Welcome to chapter four. As I write this, there have been almost 200 views of my story. :) This makes me very happy and encourages me to continue writing. I really hope that you, the reader, will follow, fav, and review this. If I don't know peoples' opinions, I don't know what to change! So go! Follow, favorite, and review! On with the story!

Squidward's House, 122 Conch Street, Bikini Bottom, 11PM

It was late at night and Squidward was asleep. He knew the last few days had been weird, but it didn't really bother him. He shivered and woke up. He remembered the heat was out and went back to bed. It was weird that he was cold even though the volcano had only finished erupting that day. Everything was continuing to go normally. People worked a little less and the Barg'N-Mart shelves had a few missing products, but all was well.

Downtown Bikini Bottom, 12PM

Officer John of the Bikini Bottom Police Department, or BBPD as it was commonly called, was on the graveyard shift patrolling Bikini Bottom. His regular schedule was to park his cruiser in the center of town and patrol outward. Then he would patrol inward again. Once he was back at the car, he started over. He hears the shatter of glass as he walks and sprints to where the sound came from. A vandal was breaking into Harold's Discount Electronics. The robber was hauling out a laptop when John arrived.

"Stop!" John yelled, taking out his baton. The burglar started running towards a car. The distance between them was too great for the baton or a taser. John reached for his hangun. He took it out, cocked it, and aimed. Slow and steady just like he was taught, he centered on the figure. He wanted to immobilize, not kill. He shot the criminal's foot and the computer went flying as its holder fell to the ground. Officer John walked over, arrested the criminal, and read him his rights. In a matter of minutes they were in the squad car heading for the police station. The man, a member of the defunct Bubble Popping Boys, was found guilty of grand theft under martial law. He was put in jail.

Police Station, 6AM

Cheif of Police Al Priss was talking with officer John, "John, I know this was an isolated incident, but I'm afraid we may be seeing more of this soon. People are getting scared."

"I know. The Barg'N-Mart shelves are quickly becoming bare of things like pasta, canned goods, produce, etc. We're getting complaints that some people are losing heating. A few people have lost electricity."

"I understand. I'll make sure we'll have that fixed, John. Now, go get some sleep. You've been up all night. Stay here and take a cot. I'll wake you at lunch."

"Thanks, Al." John walked over to the cot and practically fell onto it.