A message had been carried out all through town; public execution in the morning. It was the buzz on everyone's mind, especially Bob's when he found out. He had woken up early in the morning to try and find the system clock, and was surprised to find everyone else up as well. He walked into the kitchens to find nearly all the servants and slaves there, cooking and talking.

"Someone tried to kill the King," one servant said, almost gleefully.

"Really?"

"Who?"

"I don't know!"

"I heard it was one of the slaves!"

"Really? Who?"

Bob's head jerked up then when he heard that. One of the slaves? He didn't remember seeing Dot running around earlier.

"Now now," a voice spoke up and they all looked to see Mouse walk into the room, a gruff expression on her face. "I want you all out of here, go do something useful, I'm sure I can cook for awhile on my own. After all, all the important people are out to witness the execution."

All the younger slaves grumbled and left. Bob stayed where he was, waiting for them all to leave. When Mouse was the only one left he said, "Do you know who it is?"

She glanced up at him, then quickly looked away. "I have an idea," she said.

"Who?"

She started to look nervous. "I shouldn't be telling you this, but I think it's that quiet girl, the one with the short hair, green skin."

He blinked. "How do you know this?"

"I saw them take her away. Their shouting woke me up." She was wiping her hands on a towel, looking around nervously.

He shook his head. "No, I've got to save her, I've got to get her out of this!" He headed for the door.

"Wait!" Mouse stopped him. "You think you can do that alone? You will only get yourself killed."

He looked at her. "What do you want me to do?"

She sighed heavily and tossed the towel aside. "I know it's awful of me, but I know there's something fishy about that King, eversince I started working here. I'll help you."

He smiled. "Thanks."

***

AndrAIa climbed up to the barred window and glanced out. From her point of view, she could just make the platform in the middle of the townsquare. A few people had gathered around.

"Oh no," she murmured to herself, "I can't believe this, they really are going to kill me!" She jumped down and started crossing the cell to the unlocked door. "I thought we had an agreement! They were supposed to let me live!"

She reached for the door, then realized that it wouldn't be best leaving that way. She'd only get caught. Looking around, she saw a huge sledge hammer sitting on the far corner of the steps. Grabbing it she made her way back to her cell. Standing by the window, she concentrated on the four bars blocking her only way to freedom.

Glancing back to make sure no one was coming in, she mustered up all her strength and slammed the hammer against the bars. It bent and it took only a few more swings until she had two bars punched out of the window.

A few moments later the hammer was on the floor and she was crawling out the window, dropping onto the ground below.

***

Dot stood in a separate dungeon, this one heavily guarded by three guards, two outside the door, and one inside. She stood where she was, her hood pulled up over her face to hide it from the guard. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling a tear roll down one cheek.

How could she have been so stupid? Why didn't she wait? She had made a deal with AndrAIa, so why didn't she keep it?

She had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, and suddenly had a scary feeling. This was one of her last moments left for her to live.

Reaching up she hugged her shoulders, feeling very cold all of a sudden. Her cloak didn't do her any good. It didn't matter anyway. She wore the cloak everywhere she went because it was the only thing covering her arm. When she was younger her parents put a mark on her and her brother- a tattoo the shape of strange, black and white icon. It was a way for Megabyte to identify her now, she guessed, so she always kept it covered.

She looked up suddenly when the door opened and a guard stepped in.

"It's time," he said in a gruff voice.

She closed her eyes again, feeling everything she stood for, her emotions, her dread, flow through her body. This was it. She let the guards take her by the arms and lead her from the dungeon and toward the townsquare.

***

Ray never like public execution, and he didn't like the fact that he was forced to go to them- even though it was his job to announce the people and their crimes. He stood amongst the village crowd, feeling his anger toward every villager that had come to see. How could they enjoy watching something like this? Didn't they have any hearts? How would they have felt if their loved one were up there?

He glanced around. It wouldn't be long until it started.

Someone grabbed his shoulder suddenly and he jumped, turning around. Bob was standing behind him, heavily cloaked with a woman at his side. Ray glanced at her and immediately couldn't stop staring. She was beautiful.

"Ray, we need your help," Bob whispered loudly.

Ray blinked and directed his attention back on Bob. "Bob, w-what are you doing here? You're supposed to be hiding out, remember?"

The woman frowned at Bob. Apparently she hadn't been fed enough information.

"The woman that's about to be executed-" Bob began.

"Yeah? She tried to kill the king."

"I love her. Her name is Dot Matrix and I need to stop the execution. This is Mouse, she's here to help me." Bob nodded toward the woman and Ray smiled at her. "Please help me, you don't even have to do anything daring. Just.I don't know, create a diversion!"

Ray looked at him skeptically. "I don't know.I-"

"Please help us," the woman interrupted. "I don't know why I'm helping Bob either, but I figure no one deserves to be decapitated, or burned, or hung."

Bob flinched and Ray couldn't help grimacing. Mouse quickly got the point and shut up.

"Okay, I guess I'll help you too, since I've helped you enough already," the messenger gave in. "What do you want me to do?"

Bob grinned. "Thanks pal, I appreciate this. Okay, this is what we're going to do."

***

AndrAIa moved through the growing crowd, a cloak heavily covering her face and body. She couldn't afford to have anyone recognize her, especially with her reputation.

Standing where she was, she was now right in front of the platform. She smiled. Let's see what kind of execution they have without the accused.

Just then a man jumped onto the platform and she recognized him as the royal messenger. What was his name again? She had no idea, never bothered to pick it up.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he announced, "we now call on the executioner."

Everyone grew silent as a tall figure stepped on the platform. It wore all black and its face was covered. AndrAIa frowned. Who was that person?

"And the criminal," the man said, "charged with treason and trying to kill the King.Dot Matrix."

***

King Megabyte sat on his newly build throne stand, towering over all the villagers as he watched Dot Matrix climb the steps onto the platform. A small smile played across his lips as he thought victoriously of getting rid of all his.enemies.

He never liked Dot Matrix- ever since she took command after Bob disappeared off in the web. She was a nuisance to him, like an annoying little fly buzzing around his head. Well now. He finally had the oppurtunity to get rid of her, even if this Dot Matrix wasn't the same person. It was good enough.

He glanced over at Matrix, who stood beside him. He could sense a hint of confusion coming from him when they had announced her name.

"Matrix?" the knight had murmured.

Ah yes, Matrix was a nuisance as well. It was no fun knowing that this.boy had beaten him at a fist-fight. No fun at all. He would go soon as well and then once he found out where Bob was, he would go too.

His smile got wider. Revenge was good.

***

AndrAIa's eyes widened in surprise when she heard her friend's name being called. The execution was for her?

She watched as two guards stepped onto the platform, leading a small figure with them. For a moment they stood there as the messenger began speaking again. This time he was reading from a scroll.

"With the charges of trying to kill the king," the Royal Messenger went on, "Dot Matrix will have no quick death. She is sentenced to.burning."

Dot looked like she was about to flinch, but did nothing. She let the guards lead her to a stake sticking out of the platform and stand her against it. Without warning, they stripped her of her cloak, leaving her in her rag clothes, her arms barred. Her hand immediately clasped up to her tattoo, but the guards had already grabbed onto her arms and were tying her wrists together around the stake. Other guards started throwing straw and hay around her.

AndrAIa looked around. No, they couldn't do this! She wouldn't let them! Everyone around her just stood there, staring. No one seemed to care that they were about to witness one's suffering, one's death.

The guards all left the platform, leaving the cloaked executioner with the girl. Now it held a burning torch in its hand. It held it up for all the villagers to see, then bent down and lit a piece of the hay. The flame spread quickly and started getting closer to Dot, who was now struggling against her bindings.

"No!" AndrAIa yelled, jumping onto the platform, ignoring the cries of surprise around her. She tried to reach Dot, but guards were suddenly there, trying to stop her. She fought them off the best she could, but only more and more seemed to be coming. Behind her, King Matrix gripped onto the arms of his chair, anger burning inside of him. Beside him Matrix stood, surprised to see AndrAIa free.

***

Bob didn't know how to react when he saw the Amazon woman jump onto the platform. The plan that he had cooked up between Ray, Mouse and him was now out the window.

"Untie Dot!" he shouted finally, leaping onto the platform. The villagers started yelling and screaming then, until the whole Village Square was filled with noise. He reached Dot first and stepped through the unlit parts of the hay.

"Calm down!" he said to her, trying to untie the rope, "I'm here to help!" He felt like choking. The smoke was unbearable.

That's when he realized that she was unconscious, practically hanging off the stake. His eyes widened and tried to untie faster.

Mouse was running around, trying to find water to drench the flames. Ray managed to fight off some the guards coming to stop them.

AndrAIa wouldn't give up and kicked two guards off the platform and flying into the villagers. She didn't care, the villagers deserved to get hurt. How could they watch something like this? She got past all the guards, but there was still something standing in her way.

The executioner.

Despite the fact that its face was covered, it looked angry. Putting all her strength behind her arm, AndrAIa reached up and socked it across the face as hard as she could.

To her surprise, the executioner let out a soft gasp and hit the floor with a thud. AndrAIa bent down and ripped the cloak off.

It was a woman- and a strange looking woman at it. She wore a red headdress on her head, and her face was completely white, a mask. A piece of it was cracked during the process of the punch.

Looking up, she saw Dot fall away from the stake toward the fire- and a man was there to catch her. AndrAIa didn't recognize him, but only saw him as maybe a villager, someone helping out. She immediately ran up to him and tried to help him carry the girl away from the platform. Two other people joined them, and she recognized them as the cook and the messenger. What was he doing helping them?

"I know of a place we can hide," the messenger said hurriedly. AndrAIa nodded and followed them away, fighting off the few villagers and guards trying to stop them. Before long, they were alone, ducking in and out of the alleys.

***

AndrAIa stood guard at the door, peering out. It was dark outside, deep into the night. Only a few times that day did guards pass by, but she had managed to duck away and latch the door before they could see her.

Glancing back she saw Dot lying on the bed, still unconscious. She was surprised to see the blue-skinned man still sitting beside her, her hand in his. Mouse and Ray, the messenger (she found out his name) were on the other side of the room, by the stove. Apparently they were talking about something, but she didn't know what.

She sighed finally and left the door, only after making sure no one was around and it was locked. She headed over to Bob who was sitting next to Dot.

"Is she going to be okay?" she asked him, sitting down beside him.

He nodded. "Yeah, I hope."

She nodded. There was a long silence. Finally he turned to look at her.

"Thanks.for trying to save her."

She blinked at him, surprised. "Excuse me? She's my friend, I couldn't just let her die."

It was his turn to blink. "Friends? Uh.how long have you been an Amazon?"

She jumped to her feet, offended. "Are you trying to say something?" she demanded, attracting Mouse and Ray's attention.

Bob shook his head. "No, I didn't mean anything, I just."

"You just what?"

He shrugged. "You remind me of a friend of mine. She was fighter, just like you. Stood up for what she believed was right, didn't let anyone tell her what to do." He nodded toward Dot. "Kind of like her."

She stood there, uncertain of how to react. Finally she sat back down. "W- whatever happened to her- I mean your friend?" she finally asked.

He looked at her thoughtfully. "I don't know."

AndrAIa realized that he was trying to make a point, but didn't know what to make of it. "Well whoever that person is, hope you see her again."

"Me too." Bob smiled comfortingly at her, then turned back to Dot, still motionless on the bed.

***

She was flying through waves of color as she slowly began to regain consciousness. She felt like a swimmer, swimming toward the top of an ocean. First her sense of touch and smell came to her, then hearing, then finally sight.

Dot opened her eyes to find herself in a dark room, the only light coming from candle on the far side of the room. She blinked, not sure where she was. Was she dead? Was this the afterlife?

Her lungs were still heavy from the smoke she had inhaled earlier, but she managed to sit up. She saw a dark figure standing on the other side of the room, but it stood so still that she wasn't sure if it were alive. Looking over she saw the outline of another bed, a figure sleeping in it. She frowned, trying to see who it was.

Just then the figure over by the door moved and she blinked, surprised. "H- hello?" she whispered, her voice shaking.

The figure strode over to her, and right away she could tell that it was a man by the way he walked.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked when he reached the bed.

The candlelight was only enough for her to just vaguely see his features, but she saw enough.

"You're-you're the servant man, in the castle!" she realized, leaning back. "Where am I?"

"Bob, remember?" he asked, sitting down on the bed. He didn't seem to realize her nervousness. "A couple of friends and I rescued you from the stake and we're hiding out here."

She blinked. "You saved me? Why? You and who else?"

"Ray, the royal messenger, Mouse, and AndrAIa-"

She cut him off. "Mouse? She got out of the castle? Ray! What happens if he gets caught? And how did AndrAIa escape? I thought she was a prisoner!"

"She was, but somehow she escaped as well. She's sleeping right now and Mouse and Ray are checking the surroundings, figuring out when we can go back."

"Go back? But why? They'll kill us if we go back!" She looked around, wondering if she really was in a safe place. She didn't know these people, the only people she did know was AndrAIa and Mouse and Mouse was her boss while AndrAIa was an amazon.

"We're going back because Megabyte is up to something," Bob explained. "And I have to get to the system clock."

Just then the figure in the other bed moved. Whoever was in there was awake. It sat up and said sleepily, "is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine AndrAIa," Bob said to her, "I'm just filling her in on what's going on."

Dot grabbed Bob's arm to redirect his attention back to her. "What is going on?" she demanded, "why do you want to get to the system clock?"

Bob looked at her, then AndrAIa, who was also watching him. So far he had told only Ray and Mouse what was up, so he might as well tell the other two. Taking a deep breath, he began his story.

***

Mouse wasn't feeling at all safe now she was on the castle premises. Even in the dark she felt out in the open, an escaped convict. Her eyes darted everywhere as she followed Ray across the lawn and toward one of the windows on the side of the castle.

"What are we doing here?" she asked when they had stopped to catch their breath.

"The King's conference room," he explained, "is in there. Bob wanted us to keep an eye on him, see what he's up to."

"He's up to something?"

"Bob think so."

"Oh, so you'd automatically give your life up for some assumption? I don't think that's smart."

"Well I've never liked the King, I've always thought he wasn't a very honest guy."

"You're right. Doesn't look like one either."

They both sat there in silence, then leaned against the window, straining to hear what was being said inside.

"If we send troops around the kingdom tomorrow, we'll be sure to find Dot, the amazon, and the royal messenger," a voice said from inside.

"Good," a low voice replied, automatically distincting itself as Megabyte. "Now leave me, I have some thinking to do."

"Yes my Lord." There was a pause and the shutting of the door. Ray and Mouse remained where they are, listening as new footsteps arose.

"It seems that your plan is faltering just a bit," a new voice said, this one unfamiliar and had a bit of a maniacal tone to it.

"Yes, I know Herrdoktor," the King said, "don't you think I don't know that? It's no good, if we don't find her we're going to have to move on. The only reason we had the Amazon here was to kill her too. We'll find her, the borders around the forest are heavily guarded, she couldn't have returned."

"What about the others? Matrix.Bob.Ray.Mouse."

"Ah yes, them. Don't worry, they'll be dead soon as well."

Mouse and Ray widened their eyes at each other and quickly ducked down before anyone spotted them. Both of them were thinking the same thing. Dead? Why did he want to kill them?

Their King really was up to something.

Not wanting to stick around any longer, the two quickly scampered off through the darkness and back to the hut.