"So, what's the deal, Creampuff?" Megavolt asked.

"Don't call me that," Tegwen replied stiffly. "I can't stand that nickname." She could never figure out why anyone called her that to begin with, but she surely wished everyone would stop using it. If they had any idea what I'm capable of --

Megavolt hesitated for a moment, thinking. "Okay . . . Tegwen . . . What's the deal? You seemed more than eager to speak to me earlier . . ." He stopped walking and stood there, illuminated by an old street lamp threatening to blink itself out of existence.

"We don't want to be late." Tegwen turned away from him. "Negadork will rev his chainsaw in our faces if we don't get . . . there . . . already."

"Negadork!" Megavolt howled with laughter.

"Don't tell me that nickname hasn't been thought of."

Megavolt shrugged, still chuckling.

"Let's just get this over with, okay? The sooner we're in, the sooner we're just done with it."

They resumed walking together along the street, Tegwen now more apprehensive than before.

"So," Megavolt started, attempting to break the uncomfortable silence. "So, that was a pretty neat magic trick you did earlier. What'd you do, rig the joint before the meeting?"

"And how on Earth was I supposed to do that? I didn't even know I was going to the meeting until Quackerjack stormed in, remember? Besides, I'd never met the guy before. How would I have possibly known where his place was?"

The supervillain chuckled to himself. "Oh yeah. But that still doesn't answer my question."