As they trudged on, greenery became grit and Squidward, Obi Wan and Anakin soon found themselves on the paved road of Conch Street.
"Looks homely" Obi Wan said, eyeing the three odd houses that lined the avenue. He noticed they looked rudimentary compared to the living accomodations of most planets, however what they lacked in technology they seemed to make up for in their individual flair. Almost insultingly however, the surrounding landscape was littered in smouldering pieces of scrap metal, and undetonated warheads. The devastation couldn't had been caused more than a couple of hours ago.
"Now if you're looking for the culprits, I'll get them for you". Squidward said. With an almost painful sigh, he took in a deep breath. "Spongebob! Patrick!".
There came no reply. That was until out of nowhere, there came a subtle pop. "squidward!" hushed an unseen voice.
Anakin and Obi Wan looked around. Not seeming to care however, Squidward called their names again. "Spongebob! Patriiiick!". This time more audibly annoyed. He felt baffled that the two nitwits who made it a daily mission to peeve him weren't there when he called for it.
Pop. This time right next to Anakin's ear, "squidwaaard!" the voice whispered again. However, was it two this time?
"Up there!" Anakin pointed his gloved hand towards the spiked top of Spongebob's pineapple home. A bubble floated over the foliage and down over the house, right in their direction. Squidward clapped it with his tentacles, the contained voices being muffled in his grasp. "Spongebob and Patrick!" He announced vigorously. "Would you two stop playing stupid games and get down here, once and for all?" Both Jedi hadn't seen him so annoyed.
The Pineapple's crown parted, and both Anakin and Obi Wan spotted a pink star-shaped creature, accompanied by a shorter, squarer yellow one.
"Oh no!" Patrick exclaimed, looking over Spongebob onto the trio below. "The robots got Squidward!".
"Oh my gosh, you're right!" exclaimed Spongebob. "Squidward! Stay perfectly still, and don't make any sudden movements!" Spongebob screamed.
"Ya! and, uhhh..." Patrick paused, putting an arm on his nonexistent chin. "and make beeping sounds if you have to!" He waved his arms like a fool.
Anakin chuckled to Obi Wan as they gazed up at the frantic duo. Their reasoning didn't seem too bright, however there was a certain charm to it.
"These aren't robots, you idiots!" Squidward replied, "Now come down here this instant!".
Spongebob stepped off the turfed platform and floated down, his pants inflating with his descent. Attempting the same thing, Patrick, with flailing arms, fell like a rock, landing on his face. "Ouch." he muffled into the sand.
Spongebob helped his friend up and they stepped towards the two strange creatures accompanying their neighbor. "These are the two idiots that started it all!" Squidward said, his tentacle outstretched towards the duo. "They are the ones responsible for this robot outbreak!"
Obi Wan eyed the starfish and his porous companion. Could such harmless creatures truly be behind such a plot? He squinted his eyes. "Really?"
"Why, yes!" Said Squidward. "Go ahead and ask Spongebob, he admitted he caused it all this morning!"
"It's true!" Spongebob said, his voice raising to a sob. "Patrick and I were playing this board game, and we put one of the toy robots in his magic wishing shell..."
"And then the wish came true!" cried Patrick. The duo began to sob uncontrollably.
Anakin and Obi Wan uncomfortably exchanged glances. It began to dawn on them- these creatures had the minds of children!
"You see?" Squidward gloated to the two Jedi. He turned back to his adversaries. "Now these two gentlemen are going to put you away for a very, long, time!". He let out a honking, nasal laugh.
This further ignited Spongebob and Patrick's sobbing. They fell onto the sand, rolling in tears of regret. "No, please don't let them take us!" the duo whined, holding onto Squidward's tentacle legs. He stood there, his upper ones folded across his chest in an unwavering pout. It was a pathetic sight.
"We never said we were here to arrest anyone!" Obi Wan proclaimed.
"Don't you think you should cut them a break?" Anakin added, annoyed with the cephalopod's ruthless disposition towards the two.
"Wait, what?" Squidward asked, his pride faltering. He kicked Patrick and Spongebob off of his feet. "B-but you asked me who did it! And what about the fancy swords?" His voice was borderline panicked, as if he was trying to bargain with them.
"Did you listen to anything we said?" Anakin retorted.
Obi Wan stepped in to diffuse the bubbling argument. "We apologize if we got your hopes up. It is not uncommon for us Jedi to ask such questions".
"Jedi?" Spongebob parroted curiously. Such a term was alien to him.
"Fancy swords?" Patrick added, his mind processing the discussion much more slowly.
Anakin and Obi Wan took it upon themselves to explain their situation for the second time. Unlike Squidward's disbelief, Spongebob and Patrick rallied their tale with much more interest and enthusiasm.
"So like aliens from outer space!" Patrick exclaimed.
"Wow Squidward, I didn't know you had such cool friends!" Spongebob chimed.
"They... aren't..." Squidward gritted through his teeth. With a defeated sigh, he walked away from the congregation and into his Tiki home, closing the door with a pronounced slam.
"He seems like quite the party animal." Anakin said sarcastically.
"Why, he certainly is!" Spongebob gushed. "Once you get to know him."
"I don't mean to interject" added Obi Wan, "but my padawan and I should really be getting out of here. Is there a spaceport nearby, at any chance? Perhaps a speeder?"
Spongebob and Patrick giggled. "We like to pretend Squidward's house is a spaceport!" the starfish gleefully suggested. Spongebob took out a bottle of soapy liquid, and with a quick dip of his wand- summoned a bubble that looked just like a rocket ship. It glided away from them and made its way through the nostril of Squidward's house. "WOULD YOU CUT THAT OUT?" emitted a nasal scream from its stony confines.
"Touchdown!" Spongebob and Patrick giggled.
Both student and master looked to each other. They were stuck here, indefinitely.