A/N: All right, in the planning stage this chapter was supposed to go on for another four pages, but I of course am too damn lazy to write that much at one time, so it got split.

Has Given Up Trying To Remember What Chapter This Is

Jefferson Smith sighed heavily and rubbed his temples. He was going to need that second Valium today. Seated at the table in front of him were the three members of Team Steel, all expressing different degrees of annoyance or uneasiness, and the two newest tenants of the N-Tek building: Dread and Abigail. Smith had thought he had gotten them all finally under control, and thought that he would finally have a break. All was going well until the issue of how to get to Psycho and Dragonelle was brought up. Jefferson's plan was safe, but involved bailing if anything went even slightly awry, while Dread insisted on an elaborate plan that, though very intelligent, was likely to get them all killed.

The disagreement of the two sides of course eventually led to such an uproar that Jefferson became thankful he had soundproofed the walls when the room was first designated as a boardroom. Finally calling attention to the bickering group in front of him, he announced that no actions would be taken (with a meaningful glance at Max) until further information was gathered. Then he dismissed them all so he could maintain what was left of his sanity.

Because no one seemed exactly keen on leaving the boardroom, Jefferson decided to help them along by going to the door, opening it, and pointing the way out. Or at least he was planning on pointing once he opened the door. However, he was distracted when a slightly ticked-off Rachel Leeds was standing there in the hall waiting for him. Finally taking the hint, Kat, Berto, and Max exited the room and went down the hall in separate ways, leaving Jeff standing in the hallway with Rachel.

"We have to talk, Mr. Smith," Rachel started.

Jefferson sighed and checked his watch. "Does it have to be right now, Rachel? I'm late for a meeting with French intelligence."

"I was just wondering," Rachel continued, "why Mr. Dread has level five security access? Forty percent of our staff in this sector only has level four."

Jeff looked stunned. "I only gave him level two."

Rachel stared at him. "And may I ask what Abigail was given?"

Jeff looked at her uncertainly. "…Level one…Rachel, where are you going with this?"

"And you haven't allowed either of them to be in possession of a weapon while they're staying at N-Tek, correct?"

"Rachel, what are you, insane! I get jumpy if John Dread gets near a butter knife in my base! Now what is going on!"

"Maybe you should see this." Rachel reached into her suit jacket pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of printer paper.

Jefferson unfolded a piece of paper with some kind of computerized list on it. "Rachel, summarize. I don't have time for this."

"That list," Rachel began "is the registry sheet for the new transphasic-powered handgun we've been developing for characters like Vitriol and Psycho who need a little extra punch."

"With you so far."

"These two names," Rachel stood next to Jeff and pointed out two miniscule word groupings halfway down the sheet, "were not put on the list by N-Tek staff. In fact, they seemed to have appeared overnight."

Raising the paper so that it was about three inches from his face, Jefferson squinted to make out the names Rachel was pointing to. Cursing the stupid type font, it took him a few seconds before he could make them out. Then his eyes widened. "DREAD!" He turned and yelled towards the open door of the conference room.

"It's Nathanson!" the man inside the conference room called back good-naturedly.

Jeff clutched the piece of paper in his hand and stormed into the room, leaving a satisfied-looking Rachel standing where he had left her. Going up to Dread, he thrust the piece of paper into the other man's face and shook it angrily.

"What is the meaning of this Dread!"

"Nathanson."

"I refuse to call you by that name! Now tell me-"

"Marco then."

"I don't care what you want to be called, that is not the issue here. Now do you care to explain this!"

"Well, I can't exactly read it if you continue to wave it around in my face like that," Dread sniffed.

Jefferson stopped waving the paper and held it out to Dread, who took it and glanced at it for a few seconds before a ghost of a smile crept up on his face, then quickly left before it could fully manifest itself.

"That! I saw that!"

"Saw what?" Dread sighed.

"You smiled!"

"No, I don't believe I did."

"Well you were going to!"

"How do you know what I was or wasn't going to do?"

"I don't have time for this! Now tell me what's going on or the deal's off."

"It's just a childish prank, that's all."

"Tell me how a childish prank gets someone level five security access!"

Dread didn't answer, but instead slowly turned to face the third person in the room, who Jeff had completely forgotten about up until then.

Abigail smiled sweetly. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked with mock innocence.

"How did you put your name on this list?" Jeff demanded.

"What, like it's hard?" she rolled her eyes. "Just because you're probably computer illiterate doesn't mean the rest of the world is. Go ask brain boy to try and put his name on the list and see how long it takes him."

Jeff was saved from having to stand there and sputter at the two of them by his cell phone ringing. "Hello? Yeah, I'm on my way." He hung up the phone by snapping it shut and glared at the two of them. "If I find any more evidence of the two of you playing around where you're not supposed to be, N-Tek will just have to go after Psycho on our own. Got it?"

Dread made a shooing motion with his hands. "Sure. Now run along. You don't want to be late to your little meeting."

Partially to stop himself from screaming, and partially because he was late to his meeting, Jeff took off down the hallway without another word, leaving the two newest occupants of the N-Tek building in the conference room.

Abigail turned to her grandfather and held up her cell phone. "How come he gets reception in here?"

Dread looked around casually. "The building probably has its own hookup. Now you go and play nice, I have to meet with someone myself."

"Who?" she raised an eyebrow.

"For once that's my own business, I'm afraid, but I trust you'll find out in good time…" leaving Abigail maddeningly curious, he too left the room and walked down the corridor.

Abigail rolled her eyes and waited half a minute before grasping her crutches and getting to her feet. "He does know I'm going to follow him anyway, right?" She left and made her way down the hallway in the direction she had seen her grandfather go, cursing the noise the stupid crutches made the entire way.