Squidward calmly rode on his bicycle, the morning breeze gently flowing in his face. He rode by a family driving in their boat, all of them wearing what appeared to be bucket shaped helmets with small antenna protruding from out the top. Wait, bucket helmets?!

SpongeBob and Patrick ran down the street in a huff, looking about them they could see people everywhere wearing what looked like bucket helmets. "Impossible! Plankton's already reached out to the entire population in the span of less than an hour! How?!" SpongeBob cried. The two looked around everywhere but could only see helmets, Squidward was nowhere in sight and now SpongeBob was worried they'd be too late before, something. He wasn't sure, but he had a gut feeling that something bad was going to happen to them and Squidward if the didn't get out of town and start their journey as soon as they can.

This was getting strange, so far nearly everyone Squidward had passed was wearing one of those helmets. He decided to stop by a mother and her baby who were both wearing them. "Uh, excuse me miss, what are you wearing?" he asked. The woman turned around and giggled, "Why, it's a promotional buck helmet from the chum bucket, it comes free with every Krabby Patty," she explained. "Wait, Krabby Patties at the Chum Bucket?" Squidward was headed to the Chum Bucket in an instant.

"We have to get to the Chum Bucket," Patrick insisted, "Right! It's the root of these bucket helmets and the lair of the true thief!" SpongeBob declared. Thankfully, it was already in view by the time the had come up with the idea in the first place. The duo burst through the doors, and were greeted by the sight of customers everywhere. There was a conveyer belt in the corner where customers picked up their food, which consisted of fries and Krabby Patties.

"Alright, we've gotta find Plankton, and after we give him a piece of our mind, we need to get Squidward and get out of here," SpongeBob said. Patrick agreed and the were about to split up when they heard a commotion going on somewhere in the restaurant. They headed over to where it was coming from.

It was Squidward, and he was verbally brawling with Plankton. The two ran to his side, "You stole the crown, Plankton! Can't lie your way out of this one, you stole the crown and left the notes to make sure that Mr. Krabs would face execution, so you could steal the secret formula and fulfill your dream! And don't think I don't know that those helmets are some sort of device for your next scheme!" Squidward accused.

"Oh really?! You're full of it, Squid, Mr. Krabs told me to sell the Krabby Patty in his name while he was gone and in case he didn't make it out alive!" Plankton cried. "Oh save it Plankton! Squidward said it all and got it all right, too! And don't thing we won't let those bucket helmets slide, either! When Neptune hears about this you are in so much trouble!" SpongeBob declared. "SpongeBob, Patrick, what are you doing here! Whatever, you guys were right, we need to get that crown back!" Squidward replied.

"Oh if you want to leave town, than I'm afraid you three are too little too late. You see, about those bucket helmets..." Plankton trailed off and pulled out a button with an antenna sticking out from the top. He pressed it.

Beeping was heard and suddenly, the bucket helmets were forced down over the customers' heads. They all got up from their seats and, arms stretched out and hands limp, began chanting, "All hail Plankton!" Wide eyed, the three backed away and ran for the door. SpongeBob tried the knob but to no avail. It was locked.

"Crap!" Squidward shouted, SpongeBob and Patrick gawked at him with wide eyes, "Oh calm down I'm a grown man it's okay for me to say it," Squidward hissed defensively.

The zombies were getting closer and had now cornered them up to the door. Squidward sighed in annoyance, "SpongeBob, Patrick, move out of the way," he said, focusing on the door and getting in a stance.

"Wait, what are you doing Squidward?" SpongeBob asked. Before he had time to get an answer Squidward's foot shot foreword giving SpongeBob and Patrick little to no time to jump out of the way as the door flew open. The three of them ran out as fast as they could, "And before you ask, remember that time Sandy taught me karate?" Squidward explained.

Suddenly, SpongeBob made a sharp turn into the first Krusty Krab, "Where are you going?!" Patrick called. SpongeBob simply gestured for them to follow him inside. The two appeared to have no choice as a swarm of zombies were coming at them from nearly all angles.

As they got inside SpongeBob threw them a few floorboard he had ripped from the ground, "Start boarding up the doors and windows!"

The two obliged and soon enough the zombies could just barely claw at the boards.

"Alright SpongeBob, why'd you drag us in here of all places?" Squidward asked. "Because it has something that will make out getaway much easier," SpongeBob ran over to the window and vaulted over it into the kitchen. Squidward and Patrick followed suit.

SpongeBob then walked over to one of the cabinets and pulled an old, empty and dried mustard bottle up revealing a string that was attached to it. A click was audible and SpongeBob stepped back as the cabinet doors closed and it sunk into the floor.

Behind it were three firemen poles leading down into some sort of secret basement.

"C'mon!" SpongeBob insisted, jumping down one of the poles. Patrick and Squidward headed after him.

"What is this place?" Squidward asked, walking about the room he'd entered. I looked like a garage of sorts. There was a shelf with a toolbox resting atop it and several car repairing tools hung up on the wall. oil stains dotted the floor.

"I think it's a kitchen for boats," Patrick suggested. Squidward silently shook his head and continued looking about the room. "Actually guys, you might want to direct your attention to the cloth in the middle of the room," SpongeBob instructed. Sure enough there was a white cloth covering, something.

"And without further ado, I bring you..." SpongeBob lifted the cloth away. Patrick and Squidward gasped. Under the cloth rested what appeared to be an extremely large Krabby Patty. On second glance, however, it was a vehicle. "The Patty Wagon!" SpongeBob declared. "Mr. Krabs used to use this bad boy for promotional reasons long before I worked up the courage to get a job here. He stopped using it once the Krusty Krab finally hit the status of popularity that the Krusty Krab 2 has been given the responsibility of upholding today," SpongeBob explained confidently.

"And it's also our method of escape from Plankton's newfound army."

Author's Note:

The plot thickens! And yes that plot point about Squidward knowing karate carried over from Squid Defense will come up again later so all three characters have a means of self defense, with SpongeBob and Squidward knowing karate, and Patrick's brute force.