A string of swearwords was Karl’s response, and for a moment they drowned out all the other text in the IRC. Tom laughed harder and harder as they went on and on, and soon Karl’s swearing kept getting punctured by random “ha’s.”

This is degenerating into chaos, Heather thought.

Elliott thought, I need to talk to Karl later. I find this rather disturbing.

I’m not a little kid, Karl thought. Elliot acts like we’re all five.

Karl’s frequent, noisome farts, Tom thought.

That launched another long string of profanity, interspersed only by Wyatt’s idle thought: I made that program work, and Tom’s, Ha-ha-ha-ha.

Lieutenant Blackburn patted me on the back when he saw it, Wyatt thought. He said I’m smart. My parents never say nice things to me.

How sad and pathetic, Heather thought.

Bash his smug face, break his teeth out. Blood dripping out instead of that big, self-satisfied grin, Karl thought.

But I said you looked pretty that time you wore makeup, Karl, Tom thought.

More swearing from Karl.

And then Elliot: Tom must know he’s provoking him. Clever kid but I swear he’d prod a sleeping bear with a stick.

Elliot thinks I’m clever, Tom thought, surprised. Or stupid.

High-spirited, but needs guidance and some table manners, Elliot thought. Sorry, Tom, musing here. Ignore me.

Table manners? Tom wondered.

Karl really hates Tom. He doesn’t get Tom. Tom’s a lot deeper than he seems, Wyatt thought. Wait. Don’t think about Tom. Tom. Tom. Why isn’t there a send button so I can choose not to press send?

Send, Tom thought again. He still couldn’t help it. What are you thinking about me?

Stop it. Stop it. You’re not allowed to do that, Wyatt sent. Don’t send. Don’t send. Don’t send.

Send, Elliot thought.

1 . . . 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 5 . . . Wyatt thought.

Very clever focusing her thoughts on the Fibonacci sequence, Elliot thought.

I hate her, Heather thought.

I want Raines to die and stop being here, Karl thought.

Just needs guidance to channel some of that restless energy into something productive, Elliot thought. So much potential but he sabotages himself.

Nigel was right. He always said Elliot acts like a day camp counselor, Heather thought.

34 . . . 55 . . . Wyatt thought. Boobs. No!

Boobs, Tom thought.

Raines choking, Karl thought.

Jesus, Karl, Elliot thought.

These people are wasting my time, Heather thought.

She ended the connection abruptly. Tom felt a moment of shock when his vision flooded with light again and he could see the others blinking around him, pulling out the neural wires connecting them to the decagon. Wyatt ducked her head and made herself as small as possible. Karl was flushed bright red. Only Elliot was smiling gamely. Heather threw them all a look of utter contempt but managed a stiff nod. “Okay, looks like you guys got the basics of it.”