Time Fixers: Nicktoons of the Future
Episode 10: Virus Breakdown
Plot: SpongeTron has been feeling sick lately due to picking up a virus in his system. During which a wave of crimes has been occurring all over town. Darry, Tommy, and Tammy try to handle it, but SpongeTron stubbornly wants to help, and oddly starts to become more aggressive and violent as his virus becomes worse. It is eventually revealed that the virus came from Plankton and has been controlling SpongeTron to steal. They must stop him before he uses SpongeTron to invade the Krusty Krab to steal the formula or something more valuable than that.
Part 2
Somewhere in the Neutron Lab, Jimmy was hiding behind the counter as lasers blasted everywhere and the intruder threw tables and shattered beakers away to search for something. With a POOF, Tommy and Tammy appear and Darry Phantom phases from the floor.
"Alright!" Darry shouted to the intruder. "Tell us who you really are!"
Suddenly, long yellow arms extend forward and grab a hold of Darry's shoulders, pulling him forward. His eyes widen when he sees the intruder is none other than SpongeTron with red eyes, looking very dangerous.
"SpongeTron?!" Darry asked surprisingly. "Is that really you?"
SpongeTron responds by throwing Darry aside, slamming him onto the table breaking it into two.
"The crystal!" SpongeTron yelled in a harsh robotic voice. "Where is the crystal? The boss requires the crystal!"
"Boss?" Tommy asked. "What boss?"
"And what crystal are you talking about?" Tammy asked, while the hidden Jimmy's eyes widen when he hears this.
Before any of their questions could be answered, SpongeTron short-circuits again and falls on the ground. He opens his blue eyes and speaks in his normal voice. "Ugh...What am I doing here?" his eyes widen when he sees the damage around the lab. "Hey, what happened? Did one of Neutron's inventions go haywire again?" Jimmy, Darry, Tommy, and Tammy were agape as they stare at SpongeTron. "What are you guys looking at?"
Next, SpongeTron was strapped to a table that stood vertically with tight bolted restraints. 911 interrogated him, "Alright TALK!" he shouted, poking SpongeTron in the nose. "Why did you attack the Commander and wreck the lab? Who are you and what did you do with SpongeTron?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" SpongeTron cried out helplessly, "Why are you doing this to me?! I didn't do anything!"
911 turns to the others who were watching. He whispers to Jimmy, "He's a tough shell to crack, Commander. But if I get him to talk, we'll be able to return all the items he stole and make him tell us SpongeTron's location."
Jimmy narrows his eyes crossing his arms. "911, that really IS SpongeTron."
"He's THAT good, I know." SpongeTron 911 responded, still convinced his fellow robot was an imposter. "He may have everyone else fooled, but I'm TOO smart to fall for any of his trickery."
"As crazy as 911 is, maybe he's right," Darry said, not believing it. "SpongeTron would never hurt us or rob anyone. He's a good robot."
"Then how do you explain SpongeTron almost assaulting Jimmy and trying to kill you...again?" Tommy asked skeptically.
"But I didn't do any of that!" SpongeTron franticly insisted as his virus started acting up again, "You g-g-gotta belie-e-e-eve me!"
As Jimmy stares at the malfunctioning robot, he figures out something. "Hold on a nanosec...Vox, scan SpongeTron and run his diagnosis on the computer."
A beam of light shoots from the ceiling and runs across SpongeTron, causing him to yelp as his body was scanned. "Running diagnosis…" Vox obeyed and displays the status of SpongeTron's infected system on the computer. Jimmy types into the keyboard and analyzes.
As Jimmy studies the virus some more, an image pops up on screen that causes his eyes to widen. Jimmy quickly straightens up and says, "Darry, Tammy, Tommy, can I have a word with you all?" he turned to SpongeTron 911. "911, keep an eye on SpongeTron 001."
"Yes sir!" 911 firmly saluted. He turns and stares carefully at SpongeTron, making sure he doesn't do anything.
Jimmy takes Darry, Tammy, and Tommy to another part of the lab where they could not be heard. "I've learned a bit more about the virus infecting SpongeTron, and learned where it originated." Jimmy told the kids.
The three smiled. "That's great." Tammy said excitedly. "Where did it come from?"
"The virus was sent here specifically to hack into SpongeTron's systems, and is still releasing a signal to control it. The signal is coming from none other than the Chum Bucket."
Tommy, Tammy, and Darry gasped. "Plankton?!" Tommy and Tammy said in unison.
"He's probably after the secret formula again." Darry pointed out.
"I thought that too." Jimmy mentioned. "Until I remembered SpongeTron mentioning a crystal."
But the three kids were confused by this. "What crystal are you talking about?" Tammy asked.
Jimmy began explaining, "I wanted to avoid telling you all this, but I guess I don't have a choice. Many years ago, me, Timmy, Danny, SpongeBob, and Tak discovered five crystals each belonging to our respective worlds. Each crystal had a certain power, but all had the ability to bring chaos to our worlds. When the Syndicate stole them all, we managed to retrieve them and made the correct choice to hide each one in our worlds in a location that no one other than us would be able to find them, and since that day, we never spoke of them again in order to keep their existence a secret for the good of our worlds."
Darry, Tammy, and Tommy were amazed by the story they had just heard. "So..." Darry began saying. "You think Plankton is making SpongeTron go after these crystals?"
Jimmy nodded seriously. "It looks like the Syndicate are up to something and Plankton is planning to find the Bikini Bottom Crystal."
"Can you still cure SpongeTron before he does any of that?" Tammy asked worriedly.
"Of course," Jimmy said with a nod. "That part is easy. We just need to shut down SpongeTron and I'll be able to extract the virus from his systems."
But then, they suddenly hear a crash from the area where the two SpongeTron robots are. The group rushed back to the scene to see that the restraints on the table have been cut clean through with SpongeTron nowhere in sight, and 911 on the floor, dented and sparking from the damaged he received.
"911!" Tommy called out to the damaged robot. "What happened? Where's SpongeTron?"
SpongeTron 911 sat up with his body creaking and frantically explained, "He...He went crazy all of a sudden! I tried to stop him, but he...was too much! He left, saying he was going after the Bikini Bottom Crystal or something like that!"
"So it's true." Darry realized sullenly. "He's using SpongeTron to get those crystals." he turned to Jimmy, "Where is the Bikini Bottom Crystal?"
"I can't give you the exact details, but I can tell you this much," Jimmy told them. "It's in the Krusty Krab. That's where SpongeBob hid his world's crystal."
"Of course." Tommy said deadpanned, but then got serious, "Well, we don't have much time left, so we better get to Bikini Bottom and fast."
"Wait a minute." Jimmy said as he handed Darry a small object, which the ghost boy realized was an Override Computer Chip. "Just stick this anywhere on SpongeTron's body and he'll immediately shut down. I know it'll be hard, but it's the only way we'll be able to save him."
Darry looked at the chip in his palm. Thinking of SpongeTron, he closes his hand firmly, holding the chip. "We won't let you down, sir," he said gravely, "Or SpongeTron."
Meanwhile, in Bikini Bottom, business at the Krusty Krab was slow that afternoon. Squidward was reading one of his magazines at the cash register, and Buster was in the kitchen, playing with a handheld device out of boredom. Everything was quiet until the front doors bursts open and SpongeTron stood there with his eyes glowing red and a cold scowl across his face. Squidward looks up from his magazine in surprise while Buster peeks out from the window behind him.
"Release the crystal!" SpongeTron shouted in a cold robotic voice. "And your meaningless lives will go unharmed!"
Squidward stared at the robot with a stunned look. "Is this a good reason to be terrified right now?"
SpongeTron's arm turned into a laser and he began firing everywhere as the two employees duck and cover to avoid the attack. Soon afterwards, Darry, Tammy, and Tommy arrive on the scene.
"SpongeTron, stop!" Darry called out. "You don't know what you're doing!"
SpongeTron turns and stares at him coldly while another voice shouts, "I wouldn't interfere if I were you, Nickboobs!"
"I know that voice," Tammy recognized, "So you're the one behind SpongeTron's virus...Plankton!"
Plankton appeared out from SpongeTron's back and hopped onto the robot's head, holding a remote control. "That's right." he said with a smirk. "Thanks to Calamitous creating that virus, I was able to send it into SpongeTron's systems and make him become my new weapon."
"You fiend!" Tommy threatened, "Why would you do this to our friend?"
"It's simple." Plankton explained. "I'm going to finish what I started years ago, getting the crystal that can control all of Bikini Bottom. And once I get that, the krabby patty formula will be all mine and I'll rule the world. Your little buddy, SpongeTron, is gonna help me with that, and I know that with him, you can't stop me."
The Nicktoons glared angrily at this, but didn't expect what happened next. The door to the manager's office swings open and SpongeBob emerged out to see what's happening. "What the barnacle is going on here?" he wanted to know.
Plankton turns to see him and smirks with an idea. He jumps off of SpongeTron and holds the remote. "And here's the perfect opportunity!"
Plankton pushes a button on the remote that causes SpongeTron's head to spark and short-circuit. "SpongeBob, look out!" Darry warned. "Plankton's controlling SpongeTron!"
"What?" SpongeBob questioned in surprise.
"That's right!" Plankton said with a laugh. "And I know you goody-goody heroes are too sensitive to fight your own friend, which will make killing you all the more simple!"
Plankton pushed another button on his remote and SpongeTron stopped short-circuiting and lunged toward SpongeBob with his right hand turning into a large fist with spiked knuckles.
Buster and Squidward gasped as they watched from inside the kitchen.
The Nicktoons watch in horror as SpongeTron prepared to attack his creator. But to everyone's surprise, SpongeBob closed his eyes and unleashed a hard karate kick that sent SpongeTron crashing into a table.
"What?" Plankton yelled out in shock, while the Nicktoons were just as surprised as he was.
But SpongeBob explained, "You're right, Plankton. I am too sensitive to fight my own friend. But the SpongeTron I know was not programmed to attack his friends, and he certainly wasn't programmed to be controlled by you. But if fighting him is the only way to bring him back, then I will do it."
Inspired by SpongeBob's actions, Darry glances back at the Turner Twins and all nod in agreement, knowing what to do. Plankton presses a button, making SpongeTron spark as he gets up and growls angrily. SpongeBob is in a fighting stance when backed up by Darry Phantom, Tommy with his magic rifle, and Tammy with her jump rope.
"So, you wanna play that way, eh?" Plankton said as he pushed another button on the remote. "Then I'm game!" The remote causes SpongeTron to change his left arm into a sonic cannon and his right into a beamsword.
"Nicktoons GO!" Darry commanded his team.
Tammy jumped forward and swung her jump rope toward Plankton. The organism activated the remote which caused SpongeTron to protect him by deflecting her magic rope with his beamsword.
Tommy cocks his magic rifle and blasts magical gold stars at Plankton's remote. Using the remote, Plankton commanded SpongeTron to counter the attack with blasts from his sonic cannon.
Darry phases behind SpongeTron and charges to attack. Plankton notices this and pushes another button. A small slingshot appears out of SpongeTron's hat with a glove that holds and aims the slingshot, charging an ecto-ball.
Darry's eyes widen in panic until the shot fires and blows Darry away. The Override Computer Chip falls out of his belt as he hits the floor. He sits up and picks the chip back up and stares at it, remembering what he has to do.
SpongeBob charges toward SpongeTron armed with his karate gloves. He dodges a blast from SpongeTron's sonic cannon and stands in front of the robot.
"Listen to me, SpongeTron." SpongeBob said seriously. "This isn't what you wanna do. We're your friends, remember?"
But SpongeTron's head sparks again and he growls viciously, "Robots don't have friends." and he fires his sonic cannon at SpongeBob, knocking him away.
"It's no use, simpletons!" Plankton shouted in triumph. "He's mine now! Nothing you do can break him from my control!"
SpongeBob sits up and holds his head, but then shouts, "Tammy, Tommy, take care of Plankton! Darry, help me with SpongeTron!"
Hearing the orders, the team split up and the twins go toward Plankton to stop his control. SpongeTron growls viciously and prepares to attack until Darry tackles him to the ground with the chip in his hand.
Darry pins SpongeTron on the wooden floor. "Sorry ST, but this is for your own good!" Darry holds up the chip. SpongeTron struggles to get out, but Darry stops him.
Tommy aims the magic rifle at Plankton and threatens, "Put the remote down and let our friend go!"
"Sure, I'll let your friend go." Plankton said as he held up the remote. "I'll let him go slice you in pieces!"
He slammed a button on the remote and SpongeTron sparked violently again as he gained the strength to shove Darry off of him as he groaned in pain.
Tammy swung her jump rope at Plankton as he ran away with the remote in hand. "SpongeTron, protect your master!" he called out.
SpongeTron reactivated his beamsword and rocketed toward the twins. Tammy screamed and ran away until SpongeTron cornered her with his beamsword.
Plankton laughed evilly with the remote held in the air. "Nothing you can do now, idiots!" but then, a magic blast hit the remote and dropped it on the floor into pieces. "NOO!" Plankton screamed.
He turned to Tommy who has a smirk on his face as he blew the top of his rifle. "Nice shot, Poofie."
"Poof, poof." The purple rifle, Poof, said with a wink.
SpongeTron suddenly began short-circuiting uncontrollably and ran across the restaurant as his head sparked and his body whirred.
"You fools!" Plankton yelled at the Nicktoons. "With the remote gone, SpongeTron's virus is going out of control! Now he's so dangerous he can destroy us all! NO one can stop him!"
SpongeBob stared at his robot being destroyed from within, but then glanced at Darry holding the Override Computer Chip in his hand. "There is one way." he said, glancing back at SpongeTron.
SpongeBob grabbed the chip from Darry and ran over to SpongeTron, who was weakening from the electricity all over his body. He opened his eyes a peak and suddenly spoke in his normal voice, "Help...me."
"I'm sorry about this, SpongeTron." SpongeBob solemnly said as he quickly turned the robot around and stuck the chip onto his back. After the chip was placed on him, SpongeTron suddenly felt another shock enter his systems and the electricity disappeared from his body and he fell to the ground now motionless and inactive.
Darry, Tommy, and Tammy slowly approach SpongeTron. "Is he gonna be alright?" Tammy asked.
"As long as we get back to HQ and have Jimmy fix him," Darry assured.
"Then what are we gonna do with Plankton?" Tommy asked, holding Plankton who's now encased in a glass jar.
SpongeBob took the jar from him and answered, "I know a certain robotic officer who would love to place him under arrest."
Later that day, after bringing the deactivated SpongeTron back to HQ, Jimmy immediately began working on him to get rid of his virus. SpongeTron was lying on a metal table with a bunch of coils and wires sticking into his open chest that were connected to a large overhead computer.
Darry, Tammy, and Tommy anxiously watch from the corner of the room as Jimmy pulls down a large lever that sends a wave of electricity down the wires from the computer into SpongeTron. Once he turned it off, he pulled the wires out of SpongeTron and closed his chest shut. "Activate: ST-Unit 001." Jimmy voiced out.
Soon, the robotic body whirs actively and SpongeTron sits up. He sniffs a bit and examines the room he's in and himself. "Hey, I'm not sneezy or sparky anymore!"
"SpongeTron!" Darry, Tommy, and Tammy both cry in joy as they run over and hug him.
"We were so worried about you!" Tammy cried.
"When that virus shocked you, we thought you would be a goner," Tommy added.
"But you weren't, thanks to Jimmy and SpongeBob," Darry finished with a smile on his face.
SpongeTron looked confused and asked, "What do you mean when the virus 'shocked me'?"
"Don't you remember?" Darry asked. "The virus came from Plankton, who used you to invade the Krusty Krab and steal some crystal. But SpongeBob saved you by shutting you down and we stopped Plankton."
"I don't recall that ever happening?" SpongeTron pointed out. "You sure it wasn't just a dream or hallucination?"
"It's all true, SpongeTron," Jimmy admitted, "Luckily, I was able to get rid of your virus and added an anti-virus and firewall so you don't have to worry about getting a virus or getting hacked ever again."
SpongeTron sighed in relief. "Thank Neptune for that. Being sick when you're a robot is the worst."
Then the door opened up and SpongeBob walked in with a smile. "Hey SpongeTron," he greeted. "You feeling any better?"
"I'm better than ever!" SpongeTron shouted in joy as he stood on the table. "It's thanks to you and everyone else...I think- I don't really remember all the details."
"Well, it's good to know that SpongeTron's sickness is gone and everyone feels better," Tammy smiles proudly when Darry begins rubbing his nose.
"And with Plankton locked away, that means no illness will ever put the Nicktoons in danger again!" Tommy proudly proclaimed.
"Ah-ah-ah-AH CHOO!" Darry suddenly sneezed in his sleeve, instantly turning invisible and visible again. He looks at it to see it covered in ectoplasm. "Eww!"
They all stare at him oddly while SpongeTron said, "Uh...bless you?"
"Are you feeling alright, Dar?" Tommy asked cautiously.
"Oh, it's nothing," Darry dismissed. "It's probably something I caught from SpongeTron!" He sneezes again where ghost rays shot from his eyes, making Tommy and Tammy dodge.
"It's impossible for you to catch the same thing as SpongeTron." Jimmy pointed out as he walked over and felt Darry's forehead. Darry sniffs as ectoplasm drips from his nose. "Oh boy," Jimmy realized, "High fever, ectoplasmic mucus, and temporally loss control of powers. Darry Fenton, you have a ghost cold."
The kids all gasped as Darry began to panic. "NO! I can't be sick! I don't wanna be controlled to attack anyone! I don't wanna be a thief! What do I do?!"
Jimmy chuckles. "Relax Dar. It's just a common cold for ghosts. Your dad gets them all the time. There's nothing to be worried about."
Darry sniffs again and smiles; leaning on the table SpongeTron was sitting on. "Oh, that's a relief." He sneezes again, turning intangible and falls through the table. He crawls from underneath, fully solid and gets up. "Is there a cure?"
"You bet," Jimmy nodded as he looks though his things. "One shot and you'll be cured in no time." Then, Jimmy takes out a very large syringe with glowing green medicine inside.
Darry's eyes widen at the sight of it. "B-b-b...big needle!" he screamed in fear.
"Alright, I need you to hold still and-" but as Jimmy darts his head back, he sees Darry has disappeared. He asks the group, "Does anyone know where he went?"
"I wouldn't go back to his house in the Fenton lab if I were you," SpongeTron said, glancing his eyes away. Jimmy sighs and rushes toward the Portal to find Darry. Tommy and Tammy look at SpongeTron in question. "What?" SpongeTron shrugs. "It's what's best for him."
The End
Being sick sucks, doesn't it? Especially when you're a robot or ghost. Please leave a review and watch out for the next story, "Dating Catastrophe".