The Matrix crew finally find a system with ports to the Net. But, the Guardians have outlawed free travel between systems, and a group of them have come looking for Matrix. How will the sprites find Mainframe now?
This episode has examples of
- All Up to You: Turbo explains that the only way to beat Daemon is in Bob's Guardian protocol, with it being up to Matrix to enter the Web and find him.
- Brick Joke: Matrix asks the infected Guardians if their drones have personality chips; when told they don't, he and Turbo trash them without mercy. Later when AndrAIa confronts the female Guardian, Frisket sees the one remaining drone and growls. AndrAIa says he's wondering if the drone has a personality chip, prompting it to flee (much to Frisket's disappointment).
- But Now I Must Go: Turbo departs for the Supercomputer at the end of the episode, saying he'll be a friend on the inside for as long as he can fight off the infection.
- Call-Back: When Matrix meets Turbo, he's furious to meet the Guardian who sent Mouse to Mainframe and was reportedly part of the decision to blow it up, leading to the Web Wars that got Bob banished.Turbo: For what it's worth, I'm sorry.
- Darkest Hour: The entire Guardian Collective has been infected by a supervirus named Daemon, with only Bob and Matrix being clean.
- Emerging from the Shadows: How Turbo introduces himself to Matrix.
- Foreshadowing: The Guardian team arrive in the system not by portals but through a Zoom Room. Turbo later explains that he's instructed his keytool to leave once the infection completely overtakes him. Season 4 confirms all the other keytools did this.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Daemon. As Turbo explains, she's the one who sent the Web creature to Mainframe in Season 2, and she's infected all of the Guardians besides Matrix and Bob.
- "Hell, Yes!" Moment: Matrix upon realizing they've finally arrived in a system with ports to the Net. He even uses his old "Alphanumeric!" Catchphrase.
- Hope Spot: The trio are overjoyed to arrive in a system with ports to the Net, only to learn how ugly things have gotten since Mainframe's ports were locked.
- The Immune: Played with. Turbo's also infected by Daemon, but he's able to resist her control.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: AndrAIa shoots her paralyzing nails in order to take out the female Guardian, hitting the woman in the neck.
- Kick the Dog: The infected Guardians are introduced gratuitously terrorizing random bystanders.
- Mistaken Identity: Because Matrix was given Bob's Guardian protocol at the end of Season 2, Turbo and the infected Guardians detect his signal and mistake him for Bob.
- Mugging the Monster: When trying to catch Matrix directly fails, the Infected Guardians decide to try and take AndrAIa and Frisket hostage. Whatever happened to the group sent is best left to the viewers imagination.
- The Reveal: The Time Skip is not as severe as previously thought, due to game time accelerating.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: The female Guardian's drone when asked if it has a personality chip.
- Shout-Out: The episode's title is a reference to Old Westerns, with AndrAIa showdown with the lead Infected Guardian looking like a cowboy quick-draw.
- Underestimating Badassery: The pickpocket that lifted Glitch off Matrix. He knew this was risky (as he was working on behalf of the infected Guardians), but he severely underestimated how determined Matrix would be in hunting him down to get back his property.
- Wham Episode: The Guardian Collective has been infected by Daemon. The only chance to save the Net (as well as return to Mainframe) lies in Bob, which means having to enter the Web.
- Wham Line:Matrix: You got a deletion wish?
Turbo: I'm lookin' for Guardian 452. - Wham Shot: Matrix and AndrAIa are trying to figure out how to get to Mainframe when who should walk into the saloon but...Matrix: Capacitor?
- Wrong Genre Savvy: When Turbo says the infected Guardians can track him wherever he goes, Matrix switches his icon to game sprite mode. Losing his signal, the female Guardian assumes he simply used a portal to escape.
- Year Inside, Hour Outside: As Turbo explains, game time is accelerated, so not much time has passed since Matrix and friends were taken from Mainframe. "By my reckoning, you should be 1-1."note
