"No, you." Gabriel snapped.

"I don't t'ink so." Steelbeak folded his arms across his broad chest and glanced at the closed office door in front of them. "You!"

"Excuse me? You want me to go in there alone? You're not the one who is still recovering from St. Canard's worst hangover!"

Steelbeak smirked. "Oh, but ladies first!"

"Since when have you considered me a lady?"

"You gotta point dere! But you still gotta get yer tailfeathers in dat room!" He pointed to the door.

"Hey -- If I'm gonna get yelled at, you should too."

"Hmmm." Steelbeak mulled that over for a moment. "Yer right." He grabbed his partner by the arm and dragged her into the office, knowing that brute force would be the only way she would cooperate.

The room was very plain -- a mahogany desk with a large computer monitor and a picture window for a backdrop. It was as though High Command was taunting its agents with a view of the outside world, a place they had free access to without any real sense of freedom. How disconcerting. Two black leather chairs sat facing the monitor, and the agents seated themselves. Instantly, the monitor came on with a click and a mechanical whir, and the three silhouettes of High Command appeared.

"Your mission was a failure." The shadow on the right stated.

"Well . . . In a word . . . Yes." Gabriel said meekly.

"We trust you have a second plan then. A better plan?"

Steelbeak hesitated, running a hand over his comb anxiously. "We, ah -- yes. Yes, we do. Much better, if I may brag."

"No bragging necessary; just get the job done. You're dismissed."

Steelbeak stood, but Gabriel remained seated, as though rooted to her spot by High Command's featureless glares. "Come on, Gabriel. . ." Steelbeak said quickly, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet.

"No. Gabriella is to stay behind. Something in her file work on this mission must be addressed."

Steelbeak happily obliged, hurrying outside but pausing in the hallway to straighten his tie and polish his beak.

He gave a moment's consideration to staying where he was just outside the conference room to wait for Gabriel. Then he decided he didn't care and paid a visit to the nearest break room.

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