Bob, Dot, and AndrAIa started taking shifts with Matrix after Bob fell asleep in his seat and toppled onto the bed. The three of them rotated every two micros, two napping on the waiting-room couches while the third sat beside Matrix.

It was either very late or very early, depending on how one counted time, when Dot came in to relieve AndrAIa.

"How's it going?" the Command.com asked.

"He's been up and down a few times," AndrAIa answered. "He recognized me the last time. He was trying to say my name." She stood up, graceless in her exhausted tension. "I think he's got something to say to me." She pulled the bandanna off of her head and rubbed her eyes. Her earrings jingled.

"I'll bet he does," Dot murmured.

AndrAIa looked up sharply, but Dot's face showed nothing but lined worry.

"I'll take over now," Dot said. She patted AndrAIa's shoulder. "You go get some sleep."

AndrAIa nodded, and yawned as she left.

Dot settled into the chair beside her brother's bed. "I'm here, little brother," she said.

Matrix took a deep, sighing breath, and his eyes opened. This time, his eyes focused, and there was distinct recognition in his face. "Dah…Dot."

Dot leaned closer, her expression bright with hope. "Yes, that's right. It's me, Dot. Your sister."

Matrix sighed again. "Dot," he said, more clearly this time. His eyebrows lowered, and he turned to give his left eye a better view. His left hand lifted, and Matrix's attention shifted. He watched as his hand hung uncertainly in the air for a moment, then lowered back onto the bed. Matrix looked at his right hand, and it obediently flexed, then rose.

Dot watched Matrix's face as he concentrated, then closed her eyes as her brother's fingers brushed her bruised cheek.

"S-sorry, Dot," Matrix rumbled.

"You remember that?" Dot asked, opening her eyes and meeting Matrix's gaze.

Matrix's hand fell back to the bed as he slowly nodded. "Megabyte," he offered. His speech was improving with every word, though it was still noticeably slurred. "Wanted me to shoot Bob. Shoot you. Shoot everyone." His fingers found their way to his temple, where the black plate had been. "'M gonna shoot Megabyte," he stated.

"Only after I'm through with him, little brother," Dot said firmly. "He's hurt my family for the last time."

Matrix's eyebrows lifted.

Dot's face softened, and she reached to take Matrix's hand. "We almost lost you again, Enzo," she said softly. "If it hadn't been for Doctor MacHewlett's infection, we would have lost you. I'm not going to risk that happening ever again."

"Command.com of Mainframe, Dot," Matrix reminded her. "You got work to do."

"I'll step down if I have to." Dot bit her lip. "I can't live with the thought that Megabyte is out there, waiting for another chance to take away the sprites I love." Tears brimmed in her eyes.

Matrix watched, and his eyes slipped out of focus. "Dot?" he asked, his tone uncertain. "Where's Dad? Where is he?" His eyes widened. "Dad!" His cry was that of a frightened boy, and he broke into the unabashed, terrified sobbing of a very young child.

"Enzo?" Dot hurriedly wiped her eyes. "Enzo, what is it?"

"Dad!"

"What's going on in here?" A nurse hurried into the room.

"He's reliving bad memories," Dot told the nurse.

The nurse nodded sympathetically, and glanced at the monitors before beginning to gently rearrange bed and patient. "Doctor Bingen said there were going to be a lot of stray signals in his brain, and that would set off some pretty serious nightmares. She doesn't want to give him much more in the way of tranquilizers, because he's been under for so long already, but she authorized something in case he got hysterical…" He pulled the sheet and blanket up around Matrix's shaking shoulders and looked at Dot.

Dot met the nurse's eyes for a long moment. "No, no thanks, the doctor's right. Let's not risk it if we don't have to." She tucked the blanket closer around her brother, then put her hand on his head and stroked his cheek. "Enzo? Enzo, listen. Dad's all right. He's back in Mainframe with Phong." Dot put her arms around Matrix and gathered him in as much as she could.

"Th' whole city blew up, Dot," Matrix wavered.

Dot ruffled Matrix's hair and reassuringly stroked his back. "Yes, yes, it did, but that was a long time ago. Dad's all right now. Hexadecimal brought him back. Remember?"

"N-no. Yes." Matrix raised his head and looked into his sister's eyes, alarmed. "Whass happning t'me?" His words were thickly slurred.

"You're healing, Enzo," Dot said soothingly. "You were very sick, and now your brain is reorganizing itself. Things are going to be confusing for a while, but Bob and I will be here to help you through it."

"Bob?" Matrix cocked his head and his eyes went distant. He blinked, then a goofy grin spread across his face. "Bob! I remember." His brows furrowed. "Megabyte—" Matrix shook his head. "Bob—I shot Bob. Megabyte—" He broke off. "Where's Bob?" His tone shifted from confusion to near-panic. "No! Bob!"

"Enzo!" Dot bent close to Matrix's face and took hold of his head, gazing into his wide, unseeing eyes. "Enzo, look at me. Bob is fine. He's in the waiting room."

"Bob, look out! It's a trap!" Matrix rolled over, then scrambled for the end of the bed. Dot and the nurse both grabbed for the panicked patient, but Matrix shrugged both of them off and fell out of bed. Several monitors went off, increasing the din. "Bob!" Matrix kicked at the blanket tangled around his legs. "Let go of me! Frisket!" He threw one foot free. He got up on all fours, then reached for the footboard of the bed. His left hand slid out from under him as the nurse grabbed him around the waist.

"Gun! Return!" Matrix yelled, scrabbling for a purchase on the footboard. His right eye buzzed and clicked, glowing bright red.

"Enzo!" Dot screamed.

Matrix froze, then looked up at his tear-streaked sister. "Yeah Dot?" He blinked, his eye fading back to gold. "It happened again," he said, his face twisting in confusion. He shook his head as if to clear it, then turned and looked at the sprite clinging to his waist. "Who're you?" He lost his grip on the footboard and fell, banging his shoulder on the footboard as his gun came zipping into the room.

The nurse managed to get a hand under Matrix's head before it hit the floor. "Easy, there, big guy. You've had enough excitement for one cycle."

Matrix grunted, and rolled over. Dot hurriedly knelt beside him, and supported him as he pushed himself back onto his haunches. He kept both hands on the floor as he gazed at the gun hovering a finger's length from his face. "Maybe you had better keep this for me, Dot," he said unsteadily, his words slow and careful. "I don't think it's safe for me to have it anymore." He eased his weight onto his left shoulder, leaning into Dot, and reached up with his right hand. He closed his fingers around it and said, "Gun. Command line: Shutdown."

The gun buzzed, then fell silent. Matrix dropped his hand to the floor and lowered his head.

"Portal generator online, Sir!"

"Engines ready, Sir!"

"Weapons charged, Cap'n!"

"Cast off!" Captain Capacitor bellowed. "Set course for the Edge of Beyond!"

"Not so fast, Capacitor!" Davic zipped over the traffic on the wharf, and dropped to the deck of the Saucy Mare II just as her crew finished coiling the bow line.

"You're a little late, Sugar," Mouse drawled as the ship's engines turned her away from the wharf.

"Have you tired of this system, then?" Captain Capacitor asked, his tone wary. "Or has the Prime Guardian tired of you?"

Davic's eyes narrowed. "Don't push me, Capacitor," he growled. He jumped off his zipboard and pointed to Turbo's ship, which was still securely lashed to the deck. "We both know how much a Guardian ship is worth in certain places."

"Aye, but do you know how much a good friend is worth?" Captain Capacitor asked. "Or have ye not sold one lately?"

Caen buzzed, and began to glow bright red.

"You tell me, Captain," Davic hissed. "You were the one who sold me out."

"I have never betrayed my crew, lad." Captain Capacitor's voice was flinty.

"Excuse me," Mouse interrupted. "But would you boys mind thrashing this out later? Ray won't hang around forever, you know."

"Indeed, dear lady," Captain Capacitor said briskly. "Mr. Andrews, engines on full."

"Aye-aye, sir!"

The Mare's engines sang.

"Hoist the sails!"

Mouse stood beside Captain Capacitor, watching Davic as the crew scurried to obey orders. The scowling Guardian stalked forward toward the bowsprit, then turned and leaned on the rail, his dark red eyes missing nothing.

"What's got his code in a twist?" Mouse asked the captain.

"That, dear lady, is a story for a longer voyage," Captain Capacitor told her in an undertone. "I'll tell ye this—be wary of that one."

"But he's a Guardian," Mouse protested, casting an appraising look at Davic.

"Guardian or no, he's not one to trust," the captain muttered.