOOD OF WORM</td><td align="center">ABSINTHE</td></tr><tr><td>WHEAT BASED FLAVORED LIKE EVERYTHING</td><td align="center">BAGEL</td></tr><tr><td>STACKED ROCK CREATING A MARKER</td><td align="center">CAIRN</td></tr><tr><td>SHAPE OF A MASK INSPIRED BY A MALLARD</td><td align="center">DUCKBILL</td></tr><tr><td>AN ANCIENT GRAIN IMPORTANT TO EARLY CIVILIZATION</td><td align="center">EINKORN</td></tr><tr><td>STYLISH HEADWEAR OFT TIPPED AT LADIES</td><td align="center">FEDORA</td></tr><tr><td>A BITTER MEMBER OF THE CITRUS FAMILY FROM BARBADOS ORIGINALLY</td><td align="center">GRAPEFRUIT</td></tr><tr><td>THE USUAL OR PREFERRED HOMES OF VARIOUS ANIMALS</td><td align="center">HABITATS</td></tr></tbody></table>

With each of the answers beginning with a letter from A-H, ordering can be determined by an alphabetical list.  To extract the final clue, the letters the line up with the words that changed in the original clue must be extracted, since the length of the clue matches the answer length. ex. WHEAT BASED FLAVORED LIKE EVERYTHING swapped the first and last words, thus indicating to extract the same letters from the answer of BAGEL, or BL.

<table><thead><tr><th width="564">Clue</th><th align="center">Answer</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>A GREEN HUED <strong>LIQUID</strong> FROM <strong>WOOD</strong> OF WORM</td><td align="center">ABS<strong>I</strong>N<strong>T</strong>HE</td></tr><tr><td><strong>WHEAT</strong> BASED FLAVORED LIKE <strong>EVERYTHING</strong></td><td align="center"><strong>B</strong>AGE<strong>L</strong></td></tr><tr><td>STACKED <strong>ROCK</strong> CREATING A <strong>MARKER</strong></td><td align="center">C<strong>A</strong>IR<strong>N</strong></td></tr><tr><td>SHAPE OF A <strong>MASK</strong> INSPIRED BY A <strong>MALLARD</strong></td><td align="center">DUC<strong>K</strong>BIL<strong>L</strong></td></tr><tr><td>AN <strong>ANCIENT</strong> GRAIN <strong>IMPORTANT</strong> TO EARLY CIVILIZATION</td><td align="center">E<strong>I</strong>N<strong>K</strong>ORN</td></tr><tr><td>STYLISH <strong>HEADWEAR</strong> OFT TIPPED AT <strong>LADIES</strong></td><td align="center">F<strong>E</strong>DOR<strong>A</strong></td></tr><tr><td>A BITTER MEMBER OF THE <strong>CITRUS</strong> FAMILY FROM <strong>BARBADOS</strong> ORIGINALLY</td><td align="center">GRAPE<strong>F</strong>RU<strong>I</strong>T</td></tr><tr><td>THE USUAL OR PREFERRED <strong>HOMES</strong> OF VARIOUS <strong>ANIMALS</strong></td><td align="center">HABI<strong>T</strong>AT<strong>S</strong></td></tr></tbody></table>

Extracting all the letters gives the phrase **IT BLANK LIKE A FITS**.  Completing one last switch on this clue like before gives the final clue of **IT FITS LIKE A BLANK**, or a **GLOVE** to complete the clue.