Chapter 2: Scared Stiff

The abandoned warehouse bounced from side to side, the sounds of a struggle coming from within. Moments later, Plankton came jumping out of a broken window, followed closely by SpongeBob. A squadron of police cars and army tanks pulled up just as Plankton activated his backpack's helicopter and took off into the air, cackling.

"After him, men!" commanded the general. "Don't let Plankton escape!"

As most of the vehicles drove off in pursuit, SpongeBob elatedly pumped his fists. "Whoo! That was an epic battle you guys missed! I really like the part where I dodged those darts with the greatest of ease!"

He looked down resignedly at his ordinary clothes. "It looks like I've used up that power for now."

"Do not worry, Mr. SquarePants," assured the chief of police with a salute. "You can leave it up to us law enforcement officials now. We've got Plankton in our sights and we won't let him out of it for a moment until he's recaptured!"

The sponge smiled. "Well, it's good that someone is chasing Plankton; I'll be able to relax knowing that!"


"This is News Scene Chopper 7 reporting live! Sheldon J. Plankton has been cornered in a dead end alleyway on Crown-Of-Thorns Boulevard… Oh wait, he just slipped through a crack in that wall."

Mrs. Puff worriedly watched the events unfold on the television in the store window. "Oh dear, I do hope they catch that scoundrel soon; having that bucket helmet forced onto my head like that isn't an experience I care to repeat."

Screech!

Immediately recognizing the sound of squealing tires, the driving teacher turned around, screamed then jumped aside to avoid SpongeBob's Patty Wagon as it crashed into the TV shop.

Sitting on the sidewalk, it took all of her self-control to keep from puffing up. "SpongeBob, how did you wreck the Patty Wagon? It's the only thing you can drive without panicking!"

In fact, the vehicle had been the reason Mrs. Puff and Mr. Krabs had become a couple once more; he had gotten smitten with her again but hadn't stood a chance due to the fact that the reason she had broken up with him previously was because of (you guessed it) his miserliness. So when Mr. Krabs had learned that SpongeBob always failed Mrs. Puff's driving tests yet could drive the vehicular burger known as the Patty Wagon (a second had been built after the last had been eaten), he had given it to the lad and let him utilize it for boating school, earning the stressed teacher's undying gratitude and love.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Puff. I was listening to the radio about Plankton and I guess it took up most of my attention."

Mrs. Puff sighed. "Oh, SpongeBob, why?"


Sandy Cheeks examined the plant critically. "This one looks mighty fine too but it needs some fresh water."

No sooner had the squirrel turned around to grab a watering can did she hear a ruckus coming from behind her. Doing an about-face, Sandy saw an awful sight. "SpongeBob! What in tarnation are you doing?"

The young sponge stopped stomping some things into the ground and looked at Sandy through his water-filled bowl in apparent incomprehension. "Well, I saw your bowl of soybeans and I thought that Plankton might disguise himself as one and sneak in so he could hurt you!"

Sandy's face was neutral and her voice was deathly calm as she asked, "SpongeBob… Did any of those soybeans look like they were wearing a water helmet?"

"…Whoops."

Moments later, SpongeBob swiftly ran out the Treedome's door while various gardening utensils were thrown at him.


"La-di-do-da…" sang Squidward contentedly as he molded the large lump of clay into a shape that, for once, didn't resemble his own. "This sculpture will be perfect for that exhibit on gastropods."

At that moment, however, his subject, a female snail with a pink bow on her shell perked up and started slithering towards the front door.

Squidward raised an eyebrow. "Snellie, where are you going?"

In response to that somewhat rhetorical question, Snellie nudged the door open and went outside. Following her, Squidward saw her heading for SpongeBob's pineapple house a few doors down.

The octopus' eyes widened in alarm and he hurried after her. "No, Snellie! I know it's been a while but you can't see Gary; he's sick! What would Mother say if you became ill too?"

Squidward had previously given Snellie away to his mother as a gift; partly so that he and SpongeBob wouldn't be 'in-laws' and partly so that his mother wouldn't nag him as much for not calling her. Squidward was currently petsitting for her.

Snellie stopped at the pineapple's door. "Meow?"

"Meow, meow, meeeeyooowww!" A breathless series of meows echoed from somewhere in the domicile.

The female snail's eyes narrowed then she somehow squatted down and made a leap for the wheel on the abode's metallic door, only for Squidward to catch her in mid-jump.

Frowning, he held the errant snail out in front of him and looked her in the eyes. "Snellie the Snail, do I have to lock you indoors? I'll not have you catching whatever…"

Smash!

"Ow!"

Managing to stay on his feet, Squidward shook his head to get rid of the visions of Patrick Star running around his noggin. He glanced at the pieces of ceramic on the ground then glared up at an open window where his neighbour was sticking his square head out. "SpongeBob, what's the big idea, dropping a flowerpot on my head like that?"

"Oops. Sorry, Squidward. I thought that green dab of clay on your head was Plankton."

Squidward tucked the snarling snail under one arm and slapped his forehead with the other. "Plankton is nowhere near this street, SpongeBob!"

SpongeBob's sheepish grin turned upside-down. "I know but I can't help but worry. Uh, I gotta go now, Gary needs his medicine!" And he hastily shut the window.

Making a sound that was somewhere between a growl and a sigh, Squidward turned right around and marched back to his tiki head house with Snellie struggling to get out of his grip every step of the way.


Patrick gazed hungrily at the bag he held. "Time for my weekly afternoon snack."

Smacking his lips, he tore the packet open and dumped a few bite-size green bits of kelp into his hand.

You can probably guess what happened next.

Sure enough, before the starfish could pop the treats into his mouth, SpongeBob bounded up onto the rock home that he was sitting on with a war cry, swiped the kelp bits and stamped all over the food, bag and all.

SpongeBob wiped his brow. "Phew, that was a close one!"

His pink friend gazed sorrowfully at the dusty remains of his grub. "Oh, I wanted to eat those kelp bits, SpongeBob!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Patrick. I thought those were Plankton and his relatives! I didn't want them to give you indigestion or poison you!"

Patrick began sobbing so SpongeBob backed away in a guilty manner down the rock and back into his pineapple.


Knock, knock, knock!

Mr. Krabs opened his door and looked at the four peeved people who were standing right outside. "Er, yes?"

Squidward was the first to speak. "Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob has driving us crazy all week with his incessant worrying about Plankton!"

Patrick looked around anxiously. "And his worrying's contagious! Oh no, there's Plankton! Oh wait, that's just a green pearl."

"If y'all ask me," interjected Sandy, "the only thing that could possibly distract him from it is working at either of the Krusty Krabs!"

"So have the nematodes and krill been cleared off both premises yet?" Mrs. Puff enquired.

For a few seconds, all that the crab did was blink. Finally, he said, "Well, as a matter of fact, yes, they have. But the first one needs quite a bit of repairing while the second's only a tad scratched up so it's set to re-open tomorrow. Actually, I had just finished calling SpongeBob to let him know when you came knocking on my door."

"Thank you!"

And Sandy, Patrick, Squidward and Mrs. Puff hugged Mr. Krabs unexpectedly, tightly and gratefully.