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Digit (having some idea of how this new dynamic worked) had Matt sit up by him, Jackie by herself in the next seat, and Rachel and Inez sitting together in the back of the pod.
That being said, it was still pretty awkward. And uncomfortably silent.
Rachel made a popping noise and then said "So Digit...Is everybody else in Cyberspace birds or what?"
Digit shrugged "Some of us are Cybirds but most Cybercitizens are Cyborgs" He added quickly "Not like you earthlies version of cyborgs though! They're sort of like... humanoid/Alien robots? Its hard to explain, I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
After a brief pause, Jackie turned and hissed "Feldman, you can't just ask if everyone's a bird!"
Rachel shrugged "Why? Its a legitimate question."
"Well for one thing, Motherboard OBVIOUSLY isn't a bird!"
"Correction: Her HEAD is obviously not a bird. What if she has a bird body, like a Siren? You'd never know."
"That doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't ask if everyone is a bird or not!"
Rachel threw up her hands "Why?! Did you not wonder the same thing?"
Jackie snapped "No! I was too busy saving Cyberspace! The Questions came later!"
Matt rolled his eyes and called back "Can you guys NOT fight for maybe two minutes?"
Inez stated flatly "This is the first time anyone has spoken in literally 35 minutes."
"Yeah and maybe THAT'S the problem! Maybe we should all just STOP TALKING for the remainder of this adventure!"
"Matt, all Rachel did was ask Digit a question and Jackie started in on her. Maybe JACKIE should stop talking!"
Jackie yelled "Maybe you should stop talking! Maybe YOU should never talk again!"
Digit turned and snapped at them as a building loomed ahead "Be quiet all of you! I'm trying to drive!"
Matt grabbed the pod wheel from Digit in order to avoid colliding with the building "Eyes on the sky Didge!"
"Sorry!"
There was a brief silence. Then Jackie turned and looked at Inez "Seriously though, it would be far better if you just stopped talking. Nobody listens."
The younger girl looked out the window "Whatever Jackie."
"Whatever? That's a great way to shut down a debate little miss 'Captain of the Debate Team'."
"You're right. It is. Whatever" Inez put her headphones in and addressed Rachel "Let me know when we get there."
"You can't ignore me! Inez!"
Jackie huffed and looked at Rachel "What about you? Miss Co-Captain? You have anything to say?"
Rachel gave Jackie a long slow look "I'm not the Co-Captain but John Davies is. If you had even an ounce of awareness of anything outside your petty desire to make a point, you'd have realized that" Rachel pulled a book out of her book bag "Now if you'll excuse me, The Yellow Wallpaper reading is due tomorrow and I plan on getting most of it done in spite of this...adventure. Fever dream. Whatever this is."
"I have no idea what you just said but I have a feeling its an insult!"
Rachel slammed her book back into her bag and leaned forward until she was close to the other girls face and snarled "Let me SIMPLIFY it for you: Me not co-captain of team. Davies is and you too stupid to know. Me read for learning place and opt out of dumb fight with much yelling. "
Jackie stared at her.
Rachel added "Also, you wouldn't know an insult if it came up and spit on your face" she sat back and pulled her book back out "I'm reading for the learning place now. No bother me."
Matt groaned and put his face in his hands "Oh for the love of Pete Rachel you HAD to add that last part..."
Jackie recovered "You BITCH! I am NOT stupid!"
"Oh so you understood that implication! Good for you! Next you'll be learning the days of the week!"
The African-American girl leaned forward and made a choking motion with her hands "You smug little-"
Digit cried in relief "Thank the stars we're here!" He landed and jumped out making a run for where Slider, Creech, and Shari were standing "Save me!"
Matt followed him "Wait for me Didge!"
Jackie glared at the two girls left "This conversation is NOT over Feldman! For either of you."
"It's over when I say it's over Smalls and guess what? It's over. Get out of the pod and go say hi to our new hallucination friends."
After Jackie left, Inez turned to Rachel "She could make your life miserable back home."
"That would require me to care."
