1. An apparatus having a streamlined handshake protocol, the apparatus comprising: an initiator unit for generating a first signal for communicating a first request, the initiator unit also for receiving a second signal; and a target unit for receiving the first signal and a clock signal and selectively executing a first task in response to the first request, the target unit also for generating the second signal, the second signal having a first value for indicating the target unit will begin executing the first task a predetermined delay of at least one cycle of the clock signal after receiving the first request, the second signal having a second value for indicating that the target unit will not execute the first request.